Scene 1

Place: Forest. Enter: Kankabhatta and Ballabha.

KANKABHATTA

Bhima, as we have no other choice I am giving you permission to slay Kichaka, but …

BALLABHA

But what?! Dada, I think even after I kill Kichaka you will have your “buts.” Dada, I am so happy to get this opportunity to kill Kichaka in secret, and you are agitated and sad!

KANKABHATTA

That is true. What will happen? How will it happen? Are we committing any sins? Are we moving away from the righteous path shown by wise sages? When such thoughts arise, my heart becomes increasingly sad, and I feel exhausted by the world's affairs and wonder why Suyodhana's wager had not been one that required us to remain in forest exile for our entire life?

BALLABHA

If Maharaja wants to give in to this sinful and cowardly desire to hand over the earth to evil-minded Duryodhana, then why kill Kichaka in secret? I will kill him in broad daylight, and then we can all reveal ourselves and go back into further exile.

KANKABHATTA

Bhima, it is not my wish to allow some ill-considered and aggressive action on our part to rout and humiliate us and thus force us back into forest exile. I want to get back the throne of Indraprastha so that I may have an opportunity to share with everyone in the world the understanding of dharma that emerged in us Pandavas during our exile.