Chapter 21 Indian biography-1

One of the incarnations of the guardian god is the great hero Ramo. When this human incarnation of Vishnu fought and killed the king of demons, he re-entered the cycle of human reincarnation in the form of a human.His name was Ravana, and he lived on the banks of the Ganges River. He was a martial prince and nobleman.He is Dasa's father.Dasa lost his mother when he was young, and his father soon remarried a beautiful and ambitious woman, and soon had another boy. This stepmother regarded Dasa as a thorn in the side.She hated her eldest son, Dasa, and wanted her own son, Nala, to inherit the ruling position.Therefore, she always tries to drive a wedge between Dasa and his father, and drives the child away from his father whenever possible.However, Vasudeva, a Brahmin nobleman in the Ravana court, who served as an important court priest, saw through her vicious intentions and was determined to thwart her tricks.Vasudeva felt pity for the boy, especially he felt that the little prince Dasa had the devotion of a mother.Qing also inherited her integrity.Vasudeva watched over little Dasa secretly from time to time, keeping him from harm, and watching every opportunity to free the child from the clutches of his stepmother.

King Ravana kept a herd of sacrificial cows, which were considered inviolable and sacred because their milk and cream were dedicated to the gods.The cows enjoy some of the best pastures in the country. One day, a shepherd who took care of the holy cow brought a batch of butter to the palace and reported that the area where the holy cow is now grazing has shown signs of drought. Take it to the mountains farther away, where the water is abundant and the grass is fresh and tender. Even in the driest period, the water source will not be lacking. Vasudeva, a Brahmin, had known the shepherd for many years, knew that he was a faithful and kind man, and always regarded him as his confidant.The next day, when the little prince Dasa disappeared and was never found, only Vasudeva and the shepherd knew the secret of his disappearance.The little boy Dasa has been taken into the mountains by the shepherds.They walked among the slow-moving herds, and Dasa was happy to join the shepherds, happily following along.Dasa gradually grew up in herding life and became a shepherd boy. He helped take care of the cows and learned to milk them. He played with the calves, played under the tree, and drank sweet milk when he was thirsty. Naked His feet were covered in cow dung.Dasa likes this kind of life. He is familiar with herdsmen and cattle, woods, trees and various fruits. He likes mango trees, fig trees and walenga trees most. He picks sweet and tender fresh lotus roots in the green lotus pond. On religious festivals, weave and wear a bright red wreath with fire tree flowers for ourselves.He is also familiar with the lifestyles of all wild animals, how to avoid tigers, how to make friends with clever lemons and happy porcupines.When the rainy season came, Dasa would play games, sing nursery rhymes, or weave baskets and reed mats with the children in the semi-dark mountain hut to pass the long hours.Although Dasa had not completely forgotten his hometown and his old court life, it was already a dream in his heart.

One day, the cattle moved to another area, and Dasa went to the forest in search of delicious honey. Ever since he got to know the forest, he has fallen in love with it deeply, especially the forest in front of him, which is simply astonishingly beautiful. The sun shines through the leaves and branches like a golden snake; the chirping of birds, the sound of the wind in the treetops, and the screaming of monkeys are mixed into a beautiful music; light and sound are intertwined here to form a shining sacred light net. .Add to it all sorts of smells, scents of flowers, smells of trees, leaves, water, moss, animals, fruit, earth, and mildew, some bitter, some sweet; some wild, some serene; some Some are joyful, some are sad;Occasionally, the sound of a spring rushing in an unknown valley can be heard.Occasionally a green butterfly with yellow and black spots could be seen flying over a white umbel.Sometimes you can hear the sound of a branch breaking among the dense bushes, the sound of leaves falling, or a wild animal howling in the depths of the dark forest, or a mother monkey angrily scolding her baby monkey.

Dasa forgot to look for honey. He listened to the twittering of a few birds with bright feathers, and suddenly found a faint path among the tall ferns. There is a small forest, and the narrow path can only be crossed by one person on foot.Dasa walked cautiously along the path and came to a big banyan tree with many trunks. Under the tree was a thatched hut, a pointed tent woven and made of fern branches and leaves.On the ground beside the hut sat a man, his body erect and motionless, with his hands between his crossed feet, and under his snow-white hair and broad forehead, a pair of eyes looked calmly and intently. The ground; although the eyes are open, they turn a blind eye to things, and they are looking inward.Dasa knew that in front of him was a saint and a yogi. He had seen such saints before, and he knew that they were respectable elders favored by Shinto, and it was right to show them awe.But the saint had constructed his solitary hut so beautifully, and the meditative posture in which he sat upright with arms outstretched, so strongly attracted the child that he was more wonderful and respectable than any saint he had ever seen.He sits still, but seems to be floating in the air, his eyes are blank, but he seems to see through everything, and his body is surrounded by a divine halo, a dignified aura, a burning fire and yoga magic. The light waves formed by the fusion, these are all that the boy can't pass through, and he doesn't dare to interfere with a greeting or a scream.The saint's majestic Dharma body, the brilliance radiating from the inside, makes him radiate waves and rays of light around him even if he sits still, just like the rays of light emitted from the moon.And his dharma body also wove a huge dharma net around him with a kind of accumulated supernatural power, a kind of cohesive and accumulated will power, so that Dasa felt that as long as the saint in front of him made a wish or had a A single thought can kill a person, or revive the person.

