पञ्चमोङ्क:
FIFTH ACT
प्रवेशक/PRAVESHAKA
{PLOT: Battle
is over. King Viveka has gained victory over MahaaMoha.
Vishnu Bhakti and Shaanti listen to Shraddhaa with excitement as Shraddhaa
describes all the events of the battle.}
(Then enters
Shraddhaa)
SHRADDHAA-
(thinking)
“This path is
well-known!
Because-
निर्दहति कुलविशेषं ज्ञातीनां वैरसंभवः
क्रोधः
वनमिव घनपवनाहततरुवरसंघट्टसंभवो दहनः [1]
The anger which is
generated by the enmity of cousins
burns away the entire
family
like the fire
generated by the by the friction of the tree branches due to the heavy winds
burns away the whole forest.
(with tears)
Alas! The fierce fire of distress, rising from the destruction of brothers
is unavoidable, which cannot be subdued by even hundreds of clouds of Viveka
(discrimination).
As it is,
ध्रुवं ध्वंसो भावी जलनिधिमहीशैलसरितामतो
मृत्योः शीर्यत्तृणलघुषु का जन्तुषु कथा
तथाप्युच्चैर्बन्धुव्यसनजनितः कोsपि विषमो विवेकप्रोन्माथी दहति हृदयं शोकदहनः [2]
The destruction of even
the oceans, lands, hills, rivers, in the future is sure to happen.
Therefore, what
matters by the death of ordinary beings
who equal the drying
up grass shoots?!
Yet some extreme pain
inexpressible through words
rising from the destruction of the relatives,
burns the heart like a
blazing fire,
disregarding the
discriminating ability.
Because, when brothers like Kaama, Krodha and others who continue the
family, become mere memories (die),
निकृन्ततीव मर्माणि देहं शोषयतीव
मे
दहतीवान्तरात्मानं क्रूरः शोकाग्निरुच्छिखः [3]
the cruel flames of
the distress-fire blazing high are
piercing the vital
parts as it were,
drying up the body as
it were,
burning the inner self
as it were!
(thinking)
I have been
ordered by Devi VishnuBhakti like this-
‘Daughter Shraddhaa!
I am averse to witnessing the violent acts of the battle. Therefore, I will
leave Vaaraanasee and live for some time at the sacred place of the Lord known
as ShaaliGraama. You come there and inform me of whatever incidents occur in the
battle field.’
So I will go now
to the place where Devi is waiting, and report all that happened in the battle
field.
(moves and looks)
This is
ChakraTeertha. Here resides Lord Hari in person. He acts as the boatman for the
boat which will take everyone across the ocean of worldly existence.
(salutes)
Here is Devi VishnuBhakti who is adored by great Sages. She seems to be
engaged in discussing some serious matters with Shaanti. Let me go near them.”
(goes towards them)
(Then enter VishnuBhakti and Shaanti)
SHAANTI-
“Devi! I observe that your mind is highly distressed!”
VISHNUBHAKTI-
“Daughter! Many warriors will die in this great battle. I feel very
apprehensive
as I do not know what has happened to son Viveka who is fighting the mighty
MahaaMoha!”
SHAANTI-
“What is there to worry about? I am sure of king Viveka’s victory as he is
blessed by your grace!”
VISHNUBHAKTI-
“Daughter!
यदप्यभ्युदयः प्रायः प्रमाणादवधार्यते
कामं तथापि सुहृदामनिष्टाशङ्कि मानसं [4]
Usually the minds of
the well-wishers retain some apprehension,
though the victory has
been assured through many proofs.
Especially, since Shraddhaa has not arrived even after such a long time, my
mind is having doubts.”
SHRADDHAA- (approaches)
“Goddess! I salute you!”
VISHNUBHAKTI-
“Shraddhaa! Welcome!”
SHRADDHAA-
“By the grace of the Goddess!”
SHAANTI-
“Mother! I salute you!”
SHRADDHAA-
“Daughter! Embrace me!”
SHAANTI- (embraces)
SHRADDHAA-
“Daughter! By the grace of Goddess VishnuBhakti, attain a place in the
hearts of the Sages.”
VISHNUBHAKTI-
“So, what happened there in that battle?”
SHRADDHAA-
“That which is fit for those who act against the Goddess!”
VISHNUBHAKTI-
“Tell me everything in detail!”
“Listen O Goddess!
