THE UNGRATEFUL MAN
Characters-:
Poor Brahmin –Ramana
A tiger
A monkey
A snake
A man – Goldsmith
King
Queen
Soldiers

Narrator: There lived in Chiklampur a poor Brahmin Ramana and his wife Meenakshi. Ramana used to go for alms every morning to get some thing to feed his family. Many a times he returned home empty handed and he and his family had to sleep without eating. His wife rebuked him to go and earn a living rather than beg. Ramana piqued by wife `Meenakshi’s words left for the nearby village. He had to pass through a deep forest before reaching the neighboring village.

Scene – I
( Ramana trudges through the dense forest looking tired and hungry. He sits to eat his food.)

Ramana: Oh! I’m hungry let me have my meal. (Sit down and eats). I must look for a well (finds one behind the trees)


Narrator: As Ramana peeps into the well he heard deep voices.

(Voices from behind the stage: - growling of a tiger, hiss of a snake, chatter of a monkey and a man’s voice ~Oh! Saviour’ we are in deep peril we are victims of bad fate. Please pull us out of the well)

(Tiger visible from the well)

Tiger: - Friend, you seem like a noble soul. There is virtue in saving a life. I will do you no harm, we don’t kill and hoard for tomorrow. Sir, I bind myself by triple oath that no danger threatens you from me. Have pity and pull me out.

Brahmin: - (steps aside and thinks) Even if I were to die at the hands of the ferocious beast, I will think its salvation unto me. For the act is only to save the life of the fellow creature.
(Brahmin stoops and pulls the lion out)

Monkey: - Sir pull me out too from this predicament. You can count on me for help any time you are in trouble. Lord Rama too was helped by our chieftain Hanuman and rest of our clan. Hence rest assured I would be your sevak whenever you wish to have my services. Please pull me out.
Brhaman: - (Pulls the monkey out of the well)

Snake:- Sir help me also to get back to my kith and kin staying in the hole under the peepul tree. My wife will be waiting for me . Good fortunes will befall you if you save my life. My clan and I will shower blessing on you.

Brahmin: But I am afraid seeing your hood. I’m scared of your fangs and the deadly poison you inject on us in anger.

Snake: Fear not. I bind myself by triple oath I will bring no harm. Also at anytime you can cal me for any help in course of your life.

Brahmin: (aside) No doubt I’m blessed by the Gods to save lives. Given the opportunity to do good deeds. Let me do so, rest will happen as destined.
(He pulls the snake out)

Man: - Sir I am of your own clan there is nothing to fear to rescue me.

Animals: - We warn you, you will regret your action if you free him from the well.

Man: Sir, I am Rajan the Goldsmith from the neighboring country. Do not let a precious human life to perish hearing the words of the less endowed. You will collect sin on you.

Brahmin: (aside) There is truth in his words. Having freed the rest my sympathies rightly should go to one of my own clan. Let me free him (He pulled him out)

Man: Thank you sir for saving my life. I stay in Baruni and ply my trade as a goldsmith. If ever you are in need of my service I will be glad to be of use.

Narrator:(The grateful tiger, monkey and the snake went their way after once again assuring the Brahmin.)


Scene II
Narrator: Ramana than went his way in search of good fortune. But found no luck. So he decides to return home back to his family. On his say back he remembered his friends.

Brahmin: Oh! Descendants of Hanuman. Where are you? I’m starving can you help me?

Monkey: Oh kind man, I’ll take you to the nearby orchard and get you some fruits.
(Takes him to a tree and gives him fruits)

Ramana: Thank you kind hearted. Oh! Lord of the jungle where are you?

Tiger: Sir, I am pleased to meet you, do command what service, I can be for you?’

Ramana: I’ve tried my luck but I’ve not been able to earn wealth for my family.

Tiger: Noble man I may be of some help to you. Please come to my cave. I have a packet of jewels left here by a prince. Some time back he was slayed and left to rot here. I had kept the jewels in my cave. It may of use to you.

(Goes to the cave and finds the bag of jewelry)

Ramana: This indeed is enough for me to feed and clothe my family well. By selling this jewelry. I’ll take this to the jeweler and sell it. The goldsmith who I saved will definitely help me. Thank you Lord of the jungles
(Leaves for town)

Scene –III
Narrator: The Brahman goes to Baruni and greets the goldsmith.

Ramana: Fried good fortune has finally bestowed on me. Kindly evaluate this and help me to sell it to a wealthy person in this country.

Goldsmith: (looks at the jewelry and immediately recognizes it) Wait I’ll just come in a few minutes.

Narrator: The goldsmith recognizes that the jewelry belonged to the prince and the king had proclaimed a prize for any one who informs about his son who was killed. The goldsmith sends the message through his servant to the king.

(Enter king’s soldiers)

Goldsmith: - He’s the one who brought the jewelry.

Solider: - (Hand cuffs him) our king wants you. You have killed the prince.

Ramana: - You have mistaken. I’m not the one who killed the prince. I’m innocent. Please spare me. I found it in a cave in the near by jungle, I promise I’m not the one who killed the prince.
Solider: Come with us to our king.

(King’s court)

Narrator: The king believed he was the murderer of his son and put him in jail.



Scene – IV
Jail
(Looks dejected, paces up and down)
Ramana: Oh! NagaRaja please can you help me in any way.

Snake: Noble king did you call me?

Ramana: Yes! For no fault of mine I’ve been put to imprisonment. The tiger gave me jewelry, which belonged to the prince. He was killed by some one. I took it to the ungrateful goldsmith but he instead of helping me told the king that I had killed the prince. The wicked greedy goldsmith has put me into trouble.

Snake: Sir I’m feeling bad that for no fault of yours you’re suffering. I will go to the Queen’s chamber and bite her in such a way that only remedy to save her will be touch of your hands. Just by a mere touch you will restore her back to health.

Narrator: The snake went and bit the queen. There was uproar in the kingdom. Drums were beaten and citizens informed about the queen’s state.

Ramana: - (To the guard) Send word to the king. I will be able to save the queen’s life.



Scene V

(Queen’s chamber)
(Ramana being escorted to the chamber by the guard)

Ramana: - (Touches the feet of the Queen’s feet and mumbles) Oh! Lord of the snakes Naga takes thy poison away (and he rubs her feet)
(Soon she started to move her limbs and opened her eyes.)

King: - How could you a murderer cure the queen.

Ramana :- His Highness, My Lord I’m a poor Brahmin. I’m not the murderer. I was in search of fortune when I found this bag of jewelry in a cave in the jungle. I brought it and asked the goldsmith to buy it. But the goldsmith wanted the reward money so he gave you my Lord the wrong information. My majesty I swear by my Gods I’m innocent.

King: - (Shouts – Calls for the goldsmith) summon him immediately. Brahmin forgives me. Take this as a token from me (gives him lot of wealth)
To goldsmith - You wicked man, you deceitful creature. You shall be punished. `Mantri’ sentence him for six months in jail and make him work.

Narrator: - The good deed done without any expectation was what brought a lot of wealth and luck to the poor Brahman.