विष्कम्भ/VISHKAMBHA
{VISHKAMBHA- An interlude between the acts of a drama and
performed by one or more characters, middling or inferior, who connect the
story of the drama and the subdivisions of the plot by briefly explaining to
the audience what has occurred at the intervals of the acts or what is likely
to happen later.}
{Kaama, Passion incarnate and his spouse – Rati, Attraction
incarnate, introduce the main characters of the play.
Viveka, the personified form of Discrimination is the hero
of the play. MahaaMoha, the great delusion is the villain.}
(Then enter Kaama and Rati as was described
by the Sootra-Dhaara)
KAAMA- (angrily)
“Hey you, wicked lowly actor! How dare you mention that our
king MahaaMoha (Great Delusion) has been defeated by Viveka (Discrimination)
when we are still alive?
Hey you fool of an actor!
{WISE ALSO FALL FOR
WOMEN}
प्रभवति मनसि
विवेको विदुषामपि
शास्त्रसंभवस्तावत्
निपतन्ति दृष्टिविशिखा
यावन्नेन्दीवराक्षीणां [11]
Even for those learned men,
the understanding rising from the study of scriptures
remains in the mind,
only till the arrows shot from the eyes of the lotus-eyed beauties
do not fall on them!
And also-
{DISCRIMINATION (VIVEKA)
IS POWERLESS AGAINST PASSION (KAAMA)}
रम्यं हर्म्यतलं
नवाः सुनयना
गुञ्जद्द्विरेफा लताः
प्रोन्मीलन्नवमल्लिकासुरभयो वाताः सचन्द्राः
क्षपाः
यद्येतानि जयन्ति
हन्त परितः
शस्त्राण्यमोघानि मे
तद्भोः कीदृगसौ
विवेकविभवः कीदृक्प्रबोधोदयः [12]
Pleasing palace pavilions; pretty-eyed girls on the threshold of youth;
flower-creepers buzzing with bees;
fresh jasmine buds opening their petals slowly;
winds fragrant by their scent;
nights adorned by the cooling light of the moon;
if all these, my unfailing weapons gain victory all over the world,
Ha-Ha,
then how can discrimination dominate or enlightenment appear?”
RATI-
“AaryaPutra! I feel that ‘Viveka’ is a very strong enemy of
our king ‘MahaaMoha’ (Great Delusion)!”
KAAMA-
“Beloved! How is that you are frightened of Viveka? It proves the fragile nature of women as
usual!
{THE ENTIRE WORLD IS
IN THE GRIP OF PASSION}
Look-
अपि यदि
विशिखाः शरासनं
वा कुसुममयं
ससुरासुरं तथापि
मम जगदखिलं
वरोरु नाज्ञामिदमतिलन्घ्य
धृतिं मुहूर्तमेति
[13]
O You pretty girl with beautiful thighs!
Though my arrows and bow are made of mere
flowers, even then,
the entire world along with its gods and demons
cannot defy my orders and hold steady even for a few seconds!
And also-
{EVEN INDRA AND
CHANDRA AND BRAHMA ARE POWERLESS AGAINST PASSION}
अहल्यायै जारः
सुरपतिरभूदात्मतनयां
प्रजानाथोsयासीदभजत गुरोरिन्दुरबलां
इति प्रायः
को वा
न पदमपथेsकार्यत
मया
श्रमो मद्बाणानां
क इव
भुवनोन्माथविधिषु [14]
The king of Gods (Indra) became the paramour for Ahalyaa (Sage
Gautama’s wife).
The Creator (Brahma) passionately united with his own daughter
(Shataroopaa).
Chandra (Moon-God) enjoyed the daughter of his Guru (Brihaspati).
In this manner, who has not been led in the wrong path by me?
What fatigue can there be for my arrows
in leading the world towards wretched actions?”
RATI-
“AaryaPutra! Yes I agree; but it is not fully correct! Even
if you are all-powerful, the enemy (Viveka) I think has strong allies!
I have heard that his chief ministers Yama (control), Niyama
(Discipline) and others are very strong”
KAAMA-
“Beloved! The eight ministers of King Viveka, whom you believe
as very strong and mighty, will break up the very instant I contact them!
And also-
अहिंसा कैव
कोपस्य ब्रह्मचर्यादयो
मम
लोभस्य पुरतः
केsमी
सत्याsस्तेयापरिग्रहा:
[15]
‘Not-hurting anybody’ is a discipline followed by all!
Can it stand when anger takes over?
Can celibacy and other harsh disciplines hold their stay in my
presence?
Disciplines like Truthfulness, not stealing, not coveting other’s
objects, etc-
can they hold their stand when greed dominates?
Yama (Control of physical body), Niyama (Mind-control),
Aasana (enquiry state),
Praanaayaama (Mind joining the Praana), Pratyaahaara
(withdrawing the mind from
sense objects), Dhyaana (Meditation), Dhaarana (steady
meditation), Samaadhi (Natural state of the Self) – all these are possible only
in an unperturbed mind and can be uprooted very easily. Women alone are capable
of destroying them like the evil vampires; and all the women are under my
power.
