Scene 1
King Shantanu, accompanied by Prince Devavrata, enters the palace amidst warm welcome chants and showers of flowers.The next day dawns. Two ministers are seen talking to each other as they enter the court.
Minister 1
: I have been watching the court proceedings since Maharaja Pradeepa's rule, and the court has never swerved from providing justice to all. Whoever sought justice here has never gone back with dissatisfaction. If this throne is occupied by somebody who has grown in a forest and is brought up by a woman, is that a good news for Hastinapur or bad?Minister 2
: One who is crowned as a king should be well versed in the justice and the legal system, the rules governing commerce; he should understand the practical nitty gritties in the lives of a common man and be aware of inheritance laws and politics. He should also be patient, composed, and analytical. To expect this new prince to possess all these essential characteristics is mere foolishness.Minister 1
: If we make Devavrata speak in the court, then we will know if he is a cuckoo or a crow. Just keep watching what happens.King Shantanu and Devavrata accompanied by sages Parasurama and Vasishtha arrive at the court preceded by introductory panegyric announcements.
King Shantanu
: Devavrata, this throne is waiting for you for so long. It has been my cherished desire to see you sit here.The two ministers come forward.
Minister 1
: Salutataions to you, oh King! Sorry for the interruption. A dispute has come for hearing.feKing Shantanu
: What is the hurry for the hearing at this auspicious hour of crowning the prince?Minister 2
: It is best to nip every problem when it is still a bud. The case of Subalan, the king of a neighboring country on the border of Hastinapur, has come to the royal court. We would like Prince Devavrata to examine and solve this case.King Shantanu
: Hmm, let him tackle it after being coronated as prince.Minister 1
: There is a general doubt whether Prince knows about legal matters of the government.King Shantanu
: Who has this doubt?Minister 2
: The people.King Shantanu
: What a doubt at the auspicious hour of coronation! Let Devavrata inquire into this after the coronation.Minister 1
: Ok. Let the prince tackle the case after coronation.Devavrata
: Father, let me hear the case before the coronation. You can also watch how I dispense justice.King Shantanu
: There is no need for that.Devavrata
: But the ministers have expressed the need to test my intelligence and my ability to govern. That is a just feeling. I am ready for the test. Isn't it my duty to clear their doubt? I believe that I can have the coronation after establishing my credentials in dispensing justice.King Shantanu
: Let the hearing begin. Minister, you began this. Now you proceed.
Minister 1
: As you order. Guards, bring Subalan and his son.(Subalan and his son Saubalan are ushered in.) Subalan is obliged to pay us taxes. But they haven't paid us any for the past six years. This is the first accusation. He is provoking people to rebel against Hastinapur, and this is my second accusation.Devavrata
: Do you acquiesce to the accusation?Subalan
: That is the accusation you have laid on me. As for me, I have done nothing wrong.Minister 1
: Subala, isn't it a crime not to pay taxes?Devavrata
: Even though Minister Subalan has been charged with crime, you must address him with respect.Minister 1
: I am sorry, oh Prince!Devavrata
: Subalan, you paid taxes for 13 long years, but you haven't paid taxes only for the last six years. What is the reason?Subalan
: There was no rain for the past two years. Then how do I pay taxes?Devavrata
: If what you say is true, then should you not have informed us?Subalan
: I did inform them the first year. But there was no response or reply from them.Devavrata
: Minister, is this true?Minister 1
: I thought it was not important to bring to our king's attention such trivial matters.Devavrata
: That was wrong. For the people, their problems are big. And administration should treat it as important. Even a small leak in a dam can cause big damage later.Minister 1
: I am sorry, Prince. I will not fail in my duties in the future.
Devavrata
: Subalan, you informed us of your problem in the first year, but why did you not follow up your complaints in the next year?Subalan
: We believe a big kingdom doesn't care for the welfare of smaller kingdoms under them.Devavrata
: But Hastinapur kingdom is not like that. A small drop soon turns into a flood. There is no distinction between a small and a big knife. Subalan, you must understand one thing. We use the tax you pay for your own benefit only. Just think it over. Four years ago, who rebuilt the breech in the dam across Saraswati river and checked the flood?Subalan
: The Hastinapur kingdom.Devavrata
: That's enough. I am sure sure you will understand the truth. Hastinapur wants to walk hand-in-hand with all its feudal kingdoms. We do not mete out step-motherly treatment to any one. Who came to your aid when Anga desa attacked you?Subalan
: Your kingdom, oh Prince.Devavrata
: Isn't then inciting your people to rise against us a crime?Minister 1
: For this crime alone, we can cut off King Subalan's head.Other ministers support this proposal in unison.
