Divine Life (A Drama)
by Swami Sivananda
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Book Code: ES114
Paperback: 63 pages
ISBN: NA
Book Dimensions: 7.0 x 4.80 x 0.15 inches
Shipping Weight: 90 grams
Table of Contents
| Publishers’ Note | 5 |
| Synopsis | 6 |
| Prayer | 9 |
| Dramatis Personae | 11 |
| Act I — Scene I | 13 |
| Scene II | 14 |
| Scene III | 16 |
| Act II — Scene I | 21 |
| Scene II | 28 |
| Act III — Scene I | 36 |
| Scene II | 37 |
| Act IV — Scene I | 45 |
| Scene II | 49 |
| Twenty Important Spiritual Instructions | 60 |
PUBLISHERS’ NOTE
We beg to place before the spiritually inclined public and habitual readers of Sri Swami Sivanandaji’s works, another drama in four acts in the shape of the present volume. The “Brahmacharya Drama” which was the first of its kind written by Sri Swamiji at first appeared in his monumental work: “Sure Ways for Success in Life and God-realisation.” Seeing that this drama had peculiar appeal to the students and the public, it was later printed as a separate volume in the present series. It also came to be staged in different parts of the country and was translated into one of the South Indian languages and into Hindi and enacted before crowded gatherings by highly educated persons.
The setting of the present drama is very realistic and should have its own appeal to lovers of histrionics. Our present object will surely be served if this drama is staged by them before crowded audiences with the sole object of sowing the seeds of spirituality on new grounds. We also hope that the reading public at large will accord it a thundering welcome and popularise it amongst others.
This drama will be translated and printed in Hindi for the benefit of the Hindi knowing public.
–The Divine Life Society
SYNOPSIS
On the occasion of the great Kumbha Mela of Hardwar, Mohini, in the hope of being blessed with an offspring as a result of virtuous actions, requests her husband Sansari Nath to take her to Hardwar and after some discussion, they decide to go. Haridassi and Manjeet Singh, another pair of devotional and Yogic tendencies as well, start for Hardwar with a belief that visit to holy places increases Sattwic qualities of man.
Mayavati and Sundardas, who have very little faith in the ceremonial baths in holy rivers etc. also go to the Mela with a view to holiday-making and fun.
A socio-nationalist, a social volunteer, a Karma Yogin and a happy-go-lucky sort of man also go to Hardwar by the same train.
On their way to Hardwar, they get introduced to each other and casually a discussion is started regarding the efficacy of visits to holy places and the evils attendant thereon. Eventually, the heat of argumentation drifts to entire denial of God and Religion.
At Hardwar, the whole party stays together in one place and on an occasion when Sansari Nath and his wife are feeding two Brahmacharins, Yogananda and Jnanananda, the other people seriously object to feeding of Mahatmas and speak ill of Sadhus. Naturally, a discussion ensues between the Brahmacharins and the socialist and the atheist. This discussion shakes the convictions of Sansari Nath and Mohini and when the other people have left, they express their dilemma to the Brahmacharins, who promise to take the pair to their Guru Maharaj where all their doubts will be cleared. Consequently, the pair sits at the lotus feet of the Sadguru and feels quite satisfied with the instructions imparted by the Swamiji.
While at Hardwar, there is a spiritual conference and Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit Chandra Shekharji is delivering a spirited lecture on Hindu Theosophy. Sundardas, Mayavati, Petoo Lal and Desh Raj visit the conference and interrupt the lecturer with a view to derogate his worth. As a result, a scuffle ensues wherein these people receive injuries. Jnanananda and Sevaram happen to come across the scene and take care of them. Jnanananda explains to them their mistaken view and eventually takes them to his Guru, the Swamiji.
The Sadguru, then delivers a fine speech in which he nicely assimilates and co-ordinates all the Yogas and stresses on the ideal life of man, the way of the enlightened sages that leads to Moksha.
Finally, all are satisfied and the Swamiji conducts a Kirtan to wind up the proceedings.
PRAYER
Know that by long prostration, by question and service of the wise who have realised the Truth will instruct thee in (that) knowledge.
Let an aspirant after he has examined the world gained by Karma, acquire freedom from all desires, reflecting that nothing that is eternal can be gained by Karma. Let him in order to obtain the knowledge of the eternal, take sacrificial fuel in his hand and approach that preceptor alone who is versed in the Vedas and established in the Brahman.
