Anarkali

Translator’s Note:

1: Please read the footnotes to get a better perspective.
2: This is one of the longest scenes in the play and, hence, I have only decided to translate a part of it. The section I have chosen is my favourite in the whole play and the most dramatic. Prior to this section,

Dilaram has plotted with her two confidantes, Mirvarid and Anbar, to spike Anarkali’s drink with alcohol when she dances in front of the Emperor and Salim to celebrate the Persian New Year [Nawruz] in the Palace of Mirrors. The two conspirators now wait to see if their plot will work. Anarkali first performs a dance imitating that of the peacock in the jungle and is rewarded by a delighted Emperor with a necklace of priceless diamonds. Anarkali approaches the Emperor and Akbar places the necklace around her neck with his own hands. Anarkali steps forward and kisses the hem of his robe…

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Act 2: Scene 4: The Palace of Mirrors

Dilaram (whispering to Salim): Prince of the World, will you not also reward this dance?
Salim (standing up at once): Shadow of God! With your permission, I too would like to reward this dance.
Akbar: You have permission, Shekhu!
(Anarkali comes towards Salim. Salim removes a priceless pearl necklace and gives it to her. Anarkali, keeping her gaze lowered, accepts it.)
Salim: This is not a reward for your skill but an acknowledgement of it.
(Anarkali thanks him and goes).
Akbar: And now a…
Salim: Ghazal, Shadow of God.
(Anarkali bows her head in agreement to the request).
Akbar: Shekhu you have stolen the very words from my mouth!
Anarkali: Water, Suraiyya.
Mirvarid (immediately pouring the juice from the glass): Take this!

(Anarkali drinks the spiked juice. Dilaram is watching her intently).
Dilaram (to Anbar): Anbar! The time has come. The Prince shouldn’t think about the screen but his reflection should be clearly visible in the mirror. Have you understood everything?
Anbar: Don’t worry about a thing!
Anarkali (on the other side, to Mirvarid): Mirvarid there was a smell like alcohol in
this. How was this drink?
Mirvarid: Refreshing!
Salim (to Dilaram): Dilaram after this ghazal I will leave. If at that time you…
Dilaram (staring at Anarkali): Take Anarkali into the garden
Salim: Today every place apart from the Harem is lonely.
Dilaram: I am also worried. (Dilaram goes towards Anarkali).

Anarkali (to Suraiyya): My brow is burning. What is this running through my veins?
Dilaram (softly, on getting close to Anarkali): The Prince of the World is eager to meet you in the garden.
(Anarkali, now slight intoxicated, looks towards Salim and smiles).
Suraiyya: Apa, go on, go now!
Dilaram: Anarkali, which ghazal will you sing? (Softly) At this time Faizi’s ghazal, ‘O’ amorous-glanced Turk who is sitting opposite me’ will work wonders! The amorous-glanced Turk is not only present but is opposite you too!
Akbar: Anarkali!

(Anarkali is standing, looking lost and dazed by the intoxication. Her mother and all the girls present are astonished by this delay and carelessness).
Suraiyya: Apa, didn’t you hear? The Shadow of God is calling for you.
Dilaram (again softly): ‘O amorous-glanced Turk who is sitting opposite me’
Mother: Daughter, why don’t you start the ghazal now? What are you waiting for? After the pause, Nadira!
Anarkali (with a start, softly): Yes dear Mother!
Dilaram (again softly): ‘O’ amorous-glanced Turk who is sitting opposite me’. (Dilaram holds Anarkali’s hand and takes her into the middle. When leaving she whispers into her ear): The amorous-glanced Turk is not always found sitting opposite like this.
Anarkali: (Starts the ghazal. During the song the effect of the intoxicant becomes stronger. Her attention is only towards Salim. Very soon she forgets that, apart from Salim and I, there are others present too. Akbar, with closed-eyes, is half-reclining. Anarkali’s face is towards Salim which is why her face is hidden from Akbar, Rani and the other ladies-at-court but those princesses and girls who can see her are shocked at her conduct and their eyes helplessly search for Akbar, again and again.)

Ghazal

O’ amorous-glanced Turk who is opposite me sitting
In my eyes he pricks and in my heart he is sitting

(Anarkali gestures clearly towards Salim at the words ‘amorous-glanced Turk’. Salim panics at such an obvious gesture).
Salim: (After being uncomfortable for a while finally looks behind towards Dilaram) Dilaram!
Dilaram (looking at Anarkali): Prince of the world!
Salim: What is this Anarkali is doing?
Dilaram: I myself am astonished!

Anarkali: He rests hidden in the abode of my heart
The people think that he in this assembly is sitting!

(Anarkali points towards herself at the words ‘abode of my heart’ and again makes Salim the object of ‘is sitting’. Salim’s discomfort is growing and he keeps on changing sides on his throne).

Salim (cannot help himself): Dilaram stop her! (He looks worriedly here and there to check that no one else is looking).
Dilaram (staring at Anarkali): I am trying! But she doesn’t look at me. Her eyes are transfixed upon thee.
(Salim tries to indicate with his eyes his displeasure in order to get her to stop).
Anarkali: I am not bleeding today otherwise you
With a knife in your hand and a sword are sitting!

(Anarkali points towards herself at “I” and again towards Salim at “sitting”).

Dilaram: Prince of the world, you must stop her yourself or the Emperor will see!
Salim: I am trying to stop her with my eyes but I know not what is the matter with her, she just does not understand!
Dilaram: You must stop her with a clear signal. I will go to the Emperor and try to avert his attention somewhere else. (Dilaram whispers to Anbar and then goes towards Akbar).

Anarkali: The beauties have been defeated and put to shame
Everywhere you, like the Sun, are sitting!

(Anarkali is becoming increasingly reckless; Salim in a state of confusion is trying to get her to stop with motions of his head and signals with his eyes. Dilaram, behind Akbar, on reaching the throne, gets him to pay attention towards Anarkali. Akbar sits up straight. He takes one look at Dilaram’s face and, understanding everything, is shocked at the audacity of Anarkali. Dilaram points towards the mirror. In it Salim can be seen trying to stop Anarkali with signals. At the unveiling of the conspiracy Akbar cannot control himself and, in a state of wrath, gets up.

Akbar: Ah!

(At Akbar’s rising, all the assembly rose and the celebration became enshrouded in the silence of the tomb. Anarkali, surprised, looks at Akbar.)
Kafur!

Kafur: Shadow of God!
Akbar: Take this audacious woman and throw her into the dungeon!
(Kafur gives a signal and eunuchs appear and place their hands on Anarkali’s shoulders.)
Anarkali: Great leader! Great leader! She runs as if helpless towards Akbar and, trying to prostrate on the steps of the throne, falls down in a swoon. Suraiyya runs and clings to her sister.)
Anarkali’s Mother (approaches clasping her breast): Shadow of God, for the sake of Allah!
Akbar (with controlled fury): Silence, old lady!
Salim (rising, he rushes restlessly towards Akbar): Shadow of God! Father dear!
Akbar (pushing Salim away with his hand): Black sheep of the family!
Rani (wants to rush towards Salim): Great leader!
Akbar (raising his hand): Don’ you dare!

(Rani remains cowering in her place).
Dilaram stands behind Akbar with silent eyes as if she is looking at the horizon.

(Curtains)