Devavrata
: Subalan, now you tell us. Why did you do this then?Subalan
: We were angry you never respected us a king; that's why.Devavrata
: How do you expect us to treat you?Subalan
: We would like you to treat us as your equal: me as a king and my son as a prince.Devavrata
: Even now, that's how we respect you. We heard you are very proficient in maintaining financial accounts. If you divide the money in your treasury to your people, how much would each get?Subalan
: Sixty gold coins.Devavrata
: Good. We need intelligent people like you. With King's permission, we would like to appoint you as Chief Accountant of treasury of this kingdom. Are you happy?Subalan
: Very happy.Devavrata
: Prince Saubalan, We know you are a great warrior. You have have every qualification to be a king. You know of every problem that people face. We would like to appoint you as the king of Subala country, not as a fief of Hastinapur but as its equal. We will now work as friends. Whenever there are natural calamities or an attack by enemies, we will give our assistance. What will your kingdom do for us in return?Subalan
: We expect and want only this kind of relationship. From now on, we will pay one-tenth of our income to you.Devavrata
: Good. Hastinapur accepts this arrangement.Minister 2
: You turned enemies into friends.Devavrata
: I do not consider any one as an enemy. The strong should always behave politely. Subalan and Saubalan, kindly be seated in our court and participate in the proceedings as friends.Minister 1
: This is a very strange judgement.Devavrata
: No, it's a practical judgement. We should prevent the country from destruction and the people from unnecessary bloodshed.Minister 1
: What is the punishment for their crime, then?Devavrata
: All crimes are created by circumstances. When Subalan brought his problem to your attention, you ignored it and that is your first crime. You did not bring it to our King's attention, and that is your second crime. What punishment should I give to you and the Chief Minister? It is best to realize our own shortcomings first. Only then do you earn the right to interrogate others.Minister 3
: Wow, Great! Do not think I am testing you. I am asking you this spurred by my hunger for knowledge. In front of you there are three paths: one is that of wealth; the second is that of education and third is that of power. Which one would you choose?Devavrata
: I will choose the path of power. A ruler with authority can use the power to provide the best education and wealth for his people.Minister 3
: Only people sound political acumen can think along these lines.Devavrata
: I did not say this for receiving approbation. Kindly do not praise me.Questions flow from various ministers.
Question
: Which is Brahman? Food, life, mind or atma? The value of food lasts only till it gets digested; the importance of life extends only till it remains in the body; the power of mind exists only till it thinks; but another name for Brahman is dharma. Dharma is Brahman.Question
: Who determines what is dharma?Devavrata
: My Gurus. Great souls like Vasishtha and Parashurama define the path of dharma.Question
: What is dharma for some one?Devavrata
: What benefits and gives peace to everybody and what doesn't impact anybody negatively – that is dharma. Dharma is for the society. Swa-dharma is for the individual.Question
: If you were to ask God for only one thing, what will it be?Devavrata
: A healthy long life.Question
: Long life?Devavrata
: Yes! Long life backed by good health. An unhealthy body harbour and support neither intelligence nor hard work. Dharma is miniscule like an atom and has the strength of thousand elephants. To carry its weight, a man has to have the strength of several thousand elephants.Question
: 1, 2 and 3 : which is the biggest and the highest?Devavrata
: 1. What remains in 2 are two single 1's and what remains in 3 are three single 1's.Question
: With whose help does a king live and survive?Devavrata
: Drops of rain. Rain is the basis for food. Only hunger-free people will bless the king.Question
What forms the foundation in a Brahmin's life?Devavrata
: Truth and cleanliness.Question
: What makes the world survive?Devavrata
: Man's forgetfulness. It protects him from the miseries and troubles of past years. Death is tethered on everyone's door like a cow. Yet a man is oblivious of its presence and is happy today. Since it lets a man get past the injustices done to him, forgetfulness isQuestion
: What is death?Devavrata
: Death makes life eternal and makes a person immortal.Question
: Death makes a thing non-existent. Saying it yields a kind permanency is contradictory, isn't it?Devavrata
: Death leaves behind a person's fame and takes away only the body, making life enduring. It also takes away the body as well as the identity of lowly people.Question
: What is life?Devavrata
: It is an illusion.Question
: Are Guru Vasishtha and Parashurama mere illusion or Maya?Devavrata
: Yes, they are illusions too. They are mere appearances, and we assume they are living. Hence they live. What actually remains is this assumption. Are there any more questions?Shantanu
(hugging his son): Devavrata, you have shown us who you are, my son.He takes Devavrata to the throne and places the crown on his head. The sages, the courtiers and the king shower flowers on the prince. Later, both father and son sit on the throne and manage the affairs of the country together. But in his private chamber, Shantanu misses his dear wife Ganga.
