Act I, Scene 8
(Darjeeling. Benoy, Mano and Auro are returning from school. On the way they happen to meet a sannyasin. Many people have gathered about him. He smokes profusely.)A VILLAGER: Sadhuji, please give me some religious knowledge.
SANNYASIN: All I can give you is a bit of advice. I am afraid, although my advice will reach your sceptic ears, you will never apply it in the practical field. (Some of the villagers burst into a peal of laughter.) My advice, you know? The world is an illusion. Have no link with it!
A MERCHANT: Be pleased to read my palm.
SANNYASIN: You, you wallow in the pleasure of wealth. Am I right?
MERCHANT: Absolutely perfect. But, Sadhuji, I have not seen the face of peace even for a fleeting second.
SANNYASIN: Ah, peace! Peace is not to take birth here in this world. It is the offspring of another world. This world is made of din, dust and dizzying demonstrations.
MANOMOHAN: Please run your eyes over my palm, and drop a few hints about my years to come.
SANNYASIN: Ah, a poet, a fine poet. This is what your future says.
MANOMOHAN (pointing at Auro): And how does the fate of my younger brother run?
SANNYASIN (looking ahead he meets Aurobindo’s curious eyes; but in the twinkling of an eye Auro, frightened, sprints off.): His future is at his command.
Now you are afraid of me, but a day will come when you will become a great Yogi.3
MANOMOHAN: Only a few days back Auro composed a beautiful poem on Kanchanjunga. The teachers have appreciated it greatly.
SANNYASIN: No wonder, he is not a common boy. He will be a great Yogi who has to play a great part on the world scene! Brahman! Brahman! O Lord of my breath, Thou art verily Thy unfathomable mystery.
DB 9,12. Sri Aurobindo’s translation.↩
