화유기 2

(Hwayugi 2)

On the occasion of Vijayadaśami, and the departure of the Goddess, I wrote this summary of the mythological Korean Drama Hwayugi in Sanskrit, dedicating it to the Goddess Gwan-eum (Sanskrit: Avalokitasvarā) who secretly controls the plot of this story in the form of 'the peddler'. May the Goddess bless us all.

धर्मार्थकामदां देवीं नमामि शोकनाशिनीं ।
निर्वाणरूपांवरदां आर्यामवलोकितस्वराम् ।।

I bow to the noble Goddess Avalokitasvarā, who is the provider of dharma, artha and kāma, the destroyer of grief, the granter of boons and the embodiment of nirvāṇa.

बन्ध्नासित्वं हरिश्रेष्ठं चञ्चलं प्रीतिनिग्रहे ।
येनसः रतिमान्लेभे दैवैपि विजयं शुभम् ।।

You bind the best of monkeys, who is capricious, in the bonds of love, owing to which the smitten one achieves victory even over fate.

याजातातवप्रसादेन अहिंहन्यतेतया ।
सुबोधिनः च देवानाम् सिध्यतैवतारया ।। 

The dragon is slain by the woman born by your grace; (the mission) of Subodhi and the Gods is accomplished by that Avatar.

सुरासुरयोः मध्येत्वं संधिंघटयसिप्रियम् ।
रक्षसि वृशभपुत्रं क्षमसेतस्यमातरम् ।।

You cause a delightful union between the Gods and Monsters; you protect the son of the Bull and forgive his mother (i.e. the Bull's wife).

एषा कथा रमणीया कीर्तिभिः तव प्रेरिता ।
विरचिता हङ् स्वसृभ्यां भासतांमेहृदिसदा ।।

May this gratifying tale inspired by your exploits and composed by the two Hong sisters always shine in my heart.

Note: Feedback on errors in my Sanskrit composition are welcome. 

화유기

(Hwayugi)

Invocation

तुष्यत देव देवेश अन्याः श्रेष्ठाः च द्वादशाः ।
मोक्षयात तापात्दीनान्  श्रेयसि यान्तु ते सदा ।।

Tale

I dreamt I was Indiana Jones
Chased by a rolling stone
But the tunnel was a Mobius strip
And there was no way back home

The ceiling was broken in parts
Opening out to the sky

But for the purpose of escape
It was just a bit too high

On and on and on again
I ran then fell then walked
As soon as I thought it was gone
The stubborn stone appeared

Unable to run, unable to rest
Too hopeful to die
I was trapped in this cycle
Too weary even to cry

Cornered then I had no choice
But to turn around and look
And observe my nemesis
As the ground it shook

And I found the boulder then
Was of a curious sort
Just slow enough to outrun
But too fast for comfort

So placing my trust in my brains
And my heart in my hand
I braced myself for impact
Making it my last stand

Lo and behold! The boulder bold
Stopped right there in its track
The walls all came tumbling down
And I woke up on my back

This parable that Morpheus wove
I do now understand,
The Gods may write a cruel fate
But not one we can’t stand

With pluck and smarts and faith besides
All doom is overcome
The monkey with the heart of stone
Will to the monk succumb

Epilogue

I am no good at verse or to converse (to), but around good company I begin to think that although no meteor may cross my sky, the stars will always be bright.