Ramanan: The Pastoral

 Ramanan- The Pastoral  (1936)

By Changampuzha Krishna  Pilla 

English Rendering 

By Gopikrishnan Kottoor

(2022)

Acknowledgements and  Assistance 

Smitha Kiran, Dr. Balusha U

Ramanan and Madanan

Two shepherd  friends

Chandrika

A rich young woman

Bhanumati

 Chandrika's friend

Singing Chorus 

Other shepherds

An enchanting village habitat with hills, forests, and streams. 

 Ramanan - 

The  Elegy.

(Ramaman, the poem written in a pastoral vein, was composed by the celebrated Malayalam poet, Changampuzha Krishna Pilla, (1911-1948) following the death by suicide of his close friend and poet, Edapally Raghavan Pilla. Together  they came to be known as the Shelley and Keats combination  of Malayalam Romantic poetry. 

 Ramanan, written in 1936  has sold over a lakh copies . The book is now in its 86th year. It  continues to be, perhaps, the most admired book of poetry  in Malayalam, and Changampuzha, the most admired poet.

On the night  of  July 4, 1936,  Edapally, deserted in love,  took his bath,  and wearing a jasmine garland  committed suicide , hanging himself in his room.  The jasmine garland is  symbolically laced   throughout  the elegy.

As Changampuzga  himself writes  in his  Memoriam to Ramanan, the book is an offering:   ‘In dear memory of my beloved friend, I tender this brotherly gift with tears  before his tomb.’

 The poem,  a searing tribute to the memory of his poet friend, seems  written   dipped in the ink of tears. No one who reads Ramanan can escape its beauty, its pathos,  its oratorical eloquence, its intensities of love and anguish, and the compelling  statements of the helplessness of man before love and  fate . The poem  brings to mind the lines of Shelley “ Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thoughts".

Raman, the elegy,   a book of tears sculpted  in  Time, is also  a work  of matchless  beauty echoing  the opening lines of Endymion  of Keats ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’.

Contents

PART I 9

Scene 1 11

Scene 2 16

Scene 3 21

Scene 4 27

Scene 5 30

PART II 35

Scene 1 41

Scene 2 45

Scene 3 51

Scene 4 55

Scene 5 59

PART III 69

Scene 1 69

Scene 2 72

Scene 3 78

Scene 4 83

PART I THE PRELUDE 

(CHORUS)

First Singer

The teeming  flowering forests

Soaking in emerald sheen

Stealing all heart and eyes

Lay pastoral pristine;

Fondly parting fresh mist waves

Fallen like caress upon the hills,

Peeped the first rays of dawn 

From behind the mountain tier.

Wherever one turned to gaze,

Flowering trees would amaze;

Perchance a little breeze that came,

Would drench it all in flower rains!

Second Singer

Shoots, flowers, tree spreads,

Shades, cool grass beds,

Birds pouring forth warbles

Waking here and there, to flight,

Rivulets that roam, bursting foam,

Stringing the tender soft veena of waves,

Hills rising abreast

Just as a painting finely sketched,

Valleys undulant with their groves in hundreds

Rice fields ornamented all around

In coral flower showers;

River, and lotus ponds

Dissolved in the flow of a shepherd’s song;

Such, they change a simple village scene,

Into a heaven on earth.

Third Singer

There, a-brim, glowed impeccable serenity ;

Budded there, beauty, health, and calm.

A virtuous temple that was,

Of the Goddess of prosperity;

Enough, my description 

that you have this far heard;

If you’ll enter this mountain terrain,

You too will be drawn to its splendour!

Look down there, in that valley,

By the banks of a stream, upon the verdant green,

Two shepherds in conversational spree

Together beneath the shade of a tree!

While in the flaming mid-day heat

The forest simmers in the sun,

Observe those shaded  vales

How exquisitely cool and enchanting  they be!

Those delicately tender sandal buds! 

Before the lulling breeze appears,

Caressing the shepherds to sleep,

Come, let’s reach there. 

Don’t you yearn too,

To  listen to the fond secrets they have to tell each other?

Come, come, make haste,

Let us together get there, friends.

Scene 1

(Ramanan lies beneath a tree shade. Close beside, sits Madanan, with his hand upon his cheeks. Ramanan is twenty seven years old. Both are in shepherd’s attire. Ramanan is tall and slender. He  has a handsome, quiet demeanor. It is afternoon).

Madanan 

Ramana, would  you still hide

That secret from me? 

Though we may be two bodies,

At heart, are we not one?

 Are you not my breath?

There’s not  the trace,

 Of a drop of  blood on your face;

It has been so, for a while,

Some  deep  distress always claws your heart,

This I garner. Tell me frankly, what it is.

To know it, I can even forsake my life.

If truly, the face is the mirror of the heart,

There’s not the least doubt,

That in your mind

There’s torment profound.

Whatever  the reason be,

Open up to me completely.

I’m drained totally,

Seeing your face this  pale and weary;

If, for me, you have a little compassion

Do not   any longer,

Keep hiding your  secret;

Lift your face, once, 

Confide in me, 

Your grief entirely.

(Two yellow birds warble, they fly away from the overhead branch. A few white flower clusters fall on to the shepherds from a broken stem. A doe comes to drink from the stream. A kingfisher comes up the waterfront flapping dry with a small fish clenched in its beak).

Ramanan

My heart burns- It is sad, Madana,

Please do not speak this way to me again!

Tell me, has there been a secret between us

That we have not shared with each other? 

 See not  a  fault in me;

Hear me while I tell you everything. 

A silver star illumining  the empyreal  skies

Perchanced to love a blade of grass

Sunk in the muddy mire;

The grass must either rise to the sky

Or else, the enchantingly radiant star,

Its pedestal relinquished, must drop onto this  clod!

Both cannot be-- Of what avail then, is this shadow play?

To such a vain delusion,

Will the world ever consent?

Let me confess; I am that grass blade,

The impeccable star is ‘Chandrika’.

Her realm among gold mountain peaks,

Fanned by radiant rays, is a priceless fortune;

In that abode of light, she with her beloved  cloud-lord  

 must prosper ;

If that falls soaking into the grass,

That’ll be grievous thoughtlessness.

I tried to dissuade her- many a time-

To fend back her chaste offerings of love. But no-

The golden ray will not go away.

I have not the heart to keep her at bay.

(The nectar of his voice suddenly dissolves into a sigh).

Madanan

Bow before that magnificence 

of your desire on earth;

She is a Goddess--An incarnation of divine beauty,

Such pure love!

Fortunate you are, to be deserving of her love; 

To refuse a chaste gift as of hers 

Would be great wrong.

Cherish it all your life!

Accept it with all your heart!

Ramanan

Alright- But Madana,

Just consider the truth of who I really am;

A piffling shepherd, one to be ignored,

Living my life among streams, forests, and mountains, 

one fallen!

But she-a jewel flower

In the pearled garden of good fortune, the crowning vine,

Dream-vine she is, that must flower in harmony 

with glorious Spring.

In no way have I any right

To even wish for her, whatever.

Let me, this way, unattached,

Live my  shepherd’s life in this forest;

To be led by fickle desires that accompany deceit,

 I’m not prepared.

Madanan

Ramana, your thoughts hold no truth;

Fantasy and love are not one; 

Even when  bereft of  riches and power 

It is not that love cannot bud;

Societal dictates  do not set 

The tenets of  love’s pristine kingdom;

In it, this body is not anymore the body

It is the heart that sees heart to heart;

I know for sure; Chandrika is pure

Heavenly Ganges of purity is she;

Able, she will be, 

Her gold throne to disown,

To become the lit  lantern

In  the low hut 

Where in purity  thrives 

Her  innocent shepherd’s heart.

If that is impossible for her- Never mind,

On earth is this much not possible for her-

To lift her shepherd from his shack

To the heights of her honey garden?

She is  chaste, all   of love

That overflows her heart entire.

Treasure that love forever,

Accept it with folded hands.

Ramanan

I’m uncertain, of what will be

The turning of this love story.

Now let me tell you, my friend,

I’m already dissolved in my love’s 

Sanctorum. That much is true,

But its future is so uncertain!

I’ll strive as much as I can

Not to tell her too, this secret;

This glowing sunshine of mine, 

I’ll not disclose to my ray of light.

I’ll only try with the might of my mind

To withdraw from this citadel of illusion!

Madanan

Let all good fortune

Be yours one after the other.

To see you both together, 

and  be there beside,

in a flower podium, I’ll be thankful one day,

Your fond younger brother!

For that auspicious moment 

to soon be a reality,

My prayers will always be.

(Ramanan and Madanan rise and walk to another part of the forest).

Chorus

From the small west hillside, the sun

Dipped itself little by little into sunset.

As usual, to return to the pen,

The sheep flocked together by the river bank. 

Shoulder to shoulder 

Madanan and Raman bade the green hills retreat;

Rejoicing in the beauty all around

And humming to themselves down the narrow path,

The two shepherd waves,

Flowed away from sight.

Another Singing Chorus

As the mellifluous song drifted closer and closer,

 like a pleasantly soothing dream,

By the pathway, in the mansion, 

seven storeys high,

There waited for it,

 an enraptured heart 

Sighing in bliss.

Opulent affluence,

 Upon your wide insensitive  bosom,

 One belle, fond of your kind,

 waits to caress a humble one-

Will you not reveal your true self?

It is time ; Untie your bundle now

Society, lay open  your philosophy.

Is it that one can easily

trample the sea waves  of 

of circumstance,

Turning  it into an ant furrow?

Do your laws as  to what is right,

Do them soon, settle them fast!

Scene 2

(The garden adjacent to Chandrika’s bungalow. Evening. Ramanan and Chandrika are seated on the lawn. The sun has set. A faint moonlight begins to spread. It is a beauteous naturescape. Around them are myriad flowers in blossom. A tender breeze blows across them occasionally. A fragrance of flowers that ushers in ecstatic desire is in the air).

