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Section Three Kalidasa
Vikramorvasie or The Hero and the Nymph
Characters PURURAVAS, son of Budha and Ila, grandson of the Moon, King of the world, reigning at Pratisthana. MANAVAKA, a Brahmin, the King's jester and companion.LATAVYA, Chamberlain of the King's seraglio. CHITRARATH, King of the Gandharvas, musicians of Heaven.
AYUS, son of Pururavas. CHARIOTEER of Pururavas.THE QUEEN AUSHINARIE, wife of Pururavas and daughter of the King of Kashi.URVASIE, an Apsara or Nymph of Heaven, born from the thigh of Narayan.NIPUNIKA, the Queen's handmaid.
A HUNTRESS. GIRLS, attendant on the King; AMAZONS. Act I
INVOCATION He in Vedanta by the Wise pronounced Sole Being, who the upper and under worldPervading overpasses, whom alone The name of God describes, here applicableAnd pregnant — crippled else of force, to others Perverted — and the Yogins who aspireTo rise above the human death, break in Breath, soul and senses passionately seekingThe Immutable, and in their own hearts find, — He, easily by work and faith and loveAttainable, ordain your heavenly weal. After the invocation the Actor-Manager speaks. MANAGER No need of many words. He speaks into the greenroom. Hither, good friend. The Assistant-Manager enters. ASSISTANT Behold me.
MANAGER Often has the audience seen Old dramas by our earlier poets staged;Therefore today a piece as yet unknown I will present them, Vikram and the Nymph.Remind our actors then most heedfully To con their parts, as if on each successDepended. Page – 125 ASSISTANT I shall do so. He goes. MANAGER And now to you, O noble audience, I bow down and pray, If not from kindliness to us your friendsAnd caterers, yet from pride in the high name That graces this our plot, heedful attention,Gentles, to Vikramorvasie, the work Of Kalidasa.
VOICES Help! O help, help, help! Whoever is on the side of Heaven, whoever Has passage through the paths of level air.
MANAGER What cry is this that breaks upon our prologue From upper worlds, most like the wail distressed Of ospreys, sad but sweet as moan of beesDrunken with honey in deep summer bloom, Or the low cry of distant cuckoo? or hear IWomen who move on Heaven's azure stage Splendid with rows of seated Gods, and chantIn airy syllables a liquid sweetness? (after some thought) Ah, now I have it. She who from the thigh Of the great tempted sage Narayan sprangRadiant, Heaven's nymph, divinest Urvasie, In middle air from great Coilasa's lordReturning, to the enemies of Heaven Is prisoner; therefore the sweet multitudeOf Apsaras send forth melodious cry Of pathos and complaint.He goes.
Page – 126 The Nymphs of Heaven enter, Rambha, Menaka, Sahajanya and many others. NYMPHS
Help, help, O help! Whoever is on the side of Heaven, whoever Has passage through the paths of level air. Pururavas enters suddenly and with speed in a chariot with his charioteer. PURURAVAS
Enough of lamentation! I am here, Ilian Pururavas, from grandiose worship In Surya's brilliant house returned. To me, O women! say 'gainst what ye cry for rescue.
RAMBHA
Rescue from Titan violence, O King.
PURURAVAS
And what has Titan violence to you Immortal done of fault, O Heaven's women?
MENAKA
King, hear us.
PURURAVAS
Speak.
MENAKA
Our sister, our dear sister! The ornament of Eden and its joy! Whom Indra by asceticism alarmed Made use of like a lovely sword to kill Spiritual longings, the eternal refutation Of Luxmie's pride of beauty, Urvasie! Returning from Cuvera's halls, O she
Page – 127 Was met, was taken. Cayshy, that dire Titan, Who in Hiranyapoor exalts his house, Beheld her and in great captiving hands Ravished, Chitralekha and Urvasie. We saw them captive haled.
PURURAVAS
Say, if you know, What region of the air received that traitor?
SAHAJANYA
North-east he fled.
PURURAVAS
Therefore expel dismay. I go to bring you back your loved one, if Attempt can do it.
RAMBHA
O worthy this of thee! O from the Lunar splendour truly sprung!
PURURAVAS
Where will you wait my advent, nymphs of Heaven?
NYMPHS
Upon this summit called the Peak of Gold, O King, we shall expect thee.
PURURAVAS
Charioteer, Urge on my horses to the far north-east; Gallop through Heaven like the wind.
CHARIOTEER
'Tis done.
Page – 128 PURURAVAS
O nobly driven! With speed like this I could O'ertake Heaven's eagle though he fled before me With tempest in his vans. How much more then This proud transgressor against Heaven's King! Look, charioteer, beneath my sudden car The crumbling thunder-clouds fly up like dust, And the wheel's desperate rotation seems To make another set of whirling spokes. The plumes upon the horses' heads rise tall, Motionless like a picture, and the wind Of our tremendous speed has made the flag From staff to airborne end straight as if pointing. They go out in their chariot.
