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diff --git a/22782.txt b/22782.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e66ffb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/22782.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3666 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Buddha, by Paul Carus + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Buddha + A Drama in Five Acts and Four Interludes + +Author: Paul Carus + +Release Date: September 27, 2007 [EBook #22782] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BUDDHA *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Sankar Viswanathan, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + The spelling and accents of Sanskrit names is not consistent in + the book. The Table of Contents is not part of the original book. + + + + THE BUDDHA + + A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS AND + + FOUR INTERLUDES + + + BY + + PAUL CARUS + + + + CHICAGO + + THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING CO. + + LONDON: 149 Strand + + 1913 + + * * * * * + + + + + CONTENTS + + + DIRECTIONS TO THE STAGE MANAGER. + + CAST OF CHARACTERS. + + GLOSSARY OF FOREIGN TERMS. + + ACT I. + + ACT II. + + ACT III. + + ACT IV. + + ACT V. + + * * * * * + + + + +DIRECTIONS TO THE STAGE MANAGER. + + +The scenery can be made very attractive by both historical accuracy +and a display of Oriental luxury, but the drama may easily be +performed with simple means at a small cost without losing its +dramatic effect. Some of the changes, however, should be very rapid. +The interludes can be replaced by lantern slide pictures, or may be +omitted. + +If the interludes are retained there need not be any intermission in +the whole drama. + +The music for the Buddha's Hymn of Victory, pages 5 and 39 (see _The +Open Court_, XIX, 49); the dirge on page 19, (_Open Court_, XIX, 567); +Yasodhara's Song, page 37 (_Open Court_, XVIII, 625); and the +Doxology, page 63 and at the end (_Open Court_, XVIII, 627), may be +found in a collection entitled _Buddhist Hymns_ (Chicago, Open Court +Publishing Co., 1911). + +COPYRIGHT BY + +THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING CO. + +1913 + + * * * * * + + +CAST OF CHARACTERS. + +_All vowels to be pronounced as in Italian._ + + +Siddhattha Gotama, Prince of the Sakyas, later on the Buddha _B_ + +Suddhodana, King of the Sakyas, father of Siddhattha _S_ + +Pajapati, Queen of the Sakyas, aunt and stepmother of + Siddhattha _P_ + +Princess Yasodhara, Siddhattha's wife _Y_ + +Rahula, Yasodhara's son _R_ + +Devadatta, brother of Yasodhara _Dd_ + +Kala Udayin, a gardener's son _K_ + +Gopa, Yasodhara's maid _G_ + +Visakha, a Brahman, Prime Minister of Suddhodana _V_ + +Devala, a Sakya Captain _D_ + +Bimbisara, King of Magadha _Bb_ + +Ambapali, King Bimbisara's favorite _Ap_ + +Nagadeva, Prime Minister of Magadha, leader of an embassy _N_ + +General Siha, in the service of King Bimbisara _GS_ + +Jeta, Prince of Northern Kosala _J_ + +Anatha Pindika, a wealthy man of Savattha _A_ + +Mara, the Evil One _M_ + +Channa, Prince Siddhattha's groom _Ch_ + +Master of Ceremonies at Magadha _Mc_ + +General Siha's Captain _C_ + +A Brahman Priest _Pr_ + +A Farmer _F_ + +Servant _St_ + +Ministers, Officers, Soldiers, Trumpeters, Villagers, A Shepherd. + Singers: Mara's Daughters, Angels, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. + + * * * * * + + + + +GLOSSARY OF FOREIGN TERMS. + + +Buddha, the Enlightened One, the Saviour. + +Bodhi, enlightenment or wisdom. + +Bodhisatta, a seeker of the bodhi, one who endeavors to become a +Buddha. + +Bodhi tree, the tree under which Buddha acquires enlightenment. + +Muni, thinker or sage. + +Sakyamuni, the Sage of the Sakyas, the Buddha. + +Tathagata, a title of Buddha, which probably means "The Perfect +One," or "he who has reached completion." + +Nirvana (in Pali, "Nibbana") eternal bliss. + +Kapilavatthu, capital of the Sakyas. + +Kosala, an Indian state divided into Northern and Southern Kosala. + +Savatthi, capital of Northern Kosala. + +Jetavana, the pleasure garden of Prince Jeta at Savatthi. + +Magadha, a large kingdom in the Ganges Valley. + +Rajagaha, capital of Magadha. + +Uruvela, a place near Benares. + +Arada and U'draka, two philosophers. + +Licchavi, a princely house of Vesali. + +Nirgrantha (lit. "liberated from bonds"), a name adopted by the +adherents of the Jaina sect. + +Indra, in the time of Buddha worshiped by the people as the most +powerful god. + +Issara, the Lord, a name of God Indra. + +Yama, the god of death. + +Kali, a Brahman goddess, called also Durga. + + * * * * * + + + + +ACT I. + +FIRST SCENE. + +[A tropical garden in Kapilavatthu, in the background mountains, at a +distance the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. On the right near the +front a marble bench surrounded with bushes. Further back the palace +entrance of the Raja's residence. Above the entrance a balcony. On the +left a fortified gate with a guard house; all built luxuriously in +antique Indian style.] + + + _Present_: SUDDHODANA, _the king_ (_S_); PAJAPATI, _the + queen_ (_P_), _and the minister of state_ VISAKHA (_V_). + +_S._ My son Siddhattha truly loves his wife, +And since their wedlock has been blessed by this +Sweet, promising, this hale and healthy child, +His melancholy will give way to joy, +And we reclaim his noble energies +To do good service for our race and state. +New int'rests and new duties give new courage +And thus this babe will prove his father's saviour +For he will tie his soul to life again. + +_P._ I fear his grief lies deeper than you think. + +_S._ What sayest thou, my trusty counselor? + +_V._ This is the last hope which I have for him, +I followed your advice and tried all means +To cure Siddhattha of his pensive mood. +I taught him all that will appeal to man: +The sports of youth, the joy of poetry +And art, the grandeur of our ancient lore, +The pleasures e'en of wanton sense; but naught +Would satisfy the yearnings of his heart. + +_S._ Yet for religion he shows interest: +He ponders on the problems of the world. + +_V._ Indeed he ponders on life's meaning much, +Investigates the origin of things +But irreligious are his ways of thought. +He shows no reverence for Issara, +And Indra is to him a fairy tale. +He grudgeth to the gods a sacrifice +And sheddeth tears at immolated lambs. +Oh no! he's not religious. If he were, +His ills could easily be cured by faith, +By confidence in Issara, the Lord. + +_S._ What then is your opinion of the case? + +_V._ Siddhattha is a youth of rarest worth, +And he surpasseth men in every virtue +Except in one.--He is too independent: +He recognizeth no authority, +Neither of men nor gods. He suffereth +[_More and more impressively_] +From the incurable disease of thought. + +_S._ Cure thought with thought, teach him philosophy, +Show him the purpose of our holy writ. +Instruct him in the meaning of the Vedas, +Reveal to him their esoteric sense. + +_V._ My lord, I did, but he is critical, +He makes objections and will not believe. +He raises questions which I cannot answer, +And his conclusions are most dangerous. + +_P._ It seems to me that you exaggerate; +Siddhattha is not dangerous. He is +As gentle as my sister was, his mother, +And almost overkind to every one. + +_V._ I know, my gracious lady, but e'en kindness +May harmful be, if it is out of place. + +_S._ I see no danger in his gentle nature. + +_V._ But he lacks strength, decision, warlike spirit. + +_S._ That cometh with maturer years. + +_V._ I doubt it: +Your son, my Lord, not only hath no faith +In holy writ, neither does he believe +In caste-distinction, and he would upset +The sanctioned order of our institutions. +He would abolish sacrifice and holdeth +The Brahman ritual in deep contempt. + +_S._ Your words alarm me. + +_V._ Rightly so; I fear +That he will stir the people to rebellion; +But since a child is born to him, his mind +May turn from dreams to practical affairs. +There are some men who care not for themselves, +Who scorn high caste, position, wealth and honor, +So far as they themselves may be concerned, +But they are anxious for their children's fortune, +And so Siddhattha soon may change his views. + +_S._ Let us be patient for a while yet longer. +Keep everything unpleasant out of sight, +Invite him merry company. Remove +His gloomy cousin Devadatta. He tries +To reach a state of bliss by fasts, +His very play is penance and contrition. + +_P._ Ananda is a better boon companion, +He is not so morose as Devadatta. + +_S._ Neither is he the right friend for my son. +I grant he has a loving disposition, +But he is pensive too. Surround Siddhattha +With lads such as the gardner's jolly son, +Kala Udayin. Like a lark he warbles! +Would there were more like him. He jokes and laughs +And never makes a sullen face. But tell me +How is to-day Kala Udayin's father? + +_V._ His sickness turns from bad to worse. I fear +He cannot live. + +_S._ [_with concern_] Have him removed from here; +Siddhattha likes him much and if he knew +Udayin's sorry fate, it might undo +All good effects of joyful fatherhood. + +_V._ The best will be to move him in the night. + +_S._ Move him by night, and do it soon.--But hush, +Yasodhara is coming with her babe. + + YASODHARA (_Y_) _and two attendant maids, one carries an + umbrella, shading the Princess; the other,_ GOPA (_G_), + _carries the infant_. + +_P._ [_meets her and kisses her._] +Welcome, thou sweetest flower of our garden, +Thou ray of sunshine in Siddhattha's life. + +_S._ My dearest daughter! how is Rahula? + +_Y._ My royal father, Rahula is growing, +And he increases daily in his weight; +To-day he smiled at me most cunningly. +I'll lay him down, for he is fast asleep. + + _All enter the palace. The stage remains empty a moment. + Soft, serious music (Buddha's "Hymn of Victory") is heard._ + + +SECOND SCENE. + + + SIDDHATTHA (_B_) _and_ KALA UDAYIN (_K_) _enter_. + +_K._ My sweet Prince, when you are king you must appoint me court +jester. Will you, my good Lord? We two are good contrasts: You full of +dignity upon a royal throne, a golden crown upon your head, the +scepter in your hand, and I dressed in motley with cap and bells. +Heigh ho! That will be jolly. And after all we are so much alike! + +_B._ A royal crown shall never grace my head. + +_K._ And why should it not, sweet Prince? + +_B._ I have a higher aim, a greater mission. +What is a kingdom? What are wealth and power? +What crown and scepter? They are transient things, +I yearn for the Immortal state, Nirvana. + +_K._ Then wilt thou be a Buddha? Oh, even then will I follow thee. + + _He kneels down with clasped hands._ + + Wilt thou a holy Buddha be, + O keep me in thy company + Though I'm a jester. I'll be good. + Let me attain beatitude. + +_B._ Rise Kala, rise, I am a mortal man, +I'm not omniscient, nor have I yet +Attained the goal of goals, enlightenment.-- +Tell me, why dost thou think we are alike? + +_K._ My Lord, you have no ambition to be a king; you think the world +is full of vanity, and you consider that life and its glory will pass +away. That is exactly what I think. I agree with you. Only, you are of +a serious disposition and take the matter to heart, while I think it +is great fun. What is the use of thinking so much. We are all like +bubbles: we float in the air, and then the bubble bursts and this life +is over. I am now a poor boy. I fear no change. In a future +incarnation I may be born as the son of a king, like you. And think +of it, after a few million years, this whole world, this big bulky +stupid institution, this home of so many villains, and a couple of +good ones like us two among them, the theater of rascalities, of +vanities, of follies, will be scattered to the winds, as if it had +never existed. Be merry, my Prince, so long as the comedy lasts. + + DEVADATTA (_Dd._) _appears in the background. + His cheeks are sunken and his face is gloomy. + His eye has a fanatic expression._ + +_B._ Consider, it may prove a tragedy. + +_K._ Let it be what it may be. To me it will be what I think it is. It +is a huge joke. + +_B._ But who will laugh at it, my friend? + +_K._ I will. + +_B._ Kala, the time will come when thou wilt weep. + +_K._ Well then? And if I weep I shall shed tears. + + Tears are a sweet relief + In anguish pain and grief. + I'll make the best of all, + Whatever may befall. + +_B._ Thy prattle seemeth foolish, but it hideth +A deep philosophy. + +_K._ Why then, good Lord, +Why wilt thou not its merry lesson learn? + +_B._ Good Kala listen, and thou'lt understand: +There is a difference between our aims: +Thou clingest to this world of transiency, +But I seek the Etern. Thou seest not +The misery of life, for thou art happy-- +Happy at least at present, though the next +Moment may find thee writhing in lament. +I seek a place of refuge whence I can +Extend my hand to help those in distress. +I will attain the state of Buddhahood +To bring deliverance to all mankind. + +_Dd._ Why do you waste your time, Siddhattha, with this frivolous lad? +What profit can there be in gossip such as you two carry on? + +_K._ You always scold, you hollow-eyed sour face! You always moralize. +Even your good brother-in-law is too worldly for you. + +_Dd._ I did not speak to you, I addressed myself to Siddhattha. + +_B._ Udayin has a heart, a human heart, +And all my sympathy goes out to him. + +_Dd._ If you intend to lead a religious life and go into homelessness, +you had better devote yourself to fasts and contemplations. + +_K._ You do not talk to me, but I will talk to you, and I will tell +you that in all your