Ramanan

All said,  dear Chandrika,

The fanciful world, as we perceive, 

Is not the reality of earth;

If song filled souls gaze here,

They’ll shudder.

The ghastly vulture-eyes of society 

Stare piercingly even in raging darkness.

Hit by their seething fiery red sparks, 

Sad, how now my thoughts burn!

Chandrika

Our hearts dissolved in each other,

Have already become one.

I’ll not pluck it away 

Whatever the world might say.

To blame us in any manner

What right has any other?

Ramanan

Yet, Chandrika, is this not the world?

Won’t tainted minds see us?

Sad, just think of the inner bond between us!

Even in my dreams,

am I worthy 

Of the heaven of your love?

Chandrika

Why this question, 

that has no meaning,

 Why this empty dread?

Here on  earth, I happened to be

Born a wealthy girl.

Ah, for that it need not be

That my mind should cruel be.

That  I must not love

A noble, bright, and virtuous one!

That I must not sing

A steadfast song of love!

Madanan

If you accept one petty as me

How will your parents feel?

Chandrika

Of the love frolic of their pet daughter

What can my father and mother feel?

Ramanan

I’ll suffer the arrows that each moment

The world slings at me;

I’ll fend the onslaught of my friends

Who put me to blame;

Why, in this mortal world,

I can suffer, whatever.

But the affront of your dear parents,

For that I’m unprepared.

They tend  for you so much,

Taking care of you, like gold.

Are you not the hope and peace

Of those blessed ones  

who love you so?

If then, if one such as you

Would just close your eyes and accept me,

What great wrong doing that would be!

Please give this a serious thought!

By that act how deeply you would wound their hearts!

To lay it across with a fling,

Is marriage such a trivial thing?

Are  there not  so many problems there,

That must be pondered over seriously?

One in whom virtues of wisdom have hardly come by,

A shepherd such as me,

What use is my sermon

To you, in high realms of worldly philosophy?

This vain desire mistaken for love,

Won’t you just forget it completely?

Chandrika

Look, what bejeweled oratory!

I don’t wish to hear

 your speech- making any longer.

If it is not love- let it not be;

Be it

Vain desire, or illusion -

This seems a feeling, so tender 

and soft,

That however much erased, 

it does not fade.

Give it a name, any name you like;

Who said, that you should not?

Whatever name you call it by,

Even if you say it is not virtuous,

I will always treasure it

In the deep chamber of my being;

Whatever one might say,

Even if they directly blame,

I know, that I know only to love

The pearl that I came to desire.

To aspire to reach out for that love,

I’m prepared for the supreme sacrifice.

Ramanan

I do not  doubt your steadfastness,  

You are  but a child, 

In your eyes, the universe might look so white,

But it is a black shadow in reality

Totally blinded by self-love.

Chandrika

Why do we care

Whatever is the world around us?

Lovers that we are, pure of heart,

We, are we not ourselves?

Ramanan

I can endure it all – but this poison tinge

Dangerous than all else

Hissing with its great hood-is 

The wicked black cobra of society!

Once it sinks its fang into us, 

We are then both dead.

Chandrika

If we must  just close our eyes and accept

All covenants of this wicked world,

Why did we come to possess,

Ah, what we call, the power of thought?

We, who attain immortal bliss 

Drinking the nectar of love

Must have nothing to fear, 

Even if the black serpent stings us.

Ramanan

All that looks right- But consider

Your father and mother;

Unlike us who are  immature, 

They who have gained

 the wisdom of the years,

Who know to shift good from bad

Much more than us,

Who think sharp and deep

Before turning to decide;

Teachers of the world they are

Those with silver hair.

We must not do a thing,

That will go against the wishes

 Of  those elderly beings.

Chandrika

I  gladly accept 

Such gentle reasoning;

Yet, let me tell you with an open heart, 

So, from now, please, comforted be;

(She hands him as rose as gift)

My father and mother will not at all

Speak against my wishes;

If I consent to something,

They are in agreement with me

So fond of their daughter are they

Then why, this fear?

Ramanan

Whatever then,

 you must come to a firm decision 

Only after giving it valued thought;

The world is not a rose garden-

Farewell, farewell, Chandrika.

Seated away, alone, in solitude,

Think again, about this love.

If this is fiery coal, 

Throw it into the jungle river of forgetfulness;

Or else- if it is a rose,

Treasure it like a wedding lace,

 Wear it ever secretly 

In the depths of your being; 

Yet, ah, you must not forget 

This world is not just fantasy!

Scene 3

(A chamber in the second floor of Chandrika’s mansion. Chandrika lies on a flower-carved sofa. Her friend Bhanumati is also seated near her. Mirror furnishings abound in the chamber. In the centre of the room is a brightly lit hung lamp. Beneath it is a round table with chairs around. It is 10.30 in the night. Bhanumati is seen fanning Chandrika. Chandrika heaves a nostalgic sigh, turns to a side, and with her elbow at rest on a long pillow, tells Bhanumati),

Chandrika

I haven’t ever seen this kind

Of such  a posy mind;

Such of love’s beauteous wonder, 

Such perfection sublime;

My friend, if  I  win that treasure,

I’ll be lucky beyond measure.

He is bliss, he’s purity,

He truth’s epitome.

What wealth needs be,i

What knowledge,

For one illumined as he?

Pasturing sheep, wandering

In  song, in deep forests, he,

Along with his song loving soul friend,

As two richly scented flowers

Upon a single stem,

Resting in the shady vales 

Of green hills, tree groves,                                    

In lasting peace,  contentment, 

love's passion and mind's purity-                

A wondrous life on which has  crossed

 Not a shadow of a thought!

 Bhanumati

A spotless life, that has not  known                                       an inkling of unrest!

Chandrika

A life that brims over with heavenly peace,                        

a  merry dream-filled life.

 Bhanumathi

That like a cool forest river  

Is a  life of song.

 Chandrika

A sacred blessed life, 

that  even  in bright moonlight,

 spreads butter white;

To be stuck with it all my life,

Just how earnestly  I long;

 Bhanumati

How wondrous, that your love 

Has  turned you  into a goddess!

 Chandrika

How hard  my incomparably sensitive one,

Fearing the world’s  ill-doing,  wished to fence 

My cloud- kissed sphere of  rapturous desire 

 within a stone wall;

But with  my own emotional reasoning,

I  have pacified him- 

The ray that effacing itself  

timidly hid away,

I embraced it to my breast.

 Bhanumati

So spectacularly  successful 

has been your  love, 

worthy of praise!

 Chandrika

(Rising)

Never will this link of love 

  Between us  break;                      

This immaculate dream that fills

 with the bliss of infinity;           

  This blossom across the realm of Time 

 in delightful sway,           

 This golden wave that  drowns   

  The  sadness of our  lives into  an airy song;                                  

    No, my friend, never  will I forsake him!

 Bhanumati

In the splendorous  Brindavan                

of that flute player,                   

 you are his pet Radha            

Awaiting a dream.

  Chandrika

In a few days from now,             

   It’ll be a year                          

 Of that blissfully wondrous day 

when we first met!

   Bhanumati

We must on that day befittingly  

   Celebrate its anniversary!           

          

    Chandrika

(Pensively thoughtful)

Befittingly- yes,  befittingly     

Most befittingly- it must be done!

  Bhanumati

We must augment its goodness;    

  All hesitation must cease. 

Chandrika          

With the pearled necklace                                                                                  that gave my life   

  such  intoxicating love,         

I’ll then meet my love god 

And pay him obeisance  with folded hands!

   Bhanumati

I believe he’ll then bestow you  

an  appeasing  blessing!

   Chandrika

I feel so rapturous in my depths 

lulled  by  such  expectation!

  Bhanumati

Even that expectation is powerful   

 to take you to wondrous ecstasies!

   Chandrika

And to embellish it, 

here  comes  Spring.

      Bhanumati

The gentle wind  blows in          

   the fragrance of the champak bloom.

   Chandrika

How in me flows undulating,   

 fancy waves of ecstasy!

  Bhanumati

In the boundless empire               

   of love’s happiness,       

    Chandrika, you are  indeed the  queen!

 

Chandrika

(Rising, and holding Bhanumati's hand in hers)

Forgetting even  myself, here, 

I fly into the far horizon!

  Bhanumati

Most unbelievably magical  indeed, 

are these dreams of fanciful forgetfulness!

    Chandrika

( Light headed  and oblivious of surroundings, Chandrika clasps  her hands  in her friend’s, and dances)

Where, where are you,                                                         my love’s musical embodiment?                                

 Where? Ah, you have stolen my heart

Where are you, heavenly  treasure?

My celestial one, not just this body,

 Wholly, in rapturous ecstasy,        

   at your feet I lay, even my life,

 Your  steadfast serving  devotee!

( Voice from the inner chamber)

The time is past eleven o’ clock 

Daughter, are you not asleep yet?

    Chandrika

I’m going to sleep, mother,    

 Bhanu, shut the lamp!

                   Scene 4

(The forest. Ramanan and Madanan are seated beneath a tree shade. To their left is a rippling stream. Around them  are flowering vines. Near the banks of the stream, sheep graze freely. It is nearing mid afternoon. There is an uncertainty in Madanan’s countenance that precipitates anxiety, but he presents himself as apparently bright and cheerful).

     Ramanan

Illumined in  such  bliss,          

if only, I  could thus live my life of fantasy, wandering with my  song! 

Tell me Madana,- This heaven, 

will it stay  with me forever?

Will I not be deceived, 

if I stay   gazing, inebriate,  at its  smile?

   

Madanan

(Confidently)

Why this doubt again,   

 Rejoice in your blissful thoughts!

That star of love will in all darkness,    

 Fill your life with light!

    Ramanan

(With a widened gaze)

Every evening, I meet my beloved           all alone;  Whenever she hears the sounds of my flute, 

I see her  soft flower face blush red! Upon her cheeks a thousand rainbows                       Crowd  and fill, peeping  out to gaze! 

