The Road to Ujjaini by Shrikant Verma Translation from Hindi by Gagan Gill and Arlene Zide, Per Contra Fall 2008

The Road to Ujjaini by Shrikant Verma Translation from Hindi by Gagan Gill and Arlene Zide

Notice to travelers wishing to go to Ujjaini:

This road doesn’t go to Ujjaini

and this is the only road going to Ujjaini

Until just yesterday I was pointing out this road

saying:

Attention: this road goes to Ujjaini

Even today I am pointing out this road

saying:

Attention: this road doesn’t go to Ujjaini

Travelers,

the truth is

every road leads to Ujjaini

and

no road goes to Ujjaini

Ujjaini is constantly gazing down the road

Ujjaini has averted its gaze from the road

Then, those who need to go to Ujjaini

where should they go?

They should go to Ujjaini

and say:

This is not Ujjaini

because we

didn’t come on the roads

that go to Ujjaini

or don’t go to Ujjaini.