Previous
Characters
In Hinduism a Bhagavata is a worshipper or devotee. In this play, the Bhagavata serves as the narrator. He presents and interprets the action of the play’s main storyline, the story of Devadatta, Kapila, and Padmini. Although the Bhagavata is the play’s narrator, it is revealed over the course of the play that he is not in control of the story. First, Hayavadana interrupts the Bhagavata’s story. The Bhagavata is surprised to encounter this creature, and attempts to council Hayavadana on how to rid himself of his horse’s head before resuming his narration. In the second act of the play, after Devadatta and Kapila’s heads have switched and time has passed, the Bhagavata starts to speak directly to the characters. He is surprised to find Kapila living in the jungle and startled when Devadatta arrives at Kapila’s home to find Padmini. When Padmini decides to perform sati, the Bhagavata speaks to her directly and tries to dissuade her. Thus the Bhagavata’s arc reflects how the play’s plot developments become unexpected even to its narrator, and that the play itself demonstrates the chaos and unpredictability of life.
The Bhagavata Quotes in Hayavadana
The Hayavadana quotes below are all either spoken by The Bhagavata or refer to The Bhagavata. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1
Quotes
O single-tusked destroyer of incompleteness, we pay homage to you and start our play.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Could it be that this Image of purity and Holiness, this Mangala-moorty, intends to signify by his very appearance that the completeness of God is something no poor mortal can comprehend?
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
BHAGAVATA: Hayavadana, what's written on our foreheads cannot be altered.
HAYAVADANA: [slapping himself on the forehead] But what a forehead! What a forehead! If it was a forehead like yours, I would have accepted anything. But this! I have tried to accept my fate. My personal life has naturally been blameless. So I took interest in the social life of the Nation—Civics, Politics, Patriotism, Nationalism, Indianization, the Socialist Pattern of Society. . . I have tried everything! But where's my society? Where? You must help me to become a complete man, Bhagavata Sir. But how? What can I do?
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Two friends there were—one mind, one heart. They saw a girl and forgot themselves. But they could not understand the song she sang.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Why do you tremble, heart? Why do you cringe like a touch-me-not bush through which a snake has passed?
The sun rests his head on the Fortunate Lady’s flower.
And the head is bidding good-bye to the heart.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 2
Quotes
What’s there in a song, Hayavadana? The real beauty lies in the child’s laughter—in the innocent joy of that laughter. No tragedy can touch it.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Hayavadana LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Bhagavata Quotes in Hayavadana
The Hayavadana quotes below are all either spoken by The Bhagavata or refer to The Bhagavata. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1
Quotes
O single-tusked destroyer of incompleteness, we pay homage to you and start our play.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Could it be that this Image of purity and Holiness, this Mangala-moorty, intends to signify by his very appearance that the completeness of God is something no poor mortal can comprehend?
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
BHAGAVATA: Hayavadana, what's written on our foreheads cannot be altered.
HAYAVADANA: [slapping himself on the forehead] But what a forehead! What a forehead! If it was a forehead like yours, I would have accepted anything. But this! I have tried to accept my fate. My personal life has naturally been blameless. So I took interest in the social life of the Nation—Civics, Politics, Patriotism, Nationalism, Indianization, the Socialist Pattern of Society. . . I have tried everything! But where's my society? Where? You must help me to become a complete man, Bhagavata Sir. But how? What can I do?
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Two friends there were—one mind, one heart. They saw a girl and forgot themselves. But they could not understand the song she sang.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Why do you tremble, heart? Why do you cringe like a touch-me-not bush through which a snake has passed?
The sun rests his head on the Fortunate Lady’s flower.
And the head is bidding good-bye to the heart.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 2
Quotes
What’s there in a song, Hayavadana? The real beauty lies in the child’s laughter—in the innocent joy of that laughter. No tragedy can touch it.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
