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Bilvamangala Thakura (#2)"Chintamani" * * * * * * * * * CAST: 2 crematorium Attendants, Sadhu, Aunt, Priest, Bilvamangala, Chintamani, Thaka (Chintamani's servant), Somagiri, Somagiri's Disciple, Ahalya, Ahalya's Girlfriend, Merchant (Ahalya's husband), Nandulal.
Attendant 1: So, Shankarji, whose body are we burning today? Attendant 2: I don't know. Oh yeah, I remember — it's Bilvamangala's father. You know Bilvamangala. He's that brahmana who is always running after that girl, Chintamani. He spent a fortune on her — spent all his father's hard-earned money and mortgaged the house. He finally broke the old man's heart. Shame, shame. Attendant 1: Tsk, tsk, tsk. Why would anyone give everything to a woman? Attendant 2: When you're in love you'll do anything, no matter how crazy. Haven't you ever felt the pangs of love? Attendant 1: No, but I've felt the pangs of hunger! I'd do anything for money, but for love? Never. Attendant 2: Listen, Scatterbrains, you better make sure you bust open the skull better than you did last time, or else we don't get paid. You gotta pierce it right between the eyes, like this. See? Otherwise the brains will explode all over the family! Attendant 1: That's what happens when you fall in love — you lose your brains. Attendant 2: Look, you handle this right, and I'll split the remains with you 50-50. I heard the old man was loaded. Attendant 1: What do you mean? Split what? Attendant 2: The teeth, stupid! He's got a gold mine in his mouth. Attendant 1: Okay, it's a deal, we split the teeth 50-50 and I keep my mouth shut. Hey, what's that sadhu sitting there for? Attendant 2: Shhh, don't disturb him. Attendant 1: But he must be hungry and thirsty. Sadhuji! Sadhuji! Ah, Sadhuji, drink? Some water? You are here all night in the midst of the smoke and heat of the fires of the dead. Sadhu: (opening eyes now burning with rage) Om Shivohum! Why do you disturb Babaji? Attendant 1: I touch your feet; please don't curse me! Sadhu: Hmmm, soon I will reach siddhi. Attendant 1: You want siddhis? Is that what you have come here for, Sadhuji? This is a bad place. Only dog-eaters like me work here. All bad, filthy. Sadhu: (softening) I have done all types of tapasya in all the holy tirthas. I sat in the center of 5 fires in the heat of summer — 4 fires on 4 sides, plus the 5th one. (pause) Attendant 1: The 5th fire? Sadhu: The scorching sun, for 2 months straight. Then in winter I was at Gangotri, high in the Himalayas, up to my neck in ice-cold waters. I sat on a bed of thorns that always pricked my flesh. I endured all these difficult austerities, but I always had one disturbance. Attendant 1: What is that, Sadhuji? Sadhu: Kama! Lust himself! He is everywhere! Kama — he is so mean-minded that he even enters the holy places. Have you not seen the street dogs? Old hairless mongrels with open cuts, kicked and beaten with stones on the footpath — but still he will go limping after a bitch, his heart infatuated with Kama. Ahh, I will drive lust out of my life by staying here in the cremation grounds. Attendant 1: Ooooh, Baba, why in this place? Nothing holy here. Sadhu: Yes, yes, ha, ha! Who can have lusty thoughts here? Everywhere is the stench of burning flesh, the sight of bodies melting, breasts peeling off like mango skin, and brains sizzling. Yes, who can think of sex? This is the most sickening place. He won't come here. He won't come here. He wouldn't dare! Attendants: Who, Sadhu? Who? Sadhu: Kama, of course, you fools, you chandalas. Go back to your work and leave me alone! Attendant 2: Look, here comes the funeral now. I bet that guy's got at least a dozen gold teeth. Attendant 1: But where's Bilvamangala? I don't see him in the procession. Attendant 2: Ah, he's probably out with that prostitute. I wouldn't put it past him! Attendant 1: There he is, dawdling in the back. Looks like he's trying to make a getaway. (funeral procession draws closer. Corpse is carried in and placed onto the funeral pyre. Sounds of thunder and lightning) Priest: I think it is going to rain very soon. We should begin right away! If you had gotten here any later, we could not light the fire. We must be quick. Where is the son? Aunt: Bilvamangala! Priest: Where is Bilvamangala? Bilvamangala: Here I am. Please hurry. It is getting late. I don't like this, Auntie. It looks like a terrible storm. Let me go! Priest: It is the son's duty to perform the funeral rites for his departed father. I do not know what you are thinking of, and why you are so impatient, but unless you perform this cremation ceremony, you are not a worthy son. Aunt: I know what you are thinking of Bilvamangala — and I'm disgusted