{"id":1738,"date":"2013-07-13T01:36:54","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=1738"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:36:54","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:36:54","slug":"06-vasavadutta-act-i-vol-03-04-collected-plays-and-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/03-cwsa\/03-04-collected-plays-and-stories\/06-vasavadutta-act-i-vol-03-04-collected-plays-and-stories","title":{"rendered":"-06_Vasavadutta – Act – I.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n\n\n
\n

 <\/td>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\n
\nVasavadutta<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

<\/font>
\n<\/p>\n

\n
\nA Dramatic Romance<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

<\/font>
\n<\/p>\n

\n
\nCharacters<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

\nVUTHSA<\/font> UDAIAN<\/font>, King of Cowsamby.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYOUGUNDHAR\u00c2YAN<\/font>, his Minister, until recently Regent of
\nCowsamby.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nROOMUNWATH<\/font>, Captain of his armies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPARENACA<\/font>, the King’s door-keeper.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCHUNDA<\/font> MAHASEGN<\/font>, King of Avunthy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\nR\u00c9BHA<\/font>, Governor of Ujjayiny, the capital of Avunthy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA CAPTAIN<\/font> of Avunthy.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nUNG\u00c2RIC\u00c2<\/font>, Queen of Avunthy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nV\u00c2SAVADUTT\u00c2<\/font>, daughter of Chunda Mahasegn and Ungarica.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUMB\u00c2<\/font>, her handmaiden.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMUNJOOLIC\u00c2<\/font>, the servile name of Bundhumathie, the captive
\nPrincess of Sourashtra, serving Vasavadutta.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA KIR\u00c2THA WOMAN<\/font>.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\nThe action of the romance takes place a century after the war of
\nthe Mahabharata; the capital has been changed to Cowsamby; the empire has been temporarily broken and the kingdoms of
\nIndia are overshadowed by three powers, Magadha in the East ruled by Pradyotha, Avunthy in the West ruled by Chunda
\nMahasegn who has subdued also the Southern kings, and Cowsamby in the Centre where Yougundharayan strives by
\narms and policy to maintain the house of Parikshith against the dominating power of Avunthy. Recently since the young
\nVuthsa has been invested with the regal power and appeared at [               ], Chunda Mahasegn, till then invincible, has suffered rude but not decisive reverses. For the moment there is an armed
\npeace between the two empires. <\/span> <\/p>\n

\nThe fable is taken from Somadeva’s Kathasaritsagara (the
\nOcean of the Rivers of Many Tales) and was always a favourite subject of Indian romance and drama; but some of the circumstances, a great many of the incidents and a few of the names have been altered or omitted and others introduced in their
\nplace. Vuthsa, the name of the nation in the tale, is in the play used as a personal name of the King Udaian.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

\nAct I<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nScene 1<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA room in the palace in Ujjayiny.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\nChunda Mahasegn, seated; Gopalaca.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nM<\/span>AHASEGN<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\nVuthsa Udaian drives my fortunes back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOur strengths retire from one luxurious boy,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDefeated!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nG<\/span>OPALAKA<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI have seen him in the fight<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd I have lived to wonder. O, he ranges<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs lightly through the passages of war<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs moonbeam feet of some bright laughing girl,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHer skill concealing in her reckless grace,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe measures of a rapid dance.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nM<\/span>AHASEGN<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIf this portentous morning reach our gates,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy star is fallen. Yet I had great dreams.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOudh and Cowsamby were my high-carved doors,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGanges, Godavary and Nurmada<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn lion race besprayed with sacred dew<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy moonlit jasmines in my pleasure-grounds.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll this great sunlit continent lay sleeping<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAt peace beneath the shadow of my brows.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut they were dreams.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nG<\/span>OPALAKA<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\nArt thou not great enough<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 623<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n
\nTo live them?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n<\/p>\n

MAHASEGN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

O my son, many high hearts<\/p>\n

Must first have striven, many must have failed<\/p>\n

Before a great thing can be done on earth,<\/p>\n

And who shall say then that he is the man?<\/p>\n

One age has seen the dreams another lives.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Look up towards the hills where Rudra stands,<\/p>\n

His dreadful war-lance pointing to the east.<\/p>\n

Is not thy spirit that uplifted spear?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MAHASEGN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

