Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

“ Even then I had some hope, and hope does not allow a person to die. But to-day?—yes, this is the fitting time for death. But then Protap has been taken away in durance——I cannot die without knowing his fate. What can happen to Protap? Whatever should chance, how could it affect me? who is Protap to me? I am no better than a vile sinner in his eyes who is he to me? Who, I do not know, but he is the burning flame Which draws the moth Shaibalini. In this desert of my life he is the first lightning flash in the midst of a parching drought—he is my death. ”

“ Whether you fancy or no, Nature must have her way and beauty will not be concealed. Whatever sea you might swim in, the beauty of the blue waters will not tarnish, the chain of ripples will not be broken, the stars will shimmer to the “last syllable of recorded time,” the trees on the banks will sway in their wonted style, and the moonbeams will wanton in the water as ever. Oh, the tyranny of Nature! Like the fond mother she is ever ready to fondle you.
Such were the impressions on Protap’s mind, but not so on Shaibalini’s. ”

“ At this, we blush to write, Dalani gave Mahammad Taqui a kick.
Mahammad Taqui could not administer the poison, and throwing half-glances at Dalaui slowly turned back.
After he had left, Dalani flung herself on the ground, and writhing in agony wept and exclaimed,
“O my King of Kings, Shah of Shahs, Padishah of Padishahs! what is the meaning of this order to your humble slave? Shall I take poison? If you order, why should I not? Your love is my nectar, your anger is my poison. When you are angry, then the poison has been taken. Is poison more painful than your displeasure? ”

“ He who had told her to meditate on her husband in this way, was a veritable pilot in the illimitable ocean of the human heart—he knew every thing. He knew that this mystic charm could turn the ever-flowing river into a new channel, that the rock is split with this thunder-bolt, the sea is drained at such a draught, the air is stilled by such a spell. The ever—flowing river of Shaibalini’s heart turned, the rock gave way, the sea was dried up and the air was stilled ”

“ In that dim seclusion Shaibalini and Sundari with metallic pitchers in their hands were sporting with the water.
What is meant by water sporting with a girl? We do not know that, we are not water. He only can tell us who has been melted into water at the sight of beauty. He alone can tell us how the water, tossing up ripples urged by the onset of the pitcher and marking time with the jingle of the ornaments on the arms, dances in unison; how dangling the garland of water-flowers pressing against the heart and swaying the little bird eager in swimming ”

“ When the soft south-breeze mingles with the star-lit night, when the dining—fee [1] of a Bramhin is kept in silver on the leaf—plate corner filled with delicate sweets, then also the bright mingles with the sweet. When the spring cuckoo trills away in a flush of joy at the advent of the morning sun, and lastly, when a woman resplendent with jewels sings in the radiance of rows of lights, then also the bright mingles with the sweet.
The bright mingled with the sweet, but none of that mingled with the heart of the Shetths. What mingled with theirs was Gurgan Khan. ”

“ No impression is left on the water——is a young lady's heart anyway different?
The golden sunbeams dissolved in the dark waters of the tank and in a moment every thing was dark, only the palm-tops glistened like golden pennons.
“Sister,” said Sundari, “it is getting on to night; we should not tarry here any longer, come, let us go home.”
“No one is here,” said Shaibalini, “do sing a song dear, softly?” ”

“ The same terror which drives a wild animal from a burning forest, also drove Shaibalini from Protap’s company. For her very life she abandoned this world so full of happiness, beauty, affection and other joys of life. Happiness, beauty, love and Protap——in these she had no longer any part or hope—even the very desire had been interdicted. Who could live in close proximity to the object of his desire and yet deny himself! ”

“ From the way in which the English are behaving, one would imagine as if they were the rulers and not I. What is the good of a kingdom of which I am not the king? Not only that; they say, ‘we are the rulers, but the grinding of the people is left to you, you shall do that for us.’ Why should I do it? If I cannot reign for the good of my people I will rather abdicate my throne. Why should I be a participator in their sin and infamy for nothing? I am not Sirajuddaula or Mir Jafar.”
Dalani mentally applauded the Lord of Bengal a hundred times, and aloud she said, “Lord of my life! ”

“ Your husband is pious and learned, you are a wicked sinner— how can you like him? You are blind of the blind, and that is why you cannot understand that the love which he bears you, is rare in a woman’s life. As the reward of great virtue in your antecedent birth, you have earned such love from such a husband. However, let all that go, this is not the time for it. Even if he does not love you, still if you can pass your time in worshipping his feet, you will have lived to some purpose. Why do you dawdle?——my gorge is rising.”
“Now listen to me,” said Shaibalini. ”

