THE: CURSE

KARNA

KAILASAM
*
.

© 5we

Se
 ite ss oe
OR

KARNA

An impression of Sophocles in five acts

T. P. KAILASAM
 Copyright
Kailasam

Published by
B. S. RAMA RAO, B.A.
298/B, 35th Cross, 4th Block
Jayanagar, Bangalore-11

Price: Rupees Four

First Published: 10th September 1946

Re-Published: 29th July 1969

Printed by :
Sri Shankara Printing Works, Jayanagar, Bangalore-11
 SACRED TO
THE MEMORY OF

THYAGARAJA SADASIVAM
IN THE HALO OF WHOSE
IMMACULATE LIFE
THE HUMBLE AUTHOR
OPE’D HIS BABY-EYES
UPON THE WONDER-WORLD
OF

THE LORD’S
MARIONETTE PLAY:

THE MAHABHAARATHA

&

““ldam Rahasyam Mama Yena Darsitam—

Sa Vandaneeyah Gurureva Kevalam—’”’

— Sankara
 4
Dr. (Sir) S. RADHAKRISHNAN, former President of
the Indian L.
permitted me to present an hour and a quarter’s recital
of Kailasam’s:\p
Karna before him, when he was Vice-President,
at his residence at
round about 1960.
Later, on a request by me to senda note on Kailasam’s 76th
Birt
he sent one, which is printed here.

ho. up_ 24/

Vice-PRESIDENT
INDIA

New Deny

June 1, 1960

Dear Shri Rama Rao,

I note that Kailasam’s 76th Birthday

is on the 29th of July. I knew him when I
happened to be at Mysore and I felt that he was
aman of intense feeling and powerful expression,
All his works manifest these qualities,
His plays were of live interest as
he took up concrete problems of our country in
transition and dramatised them with great force.
Even when he used classical themes his purpose
waS contemporary.

I hope his writings will be read

widely.

Yours sincerely,
2

(3,Radhakyfehnan)
Shri _B.S.Rama Rao,
c/o Praja Vani,
16, Mahatma Gandhi Road,
Bangal ore-1

Years ago Dr. Radhakrishnan had listened to a tecital of ‘“*Purpose’”

(Ekalavya) from Kailasam and said:
‘Unfortunately in our country official position or a Place in the University
seems to be necessary for literary recognition. Kailasam cannot lay clain
jo either. He rather illustrates the tradition that abuse, criticism, exile anc
fierce solitariness, mark the man of genius.”’
 PANDIT TARANATH

[Pandit Taranath (Late) of Premaayathana, Tungabhadra,

acknowledged as a great Daarsanika, ingrained the lofty
‘‘Krishna’’ into Kailasam. See Mr. K. Sampathgiri Rao’s
note in the appendix]
THE LATE JUSTICE SiR T. SADASIVA AIYAR, M.L.

eenrereee to whom this work is dedicated .........

KATLASAM
{Late Dr (S Ir COR Redd bi found ~ r of the Andhra
=

Un Ivers ity an d Pro \- hancellor o fthe M y S ore Uni lV e rsity,

.
~

hose quest ion provoked Ka as

’?
creat e Karna
+s

WwW am to

as he had ‘seen it and heard it. See the appendix for

the birth of the play]
These scenes and words youIl see, you'll hear,
\’ve seen and heard before,
As king or priest, poltroon or peer,
Somewhere - - - Somewhen of yore !

So eettere

Yoa faint ym ee

Be nnynpcygn
af

‘““Not marble, nor the gilded monuments

Of Princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme
For you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone, besmirch’d with sluttish
time ”

—Shakespeare
 FOREWORD

Drama as something only interesting is too rampant

to need any introduction, but as a piece of art that is
instructive in the book and on the boards I dare say, does
need a foreword especially when it seems to have moved
off the beaten track. Every stageable story that merely
tickles and excites the audience cannot !egitimately be a
drama. Even as the dawn inits kaleidoscopic display of
crimson and blue has its purpose of heralding the sun,
art in its varied and beauteous play cannot be without
its purpose of presenting the light of Wisdom. Divorced
from its purpose, it is more destructive than educative.

The author has made a new departure not only from

the usual method but also from the facts stated in the
Mahabhaarata and rightly too, for drama to deserve the
name cannot present itself like history. It has not only
to show the past but also to softly and insensibly suggest
a worthy future. It has not only to reveal the past of a
people but to interpret it to help them with inspiration
to build a future worthy of it. The author has in his
beautiful work both the purpose and the fulfilment and
I leave the reader to realise them in his own way.

—Taranath

-_— -<b -—-—-

 KARNA
Flung adrift by very mother at birth,
Accurs’d of anger’d tutor in thy youth,
Forlorn of friend and kith and kin; in sooth,

A nameless aimless waif upon this earth—

Relentless fate swoop’d thee to serve her aim
And veer’d thy steps into a nest of plots
And feuds: A royal house of power-drunk sots
Perdue to pity, chivalry... e’en shame!

Beguil’d with bribe of crown to battle in cause

Of king who match’d thee ’gainst thy very kin,
Thy valour, bounty, innocence of sin
Availed thee naught ’gainst unjust death! Alas,
Befooled babe ’gainst fate’s bewild’ring odds!
Bejewell’d bauble of the jeering gods!

*
From the

Songs of = Pliggana
 PERSONAE
Raama (BHAARGAVA) ..... The Tutor
eT Eh i oe ie The Pupil
Raagn2.... «ewe ¥Od Ay. The Pupil’s Foster Mother

OTHER PERSONAE
Styodhana toi ov roe O12 26 King of Kuruland
LO The King’s Grandsire
Dhritaraashtra i=... The King’s Blind Father
Viduraee?t AO Ie avon Je., The King’s Uncle— Paternal
Gaandhaara and Maadra...... The King’s Uncles—Maternal
Yuyutsu .. The King’s Brother
Bheemasena and Arjuna. ..... The King’s Cousins
Dronaachaarya and
Kripachaaryasit=... The King’s Preceptors
Aswatthaama——_—_t=e.... Drona’s son
Krishna .. Cousin to the King’s Cousins
Draupsca: 3¢ Sees (nee Crown Prince of Paanchaala
Queen Kiultiteenn |) ti) oc. Mother to the King’s Cousins
Paanchaalee ... Espoused to The King’s
Cousins
Other kinsmen of The King’s ; courtiers ; attendants ;
maids; princes ; priests and OTHERS
F LACE and TIME OF
Mection ' = Bs as set forth in situations

PERIODS OF MAHABHAARATHA PORTRAYED

—AADI, SABHAA and KARNA PARVAS

TIME OF ACTION OF THE PLAY: THREE HOURS

 THE CURSE
OR

KARNA
eo

ACT I SCENE I

Place: Raama’s Aasrama

Discovered: Raama; a number of pupils are leaving and

Karra lags behind.

Raama This, the last day of thy pupildom, Karna?

Karna Aye, Gurujee.
Raama Karna, hundred upon hundred of brahmin
pupils have passed through my hands these two
long yugas of my deathless life! And yet, of all
of them, ’tis thou hast crept nearest my heart!
As fitting guerdon for thy selfless love, reverence,
loyalty to me, I shall initiate you into the secret
of invoking the deadliest of my astras. Hast
fasted over-night, as I bade thee?
Karna Aye, Gurujee.
Raama Discharg’d thy morning’s rites as well ?
Karna Aye, Gurujee.
Raama "Tis well. Now list: I’ve often told thee
Karna, that AHIMSA proclaims UNIVERSAL
TRUTH. And yet, in man’s practice of this
TRUTH inthis world of duality with its multi-
versant struggle for preservation of self, thera
 KARNA

is HIMSA, Karna, in AHIMSA; and AHIMSA

too in HIMSA! Art perplexed? Then list:..........
In the sparing of the killer one really shares
with him in his sin of killing others! In the
Slaying of this killer, one washes away one’s sin
of killing in the merit one earns by having saved
the many many would-have-been victims of the
killer! Look! (Points out a young Bakula
sapling in close embrace of a Maadhavee Creeper)
Yonder Maadhavee, beauteous in form and
flower, in poor requite of the food, shelter and
support it hath received, is bent on strangling out
the life of that Bakula whose flowers, fruit
and stately arms will, in time, play host to mil-
lions of birds, bees and men. Now, in the
slaying of that one Maadhavee, beauteous as she
is, one really earns the merit of finding food:
home and shelter for the many. Am J clear,
Karna?
Karna Aye, Gurujee.

Raama Now fetch me a blade of grass or aught that is

born of this dying earth. (Karna does accordingly)
You have? Now hold that blade betwixt thy
thumb and forefinger ; close thine eyes and con-
centrate upon that one Maadhavee; I’ve taught
thee how to concentrate; fix thy mind on that
ONE creeper; be wary, child! Aught else in-
cluded in thy thoughts will share that creeper’s
fate! You’re ready?
Karna Aye, Gurujee.
THE CURSE 3

Raama Now whisper after me: (Raoma whispers into

Karna’s ear; the pupil mumbles the words after
the Guru)

Now ope thine eyes and look! (Karna does

accordingly)

Karna Why, Gurujee, I see no Maadhavee at all!

Raama (Smiling) You’ve seen the Jast of it! And if

you near that Bakula, you will not see aught left
behind to mind you that that creeper ever was!
NOW, THAT, MY CHILD, THAT WAS THE
DEADLY ASTRA: ‘‘ BHAARGAVA’”’!... ,
DREADED OF THE GODS THEMSELVES!:
No more but blade of grass; a few words whis_
pered; and aught th’ invoker deigns is snuffed
quite out of existence as feeble flame in gust of
hurricane! Now that, Karna, completes thy
pupildom !: Come mace, come sword, come bow
and shaft, come axe, come lance, come knuckles
bare, you’re a master of them every one!, second
not e’ento thy Guru! The human to excel thee
in the use of arms, is yet to see the light of day !
And now must I] remind you of the fee you owe
me for my tutordom of thee: the fee that I
bespoke at very outset of thy pupildom, which
is: that you do utilise each grain of the know-
ledge of use of arms you learnt of me, for no
purpose but extirpation of all power—drunk
kshatriyas! And this assur’d, I shall feel fully
repaid for my tutordom!
4 KARNA

Karna I swear it, Gurujee. (Karna prostrates before

the guru; Raama blesses him; Karna rises)

Raama Go out, my child, into the world beyond this

Aasrama, and uSe the prowess of thine arms for
but the sacred rite Of succ’ring distress’d beings
On. this Carty, aca, and so help me fulfil the one,
one purpose of my deathless life!

(Karna rises and departs sighing. The tutor,

with heaving bosom and wistful look, watches the
departing pupil)

The Curtain Drops Slowly

ACT I SCENE [J

Place: A grove in the purlieu of the Aasrama:

A foot-path runs along the foreground

Discovered: In the foreground: Karna walking along

the foot-path, his bow, quiver and
haversack slinging by his right shoulder.

In the back-ground: Raama is asleep,

his head resting on the ‘‘out crop’’—
ping root of a low-branch’d tree.

Karna (throwing a wistful look over his shoulder)

May God’s eternal blessings shower on thee,

my loved Aasrama!

May thy kindly denizens, my lovers, kith and

kin all these years, may they all live in peaceful
blessedness! (As his eyes sweep around the
Aasrama, they come to rest on the sleeping Raama
on whose face the westering sun is pouring a
wealth of golden light)

My Gurujee! The blazing sun will in sooth

awake him from his rest! (Drops his belongings:
cautiously stalks up to Raama. Sitting at Raama’s
head Karna delicately transfers the sleeper’s head
into his own lap, his own body ’twixt Raama’s
face and the shining sun...
 KARNA

(Anon, a mason-wasp afluttering by, attracted

by Karna’s bared thigh, settles on it, mistaking
it mayhap for some soft wood, and finding it suc-
culent withal, eats its way into the flesh to the very
marrow of his thigh bone; Karna, for fear of
waking his Guru, counters the excruciating pain
he suffers by biting into his nether lip, and by
effort of sheer will restrains his torso and limbs
fiom the slightest tremor, and his lips from the
faintest murmur or cry of pain But the warm
blood gushing out of the wasp’s ingress impinges
on Raamu’s cheek and wakes him)
Raama (Sitting up ; not fully awake)
Wh..steWherere 22 Where. .cam ...1
7...Whar?
Karna (Approaching his scarf to the Guru’s face)
Allow me, Gurujee. (Wipes away the blood on
Raama’s cheek)
Raama Blood? Whose blood? Who was it hurt,
Karna, and how?
Karna ’Twas I, Gurujee, hurt in my heart that your
sleep was disturb’d !
Raama Come come Karna! A hurt in your heart
would not stain my cheek with blood! I mind
me resting here with not a_ soul about:
next I find me waking up from your lap
and blood not of my shedding astaining my
cheek! Come, boy, the truth! But tell me first
how you are here yet? Methought you’d left
the Aasrama ?
Karna ’Twas thiswise, Gurujee: Bound for my far
off home, as I was walking along yon path, my
last look on the Aasrama did “light on you
THE CURSE 7

asleeping with the blazing sun full on your face;

I flung my belongings aside........ walked up to
OMe... and tried to earn myself the merit of....
Raama But this leads us nowhere !......... The blood..........
What of the blood?
Karna Well then, great one!; as I sat with your head
aresting in my lap, a hungry wasp aflutt’ring by
decided for its food upon my not ill-nourished
thigh and...Oh! T have forgot that wasp! Why,
glutted with my gore and. flesh.......and far too
heavy to crawl out ...... e’en now "tis dead mayhap
for want of air to breathe! (Pokes his forefinger
to its very root and carefully scoops out the wasp ;
delicately wiping the Llood off, blows gently on the
wasp; seeing the wings open out)
The Gods be praised! It is alive! (Places it
tenderly ona low branch ofthe tree)
Now, greedy, gourmand wasp, rest there
awhile; then fly and find thy home!
(All this while, Raama has been watching
Karna’s doings with a glowering look)
Raama (Almost hissing his words between his teeth)
Do you make out, Karna, you withstoop
yonder wasp aboring through your thighto the
marrow, without one groan oj pain, one tremor
of your trunk and limbs.......only for fear of
waking me?
Karna It pained me, great one; but ’twas my nether
lip did brunt my agony!
Raama You are faultless as a pupil, Karna; but you
make a poor, poor liar!
8 KARNA

Karna ‘“Liar’’?! Why, great one, it was the truth I

spake!
Raama You did in truth recount the wherefore of the
blood ; but I, a brahmin, know full well that one
of brahmin blood may not endure such agony
of flesh without one shriek of pain, one shake of
limb or trunk! (Jn an impassioned tone)
Like dullard nurs’d a frozen snake against his
bosom for but to court its sting, I’ve cherish’d
nourish’d thee and parted with my knowledge of
the use of arms to lying brat of very race I
loathe!...A creature that with face and eyes
dissembling truth, did lie to me of brahmin
birth! (Raising his voice to a threatening pitch)
Come now, the truth! Thou art a Kshatriya
by blood? Full one and twenty times have I set
on and crush’d to dust the pride and power of
royal Kshatriyas! And now Ifind my foremost
pupil, brahmin as I thought him, turns out but
a spawn of the very race that useth strength and
wealth that God doth give for but to slaughter
feeble, helpless humans and to fatten, batten on
the spoils acquir’d of weakling victims! Pshaw!
Karna Believe me, Gurujee, I am no Kshatriya! I am
not twice-born e’en! By sire and damI am a
low born sootha!
Raama What ? you a low-born sootha child! Nay, nay!
Karna I pray you list, great one! What made me lie
to you of brahmin birth—the only path to gain
your tutordom— it was an inner, innate call...
some inborn hunger for to learn the use of arms
THE CURSE 9

denied my lowly caste! Beyond this, Gurujee,

I had no aim!, no greed for power or pelf,
mulcted off oppressed victims!
Raama What... you acraven low-born child? ‘Tis a lie!
The sire that ’gat youand the dam that did
brought you forth could neither be of lowly
blood! (ina blazing fit of anger) With lie of
brahmin birth hast thou acquir’d the mastery
of arms second not e’en to me! And for thy
dastard lie, list to a Brahmin’s CURSE:
IF EVER YOU SHOULD HENCEFORTH
SORELY NEED THE USE OF ARMS
YOU’VE LEARNT OF ME.......THE BAREST
TALK, THE MEREST THOUGHT OF THY
SUPPOSED SOOTHA BIRTH CROSSING THY
MIND...WILL SWELL THY HEART TO
SENSE OF SHAME, WILL DULL THINE
EYES AND MIND, NUMB AND PARALYSE
THY LIMBS BEYOND THEIR PO’WR_ TO
HELE. THER. MAKEN THES SLIGHTEST,
SMALLEST USE OF KNOWLEDGE THAT
YOU’VE LEARNT OF ME! AVAUNT!
AVAUNT!, ERE I INFLICT A FURTHER
CURSE ON THEE!
(Overwhelmed with terror tnd grief, Karna
collapses at Raama’s feet and sobs in
whimpering notes)
Karna Forgive my sin, rever’d, loved Gurujee! For-
give th’ unwitting sin of a child—a child that all
these years hath found father, mother,
brother, kith and kin in none but thee! Oh!
Woe is me!
 KARNA

(Sobs his heart out on Raama’s feet! Raama

collects himself, bends down and lifts the prone
boy ; drawing him to himself and gently stroking
Karna’s head....speaks in a soothing tone)
Raama Forgive my choler, child! But then, in grasp
of thy child’s hands doth lie the power to raze
to very ground my ancient vow to venge my
father’s cruel death at hands of Kshatriyas!
I cannot, even if I would. recall the CURSE!.
That stands! Karna! My love for thee reveals
to me that Fate hath wove thy life and death in
threads of tragedy! And yet, for all Eternity,
thy name shall stand For VALOUR, BOUNTY,
PURITY! Adieu, my child! May HE that
watches over all this world, may HE in all HIS
love and MERCY, grant Thee strength of
mind and soul to combat the stormy life before
thee, UNSULLIED OF THY MANLINESS,
despite this BRAHMIN’S CURSE! (Kisses Karna
on the brow. Karna prostrates; kisses the Guru’s
feet and rises; with great effort restraining a
fresh spasm of sobs, mutters)
Karna God bless you for your kindness, Gurujee!
(Walks tq the path in the foreground; shoulders
his belongings and walking along the path,
fades out of sight. Raama, sighing deeply,
watches the departing pupil with wistful eyes
. . mumbling to himself)

POOR KARNA! POOR, POOR KARNA!

The Curtain Drops Slowly!

ACT IU SCENE I!

Place: The Royal Stadium, Hastina

(The heterogeneous mass of humanity that

overflows the amphitheatre shouts in jubilance
.. In one voice)
Hail, Prince Arjuna! Hail Prince Paartha!
The greatest archer earth hath ever seen!
(Karna is discovered standing on the outer
fringes of the crowd)
Karna Why, good people! What’s this you say?
‘‘ The greatest archer earth hath ever seen”!
Why, HE is far away from here in his own
Aasrama ? (smiling) The only other greatest
archer in this world is here in me!
A man Art mad, fair youth? Why, he we hailed
as greatest bowman of all time, is our Prince
Paartha that hath all this day, amid this
tourney of the royal princes of the Kuru
House, proved his worth with feats of archery
part all belief of human eyes !.........
Karna (eagerly), I pray you, do recount to me
his greatest feat!
Another Man: What, Paartha’s greatest feat? Well
then; he shot but single arrow at yon huge
Aswattha tree and as you see, no less than
ov’ra hundred leaves show mark of Paartha’s
shaft!
Karna (laughing) A meagre hundred leaves pierc’d
and hundred thousands left unscath’d! Why,
12 KARNA

the veriest novice in our Aasrama could ........

You all think that I boast? (/n a trice, fixes a
a shaft to his bow)
NOW, NOW, GOOD PEOPLE! LOOK!!
(Releases his shaft. At sight of the effect of
Karna’s shaft the people around gasp in asto-
nishment and yent their wonder in diverse
remarks)
“Ye Gods! Did ye mark that?”
‘“Aye! For Paartha’s hundred leaves or
less, this unknown youth hath piere’d through
evry leaf upon the tree! Who can he be?”
“I know! It is some denizen of the skies
here masquerades in human guise!” ‘‘ For
sure he is no mere human! ”’
First Man (in tones of abject apology) You’re mar-
vellous, young sir! I do take back my
hasty words!
Second Man I know, young sir, you are some prince
in guise of pauper, set forth to challenge
Prince Arjuna’s claim to peerless bowman-
ship! (to the crowd) Make way, you sheep!
This unknown prince would fain get to the
arena! Make way!
First Man That’s right! Make way! (to Karna) !
pray you, Sir, be pleased to walk into the
arena and feast our eyes afresh!
Karna I would, my brothers! And I could! But
this unwieldy crowd... unrully..... ..
Many Voices: Part a way, you herd of cattle! And let
THE CURSE 13
this godly prince approach the arena and
prove that Paartha may not flaunt his
bowmanship unchallenged !
(The crowd, now excited to eager expectancy
parts a passage. Karna enters the arena. The
arena, a half-circle in form, holds at the far end
the DHAARTARAASHTRA and the PAANDU
princes in two different shamianas situate at
either end of a line of ‘‘ boxes” holding royal
elder folk. In the centre of the arena, on a
raised dais, the judges, Aachaaryas Drona
and Kripa, are in close converse with the
Royal Patriarch. Karna takes his stance in the
very centre of the arena. He casts his eyes
all around the stadium, and in the manner of a
young lion amid a- herd of tuskers, is awed
and yet unafraid. In dulcet, yet far—reaching
notes he addresses the great concourse)
Karna Good people, priests, princes and all as-
sembled here, it was no thought of disturbing
you hath embolden’d me to thus intrude upon
you all! [ learn this is a tourney held to
test the prowess of all wielders of weapons
of war. With myself taught the use of arms
by greatest, deftest wielder of all arms of
all times.......I feel J owe it to my great Guru
to challenge this Prince Paartha to contend
with me in use not only of a bow and shafts
but mace, sword, axe or lance or even
knuckles bare !
A Voice in the crowd (sarcastically) Retrace thy steps,
fair youth! A fool thou art to expect fairly
14 KARNA

treatment in this arena! Our Crowned Prince

himself was robbed of sure victory at mace-
craft, by the Royal Patriarch who wilfully
estopp’d the bout only for fear of Bheemasena
losing!
Another Voice: No! It shall not hap a second time!
A Third Voice: An archer that with single shaft did
bore through lacs of leaves of yonder Aswattha
against Arjuna’s childish feat, is surely fit
to challenge Paartha, vaunted, flaunted as
begat of Mighty Mahendra! Do cast thy
fears aside! A hundred thousand citizens of
Hastina will see thee treated fair!
VENUE: The DHAARTARAASHTRA SHAMIAANA
Gaandhaara (sotto voce) I see! Fate herself hath ta’en
hand and _= stand against the Patriarch!
(to the Crown Prince Suyodhana) I crave Your
Royal Highness’ ear! Yon flippant royst’rer
in the crowd spake but the truth in averring
that fairplay doth not rule this arena! And
hence it doth behove Your Highness, in fair
Hastina’s good name, to make sure that
this stranger youth is treated fair!
Suyodhana In sooth, I see your meaning, Uncle Gaan-
dhaara! About my bout, there’s none will
gainsay I was gaining ground; Royal Cousin
Bheema, Stronger than the strongest man in
Hastina, is far bulkier in thews and bones
than I, and yet, his gourmandising off the
food-pots of The Royal kitchen hath play’d
dire havoc with his wind! Thus it was thatI
THE CURSE 15