From her tender lips     

 the jasmines of sweet smiles drip.                                          Ever so  gently,  soft,  when her  mellifluous  voice drops, drop by drop into my soul,

 and  dissolves,                  

 I forget myself entirely!     

  What world of illusion, 

 when I think of it,                 

   Is this, what reeling fantasy !

  Madanan

Two dazzling rays  by sorrow’s darkness untouched,            

 When bound  in the realm of love’s ecstasies,                                         

 What they  in each other see,            

  Among themselves will be          

  such scenes as these!

      Ramanan

Though seeing each other  this way 

 Gives us ethereal bliss- Surely,       

    We have not as much                  

      As even touched each other-             

    I’ll not taint my love beam-          

       Not even in  my dreamy fantasies!

   Madanan

Your mind’s purity, - Not that I know not of- 

For that I have such awe;   

  Upon the veena of the ideal-  

 You  both are a pair of strings          

  That sings love's music;  

How  then,  cannot  the touch          

  of everlasting bliss reach you?

      Ramanan

In  my life’s sky  shines two  stars     

fond and pure; You are one,                    

 The other  is she -The pupil of my eye. 

If I can live  my life with you together,  

I’ll even sacrifice the heaven,      

I’ve heard, exists beyond death!      

 If I can close my eyes with both of you beside me,                                             

 My life on earth will be fulfilled.

(Shepherds who are Ramanan's friends appear from another part of the forest. Ramanan is suddenly silent. Jubilant,  they sing and recede from view).

(In the chamber)

                    Chorus

Solitary lover, your secrets,              

  The world has now come to know. 

 Find  fast, the armour to  fend       

 The piercing  arrows of insults

  they sling!    

Golden dreamer,

 your world  of fantasy ,                                           is not earth’s reality!                      

                                                                    

Scene 5

(Dawn. The foothills of the village are in splendid shine, bathed in the crimson rays of the rising sun. A trace of morning mist hangs in the air. Ramanan can be seen approaching Chandrika’s mansion with his flock of sheep. Chandrika is in her garden picking flowers. On seeing Ramanan, her face blushes into an endearing smile. She rushes to the low garden parapet, and reaching out, gifts Ramanan a rose).

Chandrika

How is it today, that you come all alone?

Where, where has your friend gone?

Raman 

He has some other errand today 

And could not be with me;

So I soon came away. 

Chandrika

To pasture the flock in the forest shade with you

May I come too?

The  forest paths there must be 

All  in divine  glow

With the advent of  this Spring;

The trees there now  must all flower laden be;

There now all the love birds

 in pairs,

Must be pouring forth their songs;

Florets everywhere

Must have spread their blossom beds;

Tiny rivulets, white- foaming

Must be breaking in sparkling laughter-

To see those sights in the forest today,

Please take me with you. 

Ramanan

Do not my Chandrika, 

do not come

To the dense forest with me;

To brush the pollen of your feet

Do not doubt, the forest is not worthy.

That is a place to be, for petty shepherds like me.       

You who tread the  cool marbled

mirroring floor

Strewing red rose blooms of your feet

All over-

 To have them fall upon 

 Stone and thorn

No, I, would fain not agree!

In this pearl mansion 

where celestial blessings brim,

Where luxury abundantly decks 

Your blissful bed,

 where blissful flowers around you

Their humble aroma spread,

When enjoyments wait at your doorstep 

awaiting your behest,

Why, Chandrika,

 would you want to come with me, 

Into that forest, periled with rocks?

Chandrika

This pearl mansion cannot contain 

The infinite ocean of my love;

The paradise of my fantasy flights

Cannot rest in this bird cage;

Let us awhile, 

In the radiantly bountiful breast 

Of mother nature,

Be together 

Crooning sweet nothings

 to each other.

Ramanan

Forgetting ourselves entirely,      

and who we are,

No, we must not do what is not right.

Chandrika

 How much blossom-filled now,

Those swaying vines, in the blue mountains must be!

Ramanan

There is not a single flower in that forest 

That you won’t find in this play grove.

Chandrika

What kinds of birds must now be flying,

Chirping all around there?

Ramanan

There is not a single bird there

That doesn’t come down to this flower garden.

Chandrika

Please let your flute sing

A song in praise of me.

Ramanan

Now in  this flute there is nothing

But the song of you.

Chandrika

So then, I’m coming with you today.

To listen to your beautiful song about me!

Ramanan

Does not  my song, rest with me always?

You may hear it anytime you will.

Chandrika

Why then, this hesitation today?

Please take me with you.

Ramanan

I’ll take you with me one day,

But not today, let it not be today, my beloved!

Chandrika

Why then, whenever I plead with you,

Every time, to me, this fetter?

Ramanan

I’ll take in all your blame,

But you must not misunderstand me.

For me, there is nothing but you

In my life on earth.

Chandrika

It is clearly a year today

Since our love took shoot in each other

So priceless is this day!

This is that day of the budding of bliss!

Without forsaking my plea today, please dear one, 

Take me along with you.

Ramanan

All alone, today,

I’ll be singing by the hill slope;

In the afternoon, dreaming dreams 

I’ll sleep in the green shade.

All the dreams that I’ll see today

They’ll all be bathed in gold,

Allow me, to be bonded in that bliss

Unfettered!

Alone, let me go today into the forest,

Let me, let me go, Chandrika.

Ramanan

God of my life, upon your path,

Let the bowers, strew their flowers.

In the afternoon, let your sleep

Twinkle with bright dreams.

Let all your thoughts this day

Abound with bountiful music!

Lonely, and in fanciful bliss,

Farewell, farewell, my beloved!

(Ramanan departs. Chandrika looks on till he fades from sight. As the handsome form disappears into the green thicket two teardrops fall from Chandrika’s eyes).

(From the chamber)

“Chandrika!... Chandrika!....”

PART II 

THE PRELUDE 

CHORUS

The First singer

Caressing a fragrantly fresh dream,

Into that matchless forest valley,

Joyfully the shepherd entered. 

Second singer

On his arrival the forest grove

Is a delightful undulating murmur.

Third Singer

Upon his cool mound

The forest vines drip their floral showers.

First Singer

All the sheep that flocked together

There- they go their different ways-

(In the chamber is heard a melodious flute note)

Second singer

With his flute upon his lips,

He soaks the forest in graceful song.

Third singer

Forgetting the world,

The talented one,

Immerses himself in music divine.

(The chorus leaves)

(A new chorus arrives)

First singer

As happens, the morning sun fades;

The afternoon sun blazes the sky.

Second singer

(Pointing towards the chamber)

Under the shade of a flowering tree,

With soft grass all around,

Just as a beauteous poem,

Ramanan in slumber lay;

First singer

(Going near Ramanan and looking inside the chamber)

Often times those tender lips 

Wear faint smiles.

Second singer

Perhaps, he’s dreaming one by one,

His sweet dreams of love.

First singer

Perhaps now

enraptured in love

Together with his beloved Chandrika

He frolics  in fragrant groves of bliss,

Comforted.

(Leaves)

(A part of the forest. Chandrika, appears, delightfully graceful, and moving on, disappears into the forest at the other end of the scene. The first chorus appears following her).

(The singers in chorus)

In step, in step, from time to time,

Buoyantly undulant in tenderest ornament swing,

Nectar- brimmed body vine, aquiver 

Draped in the purple silk saree of mango-budded sheen,

Jasmine festooned to cool hair

Outshining the raincloud;

Hands bright -bangled inlaid with pearls, 

Holding a posy of night jessamine; 

Coral of tender lips parting, flinging the silver of a moonlit smile, 

Like a Goddess of Spring, that in the forest lives,

Where, where do you go, in such inebriate delight,

All alone, golden ray?

(Leaves)

(The second troupe enters)

First singer

That is not just some deep slumber

Not a peaked illusion of life- breath;

But a fulfilled ecstasy that flies

Oblivious of all else on earth!

Second singer

With those golden strands  fallen off,

He raises his moat and delights; 

And in that, just as a tiny bubble

His whole world is contained;

In it he sees only her

Where has all else gone?

Third Singer

It is a frenzied  flight without wings,

A state of thoughtlessness!

First singer

To have the soul rise suddenly trembling with a shriek,

What omens, the early wind of this portend?

Second singer

(Looking into the inner chamber)

He opens them wide-No, they open on their own,        

His eyes, playing the veena                                   

Third Singer

For him, now that indolent romance 

Must be just as if it were, a dream

First singer

Look how his head sinks

into his beloved’s lap!

Second singer

How with her fingers she strokes             and beckons

His wildly flowing locks of hair!

Third Singer

Ensconced in a tenderly   rapturous flower spread 

Poetic inspirations one after the other

Must be foaming, bubbling up 

Wafting  the moonlight of new poetry!

First singer

Nowhere in the world

Can it be contained,

His mind that brims over.

Second singer

To have him find his feet on earth

Will require a thousand universes!

Third singer

It is not that he desires not       

to  tell her all of his heart,

 but what can be done?

He cannot as much 

As bring himself to laugh;

caught in the torrents 

of his heart!

First singer

At last, ‘My beloved’ is all he can say

And thus breathe a sigh!

Second singer

Unknowingly his hands reach out

Embracing that love-vine.

(Everyone together)

This forest will never forget

This story of love it has  witnessed;

Even in the smallest flower cluster

Its deeply captivating lure has filled;

In cool rivulets all over, its flowing song

Has dissolved in pristine splendour!

Among mountains, the brightness of that love,

Has risen as though to touch the skies!

Its secret, sweet as  blossom  honey

Blows in the murmur of the breeze!

Never will be forgotten

The story of love that this forest has seen!

Scene 1

(A one way path. There is a temple in the centre. Bhanumati and Chandrika are seen returning from prayer in wet attire. The surroundings are rich in natural beauty. A tender breeze blows gently, clearing the mists upon the hills. The warbles of the morning birds are distinct all around).

Bhanumati

Chandrika, a god of music, 

a celestial one

Is indeed that young shepherd!