RAMBHA
Sisters, the King is gone. Direct we then Our steps to the appointed summit.
MENAKA
Hasten, O hasten.
ALL
Hasten, O hasten, come, come, come. They ascend the hill.
RAMBHA
And O, will he indeed avail to draw This stab out of our hearts?
MENAKA
Doubt it not, Rambha.
RAMBHA
No, Menaka, for not so easily Are Titans overthrown, my sister.
Page – 129 MENAKA
Rambha, Remember this is he whom Heaven's King, When battle raised its dreadful face, has called With honour from the middle world of men, Set in his armed van, and conquered.
RAMBHA
Here too I hope that he will conquer.
SAHAJANYA
Joy, sisters, joy! Look where the chariot of the moon appears, The Ilian's great deer-banner rushing up From the horizon. He would not return With empty hands, sisters. We can rejoice. All gaze upwards. Pururavas enters in his chariot with his charioteer; Urvasie, her eyes closed in terror, supported on the right arm of Chitralekha.
CHITRALEKHA
Courage, sweet sister, courage.
PURURAVAS
O thou too lovely! Recall thy soul. The enemies of Heaven Can injure thee no more; that danger's over. The Thunderer's puissance still pervades the worlds. O then uplift these long and lustrous eyes Like sapphire lilies in a pool when dawn Comes smiling.
CHITRALEKHA
Why does she not yet, alas! Recover her sweet reason? Only her sighs Remind us she is living.
Page – 130 PURURAVAS
Too rudely, lady, Has thy sweet sister been alarmed. For look! What tremblings of the heart are here revealed. Watch the quick rise and fall incessantly That lift between these large magnificent breasts The flowers of Eden.
CHITRALEKHA
Sister, O put by This panic. Fie! thou art no Apsara.
PURURAVAS
Terror will not give up his envied seat On her luxurious bosom soft as flowers; The tremors in her raiment's edge and little Heavings and flutterings between her two breasts Confess him. Urvasie begins to recover. (with joy) Thou art fortunate, Chitralekha! Thy sister to her own bright nature comes Once more. So have I seen a glorious night Delivered out of darkness by the moon, Nocturnal fire break through with crests of brightness Its prison of dim smoke. Her beauty, waking From swoon and almost rescued, to my thoughts Brings Ganges as I saw her once o'erwhelmed With roar and ruin of her banks, race wild, Thickening, then gradually from that turmoil Grow clear, emerging into golden calm.
CHITRALEKHA
Be glad, my sister, O my Urvasie. For vanquished are the accursed Titans, foes Of the Divine, antagonists of Heaven.
Page – 131 URVASIE (opening her eyes) Vanquished? By Indra then whose soul can see Across the world.
CHITRALEKHA
Not Indra, but this King Whose puissance equals Indra.
URVASIE (looking at Pururavas) O Titans, You did me kindness!
PURURAVAS (gazing at Urvasie) And reason if the nymphs Tempting Narayan Sage drew back ashamed When they beheld this wonder from his thigh Starting. And yet I cannot think of her Created by a withered hermit cold: But rather in the process beautiful Of her creation Heaven's enchanting moon Took the Creator's place, or very Love Grown all one amorousness, or else the month Of honey and its days deep-mined with bloom. How could an aged anchoret, dull and stale With poring over Scripture and oblivious To all this rapture of the senses, build A thing so lovely?
URVASIE
O my Chitralekha, Our sisters?
CHITRALEKHA
This great prince who slew our fear Can tell us.
Page – 132 PURURAVAS
Sad of heart they wait, O beauty! For with thy sweet ineffugable eyes Who only once was blessed, even he without thee Cannot abstain from pining. How then these Original affections sister-sweet Rooted in thee?
URVASIE
How courteous is his tongue And full of noble kindness! Yet what wonder? Nectar is natural to the moon. O prince, My heart's in haste to see once more my loved ones.
PURURAVAS
Lo, where upon the Peak of Gold they stand Gazing towards thy face, and with such eyes Of rapture as when men behold the moon Emerging from eclipse.
CHITRALEKHA
O sister, see!
URVASIE (looking longingly at the King) I do and drink in with my eyes my partner Of grief and pleasure.
CHITRALEKHA (with a smile; significantly) Sister, who is he?
URVASIE
He? Oh! Rambha I meant and all our friends.
RAMBHA
He comes with victory. Urvasie's beside him And Chitralekha. Now indeed this King Looks glorious like the moon, when near the twin
Page – 133 Bright asterisms that frame best his light.
MENAKA
In both ways are we blest, our lost dear one Brought back to us, this noble King returned Unwounded.
SAHAJANYA
Sister, true. Not easily Are Titans conquered.
PURURAVAS
Charioteer, descend. We have arrived the summit.
CHARIOTEER
As the King Commands.
