Even moon needs sun to rule when

night is done
Act 1: The Prophecy & the Birth
Even stars upon the sky replace each
Scene 1: The Prophecies other
Asita: Blessed be the land of Aryavrata!! He
When they die! Yes they die!!
who seeks supreme knowledge is
about to come into the world. There
will arise in the world an Exalted One,
fully awakened, abounding in wisdom Even mountains cannot claim to live
and goodness, happy, with knowledge for ever
of the worlds, unsurpassed as a guide
to mortals willing to be led, a teacher Even rivers dry and wither in the sun
for gods and men. Even solid rock from time can run
The time is ripe for the coming of that asunder
great Seer, who, by himself, will Yes they die! So must die!
thoroughly know and see, this
universe, with its worlds of the spirits,
its Brahmas and its Maras, and its
world of recluses and Brahmins, of And I know....as everyone needs air,
princes and people. And every life needs care
Mara: In the land of Aryavarta, a young child This kingdom needs an heir
will be born of royal lineage.
Life goes on for people everywhere
He, who by his tongue shall seduce
great armies; he shall rise among the But I won’t be always there
kings on a platform of peace and
uproot them from their lands. He shall This kingdom needs an heir
be given control over kindreds,
This king needs a son.
tongues and nations. He will stand
against the prince of princes and have
the power to make war with the saints.
Chorus
The time is ripe for the coming of a
Great Warrior, one who shall be my [Even branches grow on branches
true acolyte. when dismembered

Even new seeds grow on old trees

Scene2: The Birth
dead and gone
Suddhodana: I know not why I remain
bereft of this great happiness? But the Even ants rebuild their anthills for
absence of an heir for my throne eats they never come and die
my heart every moment.
Even time must tell some heroes are
[Breaks into song] forgotten
Even sun needs moon to reign when When their sons should take the torch
day is over and carry on
 What assurance that your son want to dominion over the four corners of the
continue earth.

What you begun, where is the one
who will pertain
The story that you tell, to pray it for
yourself
This kingdom needs an heir
Yet great kings they may never be, for
each has dual destinies. Your will is to
make them king, yet they may grow
up to choose the other way, their
second destiny, the destiny to rule
their own souls. A feat even above the
gods.

Asita: Whatever the choice, they will be

All we need now is a miracle
Nothing grand nothing great just a
miracle
Guess we need now to get hysterical
adored by the worlds, for they will give
the world that which the world
hungers after. What I have told you is
true o kings: they will know great
glory.

Kingdoms rise, kingdom's fall the're

rhetorical]

Heaven here's my son.

Who will confirm the glory that i came

to claim for myself.

This kingdom has an heir.

Must I keep the glory for myself.

I must share it with someone else.

This kingdom has an heir

[Birth choreography & song]

Asita: This one is a gift from the gods to all

humanity, and thus let his name be
Devadutta.

This one shall attain all that he desires

and for that I name him Siddhartha.

Two princes born on the same day, at

the same time, and thus have similar
destinies. Destinies that are entwined,
throughout the course of their lives.

They can become great kings. They

will not rule only Sakya, but hold
 Suddhodhana: Everyone values his or
Act 2: The Swan her life more than anything else in the
world. Therefore, I think that the swan
belongs to the person who tried to
[A swan falls out of the sky and lands at
save its life, not to the person who
Siddhartha’s feet, the arrow still stuck into its
tried to take its life away. Give the
wing.]
swan to Siddhartha.
Siddhartha: Oh, you poor swan, do not be
However, it is true that backing out of
afraid. I shall take care of you. Here,
a fight isn’t the way of the Kshatriyas.
let me remove this arrow. I have a
This is a matter of shame for a prince.
balm given to me by the Vaidya, it will
I will see to it that both of you receive
help you heal.
constant training.
[Devadutta enters carrying a bow and some
Devadutta: It was lucky for you that uncle
arrows]
was there to give you the swan. Do you
Devadutta: Siddhartha, Siddhartha great really think that I will let you have it? Come
news! I got a swan! You should have fight me for it like a Kshatriya.
seen. I hit it with my first shot! It fell
[The growing up sequence]
down somewhere near the palace.
Help me look for it. Mara: Yes! Yes! This is just the beginning.
Two royal brothers will wage war so
If the arrow is fallen here, where is the
fiercely that between them the war
bird? Hey, you took my swan. Give it
will be so mortal that both will occupy
back to me. I shot it and it's mine!
the strong places. Their great quarrel
Siddhartha: I found this bird lying here will fill realm and life. At once will be
bleeding and I don't plan to give it to unleashed vengeance, one hundred
anyone while it is still wounded. powers, thirst, famine, war and death.
And whoever emerges victorious from
Devadutta: But it's mine! I shot it fair and the dust of war shall be mine for the
square, and you've stolen it from me. taking.
Give it back or I'll take it back.
Devadatta: Ha! Ha! You are still pathetic at
[The two boys start arguing and then fights. what is what happens to pansies who
fighting. Sudhodhana intervenes] are closeted up in the palace all day. Go out!
See the world!
Suddhodhana: What are you boys doing?
You are princes, behave like one.
Devadutta shot the bird; therefore it
should belong to him. But, Siddhartha
found the swan and took care of it;
therefore it should belong to him.

