Dancing Stream

Dancing stream, with a sprightly step

Jumps to river, of a steady gait

Nature fickle, when that's lost

Future met, is the ocean vast!

Forts of Shivaji

डोंगर द-या नि घनदाट झाडी

शिव - मित्र भव्य हा सह्याद्री

कड़े कपारे गड आगळे
आधार स्वराज्याचे हे निराळे

This verse refers to the manner in which the Sahyadri Mountains came to the use of Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj establishment of Self Rule, more than 300 years ago. The difficult mountain terrain and the various forts on top of these mountains were a great support for the enormous task that was accomplished by him and his trusted people. The painting is of Sinhagad at sunrise, one of the many forts. Loosely tranlsated, the verse means:

Mountain, valley and forest dense

Friend of Shivaji, the magnificent Sahyadri

Sheer drops, deep crevices and the special forts

Unusual supports are they, of the Self Rule