As soon as you left the temple
of AadiKeshava
as the Lord Sun discarded his red hue slightly,
as the quarters were deafened by the shouts of the soldiers roaring like
lions calling out to the enemies for the battle and excitedly proclaiming their
victory,
as the Sun garlanded by the rays was covered by the huge amount of dust
storms rising from the ground broken by the hoofs of the horses harnessed to
the chariots,
as the ten directions appeared reddish in hue suggesting the evening time
because of the vermilion powder applied to the heads of the musth elephants,
flying all over, by their heavy flapping of the ears,
as the scene looked terrifying like the thundering clouds of the
dissolution assembled together,
as our army resembling an ocean was ready to attack,
King Viveka sent a messenger in the form of the doctrines of Naiyaayikas to
king MahaaMoha.
He went to MahaaMoha and said-
विष्णोरायतनान्यपास्य सरितां कूलान्यरण्यस्थलीः पुण्याः पुण्यकृतां मनांसि
च भवान्म्लेच्छान्व्रजेत्सानुगः
नो चेत्सन्तु कृपाणदारितभवत्प्रत्यङ्गधाराक्षरद्रक्तस्फीतविदीर्णवक्त्रविवराः
फेत्कारिणः फेरवाः [5]
Leave immediately
the surroundings of Lord Vishnu’s temple, the
banks of the river,
the sacred forest
lands, and the minds of the meritorious;
and go away to the
lands occupied by the low-caste,
along with your companions.
Otherwise, the howling
jackals with their mouths opened wide
will run madly towards
the blood pouring out
from every limb of yours, sliced by my sword.”
VISHNUBHAKTI-
“Afterwards?”
SHRADDHAA-
“Then, O Goddess, MahaaMoha got very angry. His eye-brows danced on the
terrifying forehead; and he replied-
‘Let that wicked Viveka experience the fruits of his impolite gesture.’
Having said these words, he sent first all the texts of the atheistic
schools along with the weapons namely the atheistic arguments to battle Viveka.
Meanwhile in our army,
वेदोपवेदाङ्गपुराणधर्मशास्त्रेतिहासादिभिरुच्छ्रितश्रीः
सरस्वती पद्मधरा शशाङ्कसंकाशकान्तिः सहसाविरासीत् [6]
Goddess Sarasvati,
shedding brightness
like the moon, and with a lotus in hand
appeared there
instantly.
She was looking very
beautiful surrounded by
Vedas (Rk, Yajur,
Saama, Atharvana),
UpaVedas (Ayurveda,
Dhanurveda, Gaandharva, Artha Shaastra),
Vedaanga (Shikshaa,
Kalpa, Nirukta, Vyaakarana, Jyotisha, Chandas),
Puranaas (eighteen),
Dharma Shaastra
(Maanava Dharma Shaastra and others)
Itihaasa (Bhaarata and
others).”
VISHNUBHAKTI-
“Afterwards?”
SHRADDHAA-
“Then O Goddess, Vaishnavaites, Shaivaites and Souras (sun-worshippers)
approached her.”
VISHNUBHAKTI-
“Afterwards?”
SHRADDHAA-
“Afterwards,
साङ्ख्यन्यायकणादभाषितमहाभाष्यादिशास्त्रैर्वृता
स्फूर्जन्न्यायसहस्रबाहुनिकरैरुद्ध्योतयन्ती
दिशः
मीमांसा समरोत्सुकाविरभवद्धर्मेन्दुकान्तानना
वाग्देव्याः पुरतस्त्रयीत्रिनयना
कात्यायनीवापरा [7]
‘Meemaamsaa’ (Deep
reflection)-
surrounded by
scriptures of Saankhya of Kapila, Nyaaya of AkshaPaada,
Vaisheshika of
Kanaada, and MahaaBhaasya (Vyaakarana);
brightening up the
quarters with her thousand arms as it were of the logical arguments;
with a face as attractive
as the Dharma-moon;
endowed with three
eyes (three Vedas);
like another
Kaatyaayinee ready to fight
- manifested in front
of Sarasvati, the Goddess of speech.”
SHAANTI-
“Oh! How was it possible that the Vedas and the
logic schools of thought which contradict each other ever meet?”
SHRADDHAA-
“Daughter!
समानान्वयजातानां परस्परविरोधिनां
परैः प्रत्यभिभूतानां प्रसूते
संगतिः श्रियं [8]
It leads to better
results,
when those who are
born of the same lineage and contradict each other,
join
together
when enemies are about
to attack.
Because, all the philosophical schools based on
Vedic Truths may have contradiction in explaining the inner meanings of the
Vedic dictums, but they all are together in overthrowing the atheistic schools
of thought in order to protect the Vedas.
