"I am India" "The Himalayas guard my boundaries" "The Ganges is the witness to my chastity" "Since the beginning of time..." "I have been a friend of darkness and light" "These marble edifices tell the world:" "Tyrants robbed and ravaged me... well-wishers adorned me" "Fools chained me... my lovers broke those chains" "Among those who loved me there was... one named Jal Al-u-Din Mohammed Akbar" "Akbar loved me" "Standing high above the divisions of religion and tradition... he taught people to love one another" "And he held me in his embrace for ever" "This is the palace of the Emperor Akbar" "Now its every nook and cranny... can tell stories of bygone days" "Far from the comforts... of his splendid palace... in this scorching desert... walking barefoot on the burning sand... is Akbar the Great" "The despair in his eyes is because... he had yet to see the smiling face of an offspring" "Akbar's pilgrimage is to a hermitage... of the Saint Sheikh Salim-u-din Chisti... in the hope that through his prayers..." "God might bless Akbar with a son" "In the entire royal caravan..." "Akbar the Great alone had vowed to walk on foot" "At last he reached his destination" "The Emperor, before whom the world bowed... bowed his head before a fakir" "God never refuses the entreaty of his devotees" "Lift your hands in prayer..." "I shall join you" "O Emperor of Emperors" "You have bestowed on this insignificant man... boundless wealth from your treasury" "I have been called Protector of the world, and Shadow of God" "Let me now hear a voice that calls me father" "O Master of the Two Worlds... let me not die without a trace" "He shall bless Queen Jodha with a child" "Congratulations, Your Majesty" "God has blessed you with a son... and an heir to the Mughal Empire" "Praise be to Allah!" "You have brought a message of joy to the dispirited life of Akbar" "Take this ring as a token" "I swear by these sacred scales of justice that whatever you may request of me... shall be granted" "In the passage of time... the Prince revealed his mischievous nature" "Prince!" "These scales are not your playthings" "Are they the Emperor's playthings?" " No" "Emperor Babar's sacred scales... are an emblem of Mughal emperors' justice" "Wonderful!" "Prince, please learn these words you will say in the Court" "It is a command?" " No, a request" "Then I shall try" "The Prince's insubordination increased... and he overstepped the bounds of respect" "Take this and let it float on the currents of Jamuna" "The grandeur of Mughals began to waver... and the intoxicated Prince Salim started staggering" "To Akbar the Great... the future of India seemed bleak" "I shall not see that evil day... when Mughal greatness becomes the toy of a profligate Prince" "Mansingh" "Divest him of his mother's tender love... and clad him in armour" "Nurture him in the scorching sand-storms... of the battlefield" "I entrust you with the future of the Mughals" "Salim has performed his duty as we would have wished" "My darling, my child!" "Is this the magnificent Queen of India?" "No, Your Majesty." "Merely a mother" "I was not aware... that a mother's weakness would make..." "Queen Jodha forget her dignity" "Your Majesty, does Mughal rule... not allow a mother to pine and weep... when her son's blood is pitilessly shed?" "She may pine, but not weep" "If all the mothers of other sons... on the battlefield were to weep... then India would drown in tears" "Distribute gems among the poor equal to the weight of this armour" "For fourteen years, Prince Salim... was nurtured on the battlefields" "He became a victorious general" "Have the Prince's wounds not been cleansed?" "We are not allowed in" "The surgeon is waiting." "Prince, do you not want your wounds cleansed?" "They are not wounds, but flowers" "For flowers to die is an insult to spring" "It is not only an assassin but also a beloved;..." "It is rose-bough and also a sword" "After fourteen years of bloodshed you are still soaked in poetry" "Astonishing" "There is nothing astonishing" "Would an Omar Khayyam verse change if it were written on stone... instead of gold?" "Then whatever your ruler has thought about me... is wrong" "Why send the story of my blood-drenched youth page by page?" "Send this saga of my life, in blood and dust, to His Majesty" "And none best-fitted to deliver it than my faithful son, Durjan" "May His majesty's good