stood still, no more but blocking and aparrying,

his thrusts taking full care to keep him
always on the move! My plan did prove its
worth, for he, anon, was slower on his feet.....
his swings and thrusts all loose and light...
his breathing short and labour’d; he was
tiring! A few more ghatikas..] meant to....
but Taataajee would estop the bout! °Tis
Balabhadra should have judged us... But let
that pass! ‘Twas but a _ pariksha! As for
this stranger-youth..with most of us more
skill’d in use of other arms than bow and
shaft...my cousin Paartha’s unoppos’d display
did prove but poor, poor meat to all the
rabble there. Now, this fair youth, if he but
be one half as good at archery as Arjuna,
in sooth he’ll serve to show our Paartha
‘c | See
Aswatthaman ‘a/most brusquely) All this apart, I feel
this stranger youth must have his chance
*gainst Paartha if only to be convinc’d that
his own Guru, be he who he may, may
never be the equal of my father! For Arjuna’s
prowess at archery is but the merest modicum
of his Guru’s! And hence, Your Highness
must perforce bestir yourself and welcome
yonder youth assuring him of fair-play in
this arena!
(Leaving the Shamiaana, The Crown Prince enters
the arena, and walks up to Karna and opens
his arms wide. At sight of this, the whole
 KARNA

amphitheatre springs to its feet and jubilates

approval)
‘Hail our gracious Prince! Our King
to be’!
‘Our Crowned Prince is the only one in
all this assembly that knows and shows the
dharma of a warrior host to warrior guest!
Long live our King to be! ”’
(Amid this tumult, the piping voice of an old
woman pierces through) ‘‘Host or Guest, I
know not ought of these! To these mine
eyes, it is but one lion’s whelp agreeting
another lion’s whelp! Who dares say there
is no fair play, while Our Crowned Prince
welcomes his stranger-guest with open arms ?”’
(A thunderous applause which follows the
old woman’s sally is silenced after great efforts
by the heralds and other royal myrmidons and
a tense silence follows)
Suyodhana Inth’ name of Hastina I welcome thee. I
crave thee to describe us all, the great worth
of thy tutor in the only tongue this tourney
understands: the language of a warrior by
use of arms of war! We have amongst us such
as can engage thee with any weapon thou may’st
choose!
Karna (smiling) I fear I’m poor of courtly talk.
I'am only after chance to face one Paartha,
here acclaim’d as peerless in the use of bow
and shaft. But I am not a stranger to all
other weapons used of warriors.
THE CURSE 17
Suyodhana °’Tis well! Meseems you’ve travell’d far
ashould’ring this!
(Gently relieves Karna of his haversack, bow
and quiver)
Forget this challenge for
The nonce; welcome into my tent; a bathe,
Repast and raiments fresh will make thee twice
A pupil of thy Guru and _ help thee
Display his greatness with e’en greater surety!
[Leades Karna into the shamiana. At sight
of the graciousness of the Prince, the crowd
goes into the wildest elderee ong OES)
‘*Well done, Great prince”
(The irresponsible hag shrieks out)
“‘That’s right, my Royal Child, that’s right!:
First feed and clothe thy foe; then fight
[him fair !”’}
(The crowd laughs boisterously)
Bheeshma (To Aachaarya Drona)
The coming of this stranger-archer’s naught
But succour to our plans to well convince
My Dhaartharaashtra grand-children, that if
They will not acquiesce to what is right,
By plea of argument and just counsel,
The welfare of the Royal Kuru House
Demands equal Right to Kingship of
The Paandu Princes, e’en by right of Might!
This youthful warrior, in sooth, will prove
The very foil to our Arjuna
To help him show his bowmanship, and thus
To hammer into all assembled here
 KARNA

That blood for blood and birth for birth,

That right for right and even might for might,
Great Paandu’s sons have equal right unto
The half of Kuru Kingship; and again—
All this apart—I feel I must give voice
To my delight, and pay my respect too
To grand-child Prince Suyodhana for thought
Of wearied traveller’s need for bathe, repast
And rest—although he be the challenger
Of name and fame and honour of the Prince’s
Own Guru!

Drona E’en so, Gaangeya! Suyodhana,

Ever graceful in the use of arms of war,
Is gracious too in Solicitous thought
For comforts of a stranger guest—as doth
Behove a princely host!
As for this stranger’s archery, with all
The multitude ashouting wild that he
Hath marked ev’ry leaf on yonder tree
With use of single shaft...against the few
Scores pierc’d by Arjuna....it seems he is
No tyro at the game! The ever fickle Fate
Hath time and again play’d strange pranks
In th’history of wars and parikshas!
Thus it may even turn out that it is
Our Paartha that will prove a foil to this
Fair youth! So, would it not be wise to put
Him through some tests to guage his mettle
Ere he engages Arjuna? For if he prove
[as good
Asia t2
THE CURSE 19

Bheeshma (in alarm)

Just so....Aachaarya....why, mefears,
(Laughs heartily)
The slightest doubt in eyes of Hastina
Of Paartha’s sole supremacy with bow,
Will undo all our plans for weal of my
Scions! And so,....should tests of this fair youth
Reveal him deft enough ev’n to extend
Our Arjuna. this contest must not be!,
At least be tactfully belated .. why,
This fading light may well provide excuse
For staving off... you see my meaning,
[Aachaarya ?

Drona Enough, Gaangeya, say no more! Kripa,

°Tis you that must avoid........ Lo! Here
he comes!
(Karna, refreshed of bath and food. and robed
in silken apparel walks to the Dais. The Crown
Prince follows Karna a step behind. A deafening
roar by the now highly excited multitude is with
much effort silenced by the royal minions)

Drona (to Kripa)

Kripa, go speak to yonder youth and sound
His worth and birth......

Kripa (approaching Karna)

You’re welcome, youthful sir, to add unto
The splendent glory of this tournament.
But ere you face the foremost bowman of
This age, it is but meet that you should
[prove
20 KARNA

Your worth and fitness to engage him in

A pariksha!
(Karna interrupts with a loud guffaw)
Karna Ha! Ha! What’s this you say? Prove MY
[fitness
To fight this booby bowman that can send
His shaft but through a few score leaves
Of yonder tree, leaving me the task
Of riddling hundred thousands left unmark’d!
You make me laugh!
(Karna laughs boisterously. The multitude fol.
lows suit. Non-plussed for the moment, Kripa
recovers)

Kripa We, the judges of this tourney, we

Would be convine’d of your own worth---we are
Prince Paartha’s preceptors .........

Karna (indignantly)
Convince me then of your own worth to test
The foremost pupil of dread Bhaargava
Whose very name doth quake the hearts
of e’en
The doughtiest of Royal Kshatriyas!
(Wheels round dramatically towards the am-
phitheatre, and throwing his arms out, appeals
to the multitud. in impassioned accents)
Good citizens of this Fair Hastina!,
Ye kindly souls that mother-like receiv’d
A friendless stranger-youth into your hearts,
List, list to me! :
A rarer treat awaits ye all than that ye now
Expect!: As foremost pupil of Raama,
THE CURSE 21
The wielder of the Parasu, I now
Will face, not Paartha, but his very
[preceptors!
(To Kripa and Drona )
Come, sirs, come severally or both at once
And I shall show to all assembled here,
One single pupil of dread Jaamadagni can,
With ease, defeat a host af preceptors
That turn out Arjunas and Paarthas who,
Within the confines of their palace gates,
Claim foremost rank amidst the bowmen of
This wide, wide world! COME SIRS?!
(At the names Bhaargava, Raama, Jaama-
dagni, ‘‘ wielder of the Parasu’’, the Royal
Folk, the preceptors and everyone about almost
gasp for breath.
But Gaandhaara_ smiles knowingly, and winks
significantly at abviously alarmed and _ chag
rined Aswatthaama.)
Bheeshma (in notes of astonishment ; Sotto Voce )
My Guru’s pupil, he? My fellow pupil! And
So young! Incredible! And yet he seems
And sounds full truthful! Dares. defies the
[ two
Aachaaryas- This must stop! Ha! Ha Ha!
Ha!
(Laughs heartily and turns to Dronaachaarya )
This mob, in fitful style of mobs, will now
Insist on you and Kripachaarya meas’ ring
[ arms
Against this child....aston’shing child! For sure
That must not be! Do ask him who he iS ;
22 KARNA

Whence he hails; what Royal House he is

of; why,
His sire, his grandsire e’en, may not,
[ mayhap,
Be unbeknown to me!
Kripa Aye, Gaangeya !
(Kripa approaches Karna and addresses him )
The Patriarch o’the Royal Kuru House
Begat of Moon Himself, ‘‘Dread Bheeshma’’ by
Repute, would fain hold converse with thy
[ self;
Own son to Divine Gangaa, and uncrowned
[ king
Of Kuruland, a pupil too of thine own
[preceptor,
He would fain learn of the Royal House
That gave thee birth; the names ofthy forebears
Whose blood doth course thy veins...............
(Karna leaves Kripa’s side and _ reaches
Bheeshma ;
Drops to his knees at The Patriarch’s feet)
Karna JT crave your blessings, Sire! Crowned
[or uncrowned,
Kings are ever Kings! And yet, my liege,
Divine Gangaa, thy mother, if she’s worshipp’d
[ for
But Her Divinity, who knows ?, who cares ?,
What boots it to the millions that adore her true,
What boggy dale, what marshy vale begat her ?
[| WORTH,
INTRINSIC WORTH it is, my liege, NOT
[ ACCIDENTAL BIRTH.,
THE CURSE 23
That gauges human’s use for MOTHER
EARTH !
The brahmin birth of these adversaries
Of mine, will no more guide their shafts
Aright, than mine will turn awry by reason of
My sootha-birth !
[ At Karna’s mention of ‘‘Sootha Birth’’, a
shudder runs through the stadium
‘*What he, a sootha? No, not he! ”’
“‘Nay, nay ! He looks a twice-born every inch !”’
‘*T tell thee, ’tis some trick torob us of a fight !”’
The garrulous hag screams out
“‘Born once or twice or over and over again
As man or beast, as pig or fish—as Great
God Vishnu did of yore, that stranger-child
Is right: ’tis worth that counts, not idle boast
Of blood or birth!’?]

A Herald: Hush! Hush thy shrieks, old hag! If thou

| [wouldst save
Thy worthless life, do hold thy tongue in curb!
Thy silver hair hath stay’d my lancer hands
Too long!

The Hag (Laughing sardonically)

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! That’s right! That’s right!
Why, there is twice-born bravery for you!
Come on!: Set all thy twice-born lancers bold
The noble task of slaying soodra-hag !
Thy fright at sound of woman’s tongue goes
[well
With fright of all these royal folk at sight
And sound of yonder fearless stranger youth!
24 KARNA

Twice-born blood, forsooth! You make me

(laugh!
(The multitude yell with delight at the old
woman’s home-thrusts; silence is restored after
much trouble and effort by the stadium attendants)

Kripa ’Tis custom’ry, young sir, in the annals of

The Royal House of King Kuru— begat
Of Moon Himself—that princely scions of
This House forbear to ’ngage at fray, any man
Who’s not of Kingly lineage or state!
And hence...
And hence, Prince Paartha will not condescend
Ws Sheer:
(At this the Crown Prince, in two graceful
leaps joins Karna. In a sudden impulse of
affection draws Karna to himself and speaks
to him softly)

Suyodhana Thy lowly birth, my brother, it will prove

No robber of thy noble worth, not while
I’m Crowned Prince of Kuruland!
(Throws out his arms ; addresses the multitude
in a leonine voice that booms from end to end
of the stadium )
List, O List to me, good people of our Hastina !:
IF SLIMY BLOB OF PEAT BEGET A
[KRIPAACHAARYA, AND
IF SLIME-BEGOTT’N POT BRING FORTH
[A DRONAACHAARYA,
MAY WE NOT MAKE A KING OF
[FOREMOST PUPIL OF
THE CURSE 25

DREAD RAAMA—WIELDER OF THE

[PARASU?
(Addresses a particular section of the crowd)
Ye people of fair Angaland.....with your own
[king
But lately demised....leaving no heirs behind....
Think now, on whom your choice may better
[fall
To rule ye all in wisdom....guard ye all
With might of doughty arm.....than this, my
[new
Found friend and brother? Say your will
[at once!
[ The whole amphitheatre stands up as one
man and shouts: |
HAIL to THE NEW KING OF ANGALAND!
LONG LIVE THE NEW KING OF
[ ANGALAND! }
Suyodhana ’Tis well!
(Addresses Kripachaarya)
Revered Gurujee!, I have learnt at
Your feet: a man, he may be counted ‘King’
By springing off the loins of a King,
A kingship gifted, or a kingdom won by arms
Or being chosen King by People’s Will!
And now, all Angaland is his by willing choice
Of Angaland! And this!, for th’nonce, his
{crown
(Receiving his own crown places it on Karna’s
head)
And these, a modicum of his regalia !
(Transfers his gem-bedecked necklaces to
Karna’s neck)
26 . KARNA

Maadra!, My Mace!.... His Mace!

Aswatthaama ! My sword !......... His khadga!
(suits action to word and places mace and
sword in Karna’s hands)
And now, beloved Gurujee, my well
Beloved brother Arjuna may face
The King of Angaland sans peril of
Besmirching holy annals of The House
Of Royal Kuru ’gat of Moon Himself !
(A riotous pandemonium reigns the stadium
at the dramatic turn the events have taken
and the attendants look on helplessly while
the wild tumult rages)

Bheeshma (7o Drona)

Aachaarya, come apart! (Drona approaches)
Meseems that Femine Fate, as e’er Her wont,
Has thought it fit to vent her freakish
[humour on
Our plans, as you did fear, this brill’ant youth
Looks bold enough to use our Arjuna as foil;
And may perhaps place Paartha’s fame in
jeopardy !
And hence, in wisdom and in truth, you may
[announce
To all assembled here that yonder Sun
Uninterested in this tournament
Will hardly linger to lend us the light
To judge this fray! Mayhap some other near
And future day.....this test.....?

Drona (Smiling) I understand, Gaangeya!

(Drona walks up to the middle of the arena;
THE CURSE 27
The crowd watches him ir tense, expectant
[silence ;
In crisp, dispassionate notes, Drona
[addresses the multitude)
Encounters betwixt brilliant contestants
For sole supremacy of bowmanship
In all this world may not be decided
By simple feats as piercing leaves of trees
Or snapping twigs off shrubbs! The Science
{and Art
Of Archery are governed by laws
And canons which may not be observed
Within the few, few ghatikas left us
Of fading light! GOD’S WILL assur’d, some
[day .
Some near and future day....a whole, whole day
Of strictest tests of Archery, will feast
The eyes of all the worthy citizens
Of Hastina !
(Drona turns and dignifiedly retires and with
Kripa at his side, departs the scene.
The disappointed crowd hisses its dis-ap-
proval.
[Quite a measure of “* Horse Play’’ is in-
dulged in by the crowd, and the cry: ‘ Clear
the stadium, all! This day’s tourney is
over” draws disgruntled remarks from the
departing multitude:
“I told you so! Jt was a trick to rob us
of the sight of another fight !””
‘““ No, no you ass! Drona was right! A whole,
28 KARNA

whole day of tests and not a simple trick

or two! ”
‘“ Which ever way you look at it, there is no
fair-play here!”’
‘*Oh! Hush your brays, trot out of here and
find your stalls! There is no more to see!’ ’]
(The crowd clears out of the stadium. The
attendants, after hustling out the stragglers,
themselves depart.
Most of the Royal Folk, now all on their
feet. have turned their backs on the arena.
The Dhaartaraashtra Princes have all lef}
their shamiaana and departed the scene.
The Paandu Princes still in the shamiaana are
on their feet, preparing to depart.
GAANDHAARA RUSHES TO THE SIDE
OF KARNA WHO IS STILL STANDING
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARENA)

Gaandhaara (in a silky, bland voice)

Hail to the new monarch of Angaland!
A while ago, a nameless, aimless waif!,
Purblind to thine own worth! And in atrice,
Our Crowned Prince doth guage thy true
[ mettle
And makes thee ruler of the fairest land
In all our Aaryavarta ! Verily
You’re well beloved of the Gods above!
Do not forget,: this honour, pow’r and pelf
You win but through the bounty of our Prince
THE CURSE 29

To whom, I’m sure, you will not grudge to do

Some small service.....to show thy gratitude! ?

Karna In sooth, I'll not!

Gaandhaara Well then, look! Yonder

Stands our Prince’s foe! And yours too!
(Points out Paartha who is standing in the
Paandu-Shamiaana, with his brothers)
Now, fix an arrow to thy bow, and train
It on Paartha! Challenge him to combat!
You owe this to the prince that made thee king!
(With the daze of sudden elevation to kingship
yet overpowering him, ill at ease with the
heavy crown and the unaccustomed jewels and
gaudy raiments, Karna feels almost as if
he were in a trance and the last half-hour’s
happenings seem a dream:
In this condition of semi-dazed mind and
sight, Gahandaara’s soft and persuasive voice
almost hypnotises him into a sort of convic-
tion that hesitation in obeying Gaandhaara
would spell ingratitude to the Noble Prince
that had befriended him!
Hence, he mechanically fixes a shaft to his
bow and half-heartedly trains it on Paartha.
At sight of this, Bheemasena suddenly
snatching the bow and a shaft off his brother’s
Shoulder, jumps into the arena with a
yell, and roaring like a mad bull, plants
himself before Karna, and clumsily trains
bow and shaft on him)
30 KARNA

Bheema None other weapon but the mace it is

I’ve handl’d all my life! The mace it is
Will win me name and fame past all eternity !
And yet, a bow and arrow in my hands
Seem not so ludicrous as in thy sootha’s
[hands!
Made but to hold a horse’s reigns and whip! !
And now, thou low-born spawn of sootha
blood, vanquish at first a mace-adept with bow
And shaft, jere you dare aim your arrow at
My loved brother Arjuna !
(Karna, blazing with anger at Bheema’s
scurrilous tongue, is on the point of releasing
his shaft at Bheema’s heart when, the very
moment the words: ‘* Sootha’’, ‘‘ Low-horn”’
fall on his ears, his arms as though struck
with palsy drop limply)

Gaandhaara (not suspecting Karna’s plight)

Shoot him, Anga! Slay that foul-mouth’d brute
Forthwith! All Hastina knows Bheema is
The biggest booby.....bow-in-hand! Bereft
Of mace, Bheema is naught but meat for mice!
Destroy him now! You’ll never get a chance
To end his gourmand’s life as easily !
(With all this, Anga’s arms refuse to move;
with head hanging down he stands as if ina
trance)

Bheema (with a coarse leer on his lips and laughing

[jeeringly)
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! I knew it all the time!
THE CURSE 31

Low-born sootha blood was ever low-born

[sootha blood
Making him king of million Angalands
Will never, never change his sootha bloodj
Peerless archery forsooth! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
(With another coarse guffaw he joins his
brothers who all depart the scene)
Gaandhaara (Puzzled beyond measure at Anga’s inanity)
Come, come Anga! What made thee hold
[thy hand
From slaying yonder human hog? You lost
The very surest chance of ending life
Of our Crowned Prince’s direst foe!?
Anga (with eyes welling with tears of anger and
impotent agony)
It is a curse, my lord of Gaandhaara,
That robb’d mine arms and trunk of strength
[and life:
A mighty brahmin’s potent curse that rules:
Whensoe’er my lowly birth is flung at me,
And made to cross my mind, my brain
[refuses thought !
My heart refuses beat ! Mine arms remaininert !
Pray pity me, my lord, a helpless, hapless
[victim of
A BRAHMIN’S CURSE!
(Collapses into Gaandhaara’s arms. Gaan-
dhaara gathers him in his arms and _ half
carries him out, muttering tearfully)
POOR ANGA! POOR POOR HONEST ANGA!
The Curtain Drops Slowly !
——jfo—__.
ACT Ill SCENE I

Place: An open quadrangle in the palace

of the King of Paanchiala

(The high-placed throne on which is seated

the Paanchaala Princess with a maid of
honour standing on either side, provides a
fitting background to the splendent pavilion
teeming with gorgeously arrayed royal aspi-
rants for the hand of the Princess. The
open roof bears a pisciform target, the mid-
day Sun casting its shadow on the floor.
A number of rigid bars of steel are placed
in a row—for the contestants to first bend
to shape of bow, then string and fix a
shaft to, before addressing the target above
WHILE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT BUT
THE SHADOW CAST UPON THE FLOOR.
A number of brahmins are seated on a
separate dais)

Draupada O Kings and Princes all assembled here

To try and win my royal sister’s hand,
The failure of a few must surely not
Dishearten all the rest! The bringing down
Of yonder target whilst one looks but at
Its shadow on the floor, albeit no task
For novices, I'll not believe there’s none
Can execute the feat amid this vast
THE CURSE 33

And brilliant concourse of the doughtiest

Expounders of bowcraft! May I invite
The valiant Emperor Suyodhana
Or any of his vassal kings to try
Their hand at bringing down of yonder fish?

Gaandhaara (Who, with Anga, Aswattha and Maadra is

immediately behind the King of Kuruland)
’Twould seem, my liege, the very honour of
The Royal Kuru House is plac’d in jeopardy
With but a dark-faced girl held out as prize!
Were this a test at throwing dice, she’d now
Be on her way to Gaandhaara! With bow
And shaft as tools of test, methinks she’d make
A charming queen for Angaland!

The King (Smiling)

Why, uncle mine, I do believe you’re right!
Like you the maid, Anga ?
Anga (laughs outright)
{do not know, my liege! [ cannot tell!
| never was a one to notice womanrkind !—
My loved mother ’xcepted !—And this test,
It is but feeble challenge to a pupil of
My tutor Raama! And HE saw no woman but
His Mother! And I’VE thought of none but
[mine!
Gaandhaara (Querulously)
You’re lost in your own self, Anga! List close:
The maid is not the issue now! ’Tis very name
Of Royal Kuru House at stake! Arise and bend
Yon bar of steel; string it: fix a shaft ;
34 KARNA

Floor yon fish and save thy sovereign

The chagrin of finding his following
Unequal to a simple feat of archery!
(With an indifferent shrug of his shoulders,
Anga rises ;
Walks up to the row of bars of stee! and picks
one up at random ;
Setting one end of the bar on the floor presses
the other end almost effortlessly with his palm
and bends it to shape ofa bow;
Stringing the now bent bar, he fixes an arrow
and drops to his knees on the floor.
With eye rivetted on ihe shadow on the floor, he
aims his shaft ahigh at the target hanging over
his head)
[THIS WHILE, CONVERSATIONS TAKE
PLACE BETWEEN:
(i) TWO BRAHMINS SEATED ON THE
SEPARATE DAIS; AND AMONGST :
(ii) THE PRINCESS AND HER MAIDS OF
HONOUR AT THE THRONE :
(7) ON THE DAIS:
A Dark wiry brahmin to his huge neighbour:
Look! Booby brother, look! ’Twas naught
But our dear mother’s prayers must have saved
Thee from most certain death at Anga’s hands
On day of pariksha! Look, Look! What
[strength
Of arm and palm bends rod of steel to shape
Of bow as it were but a cane! What poise!
What grace! If I know aught of archery,
I vow ere e’en that shaft departs that bow,
THE CURSE 35
That dark-faced girl’s his spouse ! Come, come!
Let us away: This day’s SWAYAMVARA is 0’er!
(ii) AT THE THRONE!
First Maid (To the Princess)
My hereto anxious heart doth now beat
[peacefully
For I rejoice to see....the warrior that will take
Your Highness from our care, he is as firm of
Arm as fair of form!
Paanchaalee (Haughtily)
Arm and form apart, what blood
Is he? What Royal House ?
Second Maid King, he is, Your Highness, of
Fair Angaland, but not of kingly blood! I have
[heard
Tell that the Emperor Suyodhana, in love for
[him,
Did crown him king, despite his sootha-birth !
(Shocked beyond control at these tidings, ina
sudden frenzy of overpowering pride and hurt
vanity, the Princess Paanchaal-e vents her
indignation in a shrill voice reaching the fur-
thermost corner of the vast Pavilion)
Paanchaalee WHAT INSULT THIS, YE GODS
[ABOVE! WITH ME
A DAUGHTER OF A KING, A SOOTHA’S
[SON
MY SPOUSE'...THE GODS FORBID!
(Paanchaalee’s outburst synchronises with the
very moment that Anga is about to release his
shaft.
36 KARNA

He suddenly finds himself fighting for his

breath; his limbs hang limply—bow and arrow
slipping off his hands....;
The whole Pavilion gasps aghast at Anga as he,
with superhuman effort, rises to his feet, and
with head hanging down in shame precipitately
departs the scene)

The Curtain Drops Suddenly!

