Satyawati -04 Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon
Satyawati -04
4. Mother
Father used to leave home early morning
After completing all the household chores
Leaving me nothing to do all day long
I stitched tiny dresses for my little guest.
Father did everything to make me comfortable
The little hut we built was enough
To save us from rain, heat and cold
When seasons changed in cycles
All day he fished or searched for food
Rhizomes, flowers, leaves and fruit
Which he tasted first, and if harmless
Would prompt me eat every other minute.
Always father reminded me to eat
For I have to eat not just for me, but for two
He wanted me to be cheerful always
So my child stayed healthy.
He tried to keep me happy
Never to feel the absence of my mother
We lost her many years back
To a short illness; her memories remained.
Alone all day, I just thought of her:
Though wife of a fisherman
She never ate fish, though cooked it for us
A pure vegetarian, for what I knew.
Now sitting alone in this godly isle
I wondered why. She was no fisherwoman! ! !
For unlike mothers of my neighbours
She spoke chaste language and knew Sanskrit.
She had taught me read, write and recite
A few shlokas that I could as a little girl
"Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara", she said
Be truthful and tread the path of righteousness.
"Uddharet aatman aatmanam
Na aatmanam avasadayet
Aatmasya hi aatmano bandhu-
Raatmaiva ripuraatmana."
I just remembered this shloka,
Which she recited to me often-
‘You should lead your soul to progress,
Greater heights by positive thoughts;
Never allow it to drown in a pall of gloom
For, you yourselves are your best friend
And you are your worst enemy as well
Negative energy brings in disaster for you.'
Tears welled in my eyes
I could hear my soul's cries.
I could feel her presence by my side
I wanted her aanchal for my face to hide.
I have taken some liberty while describing Satyawati's mother. Not much is mentioned about her in the epic. Raja Ravi Varma has portrayed her as just another fisherwoman.
In this poem, she has been portrayed as the source of inspiration and solace to the young girl in distress.
Transliteration:
(1) "Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara" (Sanskrit) : This is quote from Taittireeya Upanishad, meaning "Be truthful and tread the path of righteousness."
(2) The shloka "Uddharet Atman..." is the most famous message of Shrimad Bhagavat Gita. Its transliteration is given in the following lines. I have wrongly placed it on the tongue of Satyawati's mother. Chronologically, as per the epic, the Gita discourse comes much later.
Vocabulary:
1) shloka: a stanza in a poem, rendered in any of the 'sanskrit' meters.
2) Aanchal: longish corner end of a dress worn by women, used to cover head, face.
Akhtar Saheb, Thank you for your words of encouragement. Obliged. Kindly read through.
PART TWO- -Dang, this is such a turn-the-page story. I would love to see it published in book form with the kind of illustrations of your culture to drift into while reading this tale. oh,10++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ on every chapter of course.
Hi Susie, I am deeply obliged to you for such kindness and encouragement. Your words make my day. Thank you Thank You...
PART ONE....Oh, do take liberties with this tale.... I could feel the heroine of this story so much clearly through her memories of her remarkable and mysterious mother and a wise mother at that- -For, you yourselves are your best friend/And you are your worst enemy as well /Negative energy brings in disaster for you.'
- - - - Tears welled in my eyes I could hear my soul's cries. I could feel her presence by my side I wanted her aanchal for my face to hide.- - - - Wow, a young girl yearns for her mother during such a time. Countless women find themselves in similar state of mind when they're expecting. Beautifully written to the point of allowing the reader to envision and feel every line in this episode. Wonderfully written.100++++
Hi Jeanette, I have just tried to peep into the mind of the young girl. Your appreciation makes me feel that I have done it well. Thank you.
Ever So Beautifully Told! ! ! ! ! Step By Step Word By Word, So Eloquently Painted! ! ! ! ! So Deeply Heard! ! ! ! ! Thank You Ever So Much For Sharing This! ! ! ! ! Superbly Penned! ! ! ! ! Ever So Very Very Many Many 10S! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! +++++
Hi Becca, I am delighted that you are able to follow the story and enjoy the poetry.. Thank you.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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8/5/2025 5:36:31 PM # 1.0.0
Onve again I came to this poem in which the story of Satyawati, the great grand mother of Pandavas and Kourabas has been painted stunningly. Going deep into the poem I get clear picture of Satyawati's mother. Though she was a wife of fisherman yet she wasn't eating fish. She was pure vegetarian and pious lady. She knew sanskrit and taught Satyawati many slokas which put great impact upon Satyawati. Some lines may be quoted here... She had taught me read write and recite A few shlokas that I could as a little girl Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara, she said Be truthful and tread the path of righteousness. Uddharet aatman aatmanam Na aatmanam avasadayet Aatmasya hi aatmano bandhu- Raatmaiva ripuraatmana. The love of her father and the affection of her past mother are being portrayed captivatingly. Many thanks dear ES for continuing the story.