SHUKRA. Thou hast done that already. All the cares of the monastery thou hast taken from me. Thou hast bound me to thee by bonds of gratitude that can never break. [_Enter Kanada._] Ah, Kanada, how be it with you to-day? [_Coming to him._] KANADA. [_He is a lad of twenty and two._] By your blessing I am well and at peace. Have you finished your meditation? SHUKRA. [_Sadly._] Nine hours have I meditated, but--I shall say the prayers now. [_Enters the temple and shuts the door._] KANADA. He seems not to be himself. SHANTA. When he is in meditation for a long time, he becomes another being. KANADA. There is sadness in his eyes. SHANTA. How can he be sad,--he who has risen above joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, hate and love? KANADA. Above love, too? SHANTA. Yea, hate and love being opposite, are Maya, illusion! KANADA. Yet we must love the world. SHANTA. Yea, that we do to help the world. KANADA. The Master is tender to the villagers even if they lead the worldly life. SHANTA. We be monks. We have broken all the ties of the world, even those of family, so that we can bestow our thoughts, care and love upon all the children of God. Our love is impartial. [_The thunder growls in the distance._] KANADA. Yea, that is the truth. Yet I think the Master loves thee more than any other. SHANTA. Nay, brother. He loves no one more than another. I have been with him ten years; that makes him depend on me. But if the truth were known,--he loves none. For he loves all. Indra, be my witness: the Master loveth no one more than another. KANADA. Ah, noble-souled Master! Yet I feel happy to think that he loveth thee more than any. SHANTA. He loves each living creature. He is not as the worldly ones who love by comparison--this one more, the other less. Last night, as the rain wailed without like a heart-broken woman, how his voice rose in song of light and love! He is one of God's prophets, and a true singer of His praise. KANADA. I can hear him yet. SHANTA. I will never forget the ineffable joy that glowed in his words. Only he who has renounced all ties, can speak with such deep and undying love. No anxiety-- KANADA. It was that of which I would speak to thee. Dost thou not see sadness and anxiety in the Master's face? SHANTA. He is deep in thought--naught else. KANADA. Ever since that message was brought him the other day, he has seemed heavy hearted. It was melancholy tidings. SHANTA. Nay, that message had naught to do with him. [_Thunder growls. The Temple doors open. Shukra comes out of the Temple and shuts the doors behind him. Then he stands still in front of the Temple._] SHUKRA. [_Calling._] Kanada. KANADA. Yea, Master. [_He goes up to Shukra, who gives him some directions. Kanada exits; Shukra stands looking at the sky._]