Devadutta: (interjects) Uncle, we should

fight over the swan and the victor
would get it. This is the way of the
Kshatriyas. I surely would have won
as. Siddhartha is pathetic at fights.

Act 3: The Enlightenment
Scene 1: The Four Signs
[Channa, Siddhartha's charioteer, is driving
Sidhartha’s chariot in front of the stage. The
four door formation on stage]
Siddhartha: Channa, I am so happy today.
For the first time I have come out of
the palace. I smell now the real
fragrance of life. Look at this
panoramic view. My entire being is in
deep ecstasy.
[Sound of shattering glass & the first door
opens. An old man before walks out of it.]
Siddhartha: Channa, Wait! Who’s that? He
looks like a man but he has white hair,
sunken cheeks and no teeth. Look at
his bent back. What kind of man is he?
Channa: Prince, he is an old man. Having
lived a long life, he is feeble and
infirm. He is very weak. That is why he
cannot walk properly. Old people have
white hair. There is no need to feel
dismay. Someday, we will all grow old.
Siddhartha: We’ll grow old? You, I, Devdutta,
my friends? Will I, too, look like this
one day?
[Sound of shattering glass & the second door
opens. A sick man before walks out of it.]
Siddhartha: Channa, who is this man? He
can't even walk properly. He is
pressing his head with one hand and
pressing his stomach with the other.
He is moaning and shedding bitter
tears. His entire body is covered with
ugly things! Is this rare or does it
happen to everyone?.
Channa: Prince, that man is sick. Any
man can fall ill my lord. He is
suffering from severe pain in his head
and stomach. Prince, everyone falls
sick once in a while.
[Sound of shattering glass & the third door
opens. Four people carry a corpse out]
Siddhartha: Channa, what is wrong with that
fellow? Why should others have to
carry him? And why are they crying?
Channa: Ah, that man is dead.
Siddhartha: What do you mean?
Channa: There is no life in him, Prince.
His play on earth is over. Everybody
has to die one day.
Siddhartha: Not me! I don't want to die.
Channa: Prince, whoever lives on earth
has to die eventually. There is nothing
more powerful and destructive than
death. Death conquers everybody. We
are all slaves of death.
Siddhartha: Not me! Not me! Channa, now
that I have seen an old man, a sick
man and a dead man, I think that I
have seen everything bad that the
world can show me. This world is filled
with misery, pain & suffering. What
kind of world is this?
[Sound of veena & the fourth door opens. An
ascetic is seen meditating. The five people
forming the doors form a tree like structure
behind him.]
Siddhartha: Who is that man, Channa? What
is he doing at the foot of that tree?
Why are his eyes closed? What is he
doing with a garland of beads?
Channa: He is a spiritual man. He is
praying and meditating. He thinks that
his prayers will be more sincere and
his meditation will be more intense if
he keeps his eyes closed.
Siddhartha: But what will he get by leading
this kind of life?
Channa: He will get infinite Peace and Chhipaa thaa kyaa, kahaan, kisne
infinite joy. dhaka thaa?

Siddhartha: Infinite Peace? Infinite Joy? But Us pal to agam, atal jal bhi kahaan
in this world full of misery how can a thaa.
man get that.I must go and talk to
him.

(Gets down from chariot and goes to monk) Srishti kaa kaun hai kartaa?

