Scene IV
BUDDHA with hundreds of disciples. Enter KING AJATASHATRU. All the disciples are excited. AJATASHATRU prostrates himself before BUDDHA.Ajatashatru: O Lord of the world, out of our stupendous ignorance my friend Devadatta and I tried to kill you several times, but we failed, badly failed. Today I am at your august feet, to be killed immediately by your wisdom-sun.
Buddha: O King. . .
Ajatashatru: Master, I am not your King. You are the King of my heart and soul. You are the Lord of my heart and soul. I am your undeserving slave.
Buddha: You are not my slave, you are my son, my chosen son. My compassion-sun forgives your ignorance-night. My wisdom-sun illumines, liberates and immortalises your heart’s cry.
Enter DEVADATTA. Falls at the feet of BUDDHA.
Devadatta: Siddhartha, while we two were quite young I fought with you over the possession of a bird. The strength of my unruly, undivine vital had to surrender to the strength of your all-loving heart. You won the bird. I told you that one day with my vital love of power I would conquer your heart’s power of love. Since then I have tried in hundreds of ways to humiliate you, to ruin your mission and to kill you, but I have failed. You forgave me then, O Siddhartha. Now, O Buddha, my shameless life desperately begs your forgiveness.
Buddha: Devadatta, forgiveness is granted.
Devadatta: O Buddha, if you have really forgiven this inhuman creature, then do me another favour out of your infinite bounty. Your heart of compassion took care of that innocent bird. Now I pray to you to take care of the crying, bleeding bird inside my heart. And also I pray to you to take care of its cage, this body.
DEVADATTA sings three times.
Buddham saranam gacchami.
Dhammam saranam gacchami.
Sangham saranam gacchami.
I go to the Buddha for refuge.
I go to the Dharma for refuge.
I go to the Order for refuge.
