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T. P K Burden
T. P K Burden
T. P. Kailasam
Thyagaraja Paramasiva Kailasam
The Burden
A Playlet of THE RAAMAAYANA
Personae:
BHARATA
SATRUG HNA
VASISHTHA
ANG A
VANG A
Princes of Kosala
Aged Chamberlains-at-court
Place
"The Kin g's Walk" : a corridor - Dim lit
[Enter : Bharata and Satrughna travel-begrimed]
Bharata:
Satrughna:
(rubbing his eyes with the backs of his hands) Oh, the dust!
The blinding dust!... To watch the fleetest steeds in all the
land sniff up that red ribbon of a road from uncle's here, did
bring elation to my heart; but to mine eyes, the dust!, makes
e'en the King's own walk seem dimly lit!
(apprehensively) "Seem dimly lit?" But Bharata, it is dim
lit...I fear'd it would be so!
Bharata:
Satrughna:
Bharata:
Kailasam
Thanks to Sreekanth
Chakravarthy for his help with
digitizing the plays.
Poems
The Dramatist | Eternal Cain |
Truth Naked | The Lake |
Mother-Love | The Sixth
Columnist 1943 | A Monologue
| The Recipe | The Smilin'
Seven | The Artist | Kaikeyee |
Commiseration (Karna) |
Drona | Krishna | Subhadra
Plays
Purpose | Fulfilment | The
Burden | The Brahmin's Curse
thou art ev'n a bigger one to thine own self! The people's
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Satrughna:
Bharata:
Anga:
Bharata:
Anga:
Bharata:
Satrughna:
(smiling) But, Bharata, 'tis Time's edict that one must grow
old if one w ill live long!
Anga:
Bharata:
Anga:
Bharata:
(falls forward)
(catching him in his arms) Poor ancient! He will brush aside
his king's behest to forbear from work and rest his limbs sore
tried in the service of the Estate. Why, he has fainted dead
away! Help, Saumitri ... (The brothers carry him to a
couch)...gently...(they lay him on it: Bharatha in a loud voice)
What ho! Without! M ore lights ho! This gloom is
madden in g!
(Enter a number of courtiers: also servants bearing lamps and
torches, with Vanga at their head. Bharata pointing to the
couch) Look to his lordship, my lords!
Vanga:
Bharata:
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Satrughna:
Bharata:
Disaster! The Gods forbid! (to Vanga) How doth his lordship,
my lord?
Vanga:
Bharata:
fast-approaching last!
Poor ancient! Send for his kin; and the physicians too!
(approaching the couch seats himself by the prone man;
running his hand gently over the old man's brow, in a
soothing tone) How is it with thee, my lord!?
Anga:
Bharata:
Anga:
Bharata:
Vanga:
Bharata:
There was!? "Great King" he called him; was he, this king
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that died, as great as our dread Lord? Could not be! And what
of a prince banished? And a wicked queen mother too; what of
her? (Vanga and the other courtiers, with heaving bosoms look
away;
Bharata
astonished
at
their
behaviour
laughs
Bharata:
U n d e r s t a n d ?...what?
Satrughna:
The...king...that...died...!
Bharata:
Satrughna:
Why...Bharata...'tis...'tis...!!!
Bharata:
Satrughna:
Bharata:
are!
(reiterating dazedly) "Remember...who...I...am? Who...I..."
(with an effort...aloud to Vanga) Is his holiness the Sage
Vasishtha in the Palace ?
Vanga:
Aye, Sire!
Bharata:
Bharata:
Vasishtha:
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Calamities like these, aye, greater than these are sent us but
to try our strength, of body and mind, of heart and soul !
Bharata:
(like a cobra stricken to death, limply raises its hood for the
last time, raises his head, his welling eyes meeting the
Rishi's; in a voice fraught with heart-rending agony) Try us?
Try us great one? Try our strength of heart an d min d an d
soul? But, w hy, great on e, w hy, the trial of this on e
humble soul spell a great people's grief? He mean t as
much to million s an d more as to me! Why? Why? Why?
(collapses at the Rishi's feet)*
Curtain Drops Slowly
* This playlet grew into a second scene a la most of the other creations of Kailasam
Posted by HRK
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