with you! I know, you are off to see that prostitute, Chintamani! Bilvamangala: No! No! Please let me go! Aunt: No, it's your duty. Stay here and do your dead father one last service. Pray for his soul's safe journey to a higher birth in the heavenly planets, or back to Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha. Doesn't this place sober you up? This place of death. No, you are mad, mad for a woman, and even the sight of your own dead father doesn't teach you that this life is but a journey to death. A molten hot form of a woman awaits you in hell as a reward for your lust, Bilvamangala. Bilvamangala: Stop it! Stop it! Aunt: You stop! Just see your father's body. Look at it. (addresses corpse) O my brother, what did you do to deserve a son like this? Bilvamangala: It's no use, Auntie, I can't look at it. Aunt: What makes you so squeamish? This body is only a lump of flesh and bones. The real person is the soul. You have never really seen your father — only his body. Now look at it and see it for what it is. When the soul was in it, your father was a handsome man — but now only this empty shell remains behind. The real beautiful person is the soul, not the body. Love the soul and be free of this curse. Bilvamangala: No, no, I can't. Let me go. (runs off in tears) Aunt: Priest, I will finish the duties for my dead brother. Priest: Here, light the fire with this torch. (thunder continues to next scene, continuous rain)
(Raging storm)
Bilvamangala: Oh, I'm no good, but that scene was was horrible! My father's dead body... I couldn't stand the sight. But, now I'm away! I'm free of them. Free to see Chintamani. She's just there — across the river and over the wall. The storm won't stop me. Nothing can stop me now! If only there were some boat. Can't I even find a log? At any other time there would be dozens lying here by the river. Can't I find just one? Oh I'm in luck, a boatman. Hey you, get up and take me to that house across the river. Wake up, you son of a pig! (pick him up and shakes him) Haven't you ever been in love? Huh? Speak! (slaps him) Ahh, he's dead... Now what shall I do? I know. That's it, of course. Dead bodies float! This is perfect — just as if I had it all planned out. O mighty river, let me pass! Now, now, O Chintamani... (jumps in river with corpse) Thank you, you smelly maggot. I'll pay you in you next life. Wouldn't Auntie like that?
SCENE THREE Outside Chintamani's house
Bilvamangala: Finally, I made it to the house of my dear Chintamani. Oh no, all the gates are locked! She probably closed them early because of the storm. I'll just climb over the wall and then I'll be in her arms again. Great! It's a rope hanging from the wall. Very strange, it has the texture of snake skin, and it feels like it's beginning to stretch out of shape. Whatever it was, I made it to the top... Whoah! (he falls through window) Help! Help! Open up! Let me in! Chintamani! Chintamani: What's the matter, Thaka? What's the matter? Thaka: Madam, I think it's a thief. Somebody fell and is crying out in pain. (Bilvamangala crashes through door) Chintamani: What? Who is it? Bilvamangala: It's me, it's me! I'm hurt! Oh, Chintamani! Chintamani: Who are you? Thaka: Oh, it's your young gentleman friend! Bilvamangala: It's me — your favorite lover! Chintamani: Mohan? Sudhir? Bilvamangala: Mohan? Sudhir? No, it's me — Bilva! I'm Bilva! Chintamani: What's that? Bilvamangala? The fool's come to tease the life out of me! What makes him groan like that? You idiot, why do you groan like that? Thaka: Madam, he fell from the top of the wall. He must have hurt himself badly. Chintamani: Don't worry, he'll live — if only to cause me trouble. Come, Thaka, take him by the hand and help him get up. Now — get up! Thaka: Horrible! Whew! I can't stand it. What is that loathsome smell. You smell horrible! (sprays perfume around) What is it? Bilvamangala: I don't know. Chintamani... I had to see you. Chintamani: You are mad. How in the world did you cross the river in this raging storm? Bilvamangala: I love you, Chintamani. Just to see you, I jumped in the river and floated on a log. I love you. Chintamani: Do you expect me to believe that? And what is that horrid odor on your body? Bilvamangala: It's from the dead man. Chintamani: From the dead man? From what dead man? Did you kill someone? Bilvamangala: I floated on a dead body. I didn't want to tell you, but that "log" was actually a corpse. O Chintamani, I love you. Chintamani: You are crazy! And you're bleeding! Bilvamangala: Oh, I cut myself on the wall. Chintamani: But how did you climb over the wall? Bilvamangala: Why Chintamani, you left a rope there fastened to the wall. Chintamani: Thaka! Thaka! Did