He who is an ocean of mercy, He who tries for the uplift of all, He who ever enjoys the bliss of Satchitananda and whose actions are always aimed at the Truth, to Him I pray, to Him I pray the Reverend Sivananda Yogindra, an embodiment of bliss.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
FEMALES:
MOHINI — Semi-educated wife of Sansari Nath, very credulous in scriptural rituals, desirous of an offspring.
MAYAVATI — Wife of Sundar Das, staunch materialist, mammon-worshipper and a slave to the flesh.
HARIDASSI — A devotional lady, wife of Manjeet Singh.
MALES:
SANSARI NATH — An average worldly man of shaky convictions, medium earning education and very much attached to his family.
SUNDAR DAS — An atheist.
DESH RAJ — A volunteer of Hindustan Sevadal holding Socio-Nationalist views.
PETOO LAL — A young man believing in the theory of Charvak–“Eat, drink and be merry.”
MANJEET SINGH —
SEVA RAM — A cousin of Manjeet Singh, Karma Yogin.
Disciples of a Sadguru.
YOGANANDA — A Hatha Yogin
JNANANANDA — A Vedantin
Other disciples.
ATMANANDA —
RAM DAS —
SWAMIJI — A Sadguru. A Realised Saint, Brahma Srotriya and Brahma Nishtha.
MAHAMAHOPADHYAYA PUNDIT CHANDRA SHEKHAR SHASTRI — A lecturer on Hindu Theosophy and his followers.
SCENE I
(Prayer)
Rama Hare Siya Rama Ram
Rama Hare Siya Rama Ram
Rama Hare Siya Rama Ram
Rama Hare Siya Rama Ram
* * *
Krishna Hare Radhe Shyama Shyam
Krishna Hare Radhe Shyama Shyam
Krishna Hare Radhe Shyama Shyam
Krishna Hare Radhe Shyama Shyam
* * *
Sri Gokula ka Rahanewala,
Jaya Jaya Jaya Nandalala,
Makhan Misri Khanewala,
Mohan Murali Bansiwala.
* * *
He who dwells in that Gokul
Hail! Hail!! Hail!! O Son of Nanda,
He who eats sugar candy butter
That charming flute-bearer
…. Rama Hare Siya Rama Ram.
SCENE II
(House of Sansari Nath)
[Sansari Nath is sitting in a chair in his room when his wife, Mohini starts the talk thus]
Mohini: My Lord, I hear that there will be a huge congregation this month in Hardwar at the Kumbha Mela. In Kathas, Pundits often say that it is a virtuous act to have a dip in the holy Ganges on auspicious occasions like this. I wish we too had gone there.
Sansari: Hardwar is a good place, no doubt, and the Kumbha Mela is held once in twelve years. But many lakhs of people collect there and often contagious diseases like cholera break out in these days. People cannot get accommodation and food easily. It is very troublesome to go. We shall go on some other occasion when it is less crowded.
Mohini : Yesterday Haridassi, a friend of mine, informed me that on this occasion many good Mahatmas visit Hardwar and it is very auspicious to have their Darshan. She too is going with her husband. We will have good company. Moreover, (blushing) virtuous deeds may give us an offspring also as their result.
Sansari: I know Manjeet Singh very well. I shall ask him about it and if he is going with his wife, we shall also go.
(Enter Manjeet Singh and Haridassi)
Manjeet Singh: Namaskar, dear sir, my wife informed me that your wife and yourself intend going to Hardwar. We are also desirous of going there and if you are coming along with us, we shall have good company.
Sansari: Namaskar Maharaj, welcome. We are just talking about you. Mohini was telling how she had a talk with your wife. (Pulling chairs) Please take your seats comfortably. Though personally, I am not very much in favour of going to such huge congregations, but in view of the ardent wish of Mohini and thinking your company to be beneficial, I have decided to go.
Haridassi: (To Mohini) Hello sister, it is very nice of you to have induced your husband to go to the Mela. We shall have very good time in your company.
Mohini: From the moment I heard that you were going, I was longing to have your company, so I was requesting him to avail of this opportunity, when just at the proper time both of you arrived.
Manjeet Singh: (To Sansari Nath) All right friend. Let us take leave now. We shall meet you at the Railway Station tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. By the way, a cousin of mine will also go with us.
