SHUKRA. Nay, father, I cannot go. The day I took the vow of a monk, that day I cut the bond that binds me to you all. I must be free of all ties. I must love none for myself that I may love all for God. Here I must remain where God has placed me, until He calls me elsewhere. OLD MAN. But thy mother lies, fighting with each breath. She wishes to see thee. SHUKRA. I cannot come. OLD MAN. But thou must. SHUKRA. I would if I could; but my life is in the hands of God. OLD MAN [_mocking_]. God! Thy life belongs to God? Who gave thee life? Not God, but she who lies there dying; what ingratitude! This, indeed, is the age of darkness; sons are turning against their fathers,--and killing their own mother. SHUKRA [_quietly_]. I may not love one more than another; my steps, as my heart, go whither God guides them. OLD MAN [_mocking_]. Truth is thy witness? SHUKRA. May Indra himself punish me if I love one more than another. Hear me, Indra. [_The roll of thunder above._] OLD MAN [_in desperation_]. Come, my son, in the name of thine own God I pray to thee, come to thy mother. I kneel at thy feet and beg for this boon. [_He does so._] SHUKRA [_raising him to his feet. He puts his own head down on the old man's feet._] OLD MAN. Then thou comest? [_Shukra rises to his feet._] SHUKRA [_hesitating_]. There is a law in the Sacred books that says an ascetic should see the place of his birth every twelfth year. OLD MAN. And it is twelve years now since thou didst renounce us! Ah! blessed be the law. SHUKRA. Yet, father, if I go, I go not in obedience to the law, but since the desire to see my mother is uppermost in me, I who dreamt not of the law hitherto--yea, now I hasten to abide by the law. Ah, what mockery! It is not the letter of the law, but the spirit in us that judges us sinners or saints. Now if I go with thee to obey the law, that would be betraying the law. OLD MAN. Betraying the law! SHUKRA. Thought alone is the measure of our innocence. He who thinks evil is a doer of evil indeed. Nay, nay, tempt me not with the law. I must remain here. I must keep my vow. [_He looks up to heaven; it is covered with enormous black clouds._] OLD MAN. The law is not written in the heavens. It is inscribed in the heart of man. Obey the dictates of thy heart. SHUKRA. God alone shall be obeyed. I cannot betray His command. I, who am an ascetic, must not yield to the desire to see my mother--Nay! God-- OLD MAN. What manner of God is He that deprives a dying mother of her son? Such a God never was known in Hindu life. No such God lives, nor breathes. [_Thunder and lightning._] SHUKRA. Erring Soul, do not blaspheme your creator. He is the God of Truth--God of Love.