As it is-
ज्योतिः शान्तमनन्तमद्वयमजं
तत्तद्गुणोन्मीलनाद्ब्रह्मेत्यच्युत इत्युमापतिरिति
प्रस्तूयतेsनेकधा
तैस्तैरेव सदागमैः श्रुतिमुखैर्नानापथप्रस्थितैर्गम्योsसौ जगदीश्वरो जलनिधिर्वारां
प्रवाहैरिव [9]
The single principle
of Brahman is extolled in various manners
as Jyoti (light), as Quiescence,
as Endless, as Non-dual, as Unborn,
and as Brahma, Vishnu,
and Shiva
by superimposing the three Gunaas of Sattva,
Rajas and Tamas.
The Lord of the
universe alone has to be reached
by all these theistic schools of thought which
are based on the Vedas,
yet go through
different paths,
like the various streams of water going
through different pathways
reach the ocean alone.”
VISHNUBHAKTI-
“Afterwards?”
SHRADDHAA-
“Afterwards O Goddess, began the battle with the heavy clash of the weapons
among the soldiers of our side and those of the enemies making it look like a
cloudy day by the continuously shooting hosts of arrows from the elephants,
horses and foot soldiers.
And also-
बहुलरुधिरतोयास्तत्र स्रवन्त्यो निबिडपिशितपङ्का: कङ्करङ्कावकीर्णाः
शरदलितविदीर्णोत्तुङ्गमातङ्गशैलस्खलितरयविशीर्णच्छत्रहंसावतंसाः [10]
Rivers filled with
abundant waters of blood flowed in that battlefield.
Slush was the dense collection of flesh.
Heron birds like pathetic animals wandered
all over.
The white umbrellas
slipping down from the top of the hills namely elephants
when their heads were
sliced off by the arrows
were the swans adorning the rivers.
In that terrifying battle, due to the enmity with
the other army and also because of enmity within themselves, the atheist groups
pushed the Lokaayata doctrine to the front and that died out when the two
armies crashed against each other.
Other atheist groups were uprooted and flowed away
in the ocean floods of good scriptures. The followers of Sugata (Buddha) ran
away to places like Sindhu, Gaandhaara, Paaraseeka, Maagadha, Aandhra, Hoona,
Vanga, and Kalinga where the Mlecchaas (low-caste/non-Aryan people) reside. The
atheist groups, Digambaras, Kaapaalikas hid away in places like Paanchaala,
Maalava, Aabheera, Aavarta, and coastal regions where the lowest classes of
people reside. The atheist arguments followed the same course as the others,
shattered by the blows dealt by the Meemaamsaa accompanied by Nyaaya.”
VISHNUBHAKTI-
“Afterwards?”
SHRADDHAA-
“Afterwards, Kaama was killed by VastuVichaara.
Krodha (Anger), Paarushya (Rudeness), and Himsaa
(Violence) were defeated by Kshamaa (Forbearance).
Lobha (Greed), Trishnaa (thirst for sense
pleasures), Dainya (self-pity), Anrita (falsehood), Paishunya (Slandering),
Vaak-steya (stealing others’ words), Asat-Parigraha (accepting unsuitable
gifts) were captured by Santosha (contentment).
Maatsarya (Envy) was conquered by Anasooyaa
(Non-enviness).
Mada (arrogance) was subdued by
Parotkarsha-Sambhaavanaa (recognizing the talents of others and admiring them).
Maana (Pride/Self importance) was broken by
ParaGunaadhikya (recognizing the virtues of others).”
VISHNUBHAKTI- (happily)
“Well-done! Well-done! Then what happened to
MahaaMoha?”
SHRADDHAA-
“Goddess! It is not known where MahaaMoha is
hiding along with YogaUpasargas (the obstacles for ‘Chitta Vritti Nirodha -cessation
of thoughts’)!”
VISHNUBHAKTI-
“That means still the danger is there! He should be killed, because-
अनादरपरो विद्वानीहमानः स्थिरां
श्रियं
अग्नेः शेषमृणाच्छेषं शत्रोः शेषं न शेषयेत् [11]
A wise man who has
been humiliated and wants to stabilize his prosperity,
should not leave back
the residue of a fire, obligation, and enemy.
Then what happened to Manas (Mind)?”
SHRADDHAA-
“Goddess! He has decided to give up his life
unable to bear the pain of losing his sons and grandsons.”
VISHNUBHAKTI- (smiles)
“If that is true, then we all are highly
gratified. Purusha will attain Supreme Quiescent state! But where can that
wicked one ever give up life?”
SHRADDHAA-
“When Devi has already decided that Prabodhodaya
(Awakening) should be born, then that mind cannot anymore have the body (will
die for sure).”
VISHNUBHAKTI-
“Let it be so! To raise Vairaagya (Dispassion) in
him, I will send the ‘Words of Vyaasa’.”
(All leave)
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