Siddhartha: Who are you? How can I attain Kartaa hai va akartaa
Infinite peace and joy? Oonche aakash mein rahtaa.
Monk: Sir, through fear of birth and Sadaaa addhyaksh banaa rahtaa.
death, I became an itinerant monk. I
seek deliverance. The world is at the Wohee sach much mein jaantaa..Yaa
mercy of destruction. I think not as nahin bhi jaanataa
other men; I shun pleasures; I know
nothing of passion; I look for solitude. Hain kisi ko nahin pataa,
Sometimes I live at the foot of a tree;
Nahin pataa,
sometimes I live in the lonely
mountains or sometimes in the forest. Nahin hai pataa, nahin hai pataa.
I own nothing; I expect nothing. I
wander about, living on charity, and
seeking only the highest good.
Voh tha hiranya garbh srishti se pehle
Sidd: Chana, I have witnessed disturbing vidyamaan.
sights today and they are compelling
Vohi to saare bhoot jaatee ka swami
me to look back at my life. I desire
mahaan.
solitude.
Jo hai astitvamaana dharti aasmaan
Scene 2: The Buddha dhaaran kar.
Siddhartha: Channa, tomorrow a new life for
me begins. I shall pray and meditate Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum
all day and night. My present life of havi dekar?
luxury is no longer for me. I shall
Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum
welcome the life of poverty. I shall
havi dekar?
embrace the life of renunciation. I
shall put an end to suffering in this Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum
world. havi dekar?
[Siddhartha moves away from Channa and
sits dejected beneath the Bodhi tree. Eight
people come and cover him.] [The chorus starts moving to two sides ]

Chorus: Chorus:

Srishti se pehle Sat nahin tha , asat

bhi nahin
Asto Ma sat gamaya
Antariksh bhi nahin, aakaash bhee
nahin thaa. Tamso ma jyotir gamaya
 Mrityorma amritam gamaya
Om
[The lotus opens]
Buddha: Neither abstinence from meat
nor roaming naked, neither matted
long hair nor tonsure, neither wearing
rough clothes nor covering the body
with ash, none of these will free you
from Maya, none will lead to
salvation ....
[Lights dim with Buddha’s lowering voice,
and the scene transforms to the court
room scene]
Act 4: The Crowning
Scene: Who is to be King?
[Nagadeva the priest, General Shia, King
Suddhodhana ]
Suddhodhan: My good lords. You are to
me much more than vassals
and servants of the state; you
are my helpers. Indeed, my
friends. Please listen what I
have to say to you.
It has been seven years since
my son Siddhartha has left the
kingdom. There had been no
news of him. All that we were
able to find were his ornaments
and robes. Since then I have
sent out many of my best men
to nations, near and far to
search for him.
And now the news comes that
my son has become a monk. He
leads the life of a recluse, and
has attained enlightenment.
People refer to him as Buddha
or Sakyamuni. I have sent
envoys to him to bring him back
to Kapilavastu, but he refuses to
return. Tell me, what should this
old and tired king do now?
Nagadeva: Lord, you must appoint another
as successor to the throne. A
kingdom without an heir is
vulnerable to attack from
enemies and even old alliances,
start to show their bitter side
and crumble.
General Shia: Moreover, if our
information is correct and
Siddhartha has become a
recluse, then there is nearly no
chance that he would return to
become our King. News would
 have already spread to other
kingdoms, that the heir of the
Sakyas is now a monk.
Suddhodhana: That is why I fear that my
kingdom is going to end with
me. I know that I must do it, but
even the thought of crowning
anyone other than Siddhartha is
painful.
General Shia: You have to bear it, king!
You have to. Sometimes, duty
grows beyond the capacity of
human endurance. This is time
like that. But if you wish to look
for an heir, you need not look
far. The most suitable person is
in your family itself. Yes, I speak
of Devadatta, the son of
Suprabuddha.
Suddhodhana: Devadatta!!!
Nagadeva: Yes! He has grown up to
become a quite a warrior. He is
talented in the martial arts and
has a very tactical bent of mind.
With prolonged training hard,
he has mastered all the
techniques of warfare.
General Shia : At his side, I have fought
in many a doubtful battle, with
all the odds against us. But his
daring, instinctive foresight has
always turned the tide against
our enemies. Indeed it would be
a joy to serve this mighty
warrior whose fame extends
over many lands.
Nagadeva: Sir, we implore you. Make
Devadatta the crown prince and
heir. He has the Rajyog, and
shall go on to become a
Chakravarti, the conquerer of
the world.
Suddhodhana: You speak the truth. I
have no doubt in Devadatta’s
abilities. Though he isn’t my
son, I’ve never treated him
otherwise. Siddhartha would
have been my first choice, but
in his absence Devadatta shall
be king.
Scene 2: Crowning of Devadatta
Nagadeva: People of Kapilavastu, you are
hereby called on this auspicious
day, the purnima of the month
of chaitrya, to witness the
crowning of your future king
and lord, Prince Devdatta.
Prince Devdatta, do you swear
in the name of the gods that
you will bear true faith and
allegiance to the laws laid by
your great forefathers?
Devdatta: I do.
Nagadeva: And do you swear to do right to
people of all manner without
fear or favour, affection or ill
will.
Devdatta: I do.
Nagadeva: Then let this holy tilak be the
symbol of faith of the people,
and of the responsibilities that
you have sworn to uphold
henceforth.
King: My dear subjects, I hereby pronounce
Devadatta as the crown ….
Courtier: He is here, o king. Your son is
back. He is back….
Suddhodhana: What my son is back?
Guide me to him
(Everyone leaves, Devadatta remains alone)
Devadatta: Siddhartha is here. That is good
news. But why did he have to
come at this moment. Just when
all that I had worked for was
about to come true. Ah , the
 crown. It was so near. I almost
had it.
[Buddha enters]
Devadatta : At last you choose to come
back,eh! But why are you
dressed like this? Where you
begging here, Here in the
capital? Be ashamed you are
descended from great ancestors
who are of a royal race.
Buddha : My ancestors are Buddhas of
past ages. Their thinking has
descended unto me. Their
habits and their rules of life I
follow. And not the regulations
of a court.
Devadatta : Tell me, do the former Buddhas
greet relatives in such a cold
manner?
Buddha : No, they greet you with a stanza
in return for any food or
hospitality.
Devadatta : Well then. I’ll be glad to hear
what you have to say to me.
Buddha : Awake from sleep, dispel the
dream;
Before the truth's bright ray
Things truly are not what they
seem
But truth points out the way.
Truth, truth alone will bring you
bliss,
In the next life and even in this.
Devadatta: Wah! Wah! So now you have
taken to speaking in riddles. So
are you back for good? Planning
to rule the kingdom, are we?
Buddha: It is a path I have long given up.
Friends, family, fame and riches
do not allure me anymore.
Devadatta: Then why are you here?
Buddha: Do not worry. I haven’t come
here to claim the crown. I was
passing through this city on my
way to Kosala. The king
Ajatashatru there has invited
me there. Kapilavastu is merely
a point in my journey. I will now
take your leave and prepare for
the journey onwards.
[Buddha exits, Suddhodhana and G Samarth
enters]
G Samarth: Do you think, king
Suddhodhana is going to crown
you prince anymore? That too,
with his son still alive and
present in Kapilavastu. At the
most, you shall be made
steward of this kingdom.
Devadatta: But I deserve the crown more
than Siddhartha does! I am sure
Suddhodhana won’t let the fact
that Siddhartha is his son stop
him from choosing the more
suitable person.
Devadatta: This isn’t fair! This is not fair. All
my life I have had to play
second fiddle to Siddhartha.
Even in the childhood when I
had shot my first swan,
Siddhartha had taken it away.
And now when I was going to be
crowned, again he comes and
takes my prize away.
G Samarth: There is still a solution, my
prince. Some of our guards are
going to escort Siddhartha till
the border.
Devadatta: So what! How is that a solution?
G Samarth: Listen to me.

Devadatta: Yes! Yes! Lead him to that Act 5: The Conversion

forest and lead him to that path
Scene1: Anguimaa
[Background music begins. Buddha is seen
to enter the stage from the right, walking
towards the left.

Background music changes to a sinister one.

Two hands are seen to materialize from
behind a tree. Gradually Angulimaal himself
comes out and making a terrible sound
lunges on Buddha with his axe raised]

Buddha: Stop there monk. Do not

proceed.

Angulimaal: What the hell are you

blabbering? Do I look like a monk to
you?

Buddha: Angulimaal, listen carefully to

what I have to say. I want to tell you
some things about yourself, of which
you know nothing of.

Angulimaal: Ey Saadhu! What trickery are

you up to bhagat? I am not going to
believe anything you say, even if it be
Brahma’s own commandments.

