|
Act Three
SCENE I
Hermitage of the Saint Bharat in Heaven.
Galava and Pelava.
GALAVA
Pelava, thee the Sage admitted, happier
Chosen, to that great audience in the house
Of highest Indra — I meanwhile must watch
The sacred flame; inform my absence. Was
The divine session with the acting pleased ?
PELAVA
Of pleased I know not; this I well could see
They sat all lost in that poetic piece
Of Saraswatie, "Luxmie’s Choice" — breathlessly
Identified themselves with every mood.
But—
GALAVA
Ah, that but! It opens doors to censure.
PELLAVA
Yes, Urvasie was heedless, missed her word.
GALAVA
How? how?
PELAVA
She acted Luxmie; Menaka
Was Varunie; who asking, "Sister, see,
The noble and the beautiful of Heaven,
And Vishnu and the guardians of the worlds.
To whom does thy heart go mid all these glories?"
Page –– 951
Urvasie should have answered ‘Purushottam,’
But from her lips ‘Pururavas’ leaped forth.
GALAVA
Our organs are the slaves of fate and doom!
Was not the great Preceptor angry ?
PELAVA
Yes;
He cursed her, but high Indra blessed.
GALAVA
What blessing?
PELAVA
"Since thou hast wronged my teaching and my fame,
For thee no place in Heaven" — so frowned the Sage.
Heaven’s monarch marked her when the piece was ended,
Drooping, her sweet face bowed with shame, and said,
With gracious brows, "Since thou hast fixed thy heart
Upon my friend and strong ally in war,
I will do both a kindness. Go to him
And love and serve him as thy lord until
A child is got in thee and he behold
His offspring’s face."
GALAVA
O nobly this became
Indra; he knows to value mighty hearts.
PELAVA
(looking at the Sun)
Look, in our talk if we have not transgressed
Our teacher’s hour for bathing. Galava,
We should be at his side.
GALAVA
Let us make haste.
They go out.
Page –– 952
|