ACT Ill SCENE II

Place: A Corridor in the Paanchaala Palace

Discovered: The fleeing anga halted by the king of

Kuruland and the trio waiting on him

The King (In a stentorian roar of admonition)

Desist from flight, Anga, and hear my heart,—
Ere you depart in craven’s fashion after sore
Betrayal of thy king and friend !
(Anga turns and faces The King:
The King approaches Anga and speaks ina
voice, a mixture of pathos and ire)
Anga! I’ve never in all my life begg’d aught
Of any man! And yet I beg of you
The knowledge of the wherefore ofthe fit
Of madness that did seize thee and made thee
Drop thy bow and shaft, and flee the scene
Like craven-hearted churl...Jeaving thy king
And loving friends behind, to face in shame
The triumph of these puny, pigmy worms !
Come come, Anga! What possess’d thee to
[turn
A coward at the very moment thine
Arrow waited its release ?

Anga (In abject agony)

Forgive me Sire, but ’twas that woman !
[Her Voice!
Her haughty words deriding me, my blood,
My birth! You know it not, my liege! T am
38 KARNA

Accurs’d! The curse that numb’d my limbs to

[day,
It is my Guru Raama’s potent curse !
It rules that whensoe’er my lowly birth
Is made to cross my mind, my limbs, my mind,
My heart, they all are paralys’d! And I
Am stricken dead to sense of shame, of love,
Of honour, loyalty! Without a peer
In use of ev’ry weapon of war, I’m yet
A victim of Dread Jaamadagni’s Curse !
Forgive me, Sire, and in thy gen’rous heart
Find room for pity for a friendless waif,
A helpless victim of A BRAHMIN’S CURSE !
(Anga collapses forward ;
The king catches him from falling and
gathering him up in his arms, carries him
out—muttering *neath his breath)

The King POOR ANGA! OUR POOR GREAT ANGA !

The Curtain Drops Slowly !

ACT IV SCENE I
Place: The throne room in the Kuru Palace.

Discovered: The king sitting in full council ;

disposition of the personae in this scene :

In The The King is on the Throne.

Background: The Royal Patriarch Bheeshma, with Dhrita-
raashtra and Vidura on either side, is sitting
to the RIGHT of The King, immediatley behind
the Throne.
In The Gaandhaara, Aswatthaama and Maadra are
Mid-Ground. seated a foot below the throne to the LEFT
of it. On the RIGHT, a foot lower down. are
seated the five Paandu Cousins of the King.
On the RIGHT again, ona separate dais, are
seated the preceptors, Aachaaryas Drona and
Kripa. Much lower down, to the LEFT of the
Throne, the hundred and more brothers of the
King are in seats extending quite up to the
foreground. The Courtiers and other Royal
myrmidons are disposed at the back of the
Dhaartaraashtra Princes.

In The The Princess Paanchaalee, unadorned and with

Foreground : her midnight cascade of woman’s crowning
glory streaming down her back to her very
knees, is standing on the RIGHT of the fore-
ground. The Crown Prince Dussaasana is
standing a step behind the Princess.
The King of Angaland is seated at the extreme
end of the LEFT of the foreground.
40 KARNA

A CLEAR PASSAGE OBTAINS FROM THE

THRONE RIGHT UP TO ‘THE FORE-
GROUND, AND PARTS THE ASSEMBLY.
The rising Curtain discovers Gaandhaara on
his feet addressing the Throne.

Gaandhaara (in deferential yet firm notes)

*Twas well Your Majesty,’twas well!
High-born Princess though she be, it is
But fair, that she doth reap the reward of
Her haughty impudence! In just requite
Of her derisive laughter at The King
Of Kuruland—at Raajasuya Rite
Of Prince Yudhishthira—the world should
At her in turn! [ laugh
Her lords, self-vaunted super-battlers of
This Earth, forfeited all their rights o’er her
In throwing her as food to gamble-greed
Of him their eldest—whom the Patriarch
Speaks of as ‘‘ DHARMA INCARNATE”!
It is but just, my liege, that she be made
To serve as warning to all Kuruland
That Royal Lions of Lunar Race will brook
No insult from a CHIT THROWN OUT AS
[ PRIZE
TO FIRST-COME JUGGLER WITH A
[BOW AND BOLTS,
WHO AGAIN — IN FASHION MOST
{ UNWONTED, MOST
UNMANLY AND UNHOLY — SHARES
[ HIS SPOUSE
WITH OTHER MEN!
THE CURSE 41

Strength of JAW, it is, my liege, doth mark

All kings, be they the kings of men or beasts!
It is but braying donkev ’sguised in lion’s hide
— insulted and derided — puts out, not
Its gnashing, crunching jaw and teeth, but ears,
Its ugly, long, long ears....to glean and garner all
The senile quibblings, tritest platitudes,
Inane discourses which, slime like, ooze
Out of the mouths of dotards that do burden
[this earth
Beyond the days of their own right to live!
I warn Your Majesty, in solemn tone
To guard Your Royal Will ’gainst turning limp
And lifeless at the feeble protests of
Your counsellors—the wisdom of whose
[counsel lies
Not in the sense and logic of their words,
But in the silver hue of brow and beard,
Of lock and whisker !
(Gaandhaara resumes his seat: Prince Vidura
suddenly springs to his feet and addresses
The King)
Vidura (in appealing notes)
My child, my loved child Suyodhana !
Forget thy bounden duty as a king:
Of saving helpless humans from distress :
Forget respect for parents, elder-folk :
But poor misguided fool !, do not forget
Thy MANLINESS !
The scions of the Royal Kuru House
Begat of Moon Himself, if ever they
Did err, they err’d on side of CHIVALRY !
42 KARNA

Lose all, Suyodhana! Lose Kingdom, Throne ;

Lose pow’r and pelf; Lose parents, kith and
[kin;
And count thy loss as naught! But do convok®
The few but precious crumbs of MANLINESS
Thy parasitic sycophants have left
In thee! In assembly of men e’en mention of
A woman’s name is counted gross unmanliness !
Yet you, drunk-blind of newly ’gotten pow’r
Hast dragg’d thy Royal Sister into this
Concourse of men! No sinner ever work’d
His way to hell with surer certainty
Than thou, the dastard scion of a godly House
Of Gedlike men!
( Collapses into his seat)
Dh =tt4- (In straggling notes of senile inanity)
raashtra But Royal Brother, Vidura! Admonishing
Our Royal Child is hardly counselling!
Ive heard it told by elders that a King—
Anointed of the ‘‘ Gods on Earth’”’, the
{ Brahmanas,—
Can do no wrong! And even if perchance
Some wrong accrue of King’s decree, it is
But Brahmin Counsellor doth brunt the sin!
I pray our Royal Father will as e’er his wont,
Give us his sense, and clarify the happenings
That Have confounded us this day!
(Dignified of mien, impassive of face, dispass-
sionate of voice, The Royal Patriarch speaks)
Bheeshma Suyodhana, my child! It is but churls
Of lowly blood that think, that Death it is
That endeth man! I mind, most clearly,
THE CURSE 43

My Sainted Father, Royal Santanu

Aver that life of man may thrive beyond
His death and may not end with shedding of
This fleshy slough, but endeth only when
His name’s forgot of goodly men! Good name,
Suyodhana, good name it is.that good
Men labour for! My child, I may not love
Thee not a spark less than thy brother, be
They ’gat of Paandu or thy sightless sire
That sits here by my side!
Crown and kingship, pow’r and pelf are
{ deadly lures
Of FATE, to test a human’s
[HUMANENESS! And FATE
Who rules e’en superhuman gods above, hath
{ plac’d
These lures within thy grip! And now, ’tis
[ thine
And thine alone, my child, to reck’n ’counts
With FATE!
(All through these speeches, the King's face is
impassive: the foregoing speech of Bheeshma,
only makes the King tighten his jaws a shade
harder.
The tense silence that follows the dignified
appeal of the Patriarch is broken by a
disturbance amid the — Dhaartaraashtra
Princes—seated to the LEFT of the Throne
in the mid-ground—
YUYUTSU, the youngest of the Royal Brothers,
seated in the hindmost row amidst his brothers,
is seen on his feet struggling with over a
44 KARNA

hundred pairs of arms that are pushing him

back and down)
Yuyutsu (in a frenzied shriek pitched high)
Let me be!, you brutes! I will not be
Held back! Ill say my say e’ea if you tear
Me limb from limb! Ye ingrate craven beasts !
Ye call yourselves the brothers of the King,
Yet unconcerned watch him wend his way
To damnation, with not a word from you
Of protest! Ye pretending ingrate beasts,
Let me be!
(The King vents his hitherto pent up feelings ir
a deafening roar)

The King Silence Hol Unhand the Prince and suff’r

Him audience !....Come hither, Yuyutsu !
Fling all thy fears side! There’s none here
[shall
Gainsay right of speech to thee....or any one
In this Assembly! But....I do beseech thee,
[spare
Mesermons goody-goody sermons that
Mine ears have to very cloyment fed !
(The Prince walks up the passage and reaches
the Throne ;
The King gathers him up, in the manner of a
mother bear her cub, and seats him by his own
side on the Throne)

The King (in soft, crooning, yet far-reaching notes)

What ails thee now, young Yuyutsu, that you-
Who ever trusted me in mine own strength
THE CURSE 45

Of heart and mind—should feel like guiding me

By thine own counselling!

Yuyutsu (in appealing tone)

Forgive me, Royal Brother Mine! It was
No foolish self-esteem nor vanity
Of over-wiseness goaded me to break
The dignity of this, thy Royal Court!
It was that thought that Taataajee threw out,
‘‘ That life of man’s spann’d by but the period
His name’s remembered of all goodly men !”
[And now
With all the land adoring thee for lion’s heart
And lion’s might . ....

The King (annoyed and interrupting)

If there’s aught I do detest far more
Than sermons.....it is bare-fac’d flattery !
Forgive my fretful mood, Yuyutsu, but
Do ask your will at once! The King doth
[grant
It whatsoe’er it be!

Yuyutsu I only pray that you do loyally

Follow Taataajee’s wise advice !
(At this, the King guffaws boisterously)
The King Ha! Ha! ‘‘Taataajee’s wise advice’’ forsooth!
You, Yuyutsu, learned, wise and yet,
As innocent as new-born babe! Didst thou
Not mark our Taataajee’s astuteness! He
Did speak in grimly dignity, as e’r
His wont, but in his wisdom took good care
To give me no advice but left me free
46 KARNA

With all the lures of Fate within my grip,

To render my accounts to HER by test
Of my humaneness !
(The King suddenly changes his tone to one of
respectful calm and dignity)
I mean no want of love or reverence to
The Royal Patriarch! :
CRYSTAL CLEAR IN EVERY THOUGHT
[AND WORD AND DEED,
IMMACULATE IN EV’RY ACTION OF HIS
(LIFE,
LIKE HIS OWN MOTHER THE DIVINE
[GANGA!;
YET ICY COLD IN MIEN, IMPREGNABLE
[TO FOE,
INEXORABLE TO FRIEND, KIN, LIKE HIS
GRANDSIRE TH’ ETERNAL SNOW CLAD
[HIMAVAT ;
HIS WOMAN’S HEART THAT WAS, IT IS
[NO MORE!:
[T DIED WITH DEATH OF SIRE, THE
SAINTED SANTANU !
IT IS BUT RIGID VOWS AND ANCIENT
[PROMISES
THAT BIND OUR TAATAAJEE TO US AND
[TO THIS EARTH!
THE FRIGID PURPOSE IN THIS LIFE
[THAT BINDETH HIM
TO THIS OUR WORLD, DENYETH HIM
[THE WARMER BONDS
OF LOVE AND FRIENDLINESS TO
[FELLOW-MEN!:
THE CURSE 47

SUCH STRONG YET TENDER SILKEN

[CORDS OF HEART OF MAN,
SUCH CORDS OF LOVE THAT BIND A
[HUMAN MAN
TO SPOUSE, TO FRIEND, TO KITH AND
[KIN :THEY DO
NOT BIND OUR TAATAAJEE AND HIS
[GREAT KURU HOUSE
TO US!
Yuyutsu (in surprise)
“HIS GREAT KURU HOUSE’? ? But we too
[are
Of Royal Kuru House ?!
The King (Guffawing again)
Ha! Ha!! Our Royal Kuru Lineage, forsooth !
What ever House we are descended of, in
[sooth,
’Tis NOT the “ROYAL HOUSE of KING
DESCENDED OF THE MOON HIMSELF”!
[Have you
Not known th’ ARYAN line of Kuru House
Did cease to be, the moment Taataajee
Did win his famous sobriquet : ‘‘Bheeshma’’!:
“The Dreadful One’? !? A godly prince was he
With all the land adoring him and hung’ring for
The day he would ascend the throne of his
[forebears !
But he, he did paralyse all Bharata
By dreadful vow of Brahmacharya in
His love and loyalty to his aged sire
King Santanu, to help him win a bride
Of lowly soodra caste!
48 KARNA

Yuyutsu Our great-grandsire King Santanu’s Consort,

Our great grand-dame the Queen Satyavatee,
What then of her?

The King (Guffawing loudly)

The royal grand-dame Queen Satyavatee
That we all vaunt and flaunt, was none
Else but the low-born maid that I spake of :
A winsome fisher-wench was she that smit
The aged Santanu with love! And her
Own sons, when they both died leaving no
[heirs
Behind, it was the end of th’ MIXED line
Of Royal Kuru’s race! Thus, Yuyutsu:
OUR TAATAAJEE’S THE ONLY REAL
[SCION OF
THE ROYAL KURU HOUSE BEGAT OF
[MOON HIMSELF !
Not you! Not me! Not any one of us!
And thus, if e’er my brothers taunt thee with
Thy low-born dame, remember to remind
Them of our own grand-dame who was by birth
Far lower than thy mother who was Maid
Of Honour to her Queen!
(In a tone of summing up !)
Thus, Yuyutsu, WITH TAATAJEE HIMSELF
ENSLAVED BY BONDS OF ANCIENT
[PROMISES
AND VOWS; WITH MINE OWN FATHER
[WHO, DESPITE
HiS BLINDNESS, OPES HIS EYES TO MY
[FEW VIRTUES, BUT
THE CURSE 49

1S DOUBLY BLIND TO ALL MY TEEMING

[FRAILTIES: WITH
MINE UNCLE ROYAL VIDURA, DELUGED
AND DROWNED IN VAIN DELUSION OF
[DESCENT
FROM MOON HIMSELF; I KNOW OF
[ NONE IN ALL
THIS VAST ASSEMBLY, I MAY TRUST TO
[ COUNSEL ME
ARIHT! My royal mother loves me dearly, and
Her loving brother may will me no ill!
Mine Uncle Gaandhaara reminds me of
A MONARCH’S IRON JAW! IF FATE
{ HATH PLAC’D
MY CROWN AND KINGSHIPIN MY GRIP
i:TO- TEST
MY HUMANENESS, MY HUMANENESS
{SHALL BE
TO LOVE AND CHERISH THEM THAT
{ LOVE AND CHERISH ME!
Now, Yuyutsu, do let me play the King
The best I can!
(The King gently lowers Prince Yuyutsu who,
walking down the passage, seats himself in an
empty seat next to the king of Angaland.
After along pause, The King speaks in dry
hard notes)
AS FOR OUR ROYAL COUSINS AND
[ THEIR SPOUSE,
HENCEFORTH OUR ENTIRE PROPERTY,
{ WE WOULD
50 KARNA

FURTHER PERPEND UPON THEIR

[ FUTURE LIFE !
THIS WHILE, THE CROWNED PRINCE
[ DUSSAASANA,
HE SHALL DISPOSE THE PRINCESS
[ PAANCHAALEE
IN TH’ROYAL ‘PARTMENTS, BUT AMID
[ THE CHAMBERMAIDS!
(The very moment the Crown Prince, steps for-
ward towards the Princess, the king of Anga-
land springs to his feet dramatically, and
addresses Dussaasana in a threatening voice
hissed between the teeth)
Anga DESIST ! MOVE BUT A STEP AND YOU
[DIE!
(Startled, the Crown Prince steps back)
The King (equally taken aback)
ANGA! YOU!! PLAY ACTING? AND
[NOW!!!
Anga addresses the Throne; His voice and
manner are an odd mixture of naivety and
superciliousness without loss of dignity or
deference)
Anga Forgive your servant, Sire! But this,
My loutish interruption of the brisk
Obedience of Your Majesty’s commands
Was not ungrounded of good reason! And,
As for the threat’ning manner I assum’d
For to beseech the Prince to stay his hand
The while I spoke my heart and mind to thee,
My liege, THAT doth but prove how boorish-
[ness,
THE CURSE 51

Which Nature doth engender in all men,

Of lowly birth, survives e’en after years
And years of closest intimacy with
Kings and princes, priests and peers!
(The King wears a pained smile and addresses
Anga)
The King Anga, I pray you, do desist from this
Dissembled clownishness! Why, all of us
Assembled here do know, ’ts YOU have been
To us the very ideal to con
For knowledge of the subtleties of grace
Of speech and mien and manner whilst at
° {Court
Or home, at chess or battlefield ! Mefears,
Anga, this ill-tim’d ill-assumed want
Of very elegance WE LEARNT OF THEE
Pre-ambles yet another sermon to
Condemn my want of. wisdom? . . manliness?
Or chivalry ?......... or which is it? Anga,
I pray you say your say at once!
(Anga smiles and laughingly replies in an airy
drawn out drawl)

Anga My well beloved liege, it was my snug

Ensconcement in my sovereign’s heart did lend
Me courage to intrude atween my King’s
Command and its obedience! ’Tis not
For me, my liege, to venture to condemn
My King’s commands! The Royal Patriarch
Hath ruled that none but Fate Herself may dare
Condemn thy wishes and commands! Nor is
It for thy servant, Sire, to dare commend
52 KARNA

Or to condone his King’s behests! My Lord

Of Gaandhaara—henceforth the keeper of
The Conscience of the King of Kuruland—
‘Tis he that hath commended thy command!
This trusted callid mentor of his King,
He hath effected even greater service to
Your Majesty! I pray you, list, my liege !:
The dreaded doughty battler Bheeshma and
The valiant warrior Vidura—by worth
Of deeds recorded of their lives—have been
The makers, breakers of Kingdoms and Kings;
Preservers and destroyers of empires
And emperors ; and in their wisdom are
The sagest, sanest, safest counsellors
A monarch e’er may have! And yet, My Lord
Of Gaandhaara, with all his eeriest
Astuteness made this SPLENDANT TWAIN
[to seem
In thine own eyes as dotards that exude
Trite platitudes from oui of senile lips !
With noughi a lofty trait of Gaangeya,
No profound wisdom of Prince Vidura,
Nor astute statesmanship of a Gaandhaara,
] have but scant pretension ‘9 arise
In .his assembly! Nathless, I stand up,
In right of love for thee, for to relieve
The serious trend this evening’s happenings
Have ta’en, by talk and speech of harmless wit
And levity .. usurping for the nonce,
The role of Jester of thy brilliant Court !
The young Prince Yuyutsu, beside himself
With grief and indignation ai The King’s
THE CURSE 53

Unholy treatmen. of his cousins and

Their spouse, by his unsee:nly shrieks and loud
Protests, did but proclaim the feebleness
Of heart and mind that lowly blood or birth
Isheir to! YET, the moment that he was
Reminded by Your Majesty, of his
Near kinship to his King and Emperor,
He did regain the strength and dignity
To watch the strict obedience of your
Command with all the calmness of
A twice-born Kshatriya! ButI my liege,
Am lowly born in both my sire and dam!
E’en all the years I spent at feet of Great
Raama, the foremost brahmin of all time;
E’en all these years I speni amid
The noblest in this land have not endowed
Me with courage to look without concern
On sight of well-born woman put to gross
Indignity !
Having no JAHNAVEE for mother, and
No snow clad HIMAVAT for my grandsire,
1 may not emulate The Pairiarch
Who witnesses wiih icy calm the Throne
Room of his fa-her Royal San.anu
Turn’d in.o a venue wherein io feasi
The ghoulish eyes of men of boasted blood
And kingly lineage, wich sighi unholy of
A Royal Princess dragg’d in here by bruie
Whcese ac: belies his sex and noble blood !
Nor am I, Sire, of Brahmin lineage
Like these Achaaryas Drona and Kripa
Who both, with scantiest compunction of
54 KARNA

Their conscience, use the sirength and bounty of

The Kshatriyas for but to vent and venge
Their private hates and malices, and eke,
To glut iheir greed for yellow yellow gold!:
And these appeased, the ill or welfare of
The Royal House, that welcom’d them, that
[housed
And fed them, gave them of its best, is of
But no concern to these ‘“‘GOD MEN” on
[Earth! :
EARTHLY in their greed for yellow gold,
AND UNEARTHLY in callous heart and
{callid mind !
Nor may I boast, my liege, descent from Gods
Or heav’nly Orbs....to brook this dire
Abomination with a god’s indifference
To human suffering! Iam no scion of
Mahendra, Vaayu or the Aswinees or Yama, like
The Paandu Princes who, dispite divine
Descent, do condescend to yield to greed
Of gambling, and, in :heir defeat and loss,
Do suddenly remember their own godly birth
Which doth forbid them stoop to harbour such
Infirmities of humans as ihe qualities
Of manliness and chivalry that do enjoin
Upon a manly man, the duty of
Protecting helpless maid that left her
[parents care
To trust her life and honour in the hands
Of God-begotten Princes who, with arms
Of proven worth and valour numbed through
[shame
THE CURSE 55

Of loss at gambling, watch in helpless plight.

