AT THIS TIME of my parting, wish me good luck, my friends! The sky is flushed with the dawn and my path lies beautiful.
Ask not what I have with me to take there. I start on my journey with empty hands and expectant heart.
I shall put on my wedding garland. Mine is not the red-brown dress of the traveller, and though there are dangers on the way I have no fear in my mind.
The evening star will come out when my voyage is done and the plaintive notes of the twilight melodies be struck up from the King's gateway.

জীবনের সিংহদ্বারে পশিনু যে ক্ষণে
এ আশ্চর্য সংসারের মহানিকেতনে,
সে ক্ষণ অজ্ঞাত মোর। কোন্‌ শক্তি মোরে
ফুটাইল এ বিপুল রহস্যের ক্রোড়ে
অর্ধরাত্রে মহারণ্যে মুকুলের মতো?
তবু তো প্রভাতে শির করিয়া উন্নত
যখনি নয়ন মেলি নিরখিনু ধরা
কনককিরণ-গাঁথা নীলাম্বর-পরা।
নিরখিনু সুখে-দুঃখে-খচিত সংসার,
তখনি অজ্ঞাত এই রহস্য অপার
নিমেষেই মনে হল মাতৃবক্ষসম
নিতান্তই পরিচিত, একান্তই মম।
রূপহীন জ্ঞানাতীত ভীষণ শকতি
ধরেছে আমার কাছে জননী-মুরতি।

SUDAS, THE GARDENER, plucked from his tank the last lotus left by the ravage of winter and went to sell it to the king at the palace gate.
There he met a traveller who said to him, 'Ask your price for the last lotus,-1 shall offer it to Lord Buddha.'
Sudas said. If you pay one golden masha it will be yours.'
The traveller paid it.
At that moment the king came out and he wished to buy the flower, for he was on his way to see Lord Buddha, and he thought. It would be a fine thing to lay at his feet the lotus that bloomed in winter.'
When the gardener said he had been offered a golden masha the king offered him ten, but the traveller doubled the price.
The gardener, being greedy, imagined a greater gain from him for whose sake they were bidding. He bowed and said, 1 cannot sell this lotus.'
In the hushed shade of the mango grove beyond the city wall Sudas stood before Lord Buddha, on whose lips sat the silence of love and whose eyes beamed peace like the morning star of the dew-washed autumn.
Sudas looked in his face and put the lotus at his feet and bowed his head to the dust.
Buddha smiled and asked, 'What is your wish, my son?'
Sudas cried, The least touch of your feet.'