religious exercises you think of yourself, while +Siddhattha thinks of others. I wish you would go into homelessness. +Nobody would miss you here. + + _Addressing himself to_ SIDDHATTHA. + +But, good my Lord, you must not go into homelessness, because you will +do more harm than good. + +_B._ How can that be, my good Kala Udayin? + +_K._ There comes your noble wife, Yasodhara. + + YASODHARA _comes, her maids with umbrellas keep at a + respectful distance_. + +_Y._ Come see our boy, he is a lovely child; +He just woke up. He maketh you forget, +The sad thoughts of your heart on world and life, +For he, the darling babe, is life himself. + + KALA _flirts with_ GOPA, _one of_ YASODHARA'S _maids_. + +_B._ I'll follow thee at once. + +_Y._ [_Addressing Devadatta_] +And brother, will you come along? + +_Dd._ Not I. +This child is but the beginning of new misery. It continues the old +error in the eternal round on the wheel of life. + + _She goes into the house._ DEVADATTA _withdraws into the + garden_. + +_B._ Now Kala speak. + +_K._ O Prince Siddhattha, do not go into homelessness, do not leave +us. I cannot live without you. You are my comfort, my teacher, my +guide. I do not follow your instructions, but I love to hear them. Oh +I could not live without you. Do not go, sweet Prince. Think of your +wife, your dear good lovely wife, it will break her heart. Think of +your child. Do not go, noble Prince. Let somebody else become the +saviour of the world. Somebody else can just as well become the +deliverer and the Buddha. I am sure there are many who would like to +fill that place, and somebody can do it who has a less comfortable +home to leave, who has a less lovely wife, who is not heir to a +kingdom, and who has not such a sweet promising little boy as you +have. I cannot live without you. + +_B._ Wouldst thou go with me? + +_K._ [_kneels_] Yes my Lord, I would. +Take me along and I will cheer you up. + +_B._ Wouldst thou go begging food from house to house? +With bowl in hand, a homeless mendicant? + +_K._ No sir, that would not suit me. + +_B._ Wouldst thou by night sleep under forest trees? + +_K._ No sir, I would catch cold. That's not for me. [_Rises_] If you +needs must go, sir, you had better go alone. That life is not for me. +I will go and hear the nightingale. + + SIDDHATTHA _follows the Princess into the palace_. + +_K._ A Buddha's life + Is not for every one. + He has no wife + No pleasure and no fun. + He cannot laugh, + He cannot cry; + He cannot love + He cannot sigh. + He's always preaching, preaching. + He's always teaching, teaching. + He wonders at time's transiency + And ponders on man's misery, + And findeth his salvation + In dreary resignation. + That life I see + Is not for me: + 'Twould be ill spent; + I would not find enlightenment. + I lift not the world's woe + And in my quest for truth would fail + [_Muses a moment._] + So I had better go + And listen to the nightingale. + + _KALA UDAYIN exit._ + + [During the last scene twilight has gradually set in.] + + +THIRD SCENE. + +[The scene changes by open curtain. A veil comes down, and when its +goes up again we see the bed chamber of Siddhattha and Yasodhara dimly +lit by tapers.] + + + _YASODHARA (Y) on the bed with babe in arms, two maids in + waiting. SIDDHATTHA (B) comes in. A halo of light (not too + strong) surrounds his head. The princess rises, lays the babe + down and advances toward her husband._ + +_Y._ O good my Lord, my Prince, my Husband! + + _A pause. She changes her voice as if ashamed of her show of + feeling. With a matter-of-fact intonation._ + +Rahula fell asleep again. + +_B._ Why art thou sad, my good Yasodhara? +I see a tear that glitters in thine eye. + +_Y._ An unspeakable melancholy steals over my soul when +I hear you speak of your religious longings. + +_B._ Wouldest thou not rejoice if I fulfilled +My mission; if I reached the highest goal? + +_Y._ Oh! Siddhattha! you do not love me. + +_B._ My heart embraces all the world--and thee. + +_Y._ If you loved me truly, there would not be much room for all the +world. You think of the world all day long, and have not a minute's +time for your wife. + +_B._ I have, my dear! + +_Y._ My noble Husband! + +_B._ Speak! + +_Y._ Scarcely do I dare to call you by that name. You are kind and +gentle, but for a husband you are too lofty, too distant in your +dignity. It may be wrong in me, it may be sinful, but I wish you were +less lofty and more loving. + +_B._ My dearest "Wife," I call thee so on purpose-- +My dearest "Wife," thou dost not understand: +The misery and ills of all the world +Weigh heavy on my heart. I'll find no peace +Until at last a remedy be found. + +_Y._ Why dost thou trouble about others? Think of thy son, thy +sweetest Rahula, and if thou lovest me a little only, think of me. + +_B._ I think of thee, my loving Wife, but when +I think of thee I think of all--of all +The loving wives, the happy trembling mothers +All over in the world. Happy they are, +But trembling for their babes. Oh! bear in mind, +We all are in the net of sorrow caught. +This world is full of pain, disease and death; +And even death brings no relief. Because +The wheel of life rolls on. The ills continue +In births that constantly repeat themselves. + +_Y._ Oh! do not speak of it my Lord, it makes me sad. Why do you think +of misery, while here we are surrounded by wealth and comfort, and +even the prospects of our future are most auspicious. Why borrow +trouble before it comes? + +_B._ My dear Yasodhara, change is the law +Of being. Now we prosper, but the wheel +Goes round and brings the high into the dust. + +_Y._ You suffer from bad dreams; + +_B._ Listen to me. + + _They sit down._ + +In this luxurious palace and these gardens, +Surrounding it, was I brought up with care. +I saw naught but the fair, the beautiful, +The pleasant side of life. + +_Y._ I know, Siddhattha-- +I know it very well. + +_B._ You know, my father +Has kept me ignorant of evil things. +I might have thought that such is life throughout, +But I began to doubt and asked for leave +To see the world outside these palace walls. +Not without difficulty did I gain +Permission, and with Channa in a chariot +I drove away--when suddenly before me +I saw a sight I'd never seen before. +There was a man with wrinkled face, bleared eyes, +And stooping gait, a sight most pitiable. + + _YASODHARA is much moved._ + +While I was horror-struck, Channa passed by +Indifferent, for _he_ had seen such men. +Too well he knew the common fate of all; +But I, the first time in my life, did learn +That, _if_ we but live long enough, we all +Shall be such miserable wretched dotards. + +_Y._ Too sudden came this saddening truth to you. + +_B._ Channa sped on his horses out of town, +But there again! what an ungainly sight! +A man lay on the road-side, weak and helpless, +With trembling frame and feverish cramps. +I shut mine eyes to so much racking pain, +Still I could hear his groaning and his moaning. +"Oh, Channa," said I to the charioteer: +"Why does this happen? How deserves this man +The wretchedness of his great agonies?" +"How do I know?" said Channa, "for we all +Are subject to distemper and disease. +Sometimes the best are stricken--and must die!" +"Must die?" cried I, "What does that word portend?" +For, you must know, I never heard of death. +My father had forbidden, at his court +To speak to me of anything unpleasant. +"Yea, die!" said Channa, "Look around and see!" +Along the road a funeral procession +Moved slowly, solemnly and mournfully +And on the bier a corpse, stark, stiff and cold. + +_Y._ Do not be troubled, death is still far off. + +_B._ Oh do not feel secure, for the three evils +Surround us constantly and everywhere, +And even now death hovers o'er our house. +When I was born my mother went to heaven, +Which means, she died when she gave life to me. + +_Y._ My Lord don't think of evils that are past. + +_B._ The world's impermanence is still the same, +And all material things are conformations +Subject to pain, decay and dissolution. +Yet unconcerned in blessed carelessness +Man hunteth after pleasure. Transiency +Has set its mark on life, and there is none +Who can escape its curse. There is no mortal +Who's always happy. Misery surprises +The luckiest with unexpected terror. +Then, in addition, unseen powers breed +Most heinous maladies and fever heat. +E'en if we were exceptions, thou must grant +That finally we too will meet our doom. +The ghastly specter Death, the stern king Yama, +Awaiteth all of us. Such is our fate! + +_Y._ O put away these gloomy thoughts, and think +Of life and love, and of thy lovely child. + +_B._ Could we be truly happy while the world +Is filled with misery? Mine eyes are opened; +I see how death his gruesome revel holds. +He owns the world and sways its destinies. +One creature ruthlessly preys on the other, +And man, the cleverest, preys on them all. +Nor is he free, for man preys upon man! +Nowhere is peace, and everywhere is war; +Life's mighty problem must be solved at last.-- +I have a mission to fulfil. + +_Y._ And me +Wouldst sacrifice for a philosophy, +For the idea of an idle quest! + +_B._ 'Tis not for me to ask whether my quest +Be vain: for me 'tis to obey the call. + +_Y._ [_with passionate outburst_] Siddhattha, O my Lord, my husband, +what wilt thou do? Dost thou forget the promise made me on our wedding +day? + +_B_. Yasodhara, a higher duty calls. +The time will come, and it is close at hand, +When I shall wander into homelessness. +I'll leave this palace and its splendid gardens +I'll leave the pleasures of this world behind +To go in quest of Truth, of saving Truth. + + _YASODHARA sinks on her knees before him and clasps his + knees._ + +_Y._ And me, my Lord, thy quest will make a widow! +Oh, stay, and build thee here a happy home. + +_B._ My dear Yasodhara, it cannot be. + + _The Prince stands lost in thought. Rahula is restless. + YASODHARA rises and turns toward the child._ + +_Y_. He wakes again. I come, my babe, I come. + +[The veil comes down again, and when it rises it shows the garden +before the palace as in the first scene, but it is night and all is +wrapped in darkness.] + + +FOURTH SCENE. + + +_King SUDDHODANA (S) and his minister VISAKHA (V) come out of the +entrance._ _Later on Captain DEVALA (D) and soldiers._ + +_S._ Unfortunate, most unfortunate, that Udayin died. Siddhattha will +miss the gardener and will ask for him. + +_V._ The Prince loves flowers, and he knows them all by name; he loves +trees and shrubs, and praises them for yielding fruit and grain for +feeding us without the need of shedding blood. + +_S._ Have the body removed so long as it is dark. + +_V_. The moon is full to-day and must rise in a little while. + +_S._ Double the guards at the gate. I am afraid my son will flee. It +would be a disgrace on my house to have him become a mendicant. The +kings of Kosala, of Magadha, and all the others look with envy on our +sturdy people; they dislike our free institutions and our warlike +spirit. They would scoff at us if a Sakya prince had become a monk. +But if Siddhattha does flee, I swear by Lord Indra that I shall disown +him; I will no longer recognize him as my son. I will disinherit him +and make Rahula my heir apparent. + + _VISAKHA looks at SUDDHODANA in amazement._ + +_S_. I am serious and I will do it. I swore an oath, and Issara will +help me to keep it. Now go to the captain of the guards and do as I +bid you. + + _Exit. The Minister alone._ + +_V._ Oh! What a chance for me! Siddhattha will flee, if he be not +prevented; he will be disinherited. Rahula is a babe, and it will take +twenty years before he grows up to manhood.--[_He muses._] I may +proceed on different lines, and one of them must certainly lead to +success. I may marry the Princess and become the stepfather of the +heir apparent, his guardian, the man who has him in his power--Hm! Hm! +I need not plan too far ahead. And if that plan did not work, the King +of Magadha would make me raja of the Sakyas, if I would recognize him +as my liege. + + _The full moon rises and the scene becomes gradually + brighter. VISAKHA knocks at the gate._ + +Who is on guard? + + _Officer comes out._ + +_D._ I am, my Lord, 'tis Captain Devala. + +_V._ 'Tis well. King Suddhodana requests you to double your guard +to-night, for he has reasons. Further he wants you to remove the +corpse of Udayin, the gardener who died to-day of an infectious +disease. Be on your guard, for where a dead body lies there are +ghosts--and [_in a half whisper_] when you see demons or gods, keep +yourselves, you and your men, locked up in the guard house, and the +spook will pass without harm. + +_D._ Your order shall be punctiliously obeyed. + + _Pays his military salute and returns to the guard house._ + +_V._ That settles the guard, and should Siddhattha flee he will find +no obstacle. + + _Two men come out of the guard house and enter the palace + with a bier. KALA UDAYIN comes back from the garden. VISAKHA + retires into the background._ + +_K._ The nightingale is a sweet bird, but I like the lark better. The +nightingale is more artistic, but his song is melancholy, he is so +sentimental! The lark has a mere twitter like my own song, I like the +lark better. How beautiful is this summer night; How glorious is the +moon; how fragrant are the roses in the garden! It is a most +auspicious night, and all breathes happiness. + + _VISAKHA from his hiding place watches KALA._ + +_V._ He comes in time, his presence will prosper my plans. + +[Kala is lost in thought. Music, from Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, +somber and as if coming from a distance, is heard.] + +_K._ [_while the music plays_] What a strange presentiment is stealing +over my soul. Perhaps I was too happy! What does Siddhattha say? + + "All conformations always are transient,[A] + Harrassed by sorrow, lacking a self." + +[Footnote A: The quoted lines run in the same rhythm as the melody and +should be pronounced accordingly. See _Buddhist Hymns_, p. 22.] + + _The men come with the corpse on the bier. KALA stops them._ + +_K._ What do you carry? Who is this? [_he shrieks_] My father! [_The +carriers set the corpse down and Kala sinks down by the bier._] Oh, my +father! my dearest father! How did you die? Why did you leave me? Oh, +my father! [_he sobs_]. + + _The moon sinks behind a cloud._ + + _SIDDHATTHA comes._ + +_B._ What may the trouble be? I heard a shriek. + + _KALA raises himself half way up. The scene is bright again._ + +_K._ Oh, my Prince! See here! My father is dead! Now I know the truth +as well as you. Now I feel the pain. The time has come for me to +lament. I was so happy and I would not believe you.