Their Royal Spouse put to the grossest ignomy
A woman may endure! My Lord of Gaandhaara
Did mind Your Majesty, of how The Patriarch
Is ever wont to speak of th’ eldest Paandava
As ‘* DHARMA INCARNATE ’”’! I feel no
[ doubt
That Prince Yudhishthira can cite authority
Of Dharma, Veda, Saastra, Tatva, for to prove
That WIFE and BROTHERS of a man are his
Own GOODS and CHATTEL e’en to stake
[them all
At dice! I’ll spare you sermons, Sire! But
[ here’s
A TALE all sad and full of truth:
A royal winsome maid there was, once on
A time not very very long ago;
The Royal House that gave her life, famed far
And wide for might of arm, espous’d this
[ maiden to
The greatest battler of his time—a doughty king
That wrested diadem of emp’rordom
Of entire Bharata, for Royal Kuru House.
And he in faith of sacred TYAAGA RITE
Relinquish’d right to Crown and Emp’rordom
In favour of his sightless elder brother and
His aged sire, and went his way to tread the
[ wilds
In search of PEACE ETERNAL! Now.....this
[ royal maid.....
His queen....eschew’d the luxuries of courtly life
To share the dire vicissitudes of forests with
Her lord and elder co-wife! But.....Alack!:
Fell Fate did haunt her steps.....and.....came
56 KARNA

A hapless day that saw her widow’d of

Her royal mate! Anon... descending half
[ ascended pyre
That bore her husband’s corpse, she threw
A longing ling’ring look on he twin-born babes
She left behind !, and spoke to DHARMA-
RAJA!:
“MY SON, YUDHISHTHIRA”’ said she,
[°’YOU’RE DHARMA
INCARNATE! TRUTHFUL, WISE AND
[ DUTIFUL WITHAL!
NOW LIST MY CHILD: MY SPOUSE’S
[ HEART IS ON
THAT PYRE WITH MY DEMISED LORD;
[ MY MOTHER’S HEART,
*TWOULD LAG BEHIND TO TEND MY
[ORPHAN’D BABES!
BUT THIS. MY WIFELY DHARMA DOTH
[ FORBID!
YUDHISHTHIRA, my son, MY HEART
{|WILL BURN IN PEACE
IN YONDER PYRE IF THOU WILT GIVE
[ME SWORN WORD
THAT YOU WILL MOTHER THESE, THE
[ TWIN-BORN FLOWERS OF
MY HEART!” And, Sire, this ‘‘ Dharma
[ Incarnate ”’
Did bow his head in sworn assent!
(To Maaara)
KNOW YOU THIS MAID, MY LORD OF
{MAADRA LAND?
Maadra (whom this tale has reduced to sobbing)
YE GODS! WHY, ANGA, ’TWAS MY OWN,
[MY VERY SISTER...
THE CURSE 57
Anga_ (interrupting)
Hush, hush, my lord, it is a sontha holds
The ear of this Sabhaa !
(Resuming his address to the Throne)
And now, my liege, if | make bold to ask
This ‘‘Dharma Incarnate”’ what Dharma, Veda,
[ Sastra gave
Him right to gamble away che ’.win born
| flowers
Of Chaste Queen Maadree’s heari, mefears
[ he will
Retort: ‘‘ WE GOD-BORN ‘ DHARMA
[ INCARNATES’ are loathe
TO STOOP TO HOLD CONVERSE WITH
[ LOW-BORN HUMAN MEN!”
(Suddenly, Anga throws off the easy, airy man-
ner he has hitherto been assuming ; Standing
rigidly upright, he addresses the throne ina
voice which, outwardly calm, yet portends
latent, potent fury)
Anga O King of Kuruland! Now list! THIS HE
THAT NOW ADDRESSES THEE IS NOT
{ THE SOOTHA-KING
OF ANGALAND! NOR IS HE THY
[SERVANT OR THY FRIEND!
I SPEAK TO THEE AND ALL ASSEMBLED
[ HERE
AS PUPIL OF DREAD RAAMA WHO
[ EXACTS HIS FEB
FOR TUTORDOM IN DOUGHTY DEEDS
[ OF ARM AND NOT
58 KARNA

IN GIFTS OF YELLOW GOLD AS DOTH

{ APPEASE
ALL OTHER BRAHMIN PRECEPTORS!
[‘* Karna’’, he said
At end of my own pupildom, ‘* Come mace,
[ come sword,
Come bow and shaft; come axe, come lance
Come knuckles bare; You‘re master of them
[ all,
Second, not e’en to ‘hine own master Rama!
[ Now,
The fee for tuition I will exact from thee
Is THAT YOU USE THE KNOWLEDGE OF
{ THE USE OF ARMS.
YOU LEARNT OF ME FOR BUT THE
[ SOLE PURPOSE.
OF EXTIRPATING KSHATRIYAS WHO,
[ DRUNK OF POW’R.
AND PRIDE, DO USE THE STRENGTH
[THAT GOD GAVE THEM!
TO HARASS HELPLESS HUMANS’”-—I shall
{begini
The payment of my tutor’s fee...TO-NIGHT! |
Now, list ye all assembled here: There is a
[voice
Within me tells me that IF ANY MAN, IF
[FATE HERSELF
IN GUISE OF MAN, SO MUCH AS LAYS
[A FINGER ON
THAT HELPLESS DAUGHTER OF KING
[DRUPADA,
I SHALL INVOKE THE DEADLIEST
[ASTRA OF
THE CURSE 59

DREAD BHAARGAVA!: NO MORE, BUT

[BLADE OF GRAS.S..........
(His eyes sweep around and about and finally
alight upon a wilted flower on the floor—torn
off the tousled locks of Princess Paanchaalee!)
Why B’EN THIS FADED WILL
FLOW’R
[SERVE :
HELD IN MY HAND ..A FEW WORDS
[MUMBLED....THIS
ASSEMBLY OF YOU TWICE-BORN
[PIGMIES....AYE,
ALL HASTINA TOO WILL BURN DOWN
[LEAVING NOT
A CINDER TO REMIND THE WORLD
[THAT
KURU KINGDOM EVER WAS! LEST YOU
[BELIEVE ME NOT],
LEST YOU THINK THAT I BOAST, ..IN
[PROOF OF MY
DREAD POW’R. I’LL FIRST DESTROY
[THIS BRUTE THAT’D LAY
HIS HANDS ON HER! HIS FATE WILL
[WARN THE REST!
NOW WATCH THE PROWESS OF A PUPIL
OF
THE DREAD BHAARGAVA E’EN
[THOUGH HE BE,
A LOW-BORN SOOTHA!
(As he stoops to clutch the flower on the floor,
the moment the word ‘‘ SOOTHA”’ passes his
lips—a numbing pain traverses his spine, and
the arm he has extended droops limply :
Instantly realising with stark clearness the
import of this...)
60 KARNA

(With super-human effort of his will, Anga

conceals his plight from every one around and’
turning to the king resumes his talk but now
IN A FALLEN PLAINTIVE TONE)
But that, my liege, would be dire disloyalty !:
Rank, base ingratitude for all the bounties
[thou
Hast show’red on me—a low-born youth whom
[thou,
Befriended, rais’d to a king’s estate
And suited him to sit in equal worth
And honour amid the high-born men in this
Assembly! I stood up! Your Majesty,
To importune for permission to emulate
Your Majesty’s Queen Mother by obscuring to:
Mine eyes a sight they cannot brook to see!,.
(In a piteous appeal to Yuyutsu)
Young Yuyutsu, I pray you blind me with thy
[scarf
.

And earn my life-long gratitude!

Yuyutsu Anga....my scarf... it’s wet with... ?am
Ashamed to confess.... the while you spake
I could not help... but play..the woman !
Anga To shed some gouts of sacred sympathy
Is oft the mark of real manliness !
Thy wetted scarf will serve !
(Yuyutsu blindfolds Anga with his scarf and
Anga resumes his seat)
WITH A WEIRD GLOW IN HER
[BRILLIANT BLACK EYES,,
THE PRINCESS PAANCHAALEE GAZES
(HARD AT THE KING:
THE CURSE 61

OF ANGALAND FOR MOMENTS TOGETHER

[ ...4ND STARTS TO
SPEAK IN A METALLIC VOICE THAT
[RINGS FROM END TO
END OF THAT VAST ROOM)
Paan- What! YOU again! I[ had not thought that we
chaalee Meet again THIS side of Death!
(Bursts into a high-pitched guffaw)
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! How it makes me laugh;
The freaks of Femine Fate were ever thus :
The while these swine in garb of sages, priests
And kings! of brahmins, princes, nobles, aye,
Of brothers, fathers, parents too... did watch
A woman visited with the grossest ignomy,
That THOU shouldst be the very one that
(FATE
ELECTS TO USE for to defend the honour of
THE VERY WOMAN THAT INSULTED
| (THEE!
IF IN REQUITE OF MY INSULT—UPON
MY WEDDING DAY—THOU DIDST THIS
[MOMENT DRAG
ME BY MY HAIR THROUGH HASTINA,
THY JUST REVENGE COULD NOT BE
[SWEETER, NOR
MY DEROGATION DEEPER... THAN BY
(THIS :
THY NOBLE SUCCOUR OF MY
[WOMANHOOD !
(In a tone of self-contempt and self-abasement)
SUCH HAUGHTY PRIDE OF ROYAL
[PARENTAGE,
62 KARNA

SUCH ARROGANCE OF QUEENLY POMP

[AND POW’R
AS HAVE OBSSESS’D MY HEART AND
[MIND AND SOUL
AND BLINDED ME FROM KNOWLEDGE ;
(THE REAL WHY
AND WHEREFORE OF MY BIRTH ON
(EARTH...
AS SCALES OF SLOUGH FROM OFF A
[SERPENT’S EYES,
ARE TORN ASIDE BY THIS ALMIGHTY-
(SENT
ABOMINATION I HAVE BROOK’D TO-
[NIGHT !
(Her eyes take ona VISIONARY’S look and
seem to see into the dark unknown ; Her voice
too, assumesa sepulchral note ; Her face wears
an expression of SPIRITUAL ECSTASY)
Ha! Now I see most clearly the manner of my
[birth !
And now I mind most vividly the purpose of
[my birth !
My royal blood and royal parentage forsooth !
My birth on earth, it knew no mortal womb
[nor seed
My sire and dam were one! But ONE!
[DREAD FIRE!!!
Not Fire that burns and warms to cherish,
[nourish life!
But Fire that burns and burns to KILL!
Dread Fire that burns to glut its endless maw
Consuming ev’rything within the sweeping
[compass of
THE CURSE 63

Its flaming tongue, with scant respect

To right or wrong, weak or strong!
Dreadful as in the best it is,
Dreadmost FIRE of all is FIRE OF HATE!
’Twas fire of Hate, begat me, bore me
Brought me forth!! ’Twas Royal Drupada
Obssess’d of Hate, in RITE of Hate did force
The SACRIFICIAL FIRE to yield him triplet
[tongues
Of flame in ME and BROTHERS TWO, with
{but
A single purpose in our lives: THE BURNING
[OF
THIS HOUSE TO LESS THAN CINDERS!
[AND Ye,
YE BLINDED FOOLS! YE ALL THINK
[1 AM NAUGHT BUT
FRAGILE, HELPLESS WOMAN? NAY!
[WHY I THAT WAS
A WOMAN ONCE, AM NOT A WOMAN
NOW! BEWARE!
I AM BUT FLAME]}, Although ye see me in
A woman’s frame! And all sssembled here
Are food for me....A FLAME BEGAT OF
[HATE!;
A FLAME BROUHT FORTH TO BURN
[THIS HOUSE
OF COLD COLD MOON! (To Anga)
[No need of thee,
Thine astras or defiance of thy ghoulish king
And all his brutal henchmen !, for thy defence
Of honour of the woman who, amid a vast
[conccurse
64 KARNA

Of Kings and Princess, flou edthee. and called

Thee low-born churl! And you believe
You’re lowly born? Nay, nay, you're not!:
You’te not a sootha, nor a Kshairiya,
Nor a brahmana like all these vermin doom’d
To die! MINE EYES THAT NOW ARE
(OPED TO SEE
BEYOND A HUMAN’S FLESH-BOUND
SIGHT, DO NOW
DESCRY THE REAL WHENCE AND
[WHEREFORE OF
THY BIRTH! Do not believe the mortal man
That lies he ’gat thee! Believe not
Mortal woman that lies she brought thee forih!
BELIEVE BUT ME THAT AM NOT MYSELF
[EARTHLY IN
MY BIRTH! THOU ART, IN SOOTH, SOME
[STRAY RAY OF
SOME STRANGE STRANGE STAR THAT
[HATH, BY SOME
MISHAP, ASTRAYED INTO THIS SINFUL
[WORLD!
(Her hereto mien of dignity, suddenly drops
from her.
A wild bright light plays in her eyes, in
uncanny brilliance.
Her voice rises shrill and piercing. And a
hysterical laugh punctuating her words com-
pletes to show her dementia)
Ha! Ha! Look! Look! HOW STRANGE!
THE KURU HOUSE
THE CURSE 65

HATH FALLEN, YET... THE CRYSTAL

[ COLUMNS STAND !
(She shambles and shuffles through the passage
like a sleep-walker. ard reaching the Throne,
circumlocutes it raving all the time)
LIST ! LIST! YE WOMEN OF THE KURU
[ HOUSE!:
ASCEND YE EVERY ONE YOUR
[ FUNERAL PYRES!
YOUR MEN-FOLK ALL ..THEY ARE BUT
[ CARCASSES !
°TIS DAUGHTER OF DREAD FIRE THAT
[ SPEAKS!
BEWARE! I’M FLAME! I’M FLAME OF
[ HATE!
[ DARE THE BOLDET AMONGST YE
TO TOUCH THIS FLAME OF FIRE! I'M
[ HATE!
I BURN! I KILL! (1M DAUGHTER OF
[ DREAD FIRE
OF HATE! HA! HA! HA! HA!
(Moves past and round the Throne, and departs
by the centre-door in the background shrieking)
DEAD! DEAD! ALL DEAD AND BURNED!
[ BURNED DOWN
TO LESS THAN ASHES! HA! HA! HA!
[HA! HA! HA!
(The unearthly notes of her laughter ring huck
from every corner of the Throne Room,
and is heard even after she has departed.
66 KARNA

The whole assembly vibrant with a superstitious

terror is hushed for fully a minute.
The chill silence is suddenly pierced by a high
pitched wail of anguish from the blind
Dhritaraashtra).
Dhrica- (in a whimpering tone to BHEESHMA)
raashtra O Father!, Rever’d Father! Speak to me!
Mine eyes are sightless .NOW, MEFEARS,
MINE EARS ...ARE PAST THEIR SENSING
[ TOO!
HEARD I ARIGHT ? AND DID SHE
[ SPEAK... THE...TROTH ?
Bheeshma (ina cold and dispassionate voice)
YOU HEARD ARIGHT, MY SON! SHE
[ SPAKE THE TRUTH,
THE BARE BARE TRUTH!
Dhrita- (in a shriek of apprehension)
raashtra OUR HOUSE! OUR ROYAL HOUSE!
[ WHAT OF
OUR HOUSE....OUR RACE....OUR SONS.....
WHAT WILL THEY ALL COME TO.....?
Bheeshima (dri/y)
“COME TO”? WHY, NOTHING, NOTHING,
{ NOTHING!
Dhrita- (Clutching at the air like a drowning man....the
raashtra sightless man lets out a heart-rending yell of
agony)
Oh! Oh! WOE IS ME! WOEIS ME!
(Collapses in a faint)
(The King rushes to his father’s side; the Royal
Brothers follow suit, and between them carry
THE CURSE 67

away the swoon-struck man through the centre

door in the background.
The Royal Retinue, the priests, and nobles all
depart silently by the egress on the left.
The Throne Room now holds :
the Royal Patriarch, Prince Vidura, the
Paandu Princes and the king ofAngaland)
Vidura (to Bheeshma)
Rever’d Father! Tcannot but fear
Our Royal Kuru House begat of Moon
Will surely arumbie unto very dust!
(With a resounding sigh of boredom Bheeshma
rises and stalks dignifiedly to the centre door
in the background and times each word to his
steps)
Bheeshma You’re wise to find that out, my son!
In sooth, you’re very wise !

EXITS
Vidura (to the eldest Paandava)
You mark’d him? He was ever thus! :
GREAT GANGA’S DEPTH AND CRYSTAL
[PURITY
AND SNOW-CLAD HIMAVAT’S ICE
[FRIGIDITY!
HIS WORDS SO FEW, SO FAR APART!
[AND YET
SO PREGNANT WITH ILLUMING
, WISDOM ! HE
WAS EVER THUS! But come our ways, my
{loved ones !
Your of: abused Faie is no‘ al] hate:
68 KARNA

Fret noi for this day’s dire mis-happenings!:

For HE above, who sees both good and bad,
Both love and hate, both strength and feebleness
With equal eye, ’its HE will find us all
An easy way for to forget dissensions and
To bind, in bonds of love, our kith and kin,
And .hus rescue from certain ruin, our own,
Our Royal House of King Kuru, begotten of
The Moon Himself! Come children, come!
(Leaning on the eldest Paandava walks out
through the egress en the left; the other
Paandavas foliow, save Bheemasena who lags
behind. The whole length of the Throne
Room separates Bheema and the king of
Angaland. In two leaps panther—like, Bheema
spans the room and lands before Anga. Anga
sits with the taciturnity of a graven idol.
Bending forward, Bheema snatches the scarf
from off the face of Anga ;
Tearing the scarf to shreds which he flings
aside and striking a threatening pose with all
his sinews taut, his neck swelling to burst and
his eye-halls almost starting out of their
sockets he puts his doubled fists out to Anga’s
face and roars out)
Bheema YOU! YOU! YOU!I’LL SLAY. YOU!
[VLL KILL YOU!
(Anga, unruffled, speaks in soft tones of quiet
indignation)
Anga What means this sudden want of decorum,
[Your Royal
THE CURSE 69

Highness Bheemasena of The Royal House of

[King Kuru
Decended of Celes:ial Moon Himself?
For loss of yonder scarf, I owe an abject ’pology
To your Highness’ Royal Cousin Yuyutsu
[ royally begat
Of Royal House of Royal Kuru, who was
[ Himself ’gat
Of Royal Moon Himself!
Bheema SO Lies LOr Linke LO hih A
[ TRUCE FP? “THY CURSED
CACKLE! THOU WERT EVER GLIB OF
[TONGUE!
MY ROTTEN ROYAL KURU HOUSE
[FORSOOTH!!!
oo I LINGERED BUT TO ......(scratches his
head)
css | FORGET...BUT THEN .I SPEAK AS
[ MAN TO MAN...
NO, NO...NOT “MAN”! SHE CALL’D US
[VERMIN SWINE!!
Call’d us “BRUTES IN GUISE OF
[ HUSBANDS”! SHE...
SHE SAID...I MEAN YOU SAID....OR IS IT
[ SHE?....
IT MATTERS NOT WHAT ANYBODY
[SAID ..BUT....I....
YOU KNOW, ANGA....’M POOR OF
[WORDS BUT I.1
HUNG BACK TO TELL YOU....I....1 KNOW
[NOT WHAT
70 KARNA

YE GODS !....[....CAN.... NG.......... MORE!!!

(Coming almost to sobbing, turns his face away
and hangs his head!
Anga leaves his seat and reaching Bheemasena
speaks in a soothing tone)
Anga Vrikodara, believe me now; I speak
In earnestness! Thou ART a man! A REAL
{ MAN!
MAN after mine own heart!

Bheema (snappishly)
Cut out your soft cajolry! *‘‘MAN”’ forsooth !
SHE call’d us ‘SBRUTES”’!
Anga (stroking Bheema’s shoulder)
Come, come Bheema! Now be thy real self
And join thy royal brothets..........

Bheema (throwing off Anga’s hand)

Do not touch me......... I'm afraid I'll play
The woman.......!!!
Anga ‘‘Afraid you'll play the woman’’? And who is
[ she?
This woman you're afraid to play?! Your
{[Mother? Wife ?
Your sister ? Why, Vrikodara, when sacred
{ sympathy
Exhorts thee to, be not afraid to play the
{ woman !
Then forsure you'll not be ‘fraid to PLAY the
{Man
At very moment that you should!
THE CURSE 71

Bheema (subjecting Anga to a quizzing look)

Do you know, there’s a something about you
That makes me want to hate you... almost hate
[you!
That makes me feel I want to kill....almost to
[kill
You !....almost slay you... .
(astonished)
‘Hate me ?....Almost hate me”? ‘Kill me?’’....
“Almost killme? Slay me ? Almost slay me”?
Why ever for ? Whatever have I done to you?
Bheema (looking sheepish)
I do not know!....I cannot tell!
Anga (tapping Bheema’s shoulder gently)
Come, come, Bheema, possess thyself and play
The man thou art!
Bheema (snapping at Anga)
Oh! A truce to empty talk! All empty talk!
“Play the man’’, forsooth! I did forget
To play the man at very moment l.......... !
I’m poor of words and YOU know it!
J only stay’d behind to tell you....what
I thought!....That there was here but one
Man who....one only man who
could defy
[The King . .
Who could defend us...... mean her....from
insult of that brute Dussaasana!
(His eyes blaze at asudden thought that
crosses his brain and he thunders out)
ANGA, YOU CRAVEN! COWARD! BASE
[POLTROON |!
72 KARNA

ITS YOU COULD HAVE DESTROY’D THAT

BRUTE !
YOU COULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE
[TORN HIM LIMB FROM LIMB
AND SHOULD HAVE DESTROY’D US AS
WELL, THIS ME
AND MY UNMANLY BROTHERS. NAY
(YOU MUST
HAVE SLAIN EVERY ONE OF THIS
[DEGENERATE
ANN DASTARD HOUSE, LONG ERE
[THAT BRUTE DID LAY
A FINGER ON... YOU COULD HAVE....
[SHOULD HAVE... YOU...
Anga (wringing hls hands in pathetic despair)
IKNOW I COULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE
[RAZED THIS HOUSE
TO VERY DUST- BUT THEN AGAIN . .
[I COULD NOT
Bheema (Blazing afresh)
‘COULD NOT”? WHY, YOU LIE! COME
[NOW, THE TRUTH!
ANGA ! WHAT MADE THEE STAY THY
HAND TO-NIGHT ?
WHAT MADE THEE CHANGE THY MIND
[WHEN THOU
HADST BENT THEE DOWN TO PICK UP
[YONDER FLOW’R
(Pointing out the wilted fiower still lying on
the floor)
TO HELP INVOKE THY DEADLY ASTRA’?
[COME, THE TRUTH!
 THE CURSE 73

Anga (Tortured at Bheema’s appeal)

I SWEAR TO YOU, VRIKODARA, MINE
[ARMS WERE PARALYS’D!
Bheema ‘‘ ARMS PARALYS’D”! THOU LIEST!
} WHA ?: T
THINE ARMS
THAT EXCELL’D ARJUNA’S ON DAY OF
[PARIKSHA!
THINE ARMS THAT WITH BUT PRESS
[OF PALM
CAN BEND A ROD OF STEEL TO SHAPE
[OF BOW!
THINE ARMS THAT WIELD AXE SWORD
[OR BOW
OR MACE OR LANCE WITH EQUAL
SKitiaes
PARALYS’D FORSOOTH! THOU LIEST!
[ANGA! TELL ME
WHAT MADE THEE HOLD THY HANDS
[BACK WHEN
THAT BRUTE DID LAYHIS FOUL
HANDS ON....... !?
(Agonised to the very core of his heart and
soul, Anga speaks out in abject notes)
Anga ISEE THY BHEEMA! CEASE
MEANING,
[GLARING, MAN!
CONVOKE THY PITIES! BEAR WITH
ME, VRIKODARA !
WHAT STAY’D MY HAND FROM SLAYING
[THEE ON DAY
OF PARIKSHA; WHAT NUMB’D MINE
[ARM ON DAY
74 KARNA

OF PAANCHAALEB’S SWAYAMVARA ;
WHAT PARALYS’D
MINE ARM AND DID ESTOP ME FROM
[RESCUING HER
FROM CLUTCH OF HUMAN BRUTE: WAS
[BUT RELENTLESS CURSE
OF DREAD RAAMA! PITY ME, THE
[HELPLESS VICTIM OF A BRAHMIN’S
[CURSE!
(Anga crumples into Bheema’s arms who
carries him out muttering amid tears: POOR
ANGA! POOR GREAT ANGA!” The
THRONE ROOM, empty now, is exposed for
a minute before—)

The Curtain Drops Slowly!

