She spoke in a voice that sounded feeble, but Yajnyawalkya understood the will that inspired it. he remembered that evening when years ago, she had stood at the threshold. The slanting rays of the sun had fallen on her face just as they did now. The sun had touched her hair with a hue of gold then; now there were sreaks of silver in it.
Her restraint and resolve were not unknown to him. When he faltered, she woul know it in her heart. And wherever they were, fa or near, she would see the crossroads ahead of him. People thought of him as a blasting oracle. She was a silent seer. The man and the husband in him had always rebelled against her quiet inwardnes. He understood what agony he had subjected her to in the past. She had never desired to conquer him. She knew the egoist in him. And he knew that she she knew him, but would not let him know what she knew.
He was quiet for some time, absorbing her words, and letting them grow in his mind. Then he spoke in a voice that did not sound his own : "There is another aspect to our meeting. Now that you know my mind and I know yours, let me address my material responsibilities to both of you. I propose to distribute my assets equally between both of you."
Both of them looked at him in disbelief and dismay. They stared at him in silence. Anger was writ large on Katyayani's face. They did not speak. There was no greater injustice he could do to them than making this declaration. The moment they looked at him he realized what his words had done.
He said, "I want you to live together without a discord. That was why I thought of taking this step. "
Katyani got up, as if to go, and said ruefully, "How sad to know that our peace and harmony depends on the knowledge that Maitreyi does not own mor than I do! Years of living in Videha have distanced you from us to this extent!"
Yajnyawalkya was struck dumb. Before he or Katyayani could realize, Maitreyi had gathered herself up, and was gone in a fraction of a moment.
Her restraint and resolve were not unknown to him. When he faltered, she woul know it in her heart. And wherever they were, fa or near, she would see the crossroads ahead of him. People thought of him as a blasting oracle. She was a silent seer. The man and the husband in him had always rebelled against her quiet inwardnes. He understood what agony he had subjected her to in the past. She had never desired to conquer him. She knew the egoist in him. And he knew that she she knew him, but would not let him know what she knew.
He was quiet for some time, absorbing her words, and letting them grow in his mind. Then he spoke in a voice that did not sound his own : "There is another aspect to our meeting. Now that you know my mind and I know yours, let me address my material responsibilities to both of you. I propose to distribute my assets equally between both of you."
Both of them looked at him in disbelief and dismay. They stared at him in silence. Anger was writ large on Katyayani's face. They did not speak. There was no greater injustice he could do to them than making this declaration. The moment they looked at him he realized what his words had done.
He said, "I want you to live together without a discord. That was why I thought of taking this step. "
Katyani got up, as if to go, and said ruefully, "How sad to know that our peace and harmony depends on the knowledge that Maitreyi does not own mor than I do! Years of living in Videha have distanced you from us to this extent!"
Yajnyawalkya was struck dumb. Before he or Katyayani could realize, Maitreyi had gathered herself up, and was gone in a fraction of a moment.
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