It has been turned by Vishnu’s careless hand!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Fear not the obstacles the gods have strewn.<\/p>\n

Why should the mighty man restrain his soul?<\/p>\n

Stretch out thy hand to seize, thy foot to trample,<\/p>\n

A Titan’s motion.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MAHASEGN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Thou soarst the eagle’s height,<\/p>\n

But with eyes closed to the tempest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Wilt thou sue<\/p>\n

To foemen for the end of haughty strife?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MAHASEGN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

That never shall be seen. The boy must fall.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

He is young, radiant, beautiful and bold.<\/p>\n

But let him fall. We will not bear defeat.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 624<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

MAHASEGN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Yet many gods stood smiling at his birth.<\/p>\n

Luxmie came breathing fortunate days; Vishnu<\/p>\n

Poured down a radiant sanction from the skies<\/p>\n

And promised his far stride across the earth;<\/p>\n

Magic Saruswathie between his hands<\/p>\n

Laid down her lotus arts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

The austere gods<\/p>\n

Help best and not indulgent deities.<\/p>\n

The greatness in him cannot grow to man.<\/p>\n

His hero hours are rare forgetful flights.<\/p>\n

Excused from effort and difficult ascent<\/p>\n

Birds that are brilliant-winged, fly near to earth.<\/p>\n

Wine, song and dance winging his peaceful days<\/p>\n

Throng round his careless soul. It cannot find<\/p>\n

The noble leisure to grow great.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MAHASEGN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

There lives<\/p>\n

Our hope. Spy out, my son, thy enemy’s spirit,<\/p>\n

Even as his wealth and armies! Let thy eyes<\/p>\n

Find out its weakness and thy hand there strike.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Thou hast a way to strike?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MAHASEGN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I have a way,<\/p>\n

Not noble like the sounding paths of war.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Take it; let us stride straight towards our goal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MAHASEGN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Thy arm is asked for.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 625<\/font><\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

It is thine to use.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MAHASEGN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Invent some strong device and bring him to us<\/p>\n

A captive in Ujjayiny’s golden groves.<\/p>\n

Shall he not find a jailor for his heart<\/p>\n

To take the miracle of its keys and wear them<\/p>\n

Swung on her raiment’s border? Then he lives<\/p>\n

Shut up by her close in a prison of joy,<\/p>\n

Her and our vassal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Brought to the eagle’s nest<\/p>\n

For the eagle’s child thou giv’st him her heart’s prey<\/p>\n

To Vasavadutta! King, thy way is good.<\/p>\n

Garooda on a young and sleeping Python<\/p>\n

Rushing from heaven I’ll lift him helpless up<\/p>\n

Into the skiey distance of our peaks.<\/p>\n

Though it is strange and new and subtle, it is good.<\/p>\n

Think the blow struck, thy foeman seized and bound.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MAHASEGN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I know thy swiftness and thy gathered leap.<\/p>\n

Once here! his senses are enamoured slaves<\/p>\n

To the touch of every beautiful thing. O, there<\/p>\n

No hero, but a tender soul at play,<\/p>\n

A soft-eyed, mirthful and luxurious youth<\/p>\n

Whom all sweet sounds and all sweet sights compel<\/p>\n

To careless ecstasy. Wine, music, flowers<\/p>\n

And a girl’s dawning smile can weave him chains<\/p>\n

Of vernal softness stronger than can give<\/p>\n

The unyielding iron. Two lips shall seal his strength,<\/p>\n

Two eyes of all his acts be tyrant stars.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

One aid I ask of thee and only one.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 626<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

My banishment, O King, from thy domains.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MAHASEGN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Gopalaca, I banish thee, my child.<\/p>\n

Return not with my violent will undone.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 627<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

<\/span><\/font>
\n
\n<\/p>\n

\nScene
\n2<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/font><\/p>\n

A hall in the palace at Cowsamby.<\/i><\/p>\n

Yougundharayan, Roomunwath.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Y<\/font>OUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I see his strength lie covered sleeping in flowers;<\/p>\n

Yet is a greatness hidden in his years.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

R<\/font>OOMUNWATH<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Nourish not such large hopes.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

Y<\/font>OUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I know too well<\/p>\n

