°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
my¡¡young¡¡body¡¡this¡¡primal¡¡injustice£»¡¡an¡¡unattractive¡¡plainness¡£
For¡¡a¡¡single¡¡day¡¡make¡¡me¡¡superbly¡¡beautiful£»¡¡even¡¡as¡¡beautiful¡¡as
was¡¡the¡¡sudden¡¡blooming¡¡of¡¡love¡¡in¡¡my¡¡heart¡£¡¡¡¡Give¡¡me¡¡but¡¡one
brief¡¡day¡¡of¡¡perfect¡¡beauty£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡answer¡¡for¡¡the¡¡days¡¡that
follow¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Madana
Lady£»¡¡I¡¡grant¡¡thy¡¡prayer¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Vasanta
Not¡¡for¡¡the¡¡short¡¡span¡¡of¡¡a¡¡day£»¡¡but¡¡for¡¡one¡¡whole¡¡year¡¡the¡¡charm
of¡¡spring¡¡blossoms¡¡shall¡¡nestle¡¡round¡¡thy¡¡limbs¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡SCENE¡¡II
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arjuna
WAS¡¡I¡¡dreaming¡¡or¡¡was¡¡what¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡by¡¡the¡¡lake¡¡truly¡¡there£¿¡¡
Sitting¡¡on¡¡the¡¡mossy¡¡turf£»¡¡I¡¡mused¡¡over¡¡bygone¡¡years¡¡in¡¡the
sloping¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡evening£»¡¡when¡¡slowly¡¡there¡¡came¡¡out¡¡from
the¡¡folding¡¡darkness¡¡of¡¡foliage¡¡an¡¡apparition¡¡of¡¡beauty¡¡in¡¡the
perfect¡¡form¡¡of¡¡a¡¡woman£»¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡a¡¡white¡¡slab¡¡of¡¡stone¡¡at
the¡¡water's¡¡brink¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡must
heave¡¡in¡¡joy¡¡under¡¡her¡¡bare¡¡white¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡Methought¡¡the¡¡vague
veilings¡¡of¡¡her¡¡body¡¡should¡¡melt¡¡in¡¡ecstasy¡¡into¡¡air¡¡as¡¡the
golden¡¡mist¡¡of¡¡dawn¡¡melts¡¡from¡¡off¡¡the¡¡snowy¡¡peak¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eastern
hill¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡bowed¡¡herself¡¡above¡¡the¡¡shining¡¡mirror¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lake¡¡and
saw¡¡the¡¡reflection¡¡of¡¡her¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡started¡¡up¡¡in¡¡awe¡¡and¡¡stood
still£»¡¡then¡¡smiled£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡careless¡¡sweep¡¡of¡¡her¡¡left¡¡arm
unloosed¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡let¡¡it¡¡trail¡¡on¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡at¡¡her¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡She
bared¡¡her¡¡bosom¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡her¡¡arms£»¡¡so¡¡flawlessly¡¡modelled£»
and¡¡instinct¡¡with¡¡an¡¡exquisite¡¡caress¡£¡¡¡¡Bending¡¡her¡¡head¡¡she
saw¡¡the¡¡sweet¡¡blossoming¡¡of¡¡her¡¡youth¡¡and¡¡the¡¡tender¡¡bloom¡¡and
blush¡¡of¡¡her¡¡skin¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡beamed¡¡with¡¡a¡¡glad¡¡surprise¡£¡¡¡¡So£»¡¡if¡¡the
white¡¡lotus¡¡bud¡¡on¡¡opening¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡were¡¡to¡¡arch
her¡¡neck¡¡and¡¡see¡¡her¡¡shadow¡¡in¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡would¡¡she¡¡wonder¡¡at
herself¡¡the¡¡livelong¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡after¡¡the¡¡smile¡¡passed
from¡¡her¡¡face¡¡and¡¡a¡¡shade¡¡of¡¡sadness¡¡crept¡¡into¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡She
bound¡¡up¡¡her¡¡tresses£»¡¡drew¡¡her¡¡veil¡¡over¡¡her¡¡arms£»¡¡and¡¡sighing
slowly£»¡¡walked¡¡away¡¡like¡¡a¡¡beauteous¡¡evening¡¡fading¡¡into¡¡the
night¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡me¡¡the¡¡supreme¡¡fulfilment¡¡of¡¡desire¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have
been¡¡revealed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡flash¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡have¡¡vanished¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡But¡¡who
is¡¡it¡¡that¡¡pushes¡¡the¡¡door£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Enter¡¡CHITRA£»¡¡dressed¡¡as¡¡a¡¡woman¡£
