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English >> Works of Other Authors >> On Savitri |
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The English of Savitri: Volume 06 (Book 11 - The Book of Everlasting Day and Book 12 - Epilogue)Comments on the language of Sri Aurobindo's epic Savitri— Shraddhavan
About The English of Savitri: Volume 06 (Book 11 - The Book of Everlasting Day and Book 12 - Epilogue)Volume Six in this series on the English of Savitri explores the final two books of the epic. In Book Eleven, The Book of Everlasting Day, Savitri at last obtains the sanction of the Supreme Lord to her prayer for the return of Satyavan to earth, tokening the promise of a divine life on earth. At the start of Book Twelve, Epilogue: The Return to Earth, Savitri awakens from her deep trance to find herself in the forest again, in the late afternoon of the same day on which Death had stolen Satyavan’s soul. As night falls on this momentous day, the book concludes with the promise of a greater dawn when a new world will be born. REVIEWAccording To The Mother, Savitri: a legend and a symbol, the mahakavya, is the “message” of Sri Aurobindo. It is certainly a difficult task to unravel the mystery of this message given by a rishi. Reading Savitri is sometimes mind-boggling, sometimes mesmerising, sometimes puzzling, and almost always brings joy and peace. To read Savitri is to bathe in Ananda rasa. This rasa is experienced by a being deep within us. Even though the Mother has advised us to read Savitri without trying to understand everything, our mind is always eager to know and understand the text, its message, imagery and symbolism. It is this inquisitiveness of the mind that brings us to books like the one we have in hand for review. The English of Savitri by Shraddhavan indeed comes in handy when one wants to approach this magnum opus of Sri Aurobindo and delve into the beauty of the image and sound, the rhythm and movement of the poem. The author, having written five volumes in the same series, brings us home to Sri Aurobindo’s language, the masterly use of syntax and rhythm in blank verse. She is very careful to go through each line and bring out the shades of meaning that may be possible in the given context. Surely, for all study circles on Savitri, this series of books is a must. Volume Six of The English of Savitri is indeed special because it covers the last two books from the epic and is as such the finale of the grand vision of Sri Aurobindo. Especially, Book Eleven – “The Book of the Everlasting Day” has the longest but one canto in the epic – “The Eternal Day: The Soul’s Choice and the Supreme Con-summation”. This was one of the last cantos that Sri Aurobindo revised extensively before he took Mahasamadhi. It is very powerful and creates a serene atmosphere after the long battle with Death that Savitri wages in Book Ten. As the author observes, it is indeed difficult for the human mind to think about a Day without Night! However, Sri Aurobindo’s vision of “God’s everlasting day” forces our imagination to widen and discover that beauty and peace which is lying hidden in the womb of time. This volume is systematically divided into two parts consisting of Books Eleven and Twelve. Book Eleven has been discussed in eight sections and Book Twelve in three. The first two sections of Book Eleven describe the beauty of the “Everlasting Day”, its abounding and intense peace, the beauty and harmony of rhythms and patterns of the worlds which are not terrestrial. Savitri has risen to those worlds where death, ignorance, sorrow and suffering are “impossible”. In the third section a dialogue between the Supreme and Savitri begins, which goes on till section seven. The Supreme tempts Savitri with many boons, and almost tests her whether she chooses who will climb to the deathless spheres or will return to the earth to become a bridge. Many doubts about the incapacity of human beings are also raised by the Supreme, dissuading Savitri from choosing to work for the earth. But Savitri is firm and focused, saying, “I climb not to thy everlasting Day, | Even as I have shunned thy eternal Night.” She then asks the Supreme for the boons for “earth and men”. The Supreme, having tested her well, then showers all the boons and powers on her. Savitri proves to be such an instrument that the Supreme tells her that “Now will I do in thee my marvellous works.” In the seventh section the veil between Satyavan and Savitri is rent asunder and together they start their journey to the earth with the Supreme’s boons. The last section sees their descent on earth to carry on the work. Book Twelve contains three sections: Satyavan and Savitri returning to earth in their physical bodies, the return of sight and kingdom to the blind king Dyumatsena, and a description of the Night that has been given the assurance of a new and greater dawn. The author has taken pains to address many questions which arose during her classes. Her explanations helped in clarifying many difficult images and concepts in these cantos. These responses will surely enrich readers and create in them an urge to know more and delve deeper into each word and phrase of this epic poem. With its wonderful insights into the theme and thought of these cantos, surely Volume Six of The English of Savitri is as captivating as the other five volumes by the author. Written in a simple, lucid style, it maintains the tenor of the classes and makes it easy for the readers to understand and go closer to Savitri. Most definitely, this book helps us understand more deeply the theme and substance of Savitri and thus motivates us to read the epic poem again and again. —Shruti Bidwaikar Dr Bidwaikar is the Assistant Director of the Sri Aurobindo Centre for Advanced Research. She did her doctorate on Sri Aurobindo’s aesthetics and is actively involved in reading, researching, and editing study material related to the thought of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
Reviewed in February 2021 |
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