--Oh ye who are +happy, think in the hour of happiness that all is subject to +suffering, and the hour of suffering will come to you too. Nay more +than that, the hour of death will come; it has come to my father, it +will come to you and to me, and then my caroling will stop forever. +Oh, my poor father! + +_B._ How rarely is thy advent welcome, Death, +E'en this poor gardener who a servant was +His livelong days, leaves in our hearts a gap. +His son lamenteth him, and I not less; +He was my loving friend; my educator, +He had me on his knees so many a time, +To tell me how the flowers will grow and blow, +And how they prosper after rainy days. +May gentle lilies from thy ashes spring, +Decked with the purity of thine own heart, +And with their fragrance give the same delight +That in thy present life thou gavest us. + + _The carriers lift up the body and carry it out._ + +Oh, fare thee well, thou good and worthy friend, +Oh, fare thee well, but thy departure is +To me a token that my time has come. + + _Turning to KALA who all the while was lying prostrate + weeping._ + +Weep not, companion of my childhood days, +But bear in mind the courage of thy mirth. +Remember all the virtues of thy father +And let them live again in thine own heart. +Thou must not yield to weakness and lamenting, +Tend to life's duties: Go and call me Channa, +Bid him to saddle Kanthaka, my steed, +And let him ready be for a night's ride. + + _KALA exit. SIDDHATTHA alone._ + +The hour has come! and now my last farewell +To thee my wife and Rahula my son. + + _SIDDHATTHA makes a few steps and halts._ + +This is the greatest sacrifice I bring: +I leave behind a crown without regret; +I leave the luxury of wealth and power; +I care for them as though they were but ashes +But I must also leave my wife and child: +Here I must prove the courage of my heart. + + _Enters the house._ + + +FIFTH SCENE. + +[The veil of clouds comes down, and when it rises we see Yasodhara's +bedroom again.] + + + _SIDDHATTHA (B) enters. YASODHARA (Y) sleeps with the babe in + her arms._ + +_B._ Here lie the rarest treasures of this life, +My noble wife, my dear boy Rahula. + + _SIDDHATTHA approaches the bed._ + +Your sleep is sweet in your sweet innocence, +And I will not disturb your blissful rest. +I will go out in search for saving Truth +And shall not come again unless 't be found +Farewell my wife and Rahula my son. +Must I be gone? Is this, in sooth, my duty? + + _He goes toward the door. There he stops._ + +Perchance on their account I ought to stay. +But no! my father can take care of them. +It is my tender heart that makes me weak. +This is the greatest sacrifice I bring. + + +SIXTH SCENE + +[Change of scene, as rapid as before. The garden before the palace] + + + _CHANNA (Ch.) enters with a horse._ + +_Channa._ My Prince, here is your steed! + + _MARA (M), a superhuman figure, gaudily dressed, hovering in + the air, suddenly appears and addresses SIDDHATTHA (B)._ + +_M._ It is a shame to leave your wife and child. + +_B._ [_Addressing the vision in the air._] +Mara, thou here? thou wicked one, thou tempter! + +_K._ Oh do not leave us Prince. Think of the wrong you do. +You wrong your royal father, you wrong your wife, you wrong your child. + +_B._ What sayest thou? Thou sayest I do wrong? +The same rebuke is echoed in my heart; +It is so sweet, so loving, so alluring! +And shall I listen to its tender voice? +How pleasant would it be to stay at home, +And to enjoy my wife's love and my child's! +Is that my duty? Say, is that my duty? + +_K._ Surely my Lord, your duties lie at home. + + _SIDDHATTHA wavers as if in doubt. He stands pondering for a + moment._ + +_B._ Who will instruct me where my duty lies? + +_M._ I will instruct thee, I will guide thee right. + +_K._ How can you doubt, my Prince? And can you not +Search for the truth here in this pleasant garden? +There're spots enough where you can think and ponder, +And meditate among the fragrant flowers. + +_B._ Here I shall never reach my goal. + +_K._ Stay here. +A kingdom is your sure inheritance, +While Buddahood is but a doubtful prize. + +_B._ And shall the world wait for another Buddha? +So many millions clamor for the truth! + + _With determination._ + +I hear the call and naught shall hold me back. +I see my duty and I will obey. + +_M._ Wilt thou not stay, my noble Prince Siddhattha? +The wheel of empire turns, and thee I shall +Make king of kings to rule the whole broad earth. +Think of the good which thou wilt do as king! +And then as king of kings thy mighty power +Will spread the good religion o'er the world. + +_B._ I know thee Mara, tempter, Evil One, +Prince of this world, I know thy voice, thy meaning. +The gifts thou offerest are transient treasures, +And thy dominion is mere vanity. +I go to found a kingdom in the realm +Of the immortal state which lasts for aye. +Thou hinderest and dost not help the truth. + +_K._ Thou speakest to the empty air, my Prince, +For I see no one whom thou thus addressest. + + _CHANNA helps SIDDHATTHA to mount, and while the gate opens + leads the horse out of the gate, and KALA enters into the + palace. VISAKHA is coming to the front._ + +_V._ He is gone. He has made room for me. The time will come when this +kingdom will be mine. + +_Y._ [_from the balcony_] Siddhattha! Siddhattha! Where are you? He is +gone! He has departed into homelessness! [_She faints._] + + [CURTAIN] + + +_FIRST INTERLUDE._ + +_Living pictures accompanied by appropriate music, as an introduction +to Act II._ + + +1. BEGGING FOOD. + +A scene of the Prince's life as a mendicant friar. + +A Hindu village, Siddhattha stands bowl in hand before a hut; a woman +dishes some rice from a kettle into his bowl; villagers, including +children, stand around gazing at him,--a few with clasped hands. + +2. THE KING GREETS THE MENDICANT. + +Tradition tells that King Bimbisara, hearing of the noble monk, went +out to see him and offered him to take part in the government. This +being refused, the King requested him to visit Rajagaha, the royal +residence, as soon as Siddhattha had become a Buddha. + +Siddhattha is seated under a tree near a brook; the king stands before +him, surrounded by his retinue. + +3 PREACHING TO THE VILLAGERS. + +Under the tree in the market place of a Hindu village The Buddha is +seated in the attitude of a preacher. The villagers stand or squat +around intently listening. + +4. SAVED FROM STARVATION + +In company with other monks, Siddhattha sought for a while +enlightenment by self-mortification. + +Being exhausted by severe fasts, the mendicant faints, and Nanda, the +shepherd's daughter, passing by, refreshes him with rice milk. His +five disciples at a distance fear that he has given up his quest for +truth. + + + + +ACT II. + +FIRST SCENE + +[Seven years have elapsed since the first act. A room in the royal +palace at Magadha] + + + _Present: NAGADEVA (N), the prime minister, GENERAL SIHA + (GS), commander-in-chief of the Magadha forces. Later on the + MASTER OF CEREMONIES (MC), KING BIMBISARA (Bb.), a trumpeter + and a small body guard._ + +_N._ It is a joy to serve this mighty king +Whose power extendeth over many lands. +In peace he ruleth wisely, and his subjects +Obey him willingly for he is just. +In war he swoops upon his enemies +As doth a hawk upon a helpless chicken, +Quick in attack, lucky in every fight. +Indeed he earned his name deservedly, +The warlike Bimbisara. + +_GS._ At his side +I fought with him in many a doubtful battle +With all the odds against us, but his daring, +Joined to a rare instinctive foresight +By which he could anticipate all dangers, +Would win the day and ne'er was he defeated! +In this our latest war he took great risks, +Might have been taken by his foes, and would +Have lost his liberty, his throne, his life; +But venturing much he won, and by exposing +His own high person in the brunt of battle +He stirred the courage of his followers +To do great deeds of valor. + + _MASTER OF CEREMONIES enters with a trumpeter._ + +_MC._ Noble lords, +Mis majesty, our royal lord, is coming +To meet you here in private council. + + _Trumpeter blows a signal._ + +_GS._ Hail the victorious, warlike Bimbisara! + + _Both kneel as the king enters preceded and followed by a + small body guard._ + +_Bb._ Be greeted noble lords. + +_N._ We wish you joy and the continuance of your good fortune. + +_Bb._ I have a matter to bespeak with you, +Far-reaching weighty plans of great importance. +I wish to be alone with you. + + _Turning to the captain of his body guards._ + +Captain, have this room guarded by your soldiers. +The gong shall call you when I need your service. + + _The soldiers march out of the room._ + +Be seated, my good lords. +You helped me gain a wondrous victory +Which proves I have the favor of the gods. +I probed your skill, your courage and your faith +And found you both most able and most trusty. +Therefore you are to me much more than vassals +And servants of the state; you are my helpers, +Indeed my friends and nearest to my heart. +A king needs friends who share his secret thoughts, +Who stand by him in all vicissitudes, +Who bear with him responsibilities, +And above all, who frankly speak the truth. +I ask you, will you be such friends to me? + +_GS._ I will with all my heart. + +_N._ And I not less. + +_Bb._ I, my dear friends, I promise you in turn +That I shall not resent your words of truth +If spoken in good faith with best intentions. +I may not always follow your advice, +But you are free to say whate'er you please, +Whate'er you may deem best for me to know, +Whate'er will benefit the empire and my people. +Now listen what I have to say to you. +I will reveal to you my inmost heart: +This is an age of greatest expectations; +Riches accumulate in our cities, +Commerce and trade are flourishing, and +Our caravans exchange our native goods +For gold and precious produce from abroad. +What India needs is unity of rule. +The valley of the holy Ganges should +Be governed by one king, a king of kings. +There should no longer be a rivalry, +A clash of interests between the states, +And all the princes should obey the rule +Of the one man who guides and guards the whole. +This therefore is my plan: you Nagadeva +Must gain the favor of our neighbor kings, +So as to make them recognize our sway. +If voluntarily they will submit, +They shall be welcome as our worthy vassals. +If they resist (_turning to Siha_) my gallant general +You must reduce them to subjection. +A treaty with the rajas in the east, +In southern and in northern Kosala, +Speedeth my plans, the Sakyas only +Defy our sovereign will, and keep aloof. +If they yield not, their power must be broken! +There is a task for you and for my army. + +_N._ Permit, my noble king, that I advise you. +I know the Sakya minister of state, +And he is willing to betray his master. +The Sakya prince, the only son and heir, +Siddhattha Gotama he's called by name, +Went into homelessness and has turned monk, +Leaving behind his wife and a small son. +The minister aspireth to the throne, +And if we help him in his plans, he will +Acknowledge you as sovereign over him. +And that will save your army blood and trouble. + +_Bb._ What is his name. + +_N._ Visakha, noble King. + +_Bb._ I wish to see him. Let him visit you +And as by accident I want to meet him. + +_GS._ Allow me, mighty King, a word of warning. + +_Bb._ Speak freely. + +_GS._ + + _With unconcealed indignation, almost entreatingly._ + + Do not listen to a traitor. +Send me with all the army of the kingdom, +Bid me lead captive all the Sakyas; do it +In open fight but not by treachery. +My King, avoid alliance with Visakha, +His very breath contaminates. He lowers +Ourselves to his low level. + +_Bb._ Thank you Siha. +I will be slow. [_Pondering_] But it is too important! + + _Argues with himself._ + +May I not listen to a traitor's words, +Nor hear him,--profit by his information? + +_GS._ Oh do it not! + +_Bb._ Siha, thou art a soldier. +I honor thee, thou speakest like a soldier, +But think how much diplomacy will help, +How many lives and property it saves. +Without the brutal means of war it will +Better accomplish all our ends; it spares +The enemy as well. A prosperous country +Will serve me better than a city sacked +And villages destroyed by fire. + +_GS._ Pardon, my liege, I do not trust a traitor. + +_Bb._ I will be on my guard, but I shall see him, +'T shall be by way of reconnoitering. +You in the meantime keep the army ready, +For one way or another I must conquer +The Sakya king and make him do my bidding. + + _The King rises indicating that his two counselors are + dismissed. They rise also._ + +The world is growing wider every day +And our souls broaden with the general progress. +A new era dawns upon us. Let us all +Help to mature the fruitage of the times. + + +SECOND SCENE + +[The garden before the palace of King SUDDHODANA as in Act I] + + + _Presents YASODHARA (Y) with her maid GOPA (G) and RAHULA + (R)._ + +_Y._ Repeat that verse once more and then we will stop our lesson. + +_R._ With goodness meet an evil deed, + With loving kindness conquer wrath, + With generosity quench greed, + And lies by walking on truth's path. + +_Y._ Now you can run about in the garden or play with the Captain's +son. + +_R._ Mother, I do not believe that goodness always works in this life. + +_Y._ Why do you think so? + +_R._ Because there are very bad boys, so bad that only a whipping will +cure them. + +_Y._ Rahula! + +_R._ Truly, mother, truly. Even the gardener says so. + +_Y._ You must set the bad boys a good example. + +_R._ No use, mother; they remain bad. I have tried it. + +_Y._ You must have patience. + +_R._ No use, mother; and the gardener says, A viper remains a viper. + +_Y._ Even poisonous reptiles can be tamed. + +_R._ Yes, but the gardener first pulls their fangs. Would you like me +to play with a viper? + +_Y._ No, my boy. + + _Excitement at the gate. KALA enters and soldiers of the + guard surround him._ + +_R._ What is going on?