उत्तम शौच धर्म पर अंग्रेजी नाटिका
(5) Greed : The Father of All the Sins (A Play related with Uttam Shauch Dharma)
Aryika Swarnmati (Sanghasth)
(Participants-Seth Lubdhak (uegyOekeâ) & his wife Nagvasu (veeieJemeg), King Abhayvahan (DeYeÙeJeenve) & Queen Pundrika (hegC[jerkeâe), Two sons of Lubdhak-Garurdatta (ie®Ì[oòe) & Nagdatta (veeieoòe), Some attendants of the King) Once upon a time, a Seth named Lubdhak was living at Chamapur, where the King Abhayvahan was ruling over. The wife of the King was Pundrika, who was very compassionate. Nagvasu was the wife of Lubdhak and his two sons were-Garurdatta & Nagdatta. Lubdhak was having plenty of wealth but he was a complete miser. Once he talks with his wife-
-First Scene-
Lubdhak-Nagvasu! I have spent a lot of money for the preparation of the golden pairs of many birds like-peacock, pigeon, parrot etc.
Nagvasu- Oh! I have seen them, they look so attractive.
Lubdhak- Have you also seen my golden pairs of animals like-deer, elephant, horse, lion, camel, he-goat etc.
Nagvasu- Oh! Yes, I have seen all of them, a number of valuable jewels like diamonds, pearls, ruby etc. have been decorated on their horns, tails and claws. Whoever will see these golden pairs, will be amazed and will praise you a lot.
Lubdhak-Off course, I think nobody can compare with me in such type of a possession.
Nagvasu- If it is so, you should remain so happy but I see that you live in permanent tension, what is the problem with you now ?
Lubdhak- My dear! I got started the construction of a pair of bulls but due to the shortage of gold, only one bull has been constructed yet. I always remain engrossed in the thoughts of getting this pair completed.
-Second Scene-
The rain is continuous for seven days, all the water reservoirs like rivers, ponds etc. are full of water. In such a time, Lubdhak, due to his greed, goes to the river and starts collecting the wooden pieces flowing in it. After making a bundle of these, he keeps the bundle on his head and returns. He is thinking of earning money by selling these wooden pieces.
The Queen Pundrika is seeing all this incident from the window of her palace. She talks with the king-
Queen Pundrika- Swamin! I am very astonished to see that such a poor person is living under you rule that he is not conscious even of his life for earning his bread & butter.
Maharaj Abhayvahan- What you are saying Maharani ? I am not able to understand.
Queen Pundrika- I have just seen from my palace that one poor citizen is collecting wooden pieces from the overflowing river, if he flows with the water-current, what will happen?
Maharaj Abhayvahan- Maharani! Please don’t be so anxious, I will look into this matter just now.
Queen Pundrika- Alright, Maharaj! please call him to you and fulfil his monetary needs at once. (Maharaj sends his soldier to call Lubdhak. After sometime, Lubdhak is presented before the King. )
Maharaj Abhayvahan- Listen poor man! It appears that your economic condition is very pitiable. I regret that I could not pay attention to you previously but now you take whatever money you need from the royal treasure, I give you the permission in written.
Lubdhak- Maharaj! I do-not need anything except a bull.
Maharaj Abhayvahan- What ? you need a bull ?
Lubdhak-Yes Maharaj! I am having one bull and I have to complete its pair.
Maharaj Abhayvahan- Oh! there is no problem in it, you go and select from our group of bulls, whatever bull you need.
(Lubdhak goes to select the bull but after sometime, he returns to Maharaj again.)
Maharaj Abhayvahan- What happened gentleman! Could you find the needed bull ?
Lubdhak- Maharaj! even a single bull of your’s is not comparable with my bull.
Maharaj Abhayvahan- (with astonishment)-What you are saying ? Which type of super-bull you are having, I can-not understand. Can you show it to me ?
Lubdhak (with happiness)- Oh Maharaj! please come to my home, I will surely show you my bull. (Maharaj goes to the home of Lubdhak with some attendants. All of them enters a big hall there, where are kept the pairs of different birds & animals.)
Lubdhak- See Maharaj! these are my special pairs of birds & animals.
Maharaj Abhayvahan- Oh! I can-not believe my eyes, even I, can-not dare to have such valuable pairs of my own.
It is beyond imagination that all of these are made of gold, diamond & different costly jewles. Seth! You are having so much wealth ? I was thinking that you are so poor as to collect the wooden-pieces from the river during heavy rains. (In the meanwhile, the wife of Lubdhak i.e. Nagvasu came with golden plates full of valuable jewels to present to the King. She says to her husband-)
Nagvasu- Sethji! the King has come to our home for the first time, let’s gift these jewels to him.
(Lubdhak wipes the sweat from his forehead, he is not able even to breath properly, he takes the plates with trembling hands but he can-not say anything because Maharaj is present infront.)
Lubdhak (speaks in very dim voice)-What you are doing Nagvasu! You will destroy me, I will never forgive you.
Maharaj Abhayvahan- What you are saying sethji ? Lubdhak-Nothing.
(Lubdhak unwillingly tries to give the plates to Maharaj but due to atmost greed, his fingers starts appearing like the hood of the snake. Maharaj understands his greed.)
Maharaj Abhayvahan- Oh! greedy person! you are such a miser, how can you give anything to anybody. I name you-Fanhast (heâCenmle). I hate you. I am ashamed that you are the citizen of my country.
(Saying these words, the King returns with his attendants, talking about the greed of Lubdhak.)
Lubdhak- I don’t care even for the King. Now I have thought that I will go to Singhaldweep to earn the money. Nagvasu (in anger)-Do whatever you want. We will not say anything now.
-Third Scene-
(Lubdhak goes to Singhaldweep and earns four crore rupees but while returning to home, the ship is drowned in the ocean. Lubdhak dies and due to his greed for his wealth, becomes a snake in his own home. This snake always used to protect the money and even the sons of Lubdhak could-not take any asset. What happens one day-) Garurdatta (The eldest son of Lubdhak)-Brother Nagdatta! I could-not resist myself and today I killed that snake, now we can enjoy this wealth.
Nagdatta- Yes, Bhai! but we will not follow our father in this concern. We will spend this money on self and we will also donate for the poor and the needy. (Religious Gentlemen! all of us should know that the snake died and was born in the fourth hell. Think! due to his greed, Seth Lubdhak could not live his life properly, he never gave anything to anybody, he never spent money for self-comforts, he only assembled the wealth and ultimately went to hell. So, always remember, there is no greater sin than greed, rather it is the father of all the sins.)