“ Now I am ready. You can give your orders for my death. I have no desire to live.”
After delivering herself thus, Kulsam began to weep. On a costly throne, buried in a profusion of jewels flashing out their thousand beams, the Nawab of Bengal sat with down—cast looks. The sceptre of his extensive empire was slipping from his grasp—his best efforts could not keep it. But that unconquerable empire which could be governed without the least trouble—where was that empire gone? He had neglected the flower and cherished the thorn. Kulsam was right—the Nawab of Bengal was a fool. ”

“ How many precious pearls and corals spread their lustre in the interior!—but it sucks human blood. No sooner a person charmed with the beauty of its habitation enters it, than the hundred-armed monster puts forth its arms one by one and seizes its prey; once caught, there is no escape. With its hundred arms and thousand ligaments, it embraces its victim, and then the monster applies its thousand blood-sucking discs to the body of the hapless being and drinks up his blood.
Considering herself unequal to the combat, Shaibalini retired from the field. ”

“ Shaibalini’s beauty had taken entire possession of Foster’s mind. He found that he must go away giving up all hopes of her. The Englishmen of Bengal in those days were incapable of two things only. They could not overcome avarice and they could not own a defeat. They would never admit they could not succeed in an enterprise, and it was better to desist; nor would they admit there was vice in any particular action and therefore they should not do it. Nowhere in the world can be found men equal in power and arbitrary will to the English men who first established British dominion in India. ”

“ Glowing shadows, devoid of darkness, cast by the chariots of gods and goddesses had fallen on the clouds, and as if for fear lest their purity coming in contact with the shadow of the sinful Shaibalini should lessen her sins, they moved their chariots away. The star-beauties leaning their tiny heads out of the blue canopy, all pointed one to another at Shaibalini’s corpse with their gleaming fingers and said, “Look sister, look; just fancy, there is unchastity even among the human women.” ”

“ Shaibalini reflected for a time and said, “Very well, I grant it shall be so, but then what will become of you?”
“Don't you trouble yourself for me. The Englishman, who can confine the Brahmin woman Sundari in a boat has not set his foot in Bengal yet. We are born of Brahmin parents, we are the wives of Brahmins, if our minds be firm there can be no danger for us in this world. Do you go, I will reach home in course of the night anyhow. The God who overcometh all evil is my hope. Don’t delay any longer. My husband hasn’t had his meal yet, I don’t know whether he will have any to-day at all.” ”

“ Tears began to flow from Chandrashekhar’s eyes at the sight of the happy face of that girl of twenty reposing in the calm of deep slumber without a trace of voluptuousness about it.
The beauty of Shaibalini’s face quiescent in a profound sleep melted him into tears. “Alas! why did I marry her?” he thought. “This flower would adorn a King’s Crown. Why did I bring this jewel into the but of a learned Brahmin? By bringing her here I have rendered myself happy no doubt, but what is her happiness in it! Considering my age it is impossible to expect any love from her. ”

“ O God! why hast thou made sorrow so beautiful? This girl in distress, a blushing flower driven by the wind, a pleasure boat tossed by billows—what shall a man do with her? - where keep her? The devil whispered in Taqui’s ear, “In the heart.”
“Listen my beautiful, follow me and you shall not have to take the poison,” said Taqui. ”

“ Had Foster really any ground for thinking so? His diseased imagination was the only ground. He mistook a piece of rope for a snake. If Dalani had carefully thought over the matter she would have at once found reason for doubt. But the mere mention of the coveted thing is enough to make one lose his head, and blinded hope is reason defeated. Duped by hope, Dalani readily fell in with the idea and said :
“If that be so, then why don’t you transfer us to that boat, we will give you plenty of money.”
“I cannot do that,” said Foster, “if they once capture my boat, they are sure to kill me.” ”

“ Darkness fell on darkness and enveloped the hill-ranges, the under-lying forests, and the distant river. The world became one essential mass of darkness and it seemed to Shaibalini as if there was nothing in this universe save stones, brambles and darkness. ”

“ At the further end a golden swan was gliding along, and on the bank a white boar was roaming about. The swan had caught her fancy and she was anxious to get at it, but it turned off and moved along, while the boar prowled about on the bank to catch the lotus (Shaibalini) . The face of the swan could not be seen, but that of the boar gave an idea as if it resembled Foster. Shaibalini wanted to get at the swan, but her feet stuck in the water like the stalk of the lotus—her locomotion had gone. Here again, the boar had been crying out to her, “come to me, I will get you the swan.” ”