The yogi was as motionless as a tree whose leaves and branches were always swaying in the wind, and he remained motionless in his place like a stone statue, so that the boy seemed to be in awe when he saw the monk. Bewitched by magic, attracted and bound by the sight, he also remained motionless in place.Dasa stood blankly, staring at the master, saw a patch of sunlight falling on his shoulder, a ray of sunlight shining on one of his hanging hands, and saw this tiny spot of light slowly swimming away, A new spot of light fell, Dasa watched in amazement, and gradually began to understand that the sunlight had no effect on the monk in front of him, nor did the cries of birds and monkeys in the nearby forest. The brown bumble bee that only stopped on his face, sniffed his skin, and crawled on his cheek for a while before flying away again had no effect on him. ——All the colorful life in the forest have nothing to do with him.Dasa noticed that everything here, everything that eyes can see and ears can hear, no matter how beautiful or ugly, cute or hateful-all have nothing to do with this holy monk.Rain doesn't make him cold or depressed, fire doesn't make him burn, and the whole world around him is nothing but appearances of insignificance.Thus, a vague imagination arose in the boy's mind; in fact, the whole world may be nothing more than a mirror image, just a breeze blowing from the unknown depths, a ripple floating on the sea surface, Dasa produced This imagination was not based on rational thinking, but because the prince shepherd boy felt a kind of terrifying trembling and slight dizziness penetrating his whole body. longing.Because, he really feels that the yogi in front of him has broken through the surface of the world, has passed through the world of appearances and sank deep into the foundation of all existence, into the inner mystery of everything.He has broken through the magic net of human sensory perception, is not affected by any light, sound, color and perception, and firmly stays in his own essential entity.Although Dasa had been educated by Brahmanism and received the blessing of divine light, he was unable to understand this feeling with rational wisdom, let alone how to describe it in tone, but he really felt it, like a person in bliss. Every moment of my life I always feel that God is right next to me.Now he had this feeling because of the astonishing awe he felt for this monk, and because he loved this man and longed to live the same meditative life as he had. Feel.What surprised Dasa even more was that this old man reminded him of his own life experience and the luxurious court life in the past. The passing bird forgot the whispering trees around him, even the nearby forest and the cattle in the distance.He immersed himself in the power of magic, stared at the meditator, and was completely overwhelmed by the inconceivable silence and untouchable demeanor of the other party. amazed by his dedication.

Afterwards, Dasa himself didn't know how long he stayed there, two or three hours, or just stood there for a few days.When at last the magic left him, and Dasa found his way out of the forest, quietly retraversing the narrow path among the fern bushes, and at last returned to the wide meadow and the cattle, he could not have said it himself. have done something.His soul was still haunted by magic, and he did not wake up until a shepherd scolded him. The man yelled at Daza, scolding him for being away from the herd for too long, but the boy just stared at him with wide-eyed surprise, as if he could not understand what he said, and the man was caught by the child's unusual strange eyes and solemnity. His expression was startled.After a while, the shepherd asked, "Honey, where have you been? Have you met a god or a ghost?"

"I went to the forest," Dasa replied. "I went there to look for honey. But I forgot to look for honey, because I saw a holy man, a hermit, sitting there motionless, Concentrating on meditation or praying silently, I couldn't help but stare blankly when I saw the light shining in his face. I stood and watched him for a long time. I thought of going again this evening and giving him some gifts, He's a saint." "That is right," said the shepherd, "bring him some fresh milk and sweet cream. We should honor the saint, and we should make offerings to him."

"I don't know what to call him?" "You don't have to greet him, Dasa, you just have to salute him and put the gift in front of him. You don't have to do anything else." Dasa complied.It took him a while to find the place again.There was no one in the open space in front of the hut, and he didn't dare to break into the hut, so he had to leave the presents on the ground by the door and turn away. During the period when the shepherds were grazing in this area, Dasa sent gifts every evening, and went there once during the day, and found that the saint was meditating again. Light, I feel joyful and happy inside.