fortune remain!" "The Prince has emerged victorious again" "How many wounds did your Prince receive?" "Countless." "Many blows fell, but the swords were blunted" "They could but not salute the prince's courage and Akbar's blood" "We shall inspect his armour" "Instead of armour, the Prince has sent this message" "Let it be read aloud" "The Emperor of India, Jal Al-u-Din Mohammed Akbar" "Sire, here is the account of every morsel of the land... soaked with the blood of your heir" "For fourteen years, this land engulfed in the flames of war... has sucked your blood which flows in my veins" "The flames are extinguished... but there is still blood in Salim's body" "Command me, and I shall stain the valleys of the south with my blood" "Sire, your humble servant, Salim" "All praise to Allah!" "Today Salim has become our heir" "Chief Scribe" "Send a command to the Prince to return to the Court" "Congratulations on the Prince's return" "O Lord, you are silent." "Let me see Salim's face" "His Majesty has ordered Durjan to bring the prince back to the Court" "Bahaar, you have come with a message of joy to dry our tears" "I shall reward you with plentiful pearls" "It is not enough." "I want the prince to walk on pearls, when he returns" "And more than that, Bahaar." "I allow you everything for Salim" "My son is returning after many years" "I shall ask the Emperor to let me have him" "He has seen his father's manner of rule... but not the love of his mother" "Tell the Court Dancer to prepare an elegant dance... to erase the fiery images of war from Salim's eyes" "And tell Tansen to compose such melodies for Salim's welcome that he will forget the bellow of cannons" "Bahaar, encircle Salim with everlasting spring" "Make a thousand moons glow for my son" "Where his steps fall, let there be an astral carpet" "And wherever he glances, let there be heaven" "All that my heart yearns for but cannot express" "O Lord, let that auspicious moment come soon when my son shall be before my eyes" "Then I shall even forget you for a while" "Sculptor" "The Spring (Bahaar) of the palace in my deserted workshop?" "I have come for a statue for the Prince" "The princes and emperors do not like my statues" "Why not?" " Because they speak the truth" "This is the Royal Court, every word of the Emperor is justice" "None can appeal against it" "And here is a battlefield" "The blood of millions shed for the triumph of one man" "And this is for speaking the truth" "Death" "That is not true, it is an artist's complaint" "The mind accepts the beauty of your art, the heart does not" "What good is that statue if a proud head does not bow before it?" "Then I will make a statue at whose feet a warrior will lay his sword... a king his crown... and a person his heart" "One is crowned by another's hands" "But with one's own courage" "I hope no one comes." "Have you no fear?" "Fear?" "The crown does not rest upon fearful heads" "You wish to become queen of this glorious country" "So many others dream the same" "Let them dream" "Look into my eyes" "Like the eyes of a drunkard who has picked up a sword instead of a goblet" "Do you plan to pluck stars from the sky?" "Sometimes the stars fall to earth" "For a haughty Prince, my one submissive glance is enough" "Only three more hours before break of day" "Here is the last pearl of time-keeping" "Let the price of this pearl be paid" "Will the Emperor wear armour to welcome his son?" "We are not welcoming our son, but a brave soldier of India" "Your Majesty, I have not seen Salim grow from child to man" "Do not bring him to me at once" "News of the prince!" "The Prince has entered the Fort" "Charity, to save the Prince from the evil eye" "His Majesty welcomed the Prince and embraced him" "The Prince is passing through The Great Hall" "There are carpets of flowers to welcome him but he cares naught for the pomp..." "He is firm in his steps as he walks in here" "His Majesty has given the prince permission to come here" "The Prince is coming" "Is the world swaying with joy, or am I swooning?" "Bahaar, help me" "Who knows in what voice he will call me mother?" "How can I hear this new voice?" "The word "mother" will echo in the realm of motherhood" "I hope that echo will not stop my heart" "Mother, look at me." "I am here" "Salim, you have grown so big" "I used to see your face close to mine" "Bow down a little, Salim" "So you