“ It could not be settled who should wear the garland, and so finding a fat sleek cow grazing hard by, Shaibalini wound the contested garland round its horns and thus the point was decided. Quarrels like this were not of rare occurrence with them; there being times when the boy would fetch the young brood from the nest of birds, and pluck ripe mellow mangoes in the season and give them to Shaibalini in exchange for the garland.
In the soft sky of the gloaming when the stars were up, they would start counting. ”

“ Sundari was amazed and looked inquiringly at Chandrashekhar. He motioned her to him. “She has gone mad,” whispered Chandrashekhar in her eat when she approached him.
Then everything became clear to her. She remained silent for some time. At first her eyes glistened, then a moisture gathered under the lids and lastly drops of tear began to trickle down. Sundari wept. Woman-hood is the very jewel of this earth. Another day this very Sundari had devoutly prayed that Shaibalini might find a watery grave along with her boat, but to-day no one felt more keenly for Shaibalini than she. ”

“ Floating on the bosom of the infinite-embracing ample-breasted, ripple-tossed, azure—hued river, and bathed in a sea of moonlight, Protap’s eyes fell on the infinite Cerulean deep above, and he began to muse. Why is man not destined to swim in that ocean? ”

“ He had seen Protap and Ramcharan in a dark night, consequently he could not clearly recognize. But the pain of his broken arm had become insufferable; some one must pay for it and he said, “Yes, they are the men,” without any further hesitation.
Then like a tiger the Englishmen bounced up the stairs. When Ramcharan found that the sepoys were following, he flew headlong up the steps to fetch Protap’s gun.
Johnson saw it, aimed his pistol, and fired. Shot in the leg, Ramcharan lost his locomotion, and he plumped down on the ground. ”

“ In my budding youth swelling in bloom why did you light the flame of your beauty before me. What I once forgot, why did you kindle up? Oh, why did I see you! If I did see you, then why couldn’t I get you! If I couldn’t get you, then why didn’t I die! Don’t you know that in contemplation of your beauty my home was converted into a wilderness for me? ”

“ The house at Monghyr where the ascetic had left Dalani, was Protap’s lodging-house.
Sundari stayed with her sister for some time and railed at Shaibalini to her heart's content. Morning, noon and night, she would lay herself out in demonstrating to Rupasi that a woman more wicked and ill-fated than Shaibalini was never born. ”

“ Without rousing Shaibalini, Ramcharan cameback to Protap and said, “She is sleeping, shall I wake her up?” Protap was astounded and thought that the savant Chanakya left his famous couplet about woman incomplete [1] a woman’s sleep is sixteen-fold greater than man’s. Aloud he said, “There is no need for pushing matters to that extent, you can go to sleep—we had no end of trouble tonight; I myself too must take a little rest.” Ramcharan went away to sleep. Night had not yet altogether spent. The house, the city beyond, everywhere, there was stillness and darkness. ”

“ It never occurred to the vile woman to consider whether vice should succeed or defeat itself—— much rather it should defeat itself. But one day she will understand it; one day she will be ready to lay down the very bones of her body to accomplish her expiation. If we had no such hope we should not have introduced this picture of sin. Again she thought, “The future life ?——I lost it the very day I set my eyes on Protap. That very day the All-knowing Providence wrote hell for my lot. Even in this life I am in hell—my mind is my hell——else why am I suffering so much? ”

“ Riding on the ripplets driven by the morning breeze, the spacious boat of Shaibalini moved in a northerly direction, the soft sounding ripples dashing against the bottom with a fluttering sound. You can trust a cunning artful cheat as much as you like, but never put your trust on the morning breeze. ”

“ Strike, strike, strike as much as you can, I am a witness to her sin, oh, beat her, beat her.” With folded hands, her face upturned and with streaming eyes, Shaibalini implored her to desist, but Sundari would not relent and only cried out, “Strike, strike, strike the unchaste one. I am chaste, but she is not; lay on, lay on.” Again her face withered up, again her dilated eyes were fixed in a stare, and Shaibalini remained as one spell-bound. Chandrashekhar grew anxious and knew that the symptoms boded no good. ”

“ First of all, Dalani gave an account of herself, then she described all the events of the night without reserve.
After hearing her, the ascetic said to himself, “Who can cancel the inevitable? What is fated must happen, yet no one should overlook the free-will of man. I must do my duty.”
Alas, ascetic! why did you burn your books? All books can be burnt to ashes, but never the book of the heart. Addressing Dalani, he said, “This is my advice—you should not present yourself before the Nawab all at once. ”