Buddha: I have no weapons Angulimaal,

nor do I have companions who can
harm you. You know this to be true,
for have you not been watching me for
a long time from the shades of the
trees? [Buddha smiles] I have just one
request: Listen to me.

Angulimaal [Lowering his axe]: All right!

Speak.

Buddha: You expressed surprise when I

addressed you as a monk. But that
surprise was only because you haven’t
searched your soul, have never
experienced the truth that there lies
hidden a good man inside you, a man
with compassion in his heart. Exactly
like a monk.
Angulimaal: [seething with rage] Stop
blabbering! My entire life is aimed at
killing people. Killing them & Angulimaal: Who are you? Who are you who
prospering. The living, have no
importance to me.
Buddha: Still I say unto you, you have a
place in society & amongst living
people.`
Angulimaal: Society! What do you know of
society? You yourself live in
isolation ... pain & humiliation are
mere words to you sadhu, mere
words.
I was once a student in Taxilla, the
brightest one at that. Blinded by
jealousy, my classmates convinced
Gurudev that I was having an affair
with Guruma.
Guruma couldn’t bear such accusation
& killed herself. In his anger & grief,
Gurudev asked for a gurudakshina of a
thousand human thumbs.
Tell me sadhu, why did my Guruma
have to die? Why I who had not sinned
till then was condemned to a life of
sin?
What do you know of such pain &
humiliation?
Buddha: Maybe not as much as you do. I
know that you have suffered
miserably, but the solution to that isn’t
creating misery in other people’s lives,
while simultaneously paving the road
to hell for yourself.
Tell me, after killing a man, have you
never felt like weeping in front of his
corpse? Tell me, how many times have
you buried your tears in the silence of
this lonely forest? And look, how those
tears struggle to come out now.
Let them flow Anguli. Don’t stop them.
Let your tears flow. Don’t stop them.
[Angulimaal falls down weeping]
frees my dead memories, my tears
and my pain? Who are you & what
right do you have?
Over the years I built a fortress of
hatred around my mind, where I had
locked away my fears, hidden forever.
Then you come, and with the touch of
a few words, you crumbled those
walls.
I had to flee society to protect my life.
But now you have destroyed it.
How will I live now? Where will I go?
O accursed one who crosses my path,
who are you? Tell me, who are you?
Buddha: I am Gautam Buddha! Come
into my refuge. Therein lies your
salvation.
Angulimaal: It’s you! It’s you Lord!
No! Nowhere can my soul be salvaged
my lord. I have sinned enough for two
lifetimes. There is no salvation for me
my lord, no salvation.
Buddha: Your life as a dacoit is now over.
I now appoint you as my disciple. This
is a new life, a chance to begin
everything anew.
Angulimaal: No! No ... I’ll be recognized.
People will stone me; they will try to
kill me!
Buddha: Even worse fates may await you
Anguli. Realize Anguli that any such
fate is the result of all the murders you
have committed. The root cause of all
your sufferings is no other than you
yourself. For the wrongs you have
done, you will suffer. As long as life
goes on, you will be affected by your
 karma. Have you the courage within to
accept the results of you own karma?
Angulimaal: Yes, my lord, yes. What can be
worse than the hell that I was living in.
Buddha: Then come Anguli! Return with
me to the world of men.
Angulimaal: (To himself)
The mahout controls the elephant with
his rod,
The Buddha calms him with his
kindness.
[Falls down sobbing on Buddha’s feet]
Scene 2: Devadatta’s Seduction
Devadatta: You guys are all worthless. You
told me that I should help
Ajatashatru replace his Father
as the king of Kosala. That in
him I shall gain a trusted ally.
But look what has happened
now. He has gone and joined
Siddhartha’s Sangha. He offers
Siddhartha royal patronage and
protection.
G Samarth: Ajatashatru’s conversion, I can
understand. He was a soft-
hearted person from the
beginning, not much of a
warrior. What puzzles me is how
in the name of hell did
Siddhartha manage to convert
Angulimaal.
Devadatta: Because your solution was an
awful one from the starting.
Now get lost before I lose my
temper.
[General Samarth Exits, Devadatta alone in
the scene]
Mara: Devadatta! Devadatta!
Devadatta: Who? Who is that?
Mara: Do not be afraid, Devadatta!
Devadatta: Who is that? Why don’t you
show yourself?
Mara: It’s upsetting to me to see that the