--O Mother! Kala Udayin is back! + + _KALA UDAYIN (K) appears among the guards. + RAHULA runs to the gate._ + +_R._ Kala! Welcome home! Shake hands! + +_K._ Be heartily greeted, my boy. + +_R._ Did you see father? + +_K._ I did, Rahula. + +_R._ Tell me all. + +_K._ I will tell mother. + +_R._ Come to mother. She has been expecting you for many days. + + _KALA kneels to the Princess._ + +_Y._ Gopa, take his bundle. [_The maid takes his bundle and carries it +into the house._] What news do you bring of Prince Siddhattha? + +_K._ I followed the Prince from place to place and saw him last near +Benares in the forest of Uruvela. + +_Y._ How is his health, and will he come back? + +_K._ His health is probably good, but he does not think of coming +back--not yet. O my dear lady! If you could see him! he is as thin as +a skeleton. I could count all his ribs. + +_R._ What is the trouble with father. + +_K._ He is fasting. He lives on a hempcorn a day; think of it, one +little hempcorn a day! + +_Y._ Oh, he will die! My poor husband. I must follow him and attend to +his wants. He needs his wife's loving care. I will leave my home and +follow him. + +_K._ Could you help him, princess? He might not like it, and the monks +abhor women. Moreover, I was told that he takes food again, every +morning a cup of rice milk. The day I left he looked better. Still, he +was pretty pale. + +_Y._ Tell me all you know of him. + +_K._ I went first to Rajagaha, and there I heard wondrous tales about +the noble monk Gotama. All the people knew about him, they called him +a "sage" or "muni" and the "Bodhisatta." + +_R._ What does that mean, Kala? + +_K._ Bodhisatta is the man who seeks the bodhi--and the bodhi is +enlightenment or Buddhahood. + +_Y._ What did the people of Rajagaha say? + +_K._ When Prince Siddhattha came to Rajagaha, he created a great +excitement in the city. Never had been seen a mendicant of such noble +appearance, and crowds flocked to him. They thought he was a Buddha +and greeted him as a Buddha; but he said to them "I am not a Buddha; +I am a Bodhisatta, I seek Buddhahood, and I am determined to find it." + +_Y._ Did you meet people who saw him? + +_K._ Indeed, I did. They say he looked like a god. The news spread all +over the capital, and King Bimbisara himself went out with his +ministers to see the Bodhisatta. King Bimbisara came to the place +where the stranger stayed--under a forest tree near a brook--and +greeted him most respectfully saying, "Great monk, remain here with me +in Rajagaha; I see that you are wise and worthy. Live with me at the +royal palace. Be my adviser and counselor. You are not made for a +mendicant. Your hands are fit to hold the reins of empire. Stay here, +I beg you, and you shall not lack honor and rank." "Nay," replied +Siddhattha, "let me go my way in quest of enlightenment. I am bent on +solving the problem of existence, and I will become a Buddha." Said +the King, "Hear then, great monk. Go in quest of enlightenment, and +when you have found it come back to Rajagaha." + +_Y._ Is King Bimbisara so religious? + +_K._ King Bimbisara is ambitious. As is well known, he is a warrior +and a conqueror; but that is not all. He wants to be the greatest +monarch of all ages and he would have all the great events happen +under his rule. This is what he said to the Bodhisatta: "When I was a +youth I uttered five wishes, and they were these: I prayed, May I be +crowned King. This wish has been fulfilled. Then I wished, May the +holy Buddha, the Blessed One, appear on earth while I am King, and may +he come to my kingdom. This was my second wish, and while I gaze upon +you I know that it will be fulfilled. Further I wished, May I see the +blessed Buddha and pay my respects to him. This was my third wish. My +fourth wish was, May the Blessed One preach the doctrine to me, and my +fifth and greatest wish was this, May I understand the doctrine. I beg +you, therefore, great monk, when you have become a Buddha come back +and preach the doctrine to me and accept me as your disciple." + +_Y._ And whither did Siddhattha go from Rajagaha? + +_K._ He visited the great philosophers Arada and Udraka, but he found +no satisfaction in their theories. So he went on to Uruvela where the +ascetics live. I followed the Bodhisatta and learned that he stayed +with five disciples in the forest. I found shelter near by in the +cottage of the chief shepherd, a good old man with a pretty daughter, +Nanda. There I watched Siddhattha and his disciples from a distance. +He was the youngest but the wisest of them, and they reverenced him as +master. He outdid them all in fasting. One day Nanda, the shepherd's +daughter, saw him faint, and he might have died from exhaustion right +on the spot if Nanda had not given him rice milk to drink. + +_Y._ O good Kala, what shall I do? What shall I do? Here I sit at +home, a poor, helpless woman, unable to assist him or to take care of +him! O Kala, advise me, what can I do? + + _KING SUDDHODANA (S) and VISAKHA (V) come out of the palace. + The Princess retires into the palace. GOPA hides behind the + bushes._ + +_S._ I am glad to see you back. Have you seen my son? + +_K._ I have sire. + +_S._ Where did you find him? + +_K._ At Uruvela, the place of mortification where saints try to see +visions and reach a state of bliss. + +_V._ And has Siddhattha succeeded? + +_K._ It does not seem so; he is starving himself to death. + +_V._ Is he dying? + +_K._ Not exactly, but I do not see how he can live--on that diet. + +_S._ Oh, Visakha, how have I been deprived of my son through a whim! + + _Both return into the palace. VISAKHA comes back._ + +_V._ It seems that Siddhattha is ruining himself. + +_K._ At the rate he is going now, he won't stand it long. He may not +live another month. It is pitiable. You should have seen him. That +beautiful young man looks like a consumptive in his last stage. I did +not dare to tell what I thought. The Princess would not have borne +the sad news. + +_V._ Too bad. It looks pretty hopeless. + +_K._ I do not see how the Prince can survive. + +_V._ What is the idea of these fasts? + +_K._ These pious recluses believe that the self is imprisoned in the +body and that the senses are the prison gates. They want to liberate +the soul, and many of them behold visions, but Siddhattha seems to +doubt whether the saints of Uruvela proceed on the right track. Indeed +he denies the very existence of the self. + +_V._ I know he does. His views should be branded as purely human +wisdom. As the senses are finger touch, eye touch, ear touch, nose and +tongue touch, so the mind is to him mere thought touch. He claimed +that the mind originates through a co-operation of the senses. + +_K._ His disciples begin to break away from him. + +_V._ That is right. They ought to have done so long ago. I always said +that Siddhattha is an unbeliever. He spurns faith and relies too much +on his own observation and reasoning. He will never find +enlightenment. He is too negative, too nihilistic, and his quest of +Buddhahood will end in a lamentable failure. + +_K._ It would be a pity, sir. He is certainly in earnest to find the +truth--the real truth, not what the priests say nor the Vedas declare, +but the truth, provable truth. + +_V._ Yes that is his fault. When the king speaks with you tell him +all, explain the hopelessness of his situation. The king ought to know +the facts. + + _VISAKHA retires into the palace._ + +_K._ [_Calls in a low voice_] Gopa, Gopa! + + [_GOPA appears from behind the bush._] + +_K._ [_Aside_] I knew she would not be far. + +_G._ What do you want? + +_K._ I want to have a talk with you. + +_G._ Well? + +_K._ Let us set our marriage day. + +_G._ I do not care to marry you--just yet. + +_K._ I want a kiss, Gopa. + +_G._ You shan't have it! + +_K._ I will leave Kapilavatthu and go back to the Bodhisatta. + +_G._ He will tell you that a youth must not kiss a girl. + +_K._ That rule holds only for monks. + +_G._ Go and turn monk. Then it applies to you. + +_K._ The world would die out if everybody turned monk. + +_G._ First, you are not everybody, and secondly, would it not be a +blessing if the whole world would try to be sanctified? + +_K._ Pshaw! Mankind consists of different castes and professions, of +soldiers and merchants, of peasants and artisans and teachers. Mankind +is like a body with various limbs, a head and hands, feet and chest +and neck. A man who were head only could not live, and if mankind +consisted of Buddhas only we would starve. We need a Buddha, but there +must also be householders. Now quick give me a kiss. + + _She pouts._ + +_K._ If you do not kiss me I shall go back to the forest of Uruvela. +Nanda, the shepherd's daughter, is a very pretty girl. She is as +pretty as you are. She is,--well, her cheeks are rosier than yours. +She is a little taller, and she is so graceful when she milks the +kine. The shepherd needs a helper. I am sure he would like to have a +son-in-law. + + _RAHULA enters._ + +_R._ Gopa! Mother wants you. + +_G._ [_Kisses K. quickly_] Here is a kiss, but you must forget Nanda. +[_Runs away._] + +_K._ Stay a moment longer! + +_G._ I have no time. [_Exit._] + +_K._ I knew she would come around,--and she is much prettier than +Nanda. Nanda is a buxom country lass, a pleasant girl, but Gopa is as +proper as a princess. [_He continues with unction._] Bodhisatta longs +for the blessed state of Nirvana, and when he has found it, he will be +calm and without passion. He will walk on earth as a god among men. No +emotion will disturb the peace of his mind, and the happiness of the +great Brahma will be as nothing in comparison to the infinite bliss of +his Buddhahood. [_With a lighter tone_]: I adore him, but I do not +envy him. I do not long for the happiness of a god. I am a man with +human faults and human yearnings. I am satisfied with the happiness +and the sufferings of a man. Since I am assured of Gopa's love, I care +not for Nirvana. I think that this world is good enough for me. + +_V._ [_Looks around like a spy._] +How peaceful lies this palace, yet I see +The war clouds lour upon its roofs. +The storm will break with sudden vehemence upon +These harmless unsuspecting people. Woe to them, +Their doom is certain. Desperate resistance +Succumbs before the overwhelming forces +Of Bimbisara.--And what will become +Of poor Yasodhara?