ACT V SCENE I

Place: The Field Marshal Anga’s Tent in the battlefield

of Kurukshetra
Time: Round About Midnight
Discovered: The Marshal striding up and down the floor
in a restless manner and mood, muttering
to himself:
“TO MORROW! TO MORROW!
[TO MORROW!”
(Hearing a slight noise at the cloth flap-door on
the left, The Marshal turns suddenly round)
Anga Who’s that?
(The Marshal’s Batman enters)
Batman Tis I, my lord!
Anga How now, Sumantra? Not abed yet?
Sumantra My Lord, forgive your servant, the scaring
[sights
I’ve seen upon the battlefield these five
And twice-five days, I fear to face again
In dream-intruded sleep!
Anga But this
is bare bare childishness! ’Tis rest
You want! The steeds all fed?
Sumaatra Aye, Aye, My Lord!
Anga My Lord of Madra....Hath he turned in?
Sumantra Aye, Aye, My Lord!
Anga Why then, meseems it is bui you and |
That are awake in all Kurukshetra!
76 KARNA
Sumantra Nay nay, my lord, mefears His Majesty’s
[awake!:
1 did espy bright beams of purple light
Escaping through the silken curtains of
The Royal Tent!
Anga The King awake? (to himself) Whai keeps
{him from
His sleep? ..What else but ‘‘TOMORROW!
[TOMORROW!”
A VOICE! What Ho! Within!
Sumantra What Ho! Without! (Goes out)
The HIS MAJESTY WOULD FAIN HOLD
VOICE [CONVERSE WITH
THE MARSHAL IN THE MARSHAL’S
[TENT!
Anga (Raising his voice)
Equerry! It is well! The Marshal waits
His Majesty’s pleasure, here !
(Sumantra suddenly lifts up the door-flap and
announces :
“HIS MAJESTY THE KING !””....The King
precipitates himself into the tent in the manner
of an avalanche, and as he passes in, touches
Sumantra’s bow’d head
On his reaching the middle of the floor,
The Marshal drops to his knees)
The King (in a tone of annoyance)
Arise, Anga! A truce to these
-Nonsenses! We’re on a battlefied!
Not at Court! You yet awake ?
‘Tis past midnight! And you ........
THE CURSE 77

Anga Whilst certainty of victory in fray

Of tomorrow.. did waive off sleep from mine
Own eyes .mefears, my liege, ’its want
Of confidence and trust in his servants doth
Keep my sovereign awake !
The King (impatiently)
Oh! Spare me [ came to find wise
talk!:
{[counsel! List
Anga!: My mind,, my heart, my very soul
Will know no rest and peace until I’ve made
Quice sure thatI Why, Taataajee hath e’er
Averr’d .our CAUSE IS UNRIGHTEOUS!
[ And Gurujee,
As he went out into the battle for to lay his life
Down for our Cause, e’en he did say that I
Was in the wrong to wage a war against
My very kith and kin! Now list to me!:
Anga, thou hast been e’er nearest my heari!
Why, nearer me than my own heart! Upright
And wise withal! Now lell me true,.....have I
Been in the wrong? Been e’en unknowingly
Unrighteous? If YOU decide ’tis so,
Mayhap ’tis not too Jate e’en NOW to make...
You see my meaning... ?
(Anga interrupts the King ina deferential yet
firm tone)
Anga I'm blunt of tongue, my liege! As you averr’d
We're not Court, but on the battlefield !
In his servants’ eyes The King can do no wrong!
And yet the King may wrong his servants by
His want of trust in their prowess at fray!
Believe me, Sire, just now we’re past
78 KARNA

All arguments and bickerings of wrong and

{ right!
’Tis ACT we must....not rob our limbs and mind
Of needed resi.....by fruitless talk!
(Approaches the leftflap-door and speaks in a
commanding voice :)
Art there, Equerry? ’Tis well! Approach
And escort our Dread Lord to th’ Royal
| 'Campment !
(As he passes out the King touches the head of
Anga and Sumantra who have dropped to their
knees)
The King (in a growl of dissatisfaction)
Sleep well, Anga, and mind! DO NOT BE
[ OVER-RASH
IN THE MORROW’S FRAY ;
We may but ILL-AFFORD mishaps to you!
(The King whispers to Sumantra at the door)
Look to The Marshal! (EXITS GROWLING)
Anga (to Sumantra)
The Brahmanas arranged for, for the
[ morning’s rites ?
Sumantra Aye, my lord
Anga ’Tis well! And now, Sumantra, do retire
And make the most of these few hours
Left us before the dawn.
Sumantra Aye, my lord
(Approaches the Marshal and drops to his knees.
The Marshal touches him on the head. Rising,
and with heaving chest, Sumantra leaves by the
fiap-door on the LEFT. For fullya minute, the
THE CURSE 79

Marshal strides up and down the floor, now and

again stopping before AN ARROW. FASHION-
ED AFTER THE FORM OF A SERPENT
and hung on the wall far back—decorated with
flowers, saffron and turmeric, the blooms being
golden crysanthemums.
Hearing a noise at the RIGHT flap-door.
strides up to it, and lifts the flap)
Anga What noice was that? Methinks I here
[footsteps !
(Peers out)
Who’s there ? Speak... or Pwill........ Why !
It is but some old dame! Come in old dame!
‘Tis biting cold without !
(Moves the door curtain (flap) and as the
‘old dame ”’ steps in, he mutters)
An ancient dame! And out at this hour, and
[HERE ?,
In very heart of battle-ground! Who can
[she be ?
(So wrapp’d and muffled in a silken mantle as
to hardly reveal even her face, enters the Aged
Queen Kuntee; Dropping the door-flap, she
slowly walks across and joins Anga in the
middle of the floor.
Anga gives hera casual glance and continues
his talk)
Why, old dame. whence cometh it to pass
Thou art astir at this hour on a battle-ground?
This is no venue for old dames to loiter all alone
This is a ground where husbands, brothers, sons
80 KARNA

And sires of womenfolk do slaughter each

[other !,
And noi a promenade whereon old dames
Parade alone at middle of night! Mayhap
The inky gloom without hath made thee loose
[thy way
And led thee here....even as ancient s!ags,
Betrayed by age-dimmed eyes do sometimes
| [stray
Into the very huntsman’s hut!
(Kuntee, apparently deaf to Anga’s words stares
at him—her unwinking eyes repeatedly running
htm over cap a pie)
Why, old dame, What art thou looking at?
Kuntee I am looking at thee!; thy limbs, thy thews,
Thy sinews ....
Anga Why, hast thou no sons of thine?
Kuntee (with a soup con of pride in her voice)
Aye, [have! Three....ney f’four....nay th’th’re!
Far bigger.....stronger than thee .........
(Laughing)
Why then, what joy dost thou derive by looking
. fon My.....
Kuntee ‘JOY ’’? Nay nay. not joy!, but ENVY.....
(JEALOUSY !
Anga (bewildered and puzzled)
“ENVY ”? “JEALOUSY’’? Envious.....jealous
[of whom ?
Kuntee (in ill-controlled indignation)
Envious....Jealous of her whose milk o’breast
Brought out those sinews ....thews..ihe whilst
THE CURSE 81
Of rights.....it should have been...m’m’m mny....
(With a gasp, recovers herself)
But Jet that pass!........am a woe-struck soul
Aseeking succour from the Marshal, famed far
And wide as BOUNTY ITSELF INCARNATE!
Anga CAJOLRY ITSELF INCARNATE will miss a
[prey in me!
Now list, old dame!: ’Tis long past middle
[o’night !
You seem and sound of gentle birth and breed;
Perchance hast lost thy stalwart sons
In service of the Emperor, and now are left
Forlorn—with none to tend thee in thine aged
[days !
But ask your will! For Anga ne’er did brush
[aside
A call for aid from distress’d souls! Gold?
[Cattle ?
Cagg %.<- Come come, make up your mind!
[I may
Not waste The Emperor’s time !
Kuntee I’ve heard tell of the King of Anga’s chivalry.....
But I forget ! You’ve warn’d me’gainst cajolry!
I will say my say at once! I came not to BEG
[aught
Of you! I came here but to SELL! I came
[to SELL
You THAT, that you will give your very SOUL
[to buy !
Anga “Give my SOUL away’? My SOUL’s my
GOD’S, and not for sale or barter !
82 KARNA

Kuntee Your heart then...or mayhap your.....

Anga (in impassioned notes)
My heart, my mind, my trunk, my limbs
The very deftness of these hands, in use
Of battle-implements...all these, they are
The Emperor’s, not mine..and not for sale!
Kunte2 You take me wrong, my child!
(Approaches Anga, and as she reaches him, her
breath comes in short gasps and pants.
Half aloud she mutters to herself)
Bulky, hulky, tall and huge although you be,
To these mine eyes you look no more
But tiny infant that in agony of birth
Clutch’d at the forelocks of....
(Her hand instinctively reaches for her own
silvered forelocks)
Its frighted maiden-mother... but... but.....
(Recovering control of herself)
But let that pass !
Anga (Puzzled)
What strange words....these? I do not
funderstand !
Kuntee It matters naught you do not! I pray you let
That pass! Now list: That whieh I’am here
[to sell,
It is no whit less than the secret of thy birth!
Thy twice-born’s parentage! The knowledge of
Thy Royal Birth!
Anga (Bewildered)
My twice-born’s parentage ? My royal birth !
No, no! My sire and dame were lowly born!
THE CURSE 83

Kuntee Oh! The sootha man and wife that brought

Thee up ? To YOU, why, they are no more but
As crows that hatch a royal cuckoo’s egg
And chick !
Anga (impatiently)
Go on, old dame! And who were they ?:
My sire and dame?
Kuntee (Smiling)
You do forget I’ve come here but to SELL!
To SELL the secret of thy Royal Birth!
Now, what of my PRICE?
(Anga loses all control of himself )
Anga “Your PRICE’’? Why then, ask what you
[will of me! :
My heart, my mind, my very soul !:
My name, my fame, my pelf, my crown,
My very hope of Heav’n....why, take them all!
But rid me of this life-long doubt
That cankers and corrodes my very soul !
Kuntee The price, my child, is not as dear
As thou dost fear! Thy soul is safe!
Safe is thy hope of Heav’n; nor do
I covet crown nor pelf! But list to me:
AMID THE MANY MILLION SHAFTS THY
[QUIVER HOLDS.
TO KNOW THE TRUTHFUL SECRET OF
[THY ROYAL BIRTH
MAY YOU NOT SPARE THE USE OF ONE,
[JUST ONE’
ONE ONLY SHAFT IN FRAY TO-MORROW?
[BUT JUST
84 KARNA

THAT SINGLE SHAFT I SEE ENSHRINED

[THERE
AS IT WERE SOME GREAT GOD!
(Directs her glance at the arrow on the wall,
Anga follows her eyes and laughs sarcastically)
Anga ‘‘Great God’”’ you called it ? You were right !
That single simple shaft....is God to me!
My loved Emperor, now HE is god to IT!
ITS twin-split tongue, aparched now,
Will slake its thirst with Paartha’s blood
Before tomorrow’s Sun goes down! Sped on
From my bow-string, This GOD of mine,
Will wing ITS way to quaff the life of him
Whose death will end this war, and ensure
|victory
To ITS God....The Emperor!
(Horror-struck at these words, Kuntee gradually
recovers herself as a gleam of intelligence,
almost of cunning, creeps into her eyes. Her
lips assuming a sneering curve; Her voice too
is tinged with marked sarcasm)
Kuntee But if, perchance, thy shaft doth miss
Its mark, in chagrin of thy poorly marksman-
(ship,
1 ween you’ll speed yon self-same shaft
A second time to mend thine errate aim! ?
(anga winces ; Again he frowns at Kuntee)

Anga My shaft ‘‘miss mark”! My ‘“‘poorly

marksmanship” !
Speed my shaft ‘‘a second time’?! You make
[me laugh!
_ THE CURSE 85
Why, old dame, this Anga’s proven record
[knows
No word as ‘‘Miss’’!My ‘‘Errate aim’’,
[forsooth !
When once my shaft bounds off my bow,
'Tis DOWNED MARK Isee, but nev’r my
[shaft again !
Old Dame, you know not ought of Anga’s
jarchery!
Kuntee Well then, with you so certain of thy
[marksmanship,
Your shaft will never miss! And yet,
[THESONLY PRICE
I ASK YOU FOR REVEALING
[TRUTHFULLY
THE SECRET OF YOUR ROYAL BIRTH...
IT IS BUT THAT YOU PROMISE TO
[REFRAIN
FROM HANDLING YONDER SHAFT..A
[SECOND TIME
Anga (Airily)
BUT, poor old dame, with not a chance of my
Requiring second-handling of that shaft,
The price you ask---is not a price at all!
Come, come, do ask for something worth the...
Kuntee (Firmly)
In quittance of revealing thee the secret of
Thy royal birth, I may not ask for aught but that
You swear you will not second-handle
[yonder shaft !
I FULLY KNOW WHAT IAM ASKING FOR!
Anga But this is less a barter than a gift!
But have your will! For thy relieving of
My life-long doubt, if it requites thee, why,
I promise not to second-handle yonder shaft.
86 KARNA

Kuntee I do not doubt thy word. And yet I’ave heard

Of elders that a ‘‘gift’? is never ‘‘final’’ but}!
By............(In gesture, simulates the pouring of
water with the left hand on the palm of the’
right hand)
Anga (Laughing outright)
I see thy meaning! Mayhap you're right
To mistrust me, a stranger!....But, I have
No water nearby....and I’m loath to wake
My servant........
Kuntee (Pointing out a golden ewer on a side-board on
the LEFT)
What’s in that mug?
Anga The milk my mother leaves of nights,
For me to drink ere J turn in!
Kuntee (Biting into her nether lip)
Your ‘‘Mother’’?...Oh, that sootha woman!
But milk will do as well for ‘*Gifting”’ !
(Snatching the ewer from the side-board with
his left hand, Anga pours the milk on his right
palm as he is speaking)
Anga Well, here is promise not to use yon shaft
A second time in battle all tomorrow! NOW,
THE TRUTH! THE TRUTH OF MY OWN
[BIRTH ?
(Kuntee approaching Anga, relieves him of the
ewer and replaces it on the side-board ;
She places an arm, somewhat ‘gingerly’, around
him and speaks ina VOICE, the most pathetic
mixture of Pity and SELF-PITY; LOVE and
REMORSE; GLADNESS and GRIEF; a
THE CURSE 87

mixture that only a HUMAN MOTHER may

command)
Kuntee My price you’ve paid in manner that befits
Thy name and fame for boundless bounty! List:
My time is short, for I must hie back whence
I came, ere I am missed ! In lieu of thy promise,
I now entrust thee with the secret of thy birth! :
Now list !: THOU ART NONE OTHER BUT
[OWN BROTHER TO
DHARMAJA, BHEEMA and the PEERLESS
[PHALGUNA !
KNOW THEN, THOU ART OWN SON TO
[KUNTEE........ ELDER QUEEN
TO ROYAL PAANDU! THUS, BEWARE OF
[FRATRICIDE
YOU WILL EFFECT IF THOU DOST SLAY
(THY MOTHER’S SONS
THY MOTHER PRAYS OF GOD HER SONS
[MAY NOT
SLAY EACH OTHER! AND PRAYS TOO
[THAT YOU MISS
THY MARK IN PAARTHA THINE OWN
[BROTHER, IN
TOMORROW’S FRAY! (Moves on towards
the door)
Anga (His limbs and torso are all of a tremble ; and
his voice is vibrant with an uncontrollable
excitement)
HOLD HARD, OLD DAME! 1S THIS THE
[TRUTH YOU SPAKE ?
THE VERY VERY TRUTH ?
88 KARNA\

Kuntee (As she lifts the doorflap)

[| SPAKE NAUGHT BUT THE BARE BARE)
[1RUTH !?!
DO NOT FORGET THY PROMISE,
[BROTHER OF PAARTHA 19)
(Almost passes out of the door)
Anga Hold hard, old dame! But THOU,........ now,,
[WHO ART THOU ?
(Kuntee, now outside the tent, puts only he
head inside and speaks)
Kuntee 722° WHO AM 1??..n.1WHY. THAT Me
7 [CHILD.&
(Swallowing a big lump in her throat)
WHY, THAT’S A SECRET NOT FOR
[BARTER OR FOR SALE?
(The pitch-black night without swallows he
up. Left alone, Anga, in a hyper-excited stat
strides up and down in restlessness as he
mutters to himself)
Anga Who can she be?...I know! Some ancient
{[chambermai
Of Queen Kuntee’s sent here to coax Arjuna’
(lif
Out of his life-long foe! Who e’er she be,
I feel assur’d she spake the truth!
What great relief from life-long doubt!
What great relief to have escap’d the ignom
Of lowly birth! ‘‘Queen Kuntee’s own own son!
And OWN OWN BROTHER, too, TO
{[DHARMAJA
VRIKODARA AND PHALGUNA!: MY
[BROTHERS ALL
THE CURSE 89

THESE YEARS. AND NOT A SUSPICION

[OF IT TO THEM
OR ME! HAD WE BUT KNOWN THIS.
[WHY, MAYHAP
WE WOULD HAVE BATTL’D SIDE BY
[SIDE !....NO! NO!
THE GODS PERISH MY THOUGHTS OF
[WAV’RING LOYALTY !
BROTHERS, KITH OR KIN; BLOOD OR
[BIRTH ;
POWER, PELF, KINGSHIP OR CROWN;
[ALL THESE ARE NAUGHT!
THE KING ..MY EMPEROR ..’/TIS HE
[COMES BEFORE ALL!
(Approaches the DEIFIED arrow upon the
wall, and apostrophizes)
POOR POOR ARJUNA! MY NEW-FOUND
[BROTHER! AND
TO THINK THAT ERE TOMORROW’S
[SUN GOES DOWN,
I’LL SPEED THIS NAAGA SHAFT TO END
[THE LIFE
OF MY BLOOD-BROTHERi THAT OLD
[DAME DID WARN ME, GAINST
THE SIN OF FRATRICIDE! SPARE HIS
[LIFE.
AND ’SCAPE THE SIN ?..-.... AND
[JEOPARDIZE
THE LIFE OF HIM THAT MADE MB
[ WHAT I AM?
HIM THAT LOVES ME, TRUSTS ME WITH
[HIS CROWN.
90 KARNA

HIS CONSCIENCE, HONOUR AND HIS

[VERY LIFE?
WHAT ? SACRIFICE MY LIFE-LONG
[ FRIEND AND MASTER AT
THE SHRINE OF NEW-FOUND KITH AND
[KIN ?
THE GODS PERISH SUCH DASTARD
[THOUGHTS !
I MUST ECLIPSE MY HEART FROM
[BLOOD AND BIRTH,
FROM MINE OWN ENTITY,
AND RIVET MY MIND AND SOUL UNTO
[MY DUTY AND
UNSWERVING LOYALTY !
AND YET ?TIS........... SORE HARD TO
[NEWLY FIND
A BROTHER OF A NIGHT
FOR BUY TO SLAY HIM ON THE VERY
{ MORROW, IN
A CAUSELESS USELESS FIGHT !
(Sighs his agony out.
The door-flap on the left is heard to rustle.
Anga starts from his reverie and calls out :
**WHO’S THAT ?”
Hearing no reply walks up to the door)
That dame, again? It cannot be!
Peers out of the door)
Why, mother mine, ’tis you!
(Enters the snow-haired RAADHA.
Anga puts his arm around the old lady and
tenderly carries her across the fioor and seats
THE CURSE 91

her ona settee disposed at the extreme end of

the foreground.
Himself squats on the fluor, in the manner of a
child, and playfully caresses the old ludy’s
feet)
My own. my loved mother! Yet awake?
Raadhaa How could I sleep, my son, with heart and head
Abursting with the fearsome thoughts of what
May come to pass amid to-morrow’s fray !,
[with you
My son, abattling in the very thick of it!
Anga (His eyes lit with the gleam of intense adora-
tion)
Wondrous things, ye mothers are! Dost thou
Not mind the first ten days of this dire war
When Bheeshma’s bow did play such havoc
[with
The foe, that Riv’r of blood of humans surged
{and flow’d
And swamp’d the battle-ground—exceeding his
OWN MOTHER GANGAA AT HER
[STEEPEST FLOOD
Yet, all this while, with thine own son secure
And safe WITHIN this tent—the dreadful
[carnage that
Did reign WITHOUT, was but as naught
[to thee !
But NOW YOU DREAD THE DAWN,
[because MY LIFE...
Raadhaa (Kissing Anga on the brow)
You’re right, my loved son, you are right !:
WHAT BOOTS IT TO A MOTHER WHO
[SLAYS WHOM?
92 KARNA

WHAT CARES SHE WHOSE BLOOD IS

[SHED SO HER
OWN SON IS SAFE! A MOTHER THAT
[DOTH BEAR
AND BRING FORTH SON...SHE MAY NOT
(WILL NOT
SEE OR KNOW A WORLD BEYOND HER
[SON !
WITH HUMAN MOTHERS, TEVER WAS :
[LOSE SON, LOSE ALL!
So you see, why ancient fragile dames like
[creepers
Do cling for aid to very very trees
That they themselves do bear and bring to life
Anga The love of dams for offspring is
But common law of Nature. But
E’EN GREATER LOVE THAN THIS YOU’VE
[LAVISH’D ON
A CHILD YOU NEVER DID BRING
[FORTH !
Raadhaa (In sudden alarm)
What mean you, child ?
Anga Why, mother mine, I know the truth about
[my birth!
Raadhaa (Bewildered)
“The truth about yonr birth’? ? ‘Tis I
That am thy mother, and what else is there
To know ?
Anga You’re not my mother! YET YOU ARE!
(In impassioned notes)
GREATER THAN A MORTAL MOTHER,
(YOU HAVE BEEN
THE CURSE | 93

TO ME A BABE THAT LOST ITS DAM AT

[VERY BIRTH
THE LOVE AND CARE YOU’VE
[SHOWER’D ON
AN ORPHAN’D MITE AS IT WERE FRUIT
[OF YOUR
OWN LOINS....doth make thee seem to me:
THE BOUNDLESS LOVE OF GOD HIMSELF
[IN HUMAN FORM!
(Laughing bitterly)
CAUGHT UP IN FRIGHT OF LOSING ME
(TOMORROW, YOU
DISDAIN YOUR SLEEP, WHILST SHE
[THAT
BROUGHT ME FORTH...SHE SLEEPS IN
[QUEENLY LUXURY
ENSCONC’D IN SILKEN COUCH BENEATH
[A GOLDEN CANOPY.
Raadhaa (With a tight hold on Anga)
Knowing thus far, Karna ‘tis but meet
That you should know the truth of my
Coming on thee: ITSEEMS BUT YESTERDAY
THAT BRILLIANT SUN-LIT DAY THAT I
[AND MY
GOOD MAN WALKING BY THE STREAM
[THAT COURS’D
ASIDE OUR HOMELY COTTAGE, SPIED
A WINSOME NEW-BORN BABE APULING
[WITH
THE COLD OF LAPPING WAVES!
[CHILDLESS WE WERE,
94 KARNA

