Here's a translation of a Sanskrit play from an old textbook of mine. Apart from a few minor changes, I have tried to translate it word by word. The author is Dr Vishwaas.
I found it very enjoyable
Scene : Lord Shiva's house. Parvati enters.
Parvati (speaking to herself) : Oh, Where has my husband gone? He has been away for a long time. Yet, he has not returned. All these men are alike. They are not at all bothered about what goes on in the house. My husband is also exactly the same. He is always bothered about the welfare of the world and forgets his own family. Let him come today, i will give him a piece of my mind.
Shiva (entering) : Gauri... Gauri...
Paravti standing still as if she has not heard him.
Shiva (coming closer to her): Gauri... PArvati... Are you angry with me?
Parvati (sarcastically) No ... No... I am very happy and content.
Shiva (to himself) : Oh the situation seems to be serious. Dear Parvati, please listen...
Parvati : No... I will not listen. Tell me where had you been?
Shiva : Er... er... I had gone out...
PArvati (shouting) For what?
Shiva: What...for what? I had gone out for seeking Bhiksha (begging alms)
Parvati (flaring up at him): Bhiksha ? Don't you feel any shame in going out and seeking bhiksha?
Shiva (innocently) What is the shame in asking bhiksha? I was always a bhikshu.
Parvati: Shall I remind you ? I am the daughter of the Parvat-raj, Himavan. My father is known for his storehouse of gems and wealth. Such a wealthy king's daughter's husband goes out to beg, is it not a matter of shame? And all my friends too make fun of me.
Shiva : OK, dearest, then you tell me what i should do for a living?
PArvati : Do anything
Shiva : Anything means ?
PArvati : Do Farming.
Shiva: Farming?, but to do farming, I will need land. I don't own any land
PArvati : No you don't. But your friend Parashuram, has conquered the whole world after killing all kshatriyas. Go and ask him. He will surely give you a small piece of land.
Shiva: Good idea. But for farming, only land is not enough.
PArvati: Yes yes I know. We will need seeds, etc. Go and ask your friend Kubera for seeds. He will surely oblige.
Shiva: (hesitating) But we will need some more things... Plough, Bulls, etc
PArvati: No problem. Go and ask Balarama for his plough. And as for the bulls, one of them can be your Nandi, and the for the other, you can ask Yamaraj for his buffalo.
Shiva (muttering to himself) Wah... Bull paired with a buffalo !!!. Only my wife can come up with such an idea.
Shiva: But there is one more problem. While working in the fields, what if I feel hungry ? What about my lunch?
Parvati : That too,no problem swami. Whatever I will cook in the house, I will pack some of it and bring it to you. You can eat it there itself. You can continue farming, without any worries.
Shiva (to himself) Oh... she seems very determined. I am caught.
Shiva : Parvati, there is one more problem
PArvati: (exasperated) Now, what?
Shiva : Suppose I am lying down for some time, then what if some wild animal tires to kill the bulls?
PArvati: Don't worry about that swami. Son Skanda will be there to protect the bulls, take him along
Shiva : So you have decided to turn me into a farmer.
PArvati: Yes, you are a householder and a householder should have a decent job.
Shiva (turning to leave) OK I am going now.
PAravti : For what?
Shiva: For Begging
PArvati : Begging!!!!! After all that I have explained...
SHiva: Yes... I have to beg land from Parashuram, seeds from Kubera, plough from Balarama...
buffalo from Yamaraj...
(So saying Shiva goes away...)
Parvati: Oh God... will he never change?
Edited by varaali - 12 years ago