I ventured deep in to the mysteries of mother forest alone,
when I was free from fears of every kind and sweet delusions,
ancient trees recognized me instantly, from some other life past,
and sung me songs when I sat exhausted,their fruits tasted sweet
made me realize how aftermath of every karma returns to one
at a time unexpected; fruits either sweet or bitter they bring.
Under the shades, of trees,hearing the lullabies they sung
I slept forgetting the wars won or lost in the past, immaterial
all that now seemed
Those trees in their love reminded my mother.
I didn't care when I lost the path,in fact, is there a path in the forest?
All paths lead to one destination, there isn't any other,nothing to worry.
Forest with her thousand hands embraced me and said:
"Every king one day, has to take his heavy crown from his head
put down and walk this path wearing dress made of leaves"
There weren't any footsteps fallowing me here, I didn't expect any.
*Vanaprastha,(in Sanskrit) literally means retiring in to forest, the third of the four stages (Ashramas)of life envisioned in the Hindu tradition.
Begining with "Brahmacharya"--(celebate student seeking the ultimate truth through knowledge)"Garhastya"--(married house holder carrying out family responsibilities)Vanaprastha(contemplative forest life) and" Sannyasa"(Renaunciation, ascetic life till the end)