The gliding bane that these young fertile soils<\/p>\n

Cherish in their green darkness; and my cares<\/p>\n

Watch to prohibit the nether snake who writhes<\/p>\n

Sweet-poisoned, perilous in the rich grass,<\/p>\n

Lust with the jewel love upon his hood,<\/p>\n

Who by his own crown must be charmed, seized, change<\/p>\n

Into a warm great god. I seek a bride<\/p>\n

For Vuthsa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ROOMUNWATH<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Wisely; but whom?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

One only lives<\/p>\n

So absolute in her charm that she can keep<\/p>\n

His senses from all straying, the child far-famed<\/p>\n

For gifts and beauty, flower born by magic fate<\/p>\n

On a fierce iron stock.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 628<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

ROOMUNWATH<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Vasavadutta,<\/p>\n

Avunthy’s golden princess! Hope not to mate<\/p>\n

These opposite godheads. Follow Nature’s prompting,<\/p>\n

Nor with thy human policy pervert<\/p>\n

Her simple ends.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Nature must flower into art<\/p>\n

And science, or else wherefore are we men?<\/p>\n

Man out of Nature wakes to God’s complexities,<\/p>\n

Takes her crude simple stuff and by his skill<\/p>\n

Turns things impossible into daily miracles.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ROOMUNWATH<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

This thing is difficult, and what the gain?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

It gives us a long sunlit time for growth;<\/p>\n

For we shall raise in her a tender shield<\/p>\n

Against that iron victor in the west,<\/p>\n

The father’s heart taking our hard defence<\/p>\n

Forbid the king-brain in that dangerous man.<\/p>\n

Then when he’s gone, we are his greatness’ heirs<\/p>\n

In spite of his bold Titan sons.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ROOMUNWATH<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

He must<\/p>\n

Have fallen from his proud spirit to consent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Another strong defeat and she is ours.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ROOMUNWATH<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Blow then the conchs for battle.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 629<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I await<\/p>\n

Occasion and to feel the gods inclined.<\/p>\n

(to Vuthsa entering<\/i>)<\/p>\n

My son, thou comest early from thy breezes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

The dawn has spent her glories and I seek<\/p>\n

Alurca and Vasuntha for the harp<\/p>\n

With chanted verse and lyric ease until<\/p>\n

The golden silences of noon arrive.<\/p>\n

See this strange flower I plucked below the stream!<\/p>\n

Each petal is a thought.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

And the State’s cares,<\/p>\n

King of Cowsamby?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Are they not for thee,<\/p>\n

My mind’s wise father? Chide me not. See now,<\/p>\n

It is thy fault for being great and wise.<\/p>\n

What thou canst fashion sovereignly and well,<\/p>\n

Why should I do much worse?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

And when I pass?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Thy passing I forbid.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Vuthsa, thou art<\/p>\n

Cowsamby’s king, not Time’s, nor death’s.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

O, then,<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 630<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

The gods shall keep thee at my strong demand<\/p>\n

To be the aged minister of my sons.<\/p>\n

This they must hear. Of what use are the gods<\/p>\n

If they crown not our just desires on earth?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Well, play thy time. Thou art a royal child,<\/p>\n

And though young Nature in thee dallies long,<\/p>\n

I trust her dumb and wiser brain that sees<\/p>\n

What our loud thoughts can never reason out,<\/p>\n

Not thinking life. She has her secret calls<\/p>\n

And works divinely behind play and sleep,<\/p>\n

Shaping her infant powers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I may then go<\/p>\n

And listen to Alurca with his harp?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Thy will<\/p>\n

In small things train, Udaian, in the great<\/p>\n

Make it a wrestler with the dangerous earth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

My will is for delight. They are not beautiful,<\/p>\n

This State, these schemings. War is beautiful<\/p>\n

And the bright ranks of armoured men and steel<\/p>\n

That singing kisses steel and the white flocking<\/p>\n

Of arrows that are homing birds of war.<\/p>\n

When shall we fight again?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

When battle ripens.<\/p>\n

And what of marriage? Is it not desired?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

O no, not yet! At least I think, not yet.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 631<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nI’ll tell thee a strange thing, my father. I shudder,<\/p>\n

I know it is with rapture, at the thought<\/p>\n

Of women’s arms, and yet I dare not pluck<\/p>\n

The joy. I think, because desire’s so sweet<\/p>\n

That the mere joy might seem quite crude and poor<\/p>\n

And spoil the sweetness. My father, is it so?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Perhaps. Thou hast desire for women then?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