Ah£¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡is¡¡she¡£¡¡¡¡Quiet£»¡¡my¡¡heart£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Fear¡¡me¡¡not£»¡¡lady£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡am
a¡¡Kshatriya¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
Honoured¡¡sir£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡my¡¡guest¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡live¡¡in¡¡this¡¡temple¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡know
not¡¡in¡¡what¡¡way¡¡I¡¡can¡¡show¡¡you¡¡hospitality¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arjuna
Fair¡¡lady£»¡¡the¡¡very¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡you¡¡is¡¡indeed¡¡the¡¡highest
hospitality¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡you¡¡will¡¡not¡¡take¡¡it¡¡amiss¡¡I¡¡would¡¡ask¡¡you¡¡a
question¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
You¡¡have¡¡permission¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arjuna
What¡¡stern¡¡vow¡¡keeps¡¡you¡¡immured¡¡in¡¡this¡¡solitary¡¡temple£»
depriving¡¡all¡¡mortals¡¡of¡¡a¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡so¡¡much¡¡loveliness£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
I¡¡harbour¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡desire¡¡in¡¡my¡¡heart£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡fulfilment¡¡of
which¡¡I¡¡offer¡¡daily¡¡prayers¡¡to¡¡Lord¡¡Shiva¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arjuna
Alas£»¡¡what¡¡can¡¡you¡¡desire£»¡¡you¡¡who¡¡are¡¡the¡¡desire¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole
world£¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡easternmost¡¡hill¡¡on¡¡whose¡¡summit¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡sun
first¡¡prints¡¡his¡¡fiery¡¡foot¡¡to¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sunset¡¡land¡¡have¡¡I
travelled¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡whatever¡¡is¡¡most¡¡precious£»¡¡beautiful¡¡and
great¡¡on¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡knowledge¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡yours£»¡¡only¡¡say¡¡for
what¡¡or¡¡for¡¡whom¡¡you¡¡seek¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
He¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡seek¡¡is¡¡known¡¡to¡¡all¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arjuna
Indeed£¡¡¡¡¡Who¡¡may¡¡this¡¡favourite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gods¡¡be£»¡¡whose¡¡fame¡¡has
captured¡¡your¡¡heart£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
Sprung¡¡from¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡of¡¡all¡¡royal¡¡houses£»¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡of¡¡all
heroes¡¡is¡¡he¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arjuna
Lady£»¡¡offer¡¡not¡¡such¡¡wealth¡¡of¡¡beauty¡¡as¡¡is¡¡yours¡¡on¡¡the¡¡altar¡¡of
false¡¡reputation¡£¡¡¡¡Spurious¡¡fame¡¡spreads¡¡from¡¡tongue¡¡to¡¡tongue
like¡¡the¡¡fog¡¡of¡¡the¡¡early¡¡dawn¡¡before¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡rises¡£¡¡¡¡Tell¡¡me¡¡who
in¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡of¡¡kingly¡¡lines¡¡is¡¡the¡¡supreme¡¡hero£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
Hermit£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡jealous¡¡of¡¡other¡¡men's¡¡fame¡£¡¡¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡not¡¡know
that¡¡all¡¡over¡¡the¡¡world¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡house¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Kurus¡¡is¡¡the¡¡most
famous£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arjuna
The¡¡house¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Kurus£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
