Yayati: A Classic Tale of Lust by V S Khandekar Read Free Book Online Page A

said, ‘In life, it is the sweet fruit that is most likely to be infested.’
    That night, I saw Kacha as a poet. Now and again when anything struck him, he used to compose lines like this. I should have jotted them down as they came. But it is only when a thing is lost that we value it. We were together for a long time. But I cannot recall a single line of any of his compositions — only a few words of one line — ‘Oh, leaf of the tree of life.’
    The occasion for that verse is distinctly before my eyes. It was a moonlit night. Suddenly there was a gust and a leaf dropped in Kacha’s hair. He was anxious that it should not fall off and get trampled over, but he could not catch it. He picked it up from the ground and gazing at it in a trance came out with, ‘Oh, leaf of the tree of life.’ I do not recall the other lines of that verse but they were to this effect; ‘Oh little leaf, why should you grieve over this sudden death? You have in your own way contributed to the beauty of this tree. You have done your part in giving your little shade to us. Your life is fulfilled and your place in Heaven is secure.’
    Once a tiny little affectionate girl dragged us to her house. She wanted to show us the first bloom on a tree she had planted. But she seemed steeped in deep thought. There were two guests and only one flower. She was puzzled whom to give it to. She gazed at the flower in deep thought. Kacha saw her dilemma and said, ‘Child, you should give that flower to the Prince.’ I said, ‘No, you should give it to this great ascetic.’
    She was about to pluck the half open flower when Kacha took her hand and said, ‘Child, I am grateful for your lovely gift, but let it remain on the plant. Let it blossom there. I shall come and talk to it every morning. Would you not like that?’
    The girl was happy at these words, but I was restless. I brought it up that evening. I said, ‘That flower will be in full bloom in a couple of days and wither in three or four. Then it will drop. What is the pleasure in seeing all this? Are flowers only to be admired from a distance? On the other hand, there is greater pleasure in plucking them for their fragrance ... for making garlands and braids, for beautifying the hair and for spreading them on the bed.’ Kacha smiled with the words, ‘There is joy in it. But it is transient and derived from indulgence.’
    ‘Is indulgence a sin?’
    ‘No, not if it does not violate ethics. But life has other joys to offer, which are greater than those from indulgence.’
    ‘For instance?’
    ‘The joy of selfless sacrifice.’
    I asked again, ‘Is renunciation the only way to happiness?’
    Kacha was grave and emphatically said, ‘No, not at all. Your duty is to look after your subjects justly and to strive for their happiness. Kingly duty is as great as asceticism.’
    I asked, ‘Is it possible to live like an ascetic while yet a king?’
    He said with deliberation, ‘Prince, man’s most natural instinct is for family life. It follows that in doing so he indulges his senses in different ways. If God had meant that man should not so indulge, he would certainly not have endowed him with a body. But mere indulgence is not the object of life. With the body God has also given man a soul; all bodily desire must be regimented by the soul. It is, therefore, necessary that the soul should at all times be alert. A driver under the influence of drink, loses his control over the reins and the horses run away with the chariot, which crashes into an abyss and is smashed killing the brave archer inside for nothing.’
    He paused, then gazing up at the starry sky said. ‘Prince forgive me. I forget myself talking in this vein. Certainly, but do not forget one thing. Like you I am also an inexperienced youth.’
    Not only now, but he often talked thus. I could not agree with his views . Skirmishes between g ods and demons had been going on for years. With Maharishi Shukra’s power to revive the