have become a great warrior" "How cruelly you have shed my blood" "Did you not think how these wounds would alarm your mother?" "If you had but once called out to me on the battlefield... lullabies would have flowed from the clash of swords" "The battlefield would have become a mother's lap" "But you never cried out to me" "Salim, My child" "Bahar, take him away, or I shall cast an evil eye on him" "Eyes long to glimpse you... paths await your steps" ""On an auspicious day the Prince has returned"" "Who is hiding from me, Bahar?" "Not hiding, but hidden, Prince" "The sculptor claims that when this statue is unveiled..." "Speak." "Sometimes such claims are interesting" "On seeing this statue a warrior will lay his sword at its feet... a king his crown and a person his heart" "The claim is too interesting to resist" "I shall view his arrogance" "It is His Majesty's order that the prince should not see the statue now" "The Royal Astrologer says it will be a bad omen... if the Prince looks at any statue before this moon has set" "His Majesty will attend the unveiling tomorrow morning" "On one hand, the sculptor's claim;" "on the other hand, the prediction" "And the statue is shrouded" "How can I wait until morning, Durjan?" "The Sculptor's claim is justified" "Only stone can endure the power of infinite beauty" "I am tempted to accept the divinity of idols" "The Prince would be accused of idolatry" "But also praised for showing faith" "I could not complete the statue." "You must again stand in its place tomorrow" "The Prince has seen me;" "he praised your art" "Within that praise is also a secret love for you" "Love for whom?" " For you" "I beg to make a suggestion" "In the legends, unveiling was done with an arrow" "We like your suggestion" "Legends can also be made into reality" "Your Majesty, it shall be done" "Praise be to Allah!" "It seems an angel has descended from heaven... and taken form in marble" "I am no angel, but a human being" "Then who forced you to become a statue?" "A wilful sculptor of your realm who prefers anonymity" "His art is indeed praiseworthy" "But why did you remain silent when the arrow was shot?" "I wanted to see how a legend becomes a realty" "Splendid!" "We admire your courage" "Queen" "Let her be one of your maids" "We bestow the title of Anarkali on her" "Tomorrow, when we celebrate Lord Krishna's birthday, Anarkali... will be a suitable Radha" "You have taken the words out of my mouth" ""Krishna teased me at the well"" ""He twisted my delicate wrist"" ""He cast a pebble at my pitcher "My garment was dripping wet"" ""He cast a magic glance..." ""and won my heart"" ""With his glance, he pierced my veil"" "What happened Suraiya?" "You are in love, sister" "Who can I be in love with?" "He who is in love with you" "Who?" " The Prince" "Be silent Suraiya" "Don't order me to be quiet, until you are Queen" "For God's sake, as a maid I dare not entertain such dreams" "He is the Prince, the future King of India" "So What?" "No doubt kings come from God, but their Queens can come from anywhere" "What possible relation can exist between heaven and earth?" "Then what do you want to be?" "A maid." " But of the Prince" "It will be a calamity if someone hears you mention his name" "People will hear of it, as always with love." "I know" "Then why be afraid of getting a bad name?" "I am not afraid of getting a bad name?" "I don't want him to get a bad name." " Then say farewell to love" "If you have courage, come with me" "To where someone's eyes are longing to see you" "Now I cannot bear those eyes" "Let me stay here" "Stay, then." "But I have the courage to face him" "Have you lost your senses?" "That's it:" "I'll ask the Prince why people who see him lose their senses" "Even yearnings do not become insolent in his presence" "That might be true only if he has no yearnings himself" "Now, love has put him in a state where he cannot perceive insolence" "Suraiya!" "Why have you come here?" " I have come here" "With whose permission?" " My heart's" "Go away" "No" "Allow her, Durjan" "What do you want?" " To find out... why those who look at you lose their senses" "Who said that?" " My sister, who has lost her senses" "Insolent girl" "My name is Suraiya" "And your sister calls you Suraiya?" "She used to." " And now?" "Now she has forgotten all names but one" "The Prince" "Take this message to your sister" "Such