Later they left this area and drove the cattle to another grassland to graze. Dasa still couldn't forget his experience and feelings in this forest for a long time.Occasionally, Dasa, like most boys, imagined himself as a hermit practicing yoga when he was alone.With the passage of time, such memories and dreams have gradually faded, and the boy Dasa has gradually grown into a strong youth, and his interest in playing games, exercising and wrestling with his peers has become more and more intense.However, there is still a faint glint in the depths of Dasa's soul, some vague reveries, maybe one day he can use the majesty and power of yoga to restore his lost royal life and princely power.

One day, when they came to graze near the capital, a shepherd came back from the city with news that the court was preparing a great celebration.As the king of Ravana was old and feeble and unable to handle state affairs, a date had been set for passing the throne to his son Nala. Dasa wanted very much to visit the celebration, to see the long-lost capital, where he had left as a child, with only vague memories in his mind.He wants to listen to the music of the festival, watch the festival parade, and watch the wrestling match of the nobles. Of course, he also wants to see the demeanor of the citizens and the powerful in that strange world, because in stories and legends, they are all It is described like a great god-man, although he also knows that these are just fairy tales, even less reliable than legends.Dasa also knew in his heart that long ago, this world was his own.

The shepherds were ordered to bring a cart of butter to the court as a sacrifice for the celebration.The head of the caravan had selected three young men to carry the goods, and Daza was pleased to be one of the three. They brought the cream into the palace on the eve of the celebration, and Vasudeva, the Brahman in charge of the sacrificial affairs, received the cargo, but he did not recognize the young man in front of him as Dasa.Then, three young shepherds also joined the celebration crowd. Early in the morning, the celebration activities began in the sacrificial ceremony hosted by the Brahmin priests. They saw a large piece of golden yellow cream thrown into the flames, and it was immediately transformed into tongues of flames leaping upwards, and the dense smoke that flickered brightly rose high. Rush to the boundless sky to feast on the thirty gods in the sky.The three young men saw a group of elephants carrying resplendent sedan chairs in the parade, and a young man sitting in a royal sedan chair full of flowers and decorations. He was the young king Nala.They heard the drums beating loudly.The whole spectacle was grand and dazzling, but also somewhat ridiculous, at least in the eyes of young Dasa.Daza was amazed and fascinated by the bustle, by the countless vehicles and splendidly dressed horses, by the whole spectacle of grandeur, and besides, he found very interesting the dancers dancing in front of the royal palanquin, dancing with their slender legs. And the flexible limbs are as graceful as the stems of the hibiscus.Daza was struck by the grandeur of the capital, and though he was so fascinated and delighted, there remained in him a shepherd's lucidity, after all, the glitz of the city was something he despised. He thought that he was the real superior, and that this half-brother in front of him--he had completely forgotten him in the past--was anointed and inherited the throne. He was parading in the royal sedan chair with flowers, but he didn't think about this issue, but rather hated the appearance of Nala in the sedan chair. The young man looked stupid and ugly, with a vain appearance.Dasa really wanted to teach this conceited boy playing the king a lesson, but there was no way he could take advantage of it, not to mention there were too many things to watch, listen to, drink, and talk about, so he quickly forgot about it.The women of the town were all good-looking, with a playful look, manner, and speech, and some words they threw to the three young shepherds that they could not forget for a long time.There is no doubt that there is irony in their words, because city people treat mountain people