Because-
{WOMEN AND ATTRACTION}
सन्तु विलोकनभाषणविलासपरिहासकेलिपरिरंभाः
स्मरणमपि कामिनीनामलमिह
मनसो विकाराय
[16]
Leave alone –
their love-lorn looks at the lover, their conversing ability,
their playful acts, their jesting gestures,
their attempts at various sports (like bathing etc) to provoke the opposite
sex,
or their embrace or touch!
The very act of remembering these lustful ladies is enough to disturb
the mind!
Especially these Yama and others who are the ministers of
King Viveka, start doing
unrighteous acts as soon as they are attacked by our
Master’s favorite servants- Mada (Arrogance), Maatsarya (Envy), Dambha
(Pretence), Lobha (Greed) etc.”
RATI-
“AaryaPutra! I have heard that you and Viveka, Shama etc
were born at the same place!”
KAAMA-
“Aah my dearest! What are you saying? Same birth-place!? We
are born of the same father! The fact is-
{MIND WITH TWO WIVES STARTED IT ALL}
संभूतः प्रथममहेश्वरस्य
सङ्गान्मायायां मन इति विश्रुतस्तनूजः
त्रैलोक्यं सकलमिदं
विसृज्य भूयस्तेनाथो
जनितमिदं कुलद्वयं
नः [17]
In the beginning, when the Supreme Brahman united with Maayaa-the
deluding power,
then was born the well-known Mind as the son!
He created all these three worlds and again made us both!
He had two wives named Pravritti (Involvement) and Nivritti
(Disinterest).
From Pravritti started the dynasty of MahaaMoha; from Nivritti
the second dynasty
started with Viveka.”
RATI-
“AaryaPutra! If that is the case, then why is there such an
enmity between you brothers?”
KAAMA-
“Dearest!
{VIVEKA AND MAHAAMOHA ARE BROTHERS}
एकामिषप्रभवमेव सहोदराणामुज्जृम्भते
जगति वैरमिति
प्रसिद्धं
पृथ्वीनिमित्तमभवत्कुरुपाण्डवानां तीव्रस्तथा हि
भुवनक्षयकृद्विरोधः [18]
It is well-known in this world, that enmity between brothers
occurs because of desiring the same thing.
The horrifying enmity between Kouravas and Paandavas occurred
for the sake of the kingdom and it ruined the earth itself.
The entire world is owned by our father (Mind). Being his
pampered son, I move freely
everywhere! Viveka and others rarely come out! That is why
these sinners want to
completely uproot me along with my father!”
RATI-
“May that never happen! May that never happen!
AaryaPutra, are they ready to commit such a sin just because
of hatred?
Let it be so! How are you going to deal with this?”
KAAMA-
“Dearest! There is a hidden seed (cause of all harms)
there!”
RATI-
“AaryaPutra! Why don’t you reveal it?”
KAAMA-
“Dearest! You as a woman are by nature apprehensive about
everything.
I cannot tell you the terrifying act of those sinners!”
RATI- (frightened)
“AaryaPutra! What is it?”
KAAMA-
“Dearest! Do not fear! Do not fear! Those losers have only
this hope as their last resort!
There is this rumor that in our family a Rakshasee
(demoness) named ‘Vidyaa’
(Knowledge), as terrifying as the dark night will be born!”
RATI-
“Alas! Alas! I tremble at the very thought that a demoness
will take birth in our family!”
KAAMA-
“Dearest! Do not fear! Do not fear! It is just a rumor!”
RATI-
“Well, what is that demoness going to do?”
KAAMA-
“Dearest! There is this prediction of Brahma-
{VIDYAA, THE CURSE OF THE MIND-FAMILY}
पुंसः सङ्गसमुन्झितस्य गृहिणी
मायेति तेनाप्यसावस्पृष्टापि
मनः प्रसूय
तनयं लोकानसूत
क्रमात्
तस्मादेव जनिष्यते
पुनरसौ विद्येति
कन्या यया
तातस्ते च
सहोदराश्च जननी
सर्वं च
भक्ष्यं कुलं
[19]
For the embodied Self who is bereft of any attachments,
the spouse is known as Maayaa!
Though untouched by him in any manner,
she gives birth to the son namely ‘Mind’ and also begets the worlds.
From him alone, gets born this girl called Vidyaa (knowledge),
who will consume the entire family of her father, mother and brothers.”
{The union of Self and Maayaa, results in the birth of the
Mind-son. This Mind creates the worlds through the power of conception. Self
remains as it is, unaffected by all these occurrences.
In other words, the deluded Individual Self perceives the world
through the mind, the conceiving mechanism.
Self and Maayaa again produce a daughter namely ‘Vidyaa’-‘Knowledge
incarnate’ who will destroy the whole family of the mind.