And¡¡have¡¡you¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡name¡¡of¡¡that¡¡far¡famed
house£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arjuna
From¡¡your¡¡own¡¡lips¡¡let¡¡me¡¡hear¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
Arjuna£»¡¡the¡¡conqueror¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡culled¡¡from¡¡the
mouths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡multitude¡¡that¡¡imperishable¡¡name¡¡and¡¡hidden¡¡it¡¡with
care¡¡in¡¡my¡¡maiden¡¡heart¡£¡¡¡¡Hermit£»¡¡why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡look¡¡perturbed£¿¡¡¡¡Has
that¡¡name¡¡only¡¡a¡¡deceitful¡¡glitter£¿¡¡¡¡Say¡¡so£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not
hesitate¡¡to¡¡break¡¡this¡¡casket¡¡of¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡throw¡¡the¡¡false¡¡gem
to¡¡the¡¡dust¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arjuna
Be¡¡his¡¡name¡¡and¡¡fame£»¡¡his¡¡bravery¡¡and¡¡prowess¡¡false¡¡or¡¡true£»¡¡for
mercy's¡¡sake¡¡do¡¡not¡¡banish¡¡him¡¡from¡¡your¡¡heartfor¡¡he¡¡kneels¡¡at
your¡¡feet¡¡even¡¡now¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
You£»¡¡Arjuna£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arjuna
Yes£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡he£»¡¡the¡¡love¡hungered¡¡guest¡¡at¡¡your¡¡door¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
Then¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡true¡¡that¡¡Arjuna¡¡has¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡vow¡¡of¡¡chastity¡¡for
twelve¡¡long¡¡years£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arjuna
But¡¡you¡¡have¡¡dissolved¡¡my¡¡vow¡¡even¡¡as¡¡the¡¡moon¡¡dissolves¡¡the
night's¡¡vow¡¡of¡¡obscurity¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
Oh£»¡¡shame¡¡upon¡¡you£¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡have¡¡you¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡me¡¡that¡¡makes¡¡you
false¡¡to¡¡yourself£¿¡¡¡¡Whom¡¡do¡¡you¡¡seek¡¡in¡¡these¡¡dark¡¡eyes£»¡¡in¡¡these
milk¡white¡¡arms£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡are¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡for¡¡her¡¡the¡¡price¡¡of
your¡¡probity£¿¡¡¡¡Not¡¡my¡¡true¡¡self£»¡¡I¡¡know¡£¡¡¡¡Surely¡¡this¡¡cannot¡¡be
love£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡not¡¡man's¡¡highest¡¡homage¡¡to¡¡woman£¡¡¡¡¡Alas£»¡¡that¡¡this
frail¡¡disguise£»¡¡the¡¡body£»¡¡should¡¡make¡¡one¡¡blind¡¡to¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of
the¡¡deathless¡¡spirit£¡¡¡¡¡Yes£»¡¡now¡¡indeed£»¡¡I¡¡know£»¡¡Arjuna£»¡¡the¡¡fame
of¡¡your¡¡heroic¡¡manhood¡¡is¡¡false¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arjuna
Ah£»¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡how¡¡vain¡¡is¡¡fame£»¡¡the¡¡pride¡¡of¡¡prowess£¡¡¡¡¡Everything
seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡a¡¡dream¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡alone¡¡are¡¡perfect£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡the¡¡wealth
of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡all¡¡poverty£»¡¡the¡¡goal¡¡of¡¡all¡¡efforts£»
the¡¡one¡¡woman£¡¡¡¡¡Others¡¡there¡¡are¡¡who¡¡can¡¡be¡¡but¡¡slowly¡¡known¡£¡¡
While¡¡to¡¡see¡¡you¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡is¡¡to¡¡see¡¡perfect¡¡completeness
once¡¡and¡¡for¡¡ever¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
Alas£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡I£»¡¡not¡¡I£»¡¡Arjuna£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡deceit¡¡of¡¡a¡¡god¡£
Go£»¡¡go£»¡¡my¡¡hero£»¡¡go¡£¡¡¡¡Woo¡¡not¡¡falsehood£»¡¡offer¡¡not¡¡your¡¡great
heart¡¡to¡¡an¡¡illusion¡£¡¡¡¡Go¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡SCENE¡¡III
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
