{AHAMKAARA IS
ENTERING THE CITY}
(Ahamkaara enters as he was described)
{Ahamkaara makes fun of all the religious heads and
philosophers residing all over the city. Because of Dambha’s domination, the
entire city is filled with people parading as saints and Sages without an iota
of knowledge. Brahmins have no knowledge of Vedas. Philosophers do not even
know a single sentence from the treatises of their cult. Everything is a mockery.
Everything is misunderstood and explained wrongly. Dambha dominates every mind.
Ahamkaara is very happy by seeing all this. He is awed by the power of King
MahaaMoha.}
AHAMKAARA-
“Aha! This world is filled with idiots! As it is-
{Nobody has studied anything; nor have they understood anything. Just
dressing up as great thinkers and philosphers, they fool the people and rob
their money!}
नैवाश्रावि गुरोर्मतं न विदितं कौमारिलं दर्शनं
तत्त्वं ज्ञातमहो न शालिकगिरां वाचस्पतेः का कथा
सूक्तं नापि महोदधेरधिगतं माहाव्रती नेक्षिता
सूक्ष्मा वस्तुविचारणा नृपशुभिः स्वस्थैः कथं स्थीयते [3]
Never listened to the
words of the Guru!
(Prabhaakara, the propounder
of Meemaamsaka theory)
Never understood the
philosophy of Kumarila Bhatta! (Meemaamsaka theorist)
Never learnt the
philosophy discussed by Shaalika Mishra! (Prabhaakara’s follower)
What to say of of
Vaachaspati’s Nyaaya philosophy?
Never bothered to read
even a simple sentence in the huge ocean of
Vyaakarana Mahaa Bhaasya
(treatise)!
Never observed the
subtle analysis of objects mentioned in the PashuPati philosophy!
How do these
human-shaped animals manage to stay placid as if they know everything!
(looking at Brahmins reciting vedas)
These men do not know the true import of the Vedas; they only know how to
recite or read them. They are indeed intent on destroying the Vedas!
(moves to another spot and looks at those dressed as ascetics)
And these men here with shaven heads are dressed as Sannyasins only for
receiving alms; and pretending as if they are well-versed in all the scriptures,
are only making the Upanishads more confusing and wrongly understood!
(laughing aloud)
प्रत्यक्षादिप्रमासिद्धविरुद्धार्थावबोधिनः
वेदान्ता यदि शास्त्राणि बौद्दैः किमपराध्यते [4]
If Vedanta texts (Upanishads)
which give
instructions contradicting
the understanding obtained by direct
perception etc.,
are considered as sacred scriptures,
then what wrong thing
was done by the upholders of Buddhism?
{Both Vedanta and Buddhism explain the false nature of the world as against
the directly perceived reality of the world. But still Buddhism is considered
as an atheist philosophy.}
Listening to these noisy prattling will only result in obtaining more sins.
{Just by rattling away that the world seen by the eyes is unreal, one
cannot explain the Vedantic doctrines. Those ascetics seen by Ahamkaara are not
realized knowers and just manage to bluff their way out and fool people with
highly profound meaningless statements.}
(moves to another spot and looks at the Kaapaalikas)
These men-shaped animals here are hypocrites, dressed as if they belong to
the sect of Shiva and Paashupata and have never practiced the philosophy of
AkshaPaada.
(The Paashupataa philosophy upholds three principles- Pashu/Paasha/Pati.
Prakriti is the Paasha (rope) binding the Purusha and making him a Pashu
(animal). Pati (Lord) is the cause of all their acts. Pati is the creator of
the world and differs from Paasha and Pashu.
These Paasuhpata upholders accept the Vedas as the source of knowledge as
stated by Nyaaya philosophers; yet they act against such a belief. So they do
not practice the AkshaPada doctrines of Nyaaya.)
Men will go to hell even by just conversing with them. Better move away
before I am seen by them.
(moves to another spot and looks at the Ganges-bank saints)
These-
गङ्गातीरतरङ्गशीतलशिलाविन्यस्तभास्वद्बृसीसंविष्टाः
कुशमुष्टिमण्डितमहादण्डा: करण्डोज्ज्वलाः
पर्यायग्रथिताक्षसूत्रवलयप्रत्येकबीजग्रहव्यग्राग्राङ्गुलयो
हरन्ति धनिनां वित्तान्यहो दाम्भिकाः [5]
These hypocrites
here sit on the holy mat
neatly spread out
on the rock on the bank, kept cool
by the dashing waves of the river Ganga .
They hold the
‘thick staff’ adorned by the Kusha grass in their fist;
look splendid with
their bamboo water-pots.
Their tips of the
fingers are intent on catching each seed of the rotating garland
with the neatly
strung Rudraaksha seeds.
These hypocrites, alas, are only after
cheating the rich of their money.
{बृसी- ब्रुवन्तो अस्यां सीदन्तीति बृसी, उपदेशकासनं
As the instruction goes on, the seats wear out - the seat of an instructor}
{वेणुमान् स कमण्डलुः करण्ड:
स्यात्
The water-pot made of bamboo is ‘Karanda’}
(moves to still another spot and looks at tri-staff holders)
These creatures holding on to the tri-staff for their living are lost both
to the paths of Dvaita (dualism) and Advaita (non-dualism).
(They follow the Dvaitaadvaita doctrine propounded by Bhaaskara.
As both Dvaita and Advaita are contradictory to each other, by joining them
together, the seeker is lost to both the cults.)
(moves to another spot and sees a hermitage)
अये कस्यैतद्द्वारोपान्तनिखातातिप्राम्शुवंशकाण्डताण्डवितधौतसितसूक्ष्मांबरसहस्रमितस्ततो विन्यस्तकृष्णाजिनदृषदुपलसमिच्चषालोलूखलमुसलमनवरतहुताज्यगन्धिधूमश्यामलितगगन- मण्डलममरसरितो नातिदूरे विभात्याश्रममण्डलं ||
Hey! There is a hermitage situated
not far from the River Ganges .
Whom does it belong to?
Near the entrance bamboo poles stand fixed to the ground. Numerous white
garments washed clean, are hanging on these poles and dancing in the wind.
Black antelope skin, bricks, stones, sticks, special vessels, mortar, and
pestle, are all neatly placed inside the house.
The skies here are darkened by the smoke rising from the ghee offered to
the fire continuously.
Surely this house must belong to some householder. So be it! This extremely holy place is fit for our stay
for two or three days.”
(enacts entering inside)
(looks around)
{In this scene Dambha the ‘Hypocrisy personified’, is seated with a full
costume of overflowing religious symbols. He is not easily approachable. He
acts arrogant and vain-headed. He makes stories of his greatness and fools one
and all. He treats all the visitors as unholy and unworthy of his grace. A
young lad acts as his servant and guards the hermitage.
Ahamkaara is not recognized by Dambha and he mistreats even Ahamkaara.}
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