Malavikagnimitram (4 page)

A fire burns ever more brilliant
by absorbing the sun
while the moon glows bright
when embraced by the night. //13//
²⁶

GAUTAMA
: Oh! Queen Dharini has arrived, led by her companion
²⁷
Sister Kaushiki.

AGNIMITRA
: I see her.

Adorned with sacred
²⁸
ornaments,
accompanied by Kaushiki in ascetic's robes,
she shines like the three Vedas,
embodying the wisdom of the soul. //14//

KAUSHIKI
(
approaching
): Long live the king.

AGNIMITRA
: Salutations, Sister.

KAUSHIKI
:
May you live for a hundred autumns
as husband to Dharini and the Earth,
both equal in endurance
as the source of life's great bounty. //15//

DHARINI
: Long live my noble king.

AGNIMITRA
: Welcome, my queen.
(
Looking at Kaushiki
)
Sister, please have a seat.

Everyone sits down.

AGNIMITRA
: Sister, there's a contest between noble Haradatta and Ganadasa about their respective skills. You should sit between them as a judge.

KAUSHIKI
(
smiling
): Spare me the embarrassment.
²⁹
Do you appraise jewels in a city, or a village?

AGNIMITRA
: It's not like that, Sister Kaushiki. In fact, you're impartial,
³⁰
whereas the queen and I are biased.

GANADASA
and
HARADATTA
: The king is right. Sister Kaushiki is unbiased and qualified to assess our virtues and faults.

AGNIMITRA
: Then let the debate begin.

KAUSHIKI
: Dance is a matter of practice, actually, so why have a contest of words?

AGNIMITRA
: What do you think, my queen?

DHARINI
: If you ask me, this whole thing is annoying!

GANADASA
: Your majesty, don't fear that I might be defeated by one with equal skill.

GAUTAMA
: Your grace, let's watch the rams butt heads!
³¹
They're being paid, aren't they?

DHARINI
: You love a good fight, don't you!

GAUTAMA
: Not really! When two mad elephants want to fight each other, peace comes only when one of them is defeated.

AGNIMITRA
: Sister, haven't you seen both of them excel in their own expertise?

KAUSHIKI
: Surely.

AGNIMITRA
: Then it's settled, let them prove who's better.

KAUSHIKI
: That's exactly what I'm saying.

One may rely on actions
to demonstrate his individual skill,
while another may possess
a special talent for teaching.
Only he who excels in both
should be made the head teacher. //16//

GAUTAMA
: Both teachers have heard Sister Kaushiki. The decision will be made based on a display of teaching.

HARADATTA
: That's fine by us.

GANADASA
: My queen, it is decided.

DHARINI
: Is it the teacher's fault when a dull student botches a lesson?

AGNIMITRA
: My queen, that's why they say: ‘Even with a bad student, a good teacher's intellect shines through.'

DHARINI
(
to herself
): Now what?
(
Out loud, looking at Ganadasa
) My husband's enthusiasm is for his heart's desire. Stop this silly act!

GAUTAMA
: The queen speaks the truth. Ganadasa! By teaching music, you're gobbling up offerings made for goddess Saraswati.
³²
Why compete when you could easily lose?

GANADASA
: The queen speaks the truth. But on this occasion:

A man who fears a fight,
believing ‘I have a secure position',
suffers the contempt of others.
When they say his learning
is used merely to make a living,
he's branded a peddler hawking knowledge. //17//

DHARINI
: You just took on your student, it's unfair to present things that haven't sunk in yet.

GANADASA
: Even then I'm confident.

DHARINI
: In that case, show Sister Kaushiki your teaching skills.

KAUSHIKI
: My queen, this isn't right. Even the all-knowing Buddha would arrive at a flawed decision if he were the sole judge.

DHARINI
(
to herself
): Foolish nun! You make me sleepy even when I'm wide awake!
(
Turns around angrily
.)

The king calls the queen's attention back to Kaushiki.

KAUSHIKI
:
Why turn your bright face
away from the king without reason?
A wife has power over her husband,
and there must be cause for anger. //18//

GAUTAMA
: Oh, there's definitely a reason. She wants to protect her favourite!
(
Looking at Ganadasa
)
Luckily, you've been saved by the queen's feigned anger. Well-trained artists aren't necessarily good teachers.

GANADASA
: My queen, this is what people are thinking. Please understand:

I want to demonstrate my teaching skills
in the contest, but if you forbid it,
you'll deprive me of such a chance. //19//

Starting to get up from his chair.

DHARINI
(
to herself
): What's the way out?
(
Aloud
) A teacher is responsible
³³
for every student.

GANADASA
: Then my worry is unfounded.
(
Looking at the king
) The queen permits it, so please tell me, your majesty, which aspect of the drama shall I use to demonstrate my teaching?

AGNIMITRA
: Whatever Sister Kaushiki suggests.

KAUSHIKI
: I think the queen has something in mind.

