Chapter 4

Wants to retire.

S.Stay here. Kala Udayin comes.

Kalaenter and kneels.

K.I bow in humble reverence before the King. And my respectful salutations to all the members of the royal house [turning toGopa] and to you.

S.Bring you good news, Udayin?

K.Your noble son, my King, is coming.

S.Where did you find him?

K.At the Jetavana at Savatthi.

S.What kind of a place is that?

K.It is the most wonderful pleasure park I ever saw. O King, your garden here is a paltry affair in comparison with the Jetavana.

S.There he lives in luxury?

K.Oh no Sir. Not at all. He could live in luxury, if he wanted to, but he leads a simple life, as simple as the humblest servant in your home, and when he wanders through the country after the rainy season he lives like any mendicant friar. He overtook me on my way, and when he came hither to Kapilavatthu, his home, he did as usual. Last night he slept in the forest, andthis morning he went from house to house with bowl in hand, begging his food, and he spoke a blessing wherever people greeted him kindly, or gave him to eat.

S.Oh my son, my son! Why didst thou not go straight to the palace where thy father has food enough for thee and all thy disciples!

K.He always follows the rule of the mendicants.

S.Oh my son! Why dost thou shame thy father in his own home?

K.The Blessed One deems it no shame to beg. He is as modest as a pauper and shows no pride, but wherever he comes, he is greeted like a king, nay like a king of kings, and the wealthiest and most powerful rulers come to do him reverence.

S.And he is here, this wonderful man? And he is my son Siddhattha?

K.Yes, he is here, and it is your son, but no longer Siddhattha, the Sakya prince, but Sakya muni, the sage of the Sakyas, the Buddha, the Blessed One. When I spoke to him and gave him your message, he inquired for you and the Queen Pajapati [Yasodhararises] and for you, most honored Princess and for Rahula. Yes, he inquired for you and how Rahula had grown.

Y.Did he speak kindly of us?

K.He always speaks kindly, and he is always calm.

[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 hindranceIn 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.

YasodharaandPajapatiwithdraw 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.

Pajapatireturns.The procession of theBuddhacomes. Two monks precede and stand at either side of theBuddha. Accompanying monks and other public come into the garden, crowding up to the columns. They all kneel with clasped hands, exceptSuddhodana.

Pajapatireturns.

The procession of theBuddhacomes. Two monks precede and stand at either side of theBuddha. Accompanying monks and other public come into the garden, crowding up to the columns. They all kneel with clasped hands, exceptSuddhodana.

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 beggingHere in my capital? Thou art descendedFrom 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;KalajoinsGopa.

S.Tell me, what are the rules of former Buddhas?

B.They greet you with a stanza in returnFor any food or hospitality.

S.I shall be glad to hear what you will say.

Awake from sleep, dispel the dream;Before the truth's bright rayThings truly are not what they seemBut truth points out the way.Truth, truth alone will bring you bliss,In the next life and e'en in this.

Rahulabrings a rose toBuddha.

R.Here, father, is a rose I saved for youOn 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 cameShe left the room and said that if at allYou cared for her, you would not fail to ask.

B.But I want to see her, lead me to the place.

Buddhahands his bowl to the King,Pajapatirises 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.

Devalaexit.Suddhodanahands 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 herIn whatsoever way she greeteth him.

Pajapatiopens the curtain leading to the apartment whereYasodharasits.Buddha, PajapatiandSuddhodanaenter.Yasodharasinks down before him and holds his feet, weeping. The flourish of trumpets is repeated.

S.[Grows restless, turns toPajapati] These warlike trumpets have a foreign soundAnd may forbode the enemy's attack.

He leaves the apartment whereYasodharais 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.

Yasodharalooking up toBuddhawith 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, thouWith voluntary sacrifice hast aided me,Imagine not that thou a hindrance artTo me or to my work and holy mission.Next to my sainted mother thou art blessedAmong the women of this world. RejoiceAnd 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 knowThat 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 theBuddhahesitates 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 yetYasodhara, have women been admitted;But I foresee the time will come.Y.My LordThe time is here if thou but grant the boon.

TheBuddhaplaces his right hand in blessing uponYasodhara'shead.

B.So let it be, and so thy boon be granted;I may not hinder thee if thou insistest.

AsPajapatihelpsYasodharato rise, a third flourish of trumpets is heard, this time near by and loud.Devalareturns in great excitement and addressesSuddhodana.

D.My noble liege, an embassy is comingFrom 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.

He hesitates.

S.Well, Devala?D.He carries evil news.

S.[With great anxiety] By Issara! Speak, man! Don't hesitate.

Devalacovers his eyes with his hands and sobs.

S.Tell me the worst. Tell me the worst at once.

D.O that I had no tongue to tell the tidings.

S.I will be brave, speak freely! Be a man!

In the meantime theBuddhatogether with the others has entered the main hall.

D.Our cause is lost. We are surrounded,Three bridges have been built and General SihaStands ready with an overwhelming armyTo crush us.S.Once I had a son! But heAlas! turned mendicant and fails me now!In him no drop of warrior blood is left,No spark of honor gloweth in his heartAnd our ancestral pride goes down in shame.B.Transient, my noble father, are all things.All kingdoms finally must pass away,But if thou tak'st thy refuge in the truth,Thou wilt be free from all vicissitudes.The kingdom of the truth alone endures.S.[With indignation.] Siddhattha, spare thy monkish rant,Far better than thy cowardly submission,Far nobler and befitting it would be,To draw the sword and die a hero's death.

The embassy in solemn procession files in as before at the Jetavana. TheBuddhawithdraws and is not noticed by the embassy. Prime MinisterNagadeva(N) addresses KingSuddhodana.

N.Oh Maharaja, listen to our message!The ruler of the mighty Magadha,King Bimbisara, sends you kindly greetings.He wants you to entreat the Blessed One,The holy Buddha, who now stays with you,Who, as he learneth, is your noble son,To come to Rajagaha on a visit.There have been rumors of intended war,And armies are maneuvering nearby,But be assured, our noble King means peace.He would not draw the sword against your state,Nor wage a war against the Buddha's father.

Suddhodana'seye searches for theBuddhawho has been standing behind a column and now steps forward.

S.Oh noble son, oh blessed, highest Buddha,Thou art indeed a King of Kings on earth!

He kneels down. All members of the embassy do the same.

No crown thou wear'st, no scepter's in thy hand,Thou needest neither lance, nor sword nor shield,And yet thou rulest, with mere word and thought,Thou sway'st the destinies of all the world,I did not know thy power and thy great worth;But now I bow me down in humble faith,And I take refuge in the truth thou preachest.Henceforth I will devote myself to spreadThe kingdom of good will and righteousness.

[Music Buddhist Doxology]

[Curtain]

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