Megha Sandesa

AN OPERA

Station Director (Retired), All India Radio, Bangalore

(Benediction)

Chorus:  Glory, prosperity and fulfilment be bestowed
upon the couples suffering from pangs of long separation;
let there be quick reunion,
health, happiness and so be it!
created in original by the great Kalidasa
the poem entitled ‘Cloud Messenger’
a tale of romance, lyricism and beauty–
featurised by Rajanikanta
who is modest before scholarly elite,– 
may it secure approbation of impassioned souls
and universal renown.

(Flute)

Chorus:  (Starting verse of the original poem)

Due to dereliction of duty, having been

cursed by his master
to leave his heavenly abode and live away
from his beloved for one year,
A Yaksha lived where the river-waters were
sanctified by Sita’s bathing
among the cool shades of Dandaka forest in
the hermitage on the Ramagiri.

Stage manager: Hemamalin, an inhabitant of Alaka city, had to suffer a curse from his master, Kubera (Lord of riches and King of Yakshas), for having committed a breach of duty resulting in the seperation from his beloved for one year. He was banished from Alaka. The Yaksha, Hemamalin, took his abode in Ramagiri hills to the Dandaka forest, endowed with cool shades of trees and with ponds the waters of which had been sanctified due to the wife of Rama, Sita bathing in them. Vernal season had disappeared (fleeted), and with the advent of summer and due to intense pang of separation, Yaksha became tortured beyond the ken of words. He sobs keeping in mind not only his own agony but also the helpless plight of his beloved.

Yaksha: O beloved! this vernal season which was neither helpful to you nor a bestower of comfort to me, has gone, gone away, when you are not there with me O beloved, when you are not there.

The curse, fiery that it was, is breaking my heart and the summer heat is baking my body. The whole world is ablaze around me, holding fast (at me) the arch of flame. When you are not there with me O beloved, when you are not there.

(No wonder) at dead of night in summer, even the cool moon scorches and the southerly breeze inflated with sweet fragrance of flower is giving out only conflagrational fire, when you are not there with me O my beloved, when you are not there.

Chorus: Separation is unbearable. It is better to know how the story began. How could the king of Yakshas inflict such a curse on Yaksha! How intense was the Yaksha in love with his beloved! Should it have resulted in such a punishment?

(A flash-of incident that transpired resulting in the curse of Kubera on Yaksha is given at this stage.)

Stage manager: There at the capital city of Kubera, Alaka, the youthful lovers Yaksha and Yakshi have been sportfully spending their time, in a pleasure-garden, which is resounding with the sweet humming of intoxicated bees, where trees are beaming with full-blown flowers, and is provided with girdles in the form of rows of swans flying. The pools are beaming with full-blown lotus flowers and the domestic peacocks melodiously shriek.

(Duet Song)

Yaksha: Dear, let us stop. Take these golden lotuses.

Yakshi: Oh, this way, come this way–here is the garden retreat.

Yaksha: Let not these streams and bowers be crossed so quickly.

Yakshi: We have not covered the whole park. Are you tired so soon!

Yaksha: I would like to adorn your tresses with golden lotuses blossomed in the lake Manasa.

Yakshi: You are intent on sporting with my tresses; hold you on for a while; bashfulness is seizing me since we are being watched by parrots and cuckoos in the garden. (Laughter)

(Then enters a royal messenger following the sound of drums)

Royal messenger: The time for worshipping Lord Siva is almost over; Even now the Yaksha has not brought in golden lotuses for the worship;
Whence came his lapse on the part of Yaksha; Thus Kubera the King of Alaka has been raging with fury.

(Departs accompanied by fading drums)

Stage manager : Alas, the arrival and pronouncement of the royal messenger have not been taken note of by the Yaksha couple being engrossed with amorous sporting.

(Duet Song)

Yakshi: Hold the mirror for me, so that
I decorate my face with tattoo.

Yaksha: Here is the mirror, my dear
oscillating with your moon-like face.

Yakshi: The parting line of my hair be painted
with saffron with your unshaken hands.

Yaksha: Are they pearls or beads of sweat
full of your face, why not they be dried?

Yakshi: It is tattooing done through broken pearls
Don’t erase it, mistaking for sweat.

Yaksha: So that the wet tattooing gets dried up
shall I not blow on either of your cheeks.

Yakshi: Please don’t blow–the vapour of your breath
covers the vision of the image in the mirror.