you hear the joke! I left a rope on my wall so men could climb up! Just imagine! Bilvamangala: It is true, Chintamani — I found a rope there, and I climbed up the wall. Chintamani: Thaka, I have never been troubled so much in all my life — never! For weeks he has been pestering me. And when I have asked him for money, he has had nothing for me but excuses. He says he hasn't a thing left, but still he comes. And now he brings a ladder and scales my wall! Bilvamangala: It's the truth, Chintamani, I had no ladder. If you don't believe me, take a look for yourself! Chintamani: Where? Let me see. Oh Thaka, Thaka, it's a snake! A cobra! Bilvamangala: What? A cobra? Thaka: Madam, I know what's happened. If a cobra has his mouth in a hole, no amount of pulling by the tail can drag him out of it. This snake's been pulled so hard he's given up the ghost. Chintamani: You got up with the help of a deadly snake. Why do you stare at me that way? Bilvamangala: Chintamani, perhaps you have never given your heart to anyone. If you had, you would know there are times when nothing matters: rope or snake — what's the difference? Chintamani: You are crazy! Bilvamangala: And did you never find out till now that I am crazy? You sleep, and all night long I gaze upon your face. If I but hear you sigh, the whole world seems empty to me in comparison. All that I possessed has been sold for debt; I have not cared. I have clothed myself with gossip and ill-fame as with a garment. And still you have not known that I am crazy! O Chintamani, Chintamani! Chintamani: What makes you talk like that? Bilvamangala: I love you, Chintamani. I'm madly in love. Chintamani: This is not love, but lust. I doubt you no longer. You are mad indeed! You have neither shame, not hatred, not fear. You grasp a corpse, thinking it a log, and you grasp a snake, thinking it a rope. What am I worth that you risked your life? Great endeavors are for winning great goals. Heroes struggle in battle to win valuable treasures; kings wage war for achieving expansive power in the world. You risked everything for me — a mere prostitute. You mad fool! One life can be risked for the sake of the family. The family can be sacrificed for the sake of the village. The village may be sacrificed for the sake of the nation, but everything should be sacrificed for God — only God. Bilvamangala: What do you mean? Chintamani: If you had taken half this much trouble on the battlefield, you would have been a great hero. If you had gone through all this for God, people would call you a great saint... Ah, what might you not have attained if you had turned your thoughts to the lotus feet of the Lord instead of to me — a degraded prostitute. What am I? I'm not even this body that you stare at so fondly, which will grow old and die. This body passes, but devotion to the Lord is with us forever. Bilvamangala: How is that? Chintamani: A rich man may endeavor his whole life, but at the time of death he must leave it all and be born again naked. But Krishna-bhakti is never lost. Even a little trouble undertaken for the Lord's sake will never be forgotten by Him. If a devotee chants while lying down, the Lord sits by such a devotee. If the devotee sits up and takes the name of the Lord, the Lord stands by the devotee. If the devotee stands and chants the Holy Name of Hari, the Lord dances, and if the devotee dances and chant "Hari, Hari" the Lord embraces such an advanced soul. Bilvamangala: What are you saying? Chintamani: It is true. Bilvamangala: You are not the same Chintamani I used to know. I feel that I know you now in a different way. Who are you and who am I? Chintamani: I am actually your guru. I have followed you from your past life into this life to bring you to your perfection. For this is your last birth, and I may now return to my Lord, Sri Krishna. Your soul is safe now. Do not be shaken again. In your last life you were my disciple, but I detected the demon of lust deeply rooted in your heart. Now you are enlightened by the events of this night. I had to take another birth in the material world just to show you the truth. Do not come back again to this place with lusty motives. Bilvamangala: Then, to what have I given my heart? For what have I embraced a corpse? For this body! When it is finished it floats upon the river, becomes food for a jackal, or turns to ashes, and the wind simply scatters it in all directions. O God, tell me where Thou art and let me surrender unto Thee — utterly... heart and soul! Where shall I go? Alas! I am so degraded that I made my spiritual master come back here and save me. O Chintamani, where shall I go now? Chintamani: Go and seek Somagiri Pandit. He will finish my work.