just like mountain people treat city people, and they always look down on each other.Nevertheless, the women of the city were very fond of these handsome and strong young shepherds who lived almost all year round under the open blue sky and ate fresh milk and cheese every day. After the celebration, Dasa returned to the mountains as a grown man.He began courting girls, which resulted in many boxing and wrestling matches with other young men.Once they grazing to a new area, where the environment is beautiful, there are large flat pastures, there are many springs, and luxuriant rushes and bamboo forests grow near the springs.Here he met a girl named Pravati and fell madly in love with this beautiful woman.She was the daughter of a sharecropper, and Dasa loved her so much that he would give up everything else to win her heart.After a period of time, when the shepherds had to move to another area, he did not heed any persuasion and warning, gave up the life of shepherd that he loved so much, and decided to say goodbye to everyone.Since Pravati had agreed to marry him, he became a local settler.After marriage, he cultivated his father-in-law's wheat and rice fields, and helped the family grind wheat and chop firewood.He built a hut for his wife out of bamboo and mud. Love must be such an irresistible force that it moves a young man to give up everything he once liked: hobbies, friends, and old habits, and to change his way of life completely, and to play the poor role of son-in-law among strangers .Pravati's beauty was too powerful, and the amiable attraction emanating from her face and body was so powerful and seductive that Dasa was completely blind to everything else, completely devoted to her. own.In fact, he did feel great happiness in her arms.People have heard many legends and stories about some gods and saints in the sky who were seduced by a charming woman, and embraced with this woman all day, month, and even year, sinking three faces in carnality, unbearable. Solve problems and forget about anything else.Perhaps Dasa also had the desire to bet his fate on love at that time.However, fate destined him not to be able to have this kind of happiness for a long time.His love life lasted only about a year, and even this short time was not only happy and fortunate, but also mixed with countless trivial troubles.There are the greedy demands of the father-in-law, the cynicism of the brother-in-law, and the petty tempers of the beloved wife.But as long as he goes to bed with her, all troubles will be thrown out of the sky.That's the beauty of her smile.As long as he strokes her slender body, her youthful body is like a paradise where thousands of flowers bloom, exuding a rich fragrance. Dasa's happy career was less than a year, when noise and harassment broke the tranquility of this area one day. A galloping imperial envoy announced the imminent arrival of the young king, followed by troops, horses, and a large retinue, and finally young Nala himself.They were hunting in the vicinity, and tents were pitched on all sides, and the neighing of horses and blowing of horns could be heard everywhere. Dasa paid no attention to all this, he continued to work in the fields, tended the mill, avoided hunters and courtiers.But one day when he returned to his hut from the field, he found his wife was not at home.He had strictly forbidden her to go out during this time, and at this moment he couldn't help feeling stabbed in his heart, and had a premonition that disaster was coming to him.He hurried to his father-in-law's house, but not only did he not find Pravati, but no one would tell him where Pravati had gone.His inner pain intensified.He searched the vegetable garden and the wheat field, he searched back and forth between his hut and his father-in-law's house for two whole days, he waited and listened in the fields, he climbed into the well and called her name, begged her, cursed her, Search everywhere for her. At last his youngest brother-in-law, who was still a boy, told him the truth that Pravati was with the King, that she had lodged in his tent, and that she had been seen riding on the King's horse. Carrying a slingshot he often used when grazing, Daza sneaked up near the camp