(Yaksha trying to blow and his beloved objecting and both laughing)

(Conversational Song):

(Then enters a royal messenger heralded by the sound of drums)

Royal messenger: O Hemamalin, What is this indifference to your master?

How come, the king’s command is not taken notice of?

Yaksha: Dear, immediately, give me those lotuses.
They are to be sent to the king, for his worship of Shiva.

Yakshi: Oh! Guilt hangs over us. However, please take these flowers.

Yaksha: I shall send away the messenger and instantly, come to you.

Yakshi: Alas! how long it is since, the worship of Shiva delayed?

Yaksha: Sir, O royal messenger, today I am preoccupied. Here are the flowers–you alone may at once hand them over to the king.

Royal messenger: Now, it is pretty long time since the worship is held up. Somehow I shall hand them over. I do not know what is in store for you.

(Exit)

Stage manager: The Yaksha couple find themselves in a further session of amorous sport.

Yaksha: The sweetness of smile, the magic of the side-long-glance,

The curve of the waist, the grace in the gait,
Without all these your assets, what is there in
life for me my dear!
Without you my dear, what is there in life for me!
One with the bewitching curls, the surging
melodious voice,
the soft fingers, and deftness at handling the veena,
Without you my dear, what is there in life for me?

(Duet Song) Without all your assets, what is there in life for me?

Both: Of what avail would be the heaven, or the Nandana grove?

Our love alone is eternal

Yaksha: Of what avail, is the nectar of blossoms of Alaka for us, who indeed float in the ocean of love?

Yakshi: Shall we get rocked in the swing of love! Let us sail in the sea of bliss!

Both: Enough with it whatever desirable higher state of existence!
Ours is the highest state and beyond the universe!

(Sounds of the Drum)

Kubera pronouncing the curse: You have forgotten the master’s order taking recourse to mortal nature, thus becoming love-smitten.

With whom-so-ever you are infatuated, from her and from the celestial region, you are banished for one year,

Echos (Drums-fade out)

Yakshi: How can we live with this curse? How can we bear the separation?

Being alone without me, how can he contain himself?
How to spend this one year long period of separation?
Unsurpassed in love, how can he bear this?
Of What Worth is my beauty? and of What worth is my youth?
These have brought this curse upon us, why don’t they be reduced to ashes!
Who will talk to me? Who will enjoy my music?
Who will hereafter play with our mirthful pet peacock?

Chorus: Due to uncontrolled indulgence in love
and dereliction of duty towards the master,
whose Curse having resulted in demotion from station
living alone for one year in exile
The couple keep on counting the expendable days
and nights,
Yakshi living in Alakapuri
and Yaksha in exile in the Dandaka wilderness.

Stage manager: The hero Yaksha enters in thesame mood of desolation as at the starting of thisplay.

Yaksha: In the sparkling of clouds or in the blossoming of flowers in the groves
I see as if you move about my dear and get horripilated!
From the celestial home let you not come down, let you not,
O beauty celestial worlds, O beauty beyond all universe!
When the Zephyrs encircle me, or in the spells of my wakeful dreaming,
You hover over my thoughts and make me forget myself.

Stage manager: In this plight the hero’s limbs get emaciated; his gold bracelet slips down quite often. On the first day of Ashadh he beholds a dark cloud rubbing against the mountain like a sporting elephant.

Chorus: Here he comes, how nice to look at, the cloud of Ashadh;
With thousand hoods spread out, with the splendour of Adisesha!
On the hill of Ramagiri, in the groves of hermitages
by the one who is in exile for an year, devoid of his beloved
The cloud has been implored, to tarry there and rest for a while!

Yaksha: O rain-bearer! Stay for a while brother!
Due to the heart-burning of rivers, and
sighs of pangs of separation,
due to burning heat, you rise and rise
and reach the sky above! O rain-bearer,
Due to failure in love and dreams
and grief those who get emaciated
With constant heart-burning, those lovers
are indeed your brothers! O rain-bearer!
stay for a while brother!

Stage manager: The Yaksha appeals to the cloud to stay there to take a message to his beloved in Alakapur – not doubting the feasibility whether cloud, composed essentially of smoke, energy, water and air, and hence inanimate, could carry the message at all, and started describing the route from Ramagiri to Alaka.

From now onwards, on the mental arena of the listeners and readers and on the stage before the live audiences, the time factor takes a peculiar turn, with incidents happening between the Yaksha and the cloud on the Ramagiri hill on one side, and on the other a moving panorama into the future portraying the route from Ramagiri to Alaka as described by Yaksha, through which the cloud proceeds into future, seeing and meeting rivers, mountains, towns and villages and their inhabitants, mortal, immortal and semi-divine beings, birds and animals-until the cloud meets the Yaksha’s beloved in Alaka, simultaneously in a continuous presentation.