a letter will be dangerous" "Fall in love, and you will lose fear" "Sister, why so dreamy?" "Take this letter" "What letter?" "From the Prince." " Allah?" "Call upon Allah and you'll get another letter" "It quivers:" "Perhaps the Prince's heart is in it" "Take it" "No" "You gave your heart so quickly." "To take another's, why do you tarry?" "Beautiful Anarkali, dearest Anarkali" "Accept my salutations" "My heart is restless, because of the sorrow of separation" "Day and night, I remember you." "I die" "God forbid" "I die with longing" "This night I shall await you in the Western Garden" "Place your reply in a lotus and float it soon on the stream" "Forget not, O love, I await your reply" "Salim" "She refuses?" "This, she refuses" "Reason?" "Because she is only a maid and unfortunately, I am a prince" "And both positions are irrevocable" "And we are human being;" "that, too, is irrevocable" "The heart sought sustenance from the song and went beyond its limits" "Prince, the sun illuminates every corner of the universe" "Why, then did the sun trouble to step in here?" "To become one with the moon" "Do not invite ignominy to your prince hood" "You are the master, I am only a servant" "Today I shall break down this wall of high and low" "Sit down, Anarkali" "Prince" "Anarkali, look at me" "I want to see the confession of my love reflected in your eyes" "Do not look into my eyes" "You will see nothing but the fearful longing of a maid" "Forget you are a maid." "Let Salim read in your eyes what you fear to say" "Do not rob my dreams, from my eyes" "It would kill me" "I shall change those dreams into reality" "Daughter, where are you?" "Prince!" " Let her see" "I can suffer separation from you, but not your disgrace" "Oracle, tell me what will happen?" "What does that augury mean, sister?" "It means:" "My heart has escaped me" "May the world never know the pain hidden in it" "What has happened to you?" "Aren't you afraid of loneliness?" "Everyone asks for you." "Come with me" "No, I fear the world... might read my secret thoughts from my face" "Why do you seem so lost daughter?" "If you avoid other people... they will say that the honour of Who can call a helpless person proud?" "Enemies cannot be stopped from talking" "What do you know of the tales of the palaces?" "Come, Bahaar" "Take her with you sometimes." " Do not worry" "I have come to take her with me." " Bless you!" "Take care of her" "Anarkali, how beautiful is your new name" "Like Shaman, the name of the candle" "Since you have become Shama (flame), why fear moths?" "What moths?" "Me, for instance." "Why not join our company sometimes" "Company?" "I have arranged a melodic debate." "How nice if you took one side" "And?" " And I the other" "And?" " The prince will be the judge... of our performance" ""In your company, we want to see What fate has in store for us"" ""We shall see what happens if we come closer to you for a moment"" ""We shall see"" ""In your company, we want to see what fate has in store for us"" ""We shall see what happens when we supplicate before you"" ""We shall see"" ""Today, spring has brought the message of love"" ""The buds of hope have blossomed after a long duration"" ""We shall see what happens by evading the pain of love"" ""How can one relish life without pain?"" ""Without vitality..."" ""how can one relish the taste of tears?"" ""We shall see, by shedding tears for love of some one"" ""The one story of lovers..."" ""is to pine..."" ""heave sighs and choke to death"" ""We shall see, some day, this spectacle - with a smile"" ""We agree that..."" ""love devastates life"" ""This is it not fulfilling..."" ""that after death the world remembers you?"" ""We shall see, by staking our world for someone's love"" "The only story for lovers is to pine, Heave sighs, and choke to death" "We shall see, some day, this spectacle" " With a smile" "Your opinion of love deserves this flower" "Anarkali, your opinion is:" "We agree that love devastates life" "This is it not fulfilling that after death the world remembers you?" "We shall see, by staking our world for someone's love" "For that you get these thorns" "I am fortunate" "Thorns need not fear of fading" "What is that Mansingh?" "Papers concerning Ajmer province" "For our consideration?" " This Sir" "Do you not know that we have given Ajmer to the Prince?" "I know, sire." " Then these papers?" "Strife