"Wonder of wonders! Didst not thou O Dronacharjya, promise me Thy crown in time should deck my brow And I be first in archery? Lo! here, some other thou hast taught A magic spell--to all unknown; Who has in secret from thee bought The knowledge, in this arrow shown!" Indignant thus Arjuna spake To his great Master when they met-- "My word, my honor, is at stake, Judge not, Arjuna, judge not yet. Come, let us see the dog "--and straight They followed up the creature's trace. They found it, in the self-same state, Dumb, yet unhurt--near Buttoo's place. A hut--_a_ statue--and a youth In the dim forest--what mean these? They gazed in wonder, for in sooth The thing seemed full of mysteries. "Now who art thou that dar'st to raise Mine image in the wilderness? Is it for worship and for praise? What is thine object? speak, confess," "Oh Master, unto thee I came To learn thy science. Name or pelf I had not, so was driven with shame, And here I learn all by myself. But still as Master thee revere, For who so great in archery! Lo, all my inspiration here, And all my knowledge is from thee." "If I am Master, now thou hast Finished thy course, give me my due. Let all the past, be dead and past, Henceforth be ties between us new." "All that I have, O Master mine, All I shall conquer by my skill, Gladly shall I to thee resign, Let me but know thy gracious will," "Is it a promise?" "Yea, I swear So long as I have breath and life To give thee all thou wilt," "Beware! Rash promise ever ends in strife." "Thou art my Master--ask! oh ask! From thee my inspiration came, Thou canst not set too hard a task, Nor aught refuse I, free from blame." "If it be so--Arjuna hear!" Arjuna and the youth were dumb, "For thy sake, loud I ask and clear, Give me, O youth, thy right-hand thumb. I promised in my faithfulness No equal ever shall there be To thee, Arjuna--and I press For this sad recompense--for thee." Glanced the sharp knife one moment high, The severed thumb was on the sod, There was no tear in Buttoo's eye, He left the matter with his God. "For this"--said Dronacharjya--"Fame Shall sound thy praise from sea to sea, And men shall ever link thy name With Self-help, Truth, and Modesty." SINDHU PART I Deep in the forest shades there dwelt A _Muni_ and his wife, Blind, gray-haired, weak, they hourly felt Their slender hold on life. No friends had they, no help or stay, Except an only boy, A bright-eyed child, his laughter gay, Their leaf-hut filled with joy. Attentive, duteous, loving, kind, Thoughtful, sedate, and calm, He waited on his parents blind, Whose days were like a psalm.