Yksha: Sustainer of life sweet like nectar,
O rain-bearer, Go to the city of Alaka
Carrying my message of love to my beloved
Go to the city of Alaka.

Chorus: Go to the city of Alaka, O cloud
Go to the city of Alaka.

Yaksha: I know you are highly placed in Indra’s court,
You are of notable birth (from Pushkala and Avarta)
Your esteemed qualities may bestow
fruitfulness to my prayer.

Your destination is Alaka
Where the palaces are purified by
rays of moon emanating from Shiva’s crown.
You are the bestower of comfort to the afflicted.
Carry my message to my beloved!

Chorus: Your destination is Alaka
There the palaces touch the moon.

Yaksha: There you will see your sister-in-law
counting the days of separation and emaciated
but still living, please carry my message to her.

Chorus: Your destination is Alaka
Carry the message to the love-lorn lady.

Yaksha: Across the hills with a fatigued slow pace,
while crossing the rivers in reduced form
it is for you to go to Alaka, O Cloud,
the route thereto is as follows.

Chorus: It is for you to go to Alaka, O Cloud,
the route thereto is as follows.

Yaksha: Slowly blows the south-wind,
Sweetly chirp the chataka birds
with your pleasant deportment on the sky
you will be welcomed by the cranes.

Chorus of Chataka Birds:
We are chataka birds, beloveds of cloud
We are fond of swallowing raindrops!
sprinkled by our beloved cloud,
shall we suckle these nodules of drizzle?

Chorus of Cranes:
We fly in row, of white garlands,
We are cranes, the well-feathered,
Make, make everything charming
through your drizzle, more rejoicing.

Yaksha: As you approach the groves which are full of
ripened rose apples
there you see the camping swans and
the crows busy preparing their nests.

Chorus of Swans:
Where do you go; where have you come from?
Welcome to you, O monsoon cloud!
Let us be your co-wayfarers,
we are swans and our wages are lotus-stems.

Chorus of Crows:
Caw, Caw, Caw, Caw, who is she, O cloud
to whom you carry the message of love?

All the Birds:
It is for you to go to Alaka
The route thereto is as follows.

Yaksha: Clasp for a while, the Chitrakoota hill,
sanctified by Rama’s footsteps.
In the bowers enjoyed by forest maids
on the Vindhyas, you can stop for a while.
Adapt steadiness heavy-bodied one,
Draw the sweet waters of the Narmada
whose speed is arrested by rose apple groves,
exuding the scent of ichor of wild elephants.

Yaksha: The groves getting expanded, through your showers,
and the plentiful crop gotten through your benevolence,
make the women of countryside mirthful, out of joy
they extend youa hearty welcome.

Chorus of the women of countryside:
Has he arrived, once again, has he arrived?
Seeing Orion rise in the east,
Delighted and melting cloud!
the jasmine creeper on the bank of the streamlet
smiles in waves like a shining flood;
While smiling through her flowery eyes
scatters aloft golden sovereigns;
shedding rays of light like arrows
rouses lustful desires!

Yaksha: Near the foot-hills of the Vindhya, you will see the river Rewa
and the Vetravati in Kingdom of Dasharna
thereto the Nirvindbya and to the Sipra of Malawa
You will be paying your respect.

See without fail the two cities,
Visala and then Ujjaini
you can recover from the fatigue of journey
on the mansion tops of Visala.
In Ujjaini you will offer prayers
in the temple of Mahakala!

Chorus of devotees and danseuses in the Mahakala temple at Ujjaini

Hullo friend, Hullo friend, here he comes

How soon he delights us
I look, look, he is the ram-bearer!

Having entered the temple-yard of Mahakala
and encompassed the flag-mast from top to bottom
with mellow bass whispers of Thunder
he keeps rhythm along with the drums during worship!

In the purple dusklight when he encircles
the arms of Shiva as He is about to dance,
Bhavani darts a devotional glance while
Shiva is pleased by the cloud-cover where the elephant bark eludes!

Yaksha: On one of the mansion tops in the city
spend the night and start again
In the waters of the river Gambhira
let your shadow enter!

On the crossways of Visala,
in the suburbs and in the villages
the ballad groups of village elders
singing the heroic tales on Udayana
may be given audience!