--I like her well. +I might still save her from her people's ruin. +A princess, sweet and noble, and herself +Descended from an ancient royal house. But +I hate that little youngster Rahula. +Whate'er betide, my deep-laid schemes will speed +And I shall profit by my master's doom. + + [Music: Chopin's Nocturno. Opus 37, No. 2.] + + [CURTAIN] + + +THIRD SCENE. + +[Darkness covers the scene. Distant thunder and lightning. Gradually +it grows light again and the scene of YASODHARA'S bedroom becomes +visible. All luxury has been removed; she sleeps on a mat on the +floor, RAHULA in bed.] + + +_R._ Mother! Mother! + +_Y._ Sleep my boy, it is almost midnight. + +_R._ Take me up, Mother. + + _YASODHARA picks RAHULA up._ + +_R._ Why do you sleep on the floor, Mother? + +_Y._ Because father does so. Let me lay you down on your couch, you +must sleep. + +_R._ Tell me more of father. + +_Y._ I will to-morrow. + +_R._ Tell me now. Is father a king? + +_Y._ No, my son. But he is going to found a kingdom. + +_R._ Will he be king of it? + +_Y._ I do not know, my boy, but his kingdom will not be like other +kingdoms. It will be the kingdom of truth--a spiritual kingdom, a +kingdom of righteousness. + +_R._ Is father rich? + +_Y._ He scorns riches. + +_R._ Why does he? + +_Y._ He seeks other riches, the riches of religion, of the mind, of +spirit. + +_R._ Did he find them? + +_Y._ I believe he did. + +_R._ He sends you news through Kala Udayin. + +_Y._ No, Rahula, I send Kala Udayin out to watch him and when Kala +comes back he tells me what he saw and heard. Kala does not speak to +father. + +_R._ Why does Kala not speak to father? + +_Y._ Grandfather forbade him. When we sent out Devadatta and Ananda, +they became attached to the life of a hermit. They joined father and +did not come back; but Kala will not turn monk. + +_R._ But this time he will speak to father. + +_Y._ How do you know? + +_R._ I heard grandfather bid him to. + +_Y._ What did he bid him? + +_R._ He bade Kala that he should tell father to visit us. + + _She can scarcely conceal her joy._ + +_Y._ You heard grandfather say so? + +_R._ I did, mother; grandfather said that he became old, and before he +died he wanted to see his son again. + +_Y._ Why! did he really say so? + +_R._ He did. + +_Y._ Oh you darling son, then you will see him, too. + +_R._ People say that he will be a Buddha. + +_Y._ Yes, my son, some say he will be a Buddha and others doubt it. + +_R._ Mother, what is a Buddha? + +_Y._ A Buddha is a man who has found the truth. + +_R._ How does a man find the truth? + +_Y._ By enlightenment. He must find out the cause of evil. + +_R._ Why must he find out the cause of evil? + +_Y._ He teaches the people how to avoid evil. + +_R._ Has father found the cause of evil? + +_Y._ Kala Udayin says he has. + +_R._ What is the cause of evil? + +_Y._ Father says that selfishness is the cause of evil and selfishness +comes from the belief in self. + +_R._ Self? + +_Y._ Yes, self! Man, as a rule, believes that he is a self. + +_R._ What? A self? + +_Y._ Yes, a being by himself, who lives only for himself, and the +thought of self makes him selfish; and selfishness begets all evils. + +_R._ [_with a childlike serious conviction_] I believe it, mother. + +_Y_. Father says there is no self, that self is an illusion. + +_R._ What does that mean? + +_Y._ It means that we are not separate beings. I think a thought and +speak it out and you hear it. I believe in that thought and so do you. +Whose is it then, yours or mine? + +_R._ It belongs to both. + +_Y._ But where does the thought come from? If it is true it belongs to +the truth, and it was true before I thought it. + +_R._ Yes, mother. + +_Y._ And if it was wrong, it is evil, and it was evil before we +thought it. + +_R._ Yes, mother. + +_Y._ And so are all our thoughts, but almost everybody assumes that +his self thinks these thoughts and invents them; and that is an +illusion. + +_R._ I see. + +_Y._ [_to herself_] His eyes close. He is tired. [TO RAHULA] Now go to +sleep again, Rahula, and dream of your father. I will sing you one of +father's songs. + + _YASODHARA lays RAHULA down in the high bed and sings:_ + + By ourselves is evil done, + By ourselves we pain endure. + By ourselves we cease from wrong, + By ourselves become we pure. + No one saves us but ourselves, + No one can and no one may. + We ourselves must walk the path, + Buddhas merely teach the way. + + _The boy sleeps. Then YASODHARA herself lies down on the mat + on the floor. Above her appears the vision of her dream. + Under the Bodhi tree in a forest landscape SIDDHATTHA sits. + He is surrounded by a halo of light. MARA approaches to tempt + him._ + +_M._ Thou art ahungered, worthy Sakyamuni, +Ahungered art thou from continued fasts, +And thou wilt starve unless thou take and eat. +I bring delicious food, take, eat and live. + +_B._ I shall not eat until my quest be done. +Much better 'tis to die in glorious battle +Than flee and lead a coward's life, defeated. +I shall not eat, O Mara, take thee hence. + +_M._ Wilt thou not listen to my good advice? + +_B._ The tempter always calls his councils good, +But pleasures which he promises are evil. + +_M._ I will not suffer thee to stay, Siddhattha, +And shall disturb thy daring quest of truth. +I'll split the Bodhi tree by lightning +And frighten thee away with rumbling thunder. + + _All is wrapped in darkness, except SIDDHATTHA and the Bohdi + tree. Thunder and lightning. After a while the noise abates. + It grows light again. MARA'S daughters appear._ + +_M._ Go forth my daughters, tempt the holy man, +And lure him from the seat of Buddahood. + + _Three graceful women, MARA'S daughters, sing in a low + enticing voice._ + +[Melody: The Mermaids' Song from Weber's Oberon.] + +Sweetest on earth 'tis in pleasure to live, +Love thou must ask for, and love thou must give. +Pain we can soothe and assuage every smart, +Yea, we will grant thee the wish of thy heart. +Power bestow we, enjoyment and mirth, +Health and wealth also, and all that has worth. +Lo, of life's happiness naught shalt thou miss, +Satisfied longings are greatest of bliss. + + _While they sing they circle around the Bodhi tree and pose + in graceful attitudes._ + +[Siddhattha does not mind Mara's daughters. They withdraw, and +grotesque monsters appear in threatening attitudes, exhibiting a +savage war dance, always approaching the tree and turning their +weapons against the Sakyamuni, but as soon as they approach the halo +they droop, unable to hurt him. Lotus flowers rain down. Sakyamuni +raises his right hand. A flash of lightning and a sudden clap of +thunder. The spook vanishes in darkness while the Buddha under the +Bodhi tree alone remains visible in a halo of light. The forest +landscape reappears in full light as before.] + +_B._ The wheel of life turns round through birth and death, +Its twelve-linked chain of causes takes its start +In ignorance and ends in suffering. +The truth is found, the fourfold noble truth; +All life is sorrow, sorrow's cause is lust, +But from our sorrow we can escape +If we abandon lust and thought of self. +The eightfold noble path of righteousness +Delivers from all evil: it will bring +Sweet peace of mind and leadeth to Nirvana. + + [With music accompaniment] + + Through many births I sought in vain + The builder of this house of pain. + Now, builder, thee I plainly see! + This is the last abode for me. + Thy gable's yoke, thy rafters broke, + My heart has peace; all lust will cease. + +[The following words fit exactly the music of Haydn's Chorus with Soli +No. 13[B] in The Creation, and the spirit of the composition is very +appropriate for this scene] + +[Footnote B: Peters' Edition, pp 44-55 "Die Himmel erzahlen, etc." In +a few places where the fugas set in, the words "The wicked Mara's +host" should read "The wicked one's,--the wicked Mara's host," etc.] + + _Chorus of Angels._ + + Behold the great muni, + His heart unmoved by hatred, + The wicked Mara's host + 'Gainst him did not prevail. + + _Trio of BRAHMA VISHNU SHIVA._ + + Victorious Buddha + Thou art wise and pure, + The darkness is gone + And enlightenment gained. + + _Chorus of Angels as above._ + + Proclaim the truth + To all the world. + Truth will bring salvation. + Glory to the truth! + + _Chorus of Angels as above._ + +[Lotus flowers rain down thicker and thicker, clouds cover the scene, +but the Buddha under the Bodhi tree remains still dimly but +sufficiently visible.] + + _YASODHARA wakes up. She rises and lights a candle from a + rush lamp. She kneels with clasped hands before the vision of + the BUDDHA._ + +_Y._ Oh Siddhattha, my Lord and Husband, no longer my Husband, but the +Buddha. In thee I take my refuge. In thee and thy word, I believe. Thy +doctrine shall guide me. Accept me as thy faithful disciple, a +disciple of the Buddha, my Lord, the Tathagata, the great thinker, the +Saviour of mankind. + + [CURTAIN.] + + +_SECOND INTERLUDE_. + +_Living pictures accompanied by appropriate music to introduce the +Third Act._ + + +1. THE FOUNDATION OF THE KINGDOM OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. + +Buddha preaches to his five disciples the way of salvation, which +speech, preserved in a special book, is frequently compared to +Christ's Sermon on the Mount. + +Buddha stands with raised hand, while five monks stand or sit or squat +around him in devout attitude. + +2. ENTERING THE CAPITAL. + +When Buddha came to Rajagaha, the people met him on the way and +accompanied him into the city in triumphal procession which is +analogous to Christ's entry into Jerusalem. + +The Buddha with bowl in one hand and staff in the other is followed by +yellow-robed monks. The people strew flowers, carry palm branches and +wave kerchiefs. + +3. THE COURTESAN. + +Ambapali, the Buddhist Mary Magdalen, came to Buddha, worshiping him +and invited him to take his meal at her home. To the astonishment of +several moralists, he accepted and honored the penitent sinner. + +A beautifully dressed woman with clasped hands kneels before Buddha, a +maid in attendance behind her. Some well dressed people of high caste +watch the scene with an expression of indignation. + +4. THE PHILANTHROPIST. + +The wealthiest man of Savatthi invites the Buddha to his home and +offers to build a resthouse for the Buddha and his brotherhood. + +Anatha Pindika kneels before the Buddha, holding in one hand the +picture and plan of a building. Buddha indicates by his lowered hand +acceptance of the gift. Buddha attended by two monks, Anatha Pindika +accompanied by the architect. + +5. PRINCE JETA. + +It is told that the most beautiful spot in Savatthi was the royal park +of Prince Jeta, which Anatha Pindika wanted to buy for the brotherhood +of Buddha. The owner was unwilling to sell and made the exorbitant +demand to have the whole ground covered with gold as its price. But +Anatha Pindika had the gold carried to the garden and paid the price. + +The scene is laid in the garden. Anatha Pindika with bags of gold +stands in commanding attitude. His servants spread the coins while +Prince Jeta throws up his hands in astonishment. + +(Anatha Pindika is not the real name of the founder of the Jetavana. +The name means, "[He who gives to] the indigent, alms.") + + + + +ACT III. + +FIRST SCENE + +[A Brahman temple with a statue of Durga; before the idol an altar. In +the background a landscape with farms and a sheep-fold.] + + + _Enter from the right GENERAL SIHA (GS.) with a CAPTAIN (C) + and some soldiers._ + +_GS._ Pitch the tents on the slope of yonder hill where that farmhouse +stands. + +_C._ It shall be done, my general. + +_GS._ What crowd is gathered there with flags and flowers? + +_C._ It is the farmer's family led by the village priest, and +neighbors flock around to swell their number. + +_GS._ The priest handles a big knife that flashes in the sun. I see +his hands are stained with gore. They seem to celebrate a feast in +honor of a god. + +_C._ The villagers inform me that the occasion of it is sad. One of +the farmer's children died of late, and others being sick the father +invokes the goddess Kali to preserve the rest of his family. They are +arrayed for a procession and having offered a young sheep at the altar +of the homestead they have started out. See how the crowd are wending +their way hither to the temple. + + _GENERAL SIHA looks around and contemplates the scenery, then + turns to the CAPTAIN._ + +_GS._ Now pitch the tents before the sun goes down. + + _In the meantime, the BUDDHA enters with two disciples. They + sit down under a tree. The Captain bows to them reverently + and leaves the stage._ + +_GS._ Greetings to you, holy monks. + +_B._ Peace be with thee, and may thy sword ne'er reek with blood. + +_GS._ I draw the sword for my king, for my country and for the +restoration of order where enemies or rebels have disturbed it. + +_B._ Thou lookst courageous and thy very words +Possess a ring of simple honesty. + +_GS._ I serve a mighty king who means to do the right. He prefers to +establish his rule by treaty and spares an enemy who sues for peace. + +_B._ Thou speakst of Bimbisara, King of Magadha? + +_GS._ Indeed I speak of the great Bimbisara, and he is born to sway +the world. My sympathy and my allegiance go with him. I am Siha, his +general. + +_B._ Thy name is known throughout the Indian lands. + +_GS._ When I chose my profession I prayed to the gods that they would +never let it be my lot to fight for any unjust cause. + +_B._ Let this thy prayer be a sacred vow +Which thou wilt keep inviolate. Our fate, +Or say the gods, create conditions; but thou +Thyself must act. Thou art responsible, +Thou shapest thine own life, and not the gods. + +_GS._ Thy words please me! What is thy doctrine, venerable monk? + +_B._ I teach the middle way between extremes. +Neither mortifications of the body +Nor self-indulgence should be practised. +We must make up our minds and walk +On the eightfold noble path of righteousness. + +_GS._ Who art thou, wondrous monk? Thy doctrine is so plain, and so +convincing that I grant thou speakest truth. The people ought to know +thee and accept thy creed. Who art thou? + +_B._ Born of the Sakya race, they call me Sakyamuni. + +_GS._ Blessed be this day on which I meet the greatest man of our age. +I heard of thee from the Nirgranthas, thine own enemies, the rival +sect of thy new order, and they say that thou deniest the soul, thou +teachest extinction, thou leadest man to non-existence, and that +Nirvana is with thee an empty naught--annihilation.