To the Awakened India

The poem was written by Swami Vivekananda to Prabuddha Bharata or Awakened India, in August 1898, when the journal was transferred from Madras to Almora Himalayas, into the hands of the Brotherhood founded by Swami Vivekananda because of the untimely death of its first editor.

Prabuddha Bharata is India's longest running English journal, in publication since July 1896.

Once more awake!

For sleep it was, not death, to bring thee lifeAnew, and rest to lotus-eyes for visionsDaring yet. The world in need awaits, O Truth!No death for thee!

Resume thy march,

With gentle feet that would not break thePeaceful rest even of the roadside dustThat lies so low. Yet strong and steady,Blissful, bold, and free. Awakener, everForward! Speak thy stirring words.

Thy home is gone,

Where loving hearts had brought thee up andWatched with joy thy growth. But Fate is strong—This is the law—all things come back to the sourceThey sprung, their strength to renew.

Then start afresh

From the land of thy birth, where vast cloud-beltedSnows do bless and put their strength in thee,For working wonders new. The heavenlyRiver tune thy voice to her own immortal song ;Deodar shades give thee eternal peace.

And all above,

Himala's daughter Umâ, gentle, pure,The Mother that resides in all as PowerAnd Life, who works all works andMakes of One the world, whose mercyOpens the gate to Truth and showsThe One in All, give thee untiringStrength, which is Infinite Love.

They bless thee all,

The seers great, whom age nor climeCan claim their own, the fathers of theRace, who felt the heart of Truth the same,And bravely taught to man ill-voiced orWell. Their servant, thou hast gotThe secret—'tis but One.

Then speak, O Love!

Before thy gentle voice serene, behold howVisions melt and fold on fold of dreamsDeparts to void, till Truth and Truth aloneIn all its glory shines—

And tell the world—

Awake, arise, and dream no more!This is the land of dreams, where KarmaWeaves unthreaded garlands with our thoughtsOf flowers sweet or noxious, and noneHas root or stem, being born in naught, whichThe softest breath of Truth drives back toPrimal nothingness. Be bold, and faceThe Truth! Be one with it! Let visions cease,Or, if you cannot, dream but truer dreams,Which are Eternal Love and Service Free. (Complete Works, Volume IV)