where Nala was stationed.No matter day or night, as long as the guards moved away for a while, he would take a step forward. However, whenever the guards appeared again, he had to run away immediately.Then he climbed up a big tree, hid in the branches and looked down at the camp below, and he saw Nala, the face he had seen in the celebration of the capital, which had aroused his loathing.Dasa saw him get on his horse and leave the camp. After a few hours, he came back and raised the curtain of the tent after dismounting. Dasa saw a young woman walking towards the door from the shadow of the tent and came forward to greet him. When the returning man saw at a glance that the young body was his wife Pravati, he almost fell from the tree in shock.The facts were already certain, and the pressure in his heart became more and more intense and unbearable.For all the great joy he had derived from Pravati's love for him, the annoyance, anger and humiliation he derived from her hurting him now was equally great, yes, even greater.This is the result of a man who loves only one woman wholeheartedly.Now that the only object has been lost, he collapsed as a matter of course, standing in the ruins with nothing to support. Dasa wandered the surrounding jungle for a day and a night.After each short break from exhaustion, the pain in his heart drove him to stand up again.He had to go on, he felt that he had to go on, to the end of the world, to the end of his own life, which had lost its meaning and splendor.Yet he did not go to unknown distances, but was still hovering near the place where his misfortunes happened, circling around his hut, mill, fields, and royal hunting camp.Finally, he hid in the shade of the big tree overlooking the tent, and he hid among the leaves, waiting, like a hungry beast waiting for its prey, until the moment when he could release all his last energy— — until the moment the king stepped out of the tent. He slid down the tree trunk lightly, pulled out the slingshot and shot at the enemy, and the stone hit the opponent's forehead.Nala collapsed immediately, lying motionless on the ground, but there was no movement around her.Before the pleasure of revenge disappeared, Dasa was shocked by fear in an instant, how frightening the deep silence was.Thereupon he did not wait for the shouts to be heard beside the slain, and before the servants swarmed up, he hid in the bushes, and walked forward down the hill, through the bamboo forest, and disappeared into the valley. When he jumped from the tree, when he sent the stone bullet at the speed of death, he felt as if his own life would go out with it, as if he was trying his best to fly into the deadly stone bullet with him. Like the abyss of death, as long as that hateful enemy dies before him, even if it is only a moment earlier, he is willing to die together.The fact was beyond his expectation, what followed was a dead silence, so a desire to survive that he didn't realize, pulled him back from the edge of the gaping abyss.A primitive instinct mastered his consciousness and limbs, driving him into the depths of the forest and bamboo forest, ordering him to run away quickly and hide himself quickly. " It was not until he had reached a secluded place of refuge that he had escaped imminent danger that he became conscious of his situation.When he fell to the ground exhausted and took a breath, when he lost confidence due to loss of strength and clearly realized that he was facing a desperate situation, he was disappointed and disgusted with his escape.However, when he breathed a sigh of relief and was no longer dizzy from exhaustion, the feeling of hatred turned into a tenacious desire to survive, and the depths of his heart were filled with frenzied joy of approving his actions. The surrounding area soon spread out in search of the murderer, who searched day and night in vain, for Dasa had been quietly hiding in his sanctuary - a tiger haunt, and no one dared to go too far. deep.He slept for a while, watched vigilantly for a while, continued to crawl forward for a while, and then took a short rest.On the third day after the incident, he had already crossed the hilly terrain, and then continued to climb higher mountains