Bharat-the indomitable child
This short dramatic scene is based on the seventh Act of Shakuntala, the famous play written in Sanskrit by Kalidas. Princess Shakuntala surfers a lot because king Dushyanta was Fails to recognize her. Her suffering is the result of the curse of Rishi Durwasa, who felt humiliated by Shanuntala’s insult to him. Shanuntala’s son a child nearing his teens plays with the lion cubs in the forest. Dushyanta comes that way and sees him.
Child: (Putting his hand in the jaw of the cub)-let me count how many teeth you have? They say your teeth are dangerously sharp. But I don’t feel any sharpness. They are just ordinary animal teeth. Right! (He withdraws his hand from the cub’s jaw moves to another cub) let me see if you have more teeth. (He forces open the jaw of the cub) your teeth are also not so sharp!
Maid: Sarvadaman! Where are you? Oh, I see, you are again playing with the young beasts! Let your Mother come. She’ll have a thing or two to say to you. She doesn’t like your dirtying your hand with lion’s saliva.
Child: I know my mother better, don’t I? She is the mother of a brave prince, not of a cowardly child. Maid, you see yonder, don’t you? Some royal riders are coming this way. Who can they be?
Maid: I don’t know, do I? They are strangers. Perhaps they come this way to hunt lions.
Child: they can’t kill my playmates, can they? (He goes close to the cubs) I have just counted their teeth. They are such lovely friends, aren’t they? I should not let them be hunted, should i?
Maid: (To the royal strangers) - who are you, sirs? Kindly don’t disturb the children at play.
King: I am king Dushyanta. These are my men. We came this way to hunt, for we got the scent of lion from this direction. That’s brave child, is not he? He is playing with the wild cubs fearlessly.
Child: (Advancing towards the king)-why should I be afraid of anything? These are my playmates. They are harmless. They are royal companions of a prince.
King: (in his heart) - how lovely and brave the child is! He ought to be my son. But I am so unlucky. I don not even know where Shakuntala is. (To the child) my son, I will give you others toys to play with. Look at this colorful bird. You like, it, don’t you?
Child: the bird is surely beautiful. (He throws it into the air. The amulet on his arm falls down) but it can not fly. See it has fallen down. (King bends to pick up the amulet)
Maid: sire, don’t touch it. Only the child’s parents can. For others it means sure death because it turns into a viper when a stranger touches it. (The king picks up the charmed amulet, which remains as it is) strange! It hasn’t turned into a viper!
King: (in his heart) - surely this is my son, (to the child) listen son! Tell me the name of your father.
Child: I don’t know. My mother tells he’s a king, but she doesn’t tell me his name.
King: what’s your mother’s name?
Child: why don’t you ask my name? I am called Sarvadaman. I conquer all enemies,
King: yes, Shanuntala’s son should be a brave prince. Your mother is Shakuntala, isn’t she?
Maid (to king) – sire, here comes the child’s mother.
King: (to Shakuntala, who comes towards them) - my Queen, my own Shakuntala, how have I missed you!
Shakuntala: Lord, you have met your son, haven’t you?
King: yes, I’ve talked to our son. He is truly our Bharat, the indomitable.
That his name continuing to our country Bharat.
Like it on Facebook, Tweet it or share this article on other bookmarking websites.