THE PATH OF DUTY--ruba'i

THE PATH OF DUTY-- ruba'i


When the icy winds blow winter can’t be far behind.
When He’s kind it matters not if this world is unkind.
Why despair if pleasures of the flesh you can’t partake?
When the inner eye opens, let the outer be blind.

It’s too easy to complain about one’s own fortune.
Why should one be depressed when one’s feeling out of tune?
There’s no dearth of those who criticize and heap insult.
To the barbs and taunts of others, one must be immune.

We must march onward doing what duty bids us do.
The fruits of our actions we should not desire, nor woo.
We should not be lazy in pursuing our duty.
On our righteous path He will certainly see us through.

Do your duty and forget about consequences.
Simple but profound message of the Gita it is.



* Written in Ruba'i form, using 13-13-13-13 format. A ruba’i is a four line quatrain with aaba rhyme scheme. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruba%27i. I have written it as a 14 line poem consisting of 3 ruba’is and a couplet, on the lines of a sonnet.

• Based upon the essential message of Hinduism, enshrined in Verse 47, Chapter 2, of Gita [pronounced—Geethaa], one of the core books of Hindu religion: “Do your duty; don’t covet the reward; don’t, too, be a means of getting the reward; but, beware, don’t ever be idle”. It can be viewed at http://www.asitis.com/2/47.html



M C Gupta
7 January 2008