To anyone who sees him,

 he endears,

A God of love, he is! 

I’m not surprised, that to him,

You have surrendered your heart!

Chandrika

My dearest friend, in my life,

A festival is the young shepherd!

Sowing raptures, whenever

That intoxicator passes this way, 

What ecstasy it feels to be, 

what bliss!

Bhanumati

What world this is, that creates such flute music

That ripples each time one hears it?

Chandrika

A divine love that transcends

The thorn fences of manmade laws;

It shows itself in an infinite expanse

And contains not a bit 

of the darkness of lust.

Bhanumathi

Yet the voice holds a mysterious

mask of sadness!

Chandrika

There is a wanton shadow called fear

That comes to eclipse every smile.

Bhanumati

There is nothing to blame in that;

After all, are we all not human?

Chandrika

However then, let me tell you with certainty 

This, my fantasy will forever be.

All my relations are against this  love of ours,

It is the weight of coins they say

That measures the bond of love!

But when seen beside his flute 

About money, I care two hoots!

Bhanumati

To hold such authority on that love’s bliss

Have you been drawn to him that close?

Chandrika

For such fulfilling bliss of love as his;

I shall beg, donning me  a spread of leaves,

If need be, in love’s podium, 

I shall shed my own life;

But no, I can never bring myself 

To forget 

That koel that sings my praise!

His soulful songs entirely,

He surrenders them all to me!

He surrenders it all to me,

his ‘Star’, with his song ‘ garland’!

I cannot bring myself to forsake

That sacred ideal of love, 

my friend!

Bhanumati

With our universe of happenings

Ever  on the roll, and the years

 and its glories, each one, distancing, and fading, 

This rainbow of love too will erase on its own.

It’s not my  intention  to find a fault in this,

But after all, are we all not just human?

Chandrika

How could you doubt me this way-

I’ll always be myself.

In the sky, the fire  of the sun 

 may tomorrow 

Suddenly burn out,      

all the oceans                

that  lie boundless 

may evaporate on their own

 and dry;

But this love will keep shining on,   

And forever be  beating 

its waves!

Bhanumati

Let it be so,  it is my desire

That your heart should always be this way!

Inviting the tantalizingly picturesque butterfly 

into its charms 

The temptingly beautiful flower 

then forgets it completely;

I say this, 

as this is but the way of the world, 

So, do not pick a quarrel with me, please.

Chandrika

In the flowering garden 

of my life, no one but he;

 my  beautiful God of love 

Will rain on me his song showering honey,

 holding in his hands the wedding garland;

Only with that slinger of flowers, 

Must blossom, my love’s ivy.

Bhanumati

That your heart’s desire should be fulfilled, 

is just what I always implore!

To be the prince of your love’s empire, 

fulfilling indeed, is that young shepherd.

Scene 2

(Chandrika’s garden. A shaded flower grove. Faint mists. The beauteous moonlight of Spring. Midnight. A sky full of stars. Chandrika and Ramanan sit touching each other on a stone mound. Ramanan has his left hand encircled around her, and they are shoulder to shoulder. Chandrika holds Ramanan’s right hand in hers, stroking his fingers fondly in a playful love mood).

Ramanan

Chandrika, do you not often tell me

That the path of life is not all bright flowery-beauty?

All around me, all the time burns

Jealousy’s deceitful flames that emit poison smoke!

They look for the opportune moment

How sad, to shroud me, to singe me!

What do I do, when even your life

Pains all night and day, and dims this way?

Chandrika

Do not pine, dear one, or thinking of such sorrow,

Soak  not yourself in tears, 

do not wound your heart!

These days they push me hard, my kin,

To let me be comforted in a family life.

I see naught else but the raging flames of sadness there,            

my beloved, if you are not beside!

Rather than giving me away

 to someone else, is it not, better for them, to stack my funeral pyre?

Ramanan

Such forbidden words, 

How does your honey tongue utter?

Why be vexed this way?

Being the affectionate treasures that your elderly ones are, 

You should not throw at them such sharp words!

Insignificant me,

 let my life be what’ll be,

But do not show an iota of irreverence to them!

In tender ways that’ll let yield their hearts,

Only plead with them in all ways that you can. 

(Chandrika takes out a jasmine garland that she has kept hidden within her saree folds and spreading it, adorns it upon Ramanan’s neck, joyous, and smiling. At the same moment, from not too far is heard an anguished cry of a bird in pain that rends the forest air. Though at first Ramanan’s face is bright, a fearsome intense anxiety fills him on hearing the bird cry, and the brightness disappears from his face turning it wan and pale. Ramanan rises trembling from his stone mound as does Chandrika. Ramanan’s body trembles. Chandrika goes closer to Ramanan and with her arms around his neck presses his face to her bosom. Soon, lifting her face and jubilant--)

Chandrika

Let them say all that they want to;

Here, I bequeath my life garland to you, beloved.

I do not from now,

 belong to anyone else,

No one can lay a claim on me- I’ve become the  serving devotee

Of my love God!

The fragrance of this flower garland 

spreads the purity of love between us all around!

Look beyond- 

is not the jasmine moonlight that all around pervades-

Just like our happiness?

The night bird has slumbered singing, 

The stars look on from the sky, 

in witness 

As in the holy temple of the sacred nature of the universe,

We bade our pure heavenly marriage.

Whatever the grief in unending darkness,

We’ll find light, blossoming bright.

But to see this face in gloom overcast, 

That alone, my heart

 not a wee bit can bear.

(Lifting the bowed head of Ramanan and in an imploring voice)

Do once look at me and smile, 

why let your beautiful face wane, and pale?

Ramanan

Chandrika! Music that strings my mind’s veena,

 love’s magic maker, you have me transformed to some other;

Fulfilled in a moment with you,

Is the bliss one attains only in a thousand births.

So too the heart’s sorrows that I must suffer in millenniums, await me near.

Seeing its face I tremble,

My beloved, the world is not a rose garden.

Change- change- change, 

Changing change,

 is what  takes the world forward.

In that which changes, 

what transformation, 

what weird changes cannot but happen, think of it!

Helpless, just worms 

we humans are;

Powerless to grapple with cruel fate!

We plan one thing, 

but the outcome is something other,

We cry over it, weeping in vain.

Life is a riddle,

 Come to think of it,

 it is impossible to realize 

a satisfactory answer.

It portends not a good future- I feel it so, deep inside, 

I know not why, 

that drowned bird cry- 

when upon my neck

 the garland fell-and there rose the pang of grief- 

were they not at the same time?

For what reason,

 in thoughts of the future distressed, 

does my heartbeat 

time and again, rise so?

I hear deep within me a voice

 that augers that this story

 must end in bloodshed certainly. 

The beginning is ill-done; 

and in ill- will must be its ending.

(He sits back again on the stone. Chandrika sits by his side holding his hands together).

Chandrika

Lost again and again 

in the future

 that is immersed in mists, 

murmuring with uncertainty from far away, 

why let the heart suffer so, contemplating new sorrows? 

Embalm it in your flute song;

 fill your mind 

with the bright colours of freshness!

The bird was not portending ill.

It was only signaling the arrival of night.

To cuddle you in its arms awaits soft hearted prosperity;

When all the blessings of the world of song

Feasts you with all-encompassing bliss

Beloved, 

you have no cause

 in the least to be unsatisfied- Strive and be comforted!

For a heart broken bubble as me 

Beloved, why burden a fire mountain,

And burn down to ashes?

 Strive and be comforted-

This steadfast love that we treasure, 

will rain on us, all happiness. 

Ramanan 

(Stroking Chandrika on her back)

Even though with white rays,

 the flowing moon sprays moon drops here,

Cast your eyes there, 

where the misted hills,

 the forests teem, 

where 

in the darkness around,

 is the voice of sadness 

of those beating wings…

The uncertain future

 of my life too,  in  that way, 

will fill with grief, 

even though I now smile.

Beloved beyond compare,   

 If  my life sweetens 

with yours, this pitiless world will make of it a dust heap!

The horrid vampire of society comes stampeding, 

behind tender hearts in love.

To escape from the fatal poison- fleece   of jealousy is but a wish turned weak!

Whatever, the transformation, let it be, 

I have enshrined you in the temple of my soul forever. 

If I must burn down to ashes, let me;

Song of my desire, I’ll not forsake this love.

There- The cock has begun to crow!

I take your leave, I cannot stay back again- The dawn comes.

Chandrika

(Coaxing a rising Ramanan to be seated once more)

That is only ‘ the midnight cock’. There’s no need to be afraid.

The moonlight fresh yet, has not set.

Ramanan

Do look towards east, behind those far hills, there, crimson rays bud.

Chandrika

Is it the bright mix of the precious rays

Of the red star that stays stuck in the east?

Ramanan

No no, it is the confluence, saffron- attired,  

of the brightening  lotus feet    

of the maiden of dawn.    

Chandrika

There is yet awhile, to dawn.

Let this flowery moonlight fade- we can then leave.

Ramanan

If I stay back, if it turns morning, 

If anyone happens to find me-

Do think of it!

Who knows the truth about us-

Will it not be a base rumour floating tomorrow?

Why sacrifice again our hearts

In the forest fires of rumoured humiliation?

Let me now leave; 

it is nearing dawn;

Won’t we have chances to meet each other again?

Chandrika

Cruel cock, unusually so,

Why did you, purposely this early, crow?

Is that not why, the God of my heart

Seeks to leave early- It is so sad, that you are this cruel!

One kiss- then you may depart! 

We shall meet again in a while, one of these nights-

Wait, let me whisper to you, one more thing,

It is sad that you bear in you this sunken grief!

If beloved, you have love for me, a smidgen,

Do not henceforth break your heart with sorrow, for me.

(Ramanan leaves)

(In the inner chamber)

It is so sad, that all your dreams

Have turned futile, Chandrika!

Try hard to forget

That handsome shepherd!

In your clear skies, see,

A rain cloud lowers

Everything has been decided

About the ceremony of your wedding.