Scene 2
King Shantanu rides on a chariot and reaches the shores of Yamuna river. He sends his charioteer to find out about the welfare of the fishermen living in the village on the banks of the river. Just as he remembers Ganga, he notices a beautiful fisher woman ferrying a boat across the river. Attracted by her, he comes to the same place every day.The beautiful woman is equally attracted by Shantanu. She comes near the parked chariot looking for the king. The king describes her hair that resembles the rain-bearing dark clouds, her eyes, the enchanting fragrance her body carries, the celestial nymph-like appearance, and asks who she is.
Fisher woman
: Who are you? Are you from the heavens or from the earth?Shantanu
: I am the king of Hastinapur. What is your name?Fisher woman
: My name is Machchagandhi, Yojanagandhi, Parimalagandhi, Satyavati, Kali....Shantanu
: So many names for a single person! How should I call you?Fisher woman
: Your wish.Shantanu
: Satyavati. Hm...Satyavati, Can I know more about you?Satyavati
: I am the daughter of the king of Chedi, sister of the king of Matsya and adopted daughter of Dasa Raja. As a fisherwoman, I ferry boats across the river Yamuna.Shantanu
: You ferry the boats on the river, but you have kept the paddles in your eyes. Satyavati, I saw Ganga river in Yamuna. You have captivated me. I experience a new breath in my heart. Will you marry me? Satyavati, if you like me, accept this. (He gives Satyavati a ring, which she accepts.) We can marry during the period of rising moon phase.Satyavati
: Please meet my father and talk to him.Scene 3
King Shantanu is seated inside the hut of the Chief fisherman.Fisherman
: I am indeed fortunate to have you as our guest.Shantanu
: Is everything alright? Any complaints in the administration of your village?Fisherman
: Under your administration, there are no problems, and everything is fine. Maharaja, what is the purpose of your visit? It looks like you want to say something. We will do whatever you order us to.Shantanu
: This is not an order, but a request. I want to request you to give me a priceless possession you have. You know the throne of the queen of Hastinapur is vacant. I would like your daughter to grace that seat as my wife, as Hastinapur's queen. Would you give her in marriage to me?The fisherman falls at Shantanu's feet, declaring that he is indeed fortunate that his daughter should become the queen of Kuru country. Then he rises, and his face hardens.
Fisherman
: But....The fisherman says something and as he speaks, Satyavati looks shocked and the King is crestfallen. The King gets up and walks away.
Scene 4
King Shantanu sits alone brooding in his chambers. He refuses to eat. Devavrata is unable to fathom the reason for the sudden change of King's mood to despondency. He goes to the King's charioteer.Devavrata
: Dear Charioteer, where did you take the king in the past few days?Charioteer
: We went to a fisherman's village across the river Yamuna.Devavrata talks to the charioteer and gets a few details from him.
The scene changes to the fisherman's village. Devavrata dresses as a commoner and goes to Satyavati's hut. He tells Satyavati's father that he has come from Hastinapur palace. He asks them to tell him what transpired between them, because the king had been morose ever since his visit a few days back.
Devavrata
: I am very close to the king. You can talk to me without any hesitation or restraint.Fisherman
: The King came here a few days back and he wanted to marry my daughter. But I had a condition. The king heard that and walked away without saying anything.Devavrata
: Can I know what the condition that you laid was?Fisherman
: I said the son born to Satyavati should become be crowned as the king. The King simply walked away after this.Devavrata
: Do you know why?Fisherman
: The king has a hurdle in sanctioning this.Devavrata
: Hurdle? What hurdle?Fisherman
: The king's first queen has a son Devavrata, and by tradition he will become the king after Shantanu Maharaja.Devavrata
(rises from his seat): Devavrata will never be hurdle to any one. If there is indeed a hurdle, He will break them.Fisherman
: Tell me the truth. Who are you?Devavrata takes away the shawl that is covering his body and reveals the princely ornaments and attire.
Scene 5
King Shantanu is sitting languidly. Suddenly he perks up as watches Devavrata enter the chambers with SatyavatiShantanu
: Satyavati...Devavrata
: Oh, wow! So many days since I saw my father so happy! I can pay any price o see this happiness. Only now you look like the Emperor of Hastinapur. From this instant, she is my mother. Please both of you bless me.Devavrata takes Satyavati's hands and puts them into Shantanu's hands and leaves.
Shantanu asks Satyavati what made all this possible.
Satyavati explains all the incidents leading to her entry into Hastinapur palace.
She tells him that Devavrata had come to their home. When he learned that Satyavati's father wanted his daughter's sons to become future rulers, he swore that he would never ever become the king of Hastinapur. But her father put in more conditions. He said that though he trusted Devavrata to keep his promise, he was not so sure about Devavrata's sons, who might want to stake their claims to become the king of Hastinapur in the future. It was then that Devavrata took a solemn oath invoking his mother Ganga and all the other gods that he would remain celibate all through his life.
Shantanu is stunned as he hears the narration.
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