KARNA, AND WE COULD THINK NO

[LESS BUT..GOD
HIMSELF, IN ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS,
[HAD SENT
IN SHAPE OF BABE—A STRAY SUNBEAM
(TO LIGHT
OUR GLOOMY COT! AND FROM THAT
[BLESSED MOMENT THAT
I CAME ON THEE, A FROZEN HUMAN
(BLOB, UNTO
THIS VERY NOW THAT IN MINE ARMS
(I HOLD
THE KING OF ANGALAND AND
[MARSHAL TO
THE EMPEROR ...IT HAS BEEN ONE ONE
[LONG
LONG DAY OF SUN-LIT BLISS!
(With a heavy sigh relinquishes her hold on
Anga)
BUT LONGEST, BRIGHTEST DAY MUST
[END SOMEWHEN!
IF DEATH HIMSELF IN ANSWER TO MY
[PRAY’RS
WILL SPARE THY LIFE IN BATTLE.,....
[MEFEARS
WITH THIS YOUR TALK....SOME
[STRANGER WOMAN WILL
SEIZE THEE FROM ME...DESPITE MY
[LIFE-LONG CARE
OF THEE! AGAIN, OUR ELDERS PICTURE
[FATE
IN WOMAN’S SHAPE WITH WOMAN’S
[CRUEL WHIMS!:
THE CURSE 95

AND SHE, MAYHAP, MAY INTERVENE

[ATWEEN
THE WOM’N
THAT BROUGHT THEE
[FORTH, AND ME
THAT BROUGHT THEE UP AND SNATCH
[THEE FROM
US BOTH! ERGO, KARNA, SLEEP NOW!
[GET ALL THE REST
YOU MAY, AND GARNER ALL THY
[STRENGTH AGAINST
TOMORROW’S FRAY; GOOD REST BY
[DREAMLESS SLEEP
AND STRENGTH BY WHOLESOME FOOD.
[HAST DRUNK
THY MILK?
Anga (Confused and dropping his eyes to the ground)
'D....’ 7 Deed...;.M’ ... M’ Mother «:-..T.... have

Raadhaa And wherefore not? You never liked it warm,

I know....but drink it now....before I go!
(Rises and walks up to the side-board. Lifts
up the ewer 1nd at once notices the ‘‘lightness”’
of the ewer)
Why, it’s empty! You have drunk the milk
And have forgot .....What’s this, my feet are wet
(Lrops her eyes to the floor)
‘Tis milk! You’ve spilt it all
How did it come to pass?
Anga (Looking sheepishly)
In.....lieu.....of water....that was not nearby,
It was....the....milk....1 used to pour upon my
palm!
96

Raadhaa (Puzzled)
But why pour milk. or even water on you
[palm ?
Anga Why....... else... DUE 40s, a0: gift........away !
Raadhaa (Startled)
*“Gift Away’’! But you and I have naught
Tu call our very own, to gift away !:
Thy Kingship, Marshaldom, thy pow’r, thy pelf,
The food that we consume, the raiment that
We wear ‘gainst nakedness, the very very milk
You’ve split....they all are but the EMPEROR’S
To gift away !:....not thine!....not mine!
(With eyes at their widest, Anga speaks in @
frighted voice)
Anga Too late! Too late! Your counsel comes:
too laie !
(His brows screwing)
And yet I feel I’ve gifted naught away !
Now sit and list !:
(Leads Raadhaa to the settee and seats her as
before.
Himself ... he squats at her feet and speaks
in a calm collected tone)
Now, harken calmly, mother mine! ’Twas all
[thiswise :
’Twas not a “GIFT” at all with which I bought
The secret of my birth...
Raadhaa Bought it of whom ?....with what ?
Anga Of that.....canop.n..
Raadhaa But why anon? Meseems, my child, you’re
[frighted to
THE CURSE 97

Speak out! Whom was it that you bought

Your secret of?
Anga An ancient dame that came hither to-night
To caution me ’gainst FRATRICIDE!
Raadhaa ‘*Fra.ricide’’? (Ruminates for a moment)
[Brothers ?
If thou hast found thee brothers, WHY
[SLAY THEM?
Unless . they be,......(Her eyes look askance)
(Reading her thoughts)
They ARE...the foemen of our Emperor!
In slaying Paar...THEM in tomorrow’s fray,
I may not ’scape the sin of fra ricide!
But have no fears, beloved mother mine,
No love for new-found brothers and no fear
Of sin of fratricide will lure me from
My duty to mine Emperor! (Bitter/y) And yet
With certainty of slaying brothers in
Tomorrow’s fray ASCALED ’gainst disloyalty
And sore betrayal of my lord and friend,
I am more helpless NOW as marshal of
The Emperor, THAN AS THE SPURNED
[BABE
YOU RESCUED FROM THE RIVER’S
[CRUEL WAVES!
Now, counsel me: An ancient dame, with hair
All silv’ry grey, came in to-night and sold
To me the secret of my birth! She swore
That lam OWN OWN SON to KUNTEE,
[elder QUEEN..........
TO ROYAL PAANDU...
98 KARNA

Raadhaa (Hard of face and stern of voice)

Whilst glad at heart to see thy joy at ’scape
Of ignomy of lowly birth, what matters more
To me that brought you up, and to The King
Who made you what you are is but THE PRICE
THE PRICE you paid for what you bought of
[this
Old dame! COME NOW, KARNA ? THE
[PRICE!
Anga (Gently patting her shoulder)
Pray calm your fears, my mother; why, the
[price
I paid ..it was but naughi in value to
That dame.....or any one!
Raadhaa In mind and heart, Karna, thou ever wert
So overfull of honesty, that thou
Hast ever been a poor poor hand atfeigning or
Dissembling, and thou couldst not cozen ev’n
A babe! What was the PRICE you paid
And gifted, with the milk accru’d of
Bounty of Our King?
Anga Ido aver again, thy fears are groundless...
Why, the price I paid.....
(His eyes stray towards the serpent shaft
upon the wall.
Raadha’s eyes follow Anga’s glance, Horror-
struck in face, and panic in her voice)
Raadhaa YOU SOLD HER THAT? GOD HELP YOU!
(WHY,
YOU'VE SOLD YOUR KING! OH! WOE IS
[ME!
THE CURSE 99

MY OWN SON KARNA TURNS A TRAITOR

[TO
HIS KING! OH! WOE IS ME!
(Swaying her head in intense agony drops back
on the back of the settee)
Anga (Indignantly)
Forsure, you’re mad to think I sold the
[shaft !
I swear to you [ did not! You’re mad to think
[it so!
Raadhaa Well then, the price ? You have not told me yet!
Anga That dame, well knowing that I thirst for blood
Of Arjuna....and sent here by my mo.....his
[mother.....
This dame _ did harbour vain delusion that
This Anga—who in all his bowman’s life
Hath n’er a single once failed to down
His mark—may stand in need of second-
[handling of
Yon Naaga shaft in battle of tomorrow!
Raadhaa You did not sell that shaft! ...What then.....the
[price ?
Anga I tell you that I would not sell the handling of
That shaft to save my very soul! I only
{[promis’d to
Desist from using self-same shaft a SECOND
(TIME,
IN CASE I MISS’D MY MARK AT FIRST
[ATTEMPT !
But THAT you know, will never come to pass
I told her that ; and yet she seem’d content},
100 KARNA

Avowing that SHE KNEW FULL WELL

[WHAT SHE
WAS ASKING FOR!
Raadhaa You told her you would never, miss, and yet
She seem’d content ? And avow’d too “‘she knew
What she was asking for’’? I cannot help
But think it sounds like some low trickery !
A “‘woman” did you say? And ‘‘aged’’ too!
Karna, my son, there’s none may read
A woman’s heart except another of
Her kind! T do believe it in my heart,
That dame DID have good reason to be sure
And certain you would miss your mark
Tomorrow! Why, yon shaft, alas, is but
The LAST, THE ONLY HOPE OF SAVING
[LIFE
AND THRONE OF HIM THAT EVEN NOW
{[DOTH SLEEP
IN PEACE FULL TRUSTING IN THE
[LOYALTY
OF HIS FIELD MARSHAL! YOU, my son,
—Thy mind and heart made numb, inert
By fetters forg’d of thine unmanly SHAME
OF LOWLY BIRTH AND VANITY of
[BOW MANSHIP
—Art fretting frighted of the sin of fratricide!
To caution thee ’gainst ‘‘fratricide’’, forsooth!:
What else but fratricide and partricide
The Paandavas have practised all these days? :
It was by trick of flaunting woman-at-birth
Sikhandin that they forced the peerless
Patriarch
THE CURSE 101

In dire disgust to quit the batilefield !

Anon, by lie trick’d out of eldest Paandava
—That KRIPEE’S DEATHLESS SON WAS
[DEAD—
They snapp’d the thread of their own Guru’s
[life !
And now they’ve sentYOU some designing dame
To lure thee with the secret of thy birth
Into betraying your own King...and play
The tool to bring to pass their anal sin
Of Fratri-Regicide !
(With a sarcastic smile and voice)
And yet, I must concede, thy brothers have
The manliness to face the army of
The Emperor, whilst You like unsuspected
[canker in
The bosom of the King—who ever loved thee
[more
Than ev’n The Crowned Prince himself—have
[thrown
Away his Honour, Throne, his very life
In thine own selfish ardour to escape
The ignomy of low sootha parentage!
(The foregoing speech of Raadhaa’s gradually
unmans Anga;
He throws himself at Raadhaa’s feet and
grovels in agony, whimpering)

Anga Forgive me, mother mine! | did not know

What I was doing!
(Raadhaa moves away from the now prone
Anga, and speaks in a low cold dry tone)
102
KARNA

Raadhaa With less than e’en an hour for the dawn,

I’ve hardly time to ’pproach the Emperor
And make him see the wisdom of finding
Another Marshal trustier than thee
To lead his army in the coming fray!
(Raadhaa steps towards the door)
Anga (Still on the floor....in a heart-rending wail)
Stop,mother mine! You’re breaking my heart!
Raadhaa And mine’s already broken with thy sore
Betrayal of Thy King ?
Anga (Rising and collecting himself)
Thy broken heart will knit again !
I swear to thee!
Raadhaa “Knit again ’’? It will not knit again,
Not until you PRECEDE AND LEAD
THE EMP’ROR’S HOST WITH ALL THE
[LOYALTY
THAT FITS HIS MARSHAL! MY BROKEN
[HEART?
IT WILL NOT KNIT AGAIN UNTIL YOU SO
BELAY THE FOEMEN OF THE KING,
(THAT ERE
THE SET OF SUN TOMORROW NAUGHT
[REMAINS
OF T’OTHER SIDE OF KURUKSHETRA
[BUT
ONE VAST VAST FIELD OF BARE BARE
[GRASS
WITH NOT A FOEMAN STANDING
(UPRIGHT! THEN
IT IS, MY BROKEN HEART WILL KNIT
[AGAIN !
THE CURSE 103

Anga (Approaches Raadhaa and speaks in quick jerks

of excitement)
List! Mother, list!: Thy talk of ‘‘Bare Bare
[Grass,
Hath minded me of mine own POWER! Now
[list :
With single blade of grass, I can invoke
The deadliest of my Guru’s astras
And may in single breath annihilate
The foeman of my King! And yonder Naaga
[Shaft
Is welcome for to miss its mark ; WITHOUT
A SECOND-HANDLING OF THAT SHAFT,
[with blade
Of grass WILL I EFFECT A HOLOCAUST
OF ALL THE PAANDU HOST....AND THUS
[RE-KNIT
THY BROKEN HEART....AND JUST THIS
[ONCE AT LEAST
’’LL CIRCUMVENT A BRAHMIN’S FATAL
[CURSE !
(Anga drops at Raadhaa’s feet; she lifts up
his face by his chin ; wiping away his tears
speaks in a proud glad voice)
Raadhaa NOW SPEAKS MY OWN TRUE SON
[KARNA !
MY OWN TRUE SON!

The Curtain Drops Slowly.

ACT V SCENE II

Place: The Battlefield of Kurukshetra

Time: <Anhour before Sunset on the Seventeenth Day
of the Great War.
Discovered: ANGA in his chariot with Maadra as
charioteer: ARJUNA in his chariot with
KRISHNA as charioteer.
The two chariots are considerably apart.
Venue |: [ANGA’S CHARIOT]
Maadra (Querulously)
A truce to frolics, Anga! Come, ‘tis time
You started real fray!
Anga (Smiling) ‘‘Real Fray’?! ? What call
You then, the fray I’ve fought this long long
' [day ?
Maadra_ (Irritated) Oh! Curb thy glib tongue; ‘Deed
[you know
My meaning well enough! All
[yesterday
You wasted needlessly in fruitless search
For Phalguna, whom Krishna’s craftiness
Had hid beyond thy reach! And yet, TO DAY
With Arjuna afacing thee—Thou hast
No more but played with him as cat with mouse
To show to every one upon this field
That Drona’s petted pupil is as but
A novice, facing Anga favor’d of
Great Jaamadagni’s tutordom! And now
With VANITY all glutted full to cloyment do
THE CURSE 105

Remember THIS IS NO PARIKSHA BUT

GRIM BATTLE TO THE DEATH! ’Tis time
[you thought
Of him, our Emperor who waits for the
Return of his Field Marshal to the sound
Of bugles blaring triumph, ; drums
Adinning Victory! ANGA! AWAKE!
Set on thy Serpent Shaft, forthwith, and with
Your ending Paartha’s life, END TOO
THIS MOST UNHOLY CARNAGE OF THE
[SCIONS OF
THE ROYAL KURU CLAN! It irks my
[very gall
When I recall the senseless slaughter of
This past fortnight! Think now; a trusting king
Blinded of pride and pow’r of new-’gat crown-
A Gaandhaara .o goad and mad him into ire—
A Paanchaalee affronted and her doughty lords
Aroused to fury—and here we have a massacre
Of millions with kith and kin ’gainst kin and
[kith}
A SINGLE MOMENT’S IRATE FRENZY
[AND
A ROYAL HOUSE AND CLAN SNUFF’D
[OUT!
And you, have held your hand all day,
Forgetting him our king and friend—
Prolonging this torturing fray !
Anga (As if from a reverie, Anga starts up ind replies
in a voice fraught with deep feeling)
You’re right, my lora; I am “prolonging this
Torturing fray’’! I deferr’d use of Naga Shaft
Because ....because.....I could not... bring my
{heart
TO ..WELL! (Pulling himself together)
106 KARN.

E’EN LOVE MUST DIE AT CALL OF

[LOYALTY
Maadra (Intrigued at Anga’s drowsy mien, and over
hearing the word ‘‘ Love’’—in a tone of admoni.
tion)
Yet asleep. Anga?? Mumbling oflove!
[Art dreaming *
And now! And here! You HAVE forgot The
[King
Anga You’re right ! My mind adreaming of love
DID lure my heart astray! I HAD forgot
The King My Master! But I’LL MAKE
[AMENDS
FOTHWITH! (Reaching for the serpent-shaft
fixes it to bow and trains it on ARJUNA)
Maadra (Highly Excited)
Look, Anga, look! That cunning cowherd sets
His steeds AREARING....meaning to lure thee
Into AIMING HIGH! Now, mark my words:
Anon, HE’LL SEND THE STEEDS
[ASTUMBLING SO,
THAT ARROW MISSES MARK! The wily
[worm!
SO AIM NO HIGHER THAN ARJUNA’S
[BREAST,
FOR IF THE HORSES “DIP”, why, Paartha’s
[NECK
IT IS WILL TAKE THE SHAFT!, and ensure
(death!
Anga (Obstinately)
I will not have Arjuna die in agony
 THE CURSE 107

OF CONQUERED SHAMEDNESS! AIM

[AT NECK
ENSURES HIM INSTANT DEATH!
[ HERE GOES
THE HOODED CICERONE TO USHER
[ ARJUNA
INTO HIS SIRE MAHENDRA’S REALMS!
(With eyes almost closed and sighing heavily,
releases shaft)
Maadra (Peering forward intently for a moment, suddenly
turns round on Anga and speaks in a scanda-
lised voice)
I told youso! Thai CALLID DEVIL DID
] DIP
HIS BEASTS! YOUR SHAFT HATH
[GLANCED WIDE OF THE MARK!
(Anga taken aback fora second, also peers
out. Leans back satisfied, and speaks in a
reassuring voice)
Anga Calm thyself and look, Maadra! DOST SEE
AUGHT GLIST’RING BY VAARSHNEYA’S
[SIDE ?
~Maadra (Peering out)
FORSURE ... ’TIS GREAT KIREETI’S
[GILDED CROWN!
Anga (Sighing) IT 1S KIREET’’'S CROWN!
[ POOR PAARTHA’S
CURLY PATE IS IN THAT CROWN!
[IN A PATHETIC TONE OF
SELF-ABASEMENT}
Maadra! I swear to thee!. my direst worst
[ defeat
108 KARNA

Could savour not such bitter gall to me

As this, my latest greatest victory !
Avaunt! Avaunt! Ye ugly tools of death,
Enough of havoc have ye worked !
(In utter disgust flings away his bow aud
quiver far out of the charioty)
But I forget The King! The King hath won:
[ the war!!
Long live The King! Long live the Emperor!
[ SWERVE
THY CHARIOT ROUND, MAADRA, AND:
[BRING ME TO THE KING!
(Maadra, who all this while has not taken his
eyes off Arjuna’s chariot, suddenly bursts out
in strident notes of indignation)
Maadra Cease thy drivel, and look, Anga! IJ told thee
{ so!
I told thee you would miss with aiming higher
[ than
Arjuna’s breast! Thy shaft hath done no
[ more
But floor his crown! For look! His limbs do
[ stir!
He’s yet alive! Lo! here returs the Naaga
{ Shaft
Abelching fires of fury, cozened of its prey!
This time be wary! Aim at Paartha’s breast,
No higher! [ forget: In blinding confidence
Of marksmanship, You ’ve cast your bow away!
I’]l fetch it in a trice.
(Prepares to jump off the chariot)
Anga Hoid hard !, Maadra, hold hard!
No need of bow to slay the foe!
THE CURSE 109

(His eyes blaze with anger and he mutters

almost under his breath)
And SO, I DID MISS after all! NOW
I see the meaning of that Old Dame’s ““IF YOU
[MISS ”!
As Mother did aver ’tis all but trickery!
’Twas naught but Krishna’s trickery did save
Arjuna from his certain doom!
Maadra (Leering)
You see it, NOW, do you? Now think, Anga:
What was it but that cowherd’s craftiness
Set woman-at-birth Sikhandin facing Gaangeya
And forced the dreaded Patriarch to quit
The battlefield he’d held unbeaten for
TEN LONG LONG DAYS OF BLOODY
ISTRIFE!
Who was it but that black-faced fox, did bluff
The unsuspecting Dharmayja into
Averring lie that broke Drona’s heart,
And made him easy prey to Draupadeya’s
Avenging hate? And now, that femine-featured
(fiend
Hath made a feckless fool of thee! Anga,
Why, IF THAT INK-FACED IMP ESCAPETH
[HELL,
I DO BELIEVE—THERE’S
HOPE OF
[HEAV’NFOR B’EN
THE VERY VERY WORST OF MEN!
Anga (Pensively)
Now | see it all! You’re right, Maadra:
Not battle fair, but vile and wily craft
It is, that’s sending us to sure defeat and death!
110
KARNA

Maadra (Sneering)
** Battle Fair’’ forsooth! Why, FAIRNESS,
[TRUTH
And PITY are but strangers to that deep
Designing black devil! Own cousin to the Queen
Kuntee, he uses ev’ry low down trick
To help his cousins win this war! The RIGHT
Or WRONG of it concerns him naught! And
[now
Anga, convoke thy senses! Wake thy languid
[mind
And limbs the while I go to fetch thy bow!
Anga (Gruffiy)
HOLD HARD....MAADRA ! THE SERPENT
[SHAFT,
I WILL NOT....MAY NOT USE AGAIN!
(Anga creeps forward to Maadra’s side and ex-
tending his right arm sweeps the field before him
and speaks, hissing his words between his teeth)
Anga You see yon fleld Maadra? You see thereon
Th’ assembled foemen of our King? You do
Not see the grassy plain they stand upon ?
But in a trice I'll make thee see the other side
Of Kurukshetra as but plain, plain, PLAIN
OF BARE BARE GRASS—WITH NOT A
[TRACE OF FOEMEN !
DESCEND THE CHARIOT AND FETCH
[ME BUT A BLADE
OF GRASS!
Maadra (Startled)
** Blade of grass’’! What ever for ?
THE CURSE 111

Anga (Laughing wildly)

WITH BLADE OF GRASS [ WILL
[ ANNIHILATE THE FOE
AS RAGING STORM SNUFFS OUT A
TAPER’S FEEBLE FLAME!
(Peremptorily)
COME NOW, A BLADE OF GRASS
[FORTHWITH !
(Maadra, in consternation at Anga’s wild
manner words and strange request fears for his
REASON .. . and appeals in earnest voice)
Maadra You are not well, Anga! Too ill in mind
[ thyself,
Spurn not my sane advice! The hissing
[ shaft awaits!
Jt is but BOW you want, not BLADE of
[ GRASS!
Anga (Indignantly)
°Tis YOU that’s mad to think my senses
[ stray!
(With a wild glow of triumph in his eyes and
elation in his voice)
MAADRA! DO YOU NOT HEAR
AND SEE, YOU FOOL!
"TIS RAAMA ... PARASU RAAMA
[SPEAKS ...- NOT ANG\!
DREAD RAAMA THAT, WITH BLADE
[OF GRASS USED
BY HIS PUPIL ANGA, WILL GLUT HIS
[ HATE
OF KSHATRIYAS! DOST HEAR,
[|MAADRA ?
A BLADE OF GRASS WILL END THIS
[ WAR!
(Maadra,, FULLY CONVINCED OF ANGA’S
112 KARNA

MENTAL ABERRATION, is thrown into a

panic)
* TIS RAAMA SPEAKS’?
“NOT ANGA”? [Why ?'
Anga, in sooth, you’re insane, man!
(Wringing his hands, looks helplessly about
him)
Now, here sa pass! The King’s last hope,
His trusted Marshal turns a maniac
Amid the very battlefield, and spurning bow,
Doth rave of ** blade of grass’?! God help
|The King!
[I DARE NO
LESS BUT RELEGATE THE
[ MADDED MARSHAL TO
HIS MAJESTY THE KING
(SETS ABOUT TO TURN THE CHARIOT
ROUND)
Anga (In irate fury)
THOU WERT EV’R A FOOL, MAADRA!
(Jumps off the chariot; walks on a step or
two.-.:.and stoops to pick a blade of
grass . - . speaking to himself all this while)
Rever’d Gurujee! Invoking this your Astra,
[ trust in your assurance that there is
AHIMSA in this slaying of so many men,
Not one of them mine enemy! Friend or foe,
Kith and kin or enemy... ’tis naught to me!
’TIS BUT MY KING I MAY THINK
[OF ... NONE ELSE!
O MOTHER MINE, AS I DID PROMISE
| THEE,
THE CURSE 113

HEREBY I’LL KNIT THYBROKEN

[ HEART AGAIN
ALBEIT AT CERTAIN COST OF
[BREAKING MINE:
(Proceeds a few steps and starts to bend to
pick a blade of grass Synchronising with the
while that Anga speaks the foregoing words,
Maadra mutters in a half aloud sneertng voice)
Maadra ‘¢ Blade of Grass’’ forsooth! The man
[ thinks he’s
A SHEEP! Forsure, he’s mad! But why
Call Anga mad? Am I not myself?:
Monarch of all Maadraland ,..am I
Not mad... aplaying Sootha to a
SOOTHA’S SON ?
(Maadra’s last words synchronise with the very
moment Anga’s hand reaches out to pick a
blade of grass the words *‘ SOOTHA-BORN”’
fallon Anga’s ears, and his forefinger and
thumb refuse to close on the blade of grass the
palsy spreads and his arm droops in helpless
despair, Anga turns to Maadra and speaks in
an agonised tone)

What hast thou done, thou dolt ! Thy flippancy

Hath robb’d The King of certain victory!
And robb’d him too of crown, of honour, aye
His very very life!
(Staggers back and comes to rest with his back
against a wheel of the chariot. Maadra,
observing Anga’s plight. jumps off the chariot
and running in panic, joins Anga)
114
KARNA
Maadra What’s this? Anga! Ascend the chariot !
Anga I cannot move! I’m paralysed of limb and
[frame !
Maadra ‘* Paralysed’’?! Wherefore? And how?
Anga (Smiling sadly)
You’ve seen me paralysed afore this, fool!
I see thy mem'ry is as Meagre as thy wits!!
Dost thou not mind Paanchaalee’s wedding
[ day ?
It was supposed sootha birth of mine
Thrown in my hearing . . paralysed ...
Ices? Gan. 3) nan. canored
(Swoons away, still resting on the chariot
wheel Maadra jumps to Anga’s side and in
frenzy of despair . . - in object tone)
Maadra A million fools in one am I! Anga!
Wake up! T’ll take thee back! A whole
[ night’s rest,
And you will be your self! Resume the fray
Tomorrow . why, you do not speak! Ye gods!
He’S fainted dead away! A dash of water cold!
There’s none to fetch! I’ll hie for it myself!
Exits precipitately, leaving the fainted Marshal
slill leaning senseless on the Chariot wheel)
VENUE 2: (ARJUNA’S CHARIOT)
Discovered: (Krishna briskly shaking Arjuna
who is prone on the floor of the
chariot)
Krishna Come come, Paartha! Awake thyself!
[ Shake off
Thy drowse! Arise and twang thy Gaandeeva
And forthwith show the world, it needs far
[ more
Than lowly-blooded sootha warriors
THE CURSE 115

To vanquish Peerless Phalguna fear’d of

The gods themselves !
(Arjuna wakes, looks about him and sits up
in dazed accents)
Arjuna Where am I? What! ? Is my chariot?
Meseem’d Krishna, that I was once again
In Forest Khaandava !, aslaying all
Its hooded denizens! Meseem’d too that
The hugest of those fearsome snakes escaped
My AGNI shaft and sprang at me! Its
[virose hiss
Did seem to numb my limbs and mind!
[ But now
I see it was but Anga’s Naaga shaft
Affrighted me and floored ine for the nonce!
Vil forthwith give him taste of REAL REAL
. [ FEAR
With this my SIVA SHAFT!
(Ftxes a shaft to his bow and trains it on
Anga’s empty chariot.
At sight of this. Krishna breaks into ringing
laughter)
Krishna Ha! Ha! Paartha! Messems the fit of faint
That laid thee low still holds thee in its clutch!
Do ope thy drowsy eyes their widest and
Look yonder! It’s but empty chariot
You are aiming at! A chariot bereft
Of charioteer and foe! Thy TARGET stands
WITHOUT the chariot, aleaning ’gainst
The wheel! The gods are good to thee,
Paartha !
The shadow that hath all thy life loom’d, in
Betwixt thyself and fame eternal as
The greatest bowman of all time, now stands
116 KARNA

Inviting death at doughty Jishnu’s hands!

