Katyayani saw Yajnyawalkya returning to the hermitage after his bath. She hurried to catch up with him and met him in the courtyard. She looked at him, earnestly seeking his attention. He understood and followed her into the cottage.
When they were by themselves, she opened up.
"I've been waiting for you to ask about Maitreyi. I don't know what kind of stubbornness is preventing you from facing each other. I can't wait longer. Can't you see that she has created a sheath around herself? Inside she is seeking her own shadow! An impossible task! She cannot see her shadow unless she exposes herself to the sun."
Yajnyawalkya brooded over her word. In his hour of discontent, long ago, as his mind and soul had turned bitter by the blows of life, he had repulsed everyone. He circumambulated the whole world after leaving his household to the care of providence.. But Maitreyi, it seemed, was still nailed to the spot at which he had left her, standing in the doorway of the sanctum, saying, "I have come to release you."
Finding no response from Yajnyawalkya, Katyayani paused. But Yajnyawalkya was silent. So she went on : "Go and talk to her. Seek her out. I need not tell you what you need to do."
There was silence still. Katyayani glared at him and said, "What did you learn and teach all these years? I am not asking for enlightenment. We are asking for simple love; a word which I can utter easily, but Maitreyi can't."
Just as she said this and was about to leave disdainfully, she ran into Artabhaga who was about to enter, not aware that she was there with Yajnyawalkya inside the room. She did not know if he had caught her last words; but he turned back abruptly and went out in another direction.
When they were by themselves, she opened up.
"I've been waiting for you to ask about Maitreyi. I don't know what kind of stubbornness is preventing you from facing each other. I can't wait longer. Can't you see that she has created a sheath around herself? Inside she is seeking her own shadow! An impossible task! She cannot see her shadow unless she exposes herself to the sun."
Yajnyawalkya brooded over her word. In his hour of discontent, long ago, as his mind and soul had turned bitter by the blows of life, he had repulsed everyone. He circumambulated the whole world after leaving his household to the care of providence.. But Maitreyi, it seemed, was still nailed to the spot at which he had left her, standing in the doorway of the sanctum, saying, "I have come to release you."
Finding no response from Yajnyawalkya, Katyayani paused. But Yajnyawalkya was silent. So she went on : "Go and talk to her. Seek her out. I need not tell you what you need to do."
There was silence still. Katyayani glared at him and said, "What did you learn and teach all these years? I am not asking for enlightenment. We are asking for simple love; a word which I can utter easily, but Maitreyi can't."
Just as she said this and was about to leave disdainfully, she ran into Artabhaga who was about to enter, not aware that she was there with Yajnyawalkya inside the room. She did not know if he had caught her last words; but he turned back abruptly and went out in another direction.
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