The Chorus of village elders:
Pradyotana through a strategic plot,
let loose a fake elephant into the forest
Where the hunting addict and Veena player as such,
Udayana of Vatsa was thus taken a prisoner!
To train Vasavadatta the princess of Ujjaini
In the art of playing Veena, Udayana was engaged.
Along with music be roused cupidian magic
Through his minister’s craft, along with the new
bride, he managed to escape to his capital.

Yaksha: Thereafter, visit the mountain Devagiri
The abode of god born of riparian reeds
Along with the lute playing siddha couples
you pay your obeisance to the god with six faces!

Siddha couple: Let us bow to the mountain maiden’s son
the blossoms on the reeds of the Ganges!
The commander of the heavenly hoards
Skanda, the rider on the peacock-stead!

Yaksha: From where the Ganges descends to the earth,
Where the fragrance of musk deer abounds
there, on the white peak of the Himalaya
you revive yourself from the fatigue of journey.
With the accompaniment of the sweet flute melodies,
To the music of the damsels of kinnaras
To the ballads on the victory of Shiva over three
cities of Asuras,
may your thunder join the drums.

Chorus of the Kinnara damsels

Having stood on the chariot that was the earth
yoking the three Vedas for the three fitting horses,
Having Brahmain the front as the charioteer,
Raising in the left hand the mount Meru as the bow,
Pulling in the Right the Adisesha as the string,
Releasing Vishnu as the dauntless arrow,
By whomsoever were burnt the three cities of Asuras,

Victorious is he the Lord of Universe!

Yaksha: Proceeding beyond the Himalaya, the Krauncha Tunnel
exploded by Parasurama may be reached;

Right through the tunnel you move northwards
expanding yourself horizontally;

As if the daily boisterous laughter of Shiva is heaped
together into the heightened peaks, stands there
Kailasa, to whom you’ll be the guest of honour
and who serves the divine nymphs (welcoming you)
the purpose of a mirror.

Chorus of the Apsaras:
Look at there in front of you, O divine nymphs, the monsoon
cloud just having reached the mount of Kailasa.
Let us strike him gently with the edges of our bangles,
Let us play with him throwing up water hither and thither?
Even though held tight, he frightens us by his thunder
and through some plea or other he escapes somewhere else!

Stage manager: Thereafter Yaksha starts describing to the cloud the city of Alaka situated on the slopes of Kailasa Mountain.

Yaksha: Like a beloved on the lap of her lover, Alaka is seen on the slopes of Kailasa with the Ganges dropping down like the maiden’s upper garment!
The nodules of your drizzle, she wears like pearls on her curls if you have not seen her once, you will never be able to comprehend!

Chorus: Alaka on the slopes of Kailasa is seen like a damsel.

Yaksha: Lotuses playfully held in hand, with jasmine buds in forelocks,
Lodhra pollen smeared on face, she looks indeed the glory in white!
with Kuravaka buds in the coiffure, and the sirishas bedecked in the earlobes
Neepa is pressed in the parting of the hairstyle of the maiden.

Chorus: It is Alaka where you are to go
It is very much like the heaven!

Yaksha: Tears roll down there only out of joy,
and not for any other reason
no other anguish excepting that of
fulfilled love could haunt there
with undepleting treasures around
and with impassioned tones everyday,
where else is possible for the Kinnaras to sing
in praise of Kubera, the lord of riches?

Chorus of the Kinnaras:

The Lord of the Yakshas the King of Kings
Kubera is the most benevolent!
He is the protector of the nine treasures!
He is the sovereign of the Kinnaras!
His son is charming Nalakoobara!
Lord Shiva is his greatest friend!

Yaksha: Towards the north of Kubera’s palace
may you be able to locate my house!
you can see the arch of the entrance
colourful like a rainbow! (towards the north)
Very near there, see the pet-child of my wife
With clusters of flowers that a hand stretched
out can reach
the bending plant of blossoms, the lovely
Bala Mandara!
With a flight of steps adorned by emerald gems
Swans having chosen to be their adapted home
in the vicinity can be seen the well of lotuses!

Stage manager: In this way, the Yaksha having conveyed indications to locate his house in Alaka, started describing to the cloud about the present plight of his beloved.

Yaksha: Slender, dark with pointed teeth, and
lips very much like a ripe ‘Bimba’ fruit,
With a thin waist lines and eyes like those of a
surprised deer and a deep navel region,
Slow in gait due to the weight of the hips, and
slightly bent with the breasts,
Look out for her, the model, first fruit of creator’s
craft?