may break out in the province;" "circumstances oblige me to inform you" "Why have you not reminded the Prince of his responsibilities?" "The papers were presented to him many times, but..." "But what Mansingh?" "I am unable to find that reason behind his negligence" "I shall find out" "Durjan, convey my message to the Prince, the Governor of Ajmer... to issue the instructions in these papers forthwith... and also tell him I wish to know... the reason for his negligence" "And tell her that without her Salim's Life is a dark night" "And?" "Salim is losing himself in her contemplation" "One more message" "His Majesty's message... is that the instructions in these papers be issued forthwith" "Durjan, are you an enemy of love, to appear at this moment?" "Prince, I am your friend" "Seek another friend, then you may also Receive message" "Quiet, girl!" " My name is Suraiya; you are forgetful" "Prince, I have seen fire in the Emperor's eyes" "Stop this dangerous game, otherwise people will begin to talk about you" "Sister" "What has happened to me, Suraiya?" "Why don't you ask where I have come from?" "You know that your sister is always lost in her thoughts" "Remain so, then." "I've no time to carry messages hither and thither" "Did you meet him?" "What did he say?" "What sort of madness is yours I shall not tell you" "Tell me, or you shall see my funeral" "The Prince met me in the garden." " Then?" "He had the look of one who had not slept" "He asked:" "How is your sister?" "Then he took my hand and said, She must be in the same state as I am?" "What did you say?" "I told him" "And he kissed my forehead" "Then what happened?" " He said:" "Tonight, when Tansen starts to sing his raga... tell your sister to meet me in the Western Garden" "Why feel embarrassed to kiss my forehead?" "Because the Prince also...?" " I had forgotten that" "Sweet forgetfulness." "But the Prince kissed my forehead twice" ""Being a devotee of love..."" ""I got in search of my handsome love"" ""When our eyes meet..."" ""my thirst will be quenched"" "Perhaps someone is watching us" "The impudent person who has dared to come here must come to my palace" "Your servant is here" "The disobedience of the dagger surprises me" "And I lament my wretched life" "Prince, give one more chance of victory to the insolent dagger" "There is much blood left in my body" "Bahaar" "What does a candle - flame know?" "Murmurs of the night, and secrets" "For that reason every candle - flame is extinguished at break of day" "Prince" "You tried to know a secret" "You, too, could be extinguished" "Go now" "Anarkali (pomegranate buds)" "They are in full bloom in the Palace Garden" "This your Majesty has not seen them" "And I have not seen our Anarkali of late, either" "Her charming dance would soothe our weary mind" "Present her" "She cannot come" "Why not?" "With Salim, Anarkali shall reign as Queen of India" "Do not raise the paw-dust to the stature of a crown" "That has already happened, Anarkali" "I can see that Akbar the Great's India shall be your domain" "For God's sake... please" "The destiny of the people of India shall be within a lock of your hair" "And wherever you glance... thousands will tremble and the future will shake" "His Majesty!" "Prince, do not be so bold before the Emperor." "Let me go" "The Emperor is coming" "If the Emperor sees me here, my grave will be dug before your eyes" "Love that fears is not love, it is lust and sin" "Move!" " No!" "Where is he?" "Who?" "Akbar the Great, at whose command God-given breath is chocked" "Speak respectfully" "Salim's Anarkali shall not die." "I want His seal on this order to free her" "Anarkali shall not be freed" "Why not?" "Silence!" "A Prince should not forget his duty" "What duty is that which dares to crush love?" "Your duty is to obey the Emperor" "No, it is a punishment for being born in a king's palace" "A punishment that you shall have to suffer" "Then let Anarkali share my punishment with me" "You have no right to meddle" "But I have a right to my life" "If Anarkali is not freed, this night she spends in the prison will ruin the plans of Akbar the Great" ""Let me lament the false story of love"" ""I suffered countless hurts"" ""Let me lament my youth"" ""I lost all my senses"" ""Your longing has reduced me to this"" ""Let me lament the generosity of your love"" ""Who knew I had to keep silent?"" ""I had to