Gladiators, I salute you.

[Guest guest]

(With Love to Maximus Decimus Meridius – The Gladiator who inspired me to tell

these words to myself)

 

Canto - 1

 

WAR UNLEASHED

 

2005

At the height of its power, the Sai Empire is vast,

Stretching from the East to the West of the earth

You could see the horizon, the day when,

Not in every house, but in every inch,

The Name of Sathya Sai would reverberate

 

Umpteen people have lived under the direct shade of His Love

Wrote to us in books, the fortune and bliss they were blessed with, and died.

 

On the 23rd of November, 2005 AD,

The campaign of God against Adharma would be 80 years.

Just one final stronghold stands in the way of our Victory

And the promise of peace through-out the Empire

---- THE MAYA

 

Let's take a break, my fellowmen, from the haste of the running world,

Monday-to-Sunday, Monday-to-Sunday

Take a break and walk in the lush paddy fields,

Among the giggles of the children and swaying breezes

In the tranquil music of our soul,

Let's ponder for a moment, "Why are we here? What are we fighting for?"

 

The birds live, the animals live and we live.

What for?

Ponder and prepare

Ourselves for the war that's gonna begin within a few minutes.

And when you come back to the war,

Come back with STRENGTH AND HONOR

 

The horses are whinnying,

The shouts of fellow warriors warming up for the battle are touching the skies,

The day light is fading, but not our spirits,

Our King Sai is looking at us,

He has confidence in us, the Generals of His armies

 

Not all men on earth have the fortune of recognizing Him,

Yet they are part of His Army.

Though they cannot reach to Him directly,

they get His Message through us.

 

The world gets His Message through us.

We are the CHOSEN ONES.

 

We set the examples and lead,

and thus the Sai principle flourishes,

People salute us and we salute Our Emperor.

 

When men are worried are frenzied,

Tell them everything would be alright.

Pat their backs and fill them with fresh vigour.

Tell them we are gonna win the war.

Cuz you know nothing is invincible,

When you have the Name of Sathya Sai in your heart.

You know it, don't you?

 

Ask them, "Are the hardships in life bothering you too much?

They would know when they are conquered."

 

Touch and smell the dust out of which the body is born and going to return,

Shout, "STRENGTH AND HONOR"

At His signal, the war would be unleashed now,

In a few moments.

 

Few days from now, the war would be over,

We would have slain Maya and be back in our heaven,

Bliss and bliss everywhere,

Imagine where you will be and it will be so.

 

If you find the pleasures and pains of the world afflicting you,

If the hope for some better day with your temporary families and momentary friends

Stops you from giving the best this very moment...

Do not be troubled, my fellow generals,

Just remind youself of the fact: "We are in Elysium, and we are already dead."

 

Brothers, what we do in life, echoes in eternity.

 

Archers, ignite.

Draw your bows and release the arrows.

Of discrimination and devotion.

 

We are too strong for the Maya, aren't we?

It is unsophisticated, weak and ignorant.

But our weaponry is full and affluent

His Bhajans, His Leelas,

His stories and memories,

The very thought of Him which fills energy immeasurable,

Don't you see that it's not a match between you and Maya?

 

Just hold the line and follow the commands of the Emperor,

The General of we generals.

 

And no sooner it would be "SAI VICTORY"

 

The End of Canto - 1