PURURAVAS
O I am blest in this descent Upon unevenness. O happy shock That threw her great hips towards me. All her sweet shoulder Pressed mine that thrilled and passioned to the touch.
URVASIE (abashed) Move yet a little farther to your side, Sister.
CHITRALEKHA (smiling) I cannot; there's no room.
RAMBHA
Sisters, This prince has helped us all. 'Twere only grateful Should we descend and greet him.
Page – 134 ALL
Let us do it. They all approach. PURURAVAS
Stay, charioteer, the rush of hooves that she Marrying her sweet-browed eagerness with these May, mingling with their passionate bosoms, clasp Her dearest, like the glory and bloom of spring Hastening into the open arms of trees.
NYMPHS
Hail to the King felicitous who comes With conquest in his wheels.
PURURAVAS
To you, O nymphs, As fortunate in your sister's rescued arms. Urvasie descends from the chariot supported on Chitralekha's arm.
URVASIE
O sisters, sisters, take me to your bosoms. All rush upon her and embrace her. Closer, O closer! hurt me with your breasts! I never hoped to see again your sweet Familiar faces.
RAMBHA
Protect a million ages, Monarch, all continents and every sea! Noise within.
CHARIOTEER
My lord, I hear a rumour in the east And mighty speed of chariots. Lo, one bright With golden armlet, looming down from Heaven
Page – 135 Like a huge cloud with lightning on its wrist, Streams towards us.
NYMPHS
Chitrarath! 'tis Chitrarath.
CHITRARATH (approaches the King with great respect) Hail to the Indra-helper! Fortunate Pururavas, whose prowess is so ample, Heaven's King has grown its debtor.
PURURAVAS
The Gandharva! Welcome, my bosom's friend. They clasp each other's hands. What happy cause Of coming?
CHITRARATHA
Indra had heard from Narad's lips Of Urvasie by Titan Cayshy haled. He bade us to her rescue. We midway Heard heavenly bards chanting thy victory, And hitherward have turned our march. On, friend, With us to Maghavan and bear before thee This lovely offering. Great thy service done To Heaven's high King; for she who was of old Narayan's chief munificence to Indra, Is now thy gift, Pururavas. Thy arm Has torn her from a Titan's grasp.
PURURAVAS
Comrade, Never repeat it; for if we who are On Heaven's side, o'erpower the foes of Heaven, 'Tis Indra's puissance, not our own. Does not The echo of the lion's dangerous roar
Page – 136 Reverberating through the mountain glens Scatter with sound the elephants? We, O friend, Are even such echoes.
CHITRARATHA
This fits with thy great nature, For modesty was ever valour's crown.
PURURAVAS
Not now nor hence is't seasonable for me, Comrade, to meet the King of Sacrifice. Thou, therefore, to the mighty presence lead This beauty.
CHITRARATHA
As thou wilt. With me to Heaven!
URVASIE (aside to Chitralekha) I have no courage to address my saviour. Sister, wilt be my voice to him?
CHITRALEKHA (approaching Pururavas) My lord, Urvasie thus petitions —
PURURAVAS
What commands The lady?
CHITRALEKHA
She would have thy gracious leave To bear into her far immortal heavens The glory of the great Pururavas And dwell with it as with a sister.
PURURAVAS (sorrowfully) Go then;
Page – 137 But go for longer meeting. The Gandharvas and Nymphs soar up into the sky.
URVASIE
Sister, stay! My chain is in this creeper caught. Release it.
CHITRALEKHA (looking at the King with a smile) Oh, yes, indeed, a sad entanglement! I fear you will not easily be loosed.
URVASIE
Do not mock me, sister. Pray you, untwine it.
CHITRALEKHA
Come, let me try. I'll do my possible To help you. She busies herself with the chain.
URVASIE (smiling) Sister, think what thou hast promised Even afterwards.
PURURAVAS (aside) Creeper, thou dost me friendship; Thou for one moment holdest from the skies Her feet desirable. O lids of beauty! O vision of her half-averted face! Urvasie, released, looks at the King, then with a sigh at her sisters soaring up into the sky.
CHARIOTEER
O King, thy shaft with the wild voice of storm Has hurled the Titans in the salt far sea, Avenging injured Heaven, and now creeps back Into the quiver, like a mighty snake
Page – 138 Seeking its lair.
PURURAVAS Therefore bring near the chariot, While I ascend.
CHARIOTEER 'Tis done. The King mounts the chariot. PURURAVAS Shake loose the reins.
URVASIE (gazing at the King, with a sigh, aside) My benefactor! my deliverer! Shall I not see thee more? She goes out with Chitralekha.
PURURAVAS (looking after Urvasie) O Love! O Love! Thou mak'st men hot for things impossible And mad for dreams. She soars up to the heavens, Her father's middle stride, and draws my heart By force out of my bosom. It goes with her, Bleeding, as when a wild swan through the sky Wings far her flight, there dangles in her beak A dripping fibre from the lotus torn. They go.
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