Do not forget: Whilst Anga’s above ground,
The question of thy supreme mastery
With bow and shaft will e’er be moo: !
[ Speed on
Thy SIVA SHAFT AND SLAY HIM
[ ERE HE MOVES!
The very moment that thine astra finds
Its fleshy home in Anga’s breast, will find
Thee winning fame immortal as the slayer of
DREAD RAAMA’S DREADED PUPIL!
[ Now slay him!
(Paartha, who has been listening to Krishna’s
words with rigid face and unwinking eyes,
speaks to him in a sad bitter voice)
Arjuna “Eternal Fame”... Immortal name”. .2
forsooth!
With dauntless Gaangeya forced out of fray
By subterfuge! With Guru Drona slain
Trick’d into blind belief of two things that
May never be: A DYING KAARPEYA
And LYING DHARMAJA—Such claim for
[fame
As fighter fair, I ever did possess—
I forfeited to th’honey of thy tongue!
HE that speaks to thee Krishna,JS NOT
THE ARJUNA OF SIXTEEN BATTLED
DAYS AGO!
With passing of my sons HYDIMBA and
ABHIMANYU, my heart and mind are dead!
Dead too is very brutish call to live!
‘‘Supremacy of Bowmanship ”’ forsoorth! :
WITH CRAVEN UTTARA AS
CHARIOTEER,
THE CURSE 117

WITH SINGLE SHAFT I LAID THE KURU

|HOST
AGROVELLING! AND NOW I FIND ME
[FILLING ROLE
OF FECKLESS TOOL TO SERVE THY
[FELL DESIGNS,
ALLURED BY THY FEMINE EYES!
Krishna O Bhibhatsu, a mere man, that yet
Engaged ETERNAL Eeswara in fray !
Dhananjaya, whose twang of Gaandeeva
Doth quake the hearts of even deathless gods !,
DO NOT FORGET THAT FEMINE EYES IN
[MAN
ARE LESS UNMANLY THAN A FEMINE
[HEART IN HIM!
Hark! Canst thou not hear the whole whole
[battlefield
Acackling in derision at KIREET] STRIPP’D
OF CROWN BY SOOTHA FOE!? MORE
[INFAMOUS
THAN EVEN THIS IS THAT YOU SEEM
[NO MORE
BUT BRAGGART LIAR IN THE TRUSTING
[EYES
OF TRUTHFUL DHARMAJA!
Arjuna ‘“Braggart”’! ‘Liar’?! What mean you?
Krishna Bestir thy muffled memory! Do you
Not mind the day this fray began?:
Why you, in arrogance of thy prowess.
Did swear to Dharmaja, to lay the DIADEM
Of King Suyodhana at feet of Dharmaja
118
KARN

ERE SET OF THAT DAY’S SUN! AND

[SIXTEEN SUNS
HAVE SPANN’D THE FIRMAMENT SINCE
[THEN !
(From dry hard rotes, KRISHNA’S voice
Changes to an impassioned appeal—with just a
soupcon of threat in it)
I speak not, Paartha, to my sister’s lord:
I speak not to my well beloved friend ;
I speak but to the DUTY-BOUNDEN
[brother of
Poor King Yudhishthira!, and solemnly
Warn thee: THY WILFUL HOLDING BACK
[OF SIVA SHAFT
FROM SLAYING YONDER FOE, WILL
[SPELL NO LESS
THAN DHARMAJA—DEFEATED AND
[DISGRAC’D—
ENCHAINED TO THE CHARIOT-WHEEL
OF PROUD
SUYODHANA, WILL GROVEL DRAGG’D
[IN DUST AND MIRE
THE WHOLE WHOLE WAY TO HASTINA !
THE DOUGHTY BHEEMA AND
THE MAADREE TWINS WILL WATCH
[THIS SIGHT
IN IMPOTENT DESPAIR, heart-broken at
THEIR ELDEST BROTHER THROWN AS
[VICTIM TO
THE VANITY OF INDRA’S SCION:
[ARJUNA !
(Paartha, horrified in face and trembling in
limb and frame shrieks out in frenzied accents)
THE CURSE 119

Arjuna ‘* Dharmaja....defeated?!’ ‘‘ Chained to

Suyodhana’s chariot-wheel’’! And dragg’d
In dust to Hastina! I DARE NOT THINK
[OF IT
I’D RATHER DIE A HUNDRED DEATHS
[MYSELF!
Krishna Far wiser, nobler than dying thyself—
Why, live and slay the brother’s foe... THY
FOE!
Arjuna What HE...my foe? Not HE! SUYODHANA
[it is
I'd face and gladly slay !—Not Anga, there,
Not unarm’d Anga standing helpless. NO!
Krishna E’en Anga standing Jone and unarm’d is
Not as helpless aa POOR DHARMAJA
Deserted of his brother BHIBHATSU !
Arjuna But, Krishna, FIE! THE SHAME OF IT!:
AN UNARM’D FOE! I DARE NOT,
[CANNOT, WILL NOT SLAY
POOR HELPLESS ANGA THERE!
(LAYS DOWN HIS BOW AND LOOKS
AWAY FROM KRISHNA.
Kishna smiles sadly and speaks in a voice
soused in pity)
Krishna Vanity....eternal vanity
Which clouds the minds of men, ILLUDES
THEE TOO, Dhananjaya, into believing that
*TIS THOU THAT DOES THE SLAYING!
[List:
The arrow head in vanity of slaying, doth
Forget the shaft that guided it!
The shaft again in vanity of guiding arrowhead
120 KARN¢

Forgets the string that sped it on

The string again in vanity of guiding shaft
Forgets the BOW that help’d it spring;
The bow again, in vanity of springing stting
Forgets the MAN that bended it ;
And ke again, in vanity of bowmanship
Forgets th ETERNAL HE THAT EVER
(STANDS:
BEHIND HIM USING MAN FOR HIS OWN
[USE INSCRUTABLE!
Smother VANITY, Paartha, and think of but
[the CAUSE!!
The CAUSE that finds us both on
[Kurukshetra Field :
The CAUSE for which thy sons, thy friends,
[thy kith
And kin did fight and fall!
Arjuna (AS A FINAL PROTEST)
But this....this k!]ling of an unarm’d man
It seems to me, is unfair most unjust !
Krishna It is the PURPOSE of the killing, not
The MEANS and MANNER of the killing that
Decides the FAIRNESS... JUSTNESS of the
[killing! List!:
(Krishna fixes Arjuna’s eyes to his own by sheer
dominance of WILL and atmost BREATHES
his words in SEPULCHRAL notes)
Abjure AMBITION ; absorb ABSOLUTION '!
Perish FLESH! Cherish....nourish SPIRIT!
Erase thine ENTITY ! Embrace ENTIRETY !
Annihilate the INDIVIDUAL within thee!
THE CURSE 121

Assimilate the UNIVERSAL without thee!

Wi.h MIND usullied of all thoughts
Of GOOD AND BAD,
With heart unthrilled of all throbs
Of SAD and GLAD,
Think of but ME and slay thy FOE
That loometh there as shadow ’twixt
THY RIGHTEOUS brother and his
[RIGHTFUL throne
And lay the BURDEN of thy SELFLESS DEED
On thine eternal Alter Ego...ME!
(With eyes almost closed, as one ina trance-
with bosom heaving with deep sighs Arjuna
fixes shaft to bow and trains it on The Marshal
Anga, and with tears welling his eyes mutters
to himself)
Arjuna ANGA! MY life-long FOE... and yet
Unarm’d....helpless . poor....poor . ANGA!
(RELEASES THE SHAFT)
(Arjuna’s arrow buries itself in Anga’s breast
just the very moment that Maadra arrives with
a ewer of water at the Marshil’s side.
Scandalised into a frenzy of indignation at this
most cowardly slaying of the Marshal he
rushes forward...and...
planting himself facing Arjuna’s chariot roars
out in a voice heard all over the battlefield)
Maadra DASTARD ! DASTARD!
DASTARD
[ARJUNA !
A MILLION DASTARDS ALL IN ONE!
MIGHTY MAHENDRA’S SCION. YOU?:
IT IS A DASTARD LIE!
122
KARN

SPLENDENT SAUBHADREYA’S SIRE?:

NOT YOU, YOU DASTARD SWINE !
LOW, AS WAS THE MANNER OF
THY SLAYING THY GURU ..
THIS THY LOWEST DEED OF ALL
SHALL MARK THEE FOR ALL TIME
THE VERY LOWEST, MEANEST, MOST
DASTARDLY BOWMAN THAT EVER
DISGRAC’D A BATTLEFIELD OF fas
[OH !
HOW I MISSMY MACE!: I’D POUND THY
| [DASTARD FACE
TO..OH!...BUT THAT CAN WAIT! IHAVE
FORGOT THE WOUNDED MARSHAL!
(Rushes to the fallen Marshal and sitting at
Anga’s head takes the Marshal’s head into his
lap and looks helplessly about him; seeing none
near him shouts in stentorian voice)
WHAT HO! THERE! COME SOME ONE,
[HELP ! HELP!
THE MARSHAL’S WOUNDED ! COME!
WHAT HO! KAARPEYA ! COME!
(Pandemonium rules the whole field and mostly
in the immediate vicinity of the Marshal’s
chariot.
A crowd of battle-grimed warriors collect
around Maadra and his charge. ASWATTHA
rushes into the tableau like a wild and madden’d
bull and is struck aghast at the scence before
him:)
Aswattha What’s this I see ?
(Drops to his knees at Anga’s side)
THE CURSE 123

Speak, Anga! Speak!

Salya, how did this come to pass ?
Maadra The while our Anga sped his serpent shaft,
That craven Paarth’s life wast saved
By Krishna’s craftiness! Whilst Anga rested in
A swoon—helpless, senseless=on the chariot-
[whee]l—
Paartha, the lump of clay in yonder coal-
[black cobra’s hands.
Did send his shaft into a man in swoon!
E’er heard of such a dastard deed ?
Oh! How J miss my mace!
Aswattha (Pours a few drops of water from the ewer into
Anga’s mouth)
Speak ! Anga, speak! [ come from our King,
[The King
Who ‘waits thy returnin triumph! And... I
[....find thee ..thus !
(Turns his face away to dash his tears away
His eyes settle on Paartha’s chariot His face
twists into a frenzy of anger! His eyes blaze!
Turning to Anga)
BUT HAVE NO FEARS, ANGA! ILL
[VENGE THY DEATH!
Anga (In weak hut clear accents :
My death is naught, You fool! The King!
‘TIS HE that matters everything !
Look to the King we love’ !
The craftiness and treachery that overcare
Us all might strike at him. Our King!
Rally round The King and do not lose
124 KARNA

Your sight of him!

ASSURED THAT THE
[KING IS SAFE
I DIE CONTENT IN PEACE!
(Aswattha and Maadra restrain their sobs with
much effort)
Aswattha How came it, Salya, that the Marshal left
Your chariot ?
Maadra (Hanging his head down)
You’ve known me all your life, Kaarpeya !
A million fools in one am IT in ev’rything,
Except in use of Mace..........
Aswattha (Snapping at Maadra in disgust)
Your precious mace!, forsooth !
With self-same mace!, A BHEEMA,
[BALABHADRA or
MY VERY SELF, THE KING....and ANGA
[HERE
COULD ALWAYS
POUND YOUR
[HOGGISH FACE
PAST, COGNITION OF THINE OWN VERY
[MOTHER! Mace
Forsooth! You self-drunk fool !
Anga (Smiling faintly and speaking with obvious
effort)
Just what I called poor Maadra! List:
°Twas all thiswise, Kaarpeya: Il
Was bending for a blade of grass
To help me to invoke my GURU’S DEADLY
[ASTRA *“SBHAARGAVA”
Meaning to destroy the foemen of The King
At single breath! But Maacra here
THE CURSE 125

[In self-puff’d vanity of royal blood

Did shout aloud within my hearing, his
Regret at playing sootha to a real sootha
—As he and you all think I am !—
And hence....my limbs ...but you can guess
The.....rest!
Aswattha Enough, Anga, I understand! It was
This empty-headed buffalo that.........
Maadra (In abject remorse)
Go on! Goon! Don’t stop! I do
Deserve it all! Believe me, Anga, I
Would give my life, my very soul
To undo what my thoughtless folly hath...
Anga (Gently stroking Maadra’s cheek)
NAY NAY, MAADRA! FRET NOT!
[FRET NOT!
IT WAS NO FAULT OF THINE! FRET
[NOT !
(Holding the hands of both)
NOW LIST, MY BROTHERS IN THE
[CAUSE
OF HIM-THE KING WE LOVE, IT WAS
NO THOUGHTLESS FOLLY OF THE LORD
OF MAADRA BROUGHT ABOUT MY END!
‘TWAS NOT EVEN KRISHNA’S
[CALLIDNESS
THAT SEES ME THUS!
WHAT REALLY BROUGHT ME TO THIS
[PASS
AND SEES ME DYING YHUS, IS NO
[WHIT LESS
THAN DREAD RAAMA’S DREAD CURSE:
A BRAHMIN’S POTENT CURSE !
126 KARNA

Aswattha (With eyes ablaze)

*“A BRAMHIN’S CURSE”! ANGA!
RAAMA’S CURSE FORSOOTH!
YOU DO FORGET THAT I’M A BRAHMIN
(TOO!
I PRAY THE GODS BUT THAT YOU LIVE
[TO HEAR
THIS POTENT BRAHMIN’S POTENT
[CURSE !
(Aswattha rises and walks a few steps and
turns and faces Arjuna’s chariot WITH EYES
AFLAMING, WITH THE MUSCLES OF
HIS LIMBS AND TORSO ALL ATAUT, HE
ADDRESSES ARJUNA IN A_ LION’S
ANGRY ROAR)
INGRATE PAARTHA THAT DID
[KNOWINGLY HELP IN
THE SUBTERFUGE OF LIE THAT SLEW
(THY TUTOR!
CRAVEN PAANDAVA THAT, HID,BEHIND
[SHIKHANDIN SET
THY SHAFTS ON GRANDSIRE THAT DID
[BRING THEE UP!
DASTARD ARJUNA THT DRAGG’D THY
(WARRIOR CASTE IN MIRE
BY SPEEDING ARROW ON A MAN IN
[SWOON!
NOT ALL THE CUNNING OF THAT
[HUMAN-FIEND THAT SITS
THERE BY THY SIDE MAY WORK A
[DEATHLESS HUMAN’S DEATH!
THE CURSE 127

NOW LIST, LIST TO A DEATHLESS

[BRAHMIN’S CURSE!:
IN HARVEST OF THY HAVING SLAIN
[THY GURU AND THY KIN
UNFAIRLY AND UNRIGHTEOUSLY, I
[SOLEMNLY DO CURSE
THAT NOT A SINGLE SCION OF THY
[SINFUL HOUSE OR SEED
SHALL EVER EVER RULE THIS LAND!
AND IN FULFILMENT OF THIS CURSE.
[I SOLEMNLY AVOW
THAT I WILL NOT DISCHARGE THE
[FUNERAL RITES
OF MY DEMISED SIRE UNTIL I SLAY
[WITH MINE OWN HANDS
E’RY SINGLE SPAWN OF PAANDU’S
[TAINTED BLOOD!
AND LEST MY BRAHMIN’S WEAKLY
[BLOOD
DO TURN ME CRAVEN TO MY VOw,
TILL I FULFIL MY VENGING VOW
I THUS RENOUNCE MY BRAHMINHOOD!
(SNAPS HIS SACRED THREAD
and returns to Anga’s side and drops to his
knees at Anga’s head which still vests in
Maadra’s lap.)
YOU HEARD MY CURSE. ANGA,
NOW DIE A HAPPY MAN!

Anga (Raising his head with great effort)

‘‘Happy man” forsooth! You fool! You fool!
Take back thy curse! Take back thy curse!
 KARNA

WHY, THOU HAST SWORN BUT TO

[EXTIRPATE
MY OWN...MY OWN...MY VERY....(Sinks
back. Mustering the very last few driblets of
strength in his frame from which his life is
fast ebbing away, Anga raises his head for the
last time)
WOE BE THE HOUR I SAW THE LIGHT
[OF DAY !
WHILST ALL MY LIFE A BRAHMIN’S
[POTENT CURSE
HATH HOUNDED ME AND MADE ME
: [FATAL TO
MY LOVERS AND MY FRIENDBS....E’EN
(THIS,
THIS VERY MOMENT OF MY DYING
[FINDS
ME STARTING YET ANOTHER BRAH-
[MIN’S CURSE !
(Anga’s head drops and he falls back DEAD
Aswattha and Maadra bury their heart-bursting
sobs in the bosom of the Dead Marshal Anga
whimpering)
“OUR ANGA!” “OUR GREAT ANGA!”
(“OUR POOR POOR ANGA”!

The Curtain Drops Slowly!

Ap pendix

A Play is Born

ROOM in the West End Hotel, Bangalore: Kailasam is

= giving a recital of his first born English play, ‘‘ The
Purpose’’, woven out of an episode in the Bhaarata.
The reading was at the instance of Dr. (Sir) C. R. Reddy
who was one of the earliest celebreties to recognise the
genius of Kailasam.
The recital ended, but not the play reading as such,
because Kailasam was provoked to cogitate on the afier-
math of Ekalavya’s sacrifice. He was quick to respond
and the immediate result was ‘‘ Fulfilment’’, where
Krishna kills Ekalavya.
That over, silence prevailed ; silence not of the mind
and heart but only of the voice! It was broken, again by
Dr. Reddy who ona sudden said, ‘‘ Kailasam. have you
thought of Karna ?”’
That perhaps was the moment Kailasam was waiting
for. He was fidgeting to go out on some pretext to have
asmoke. And Dr. Reddy provided it. Quick came his
replyiis 2a
‘* Never
thought of him sir, yet. A seven minutes
.... Outside sir, and you can then have it.”’
“Oh! [know! you want to smoke. You can very
well smoke here Kailasam. Go ahead.’’
Kailasam was averse to smoke before elders.
Dr. Reddy understood.
 2

“Just seven minutes sir! not more — outside.’’

It was almost a plea.
Dr. Reddy appreciated the sense behind it. ‘‘ Very
well then, Take ten if you like. And then, I know what
can: have; ..4er
“* Sure sir! You will have it inside of seven, not
Lent: .
Kailasam went out, lighted a double fag . . . . smoked
hard ; all the time mumbling questions like ‘‘ Karna? his
birth.... Oh yes, son of the sun; flung adrift, Radha,
mother, sootha, the Guru’s curse. Oh yes! he had a curse
dogging his heels right thro’ his life. The Swayamvara, the
Sabha scene, the killing ....”’’ ‘*I haveit!’’, he suddenly
exclaimed, threw away the two stubs half-smoked and
rushed in....said simply .... “‘ I have it. sir!”
Dr. Reddy sat down to listen with an inviting smile.
That was enough for Kailasam.
Thus sprang the play ‘‘ Karna”’ in five acts, traversing
the entire gamut of Karna’s life... + in twenty minutes.
Dr. Reddy was not surprised at the entirely original
concept.
‘“Kailasam, he said, emphasing each Jetter, ‘‘ This
is the real Karna, the original! Oh! You must write it.
It .... it....’tis magnificent and ..true .. to the
original, I should say.”
Some one of the other four listeners quipped: “‘ but
the Sabha scene, sir, it is not the original ?”’