Scene 3

(Midnight. Chandrika’s chamber. On the table a dim lamp burns. Chandrika’s face is visibly despondent, but yet wears an evil cast. She holds a dagger in her right hand).

Cruel world, why do you sear

This innocent me this way?

Sad, for what uncanny act of mine

Do you do thus to me?

If I must pine and grieve and live,

This putrefied life to me, why did you give?

Gruesome dagger, do you writhe

to drink my heart’s blood?

Be patient a little more while, 

while I prepare to quench your thirst.

My father and mother have forever

Cast my life’s jasmine flower-

Garland as donation to some monkey

In the forest of currency!

Seeing their brimming acts of love for their daughter 

I become powerless.

My mother falls at my feet,

Again and again – What shall I do?

I should  either desert my parents

And find ways to foster my love;

Or else from now

 I should forget 

My shepherd’s flute forever-

I should wander until weary,

In the thorn forests of family, 

a life of sweet fanciful song,

 I must forsake.

What must  I do? Enough, enough 

You, thought of mine, 

leave me,

Leave me… I singe…let me go!

This fulfilling mind; mist laden,

How pleasant like a red rose

Brims over, unending,

Exuding ecstatic perfume of desire;

Of the enjoyment of that heavenly fragrance,

The like of which, 

what else is there for me on earth?

Do I in its entirety, forget, 

and bury it all as just some riddle?

Do I pluck and throw away 

This life that binds itself to me?

Whatever stance I take 

of life’s philosophy 

On earth it’ll only become a matter of sin!

The whole world,

 hearing this story of love, blames that innocent one.

Who wants to knows the real truth, or who cares to search for them, ah!

Woe is me, how sad

 it was I who betrayed 

and led that simple one to this evil pit-

Just how much he tried 

to wean himself away,

That ideal, graceful deer.

What to other eyes

 was a mistletoe on earth, 

but was blossoming night jasmine,

I burnt it all.

 But even then, no one

imputes the slightest blame on me!

Cruel, evil, devil world

 that knows only to misunderstand!

Upon that young singing shepherd

You cast all blame 

and sentence him!

You and your damp righteousness!

Go away with your wet packet of Justice!

No, you’ll never mend or return,

I care a fig for you!

***

A dagger in my hand? 

A blade that heaves and thirsts for red blood?

Am I going to commit suicide? 

Do I make my  life a victim to this sharp edge?

My comforts, my flesh, 

my enjoyments, my love, 

my heart beat, my dreams, 

my desires, my sweet flights 

of fancy, all- my everything-sad, that in a wink

On earth they should dim, fade, and disappear.

Whatever I know as mine- that they all should shrivel,

 rust and be destroyed!

The green sheen forest,

 the mountains, fond rivulets with singing waves,

 such misted blossoms, birds, 

courtyards with murmuring butterflies,- all

Everything- should I bid them farewell, 

and go to decay in a tomb?

No, no!  Life! Life!

 Now I can see  everything bright and clear.

Cruel dagger, go far away

I tremble to see your face!

(Chandrika throws away the dagger that falls with a metallic sound on the floor).

(With a heaving sigh)

The curtain has completely fallen, ah, my love story

 is ended- I’ve won. I’ve won.

Life! Life! A life like honey.

Ah! Ah! My mind heaves!

No, I’ll not destroy my life

 for the sake of a singing flute!

My parents, who stood penance 

to make me who I am,

They are my gods-

I’ll not before them shed

Blood from my breasts 

In bloody sacrifice.

Forget me entirely; 

before the world, from this day,

I’m your younger sister.

Whatever befalls, I long  to revel

In this life that is akin to juiciest wine.

And always in that inebriate bliss

My mind alight, must be in humming flight;

You with your tear -filled eyes and innocent mind;

Please go away, depart from my sight.

Forget everything- From now

We are strangers- Everything’s over- I’m now on my own.

There, not too far away I see

My lucky wedding podium shine.

Life’s luxuries, to one who takes relief in your comforts,

Be kind to put at ease your earnest devotee

  To let her on your pearl bed recline.

All my fancies I held on to so long,

Make them enchanting realities on earth! 

Whatever has been until now,

Forgive them all entirely, my brother.

For us are two different ways,

Farewell, here let us part forever.

Scene 4

Chandrika’s chamber. She’s lying on her easy chair, reading a book. On her right is a round table. Close by is an arm chair in which Bhanumati sits. It is 3 pm. A house keeper enters and leaves clearing cups and plates.

Bhanumati

Whatever you may say now,

It is a  heinous deceit 

that you’ve committed, Chandrika.

It sad, just think what’ll be,

Of that young shepherd’s future!

How in thoughts of you, 

in raging grief,

That tender heart, how it, fades, how it wanes.

How now could you so cruelly,

Burn and char it all away?

Chandrika

No, my friend, this passion 

of the heart has not been extinguished,

 the way you think it has;

However much you may choose to find a fault,

I’m not in the least to blame;

It is  fire that flames deep inside of me 

when I think of that singer 

whom I’ve forsaken!

Yet, do think of the allegiance

I owe to my parents;

It is a great sin to disregard them- A sin that knows no end;-

 No; I’ll not let such happen;

Ah; be it fate, then let it be-

In life, I’ll suffer it all.

Bhanumati

But then, Chandrika, 

What you, this way have done, is still sin!

At first from your pleading advances,

He was one who wished to keep away,

But it was you

Who was the reason 

to have him bound to you;

A beautiful golden ray, 

that kept moving from you, further and further away,

You let it come closer and closer,

And drowned it in abysmal darkness-

Then when with your plenitude 

Of swearing promises, you bequeathed all your firmness,

Did I not remind you, 

That with the turning of the wheel of Time,

Your sweet love would fade?

You did not then believe me;

But this is only to be expected on this earth, my friend.

Chandrika

What can be done- Are we not human- 

with so many bonds- can we prevent fate?

Bhanumati

Good- What I said is just 

the same- There is no steadfast love on earth!

Just a temporary madness-

A fond curiosity as of a flower

That sweetens the mind,

A festive inspiration

 as of an intense song;

 We think that this is love,

And prepare to nurture it, that’s all.

After a while, that rainbow

On its own will fade away, 

and vanish.

Do not have a doubt,

 this is the truth we keep seeing around us;

You too, my sister, are like any other on earth.

I’m not surprised that in your heart,

Such a change has come to pass;

Even then, for reasons unknown,

In my heart a looming fear ascends;

He does not appear to me

As one ordinary,

I do not think he has the will

To suffer this transformation into grief;

In thoughts of what portends to be,

My heart trembles with this fear.

Chandrika

What might happen?- That singer 

will hate me like an evil being.

Bhanumati

That would have been alright were it to be so;-

 But not a bit will his mind turn to blame;

Trapped in the bellowing fires of grief, 

what if he scorches himself to death?

Chandrika

Why do you see such ill-boding and dread?-

 No such misfortune will be!

Henceforth, he’ll love me

As his precious younger sister!

Bhanumati

Who knows? Are we not human?- How long will the mind embrace burning coal?

Sad, but let not anything untoward happen-

Apart from this- what else can I say?

Chorus

Summer has left

Shedding burning light;

The  sky fills with heavy dark clouds!

The beautiful dreams of love have faded;

 In the wounded heart 

buds despair.

Those tender smiling flowers all around have dried away,

Despair builds its tomb of tears!

A horrid frame of love with its avarice,

 seems to enshroud life in its darkness;

The world is illusion, unsteady, here, 

the penance of steadfast soulful love is futile !

O, Ramana, you have been deceived, 

your beloved silver star is departing!

On earth,

 you have become

 the victim of desperation;

and fruitless, 

your ideal philosophy!

Scene 5

(A side of the forest. Afternoon.

Ramanan lies contemplative, on a sloping hill. He rises all shaken, hearing a sad flute melody. His face suddenly pales. As the song wafts in louder in pitch and intensity, the changes reflect their mood in Madanan’s countenance).

(In the chamber)

Song

Muted love song

 standing 

Before the world’s blame,

Stuck to you, my heart

Forever weeps. Ah, grief.

Thinking you were an oasis 

I came searching you,

And coming closer- Are 

You too flaming coal?

You’ll roast me in your fire,

Oh, in you I’ll burn and die!

The times have now changed-

Dark clouds have ascended;

The play of brightness is over,

All golden dreams seen

Have disappeared, 

You world, are you true? 

Is your justice this way too?

I believed you- That is sad.

Is your heart all stone?

All hopes have faded-

Turning to unending dread.

***    ****     ****

Silver star, gazing at you, 

A-brim with ecstasy- this me,

In my heart, even then,

There had been no inebriate desire. 

Your love shoots are flowers

In heaven’s garden splendour;

I searched every one of them

As I sang your praise!

Before this universe,

Before the lit sacred lamp,

Beneath the illumined stars

Beneath infinite brightness, that night,

With the wedding lace of jasmine

You garlanded me.

That night we opened together

Love’s sacred sanctorum!

In us, in that auspicious moment

We saw each other in each other

Two hearts in love inebriate,

Prepared for all sacrifice. 

Joyously we were knitted together

 In a mysterious bond of fate.

We partook of tender words

Woven across the aeons!

Seeing it all thus,

We forgot ourselves.

To reach that state of divine forgetful bliss 

How much I longed thereafter!

That went away

 the way it came,

My tears and me

Were all that were left behind!

When that little flower garland 

Opened each new door to heaven,

Without looking beside or after,

Ethereal- how aimless I flew!

Along with my mind, next day

The flower garland also dried;

When I think of it today,

My heart burns, my beloved.

How insignificant, 

Come to think of it, 

how sad,

Man’s illusory life!

To what can it cling on to? – 

On earth- what must it believe?

Just tear drops today

 Fill my begging bowl;

To break it all, my beloved 

Fate takes it by force, away.

Before all this, this fated me, 

I go on to surrender.