Sansari: I shall be much benefitted by your good company. I am sure we shall come across some good Mahatmas there on this occasion.
SCENE III
(Railway Carriage)
[Sansari Nath, Mohini, Manjeet Singh and Haridassi are seated on one bench in the compartment. Haridassi and Manjeet Singh start Sankirtan and the other pair also joins them]
SRI KRISHNA GOVINDA HARE MURARE
HEY NATHA NARAYANA VASUDEVA
(Another pair, Sundar Das and Mayawati are sitting on the opposite bench and they laugh in derision at the Kirtan party)
Sundar Das: Ha! Ha! Ha! O My Lord! These people think that they have the monopoly of heaven by shouting so loudly. (Turning towards Sansari Nath) O dear sir! Why are you making your fellow passengers uncomfortable? Please don’t bore our ears with your Kirtan.
Sansari: I am very sorry, my friend. Have you become sick because of our Kirtan? But I have been told that Kirtan cures many maladies. Particularly when going on pilgrimage to holy places, one should always sing the Lord’s name.
Mayavati: But brother, are you quite sure that your so-called Lord really exists? Is it not a brain product of the too selfish priestly class to swindle the credulous people of whatever little they have in the name of God and religion? I cannot believe in such nonsense.
Haridassi: O sister! It pains me too much to hear such blasphemy from you. In India, the ladies are the real support and backbone of Hindu Religion and if we become the agents of denial of God, our children would surely be rank materialists and would lead the country to utter destruction.
Mayavati: Only the uneducated and over-credulous old generations are the game of the priestly class and are wasting the nation’s wealth in fruitless charity. Enlightened modern ladies of my class can never be led into believing anything which cannot be made the object of our physical experience.
Mohini: But the smarting cut of a cane cannot be expressed. Can you express the taste of sugar candy, the smell of jasmine, the prick of a needle and the colour of water? Even your physical experiences, you are unable to describe. How would you explain the subtle workings of the mind, the intellect? These are also experiences. Your love towards the husband, the son, the brother and the father varies in degree and in kind also. Are you able to describe it? No! How much more difficult would it be to describe the Divine Bliss derived from singing the Lord’s name?
Desh Raj: Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, for the interruption. But I for one, believe that God and religion are not in the least necessary in our lives. It is the vain fancy of idle life. The present day man has too busy a life to waste his time on such non-utilitarian subjects. The main problems before the country are to increase the national resources, raise the standard of living of the masses and secure for them more civic rights.
Manjeet Singh: But the more you will secure this, the more miserable would you feel. Please tell me, brother, has it not been the main goal of human efforts to win for him the greatest of pleasures with the least exertion? But alas! All these efforts have failed to make mankind a bit happier. This is so because our mind will not stop at any point. It will goad us further and further to sensual enjoyments and we would be led by it like dumb driven cattle. Only he can be happy who has understood well the subtle workings of the mind and kept it under his perfect control having first subdued his senses.
Petoo Lal: O friends! So much time has been wasted in fruitless discussions. Heaven and hell, this life and life hereafter, religion and God, virtue and vice, are all creations of our weak imaginations. After death, nobody comes back to see what has happened to his friends and relations. To me the only real thing is to make the best use of the opportunities and materials available to us in the present life so that we may eat, drink and be merry for who knows tomorrow we may die.
Desh Raj: No, my dear sir, here I beg to differ from you. We should not be so selfish and self-centred to ignore the claims of other people on ourselves. I understand it to be the ideal life if we are perfectly moral and upright in our conduct and share the assets of the society for its benefit. We cannot close our eyes to the starving millions. If we give our mite today, we might expect a bounty tomorrow.
Seva Ram: I beg your pardon, friend! If you expect a return for the little that you give, the action would still remain selfish. The difference would be of degree only. The right thing will be to dedicate all our acts to the Lord and renounce their fruits.
Sundar Das: It seems, ladies and gentlemen, that all of us have to agree to differ. Let us forget our differences for the time being and find out where all of us are bound for.
All Voices: Hardwar, of course.
Sundar Das: All right. Though we differ in views, I presume each one of us is desirous of getting a comfortable lodging in Hardwar. Let us prepare a working plan.
Desh Raj: For this you need not worry. If all are agreeable, I will take this matter on myself.
Seva Ram: And I offer to assist you, dear friend.
All Voice: Agreed, Agreed — Let these two gentlemen make the necessary arrangements.