DHARINI
: Speak freely. I only have power over my attendants.

AGNIMITRA
: And me, she means!

DHARINI
: Speak now, Sister.

KAUSHIKI
: Your majesty, they should demonstrate the challenging four-part chalikam dance choreographed by Sharmishta. That way we'll see their students perform the same thing. It's the only way we'll know who's the better teacher.

GANADASA
and
HARADATTA
: As you command, Sister.

GAUTAMA
: In that case, both parties should arrange a dance performance in the theatre. When ready, a message should be sent to his grace, but, in fact, the very sound of the mridangam will inform us!

HARADATTA
: So it shall be.
(
Stands
.)

Ganadasa looks at Dharini.

DHARINI
(
looking at Ganadasa
): May you be victorious!

The teachers set out.

KAUSHIKI
: Wait, come here.

GANADASA
and
HARADATTA
(
turning around
): Yes.

KAUSHIKI
: I'm speaking as a judge now. Since you'll be demonstrating various facets of your expertise, your students should take the stage in simple
³⁴
costumes.

GANADASA
and
HARADATTA
: We don't need such advice. (
Both exit
.)

DHARINI
(
looking at Agnimitra
): Wouldn't it be great if the noble king would use such clever tactics in matters of state!

AGNIMITRA
:
You've misunderstood me, clever one.
I didn't plan this. Then again,
people with similar talents
are usually jealous of each other. //20//

A drum sounds in the theatre, all give ear.

KAUSHIKI
: O, the music's begun!

A beating drum rouses the heart
and like a peacock's call,
the echoing vibrations rise and harmonize
with the middle note,
while peahens turn their necks upward,
expecting a thundering rain cloud. //21//

AGNIMITRA
: My queen, let's go watch her, ah, it.
³⁵

DHARINI
(
to herself
): Ugh, my husband is shameless!

All rise.

GAUTAMA
(
secretly
): Whoa, we should go slowly. Queen Dharini might get suspicious.

AGNIMITRA
:
Though calm, I'm excited by that seductive drumbeat.
Sounds drop down, like a path to my heart's desire. //22//

All exit.

END ACT I

AGNIMITRA
: Sister, both noble teachers are here. Which of the two shall we see first?

KAUSHIKI
: Though equal in skill, Ganadasa is older, so let him go first.

AGNIMITRA
: Maudgalya, relay this to the teachers.

MAUDGALYA
: As your majesty commands.
(
Exits.
)

Enter Ganadasa.

GANADASA
: Your majesty, Sharmishta's four-part dance is set to a medium tempo. You should listen carefully to the fourth part.

AGNIMITRA
: I'll be most attentive.

Ganadasa exits.

AGNIMITRA
(
aside
): My friend,

She's hidden backstage
but my eyes long to see her,
it's as if my own excitement
was drawing open the curtain. //1//

GAUTAMA
(
aside
): The honey of your eye has come, but the bee is near. Go ahead and look, but don't be lewd.

Enter Malavika with Ganadasa watching her elegant body.

GAUTAMA
(
aside
): Look, your majesty, she's no less beautiful than her picture.

AGNIMITRA
(
aside
): My friend,

My heart feared her beauty
might differ from her likeness
but now I'm sure, the painting
was nothing but a cheap imitation. //2//

GANADASA
: My dear, let go of your fear and be confident.

AGNIMITRA
(
to himself
): Oh, every part of her body is perfect . . .

Bright eyes,
³⁶
face like the brilliant autumn moon,
and arms like bent bamboo,
soft chest, firm breasts and smooth sides,
a waist that spans but a hand,
her curved hips, feet and arched toes
her body—the ideal image
a dance master embraces in his mind. //3//

MALAVIKA
(
approaches and sings the four-part composition
):
Oh, heart! My beloved is hard to get,
don't long for him.
Why does my left eye throb so?
Seeing him again, after so long,
how do I receive him?
My lord, know that I long for you in pain. //4//
³⁷

Then she depicts the sentiment.

GAUTAMA
(
aside
): Ha! I think she's using this song to enter your heart!

AGNIMITRA
: My heart is open,
³⁸
my friend. Surely when

singing the words ‘My lord, I long for you in pain . . .'
directing her expressions to her own body,
seeing no other way to show her affection
with Dharini so near, she addresses me,
while feigning pursuit of a young prince. //5//

At the end of the song, Malavika starts to exit.

GAUTAMA
: Wait a minute, my lady! You've forgotten the order of things.
³⁹
Let me ask you . . .

GANADASA
: My dear, you may go only when the performance is deemed complete.

Malavika turns and stands still.

AGNIMITRA
(
to himself
): Oh, her beauty reveals an inner elegance in every stance.

Her left hand rests on her hip,
the bangle motionless at her wrist
while the other arm falls freely like a fig branch.
Lowering her eyes to the tiled floor,
where her big toecaresses a flower,
her curved body
is more beautiful than her dance. //6//

DHARINI
: It seems Master Ganadasa takes Gautama's words to heart.