--Is that true? + +_B._ I teach extinction, noble general, +Of hatred, greed, and lust, but I insist +On doing what is right and just and good; +On doing resolutely what we do, +On searching for the truth, on setting up +Its lamp and following its holy light. +Nirvana is attained when passions are +Extinct and when the heart is blessed with peace. + +_GS._ Thou art more than a mortal, holy man. Auspicious +is this day on which I've met thee. The people call +thee Buddha, perhaps rightly so! A feeling of deep +reverence comes over me and the truth dawns on +me. Truly thou art the teacher of the world. If +thy doctrine impressed the people a new era would +begin, an era in which mankind would be wiser and +nobler, happier and better. + +[Barbaric music is heard behind the stage, the drum being prominent.] + +_Voices behind the stage:_ Maha Kali! Kali Ma! + +_GS._ Behold how wretched are these people in their ignorance. + +_B._ They must be taught and they will learn the truth. + +[The procession enters. A small band of musicians comes with primitive +instruments, among them drums. They are followed first by dancers, +then by a priest (_Pr._) flourishing in his bloody hand a large knife. +By his side walks a shepherd carrying a lamb. Behind them the farmer's +(_F._) family and other people] + +_GS._ What horrible sounds! And the crowd behave like madmen. + +_Pr._ Maha Kali! + +_Crowd._ Kali Ma! + +_Pr._ Goddess of the black countenance! Great Black Mother! + +_Crowd._ Maha Kali! Kali Ma! +Maha Kali! Kali Ma! +Maha Kali! Kali Ma! + +[The priest steps to the altar; the crowd kneels in a large circle. At +the priest's signal the farmer approaches the altar and kneels. His +behavior betrays superstitious timidity and great awkwardness. The +shepherd exhibits the lamb first to the priest and then to the dancers +who in fantastic dancing step advance and retreat while the music +plays. Finally the lamb is placed on the altar.] + +_Pr._ Have Mercy on us! Slay the demon of disease. +Keep away Yama the horrible one, the god of Death. + +_Crowd._ Kali Ma, have mercy on us! + +_Pr._ Thou art Parvati, the wife of Siva. Thou hast conquered the + giant Durga, the evil one, and now thyself art called the goddess + Durga. +Thou art Mahishamardini, the slayer of Mahisha. +Thou art Kalaratri, Nightly Darkness, abyss of all mysteries. +Thou art Jagaddhatri, mother of the world. +Thou art Jagadgauri, renowned throughout the world. +Thou art Katyayina, refulgent with a thousand suns. +Thou art Singhavahini, seated on a lion thou wonest victory over + Raktavija, leader of the giants' army. +Great Mother of Life, accept our offering, the blood of this lamb. + +_Crowd._ Maha Kali, accept our offering! +Kali Ma, accept our offering! +Kali Durga, great Goddess, accept our offering! + + _The priest turns toward the lamb and raises his knife. + BUDDHA steps to the altar and places his hand gently upon the + priest's arm._ + +_B._ Hold! + +_Pr._ Meddler! + +_B._ Pause before thou sheddest blood. + +_Pr._ How dar'st thou rudely interfere, strange monk, +With our most sacred sacrifice? This lamb +Is offered to the goddess. Thou disturbest +Our holy ritual. + + _He lifts his knife against BUDDHA, but SIHA draws his sword + and knocks the knife out of the priest's hand._ + +_GS._ Keep peace, bold priest! + +_Pr._ The vengeance of the gods will be upon you. + +_B._ If there be gods they must be potent, noble, +And great and holy; and if the gods are holy, +They do not need the offering of a victim, +They do not want the life of this poor trembling lamb. + +_Pr._ The gods are kind; they take the lamb in place of this poor +stricken man. We must do penance for his sins, for the sins of his +wife, for the sins of his children. + +_Farmer._ I crave forgiveness for the sins for which my dear good +child has had to die. + +_Pr._ His sins are great and nothing can wash them away but blood. + +_B._ Herein thou errest, priest. Blood does not cleanse. +It washes not away the stain of sin; +The slaughter of a victim heaps but guilt +On guilt, and does not right a wrong. Rise, +Rise, my good friend. Take comfort! + + _The farmer rises._ + + Be a man. + + _The others rise gradually._ + +_F._ What shall I do, good master? + +_B._ Right all the wrongs thou didst and sin no more. + +_Pr._ This lamb was given to the goddess. It is mine. + +_GS._ Are you the steward of the goddess' property? + + _SIHA steps close to the priest who retires step by step and + finally hurries off the stage._ + +Come, shepherd, take the frightened lambkin up +And bear it to its mother in the fold. + +[The shepherd takes up the lamb and stands ready to carry it away. The +musicians slink away. The lambbearers and the people walk off in +procession, followed by the Buddha with his disciples. General Siha +remains alone on the stage. A trumpet call at a short distance and +another one close by.] + +_GS._ What does that signal mean? + + _An officer accompanied by a trumpeter enters. A third + trumpet call on the stage. The officer delivers a letter._ + +_Officer._ A dispatch from his majesty Bimbisara to his faithful and +most noble general, Siha. + +_GS._ _Breaks the seal and reads to himself._ + +"The Sakyas are a stubborn little nation. Their institutions are free; +their laws differ from those of the other surrounding states. These +people are a source of discontent and revolution, and are a sore in my +eye. Therefore, the Sakyas must be crushed, even if they sue for +peace. Keep the army near the border and be ready for a sudden +attack." + + _With an expression of grief._ + +War is unavoidable and I am to be the means by which the Sakyas will +be wiped off the earth. It is my duty, for the King commands it. A +soldier should not argue, he obeys. + + _Draws his sword and looks at it._ + +This sword is consecrated to the service of my king. +Never have I drawn it except in honest fight. + + _Lost in contemplation._ + +Is Sakyamuni the Buddha?--Is he truly the Buddha? +Buddhas are wise; Buddhas are omniscient; Buddhas foresee the + future.-- +Is Sakyamuni truly the Buddha?--I believe he is. +And if he is the Buddha, is it right to wage a war against his + people?--What shall I do? +Oh, ye gods, teach me my duty! +Oh, ye gods, may it not be my lot to fight for an unrighteous cause! +Cursed be the sword that sheds innocent blood. + + +SECOND SCENE. + + [Bimbisara's court at Rajagaha] + + + _Present: KING BIMBISARA (Bb.), VISAKHA (V), and NAGADEVA + (N)._ + +_V._ The Sakyas will make a hard fight, great King, and the war will +cost blood. These northern settlers are taller and stronger than other +races and possess the courage of the inhabitants of their former +frigid homes. It would be easier to take possession of their state if +I married Princess Yasodhara and gradually assumed the government +under your protection. Your mighty friendship would support me on the +throne and you could rule through me. + +_Bb._ That sounds acceptable, but in the meantime, I prepare for war. + +_V._ Even in war I shall be of service to you. I can lead your army +where it will not meet with resistance, and I know the names of those +who are dissatisfied. Many could be induced to join your forces; and I +can betray the very person of the raja into your hands. + +_Bb._ _Nodding kindly to VISAKHA, then turning to +NAGADEVA._ + +Is our kingdom in readiness? + +_N._ Great King, it is. General Siha stands in the field with a strong +force ready to strike. There are another fifty thousand within call to +make a sudden dash upon any of our neighbors should they dare come to +the aid of Sakya. Our treasury is well filled, and the people of +Magadha are prosperous. We could stand even a protracted war far +better than any other state in India. + +_Bb._ The time seems favorable; the risk is small, and the spoil will +be great. Convene my generals in the assembly hall. + + _They bow low and pass out. AMBAPALI (Ap.) enters._ + +_Ap._ Are they gone, my Lord, and what did you decide? + +_Bb._ I propose to go to war. + +_Ap._ You are rightly called "the Warlike." + +_Bb._ I want to round off my kingdom and expand my power northward +until it reaches the Himalayas. + +_Ap._ The gods will speed you and the blessings of the saints shall be +upon your people. + + _Servant enters._ + +_St._ There is a holy man who wants to see your Highness. His name is +Devadatta. + +_Bb._ Show him in. + + _Servant exit._ + +_Ap._ Is he not one of the disciples of the Buddha? + +_Bb._ I believe he is. + + _AMBAPALI retires._ + + _DEVADATTA enters._ + +_Dd._ Hail, great King! Protector of religion and victor of many +battles! + +_Bb._ What brings you to my presence? I always rejoice to see holy +men. Their coming is auspicious, and I am happy to be of service to +them. + +_Dd._ Great King, I implore your assistance for the brotherhood which +I have founded. We need your royal support and the holiness of our +lives will surround you as a halo with heavenly protection. + +_Bb._ Are you not a disciple of Gotama, who is called the Buddha? + +_Dd._ No longer, mighty King, I was his disciple so long as I believed +in him; but he is not holy. I have abandoned him. He is not austere; +his disciples do not practise self-mortifications, and he speaks +kindly and dines with sinners. My disciples do not dress in worldly +garments; they would not accept the invitation of women; they would +not touch animal food. He who calls himself the Buddha is unworthy of +that high title; he is a pretender who has not reached the highest +goal. My rules are much more strict than his, and my brotherhood alone +is holy. + +_Bb._ Holiness is a mighty thing. + +_Dd._ Yea, and our vows will shield your government, your throne, your +army and your people against any misfortune. + +_Bb._ I shall send my treasurer to investigate and will do what is +right. + +_Dd._ Maharaja, be assured of my deepest gratitude. + + _Bows low, exit._ + +_Ap._ [_re-enters, excited_] My royal friend, do not trust that man +[_pointing toward the door where DEVADATTA went out_]. He is false. He +may be holy, but he is treacherous. He may be virtuous; he may shun +joy and the blessings of life, he may practise all penances, he may +torture and mortify his body. But there is no true goodwill in him. +His holiness is egotistic, and his religion is hypocrisy. Support his +brotherhood with money or gifts as you see fit, but do not believe +what he says about the Buddha. + +_Bb._ [_With an inquiring look_] Why? + +_Ap._ I know what he meant when he scoffed at him. When the Buddha +stayed at Vesali, I invited that noblest of all monks to take his meal +with me. I am not holy; I am a worldly woman; I am not a saint; but I +have a warm heart, I feel for others and I want to do what is right. +When I heard that the Buddha stayed in the mango grove, I thought to +myself, I will go and see him. If he is truly all-wise, he will judge +my heart and he will judge me in mercy. He will know my needs and will +not refuse me. I went to the mango grove and he looked upon me with +compassion; he accepted my invitation in the presence of witnesses, +openly, fearlessly, and in kindness. There were the proud Licchavi +princes, and close to him stood the envious Devadatta. How they +scowled; how they condemned the great and kindly saint! How they +whispered, "Shame on him!" and I saw how they despised me--yet they +did not dare to speak out or to censure him publicly. Then, my +gracious King, I knew that he was truly the Lord Buddha, the Allwise. + +_Bb._ My dear friend, I accept every word you say as true. I know the +goodness of your heart, I know your worth, your loving kindness, and +if you were of royal birth you would be worthy to wear a crown. The +Buddha did not demean himself when he honored you. + +_Ap._ Allow me one question. Did the Buddha ever beg you to support +his brotherhood? + +_Bb._ No, he did not; but I will give him all the assistance he may +need. + +_Ap._ Did he ever offer you the support of his vows, or did he ever +praise the efficacy of his holiness? + +_Bb._ He never did. + +_Ap._ Neither does he stand in need of self-recommendation, for his +very presence is a blessing, because he spreads goodwill and +kindliness, and the people who hear him are ashamed of doing anything +unrighteous. Devadatta extends to you the promise, if you but support +his disciples, of an unconditional protection through his holiness. +The Buddha's protection is not so cheaply earned. I heard him say that +every one must protect himself by his own righteousness, and no +prayer, no sacrifice, no religious devotion, nor even penance or fasts +could protect a man from the wrongs which he does. + +_Bb._ The Buddha's presence would be more auspicious than ten +Devadattas. + +_Ap._ Oh, most assuredly! And what a contempt I have for the virtuous +indignation of men who, overmoral themselves, judge haughtily of +others; yet, if you look into their souls you discover that they are +heartless and self-seeking villains. + +_Bb._ Your judgment is well grounded. + +_Ap._ The Buddha alone possesses greatness, and the Buddha does not +seek honor, but the people adore him. + +_Bb._ Rajagaha must become the center of India. I will send for the +Buddha and invite him to visit me. His sojourn here will make the +kingdom of Magadha more famous than conquests and victories. + + _The servant enters._ + +_St._ Mighty King, the prime minister Nagadeva. + +_Bb._ He is welcome. Fare thee well, sweet heart; affairs of state +call me. + +_N._ Mighty King, the generals are assembled. They hail thee as their +war lord, and are anxious for laurels, for glory, for booty! + + [TRUMPETS, CURTAIN.] + + +_THIRD INTERLUDE._ + +_Living pictures accompanied by appropriate music._ + + +1. SENDING OUT THE DISCIPLES. + +The Buddha called his disciples together, and having ordained them, +bade them spread the Gospel, with these words translated from the +Buddhist Canon: + +"Go ye now, O disciples, and wander forth for the benefit of the many, +for the welfare of mankind, out of compassion for the world. Preach +the doctrine which is glorious in the beginning, glorious in the +middle, and glorious in the end, in the spirit as well as in the +letter. There are beings whose eyes are scarcely covered with dust, +but if the doctrine is not preached to them they cannot attain +salvation. Proclaim to them a life of holiness. They will understand +the doctrine and accept it." + +The Pali expression _kalyamo dhamma_ is here translated "glorious +doctrine." The dictionary defines the first word as "excellent, +beautiful, glorious." This closely corresponds