without pausing. From then on, Dasa started a homeless wandering career. This kind of life made him harder and colder, but also smarter and knew how to give up.Still, in the middle of the night he often dreamed of Pravati and his old happiness, or rather what he thought he had been.He also dreamed more about hunting and fleeing, and often had nightmares that frightened his heart to stop beating, for example: he was running in the forest, and a group of pursuers chased after him beating drums and blowing horns; and swamps, across thorny lands, and across rickety and decaying bridges, there was always some weight on his back, a burden, a bundle, or something heavily wrapped and unknown, and he didn't know that. What is it, I only know that it is an extremely precious thing that cannot be given up under any circumstances, that thing is so valuable that it will cause disaster, maybe it is a treasure, maybe it is a stolen thing, tightly wrapped in A floral cloth with a pattern of red and blue - like Pravati's festive floral gown - within one.And so he went onwards, fleeing, stealthily, carrying this burden, this treasure or stolen thing, through hardships and "perils," through trees and low-hanging forests, over towering He frightenedly skirted the terrible poisonous snakes on the cliffs, walked over the rickety narrow boards on the river swarmed with crocodiles, and did not stop until he was exhausted. Opening the furoshiki, he took out the treasure with trembling hands, but it was his own head. Dasa lived a secluded life. Although he was still wandering, he no longer ran away when he saw anyone, but tried to avoid dealing with people.One day he walked through a green hill country, so pleasant and pleasant was the green grass, that it seemed that the earth welcomed him and said to him: He must have known them already!Now he recognized a meadow of lush flowering grass gently swaying in the wind, now a grove of broadleaved willows, which reminded him of a time of pure bliss, when he knew nothing of it What is infatuation and jealousy, what is hatred and revenge.Dasa saw the vast pasture where he and his companions grazed the cattle when he was a child. It was the place where he spent the happiest time of his youth. Looking back on the past, he felt as if it had been a lifetime away.A sweet melancholy welled up in him to answer the sounds that welcomed him at the scene: the rustle of the silvery willows, the merry rhythm of the little brook, the sound of the birds. chirping and buzzing of the golden bumblebee.All the sounds and smells here show the meaning of security and seclusion.When he lived the life of a nomadic shepherd near the water and grass, he never felt that a strange place would give him such a warm sense of home. Accompanied and guided by this voice of the soul, Dasa roamed the delightful land with the feeling of a returned warrior.For the first time after months of terrible flight, he felt not a stranger, a hunted fugitive, a doomed man, but a man who could open his heart, thoughtlessly, without longing. Entrust yourself completely and completely to the quiet, comfortable and realistic person in front of you. He greeted with gratitude and a little surprise his new, unusual, and never-before-experienced ecstasy, this desire for nothing, this ease, this freedom to savor the pleasure of watching. fun.He felt drawn to the forest at the end of the green meadow.He walked into the woods and stood under a tree speckled with golden sunlight. The feeling of returning to his hometown was even stronger, and his feet involuntarily led him on the narrow path like an old horse. After passing through a thicket of ferns--a dense grove in a great forest--we came to a small hut.In front of the thatched hut sat a motionless yogi monk, who was the saint who he had come to secretly pay respects to and offered fresh milk in the past. Dasa stopped in his tracks, as if waking up from a dream.Everything here remains the same.Here there is no passage of time, no murder and no pain.Here everything stands still, both time and life are solid as crystal, silent and eternal.He stared at the old man, and the emotions of admiration, love and longing that surged in his heart when he looked at