In other words, Knowledge will destroy the delusion and the Individual
Self will realize its true nature and remain as Brahman.}
RATI- (very much in fear)
“AaryaPutra! Save me! Save me!”
(embraces her husband)
KAAMA- (enjoying her embrace visibly) (within himself)
स्फुरद्रोमोद्भेदस्तरलतरताराकुलदृशो
भयोत्कंपोत्तुङ्गस्तनयुगभरासङ्गसुभगः
अधीराक्ष्या गुञ्जन्मणिवलयदोर्वल्लिरचितः
परीरंभो मोदं
जनयति च
संमोहयति च
[20]
‘Fear is making the pupils of her eyes move
fast.
She is having horripilations all over her
body.
Her high-rising pair of heavy breasts is
heaving fast and the touch is intoxicating.
The bangles and armlets adorning her hands
and shoulders are tinkling melodiously,
as they entwine me like two creepers.
This
tightening embrace by the frightened beloved of mine
is exhilarating and infatuating at the same
time.’
(embraces her tightly and speaks aloud)
“Beloved! Do not fear! Do not fear!
When we are there, how can Vidyaa ever arise?”
RATI-
“But, is the birth of the demoness favored by your enemies?”
{It was mentioned previously that Vidyaa will be born of the
mind-father. Mind alone can beget knowledge. If ignorance is conceived by the
mind, the knowledge to destroy the mind also is a conception of the mind.
Now again it is mentioned that Vidyaa will be born of the
union of Viveka with Upanishat Devi. By the study of scriptures the intellect
will absorb knowledge and destroy the fickle mind.
Vidyaa’s brother is Prabodha Chandra. The realization or the
Awakening into the reality of Brahman arises along with Vidyaa, the knowledge.}
There are no material bodies here. This is an allegorical
play where concepts are to be understood through the names used as characters.}
KAAMA-
“Yes! She will be born to King Viveka from Upanishad Devi
along with her brother PrabodhaChandra (Awakening-Moon). For that purpose only,
all these Shama, Dama and others are making full efforts.”
RATI-
“AaryaPutra! How is it that these impolite wretches feel
exalted about the birth of Vidyaa who is going to destroy them all?”
KAAMA-
“Beloved! How can these sinners preparing for the
destruction of their own family differentiate between one’s own and other’s
ill-fate! Look Look!
{VIVEKA, VIDYAA ARE ALL SINNERS}
सहजमलिनवक्रभावमाजां भवति भव प्रभवात्मनाशहेतुः
जलधरपदवीमवाप्य धूमो
ज्वलनविनाशमनुप्रयाति नाशं [21]
The birth of those who are naturally
tainted and crooked
causes the destruction of their source and
also themselves.
The smoke which rises up (from the fire) and
becomes a cloud
destroys the fire and dies out.”
{King Viveka is
coming that way with his spouse Mati, the Intelligence personified. He has to
marry again Upanishat Devi to beget Vidyaa and destroy MahaaMoha and his army.
That is, a man cannot just be intelligent; he needs the help of the Scriptures
to attain knowledge which leads to liberation.
King Viveka hears
Kaama describing him as a sinner and retorts angrily as he makes entry on the
stage. ‘Kaama’ runs away with haste afraid of Viveka.
When
discrimination rises in the mind, passion has to disappear!}
(Backstage)
“Ah! You wicked wretch! How dare you accuse us as sinners?
Hey Hey-
गुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः
उत्पथप्रतिपन्नस्य परित्यागो विधीयते [22]
Even if one is an elder,
if he is arrogant, if he does
not know the right or wrong of actions,
if he is going in the incorrect
path,
he should be rejected for sure.
This is what the learned in epics declare as written in the
epic poems. Our arrogant father (Mind) assisted by Ahamkaara (Ego) has bound verily
the Creator, the Lord of the world!
(Mind limits Brahman)
Even Moha (Delusion) and others have tightened the bond.”
{Viveka is not in
good health. As attachments and attractions are dominant he is very weak and
emaciated.
A man who
entertains desires and attachments has no Viveka or discriminating knowledge.}
KAAMA- (looking)
“Dearest! The renowned brother of our family Viveka is
coming verily this way, accompanied by his wife ‘Mati’ (Intelligence).
He is-
{POOR VIVEKA!}
रागादिभिर्स्वरसचारिभिरात्तकान्तिनिर्भर्त्स्यमान
इव मानधनः
कृशाङ्गः
मत्या नितान्तकलुषीकृत्या
शशाङ्कः कान्त्येव
सान्द्रतुहिनान्तरितो विभाति [23]
His luster diminished by the Raaga (attachment) and others
who behave as they like and
disregard him as it were;
only having prestige as his wealth;
with emaciated limbs;
accompanied by Mati who appears very much distressed;
he shines like the pale moon shining in the night densely covered by
mist.
It is better that we leave this place.”
(Both of them leave)
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