king doesn’t fully understand
your talents. Dont you wonder
why they won’t crown you the
king
Devadatta: I wish I knew. It definitely can’t
be because Siddartha is alive.
More and more I get the feeling
that I am being excluded from
the court.
Mara: They don’t trust you, Devadatta. They
see your future, they know your
power will be too strong to
control. You must break through
the fog of lies that the king and
his courtiers have put around
you. Let me help you to know
the subtleties of the way of the
warrior.
Devadatta: But who are you? I demand you
show yourself.
[Mara enters from behind the throne]
Devadatta: You are a demon lord.
Mara: I know what has been troubling you.
Listen to me. Don’t continue to
be a pawn in the hands of
Suddhodhana. Ever since I have
know you, you have been
searching for a live greater than
that of an ordinary warrior, a life
of significance, of conscience.
If you wish to become a
complete and wise leader, you
must embrace a larger view of
the world.
Devadatta: Continue. I am listening.
Mara: Only through me can you achieve a
power greater than any warrior.
Learn to known the dark powers
 and you will be able to hold
dominion over the entire world.
Devadatta: What did you say?
Mara: Use my knowledge. I beg you.
Devadatta: But you are a demon lord.
Mara: Don’t you want to get rid of the
Siddhartha problem?
Devadatta: I would certainly like to.
Mara: I know you would. I can feel your
anger. It gives you focus. Makes
you stronger. Come become my
apprentice. Together we shall
rule the world.
Devadatta: Yes! Yes!
Mara: Your first task is to murder Buddha.
Only by killing a Great Saint will
you become a Great Warrior.
Devadatta: No. No. Siddhartha is my cousin.
I cannot murder him.
Mara: Then why did you send him through
the forest route? You knew it
was occupied by Angulimaal.
You tried to send him to his
death, didn’t you?
Devadatta: No, no. I didn’t know.
Mara: You knew pretty well. Stop denying it.
You have already gone down
that path. Whether you like it or
not, you are mine now. Go, end
this Buddha.
Act 6: The Finale
Scene 1 Buddha in the forest
Soldier 1: What are we even doing here?
King Ajatashatru sent us to
protect the Buddha. But who
would try to harm the Great
Buddha. And that too in a forest
like this.
Sodier2: It’s a waste of time. Just
standing here and doing
nothing. Look he doesn’t even
move a bit. It’s as if a stone has
been placed here.
Soldier3: What great timing this Buddha
had! Just when I was going to be
promoted to the king’s personal
guard, this Buddha had to come
and convert king Ajatashatru,
huh. Look where I am now.
Soldier1: Be happy that your job is safe.
Back home they are starting to
dismantle the army. Atleast as
long as Buddha is alive, are jobs
are secure.
Soldier2: I wonder if not having a job
would be more interesting. I
would just relax and sit under a
tree, and while away my day.
Soldier1: But isn’t that what you’re doing
now, duffer.
Soldier3: What good is that? Ever since
we have been stationed with
Buddha, I haven’t had the taste
of meat or wine. He meditates
for days on a roll and wakes up
to eat just fruits. And we have
stand here all throughout,
surviving on fruits like him.
Soldier1: What I really miss is the dance
of Rupali, the courtesan. Ah the
moves, the beauty.
[ A woman dressed in good sari passes
through]
Soldier3: Hey, who goes there! Stop, stop
I say.
Soldier1: Oh she was quite a beauty. I am
going after her.
Soldier2: But we have to guard Buddha.
Soldier1: Who is going to harm him here?
I am going. If you want you can
follow. I am sure he won’t mind
staying alone for a while.
[Soldier1 leaves]
Soldiers: Wait! Wait for us!
[all soldiers exit]
Scene2: Buddha’s Seduction
Buddha: Come out Mara. You do not
have to hide anymore. The guards
have followed the woman you had
sent. Come out and tell me why you
are here.
Mara: I’m here to teach you Siddhartha. I
offer you infinte knowledge.
Buddha: You think its wiser to have a
demon for a teacher?
Mara: You misjudge me. I know the secrets
of the universe. No knowledge can be
kept from me since my role is to see
into the crevices of every soul. I will
share all that I know with you.
Buddha: No.
Mara: Why? Why that no? You’ve craved
knowledge ever since you were born. I
saw it in your eyes. Why turn your
back on me now? I’m greater than
these lowly yogis you’ve wasted your
time with. I can reveal to you secrets
that are unknown by the so called
gods themselves.
Buddha: The one who wanted to know