the old man for the first time came again.He looked at the thatched hut and thought that it would be necessary to repair it before the next rainy season.So he took a few steps forward cautiously and boldly, and after stepping into the hut, he glanced around and found that it was almost empty.Inside was a bed made of leaves, a gourd for some drinking water, and an empty bast basket.He took the basket, went into the wood, and tried to find some food, and he brought back fruit and some sweet-smelling hearts, and then filled the gourd with fresh water. That's enough, and the people who live here need only so little.Dasa squatted on the ground and fell into a dream.He was content with the silence and peace of his dreamlike forest setting, and he was content with his situation, with an inner voice guiding him to the place where he had experienced peace, happiness, and a sense of homecoming as a boy. . Thus Dasa remained with the silent yogi.He renewed the leaves on which the old man made his bed, found food for the two, repaired the old hut, and started building a new hut for himself not far away.The old man seemed to tolerate him, yet Dasa wasn't sure if he really acknowledged himself.Because every time the old man stood up from meditation, it was always just to eat something, or to go for a walk in the woods.Dasa lived among old men as a servant lives with a great man, or rather, like a small domestic animal, such as a bird or a lemon, among men, which, although courteous, is seldom appreciated. .Because he has been on the run for a long time, he always lived an unstable life in hiding, he was always blamed by his conscience, and he was always frightened and afraid of being hunted down. This person who seemed to care nothing about him made him feel very comfortable.For a while Dasa was simply grateful for this kind of life: he could sleep half a day, or even a whole day, undisturbed by nightmares, and even forgot about the terrible things that had happened.He never thinks about the future, even if sometimes his heart is full of longing or desire, it is just hope to stay here, to be accepted by the old man, and lead him into the mystery of yoga hermit life, let him also become a monk, share yoga The transcendent realm. Dasa began to imitate the venerable elder's sitting posture, wanting to imitate him and sit still with his legs crossed, and like him, he could glimpse the fantasy world beyond reality and be detached from the surrounding environment.However, most of his attempts ended in failure. He felt stiffness in his limbs, pain in his lower back, and he could not bear the disturbance of mosquitoes or the itching on his skin, forcing him to move around again, or stretch out his hands to scratch, or even stand up again. get up.Of course, Dasa also had a few special feelings, specifically, a relaxed and empty feeling, as if he was floating up, just like in a dream, he felt his body sometimes touch the ground lightly, and sometimes slowly rise into the sky, like a Fluttering like a ball of fluff.At such moments he could not help imagining what it would be like to have to float forever; body and soul freed from all gravity, free to share in a wider, purer, brighter life, to be constantly elevated and absorbed into A timeless, immortal world beyond.However, this moment always lasts only for a moment, and disappears in an instant.Disappointed every time he fell back into his old reality, he thought that he must ask the master to take him as a disciple, to teach him the beginning, so that he could learn the mysteries of this path and one day become a yogi too.But how should he plead?In fact, the old man never seemed to look him in the eye, and even talking to each other seemed impossible.The master seemed to be in the days and hours of the other world, the forest and the hut, and even the language was of the other world. However, one day the old man started talking.For a time Dasa had night after night of nightmares, a frenzied mix of sweet and horrible scenes, sometimes of the marriage to Pravati, and sometimes of horrific escapades.During the day, Dasa made no progress in his homework. He couldn't sit upright for a long time to practice, and he couldn't stop thinking about his wife and love, so he had to go for a walk in the forest again and again.He thought it was caused by the bad weather. The weather was really sultry in those few days, with constant hot wind blowing, which made people restless. Another unlucky day in bad weather.Mosquitoes buzzed non-stop all day long.Dasa had another terrible nightmare the night before, which made him depressed and heavy during the day.