The memory of this little life 

to die, there is not much time.

In the shade of this infinite lucky space,

 forget me henceforth!

Let me and my sad song depart.

Let it all turn good, universe!

You don’t want me again,

Hence, do not ever think of me

In between all things 

left to be done, about me 

and my tear- bubble.

Even otherwise,

to think of me,

You do not have even a little time. 

Am I not a stranger,

Is my worth not petty?

World, my sad song and me,

We bid you farewell.

(Madanan’s face is utterly pale. He leans against a root stump of a shady tree, slumped with his hand by his head, contemplative. Thereafter he sits up with a sigh).

(In a despondent tone)

Madanan

From where in the forest interiors 

Does thus flute music rise?

It is not like anything I’ve heard this far,

This new song of love.

From where, without any fear

Does such sadness flow in it?

I can clearly see in it

Love’s tormented quaver.

Why has this risen now,

This unexpected change?

Heavenly music, all beauty,

O wonder, you are bliss!

Infinity of love, in you drowned,

 let the world go into raptures

Forever.

Let this pure music of love’s essence

That drips from your priceless flute

Comfort on earth, for all time,

The pain of the wounded heart!

Even if you fade, blue bird,

The waves of your song will forever  tide.

Here, he slowly comes,

The emperor of song.

That face, woe! It is all pale!

Beauteous one, what happened to you?

Over and over, in you today

What sea of fire flares its waves?

O, one innocent of heart,

What inflammable grief-cloud weighs you down?

Watching such sorrow

 I grow weak,

But one helpless as me, what do I do?

(Ramanan enters. Pale, and weak, his face speaks of total despondency. He tries to change his facial expression on seeing Madanan as much as he can. He wears a slight smile).

Madanan

(With the same expression on his face)

In this hot scorching afternoon,

Where have you, all alone, been?

Ramanan

In the valley of the white hills

I slept in the white forest.

Madanan

In the shade of that honey mango tree,

I found this honey mango

And with this in hand,

 I was  awaiting you!

Ramanan

To tell you the truth,

Today I happened to oversleep!

Madanan

It has now been some days -why,

When you come to the forest,

Do you wander all alone?

Ramanan

I burn with all kinds of thoughts

Of life’s long suffocation.

If I dissolve into solitude,

At least, the world  then 

will not take notice of me!

Madanan

Sad, brother, what fire- mountain

Burns and singes so, your heart’s depths?

In so few days 

your healthy body, 

has turned to skin and bone! Tell me,

What untoward event, tell me, has been,

That you have come to,  this way?

Ramanan

Alas, Madana, around me

It is all fire, do not come any  closer!

Life scorches for me

in this misery,

 I think I will  char and die!

This thought that never leaves me

Must be to prepare my funeral pyre!

Surely this despair, today, oh,

It builds  my tomb!

In it let me shrivel up and-

Ending my song, lie!

Do not in vain weep, 

thinking of your elder brother ever again!

Madanan

What do I hear, O, woe,

What bitter words you speak!

Such thoughts sparking fire,

You must abandon at once!

When I see your face thus,

My life in sighs, breaks down with pain;

Why has your life  turned to darkness

So suddenly  this way?

Ramanan

Alas, Madana,

 What do you know?

I’m helpless to tell you that story now. 

Such is the deep sea of turmoil

Swirling in my mind’s depths.

When will this raging storm cease?

When will this abysmal darkness fade?

What lies before me is only despair;

Despair that sinks me in its tears!

The rays of the lucky star of my life has set. 

No, never will again come to me, 

A single strand of that silver sheaf;

There was a time when I 

used to pretend not to heed

 to that love nectar;

But today, 

without my knowing,

I’ve sunk into its depths forever.

How much ever I try 

Swimming in this abyss to save my life,

My hands, my feet fail, and weary,  I, sans relief,

Into its bottomless depths sink.

To lift me up from the pit,

She’ll not nod assent, it seems.

Pitiless lucre,

Repeatedly, it pushes me down,

No need, there’s nothing 

I’ll wish for, 

let me drown away 

in this abyss!

If life will not let blossom

My ivy of love,

I will at least with my death 

Thread a garland with its flowers!

Madanan

To squander  your life  away 

For a petty girl this way

In unending despair-

Is that your life creed?

Just think it over.

(Ramanan’s face pales to ash. Soon it regains itself to brightness)

Ramanan

Past the borders of reasoning,

Beyond the insipid laws of society,

Though unfruited,

My love reigns in this world!

(In deep sorrow)

You may blame me

 in whatever way you will,

Spear me with laws 

of what is right

But… about.….that… young…..gi…rl….

(He breaks down unable to end his words. His eyes overflow).

Madanan

(Pale of face)

I beg your forgiveness…. I cannot bear to see

The tears welling up your eyes-

Never again will I-

I’ll never blame that maiden.

Ramanan

You must remember 

that in the darkness of night, 

she’s the silver star of my consolation.

Madanan

To sing in praise of that star

Would  you have a broken flute?

Ramanan

That silver star 

will never

Come close to my life again.

Sad, I long to sing, 

But my heart’s flute is broken.

With just these tears and despair,

Alone in this forest,

I shall this way await 

my meeting with death,

 thus  shedding tears.

In its enchantment with the lustre of wealth,

Let the world forget me!

What is it to this world,

If me and my songs go to dust?

(Leaves)

(Chorus enters)

Never again, 

no never again,

Lamp of love,

 you’ll not brighten again.

It’s all over, 

all that poetry filled glow 

that stole your heart!

There has fallen, 

at your pedestal,

A pearl-bright, young mind!

Deceived, struck by the thunder of despair,

A frightened mind that shattered itself to pieces;

Hypocrite world, 

do not malign

That taintless,

 tender sprout of life-

That with small wings fell swirling,

A birdling caught in the hurricane of grief-

A delightful dream that dissolved so long in matchless ideal sheen!

That precious lamp that burns dim

In the darkness of this poisonous world-

Second Singer

A cruel world thick with hypocrisies, 

An invisible melancholy that gnaws at the heart;

Evil enjoyments everywhere on earth,

But what he wears is exemplary love.

Unfruited, that love may, erased fade,

Who knows what fate apportions?

Exposed to the scorching sun,

Love’s inebriate garden lies 

Suddenly burnt.

Third Singer

Solitary lover, your fanciful flights

Have become the focus of the world’s blame.

To see you as you are, 

as one beyond compare,

No one has risen to such heights!

The God of love that you are,

And this world without grace

Cannot together be.

In the slender silver light of truth 

You may be a god. 

But then, 

no one will understand you,

And so, you may please leave!

Sleep, holding tight,

 your eternal despair 

and desires!

What use is it to be caught, swirling

In the never drying Ganges of your tears?

Everything you see here is transient,

Unfrenzied, comforted be.

PART III

Scene 1

(Forest. Ramanan and Madanan are seated on a rock. It is afternoon. Ramanan is pale and looks worn out and despondent).

Ramanan

Madana, what shall I say?

 My heart burns, singes.

A sorrow that I cannot lift,

And a world without compassion-

Why must I, in this life futile,

Burdened, keep wandering?

Madanan

(Stroking him comfortingly)

Do you weep? Sad! Why do you grieve like an innocent child? One balanced as you,

Is it right to weep this way?

In this earth mingled with joy and sorrow, 

We are all but shadows!

Here, we must obey

All the commands of fate.

We must endure what befalls us,

Here we have no refuge.

Bound to surrender to it,

We must sans sadness, comforted abide.

Thinking that what happens

Must be for our good,

Thus you must live, my brother!

One day this darkness will cease,

The magnificent play of dawn will be;

Until then,

 abide by what happens,

And do rest, comforted!

Ramanan

All this darkness will end,

All this darkness will end,

The dawn will come 

with my death!

In the heart of the tomb

 will be

My rays of peace on earth;

Until then this restless heart of mine 

Will burn and spark in this flaming pyre!

Madanan

Shed your ill-thoughts as these, 

all at once, away!

Please take solace in the firm belief,

 of a good ending!

I can scarce bring myself

 to rest 

Seeing your heart 

burn itself this way!

Ramanan

I’ve kept no secrets in the dark, Madana, from you,

 this far.

For me, it is time that my love story ended.

She moves looking for a chance

To pull down the final curtain.

Without seeing her, 

These dry empty days go by 

Somehow, one by one, 

As nights and days etched with coal; 

at last in bloodshed

Will end this play.

She, my blissful poetry, 

who would always,

On hearing my flute,

Come running fast, 

with pounding heart 

at the doorway,

How now  the days and nights  go by

Without a trace of her!

To see her, I go by that way,

Everyday, many a time,

And hide by her door; 

but no more buds there,

Her moon face;

This is strange, painful,

What unknown sin have I done?

I cannot live any longer 

Without seeing her!

If again I must live together

With my separation,

This weak life will not last much longer,

 this is sure!

The silver star of my good fortune has eclipsed-

 All around me is darkness!

Upon this my pyre will rise;

Here my life will decay and wither.

If the story ends thus, 

Do not,

My young brother, 

Grieve for me.

Madanan

If you have a little pity for me,

Do not utter such words, Ramana.

In your priceless earthly life now deserted, will come 

a peaceful, blissfully laden incomparably bright Spring;

Soon your flowering thoughts will sway with grand perfume.

Enraptured of heart, then,

This brother will have a smile

Till then, even my heart

Will be plunged in grief!

Scene 2

(Chandrika’s wedding day. Morning. A side of the forest. Madanan is seated alone on a rock. He is despondent).

Madanan

Evil day, you have come,

Bringing with you, 

your furnace!

You’ll sacrifice in it today,

A tender, sensitive soul.

Life’s earthly pleasures

That dances its rhythms

Will cause bitter pain 

To a sensitive flute song!

Ah, what you burn

Is the garden of a golden dream!

Or else, why did you in this manner

Make haste to be here?

As a grove of jasmine 

in happy spring, 

once I eagerly 

used to wait for you!

