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JULY, 1976
considerably behind Sramana Bhavadatta, he met a flower-seller who was carrying a rare blue blossom and a peddler-woman selling multi-hued bangles. Being carrier away from his Elysium of love and feeling, the pangs of separation which in every moment appeared more real than imaginary Bhavadeva asked them to convey his gifts to his wife, the blue flower and the pretty bangles what she might select. He did this, perhaps, to assure Nagila that he would return in no time. But, it was difficult for him to assure himself. The mood and atmosphere effected by the playwright vividly interpreted the central theme developing from love, hesitation and conflict. The plot reveals as if there is no scope for any ersatz of events for a person like Bhavadeva drawn away by circumstances from the fleeting joys and pathos of mortal bondage. The situation was strange to Bhavadeva. Return he must, but how could he retrace his footsteps by affecting the honour of his elder brother Bhavadatta, who was so much esteemed in the Samgha? On the way he thought he met Sudeva, his boy-hood friend. While he was oblivious of his surroundings his agony was echoed by a brief 'conversation with his friend who admonished him for leaving his wife. Though unreal, the voice of Sudeva coming from the depth of his own soul made him weep in lonely moments for many days to come. After entering into the monastery Bhavadeva felt that he had no other alternative than to be initiated as a monk. Thus, with a deep sorrow young Bhavadeva passed his days in the monastic order (Samgha). Though he led the life of a Sramana his yearning for Nagila with all the tender recollections ever beckoned him home. It was impossible for him to forget Nagila, and his life, he understood, lost all meaning without her. Following the sequence of the drama one night Bhavadeva expressed his deep sorrow to his friend Sramana Pundarika in the monastic establishment (Upāšraya). When advised by Pundarika to go back home after leaving the order Bhavadeva declined by arguing that it was not possible till his elder brother was alive. In the meantime, when Nagila learnt about the l'enunciation of her husband from a cowherd she wept and felt her new identity through lonely years in their changing cycle. Thus, passed twelve years and when the elder brother Sramana Bhavadatta breathed his la t Bhavadeva fled the Samgha before dawn and made for his old village. When he arrived at the villag: by a coincidence he met Nagila approaching a well with her pitcher. She recognised him despite his years of austerity in the Samgha. When Bhavadeva tremulously confessed his deep love and his perpetual longings for Nagila she prayed him not to deviate from the life of renunciation, and search for the Truth and the knowledge of Eternity. Though she cherished a similar longing her love and adoration in their purity and brilliance showed him the way to light. Bhavadeva was free from desire and he discovered in Nagila the image of his divine path-finder. Though the concept will recall the ideals of Plato
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