"Did you find that self?"....contd
Then why are we facing each other as strangers now?" asked Gargi.
"Because we are and we were strangers," said Yajnyawalkya.
"Then why did you love me?" asked Gargi.
"It took me some time to realize that I had mistaken you for an embodiment of an image I had worshipped."
Gargi was pained to hear that. She had lost, not a battle, but an offering.
"Could you not accept me for what I was?' she asked.
"I did not know what you were, but you were certainly not the image in my heart," said Yajnyawalkya.
"You did not love me then; you loved the fantasy of a woman in your heart," said Gargi.
Yajnyawalkya did not reply. Image, fantasy, illusion and truth; he did not want to gt caught in the labyrinth of doubts.
Seeing him silent, Gargi was again overpowered by the impulse to strike.
"Will you go seeking that imaginary idol again? Is that your path again now?" she asked.
Yajnyawalkya said, "I don't want to go seek her now. And it should not matter to you now as to what I seek. As for choosing a path, let me tell you; the path is where one is. Understand it and experience it fully. Recognize and experience all its landmarks. A path is not an object of analysis and doubt."
Gargi was distraught with grief. Standing in an orchard that was ready for harvesting, she was robbed of one ripe fruit she had set her mind upon. She closed her eyes in fatigue, as if surrounded, not by an orchard, but by a vast stretch of arid land.
"Is there nothing more you have to say?" She asked.
Yajnyawalkya said nothing.
Gargi eyed him for a few moments, searching for something within herself that was trying to find a way out. With a determined effort, she said, "I have to say something. I ought to have said it long back. It would have absolved you of an offence you did not commit, but carried the stigma all these years. "
Yajnyawalkya looked at her with a question in his eyes . Gargi was finding it difficult to articulate what she had in her mind. At last she said, "Shakalya did not meet with his end because of what was perceived to be a curse uttered by you. I was responsible for it. "
Yajnyawalkya was unmoved. Gargi asked, "Don't you want to know how?"
Yajnyawalkya leaned back wearily.
"NO", said he. "But nevertheless, go on and say what you have to.I knew it all along. I am surprised to see you acknowledge it now."
Gargi breathed in deeply.......to be contd
Then why are we facing each other as strangers now?" asked Gargi.
"Because we are and we were strangers," said Yajnyawalkya.
"Then why did you love me?" asked Gargi.
"It took me some time to realize that I had mistaken you for an embodiment of an image I had worshipped."
Gargi was pained to hear that. She had lost, not a battle, but an offering.
"Could you not accept me for what I was?' she asked.
"I did not know what you were, but you were certainly not the image in my heart," said Yajnyawalkya.
"You did not love me then; you loved the fantasy of a woman in your heart," said Gargi.
Yajnyawalkya did not reply. Image, fantasy, illusion and truth; he did not want to gt caught in the labyrinth of doubts.
Seeing him silent, Gargi was again overpowered by the impulse to strike.
"Will you go seeking that imaginary idol again? Is that your path again now?" she asked.
Yajnyawalkya said, "I don't want to go seek her now. And it should not matter to you now as to what I seek. As for choosing a path, let me tell you; the path is where one is. Understand it and experience it fully. Recognize and experience all its landmarks. A path is not an object of analysis and doubt."
Gargi was distraught with grief. Standing in an orchard that was ready for harvesting, she was robbed of one ripe fruit she had set her mind upon. She closed her eyes in fatigue, as if surrounded, not by an orchard, but by a vast stretch of arid land.
"Is there nothing more you have to say?" She asked.
Yajnyawalkya said nothing.
Gargi eyed him for a few moments, searching for something within herself that was trying to find a way out. With a determined effort, she said, "I have to say something. I ought to have said it long back. It would have absolved you of an offence you did not commit, but carried the stigma all these years. "
Yajnyawalkya looked at her with a question in his eyes . Gargi was finding it difficult to articulate what she had in her mind. At last she said, "Shakalya did not meet with his end because of what was perceived to be a curse uttered by you. I was responsible for it. "
Yajnyawalkya was unmoved. Gargi asked, "Don't you want to know how?"
Yajnyawalkya leaned back wearily.
"NO", said he. "But nevertheless, go on and say what you have to.I knew it all along. I am surprised to see you acknowledge it now."
Gargi breathed in deeply.......to be contd
No comments:
Post a Comment