GANADASA
: Not so, my queen. Gautama's subtle observation is the king's influence.

Even fools become wise
by keeping company with the learned,
just as touching the clearing-nut fruit
⁴⁰
purifies muddy water. //7//

(
Looking at Gautama
) Let's listen to what he has to say.

GAUTAMA
(
looking at Ganadasa
): First ask Sister Kaushiki. After that I'll describe the error
⁴¹
that I noticed.

GANADASA
: Sister, please describe what you observed, both merits and flaws.

KAUSHIKI
: Whatever I saw was faultless.

Her body expressed deep meanings
concealed in words,
her footfalls in rhythm
merged into feelings,
while her graceful arms flowed
in line with her imagination
as emotion displaced emotion
in a display of passion. //8//

GANADASA
: And what do you think, my king?

AGNIMITRA
: I've lost confidence in my favourite.

GANADASA
: So I'm still a dance master.

The wise know when a teacher's instruction is pure—
like gold in fire, it doesn't tarnish in their presence. //9//

DHARINI
: Allow me to congratulate you, sir, for pleasing the judges.

GANADASA
: The queen's favour is the source of my fortune. (
Looking at Gautama
) Gautama! Now tell us what you were thinking.

GAUTAMA
: A prayer for a brahmin should have been offered before presenting the first performance. She seems to have forgotten that.

KAUSHIKI
: Oh, what a dramatic observation!
⁴²

All laugh, even Malavika smiles
.
⁴³

AGNIMITRA
(
to himself
): My eyes seize the essence of my desire, by

admiring her bright eyes, and her smiling face,
scarcely revealing her teeth
like a blooming lotus flower
with only a few filaments visible. //10//

GANADASA
: Great brahmin, isn't this just a rehearsal? For, otherwise, how could we not honour those who are to be honoured?

GAUTAMA
: Silly me, like a chataka bird
⁴⁴
thirsty for water in a sky of parched thunderclouds.

KAUSHIKI
: That's it?

GAUTAMA
: Of course, fools like me depend on the opinions of the learned. Since Sister Kaushiki spoke well of her, I too would offer my congratulations.
(
So saying, he pulls a bracelet from the king's wrist
.)

DHARINI
: Wait! How can you give the bracelet away without considering the other's talents?

GAUTAMA
: Because it belongs to another.

DHARINI
(
looking at the teacher
): Master Ganadasa, your student exemplifies your training.

GANADASA
: My dear, you may go now.

Malavika exits along with her teacher.

GAUTAMA
(
aside
): My clever mind can only help your majesty so much.

AGNIMITRA
: Enough with your analysis.

I feel my eye's fortune fade,
the festival of my heart end
and the door of pleasure close
when she disappears behind the curtain. //11//

GAUTAMA
(
aside
): You're a sick man in need of treatment.

Enter Haradatta.

HARADATTA
: Your majesty, grant me favour and watch my performance.

AGNIMITRA
(
to himself
): The point of watching has passed. (
Maintaining an appearance of politeness
) Well, of course. We're very excited.

HARADATTA
: I'm honoured.

Backstage.

VAITALIKA
: Victory, victory to the king! It's almost midday . . .

Swans close their eyes
in the leafy shade of lotus lakes,
and doves avoid their favourite mansion eaves
due to the extreme heat.
Thirsty peacocks flock around revolving waterwheels
to drink the splashing water drops,
and the Seven Horses
⁴⁵
blaze
with all their rays together,
just like you with your royal virtues! //12//

GAUTAMA
: Yes, yes! It's time for our lunch. Doctors advise that it's unhealthy to miss regular mealtimes. What do you say?

HARADATTA
: There's no need to say another word.

AGNIMITRA
: Well then, we'll watch your performance tomorrow. Take some rest now, Master Haradatta.

HARADATTA
: As your majesty commands.
(
Exits
.)

DHARINI
: Have my husband take a bath.

GAUTAMA
: Yes, but first a quick lunch!

KAUSHIKI
(
standing up
): Good health to the king.
(
Exits with the queen and her attendants.
)

GAUTAMA
: So, my friend, not only in beauty, but talent as well, Malavika is second to none.

AGNIMITRA
: Friend,

The Creator made a poison-tipped arrow of love
when he joined natural beauty with charming skill. //13//

Now what? You must think of something for me, my friend.

GAUTAMA
: And for me too, my lord! The inside of my belly burns like an oven in the market.

AGNIMITRA
: Of course, but be quick for the sake of your dear friend.

GAUTAMA
: I'll seize the moment. But like moonlight veiled by gathering clouds, seeing her depends on the will of another. As for you, my lord, you're like a bird hovering over a butcher shop—hungry for flesh but timid. It would help if you were patient while I work this out.

AGNIMITRA
: How can I remain calm when

my heart is disenchanted
with every woman in the harem
and the fair-eyed one
is the sole object of my affections. //14//

All exit.

END ACT II