(In the village path.)
(In the village path.)
SANYASI।
Let my vows of sanyasi go. I break my staff and my alms-bowl. This stately ship, this world, which is crossing the sea of time, let it take me up again, let me join once more the pilgrims. O the fool, who wanted to seek safety in swimming alone and gave up the light of the sun and stars, to pick his way with his glow- worm's lamp! The bird flies in the sky, not to fly away into the emptiness, but to come back again to this great earth.I am free. I am free from the bodiless chain of the Nay. I am free among things, and forms and purpose. The finite is the true infinite, and love knows its truth. My girl, you are the spirit of all that is, I can never leave you.
(Enters a VILLAGE ELDER.)
(Enters a VILLAGE ELDER.)
SANYASI।
Do you know, brother, where Raghu's daughter is?
ELDER।
She has left her village, and we are glad.
SANYASI।
Where has she gone?
ELDER।
Do you ask where? It is all one to her where she goes. {Goes out. }
SANYASI।
My darling has gone to seek a somewhere in the emptiness of nowhere. She must find me.
(A crowd OF VILLAGERS enter.)
(A crowd OF VILLAGERS enter.)
FIRST MAN।
So our King's son is going to be married to-night.
SECOND MAN।
Can you tell me, when is the wedding hour?
THIRD MAN।
The wedding hour is only for the bride-groom and the bride. What have we got to do with it?
A WOMAN।
But won't they give us cakes for the happy day?
FIRST MAN।
Cakes? You are silly. My uncle lives in the town I have heard from him that we shall have curds and parched rice.
SECOND MAN।
Grand.
FOURTH MAN।
But we shall have a great deal more water than curds. You may be sure of that.
FIRST MAN।
Moti, you are a dull fellow. Water in the curds at a prince's wedding!
FOURTH MAN।
But we are not princes ourselves, Panchu. For us, poor people, the curds have the trick of turning into water most parts.
FIRST MAN।
Look there. That son of the charcoal-burner is still busy with his work. We mustn't allow that.
SECOND MAN।
We shall burn him into charcoal, if he does not come out.
SANYASI।
Do you know, any of you, where is Raghu's daughter?
THE WOMAN।
She has gone away.
SANYASI।
Where?
WOMAN।
That we don't know.
FIRST MAN।
But we are sure that she is not the bride for our prince.
{They laugh and go out.}
{They laugh and go out.}
{Enters a WOMAN, with a child.}
{Enters a WOMAN, with a child.}
WOMAN।
My obeisance to you, father. Let my child touch your feet with his head. He is sick. Bless him, father.
SANYASI।
But, daughter, I am no longer a sanyasi. Do not mock me with your salutation.
WOMAN।
Then who are you? What are you doing?
SANYASI।
I am seeking.
WOMAN।
Seeking whom?
SANYASI।
Seeking my lost world back. Do you know Raghu's daughter? Where is she?
WOMAN।
Raghu's daughter? She is dead.
SANYASI।
No, she cannot be dead. No. No.
WOMAN।
But what is her death to you. Sanyasi?
SANYASI।
Not only to me; it would be death to all.
WOMAN।
I do not understand you.
SANYASI।
She can never be dead.
(In the village path.)
SANYASI।
Let my vows of sanyasi go. I break my staff and my alms-bowl. This stately ship, this world, which is crossing the sea of time, let it take me up again, let me join once more the pilgrims. O the fool, who wanted to seek safety in swimming alone and gave up the light of the sun and stars, to pick his way with his glow- worm's lamp! The bird flies in the sky, not to fly away into the emptiness, but to come back again to this great earth.I am free. I am free from the bodiless chain of the Nay. I am free among things, and forms and purpose. The finite is the true infinite, and love knows its truth. My girl, you are the spirit of all that is, I can never leave you.
(Enters a VILLAGE ELDER.)
(Enters a VILLAGE ELDER.)
SANYASI।
Do you know, brother, where Raghu's daughter is?
ELDER।
She has left her village, and we are glad.
SANYASI।
Where has she gone?
ELDER।
Do you ask where? It is all one to her where she goes. {Goes out. }
SANYASI।
My darling has gone to seek a somewhere in the emptiness of nowhere. She must find me.
(A crowd OF VILLAGERS enter.)
(A crowd OF VILLAGERS enter.)
FIRST MAN।
So our King's son is going to be married to-night.
SECOND MAN।
Can you tell me, when is the wedding hour?
THIRD MAN।
The wedding hour is only for the bride-groom and the bride. What have we got to do with it?
A WOMAN।
But won't they give us cakes for the happy day?
FIRST MAN।
Cakes? You are silly. My uncle lives in the town I have heard from him that we shall have curds and parched rice.
SECOND MAN।
Grand.
FOURTH MAN।
But we shall have a great deal more water than curds. You may be sure of that.
FIRST MAN।
Moti, you are a dull fellow. Water in the curds at a prince's wedding!
FOURTH MAN।
But we are not princes ourselves, Panchu. For us, poor people, the curds have the trick of turning into water most parts.
FIRST MAN।
Look there. That son of the charcoal-burner is still busy with his work. We mustn't allow that.
SECOND MAN।
We shall burn him into charcoal, if he does not come out.
SANYASI।
Do you know, any of you, where is Raghu's daughter?
THE WOMAN।
She has gone away.
SANYASI।
Where?
WOMAN।
That we don't know.
FIRST MAN।
But we are sure that she is not the bride for our prince.
{They laugh and go out.}
{They laugh and go out.}
{Enters a WOMAN, with a child.}
{Enters a WOMAN, with a child.}
WOMAN।
My obeisance to you, father. Let my child touch your feet with his head. He is sick. Bless him, father.
SANYASI।
But, daughter, I am no longer a sanyasi. Do not mock me with your salutation.
WOMAN।
Then who are you? What are you doing?
SANYASI।
I am seeking.
WOMAN।
Seeking whom?
SANYASI।
Seeking my lost world back. Do you know Raghu's daughter? Where is she?
WOMAN।
Raghu's daughter? She is dead.
SANYASI।
No, she cannot be dead. No. No.
WOMAN।
But what is her death to you. Sanyasi?
SANYASI।
Not only to me; it would be death to all.
WOMAN।
I do not understand you.
SANYASI।
She can never be dead.
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