But how sad that your arrival

Has brought with it

Such thunder!

This day, the wedding hall

 that you decorate for Chandrika,

Do you know it marks the coffins of countless sensitive dreams?

In this world, 

For reasons unknown, 

two life waves met.

Now, this day, they go different ways.

One to fathomless despair,

And the other

To luxuries!

For reasons unknown,

They met,

Two young swans

Bonded in the seas

 of star- crossed fate

Where tear- waves beat.

They caressed each other awhile, for reasons unknown

Two ivies turned to flower

Never again to see each other

And to part forever!

Who knows, 

the play of fate

The illusions of soul mates!

Chandrika, it is sad,

Why did you deceive

That dream this way?

A mellifluous flute,

Why did you break it?

Sad, but what was your aim

With such arid enjoyment?

With heartbeats faint,

Drenched in tears unabated,

He stands behind you,

The epitome of 

Innocent despair!

He lay at your tender feet

His life-

Such moist soulful music

That captures the world’s imagination;

The beauteous garland of mist that the earth cannot forget,

But you, oh, so sad,

Did you stamp it underfoot this way, pretending displeasure?

You do not at all remember

Your crime of glowing ember!

In the serpent grove of lust,

Blind, you meander;

Behind you, in choking grief,

Chars roasted, one steadfast ideal!

A purity seldom attained

With even timeless penance-

Ah, finally you strangle it

Even as it pines pleadingly 

When Spring dances ecstatic, 

Where love blossoms in green groves

When the moon sheds misty sandal drops upon the heart’s bowers,

At times as these, this forest 

Drowns in the Yamuna of music;

What if it is drowned in so9rrow,

Its sweet melody

Stills the universe

In rapturous ecstasies!

World, that just by looking

 at the  glitter of coins

 humiliated and drove away 

The singing shepherd 

from his Vrindavan of love;

Dry superiority of wealth

Where pitilessness hides,

Your body was made by the Creator

By melting gold- Even that is dust- 

Surely, it will mingle with dust!

I am one who has seen 

and known your truth 

and sense of right.

Lifted by a lucky breeze

A strand of stretched cotton

That rises a little,

Pretends to be blossoming star; but droops back to earth

When the breeze is past;

Just so, when one rises a little in life, 

all around him is slight;

Fie, with you and your philosophy,

Evil grandeur of wealth!

This life that like a beautiful drop of mist 

that brightens and evaporates-

This illusion of life that like a rainbow fades and is erased-

This life devoid of any meaning- 

just an intangible dream

You in your pride think

 that you own it, deceitful, shameless world!

To perch there gold flags by wealth mongers,

To light there sacred lamps by petty powers, 

To fatten those resources again with selfishness,

How painstakingly you go about it, senseless world!

Over and over, watching your gimmicks, is death,

Mockingly, with a little hanging smile.

If it but presses a finger,

You shatter at that moment!

Even if you give it your treasures entirely,

It will not take a step away from its ordained path!

Why then, all your wealth mongering, and pomposity?

Even if he be only a shepherd,

Ah, even if he isn’t the God of wealth,

He still has a heart

Tender as a posy of champak flowers!

In the delicate dream world 

of heavenly music,

He’s one who conquers as far as his steed wanders,

And reigns a monarch!

He’s one who burns bright

As a sacred lamp

Until the end of time.

Today you slight him,

Blind world!

I’ll endure it all-

But that choking cry of anguish-

Those sunken cheeks,

That pale look,

The fires that pulse

From the flaming volcano of his heart-

Ah, that alone I can scarce

Bring myself to bear.

So sad, how do I comfort

That despairing lover?

How do I make him happy, 

That wounded farer?

He is not a karmic hero

Who can withstand

 the onslaught of tears!

How do I then comfort

My friend?

This night will be 

Chandrika’s wedding.

Even now,

He knows not that story;

When for just a while 

that they could not meet,

Made that beautiful lover’s heart rave and burn,

What’ll be if he  now happens to hear that story-

Ah, what will I do now?

Why did you make me a witness to your story of sorrow?

Why did you become a part of me

Only to burn me?

It is sad, my brother,

That that we have come together

That we lived as one breath

If only to burn and char this way

(He looks ahead with fear and anxiety)

What do I see, 

who comes this way, 

is it my Ramanan?

What change-so insidious- what happened to you,

 my brother?

Seeing you this way I tremble,

What anguish is this? 

What are you preparing for?

Sad, what I do not wish to see!

Why do you wander, stricken, thus, like a ghost?

You too must today have heard

The evil news

And burnt yourself in that fire?

In your face that is writ clearly

In a manner aghast.

Deceit! God, this way,

Why torment a poor me?

Ramana, to your calm, smiling, good self, do return.

I have no strength left

Even to cast a look at this, your face:

I tremble, oh!

My mind gives way!

What will I say, what do I do,

What does this beginning portend?

Something dangerous, 

beyond all thought,

Why, why such a drama is this?

Let the good curtain fall,

Let this scene soon vanish!

Scene 3

(The centre of the forest. Midnight. Darkness, and elsewhere, a little light of the moon. The sounds of cricket wings all around. A sense of impending danger. A cold wind blowing. A disturbing reed whistle among the bamboo growths. Faint murmurs. Cold. The sounds of nearby rivulets.)

Ramanan appears like a pale, stricken ghost. There is wretchedness on his face. His hair is unruly and disheveled. His eyes flare red. His look is piercing. At times he bursts into delirious laughter. He walks swaying, like a madman. In his hand is a twisted coil of rope.

(Approaching, he climbs on a rock that juts into a stream. He catches hold of a branch that bends to the stream, tests its strength on it, saying ha, ha, laughing deliriously)

Ramanan

World, drunk on the heart’s blood

Yet heartless,

Deceitful cobra, black snake,

Skeleton wearing a lace of intestines-

Enough- enough of your roar-my mind

Breaks asunder. I fall burnt down to ashes.

Where? – What are you preparing there? – is it my crematory bed? 

Do I see death-trees before me

With shrieking vultures flapping their wings?

What fire burns here- what heat-from here

Where do I run? My life burns.

Here a thousand snakes as one ha ha, entwine my life-

A terrible hand-invisible

Squeezes and drains my veins-

(Trembles, steps back, and looking around)

The bell tolls -The bell tolls that brings on death- It tolls over

 and over.

What furnace is this that burns my life, that flames around me-

O death, appease it with the cool mists of your rain

No, breathing these poisonous fumes I do not wish

 to be here any longer on earth, 

how unfortunate that my body is just a dry poisonous bag of bones!

Where many thousands of maggots are heaped,

It is just a storehouse of their food

Why do I, bearing their burden on me, 

Aimlessly wander in the scorching sun?

 Let it sink down to the earth; 

Let me repose on the soft bed of peace;

For this invaluable world 

There is no fruit in fostering me again!

Let me be lost in the mound- let my corpse

 be one with the earth, worthless.

( He sits on the rock. Staring at the skies and with a wretched look, seething)

Silver star, 

who sweetened my life on earth this far, 

you are parting from me, 

my beloved, 

leaving me in infinite darkness!

Here in this winding dark mound, this weakling, me,

 what’ll I do?

Upon the matchless peak 

of luxury, on beauty  you ride high

While I, shriveled,

 sink into the hell of despair!

(He sits with his elbow on the rock, resting his body to a side)

Alright, yes, this is the world’s way-here,

There is nothing steadfast in this world

Only hypocrisy can

Mount the flag of gold flying in the winds,

It is just heartlessness

That is recourse

To any material gain;

All ideals are orphans, here, there is no meaning in honesty.

(Rises with a start)

Silver star, before you,

My mind stood,

 a prayer of purity!

It never even crossed my dreams

A thought to taint your chaste life.

Even though within arm’s reach, it came my way

With thousands of chances 

of moments of darkness,

Even though,

 at times my human mind,

Slipped into the depths of such perils,

I liberated myself from all such,

And, firm on my rock of principles,

stopping my heart 

and abstaining,

Wore upon myself an armour of iron.

To my hundred fickle temptations, 

I stood my guard

And bravely fought them.

In no way could they

Secretly, surmount me.

That you must remain spotless, pure,

Time and again I tried, 

and now, why,

Finally, this way did you,

Push me into abysmal darkness?

If on earth,

 as any other would,

I had let amuck my passion,

Would you not have sunk

Into the depths of humiliation?

Is this the reward you give me

That I did not let it happen to you?

It’s alright. Without even a wee complaint

Here- I accept everything.

You need not consider me at all-

This insignificant me-

an intrusion.

Transformed into rapturous bliss- Joyously 

shine henceforth,

You, silver star!

Darkness and utter despair spreads

My deathbed on earth-Let me leave!

(For a while Ramanan  sits silently, like a statue. He suddenly rises and ties a noose upon the rope. He tightens the knot at one end of the tree. Having done this, he stands silent, moody. His body begins to tremble. His eyes fill and overflow with tears pouring down his cheeks. He looks around anxiously with dread. Again, with intense sorrow and pain, he crosses his hands upon his chest, and breaks down).

All things dear, blue mountains,

Forests with forever singing birds,

Teeming flowers beautiful, 

That drown in ecstatic fragrance, happy clouds,

Sad that I must

On earth, leave you this way

Cool waves, undulating,

 Pure waters of flooded fountain springs,

 soft blue delights, 

blankets of pastoral green,

Sparkling cool verdant vales,

Beauty beyond compare,

 how sad, I must desert you and depart…

On earth, the one I would praise above all else,

The one I garlanded in my heart, my Spring moon,

Pleasant sky, brightly lit,

Pearled stars virtuous,

Ecstatic raptures, sad,

 that this way,

I leave you, and depart;

All my youthful sheep that this long graced my life,

Happy and comforted,

My beloved flute, soothingly always a part of me,

Goddess of nature 

That led me to poetry,

Rippling rivulets

 that stole my heart,

 all my solace,

Sad, that on earth,

I must  leave you this way;

(With a sigh)

The bell tolls,- it is time- 

Death bells!- Bid me farewell-Let me depart! 