{It was Reddy’s turn to be provoked: “* /t ought to

have been the original!’ he snapped.
 3

That is how “‘ Karna’’ happened way back 42 years

in 1927.
Kailasam took 17 years to type it out; and out of
many copies made by others, one found the light of day
in 1944, as the first print.
The one script he prepared sedulously, he gave to
his uncle T. Amritalingam Iyer whom he often consulted
‘to brush up a few things’’ as he would say, about the
episodes from the Mahabhaarata or the Raamaayana.
Twelve years after Kailasam’s passing, in 1958,
Amritalingam’s nephew and son-in-law V. T. Sreenivasan,
who has been of great heip to me in panning out funds to
print Kailasam’s works, took me to Kodai Kanal as his
uncle’s guest. Once there, I read out some plays of
Kailasam to the venerable gentleman. He got up from
his armchair, ransacked a chest of drawers and pulled out
** that’’ type script ‘‘ Karna’’, ‘*‘ nestling’? with him for
over 15 years.
He blessed me later by sending Rs. 250 as a token to
bring out Kailasam’s works. This formed the nucleus
for my venture and the result is about 13 works of
Kailasam printed so far and thls ** Karna’”’.
[The 20-minute recital before Dr. Reddy was
the epktome of a screen play, which probably
Kailasam wanted filmed: The crisp heading and
his notes as to its being projected as a three-reeler
glimpse of Karna’s life are seen in a block on
page 28.)
Kailasam
A Literary Phenomenon
K. SAMPATHGIRI RAO

Sanskrit and the Sanskrit epics and classics made

a profound impression on Kailasam He was not deeply
learned in Sanskrit, perhaps, but he had a working
knowledge of the language; and had inherited from his
father Justice T. Paramasiva [yer (author of Riks which
interprets the Rigvedic hymns as poetic descriptions of
geological and chemical changes in the glacial period)
something of the originality and independence of approach
to these ancient works, and from his saintly uncle Justice
T. Sadasiva Iyer of Madras, something of the reverence
to these classics and an appreciation of the spiritual truths
of life as set forth by ancient Hindu seers. We get an
indication of this in the Dedication of his English play,
Karna, to his uncle which runs to the following effect:
‘*Sacred to the memory of Sir T. Sadasiva Aiyer, M.L.>
Diwan Bahadur, Kt., in the halo of whose immaculate life
the humble author ope’d his baby eyes to this wonder-
world of the Lord’s marionette play, The Mahabhaarata.”’

Kailasam was known as ‘paapa’ (baby) by relations at

home, and he considered himself more specially one in
respect of his revered uncle who was one of God's own
good men, for him as well as for those who knew him.
 5

Almost contemporaneous with his early efforts in

Kannada, his mind was dwelling on themes from the
Mahabhaaratha ; and he was beginning to conceive, in his
own uniquely vivid way, the great characters of the epic:
Ekalavya, Arjuna, Drona, Bhishma, Karna, Krishna, and
others. The character of Ekalavya, the forester—generally
remembered as the beau ideal of a perfect disciple, who by
dint of his unswerving devotion to his garu (‘Guru-bhakt1’)
becamc a master archer greater than even his guru,
exercised a fascination on Kailasam, and provided the
theme of Purpose, his first English play. About this time
he was drawn to Pandit Taranath of Tungabhadra.
Taranath’s deep knowledge of Vedantic thought, versatile
accomplishments and charming discourses in mellifiuent
Kannada had made him one of the most effective and
respected of apostles of the national awakening in the
Gandhian era. Panditjitook kindly to Kailasam and gave
him that understanding, sympathy and encouragement,
which means so much to creative artists. Kailasam’s
Purpose thus came to be first published in Prema
quarterly magazine edited by Pandit Taranath—with an
appreciative note and comment by the editor. This and
subsequent writings in English—plays and sonnets—
possessed his whole being and stirred him to his depths.
Both in conception and artistic execution his English
writings reveal such rare originality of approach and
profundity of thought and feeling that as a dramatic
artist he was indeed justified in looking upon these as the
acme of his achievement.
The Transformation ”

(from Dr. Reddy’s Introduction to ‘*‘ The Purpose ’’)

Stir. KAILASAM has made an indisputably high name

ra for himself as, to use an expression of Dr. Cousins,
a critic of contemporary life.
Mr. Kailasam is one of the few playwrighits in India
about whom it could be said with truth that his art is
like true poetry: at bottom accriticism of life. Most
of his plays belong to this category. But they are not
the subject matter of this foreword.
In this play ‘Ekalavya’ and in another on ‘Karna’
Kailasam plays with success a new role. He is the
interpreter of some of our classical themes, more
especially the episodes and characters of the greatest
book in the world’s literature: the Mahabhaarata, which
to the Hindu art and mind is as old as the beginnings
of that Epic. Several plays of Bhaasa, the illustrious
precursor of Kalidasa, are either interpretations ofthe
Epic as it is today or versions of variant legends current
at the time. One of the latest of such interpreters is
Rabindranath Tagore, the Laureate of India, who has
written quite a number of playlets bringing out what he
considered to be the inwardness of those immortal heroes
and heroines: Karna, Gaandhaaree, Dhritaraashtra,
Arjuna, Chitraangada, and the rest of the galaxy.
 7

No wonder that Mr. Kailasam has also succumbed

to this irresistible fascination. He has done so in good
company and comes out good.
To my knowledge, the Episode of Ekalavya, which
appears in the ‘‘ Aadi’’ Parva and to which there is a
passing reference in the ‘‘ Drona’’ does not appear to
have been taken up by any other writer for treatment.
As far as I know, this is Kailasam’s patent.
Kailasam’s interpretation has taken two directions.
Firstly, there is a transformation of characters and
secondly invention of incidents which form an extraordi-
nary but most impressive account.
X X X x X

And What a transformation of the Mahabhaarata

episodes! But has Kailasam taken any more liberty than
Kalidasa has done in his ‘‘Sakuntala’’? Has Kailasam
not given us a narrative, in many respects, of high poetic
power? It may not be fact as given by Vyaasa. But
was Vyaasa giving fact? In Poetry there is only one
fact: IMAGINATION. And Kailasam has given us
THAT.
[Thus, Dr. Reddy introduced Kailasam’s play
‘* Purpose’’ long before it was published. A part
of the introduction which applies to ‘* Karna’’ as
well, is reproduced above because a_ 14-page
(foolscap size) introduction to ‘‘ Karna’’ which Dr.
Reddy gave personally to Kailasam in 1944,
25 years ago, has been lost irrevocably.]
 T. P. Kailasam:
the gentle hurricane
ProF. S. K. RAMACHANDRA RAO
Principal, College of Oriental Studies and Professor,
Callison College Study Centre, Bangalore University

AT midnight on Nov. 23, 1946 disappeared a bright

comet from the firmanent of Kannada letters. Like
a comet, T. P. Kailasam was a freak of nature, an unusual
and extra-ordinary phenomenon, a wonder and an enigma
to the common mind. He was undoubtedly a genius who
eluded ready understanding, and occasioned numerous
legends about himself.
An estimation of his dazzling personality or an
assessment of hisimpish impact on contemporary Kannada
is by no means easy even for those who knew him well,
moved with him and were acquainted with the facets and
foibles of his career and productions. I can lay claim to
none of these, and an invitation to write on one who was
so essentially a brilliant wit and a creative artist can
indeed be embarrassing. But in a sense Kailasam belongs
even to those who knew him not and to those who feel,
with the late Sir C. R. Reddy, ‘“‘Here is a gem of the first
quality and cut in the best style. Fortunate is the
Kannada country that it has such a jewel to wear.”’
The picture of him presented by his friends and
admirers is a quaint mixture of slovenliness and saintli-
 9

ness. According to this picture, he was remarkably

unusual in his very making. Wildest oddities joined
hands to make him a fascinating eccentric. In personal
habits he was most awful, what with living comfortably
in the dirt-laden and dingy nooks, ceaselessly smoking
and drinking, awake all night talking or walking. But
by temperament he was severely ascetic and uncompro.
misingly siraight. With his most eloquent modernisms
he was rooted in convention. He had thoroughly absorbed
Western culture in all its aspecis, but he remained a pious
Hindu to the core.

He had an irrepressible sense of humour in the direst

of situations, but some poignant disappointment ate all
the while into his vitals. When he cracked a joke, every-
one knew that his heart wept and bled. “If I laugh,”
confessed Carlyle, ‘‘It is that I may not weep.’’ Like
Carlyle, Kailasam too had reason to weep. He was
forlorn, flung adrift, terribly alone, in his own words ‘‘a
nameless aimless waif on earth.” But he had courage in
his heart and strength in his character ; he laughed and
made peace with the wicked world. His spirit was gentle
althougha hurricane tossed his life. Listen to what he
wrote during the last world war:
The talk in train or tram or bus
Is all of war and gore!
To me, why, all this war-time fuss
Is but a beastly bore!

His career was a reflection of the oddities of his

temperament. Born in 1884 (July 29) in Bangalore as the
son of Mr. T. Paramasiva Iyer, who was a judge of the
 10

Mysore High Court, his early education was in Bangalore,

Mysore and Hassan. He graduated from the Presidency
College, Madras and obtaining a Stipend from the
Government of Mysore he proceeded in 1908 to England
to specialize in Geology.
He joined the Royal College of Science, London, and
came out of it with seven prizes; he was elected Fellow of
the Royal Geological Society. Outbreak of the world
war in 1914 found him back in India the following year.
The Mysore Government appointed him the same year as
a senior geologist on probation, and he worked in this
capacity for five years. He was doing fine when suddenly
on the first of July, 1920 he relinquished his post and
became free. After this he remained all his life both
‘unemployed and unemployable,’ in his own words.

He came from an illustrious family of administrators

and scholars. He was bornrich, had the best of education,
and held a high office. He was married and had children.
He had everything that a worldling would wish to make
life pleasant and prosperous. Bu} there was something
amiss somewhere, and he turned his back on all this.
Perhaps the unruly genius that was within him drove him
to restlessness. In any case, he began to live like a
solitary sufi, spurning pleasures and intent on literary
perfection with a single-minded devotion, as an aspect
of his personal salvation.
He was indeed an amazing man. While in England
he had made a mark as a keen sportsman in hockey and
football; he was incomparable as a goalkeeper; in tennis,
chess and billiards he was proficient. Physical culture
 11

had always attracted him, and his muscle-control was

admired by no less a master than Eugene Sandow. He
could freely modulate his voice, mischievously mimic and
daringly impersonate on the stage. He could sing and
act exceedingly effectively. He could catch an English
tune and dub an original Kannada piece into it, excelling
in effect. What he did to ‘Tis a long way to Tipperary’ in
1911 on a stage in London, thrilling the audience there
with a Kannada song, has become famous. He was an
enticing conversationalist, a brilliant wit, an authority on
dramatic art, and an unflinching devotee of the classics.
He was thoroughly a man of the masses, with nothing of
the snob in his make-up.

His literary creations have found an abiding place in

the annals of Kannada literature. They no doubt form a
Strange species. His plays are precisely pages fiom real
life; the events are everyday affairs, the characters are
common persons, and conversations mockingly realistic.
Humour is the major note in all his plays, but a
discerning eye will detect the undercurrent of satire, and
a relentless criticism of contemporary society. Kvrilasam
la ighingly exposes the unbecoming hypocrisy that prevails
in our sophisticated ranks. His plays are in fact lectures
in disguise. The playwright moralises, admonishes.
entreats and condemns; he pricks the air bubbles, and
shows up the ‘biceps’ of honesty and integrity.
In his twenty-eight years of literary life he has
fathered in print fourteen social plays and about six
puranic plays. The former are all in Kannada, and some
of the latter are in English. His first play Hollow and
 12

Solid (Tollu Gatti) was published in 1918, even when he

was in service. It is said that there are still some thirty
plays of his which remain unpublished: manuscripts of
most of them have either been lost or are in bits-
Kailasam himself wrote little ; he did not wield the pen as
much as he did his tongue.

When inspired, it was his habit to dictate the lines to

a trusted and enthusiastic young admirer who volunteered
to reduce them to writing, under of course, most trying
circustances. All his plays that have seen the light of
the day have thus been due to a devo'ed band of literary
men: T. T. Sharman, K. V. Iyer, Hiranya Sharma,
E. R. Sethuram, B. S. Rama Rao and others. Kailasam
created profusely, incessantly; but for the preservation
of what he created he believed in the luck of posterity.
Luck of course is an unknown and erratic quantum. But
Kailasam was not to be shackled by contemporary
considerations.

His plays and poems glow with a strange fervour, a

fervour to increase the happiness of mankind by our
deeds and words and thoughts. That for Kailasam is the
only sense in our earthly sojourn: otherwise life is
meaningless. He assumed the role of the ‘great grand-
father of Kannada humour’ (Karnataka-prahasana-
prapitamaha) in order to make us laugh and thus forget
for a while the miseries of daily life.

He had heard th still, small voice whispering in his

ears that the rent we should pay for living on this earth
is to make others around us happier than they were.
 13

Kailasam concentrated, in the full sense of the word, his

whole life on this objective. That was his Purpose, his
Burden, his Fulfilment.

In his own words:

‘*A poet’s guerdon is not gold,

Noi Parian bust, not trappings brave!
A tear, a titter from young and old
Is all the meed I meekly crave! ”’

[Courtesy: Deccan Herald, Bangalore]

Upon A Trail of Glory
R. SUNDARAM

(Mr. R. Sundaram, Kailasam’s bro-in-law R. S. Raja Iyer’s

son, assistant chief accountant in the Indian Telephone
Industries, Bangalore, wroteon Kailasam under the caption
*“Upon a trail of Glory’’, in the 19-11-1961 issue of the
Deccan Herald, Bangalore-!. Mr. Raja lyer was for years,
the port commissioner and chief customs officer at
Porbunder in Sourashtra.]
.

AYN RAND succinctly observes ‘‘As...down the

Cc centuries, a few men sand in lonely rectitude that we
may look and say, there is a human race behind us.”’
Kailasam belonged to this select band of individuals and
blazed a trail of glory still cherished by lovers of the
Kannada language. On November twenty third, in
1946, this famous poet and playwright breathed his
last though his rich literary legacy makes it difficult to
believe that he is dead. Few would have guessed on
Kailasam’s reiurn from England, that the young man,
immaculately dressed in Western style, heavily dosed
with geology, would develop into the enfant terrible of
Kannada literature within the short span of fifteen years.
Kailasam shot like a meteor into the literary firma-
ment employing the popular tongue of Karnataka. It is
difficult to classify Kailasam who had a style, peculiarly
his own, though he no doubt belonged to the galaxy of
writers like Ibsen and Bernard Shaw—iconoclasts of
literature. There had been no dearth of talent in
Kannada drama but none could equal the inimitable
Kailasam. Kailasam was original to the core in the
choice of his themes as well as the characters he port-
 15

rayed through his works. Perhaps he believed in

Tagore’s dictum:
Take my wine in my own cup, friend.
It loses its wreath of foam when poured into that of
others,
Kailasam’s forte was the spoken language—an admix-
ture of Kannada and English. He chose his characters
effortlessly out of the common mass of humanity and
made them speak for themselves. Social satire was the
principal theme of his writings, but he madeit intoa
fine art punctuated with a keen sense of humour.
As in the case of Mark Twain it was not uncommon
for Kailasam to be called a jester. What a jester he
was ! To borrow the words of an eminent biographer of
Mark Twain, ‘‘But jesters of this type are men witha
grin upon their faces and acid in their hearts. And they
put on the comic mask as a means for concealing the
tears that lurk behind it.’ Kailasam’s ‘‘ Home Rule”’
and ‘‘Ammavara Ganda”’ brought into sharp relief the
false sense of values entertaincd by people who preened
themselves on the fact that they belonged to the upper
Strata of society. Stripped of its mask, Kailasem found
that ‘‘eristocracy” was nothing but a skeleton in the
cupboard. Katlasam depicted the cussedness of human
nature through his ‘‘Huttadalli Hutta’? and *‘Anookoola-
kkobbanna”’ while ‘*Namma Brahmanike’’and‘‘Bandavala-
villada Badayi’’ were meant to expose the simple thinking
and high living practised by the sophisticated lot of his
age. According to Kailasam, many of the characters
appearing in these plays spotlighted the doubtful products
of modern civilisation. Kailasam threw away the comic
 16

mask with the passage of time.and wrote ‘‘Soolay’’ which

mirrored one of the grossest ills of civilised society. One
is tempted io liken this play to Shaw’s ‘‘Mrs. Warren’s
Profession’? based on the concept that ‘‘rich men without
conviction are more dangerous in modern society than
poor women without chastity.” Kailasam’s ‘‘Soolay’’
tried to focus the attention of the public on the origin of
fallen women—a canker eating into the vitals of our
social fabric.
Curiously enough, Kailasam did not stop with his
first love—Kannada—but produced two brilliant Puranic
plays in English, ‘‘The purpose” and ‘‘Karna”. Both are
masterpieces .and are still widely read for they contain
masterly analyses of human nature in days when Dharma
reigned supreme. The philosophy of life ingrained in
these two dramas can best be understood in Kailasam’s
own words—‘‘Worth, intrinsic worth it is, my liege, Not
Accidental Birth that gauges a human’s use for Mother
Earth.’ Poetry was another string in his literary bow.
Kailasam’s ‘‘ Little Lays and Plays’’, a collection of
poems on various topics and personalities, is excellent
fare for discerning readers.
Kailasam’s plays are as difficult to be enacted as they
are to be easily understood. To quote the words of an
eminent writer, ‘‘We can divide a meal among many men.
We cannot digest it ina collective stomach’’. Continuity
of thought and keeping the tempo throughout a passage
are essential to effective display of histrionic talents as
far as Kailasam’s plays are concerned- He was an actor
par excellence himself ard had to pull the audience up if
they failed to grasp his witticisms on the stage. It is
 17

pleasant to recall his remark once, ‘‘Ladies and gentlemen,

Kailasam cannot make you Jaugh unless you make up
your minds to /augh’’.
Strange as it may seem, Kailasam broke new ground
not only in dramatic technique but also in his mode of
living. He never liked things to be in order and loved.
confusion. It was a common sight to find him
slightly clothed and reeling off his thoughts crouched on
a charpoy in a room littered wiih cigarettes, books and
papers. Perhaps, he felt stifled in the seemingly comfort-
able but artificial a‘mosphere that generally surrounded
people of his social status. He came out into the open
to devote his energies to uplift the common man through
his writings. He did not wish to isolate himself from the
misery that stalked the land.
Kailasam was the fountainhead of satire and carved
out a niche for himself in the hearts of the people of
Karnataka. That ‘‘Kailasam Day’’ is being observed
throughout the Kannada land bears eloquent testimony to
his literary genius and is sufficient homage to the memory
of one who brought about a veritable revolution in stage-
craft. Everyihing he spoke and wrote had a distinctive
look.
Dr, C. R. Reddy was right when he declared, ‘‘ He
occupies a unique position in the Kannada country as a
solitary, with none to keep him company except as
audience. Greater than any writer I have known is
Kailasam in dramatic technique.’’
[ Courtesy: Deccan Herald, Bangalore ]
So the kindly Readew ......

After the first revised edition of ‘‘Lays’’ was

published, I chanced to light on half a dozen scripts of
Kailasam including a letter written to mein 1945 from
Madras, where he was working for a couple of years,
editing, printing and publishing a weekly journal ‘‘ Burma
Naadu”’ pleading the cause of those unfortunate Indians
who trekked their way back homewards from Burma
apprehending its likely occupation by the Japanese in the
second world war. The journal breathed the air of the
returning Indians with such sinceriiy that every line of it
touched their fellows here in India and all help was
extended to them once their sad plight was known.
As usual, Kailasam working on his typewriter would
occasionally branch off to note down flashes of his
genius, most of which would of course look disjointed.
To illustrate his erratic, ‘‘in moods” and “out of
moods’ writing—scribbling you may call it—I have
printed here the sonnet on Krishna and Drona—the
former can be read only through a magnifying glass and
the latter is clearly written as in a copy book. Kailasam
could if he wanted to, write legibly or scribble so as to be
intelligible only to himself and to God, as he used to say!
Incidentally, the ‘‘ proem”’ to ‘‘ Bhishma’s passing ”’
which he wanted to write as a ten-act play ‘‘ Ekaraatra’’,
starts with a poem ‘‘ Paandu Thyaaga’’—the renunciation
 19

by Paandu of all his rights in Hastina’s Kingdom—part

of which is printed here in English and Kannada,
interspersed with his scribblings.
Lastly, the attention of the reader is drawn to his
letter of July 23rd 1945 from Madras wherein he states
wW that heis ‘‘living only to finish’? about seven of his
creations. The seven he was keen on finishing before
embarking on others were, Gurthee, Kaali’s Kids,
Ramanna VC, Renuka, Ekaraatra, Kittee and Ahobloo
and afew others! and 7 is Expiation. This was on the
eve of his choice as the Chairman of the Kannada Sahitya
Parishad meeting which was scheduled to be held in
December 1945 in Madras. He presided over it under
sufference, one can say, and out of great respect to
C. Rajagopalachari who inaugurated the Conference.
Hardly a year after that ‘‘ show of himself’? as he
termed it, Kailasam passed away on November 23-24,
1946 at ‘‘ Avanti’’ at Bangalore in the house of his cousin
Sri V. T. Sreenivasan who has been virtually of great help
in my itineraries giving recitals of Kailasam’s plays and
collecting monies to print them.
Just a personal note if you please! These books are
not sold by me but given as gifts to institutions which sell
them and utilise the returns to further a worihy cause of
their own choosing, in Kailasam’s name.

Acknowledgements
I must mention a few very generous friends and
admirers of Kailasam who have helped me with their
contributions recently, in addition to those I have already
 20

listed in ‘*The purpose’’ and the “ Little Lays and

Plays ’’’ and other Kannada Works.
This series of contributions started with Kempapura
Agrahara K. Ramaswamy’s Rs. 20 as usual.
The BEL Kannada Sangha followed with Rs. 30.
Sri Pattabhi Rama Reddy, producer of the film
**Samskaara’’, paid me Rs. 116 for a two-day engage-
ment and Principal B. Ramakrishna Rao of J C.B. College,
and Postmaster Narasimha Murthy, both of Sringeri,
Rs. 38.
Sri Y. M. Narasimha Murthy, Director and General
Manager of the International Chemical and Biological
Institute, Bangalore-4 paid me Rs. 100 on behalf of the |
Institute.
The MICO fine arts society through the kind courtesy
of its Personnel Manager Sri Gopinath and accounts
manager Sri K. Velayudhan, sent in a cheque for Rs. 100.
The Maharashtra Mahila Mandal Girls High School,
Basavangudi, and the Madhava Krishnaiya’s Girls High
School, Chamarajapet, gave me Rs. 60 each.
The Mahila Karmikara Sangha, Hanumantha Nagara,
through Auditor M- G. Shetty, sent in 20 reams of crown
size printing paper.
These contributions have enabled me to bring forth
Karna in English, Thaalikattookkooleenay and Ekalavya
in Kannada. Acknowledgments are due to them and also
to those donors mentioned in the end pages of the other
works of Kailasam, so far published.
 21

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 28

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This is the intro for a three-reeler film on Karna, the ‘Renunciation’
bringing into vivid contrast the two mothers and compressing in it, a
epitome of Karna’s life and death in a flash. The full play expanded o+
this and the sonnet in Kailasam’s hand on page 24.
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KAILASAM’S WORKS
NEW ISSUE
Kannada:
Tollugatti (Part!) »* Vaidyana Vyaadhi
Bahishkara * Polee Kittee x Ammavra Ganda
Homerule-oo x Bandavaalavillada Badayee
Sattavana Santhaapa x Thaavarekeray
Anukoolakkobbanna x Seekarnay Savithree
English :
The Purpose x Little Lays and Plays
Karna »* Keechaka
Available at:

Tue GOKHALE INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS ~

Narasimharaja Colony, Bangalore-19

Tue INDIAN INSTITUTE OF WORLD CULTURE

B. P. Wadia Road, Basavangudi, Bangalore-4

MAHILA KARMIKARA CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD.

Hanumantha Nagara, Bangalore-19
GEETHA AGENCIES
Balepet, Bangalore2
*
GEETHA BOOK HOUSE
New Statue Circle, Mysore

ant Aarne OO OOOO OVI ews

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