SCENE FOUR The Ashram of Somagiri Pandit
Somagiri: What is that? Who is this man? Disciple: He is Bilvamangala, Guruji, a depraved man, very sinful. He was driven away by the prostitute named Chintamani, and in despair he has taken the life of renunciation. Who knows how long this frivolous mood of detachment will last? Somagiri: (angry) Why do you say that? Have you not heard me giving this teaching? vartamana ca yat papam yad bhitan yad bhavisyate,tat sarvam surdihatpesa govinda mala kirtanat All sins past and present are burned up in the fire of
Govinda-kirtan! What is more powerful? The curse of sin, or the
purifying Name of Sri Hari? Disciple: The Holy Name! Bilvamangala: (shakes head) I am low and depraved. I bow down at your feet. Please instruct me. Somagiri: Everyone is very lowly. Do not lament, just come here and listen. (Bilvamangala sits next to Somagiri, who sings:) Bhaja hunre mana sri nanda-nandana... etc. Bilvamangala: Oh, Master, Guruji, I am so fallen, but you are giving me your mercy. What should I do? I am your disciple. (he bows, holding Somagiri's feet) Somagiri: "The head, though crowned with a silk turban, is only a heavy burden if not bowed down before the Lord or His representative who can award mukti... The eyes which do not look at the form of Vishnu are like those on the plumes of a peacock, and the legs which do not move to the holy places where the Lord is remembered are considered to be like tree trunks."(S.B. 2.3.21-22) Use your legs, then, and go to Vrindavan, where you can see the beautiful Deities of the Lord. But don't let your wicked eyes lead you astray, for even the wooden image of a woman can cause lusty desires! Never mind about your past sinful activities, Bilvamangala, but do not sin again. Bilvamangala: Yes, master, I promise. Somagiri: Then go to Vrindavan. (resumes singing as Bilvamangala bows down and exits) Bilvamangala: Ah, my mind! In no way can I make you remain quiet. Very well. Wander, then, where you will — but I shall be keeping watch over you. And you, tongue — cease not to utter the Holy Name. (sits in meditation with eyes closed. Two women enter — Ahalya and a Girlfriend) Girlfriend: Look, sister, look at that tramp! Ahalya: Oh! Don't say that. He must be some holy man. Don't you see he is meditating? Girlfriend: Heavens, no! He is mad. (to Bilvamangala) Hey there, you crazy man! Are you hungry? Bilvamangala: Hush! Is there no quiet here? (as he opens his eyes, he sees Ahalya, then says to himself) Are you still tempted, O eyes? And are you, O mind, still the slave of the eyes? Girlfriend: (to Ahalya) Look, sister, the man is staring at you. Come — his eyes are red! He may be drunk. (the two women walk away) Bilvamangala: (to himself) Eyes, let me see how long you will keep me enslaved! (starts following the women) Girlfriend: O sister, he is following us! Ahalya: Come! Let's go inside the house. (they exit) Bilvamangala: Ah, eyes, love's topmost warriors, you bring home a deadly serpent as if it were a friend. Fretting to find happiness, the deluded mind suspect not your guile and makes room for his enemy in the very shrine of my heart — where God alone should dwell. There the serpent distills its venom. Again this evil thing takes place: again the eyes, by beauty tempted, lead home the serpent; and again, though sorely suffering, the foolish heart bids it welcome. To such a sad round of misery there is no end; no respite is there from passion. Still the eyes deceitfully declare: "Lo, here is that treasure which, once possessed, brings peace." Powerful beyond words is habit! Mind, you are a beast!