 Madana, my soul- brother,

 the one who showed me

 the meaning of beauty 

on earth,-my friend, 

the story of my love, 

in fearsome bloodshed 

must end;

We’ll never see each other again-

Brother, forgive me,

 I bid you farewell.

Until now, you are the one

Who partook of my joys

 and sorrows, 

everyday, as part of me,

My heart-

 oh, it burns to ashes,

In my thoughts of leaving you behind on earth,

Even if my rash act is frightening,

I plead, that you forgive me with compassion.

My brother, whom I love 

as my own breath, 

my beloved brother, 

I bid you too farewell.

Do not weep for me tomorrow,

When this news you hear

Of my horrid death! 

Let me go!

At least by drinking my heart’s blood, impure world,

Be comforted!

This wretched grass hut 

of my life, 

sooner, on my own, 

Here, I burn it down to ashes!

Upon my tomb, 

thinking of me,

Do not shed even a tear,

with these last words 

Here, I leave, Silver Star!

(With great fear, retracing his step, looking around and gawking, he catches hold of the rope)

The bell tolls…it is time... Death bell tolls!

...I come…I come…

….Beloved earth…

…Universe….ah,....Dear….

Sil…v..er… st…a…r…!

Scene 4

(A side of the forest. Madanan tends his sheep, and coming over as usual, seeks to find his friend, but does not see him. An uncertain fear, an apprehension of something strange, enters his heart. Madanan runs helter skelter, calling out for Ramanan).

Madanan 

Ramana, Ramana,

Where are you?

Much time has passed today,

Unusual it is, ah, that you are so late.

What happened to you?

Bright in the eastern hills

The sun has already risen high.

You are the one who arrives here

Early everyday- but where, today, are you and your sheep?

A cool wind blows- All in flower

The jasmine vines sway-

Enraptured, in the forest entire,

The green birds warble.

The fragrance spreads; 

Upon the bough,

The peacock spreads its feathers and dances;

 To sing a song in praise of such beauty 

Where are you, Ramana,

Where have you gone?

(Madanan walks into the forest’s interior, reaching the banks of a river. Suddenly he sees the body of Ramanan hanging from a tree bough, bending towards the river. Shocked and trembling, he falls to the ground, unconscious. A few other shepherds also reach the river bank. They are all taken aback. Some of the friends attempt to revive Madanan, who regains consciousness. Madanan looks at the body again. Ramanan has a flower garland around his neck. His lean body is numb. His head is a little to a side. There are blood stains on his clothes. Madanan’s heart sinks. He cries like a child. The others attempt to console him. A little later).

Madanan 

Is this a sight to be believed?

Ha, world, it is sad- You have it deceived, deceived!

Is this truth? Oh yes, it is.

 Bitter truth! How horrendous! How ghastly! 

There hangs upon the branch

Heinous world, your virtuous medallion!

Ah, so sad, so terrible,

Deadly act-Have you become Lifeless?

That which brims with inspiration of beauteous song

Is all that pulsing ended?

Will there never be heard,

Just as much as a sigh again,

From that musical voice?

Is that tongue so stilled,

Will not that heart surge passion?

Has it all ended? Is it all over?

It’s all ended. All over. Everything!

Ah, my festivities have ended!

No, I cannot bear this anymore!

Look world,

 you have throttled and strangled to death

In your madness a wondrous singing bird!

There lies numb, hanging from a rope,

An exceptionally magnificent life-

A soft new youthful life that was

Just blossoming like a red rose

A life that had its heart shattered and broken

Just as it was about to smile,

A beloved life of resplendent music

That’ll never again be,

However much one desires.

O, world of hell, when will there be atonement,

Of the sin of this heinous butchery?

Leaving no drop of that blood

You’ve sucked it all entirely!

And now, do you smile again-

Your evil history is indeed monstrous!

You scoop the blood out of that life

And blabber worthlessly!

You prepare your podium of jubilant dance 

With bone heaps, your successful festivities,

Sad, world, that you feel not abashed 

after all this to lift your head high-

That is the shame!

That lotus bud is burnt to ashes;

Lure of wealth! By the stroke of your thunder!

That young swan had its wings slashed 

Lucre, by your hand sword!

That buoyant flower bud has been razed,

Ah, society, stamped by you underfoot.

(Madanan’s face becomes flushed, following his grief and anger)

But, why would I blame him- No-

No- You savage! You, cruelty’s epitome!

You are not Chandrika, (moon) you are a poison

emitting meteor, the pitiless one, ah, witness to his blood,

You are the one who killed this celestial youth!

With his heart’s blood you lavished the colours on your painting of insatiable lust.

With the singeing flames of his soul, you lit the musk wick

In your bridal chamber!

With the shards of a broken youthful heart- brute-

You spread the flowers on your silken bed-

One trembles to see-

Monstrous one,

One shudders to see your face- Ever on earth!

You and your luxury of riches!

Enough, of your fantasies and firm promises!

Ah, your fantasies of love and romances,

That spring from just lust-

You have no shame-Just look

At this corpse- Do you know this corpse?

Once in your fanciful realms of lust, that bouquet you caressed, is this corpse;

This is the corpse that till yesterday sank deep in tears for your love

All these days, in immaculate penance, your name, 

on his lips a prayer, is this corpse;

That which brimmed

 and enraptured,

 played the music of you all these days, that is this corpse, 

Aeons of prayers of earth

 that cannot bring, another such enlightened being- 

that is this corpse, 

Ah, the love pulsing in your treacherous heart, 

the one who stole it all- 

This is the corpse,

Keeper of your life immaculate in his love this long- 

That is this corpse;

You have no shame! 

Just look at this corpse! 

Do you recognize this corpse?

(Weeping loudly again)

Woe! Ramana, brother, you have gone!

I cannot bear to think that you’ll never, 

Never come again!

For eternity, your tender heart beats have turned silent-

 You are already dead!

Unfortunate-unfortunate- woe, my mind singes! I’m deeply wounded!...

(Swaying, weakened, he falls. He leans himself against a tree).

From within total darkness

Hoping to caress light,

You spread your wings;

Ah, now you and your sad music

Have from this illusory world, forever faded.

This act, brambles all over with thorns,

How it claws my heart!

When that knot tightened around your neck

In slow grip, strangling, choking your breath,

Tormented in your inner depths writhing,

Your feet shaking, trembling in agony-

You straightened firm, your body,

As though a question

Marked to earth you became.

At last, you became a symbol of wonder,

As your body turned numb,

And there you hung;

Ah, karmic universe, then, 

How could you stay without breaking, sans feeling?

How Celestial one,

 could you not be shred to pieces, 

Seeing this bizarre act?

Did they not all warn you,

These mountains and forests, all before you?

Once in these green forests,

Where you saw much poetry,

These groves of which you so lovingly praised so much 

and sang,

Did they moan, pouring their murmurous songs, 

For a love that deserted you?

Sad, that in blood it all ended 

Just as you portended! 

Your love story!

Death that was so far away,

You held it close, and smeared it all saffron red!

Shuddering  act, unbearable,   

Bizarre,  what you did,

my brother!

In the arena of this impure earth,

Your own ideal life has deceived you!

Just for the sake of a petty girl

Your matchless life you burnt down to ashes.

Most unfortunate, brother, your act,

Now how much ever I grieve 

What is the use?

Selfless one, your life,

Is not as insignificant as you presumed it to be;

Ah, it is not for you,

But it is for the world,

The injury-

You are the need of the world.

Behind the misty hills

 and dales, where tiny clouds play hide ‘n’ seek, 

where the evening clouds

  frolic in line,

 stealing the depths of the blue skies,

 how many a time, 

by this stream,

We sat in merriment,

Enjoying the flow of the gentle breeze; 

Those days, those heart’s secrets, you would joyously describe,

How they now come trembling

A thousand lightning bolts,

Burning my heart entirely;

I did not  in the least, imagine 

That your love would meet such sad ending!

All misplaced love might thus

Be made up of such tear tombs;

Such that in the end they  might have had 

Retreats not  without such self-annihilation.

It is not as you thought;

The paths of the stage of the universe are not laid out with flowers;

It  is a thorn-trench of deceit;

Hoarse hides of black rocks of cruelty fill this place!

A tender bud that begins to blossom, 

breaks asunder on seeing such;

There’s nothing such as permanently selfless love

It is all fickle, all appearances!

It is forever gold, riches, and power

That reign over the universe!

There’s no need of a flute here,

There’s no fruition in song!

Before the sound of tinkling coins

All flute music will lose their count;

Without sensing this truth, suddenly,

Your stem broken, you fell, golden rose!

It is certain, that even your pyre

Will be set to blame, pitilessly

By this world!

It does not seek to burden itself with truth,

It only looks for rumour to shame!

Even though Chandrika rejected you,

 even though 

you have faded from the earth,

In poetry’s enchanting atmosphere,

Your name will always thunder its waves;

Till the end of time shall illuminated  will be,

Your nectared song soaked in sorrow

Eagerly drinking which this world shall always

Enraptured, remember your name. Ah, even if dead,

Immortal, you are, one celestial, in realm of song.

In your final resting place,

Upon your tomb for the earth to see,

In memory of our brotherly love,

Let me inscribe these few words:

‘This is the place, where thirsting for unquenchable love,

An endearing heart sank into dust.

In here lies, a song filled sorrowful life,

A life crushed underfoot by the world

 even before it had begun to smile; 

One, the pomp of power and pitiless right

Choked and strangulated to death.

The silent sobs of the immaculate mind

Ha, the love song of purest imagination-

Will always be a-brim, buried herein

Till all impurity is erased from earth!

If there is a human here,

Whose heart is not of stone,

Do sit awhile on this tomb’s stepping stone, weep,

 and leave!

Seeing those brotherly tears,

Let this poet of love be comforted.

Edappally, August 1936

Trivandrum ,  December 2022.