It is for every woman and for none.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

One day perhaps thou shalt join war with wedlock<\/p>\n

And pluck out from her guarded nest by force<\/p>\n

The wonder of Avunthy, Vasavadutta.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

A name of leaping sweetness I have heard!<\/p>\n

One day I shall behold a marvellous face<\/p>\n

And hear heaven’s harps defeated by a voice.<\/p>\n

Do the gods whisper it? Dreams are best awhile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

These things we shall consider.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

P<\/font>ARENACA<\/font> (entering<\/i>)<\/p>\n

Hail, Majesty!<\/p>\n

A high-browed wanderer at the portals seeks<\/p>\n

Admittance. Tarnished is he with the road,<\/p>\n

Alone, yet seems a mighty prince’s son.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Bring him with honour in. Such guests I love.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 632<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

We should know first what soul is this abroad<\/p>\n

And why he comes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

We’ll learn that from his lips.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Hope not to hear truth often in royal courts.<\/p>\n

Truth! Seldom with her bright and burning wand<\/p>\n

She touches the unwilling lips of men<\/p>\n

Who lust and hope and fear. The gods alone<\/p>\n

Possess her. Even our profoundest thoughts<\/p>\n

Are crooked to avoid her and from her touch<\/p>\n

Crawl hurt into their twilight, often hating her<\/p>\n

Too bright for them as for our eyes the sun.<\/p>\n

If she dwells here, it is with souls apart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

All men were not created from the mud.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

See not a son of heaven in every worm.<\/p>\n

Look round and thou wilt see a world on guard.<\/p>\n

All life here armoured walks, shut in. Thou too<\/p>\n

Keep, Vuthsa, a defence before thy heart.<\/p>\n

Parenaca brings in Gopalaca.<\/i><\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Which is Udaian, great Cowsamby’s king?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

He stands here. What’s thy need from Vuthsa? Speak.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Roomunwath, look with care upon this face.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 633<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Hail, then, Cowsamby’s majesty, well borne<\/p>\n

Though in a young and lovely vessel! Hail!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Thou art some great one surely of this earth<\/p>\n

Who com’st to me to live guest, comrade, friend,<\/p>\n

Perhaps much more.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I have fought against thee, king.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

The better! I am sure thou hast fought well.<\/p>\n

Com’st thou in peace or strife?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

In peace, O king,<\/p>\n

And as thy suppliant.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Ask; I long to give.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Know first my name.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Thy eyes, thy face I know.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I am Gopalaca, Avunthy’s son,<\/p>\n

Once thy most dangerous enemy held on earth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

A mighty name thou speakest, prince, nor one<\/p>\n

To supplications tuned. Yet ask and have.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 634<\/p>\n

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\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

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Thou heardst me well? I am thy foeman’s son.<\/p>\n

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VUTHSA<\/p>\n

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And therefore welcome more to Vuthsa’s heart.<\/p>\n

Foemen! they are our playmates in the fight<\/p>\n

And should be dear as friends who share our hours<\/p>\n

Of closeness and desire. Why should they keep<\/p>\n

Themselves so distant? Thou the noblest of them all,<\/p>\n

The bravest. I have played with thee, O prince,<\/p>\n

In the great pastime.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

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This was Vuthsa, then!<\/p>\n

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YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

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And wherefore seeks the son of Mahasegn<\/p>\n

Hostile Cowsamby? or why suppliant comes<\/p>\n

To his chief enemy?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

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I should know that brow.<\/p>\n

This is thy great wise minister? That is well.<\/p>\n

I seek a refuge.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

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And thou sayst thou art<\/p>\n

Avunthy’s son?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

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Because I am his son.<\/p>\n

My father casts me from him and no spot<\/p>\n

Once thought my own will suffer now my tread.<\/p>\n

Therefore I come. Vuthsa Udaian, king,<\/p>\n

Grant me some hut, some cave upon thy soil,<\/p>\n

Some meanest refuge for my wandering head.<\/p>\n

But if thy heart can dwell with fear, as do<\/p>\n


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\nThe natures of this age, or feed the snake<\/p>\n

Suspicion, over gloomier borders send<\/p>\n

My broken life.<\/p>\n

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YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

