 The poem described the heroic past of Lithuania and exhorted its people to care for the land , care for humanity , and live in honor . Kudirka also urged the country to become a source of enlightenment and virtue . Without a melody , Kudirka took the time to compose the music just before dying of tuberculosis . Both the melody and the lyrics were printed in Varpas in September 1898 . Upon his death in 1899 , Kudirka 's tomb was engraved with the second stanza of the anthem ( later destroyed by the authorities ) . 
 The poem described the heroic past of Lithuania and exhorted its people to care for the land , care for humanity , and live in honor . Kudirka also urged the country to become a source of enlightenment and virtue . Without a melody , Kudirka took the time to compose the music just before dying of tuberculosis . Both the melody and the lyrics <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> printed in Varpas in September 1898 . Upon his death in 1899 , Kudirka <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>tomb was engraved with the second stanza of the anthem ( later destroyed by the authorities ) . 
The poem described the heroic past of Lithuania and exhorted its people to care for the land , care for humanity , and live in honor . Kudirka also urged the country to become a source of enlightenment and virtue . Without a melody , Kudirka took da time to compose tdamusic just b4 dying of tuberculosis . Both thdaelody and the lyrics was printed in Varpas in September 1898 . Upon his death in 1899 , Kudirka  tomb was engraved with thedacond stanza of the anthem ( later destroyed by the authorities ) .