Page 15 of 16
[Music a song, Buddhist Doxology, at a distance]
K. O listen to the music. Here he comes, the glorious Buddha. He must be at the gate.
Y. [rises again and withdraws.] I must be gone.
P. O stay, Yasodhara.
Y. No, I will hide me from his very sight; and if I am to him of any value, he will ask for me.
S. Stay, Yasodhara.
Y. He fled from me because I was a hindrance
In his great quest, and he may shun me still.
S. Stay none the less.
P. Nay, let her withdraw; she is in tears and would break down.
Yasodhara and Pajapati withdraw to the partition behind the curtains.
S. You say, that my son is greeted even by kings with clasped hands?
K. Yea, even kings kneel to him.
S. I shall do nothing of the kind. He is my son, my disobedient son, and I am still his father.
Pajapati returns.
The procession of the Buddha comes. Two monks precede and stand at either side of the Buddha. Accompanying monks and other public come into the garden, crowding up to the columns. They all kneel with clasped hands, except Suddhodana.
B. My blessing to this house, to you, O King,
And also to the Queen Pajapati,
My dear good aunt and loving foster mother.
S. At last thou comest back, my wayward son,
But why didst shame me? Why didst thou go begging
Here in my capital? Thou art descended
From ancestors who are a royal race.
B. My ancestors are Buddhas of past ages,
Their thinking has descended unto me,
Their habits and their rules of life I follow,
And not the regulations of a court.
The people rise to their feet again; Kala joins Gopa.
S. Tell me, what are the rules of former Buddhas?
B. They greet you with a stanza in return
For any food or hospitality.
S. I shall be glad to hear what you will say.
B.
Rahula brings a rose to Buddha.
R. Here, father, is a rose I saved for you
On the big bush where nests the nightingale.
B. And this is Rahula! How you have grown!
Where is your mother?
S.Yasodhara was here,
But would not stay. On hearing that you came
She left the room and said that if at all
You cared for her, you would not fail to ask.
B. But I want to see her, lead me to the place.
Buddha hands his bowl to the King, Pajapati rises and leads the way. At a distance a flourish of trumpets.
D. What military signals do I hear?
S. Go, Captain Devala, see what it means.
Devala exit. Suddhodana hands the bowl to one of the disciples.
B. Ye two disciples shall attend the meeting.
Above all passion has the Buddha risen,
But he will comfort her who loves him dearly.
The Princess' heart is filled with deepest grief,
And in no wise shall any one rebuke her
In whatsoever way she greeteth him.
Pajapati opens the curtain leading to the apartment where Yasodhara sits. Buddha, Pajapati and Suddhodana enter. Yasodhara sinks down before him and holds his feet, weeping. The flourish of trumpets is repeated.
S. [Grows restless, turns to Pajapati] These warlike trumpets have a foreign sound
And may forbode the enemy's attack.
He leaves the apartment where Yasodhara is and re-enters the hall, going toward the entrance in the background between the columns.
B. Yasodhara, I bring thee happy tidings,
Deliverance is found, let go thy grief.
Yasodhara looking up to Buddha with deep emotion.
Y. Oh Lord, how did I long for your return,
But in your eyes I have become as naught.
B. My faithful helpmate and my former wife,
Thou hast been dear to me, dear art thou still,
But truth is dearer, and to truth I cling,
While on my quest of truth in former lives,
And also now in this existence, thou
With voluntary sacrifice hast aided me,
Imagine not that thou a hindrance art
To me or to my work and holy mission.
Next to my sainted mother thou art blessed
[90]Among the women of this world. Rejoice
And let grief pass from thy suffering soul.
Y. [In a kneeling posture] Grant me a boon, my Lord, a precious boon.
R. Yea, father, grant the boon that mother wants.
B. Speak, Princess, and I listen to thy word.
I know thy heart, Yasodhara; I know
That naught but worthy thoughts dwell in thy mind.
Y. Grant me to help thee in thy noble mission.
I want to join the band of thy disciples.
She pauses and the Buddha hesitates to answer.
I shall be happy if I do thy work.
B. Dost thou not know this boon is but a burden?
Y. The heavier it be, my Lord, the more I welcome it.
R.Oh grant the boon!
B.Not yet
Yasodhara, have women been admitted;
But I foresee the time will come.
Y.My Lord
The time is here if thou but grant the boon.
The Buddha places his right hand in blessing upon Yasodhara's head.
B. So let it be, and so thy boon be granted;
[91]I may not hinder thee if thou insistest.
As Pajapati helps Yasodhara to rise, a third flourish of trumpets is heard, this time near by and loud. Devala returns in great excitement and addresses Suddhodana.
D. My noble liege, an embassy is coming
From Bimbisara, King of Magadha.
They are the kingdom's highest ministers,
And sullen do they look and their retainers.
S. 'Tis most unfortunate, but let them in.
D. There's more to be announced.
S.You look excited.
D. It is but the beginning of the end:
Our scouts are captured, one of them escaped.