everything no longer exists. I have
nothing left to ask.
Mara: Stubbornness doesn’t become you my
friend. I’m disappointed. I thought you
were above other souls. That you were
different. You can never attain
enlightenment in this filthy body. It
has no divine attributes. It is
conceived in sin and born in
corruption. Its attributes are liability to
pain and dissolution, for it is
impermanent. It is the receptacle of
karma which is the curse of your
former existences; it is the dwelling
place of sin and diseases and its
organs constantly discharge
disgusting secretions. Its end is death
and its goal the charnel house.
Buddha: What you say is true, but being
the receptacle of karma, it lies in our
power to make it a vessel of truth and
not of evil.
Mara: O, Buddha. If you truly are the
enlightened one, then why don’t you
just accept Nirvana and pass out of
this world?
Buddha: It is not for a demon lord to
decide when the Buddha shall pass
into Nirvana. I shall depart, when I
choose to.
Mara: But what shall happen when you do
depart? Your Sangha shall break. Your
favoured monks will begin to question
your teachings. They shall forget your
original teachings and preach their
own agenda.
Buddha, listen to me now. There is no
glory in following the way you have
chosen. You were born a Kshatriya.
Fighting is in your blood. Stop trying to
deceive yourself. Come. Return to
your original path, your destiny. It was
prophesized that you shall become a
Great warrior, one that shall hold the
 world at the brink of his sword. Give
up this life of a monk.
Both you and Devadatta share the
same destiny. Two Great Warriors who
shall rule the earth. He already
realizes his destiny. It is for you to
realize it now. Come join us. I can
provide you with all that the world has
to offer and much more.
Buddha: Your words may have seduced
Devdatta, but it has no effect on one
who has attained enlightenment and
renounced desire, anger, and all
worldly attachments.
[Buddha closes his eyes and begins
meditating]
Mara: Siddhartha,this is my last offer. My
acolyte Devadatta is on his way here.
It is still in my power to stop him. Join
us or I’ll let him murder you. Then
we’ll see how much good you can do
to the world once you are dead.
Scene 3 Devadatta’s fall
Mara: Look here comes Devadatta. What will
you do now?
Devadatta: Eeyy, Siddhartha!! Wake up
from your meditation. Today you will
be held accountable for all the wrongs
you have done to me.
Do you remember our childhood, the
day I shot a swan? I was so happy that
day. It was the first time I had hunted.
But you had come and claim the bird,
eh! You tended the bird, so your father
took it from me and gave it to you.
That day I took an oath, that one day
with my vital love of power I would
conquer your heart's power of love.
Today is that day. Be ready to meet
your maker.
[goes to stab him, lights under Buddha blink
he falls down.]
Today I shall kill you in this forest
when you are all alone. Suddhodhana
wil have no choice but to make me
King. And with the knowledge given to
me by Mara, I shall rule the world.
[Attempts to murder him a third time. Light
emanates from Buddha and continues to
glow.]
Soldier: Hey, see there! A man is
trying to harm Buddha. Hey, hey you!
Stop! Stop!
[soldiers catch Devadatta]
Soldier: O great one, this man was
trying to murder you while you were
meditating. What shall we do with
him?
Buddha: Guards, this man is my brother.
Please let me talk to him before you
take him away.
Devadatta, numerous times have you
attempted to kill me and everytime
have you failed. Yet I forgive you for
all. The place where you stand today is
due to your karmas, and due to your
alliance with Mara.
There is still time repent. Come into
my refuge and you shall realize your
true destiny of enlightenment.
Devadatta: I have no interest in your
sweet talk. I am a warrior, a Kshatriya.
I believe only in the strength of my
arms and nothing else. It is with these
hands that I shall kill you, and then I’ll
find peace..........
[Lunges forward, Guards stop him and kill
him]
Asita: Two princes sharing similar destinies.
One went on to become the Light of
the world, while the other got caught
in the worldly chains, in the circle of
life and death. Dual destinies entwined
with each other. All of us are also born
 with such dual destinies, that of
salvation or that of the vicious circle.
We can either become enlightened
like Buddha or be bound like Devdatta.
The final choice is upto us.

The End