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Vuthsa, beware. His words<\/p>\n

Strive to conceal their naked cunning.<\/p>\n

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VUTHSA<\/p>\n

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Prince,<\/p>\n

What thou demandst and more than thou demandst,<\/p>\n

Is without question thine. Now, if thou wilt,<\/p>\n

Reveal the cause of thy great father’s wrath,<\/p>\n

But only if thou wilt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

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Because his bidding<\/p>\n

Remained undone, my exile was embraced.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

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More plainly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

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Ask me not. I am ashamed.<\/p>\n

Nor should a son unveil his father’s fault.<\/p>\n

They, even when they tyrannise, remain<\/p>\n

Most dear and reverend still, who gave us birth.<\/p>\n

This, Vuthsa, know; against thee I was aimed,<\/p>\n

A secret arrow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

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Keep thy father’s counsel.<\/p>\n

If he shoot arrows and thou art that shaft,<\/p>\n

I’ll welcome thee into my throbbing breast.<\/p>\n

What thou hast asked, I sue to thee to take.<\/p>\n

Thou seekst a refuge, thou shalt find a home:<\/p>\n

Thou fleest a father, here a brother waits<\/p>\n


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To clasp thee in his arms.<\/p>\n

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YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

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Too frank, too noble!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

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Come closer. Child of Mahasegn, wilt thou<\/p>\n

Be king Udaian’s brother and his friend?<\/p>\n

This proud grace wilt thou fling on the bare boon<\/p>\n

That I have given thee? Is it much to ask?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

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To be thy brother was my heart’s desire.<\/p>\n

Shod with that hope I came.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

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Clasp then our hands.<\/p>\n

Gopalaca, my play, my couch, my board,<\/p>\n

My serious labour and my trifling hours<\/p>\n

Share henceforth, govern. All I have is thine.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

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Thine is the noblest soul on all the earth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

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Frown not, my father. I obey my heart<\/p>\n

Which leaped up in me when I saw his face.<\/p>\n

Be sure my heart is wise. Gopalaca,<\/p>\n

The sentinel love in man ever imagines<\/p>\n

Strange perils for its object. So my minister<\/p>\n

Expects from thee some harm. Wilt thou not then<\/p>\n

Assure his love and pardon it the doubt?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GOPALAKA<\/p>\n

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He is a wise deep-seeing statesman, king,<\/p>\n

And shows that wisdom now. But I will swear,<\/p>\n

But I will prove to thee, thou noble man,<\/p>\n


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\nThat dearest friendship is my will to him<\/p>\n

Thou serv’st and to work on him proudest love.<\/p>\n

Is it enough?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

My father, hast thou heard?<\/p>\n

A son of kings swears not to lying oaths.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

It is enough.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VUTHSA<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Then come, Gopalaca,<\/p>\n

Into my palace and my heart.<\/p>\n

He goes into the palace with Gopalaca.<\/i><\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

O life<\/p>\n

Besieged of kings! What snare is this? what charm?<\/p>\n

There was a falsehood in the Avunthian’s eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ROOMUNWATH<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

He has given himself into his foemen’s hands<\/p>\n

And he has sworn. He is a prince’s son.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Yes, by his sire; but the pale queen Ungarica<\/p>\n

Was to a strange inhuman father born<\/p>\n

And from dim shades her victor dragged her forth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ROOMUNWATH<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

There’s here no remedy. Vuthsa is ensnared<\/p>\n

As with a sudden charm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

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I’ll watch his steps.<\/p>\n

Keep thou such bows wherever these two walk<\/p>\n


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As never yet have missed their fleeing mark.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ROOMUNWATH<\/p>\n

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Yet was this nobly done on Vuthsa’s part.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

YOUGUNDHARAYAN<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

O, such nobility in godlike times<\/p>\n

Was wisdom, but not to our fall belongs.<\/p>\n

Sweet virtue now is mother of defeat<\/p>\n

And baser, fiercer souls inherit earth.<\/p>\n


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<\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Vasavadutta   A Dramatic Romance   Characters     VUTHSA UDAIAN, King of Cowsamby. YOUGUNDHAR\u00c2YAN, his Minister, until recently Regent of Cowsamby. ROOMUNWATH, Captain…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-03-04-collected-plays-and-stories","wpcat-39-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1738"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1738\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}