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contemptuously walked away！ 。 。 。 Next morning I laid aside my man's
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clothing。 I donned bracelets； anklets； waist…chain； and a gown of purple
red silk。 The unaccustomed dress clung about my shrinking shame； but I
hastened on my quest； and found Arjuna in the forest temple of Shiva。
Madana
Tell me the story to the end。 I am the heart…born god； and I understand
the mystery of these impulses。
Chitra
Only vaguely can I remember what things I said； and what answer I
got。 Do not ask me to tell you all。 Shame fell on me like a thunderbolt； yet
could not break me to pieces； so utterly hard； so like a man am I。 His last
words as I walked home pricked my ears like red hot needles。 〃I have
taken the vow of celibacy。 I am not fit to be thy husband！〃 Oh； the vow of
a man！ Surely thou knowest； thou god of love； that unnumbered saints and
sages have surrendered the merits of their life…long penance at the feet of a
woman。 I broke my bow in two and burnt my arrows in the fire。 I hated
my strong； lithe arm； scored by drawing the bowstring。 O Love； god Love；
thou hast laid low in the dust the vain pride of my manlike strength； and
all my man's training lies crushed under thy feet。 Now teach me thy
lessons； give me the power of the weak and the weapon of the unarmed
hand。
Madana
I will be thy friend。 I will bring the world…conquering Arjuna a captive
before thee； to accept his rebellion's sentence at thy hand。
Chitra
Had I but the time needed； I could win his heart by slow degrees； and
ask no help of the gods。 I would stand by his side as a comrade； drive the
fierce horses of his war…chariot； attend him in the pleasures of the chase；
keep guard at night at the entrance of his tent； and help him in all the great
duties of a Kshatriya； rescuing the weak； and meting out justice where it is
due。 Surely at last the day would have come for him to look at me and
wonder； 〃What boy is this？ Has one of my slaves in a former life followed
me like my good deeds into this？〃 I am not the woman who nourishes her
despair in lonely silence； feeding it with nightly tears and covering it with
the daily patient smile； a widow from her birth。 The flower of my desire
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shall never drop into the dust before it has ripened to fruit。 But it is the
labour of a life time to make one's true self known and honoured。
Therefore I have come to thy door； thou world…vanquishing Love； and
thou； Vasanta； youthful Lord of the Seasons； take from my young body
this primal injustice； an unattractive plainness。 For a single day make me
superbly beautiful； even as beautiful as was the sudden blooming of love
in my heart。 Give me but one brief day of perfect beauty； and I will answer
for the days that follow。
Madana
Lady； I grant thy prayer。
Vasanta
Not for the short span of a day； but for one whole year the charm of
spring blossoms shall nestle round thy limbs。
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SCENE II
Arjuna
WAS I dreaming or was what I saw by the lake truly there？ Sitting on
the mossy turf； I mused over bygone years in the sloping shadows of the
evening； when slowly there came out from the folding darkness of foliage
an apparition of beauty in the perfect form of a woman； and stood on a
white slab of stone at the water's brink。 It seemed that the heart of the
earth must heave in joy under her bare white feet。 Methought the vague
veilings of her body should melt in ecstasy into air as the golden mist of
dawn melts from off the snowy peak of the eastern hill。 She bowed herself
above the shining mirror of the lake and saw the reflection of her face。 She
started up in awe and stood still； then smiled； and with a careless sweep of
her left arm unloosed her hair and let it trail on the earth at her feet。 She
bared her bosom and looked at her arms； so flawlessly modelled； and
instinct with an exquisite caress。 Bending her head she saw the sweet
blossoming of her youth and the tender bloom and blush of her skin。 She
beamed with a glad surprise。 So； if the white lotus bud on opening her
eyes in the morning were to arch her neck and see her shadow in the water；
would she wonder at herself the livelong day。 But a moment after the
smile passed from her face and a shade of sadness crept into her eyes。 She
bound up her tresses； drew her veil over her arms； and sighing slowly；
walked away like a beauteous evening fading into the night。 To me the
supreme fulfilment of desire seemed to have been revealed in a flash and
then to have vanished。 。 。 。 But who is it that pushes the door？
Enter CHITRA； dressed as a woman。
Ah！ it is she。 Quiet； my heart！ 。 。 。 Fear me not； lady！ I am a Kshatriya。
Chitra
Honoured sir； you are my guest。 I live in this temple。 I know not in
what way I can show you hospitality。
Arjuna
Fair lady； the very sight of you is indeed the highest hospitality。 If you
will not take it amiss I would ask you a question。
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Chitra
You have permission。
Arjuna
What stern vow keeps you immured in this solitary temple； depriving
all mortals of a vision of so much loveliness？
Chitra
I harbour a secret desire in my heart； for the fulfilment of which I offer
daily prayers to Lord Shiva。
Arjuna
Alas； what can you desire； you who are the desire of the whole world！
From the easternmost hill on whose summit the morning sun first prints
his fiery foot to the end of the sunset land have I travelled。 I have seen
whatever is most precious； beautiful and great on the earth。 My knowledge
shall be yours； only say for what or for whom you seek。
Chitra
He whom I seek is known to all。
Arjuna
Indeed！ Who may this favourite of the gods be； whose fame has
captured your heart？
Chitra
Sprung from the highest of all royal houses； the greatest of all heroes
is he。
Arjuna
Lady； offer n