to the Christian term, +which, as derived from the Greek, reads "evangel" and in its Saxon +equivalent "gospel" or "good tidings." + +2. THE RICH YOUTH. + +Yasa, the son of a wealthy nobleman of Benares, came by night to the +Blessed One and exclaimed: "What misery!" But the Buddha answered, +"There is no misery for him who has entered the Path." + +Yasa, richly dressed, with an expression of distress, before the +Buddha who comforts him. The scene is framed in darkness, the two +figures being lit up by a torch. + +3. A CHILD'S OFFERING. + +Old frescoes in the Ajanta Caves show a mother sending a gift through +her child. It looks as if they were Buddhist illustrations of Christ's +injunction, "Suffer little children to come unto me." + + + + +ACT IV. + +FIRST SCENE + +[A room in the Jetavana. The wheel of the law pictured on one side and +the wheel of becoming on the other. Otherwise swastikas and lotus +flowers serve as ornaments. A large opening exhibits a view into a +garden with running water. On the right side there is a platform with +low seats, on the other there is a low table with a divan, on which +Anatha Pindika is seated, looking over palmleaf manuscripts.] + + + _Present: ANATHA PINDIKA (A); Servant (St.); PRINCE JETA (J); + later on KALA UDAYIN (K) and the BUDDHA (B)._ + + _A servant enters._ + +_St._ His Highness the Prince Jeta. + +_A._ Show him in. + + _JETA enters. A. rises to meet him with bows._ + +You are most welcome, my Prince. + +_J._ I have come from my brother, the King, to express to you his +thanks for having bought my pleasure grounds for the noble and great +purpose of affording a worthy resthouse to the Buddha and his +brotherhood. + +_A._ Kindly tender my gratitude to your royal brother for his gracious +message. + +_J._ I hear that King Bimbisara has sent an embassy to the Buddha to +induce him to come back to Rajagaha. Has the Buddha received these +men? + +_A._ Not yet. He will see them this morning. + +_J._ We ought to keep him here. He is a wonderful man, and I consider +our city fortunate to have him reside with us. What astonishes me is +his way of conquering the hearts of all men, even of his opponents, +and he is so sensible. + +_A._ What do you mean? + +_J._ I am not a religious man; I am too worldly, but him I would +follow. + +_A._ Why? + +_J._ He is perhaps the only religious reformer who does not go to +extremes. He rejects on the one hand austerities, self-mortifications, +penances, and severe fasts as useless, and on the other hand, he would +not allow his followers to indulge in pleasures; but he insists most +sensibly on keeping between the two extremes and proclaims the middle +path of leading a righteous life. There is nothing absurd about him. +Think of Devadatta. He insists that the monks should dress in rags +picked up in cemeteries. The Buddha appeals to common sense, and +therefore I say, he is a wonderful man. + +_A._ He is more than a man; he is enlightenment incarnate. + +A stream of blessings goes out from him. + +_J._ He has grown into an international power, and kings do well not +to ignore his influence. + +_A._ I think so myself, and I am so glad that his influence is always +for good, never for evil, and his ways are so marvelously gentle. + +_J._ Indeed that is a blessing. If he were not so absolutely +indifferent to his own affairs he might become positively dangerous. +His lay disciples count in thousands of thousands. The farmers in the +country, the merchants in the towns, the lawyers, the artisans, and +even the soldiers believe in him. Lately General Siha became a lay +member of the Buddha's brotherhood, and many other prominent officers +followed his example. + +_A._ He would never have gained this influence if he were not truly +the Buddha. + +_J._ I want to tell you that a war is threatening, but please do not +speak of it, it is a deep secret. A spy in the secret service of my +royal brother has found out that King Bimbisara intends to fall upon +the Sakyas and deprive them of their independence. The Brahman +Visakha, minister of state, has turned traitor and promises to deliver +his country into the hands of King Bimbisara on the condition that he +be made Raja in Suddhodana's place. + +_A._ The country of the Sakyas is but small, and their independence +will not last long; it is a mere question of time. + +_J._ But consider that the Buddha hails from Kapilavatthu. He is the +son of Suddhodana, the Sakya raja. + +_A._ Indeed he is and may I be permitted to inform him of the danger +that threatens his father's house? + +_J._ I give you full liberty, for he will use discretion and not +betray his informant. I deem Bimbisara's plan dangerous to himself. A +war with the Sakyas may cost Bimbisara his throne, for the people of +Rajagaha believe in the Buddha, and I learn that even now the war +rumors have made them restless. + + _Servant (St.) enters._ + +_St._ Here is a man with the name Kala Udayin, who has a message for +the Blessed One. + +_A._ Show him in. + +_J._ I leave you now and hope that you will keep the Buddha as long as +possible in Savatthi. + + _Exit._ + + _KALA UDAYIN enters and bows to ANATHA PINDIKA._ + +_A._ You want to see the Blessed One? I will call him. + + _ANATHA PINDIKA exit._ + +_K._ [_Alone_] This is the place where Prince Siddhattha lives! Indeed +a most delightful spot and more pleasant than many a royal palace. And +how the people speak of him! They call him the Blessed One, the +Buddha, the Tathagata, the Sakyamuni, the great Sage. The wealthiest +man of Kosala has bought these extensive and most beautiful grounds +and presented them to the brotherhood of his disciples, so that the +Buddha would stay here from time to time, and that the people of the +city would have him for their guest. + + _BUDDHA accompanied by ANATHA PINDIKA comes in. He is + followed by two disciples. The BUDDHA sits down on the seat + on the platform, having on either hand one of his disciples. + ANATHA PINDIKA stands below with clasped hands._ + + _KALA UDAYIN sinks to his knees with clasped hands._ + +_B._ My friend, what brings you here? + +_K._ A message from your royal father: He bade me tell you that he is +growing old, and before he dies, he wants to see his son once more. +Would you deign to accept his invitation? + +_B._ Tell me, my friend, how is my father? Is old age truly telling on +him? + +_K._ Not yet so visibly, but he worries much. + +_B._ And how is Rahula? He is now seven years old and must be quite a +boy. + +_K._ He is, my Lord; and how he talks of his father. He knows +everything you are doing. + +_B._ Who tells him? + +_K._ His mother does. + +_B._ And tell me how the princess fares? + +_K._ She imposes upon herself the observances which the mendicant +friars keep. She will have no preference over him who once was her +husband. She sleeps on the floor, she does no longer use unguents or +perfumes. She wears a simple yellow robe and observes the regulation +of the brotherhood in taking food. + + _The BUDDHA nods and with a distant look sits a few moments + in silence._ + +_B._ And she is a good mother? + +_K._ There could be no better. + +_St._ [_announces_] An embassy of the most potent King of Magadha, the +great Bimbisara. + +_B._ [_Addressing himself to the servant_] Let them come in, [_turning +to K._] Kala Udayin, bring my father greetings, and say that I shall +come. + + _KALA UDAYIN exit._ + + _A number of men, the embassy of King BIMBISARA, led by + NAGADEVA, most gorgeously dressed, file in. They let + themselves down on one knee, clasp their hands and rise + again._ + +_N._ Most gracious Lord, all-wise and blessed Buddha, +Our noble sov'reign bids me tender you +His most respectful greetings, and he hopes +That you return and visit Rajagaha, +For he is very anxious to be honored +By your auspicious presence in his kingdom. + +_B._ My Lords, express to your most mighty King +That the Tathagata can not accept +This friendly invitation, for he will +Start for his home, the country of the Sakyas, +To see his aged father and his kin. +If war or other ills befall his people, +He wants to live, if need be, die with them. + +_N._ Lord Buddha, speak a word of truth to us, +For I'm aware thou art omniscient. +Our royal master wants to hear from thee. + +_B._ All bodily existence passeth by +For it is compound and will be dissolved; +But there is Law; it is the Uncreate, +It is th' Etern, which is without beginning +And without end. That must our refuge be. +He who relies on the Impermanent, +And, being strong, attempts to crush the weak, +Will soon break down. This is the law of deeds, +For as we sow, such will our harvest be. +Rely on Truth, the Uncreate, th' Etern, +Be guided by the rule of Righteousness. +This is my message to the King, your Lord, +And may he be advised to rule his country +With love of peace, with goodness, and with wisdom. +My blessing be on him and on his people. + + _They kneel, clasp their hands, circumambulate the BUDDHA and + file out._ + + _JETA returns in excitement._ + +_J._ The war is on! King Bimbisara's army +Is building bridges to attack the Sakyas. + + [CURTAIN. Trumpet signals, military music.] + + +_FOURTH INTERLUDE._ + +_Living Pictures Accompanied by Appropriate Music._ + + +1. KING BIMBISARA ON THE ROYAL ELEPHANT. + +The king is seated under a canopy, together with his minister and +field marshal. On the head of the elephant, the driver; and retinue on +either side. + +2. THE WANDERER. + +The Buddha was in the habit of wandering through the country from +place to place. + +The picture shows him with a staff in his right hand and a bowl in his +left in an Indian landscape. + +3. KING BIMBISARA IN CAMP. + +Standing before the royal tent he addresses his generals. + + + + +ACT V. + +FIRST SCENE. + +[Reception hall of the Raja Suddhodana; Indian pompous style; columns +and beyond an outlook into a tropical palm-garden. Seats scattered +through the room. On the left a compartment, open toward the audience, +is separated from the main room by hanging carpets.] + + + _Near the right side SUDDHODANA is seated with PAJAPATI and + YASODHARA. RAHULA in the background (viz., in the garden) in + the care of a nurse._ + +_S._ The time is troublesome, and it appears that war is imminent. + +_P._ Oh do not fret; +Visakha is a cunning diplomat: +I hope he'll be successful, and he will +Persuade King Bimbisara to keep peace. + +_S._ I do hope too, but hope against conviction. + + _VISAKHA and DEVALA enter._ + +There come the Brahman and the gallant Captain. + +_V._ [Kneeling on one foot to the King] Hail Maharaja! + +_D._ Hail, my gracious King. + +_S._ Welcome my worthy messengers! + + _They kneel to PAJAPATI._ + +_P._ Be welcome. + +_S._ Tell me at once, how did your mission speed? + +_V._ There is a subtle influence against you +At Bimbisara's court; there is a party +Bound to have war, and they will have it too, +Unless we meet them by diplomacy. +Leave it to me, and I'll preserve the peace. + +_S._ Had not my son turned mendicant, how useful +Could he at present be! I need a general, +A trusty man of youthful strength and courage +To take the helm and lead the ship of state +Through storm and danger, for our foes are strong. + +_V._ Great Raja, I am privy to your grief, +I know the hope you'd set upon Siddhattha. +What brilliant gifts the boy inherited, +From you, his royal father, and how he, +Forgetful of his filial duty, left you, +And his fair wife and child, to turn a beggar. + +_S._ All this is true, remind me not of it, +'Tis a disgrace to our most royal house, +And all the Rajas in the Indian land, +Will point to us and mock the Sakya tribe. + + _RAHULA comes in with childlike joy and brings his mother a + rose._ + +_R._ Here, mother, is a rose. I picked it from the bush where the +nightingale sings. I thought, if father had been here, he would have +brought the rose to you. He loves the flowers and so do you. + +_Y._ My darling! + +_S._ [_with a touch of anger_] Yasodhara, I wish you would not speak +to him too much of his father. + +_R._ Why should mother not mention father? I love him and I should +know all about him. I want to join the Buddha's brotherhood. + +_S._ Do you love him more than your grandfather? + +_R._ I love my grandfather too, I love mother, and you, dear +grandmother [_turning to PAJAPATI_]. You are always so kind to me. I +love you all. But father I love in a different manner. I love him as +Buddha. I clasp my hands to him as to a god; and so do you mother, do +you not? + +_Y._ [_Puts her hand on Rahula's mouth_] Hush! I thank you for the +rose, my child; now run away and bring another rose to grandfather, +and one for your grandmother Pajapati. + +_R._ Yes mother, and one I keep for father when he comes. + + _Runs off._ + +_V._ Your grandson needs a father, Maha Raja! + +And let me tender you my humble service. +I see Yasodhara, the noble princess, +Pine patiently away and spend in mourning +Her life's best years of youth and happiness. +She has been cruelly deserted, has +Been widowed by Siddhattha for a whim. +Give her to me in marriage, and I'll prove +A better father than that runaway, +A better father to your little grandson, +A better husband to his widowed wife. + +_S._ You are at liberty to ask my daughter. + +_V._ Fair Princess, cease to mourn, and grant my suit. +Thou shalt see better days than heretofore. + +_Y._ I pledged my troth to Gotama Siddhattha, +And I shall never break my faith to him. + +_V._ Siddhattha is no more, he has turned monk +And you are free, you are Siddhattha's widow. + +_S._ My daughter, do not think that I oppose +Visakha's suit, for on the contrary +I do support it, and