Translated into English by Saravanan Karmegam
***
Chapter
38: Life in jungle
Pandian was sitting on a chair
under teak tree. The silvery stars on the sky gleamed, smiled. The waxing
crescent was throwing its cool light. The foliage around shone in golden green.
The fragrance of jasmine flowers was wafting in the air. Sweeter fragrance…pleasant
wind…pleasing moon light.
The thought of his village came
over his mind, and proved it depressingly heavy. My village…Sinna Mangalam…Madurai…Sinna
Mangalam…Madurai…I have to go back to my place. No more guns….no more jungles….no
more hidings…The life in jungle is meant for only animals and barbarians. I
need my friends, women, books, and pleasing scenes on streets.
The roars from the sea of trees
surrounding him so closely, oppressively rose up a music of forest in the air.
I can’t live in jungle anymore. It is not for me. I am a social animal. It is
wrong to live alone, having differences with loved ones. It is good to have a
peaceful and beautiful life with our people.
He rose, ran his fingers through
his hair. Enough of this jungle life living like a beggar. I must go back home
without any more delay. My trials in seeking pleasures and facing life with
uncertainty are more for this young age. I have defiled my body with
bad habits, but still able to retain my mind pure. My mental purity would bring
me back the purity of my body which I had lost. Body is the basis of healthy
life. If body gets defiled, mind would also get spoilt. I would like to lead a
life of peace. What I need is a life with good conduct. Without good conduct,
there will be no prosperity in life. “Right conduct exalts one; it should be prized
above one’s life”.
***Chapter
38: “Life in jungle” ended***
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