他已记不起梦里的情景，不过刚醒时还记得是重演了早些时候的生活经历和遭遇，让他感到可耻和羞辱。整整一天，他心情忧郁地绕着茅屋走来走去，或者呆呆蹲着不动。他心不在焉地做了一些零星活计，又三番两次地静坐冥思，可每次都立即火烧似的烦躁起来，觉得四肢在抽搐，脚上好似有无数蚂蚁在爬行，又觉得背上有剧烈的灼痛感，总之，他几乎无法安坐不动，即或只是片刻也不行。达萨又羞又愧地朝老人望去，但见他始终保持着完美的静坐姿态，双目内视，一副凛然不可侵犯的面孔，好像有一朵盛开的花飘浮摇曳在他的躯体之上。 于是就在这一天，当这位瑜伽修士从入定中站起身子，想回屋休息时，达萨走到他面前，这一时刻达萨已等候很久了，因此不但鼓起勇气挡住他的去路，而且说出了自己的问题。 “请原谅我打扰你的休息，尊敬的长者，”他说，“我在追寻内心平静和安宁，我很想过你这样的生活，将来成为像你一样的人。你已看见我还很年轻，然而我已不得不尝到太多的痛苦，命运对待我实在太残酷了。我生为王子，却被驱逐当了牧人。我以牧人身份长大成人，我像一头小牛那样快快活活，强壮结实，内心十分纯洁无邪。后来，我开始张大眼睛注视妇女，当我看见最美丽的女人时，便把自己的一生都奉献给了她，当时如果得不到她，我也许会去死的。我离开了我的伙伴，那些善良的牧人。我向普拉华蒂求婚，我得到了她，我成了农家的女婿，必须整日辛苦劳作，然而普拉华蒂不仅属于我，并且也爱我，或者这不过是我自以为如此。每天晚上我都投入她的怀抱，躺在她的心口上。但是，有一天国王来到了附近地区狩猎。就是这个人让我孩提年代便被逐出宫门，如今他来了，从我身边夺走了普拉华蒂，还让我亲眼目睹她投入了他的怀抱。这是我一生中最大的痛苦，这件事彻底改变了我和我的整个生活。我杀了国王，我竟杀了人，我过起了谋杀者和逃犯的生活，人人都在我身后追赶和捕捉我。直到我走进这片土地之前，我的生命没有片刻的安全。尊敬的长者，我是一个愚蠢的人，我是一个杀人者，也许还会被人捉拿归案，判处死刑。我再也不能忍受这种可怕的生活，我宁愿了结这样的生命。” 老人低垂双目静静地听完了他的爆发式的倾诉，接着睁开双眼直勾勾地注视着达萨的面孔，那目光明亮、尖锐、清澈，几乎令人难以承受。当他细细打量着达萨的脸，似乎在紧张思索对方的陈述时，嘴巴却慢慢扭歪成一种微笑姿态，随即又变成大笑状态——一种无声的大笑，老人带着这种笑容摇晃着脑袋，说道：“玛雅！ 玛雅！ " 达萨完全被弄糊涂了，羞容满面地呆呆站着不动。老人则自顾走进了羊齿植物丛间的狭窄小径，他要在晚餐前稍作散步。他以有节制有韵律的步伐在小树林间走了几百步左右，便又转身进了茅屋。他的脸上又恢复了一贯的表情，又回转了那个超然于现实世界的不知何处的远方。他这种笑容表示了什么呢？他不是一直对可怜的达萨十分冷漠么！达萨久久地思索着这难解的笑容。在听了达萨痛苦绝望的供认和自白之后的瞬间，他竟然露出如此可怕的笑容，究竟是好意还是嘲弄？是安慰还是批评？是表示慈悲抑或是恶意寻开心？难道竞是一个玩世不恭老人作出的讥讽反应域者是一位圣贤对一个陌生人愚蠢行为的抚慰？那笑容是一种拒绝表示么？抑或是一种告别方式，让人快快离开？或者这是一种劝导的方式，要求达萨学他的模样哈哈大笑？达萨始终解不开这个哑谜。深夜了，达萨仍然在思索这种笑容的意义，因为老人似乎用这种方法总结了他的生活，他的幸福和灾难，他的思绪始终索绕着笑容问题打转，他咀嚼这个问题好似咀嚼某种可吃的树根，尽管坚硬却颇有味道，还散发出芬芳香气呢。与此同时，他又同样努力地思索、咀嚼着老人如此响亮地大声喊出的一个名词，“玛雅！玛雅！”为什么老人大笑着嚷叫的时候，心情竟那么快活，那么不可思议地兴高采烈。“玛雅”这个词的意义，他只能够半猜测地大致了解，而对老人笑着叫喊的方式，他也只能够一知半解，揣测其蕴含着某种意义。 玛雅——这就是达萨的一生，包括达萨的青春，达萨的甜蜜幸福和苦涩不幸。美丽的普拉华蒂是玛雅。爱情和它的感官欢娱是玛雅。整个人生是玛雅。达萨的生活，一切人类的生活，世上所有的一切，在这位年老的瑜伽僧人眼中，莫不皆是幼稚行为，一种表演场面，一种戏剧景象，一种幻想错觉，一种肥皂泡——缤纷色彩里的虚无而已。人们对待这一切，尽可以耸耸肩一笑了之，尽可以蔑视它们、嘲笑它们，全不必过分认真。 对这位瑜伽老人而言，他可以用一脸笑容和一声玛雅，处理和打发达萨的全部生活，但是对达萨本人来说，却不那么容易做到。尽管他非常希望自己也变成笑面人生的瑜伽行者，能够把自己的生活也看成是无足轻重的玛雅世界。但是，就在当前的几天几夜里，往日寝食不安的逃亡光景又活生生地再现了。他刚抵达此地的那一阵子，几乎完全忘却了流亡时的紧张疲乏，如今又出现了。当初他抱着学会瑜伽功夫的希望，不论他能否达到老人那样的高超水平，如今这希望看来十分渺茫了。 那么——他再在这片林子里流连不去，又有什么意义呢？这里曾是他的避难所，他曾在这里喘过气来，恢复了体力，也曾略略恢复了理智，这也非常重要，这里给予他的实在够多了！是的，也许这段期间全国搜捕谋杀国王凶手的案件已经结束，他大概可以继续流浪而不会遭遇巨大危险。 达萨决定继续流浪。他打算第二天清晨就动身。世界那么大，他不能够永远呆在这个隐蔽的角落里。 这一决定使达萨的心情稍稍平静下来。 他原定第二天破晓就走，然而他熟睡了整整一夜，醒来时已是日上三竿了。老人早已开始静坐修炼，达萨不愿不辞而别，何况他还有一个请求要向老人提出。于是他只得耐心等待，一个小时过去了，又是一个小时，老人这才站起身子，伸了伸四肢，开始例行的散步。这次达萨又挡住了他的去路，一而再地鞠躬行礼，坚持不懈地向他恳求，直至这位瑜伽大师终于把目光询问似地望向他。 “大师，”他谦卑地开言道，“我要继续我的行程，我不会再打扰你的清静了。 但是，最尊敬的长者，请你允许我再向你请教这一回吧。当我向你叙述了自己的生平后，你面露笑容，你大声喊出了'玛雅，玛雅'。我衷心请求你再为'玛雅'一词作些指点吧。 " 老人转身走向自己的茅屋，用目光命令达萨跟随身后。老人拿起水瓢，递给达萨后，示意他洗净双手。达萨恭敬地服从了。接着，这位瑜伽大师把剩余的水都倒进了羊齿植物丛里，把空水瓢又递给年轻人，命令他当即去取回新鲜的水。达萨恭敬地遵命，奔跑而去，一路上惜别之情不禁涌动心头，因为这将是他最后一次穿过这条小径去泉源取水。这将是他最后一次拿着这只边缘己磨得光溜溜的水瓢，来到这水面似镜的小水池畔，来到这经常倒映着魔鹿角影，树冠拱形以及可爱蓝天亮亮光点的美丽地方。现在，当他俯身取水时，水面也最后一次倒映出了自己在浅棕色黄昏光线中的脸庞。他沉思着把水瓢缓缓浸入水中，心里忽然萌生了一种说不清楚的无把握感，他无法理解自己，他既然已决定继续流浪，老人也并没有邀请他再逗留几天，或者要他永远留下，他为何产生这种奇怪的感觉，为什么心头如此痛楚？ 他蹲在水池边，捧起一口水，喝过后便站起了身子。他小心翼翼地举着水瓢，以免晃出水滴。他刚要踏上小路，一种声音忽然传入他的耳朵，那声音让他又惊又喜，正是他常在梦中听到，梦醒后又常常苦苦思念的声音。这声音听起来甜蜜极了，穿过黄昏微光下模糊森林传来的声音稚气十足，甜美迷人，让他惊喜得心脏也不住震颤了。这是普拉华蒂的声音，是他妻子的声音。“达萨，”她亲切地呼喊着。 他难以置信地环顾着四周，水瓢还牢牢捧在手里。啊，瞧那边，她在那些树干间出现了，双腿修长，亭亭玉立又苗条又富于弹性，她，普拉华蒂，他那忘不掉的不忠实的爱人。他丢下水瓢，向她奔去。她微笑着，略带羞怯地站在他面前，那双小鹿般的大眼睛凝视着他。他走得更近些后，看清她脚上穿着红色皮革便鞋，身上的衣服华贵漂亮，臂上套着金手镯，乌黑的头发上闪烁着珍贵宝石的彩色光芒。他不禁停住了脚步。难道她现在还是国王的一位王妃么？难道他没有杀死纳拉？难道她现在戴着他的首饰到处走动么？她又怎能穿戴着他馈赠的礼物来到自己面前，而且呼唤自己的名字呢？ 然而她已比从前更加美丽了，以致他等不及询问情况，便情不自禁又把她拥入怀中。他将前额抵在她的黑发上，他托起她的脸庞，亲吻她的双唇；他立即感到，以往丧失的一切又统统归还给他了，他以往拥有的东西：他的快乐、他的爱情、他的欲望、他的热情、他的生活欢乐，都在他眼前做这些举动之际，回到了身上。此时此刻，他所有的思想都已远远离开了这座森林和那位年老的隐士，不论是树林和茅舍，还是静修和瑜伽，都己经一文不值，都已忘得干干净净。老人吩咐他取水的水瓢也被他忘了。他朝站在树林边的普拉华蒂奔去时，把它丢弃在水池旁了。如今她也迫不及待地开始向他诉说自己来到此地的缘由，以及其间发生的种种情况了。 普拉华蒂叙述的事情太离奇了，简直令人又惊又喜，好似进了童话世界，而达萨也就如此这般一下子跳进了自己的新生活里。事实上，不仅普拉华蒂又重新归属于他，可惜的纳拉已呜呼哀哉，追捕凶手的通缉令早已撤销，而且还有对达萨的重大宣布：一度被逐出宫门成为牧人的王子，已在全国通令宣布为合法的王位继承人和统治者了。一位老牧人和宫里的老婆罗门祭司华苏德瓦讲述了已经被人遗忘的王子被放逐的故事，并让它成了全国家喻户晓的新闻。如今这同一个人，曾经被作为谋杀纳拉的凶手而在全国搜捕，要把他缉拿归案，处以死刑，却又被全国人民以更大的热心到处寻找了，要让他庄严堂皇地回返首都，回返父王的宫廷，并且登极为王了。