(Bilvamangala knocks at the door, Merchant answers)
Merchant: Greetings, O Sage. Where is your home? Bilvamangala: Whenever I stay, that is my home. Merchant: Have you renounced the world? Bilvamangala: Yes. Merchant: Please accept my hospitality. Bilvamangala: I have come for that. Merchant: It is my good fortune. Pray enter. Bilvamangala: But I have a strange request. Merchant: Kindly tell me what it is. Bilvamangala: First, allow me to introduce myself. I am a degenerate soul. A prostitute would not love me, and in desperation I left the world. Merchant: Whoever you may be, you are my guest — God himself in the form of a guest. Kindly come in. Bilvamangala: I have not yet told you why I have come here. Merchant: Please tell me. Bilvamangala: It is your wife. I have beheld her beauty. From the moment I cast my eyes upon her, I have been restless. Hoping always to see her again, I wait and wait. If, then, it be your desire to serve your guest, promise that you will leave your wife alone with me. Let this woman, adorned with jewels, grant my wishes tonight. Thus I lay open to you my depraved self; do, sir, as you will. Merchant: (aside) What new test, O Lord, is this! Speak Thou to my heart. Shall my guest go away unsatisfied? Who knows in which form Thou may come to try us? My guest shall not be disappointed. Virtue is reality; by its precept I must abide. (aloud) Sir, please enter. Honored guest, I yield to your desire. Tonight you shall be husband to my wife. Bilvamangala: (to himself) See now how my eyes have
again made of me a beast. I have yet to learn how far they can drag me
down! (he exits) SCENE SIX Merchant's inner apartment
Merchant: My dear Ahalya, prepare yourself. Our guest would like to enjoy you. Ahalya: O my lord, what are you saying? You want me to give myself to him — a stranger? How can I do this? Chastity is the treasured virtue of a dharma-patni. Merchant: Yes, dharma... it is our dharma to receive this holy man, our guest. Athita devo bhavan yajna tapasya — the dharma of the brahmachari is to perform sacrifice; the dharma of the sannyasi is to perform austerities; and the dharma of we grihasthas is to give in charity. This man is a sadhu, so I do not know — perhaps the Lord is testing us. Perhaps the Lord is disguised as this sadhu. The dharma of a wife is to obey her husband. The dharma of the householder is to satisfy their guests, so there is no sin in the performance of our dharma. Ahalya: Very well, I shall obey. You are my husband, my lord, that I know. I shall do your will. Whether is be good or evil is for God to judge. (approaches Bilvamangala) I am here; you may do with me as you like. You are our honored guest. Bilvamangala: O these eyes! These eyes! I cannot control them. Better to destroy them. Merchant: What is the matter? What is the matter? (to wife) What did you do? What did you say? Ahalya: Nothing. Nothing! Merchant: Is she not pleasing to you? Bilvamangala: Yes, and her hairpins are very lovely. May I see one? And the other one? (holds both hairpins) Yes, these are very beautiful. (pierces his eyes with the pins) Now, I'm free! Free! Now I only have eyes for Krishna! Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya, caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah — I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master pierced my eyes with the pins of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him. I must go to Vrindavan. How will I find Vrindavan? Merchant: Mukam koroti vacalam pangum langhayate girim, yat kripa tam aham vande sri gurum dina-taranam — By the grace of Sri Guru, a lame man can scale mountains and a dumb mute can speak. So by the grace of your spiritual master, you are sure to find Vrindavan.
(Bilvamangala is walking blindly in the forest, groping his way, bumping into trees, etc. Krishna enters)
Nandulal: Hey, funny man, where are you going? Bilvamangala: I want to go to Vrindavan. Can you lead me there? Nandulal: Yes, I can take you there. (keeps slipping out of Bilvamangala's grasp) Bilvamangala: Take my hand. You keep slipping away. Let me tie your hand with this cloth, then you won't get away. What is your name? Nandulal: Nandulal. Bilvamangala: I can't tie your hand. Hold still! Nandulal: Oh, funny man, give me the rope. I'll show you how to tie a knot. (ties Bilvamangala's hand onto a tree, thus making him go around in a circle) Bilvamangala: I've been walking for so long now. I hear bells ringing and the blowing of conchshells. The brahmanas must be performing the evening arati. Another day has come and gone. Aren't we there yet? I'm tired. Let me rest. Nandulal: No, it's not too far now. Let's go. I promise I'll take you to Vrindavan and you'll meet Krishna for sure. Have you ever heard Krishna play on His flute? Bilvamangala: No, have you? Nandulal: I have a flute, I'll play it for you! (He plays on flute) Bilvamangala: I am eagerly waiting to see that Boy of Vrindavan, whose bodily beauty is captivating the whole universe, whose eyes expanded like lotus petals are always bounded by black eyebrows... and His lips are colored like copper. Through those lips comes a sound vibration which drives one madder than a mad elephant! Oh, I want so much to see im at Vrindavan! (Bilvamangala realizes that Nandulal is actually Krishna) O Nandulal, You naughty Boy! You are very cunning! I recognize You now. You are the Lord of my heart. You may escape these weak hands, but I have You trapped in my heart — and You will not be able to escape! (Nandulal strikes three-fold bending pose for audience as Bilvamangala utters final verse) Bilvamangala: All glories to Chintamani and my initiating spiritual master, Somagiri! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who wears peacock feather in His crown! Under the shade of His lotus feet, which are like desire trees, Jayasri (Radharani) enjoys the transcendental mellow of an eternal consort. (C.C. Adi 1.57, quoting Bilvamangala's Krishna-Karnamritam) The End |