No£»¡¡impossible¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡face¡¡that¡¡fervent¡¡gaze¡¡that¡¡almost¡¡grasps¡¡you
like¡¡clutching¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hungry¡¡spirit¡¡within£»¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡his
heart¡¡struggling¡¡to¡¡break¡¡its¡¡bounds¡¡urging¡¡its¡¡passionate¡¡cry
through¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡bodyand¡¡then¡¡to¡¡send¡¡him¡¡away¡¡like¡¡a
beggarno£»¡¡impossible¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Enter¡¡MADANA¡¡and¡¡VASANTA¡£
Ah£»¡¡god¡¡of¡¡love£»¡¡what¡¡fearful¡¡flame¡¡is¡¡this¡¡with¡¡which¡¡thou¡¡hast
enveloped¡¡me£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡burn£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡burn¡¡whatever¡¡I¡¡touch¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Madana
I¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡know¡¡what¡¡happened¡¡last¡¡night¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
At¡¡evening¡¡I¡¡lay¡¡down¡¡on¡¡a¡¡grassy¡¡bed¡¡strewn¡¡with¡¡the¡¡petals¡¡of
spring¡¡flowers£»¡¡and¡¡recollected¡¡the¡¡wonderful¡¡praise¡¡of¡¡my¡¡beauty
I¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡from¡¡Arjuna£»drinking¡¡drop¡¡by¡¡drop¡¡the¡¡honey¡¡that¡¡I
had¡¡stored¡¡during¡¡the¡¡long¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡history¡¡of¡¡my¡¡past¡¡life¡¡like
that¡¡of¡¡my¡¡former¡¡existences¡¡was¡¡forgotten¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡a
flower£»¡¡which¡¡has¡¡but¡¡a¡¡few¡¡fleeting¡¡hours¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡all¡¡the
humming¡¡flatteries¡¡and¡¡whispered¡¡murmurs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡woodlands¡¡and
then¡¡must¡¡lower¡¡its¡¡eyes¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Sky£»¡¡bend¡¡its¡¡head¡¡and¡¡at¡¡a
breath¡¡give¡¡itself¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡dust¡¡without¡¡a¡¡cry£»¡¡thus¡¡ending¡¡the
short¡¡story¡¡of¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡moment¡¡that¡¡has¡¡neither¡¡past¡¡nor¡¡future¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Vasanta
A¡¡limitless¡¡life¡¡of¡¡glory¡¡can¡¡bloom¡¡and¡¡spend¡¡itself¡¡in¡¡a
morning¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Madana
Like¡¡an¡¡endless¡¡meaning¡¡in¡¡the¡¡narrow¡¡span¡¡of¡¡a¡¡song¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chitra
The¡¡southern¡¡breeze¡¡caressed¡¡me¡¡to¡¡sleep¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡flowering
Malati¡¡bower¡¡overhead¡¡silent¡¡kisses¡¡dropped¡¡over¡¡my¡¡body¡£¡¡
On¡¡my¡¡hair£»¡¡my¡¡breast£»¡¡my¡¡feet£»¡¡each¡¡flower¡¡chose¡¡a¡¡bed¡¡to¡¡die
on¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡slept¡£¡¡¡¡And£»¡¡suddenly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡depth¡¡of¡¡my¡¡sleep£»¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡as
if¡¡some¡¡intense¡¡eager¡¡look£»¡¡like¡¡tapering¡¡fingers¡¡of¡¡flame£»
touched¡¡my¡¡slumbering¡¡body¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡started¡¡up¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡Hermit
standing¡¡before¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡moon¡¡had¡¡moved¡¡to¡¡the¡¡west£»¡¡peering
through¡¡the¡¡leaves¡¡to¡¡espy¡¡this¡¡wonder¡¡of¡¡divine¡¡art¡¡wrought¡¡in¡¡a
fragile¡¡human¡¡frame¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡air¡¡was¡¡heavy¡¡with¡¡perfume£»¡¡the¡¡silence
of¡¡the¡¡night¡¡was¡¡vocal¡¡with¡¡the¡¡chirping¡¡of¡¡crickets£»¡¡the
reflections¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡hung¡¡motionless¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lake£»¡¡and¡¡with
his¡¡staff¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