Chorus: Slender, dark, with pointed teeth, and
Lips very much like a ripe ‘Bimba’ fruit.

Yaksha: You will find her to be emaciated, and indeed my better half.
Like the lovely Chakravaki having me the companion exiled,
the young damsel with deep eagerness, spending
these lingering days of separation.
I deem her to be of ‘lotus type’ – ‘Padmini’
the model woman!

Chorus of birds:
Leaving Yaksha in Ramagiri, through all
that is narrated by him at length,
the route from Dandaka to Alaka, the exquisite
beauty of that city,
the location of Yaksha’s home there, the plight
of his beloved,
with the cloud that has listened to all these,
through instant fancy let us reach,
the city of Alaka and witness, in person, the
Yaksha’s bride!

Yakshi: In whichever farthest region, or whichever wilderness
how long is this anguish to last, how can it be endured
by my husband!

Here till now, alone I am, afflicted and emaciated!
In exile there, the lord of my life, how can he
ever, be happy at all!
of all days today, what is it for, the south wind
is sporting, in royal abandon!
the parrot of desires, appears to be gathering
strength, in her withered feathers!
Is the end of curse approaching near?
The counting with flowers, of days of anguish
can I at least hope now to be coming to an end!

Stage manager: To make the Yaksha’s bride suffering from such anguish of separation, meet the monsoon cloud, the swarn of birds leads the cloud into the interior of the Yaksha’s home.

Chorus of birds:
Enter enter rain-bearer! Lo there, Lo there, monsoon cloud!
This way, this way, lies the land, to the north of Kubera’s mansion!
Here is the sporting hill, on which sit for a while and recuperate!
Look forward it is very much there, the gate for Yaksha’s home.
Spread your lightning sight forward, assume small form like an elephant cub!
From the interior there, do you listen to the soliloquy of the Yaksha’s bride?

Yakshi: Sarika, O clever bird! Do you remember ever, our Lord?
His words of love, that you are dear to him
Do you remember, O clever bird?
In this picture that I have sketched of him
In the emaciated form that I could imagine and bring out,
Do you find any resemblance
to the real image of our Lord!
Attempting to tune the lyre, to sing a song about our lord,
I seem to forget the very tune, with tears dropping and drenching the strings!

Chorus of birds:
O Visalakshi, O Yaksha’s bride! How long do you lament like this?
Look here, he comes from the south; he has been spurred by the south-wind;
A messenger from your husband; pick up courage O Yaksha bride?
Enough with your langour and distress; enough with your expectant tears! Look here, the rain-bearer has come; he is friendly and sweet in spite of thunder!

(Thunder and drums)

Yakshi: O rain-bearing cloud! O rain-bearing cloud!
Do you carry any little message of hope?
Your journey is by air stirred up by south-wind!
Have you brought happy tidings of my husband?

Megha (Cloud):

(To the accompaniment of soft rhythm by deep bass percussion)

Here is happy tidings, O bride of unbreakable union!
Your husband’s friend am I; know me as the rain-bearing cloud,
Carrying his message of love secure in my heart!
When the couples are separated and fatigued on the way
my hobby is to unite and encourage the lovers–
anxious to untwine the beloved’s plaits of hair, through
my deep sounding thunder but friendly and soft
Your companion also is in the same plight like you
far away in a hermitage on the Ramagiri hill
He is anxious about your welfare; and here is his message:

Yaksha’s Voice:
I have taken recourse to myself with courage
having contemplated about many things to do
at the end of our curse, when we are united
As such don’t lose confidence and your hope!
I live long through my hope about your love!
Concentrated happiness whosoever gets
is likely to face misery to the same extent;
if once it goes down, it ought to rise above
again and again like the rim of a wheel!
for the curse to come to an end and
for Vishnu on the serpent couch to rise,
there are only four months for us
to spend closing the eyes!

Megha (Cloud):
My adapted sister-in-law, please accept
as my gift, this soothing message!
O bride of unbreakable union, please accept
O damsel anguished by curse!

Chorus of Birds:
The garland of lightnings of your hope of love
The jet of nectar of your lover’s message
O bride of unbreakable union please accept
O damsel anguished by curse!

Stage manager:
The heavenly voice of the cloud messenger,
amiable to everybody
has conveyed the Yaksha’s message to his beloved
and saved her life,
and filled her with hope and satisfaction.
Prayers addressed to good people can never be
unfruitful.