I wish you would +Accept him as a husband, for I need +Alliance with a brave and trusty man. + +_V._ Princess Yasodhara, here is my hand, +Do not refuse me. + +_Y._ Brahman, spare your words. + +_V._ The time will come when you will sore regret. +O King, compel her to obey; make use +Of your good right as master of this house, +For I alone can save the Sakya state. + +_P._ O worthy Brahman, do not threaten us. + +_V._ Decide, O Maharaja; thou art Lord! +Thy bidding must be done. Shall women rule, +Or art thou master still in thine own home? + +_S._ I am master here; but not a tyrant; +Among our people master means a leader. +The Sakya yeomen justly pride themselves +On their free institutions. I'm the first +Among them, not an autocrat nor despot; +I serve them as adviser, guide and father; +Shall I who never would infringe upon +The right of any poorest peasant woman, +Compel a princess of the royal house +To marry 'gainst her will? No sir, not I. +I wished the Princess to accept your suit, +But I shall never say, She must be yours. + +_V._ King of the Sakyas, you forget yourself, +I am a Brahman and of noble birth. +I served you faithfully for many years, +But now I quit your service, for I know +That Bimbisara, King of Magadha, +The mightiest of Indian rulers, +Will welcome me as friend and counselor. + + _He bows to the KING and PAJAPATI, and leaves. For a moment + they are all silent._ + +_S._ I fear me that means war. + +_D._ Indeed it does. + +If you remember, King, Visakha said +There was a subtle influence against you +At Bimbisara's court. It dawns on me +That he, Visakha, is the cause of it. +I saw him whisper with a courtier, then +He spoke in secret with a general, +And with the King too he was closeted. +The hypocrite has thrown away his mask, +And since he spoke out boldly, I know now +That he has been intriguing all the time. + +_S._ He thinks I hate my son, but I do not. +I'm only angry, I am disappointed, +Because he did not heed my dearest wish. +I love him still and I invited him +To visit his old home and me, his father. +I sent Udayin with a kindly greeting. +Oh, I'd forgive him all, and e'en his flight, +Had only he not turned a mendicant. +It hurts my pride to see a Sakya prince, +And mine own son, go round from house to house +With bowl in hand to beg his daily food. + + _RAHULA comes in excited._ + +_R._ Grandfather, here is your rose, and grandma, here is yours. And +oh! did you hear the news? + +_Y._ What is it, boy? Why are you so excited? + +_P._ Who told you any news? + +_R._ The guards at the gate. They say that my father has come. All the +people rush out of their houses and greet him with clasped hands. +They strew flowers on the road and hail him as the Buddha! + +_Y._ [_rises_] Why, is it possible? + + _Wants to retire._ + +_S._ Stay here. Kala Udayin comes. + + _KALA enter and kneels._ + +_K._ I bow in humble reverence before the King. And my respectful +salutations to all the members of the royal house [_turning to GOPA_] +and to you. + +_S._ Bring you good news, Udayin? + +_K._ Your noble son, my King, is coming. + +_S._ Where did you find him? + +_K._ At the Jetavana at Savatthi. + +_S._ What kind of a place is that? + +_K._ It is the most wonderful pleasure park I ever saw. O King, your +garden here is a paltry affair in comparison with the Jetavana. + +_S._ There he lives in luxury? + +_K._ Oh no Sir. Not at all. He could live in luxury, if he wanted to, +but he leads a simple life, as simple as the humblest servant in your +home, and when he wanders through the country after the rainy season +he lives like any mendicant friar. He overtook me on my way, and when +he came hither to Kapilavatthu, his home, he did as usual. Last night +he slept in the forest, and this morning he went from house to house +with bowl in hand, begging his food, and he spoke a blessing wherever +people greeted him kindly, or gave him to eat. + +_S._ Oh my son, my son! Why didst thou not go straight to the palace +where thy father has food enough for thee and all thy disciples! + +_K._ He always follows the rule of the mendicants. + +_S._ Oh my son! Why dost thou shame thy father in his own home? + +_K._ The Blessed One deems it no shame to beg. He is as modest as a +pauper and shows no pride, but wherever he comes, he is greeted like a +king, nay like a king of kings, and the wealthiest and most powerful +rulers come to do him reverence. + +_S._ And he is here, this wonderful man? And he is my son Siddhattha? + +_K._ Yes, he is here, and it is your son, but no longer Siddhattha, +the Sakya prince, but Sakya muni, the sage of the Sakyas, the Buddha, +the Blessed One. When I spoke to him and gave him your message, he +inquired for you and the Queen Pajapati [_YASODHARA rises_] and for +you, most honored Princess and for Rahula. Yes, he inquired for you +and how Rahula had grown. + +_Y._ Did he speak kindly of us? + +_K._ He always speaks kindly, and he is always calm. + + [Music a song, Buddhist Doxology, at a distance] + +_K._ O listen to the music. Here he comes, the glorious Buddha. He +must be at the gate. + +_Y._ [_rises again and withdraws._] I must be gone. + +_P._ O stay, Yasodhara. + +_Y._ No, I will hide me from his very sight; and if I am to him of any +value, he will ask for me. + +_S._ Stay, Yasodhara. + +_Y._ He fled from me because I was a hindrance +In his great quest, and he may shun me still. + +_S._ Stay none the less. + +_P._ Nay, let her withdraw; she is in tears and would break down. + + _YASODHARA and PAJAPATI withdraw to the partition behind the + curtains._ + +_S._ You say, that my son is greeted even by kings with clasped hands? + +_K._ Yea, even kings kneel to him. + +_S._ I shall do nothing of the kind. He is my son, my disobedient son, +and I am still his father. + + _PAJAPATI returns._ + + _The procession of the BUDDHA comes. Two monks precede and + stand at either side of the BUDDHA. Accompanying monks and + other public come into the garden, crowding up to the + columns. They all kneel with clasped hands, except + SUDDHODANA._ + +_B._ My blessing to this house, to you, O King, +And also to the Queen Pajapati, +My dear good aunt and loving foster mother. + +_S._ At last thou comest back, my wayward son, +But why didst shame me? Why didst thou go begging +Here in my capital? Thou art descended +From ancestors who are a royal race. + +_B._ My ancestors are Buddhas of past ages, +Their thinking has descended unto me, +Their habits and their rules of life I follow, +And not the regulations of a court. + + _The people rise to their feet again; KALA joins GOPA._ + +_S._ Tell me, what are the rules of former Buddhas? + +_B._ They greet you with a stanza in return +For any food or hospitality. + +_S._ I shall be glad to hear what you will say. + +_B._ Awake from sleep, dispel the dream; + Before the truth's bright ray + Things truly are not what they seem + But truth points out the way. + Truth, truth alone will bring you bliss, + In the next life and e'en in this. + + _RAHULA brings a rose to BUDDHA._ + +_R._ Here, father, is a rose I saved for you +On the big bush where nests the nightingale. + +_B._ And this is Rahula! How you have grown! +Where is your mother? + +_S._ Yasodhara was here, +But would not stay. On hearing that you came +She left the room and said that if at all +You cared for her, you would not fail to ask. + +_B._ But I want to see her, lead me to the place. + + _BUDDHA hands his bowl to the King, PAJAPATI rises and leads + the way. At a distance a flourish of trumpets._ + +_D._ What military signals do I hear? + +_S._ Go, Captain Devala, see what it means. + + _DEVALA exit. SUDDHODANA hands the bowl to one of the + disciples._ + +_B._ Ye two disciples shall attend the meeting. +Above all passion has the Buddha risen, +But he will comfort her who loves him dearly. +The Princess' heart is filled with deepest grief, +And in no wise shall any one rebuke her +In whatsoever way she greeteth him. + + _PAJAPATI opens the curtain leading to the apartment where + YASODHARA sits. BUDDHA, PAJAPATI and SUDDHODANA enter. + YASODHARA sinks down before him and holds his feet, weeping. + The flourish of trumpets is repeated._ + +_S._ [_Grows restless, turns to PAJAPATI_] These warlike trumpets + have a foreign sound +And may forbode the enemy's attack. + + _He leaves the apartment where YASODHARA is and re-enters the + hall, going toward the entrance in the background between the + columns._ + +_B._ Yasodhara, I bring thee happy tidings, +Deliverance is found, let go thy grief. + + _YASODHARA looking up to BUDDHA with deep emotion._ + +_Y._ Oh Lord, how did I long for your return, +But in your eyes I have become as naught. + +_B._ My faithful helpmate and my former wife, +Thou hast been dear to me, dear art thou still, +But truth is dearer, and to truth I cling, +While on my quest of truth in former lives, +And also now in this existence, thou +With voluntary sacrifice hast aided me, +Imagine not that thou a hindrance art +To me or to my work and holy mission. +Next to my sainted mother thou art blessed +Among the women of this world. Rejoice +And let grief pass from thy suffering soul. + +_Y._ [_In a kneeling posture_] Grant me a boon, my Lord, a precious +boon. + +_R._ Yea, father, grant the boon that mother wants. + +_B._ Speak, Princess, and I listen to thy word. +I know thy heart, Yasodhara; I know +That naught but worthy thoughts dwell in thy mind. + +_Y._ Grant me to help thee in thy noble mission. +I want to join the band of thy disciples. + + _She pauses and the BUDDHA hesitates to answer._ + + I shall be happy if I do thy work. + +_B._ Dost thou not know this boon is but a burden? + +_Y._ The heavier it be, my Lord, the more I welcome it. + +_R._ Oh grant the boon! + +_B._ Not yet +Yasodhara, have women been admitted; +But I foresee the time will come. + +_Y._ My Lord +The time is here if thou but grant the boon. + + _The BUDDHA places his right hand in blessing upon + YASODHARA'S head._ + +_B._ So let it be, and so thy boon be granted; +I may not hinder thee if thou insistest. + + _As PAJAPATI helps YASODHARA to rise, a third flourish of + trumpets is heard, this time near by and loud. DEVALA returns + in great excitement and addresses SUDDHODANA._ + +_D._ My noble liege, an embassy is coming +From Bimbisara, King of Magadha. +They are the kingdom's highest ministers, +And sullen do they look and their retainers. + +_S._ 'Tis most unfortunate, but let them in. + +_D._ There's more to be announced. + +_S._ You look excited. + +_D._ It is but the beginning of the end: +Our scouts are captured, one of them escaped. + + _He hesitates._ + +_S._ Well, Devala? + +_D._ He carries evil news. + +_S._ [_With great anxiety_] By Issara! Speak, man! Don't hesitate. + + _DEVALA covers his eyes with his hands and sobs._ + +_S._ Tell me the worst. Tell me the worst at once. + +_D._ O that I had no tongue to tell the tidings. + +_S._ I will be brave, speak freely! Be a man! + + _In the meantime the BUDDHA together with the others has + entered the main hall._ + +_D._ Our cause is lost. We are surrounded, +Three bridges have been built and General Siha +Stands ready with an overwhelming army +To crush us. + +_S._ Once I had a son! But he +Alas! turned mendicant and fails me now! +In him no drop of warrior blood is left, +No spark of honor gloweth in his heart +And our ancestral pride goes down in shame. + +_B._ Transient, my noble father, are all things. +All kingdoms finally must pass away, +But if thou tak'st thy refuge in the truth, +Thou wilt be free from all vicissitudes. +The kingdom of the truth alone endures. + +_S._ [_With indignation._] Siddhattha, spare thy monkish rant, +Far better than thy cowardly submission, +Far nobler and befitting it would be, +To draw the sword and die a hero's death. + + _The embassy in solemn procession files in as before at the + Jetavana. The BUDDHA withdraws and is not noticed by the + embassy. Prime Minister NAGADEVA (N) addresses King + SUDDHODANA._ + +_N._ Oh Maharaja, listen to our message! + +The ruler of the mighty Magadha, +King Bimbisara, sends you kindly greetings. +He wants you to entreat the Blessed One, +The holy Buddha, who now stays with you, +Who, as he learneth, is your noble son, +To come to Rajagaha on a visit. +There have been rumors of intended war, +And armies are maneuvering nearby, +But be assured, our noble King means peace. +He would not draw the sword against your state, +Nor wage a war against the Buddha's father. + + _SUDDHODANA'S eye searches for the BUDDHA who has been + standing behind a column and now steps forward._ + +_S._ Oh noble son, oh blessed, highest Buddha, +Thou art indeed a King of Kings on earth! + + _He kneels down. All members of the embassy do the same._ + +No crown thou wear'st, no scepter's in thy hand, +Thou needest neither lance, nor sword nor shield, +And yet thou rulest, with mere word and thought, +Thou sway'st the destinies of all the world, +I did not know thy power and thy great worth; +But now I bow me down in humble faith, +And I take refuge in the truth thou preachest. +Henceforth I will devote myself to spread +The kingdom of good will and righteousness. + + [Music Buddhist Doxology] + + [CURTAIN] + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Buddha, by Paul Carus + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BUDDHA *** + +***** This file should be named 22782.txt or 22782.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/7/8/22782/ + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Sankar Viswanathan, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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