The Buddha Part 18

_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, and this 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 Paj.a.pati [_YASODHARA rises_] 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 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 PAj.a.pATI withdraw to the part.i.tion 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.

_PAj.a.pATI 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 Paj.a.pati, 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._ Awake from sleep, dispel the dream; Before the truth's bright ray Things truly are not what they seem But truth points out the way.

Truth, truth alone will bring you bliss, In the next life and e'en in this.

_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, PAj.a.pATI 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 pa.s.sion 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.

_PAj.a.pATI opens the curtain leading to the apartment where YASODHARA sits. BUDDHA, PAj.a.pATI and SUDDHODANA enter.

YASODHARA sinks down before him and holds his feet, weeping.

The flourish of trumpets is repeated._

_S._ [_Grows restless, turns to PAj.a.pATI_] 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._