live and conceal my love"" ""I live, but I lament my life"" "Anarkali shall be presented in the Great Hall" "We are certain that the darkness of the dungeons... has dimmed the glare of your longings" "The dungeon darkness was not dark enough" "Darkness shall be made darker" "My longings shall become brighter" "Those longings shall be crushed" "And the Emperor's justice?" "Silence!" "Akbar's command is his justice" "You will have to forget Salim" "Forget?" " Certainly" "Further, you will convince him that you never loved him" "How could I, when I lacked the courage to confess my love to him?" "You shall impress on Salim that your love was false" "A maid longed to be Queen of India... and used the wiles of love" "God is witness that it is not true" "But you shall prove it is the truth" "Lord, give me the courage... to betray the Prince" "I shall try to obey the Emperor's command" "You will not try, you will obey" "Free her" "The Emperor's word was irrevocable" "Anarkali's freedom is his defeat" "No defeat, but proof that the Emperor has a sympathetic heart" "Now I feel I am not only Prince, but the son of a compassionate father" "By freeing Anarkali, he has showered favours on my love" "Not on your love... but on someone's betrayal" "Whose?" "Ask these chains" "I am asking you" "Your Anarkali's wrists could not bear the weight of dungeon chains" "In exchange, she took golden bracelets from the Emperor" "Prove it" "Anarkali's freedom:" "A gift of land... and tonight she will dance in the New Tear celebrations, before leaving" "The Prince is coming" "Leave us" "You stay here" "The fiery eyes of Akbar the Great have melted the wax of which you were made" "The tinsel ornament of love, with which you strutted in front of me... has been reduced to ashes" "One night in the dungeon has broken Anarkali" "You are not Anarkali, you have stolen her name and fled from prison" "You are not my Anarkali" "Prince, I am not your Anarkali" "Cowardly slave of Akbar, you are not Salim's beloved" "You are a false promise that changed my faith" "An ignominious blot upon me has been cleansed" "Be still and silent" "Behold the Queen of India" "Behold the heir to the throne" "Noor-ud-Din Mohammed Salim" "Behold the Emperor" "Jal Al-u-Din Mohammed Akbar" ""One loves but once in this world"" ""One lives and dies with that anguish"" ""When one has loved, why should one be afraid?"" ""I was only in love, I was not a thief"" ""I shall tell the story of my love..."" ""even if it costs me my life"" ""Death is real when witnessed by the world"" ""Why die of suppressed desire?"" ""His longing dwells in my heart..."" ""the flame of love lives there"" ""As I live in love, so I shall die in love"" ""There is nothing else left to do"" ""Our love cannot be concealed, it is there for all to see"" ""When nothing is veiled from God..."" ""why wear a veil before his servants?"" "This fearless love of yours, this dance... this manner of expression - deserve our reward" "I am fortunate." "I expected such favours from the Emperor" "Jailor!" "Take this insolent woman and confine her to the darkness of the dungeon" "Leave us" "Your presence is the proof of your disobedience" "Anarkali was taken to the dungeon and I did nothing" "What could you have done?" "What can one do before a mighty emperor?" "But His Majesty must decide the limits of his tyranny and my patience" "If your yearning is for a maid, a servant... you will need life-long patience" "Did God grant your prayer for my life so that you could be master of it?" "Master of my heartbeats?" "Is my life a debt to your prayer, to be repaid by my tears?" "Anarkali is not worthy of you" "Why not?" "Hold me in your bosom as a father..." "Look at me with the affection of your first look at me... think of me as your son, then tell me that Anarkali is unfit for me" "I am an affectionate father of a dear son... but I cannot overlook an Emperor's duty" "I cannot change the destiny of India for my son's love" "Destinies change." "Times change" "A nation's history changes, Emperors change" "Amidst all this, he who has submitted to love remains unchanged" "You will have to change" "Salim, you will have to change" "A father who had the ambition to see his son win many crowns" "An Emperor who thought his heir would bring great kingdoms into submission" "Father and Emperor have seen son and heir bow to a common maid" "The Emperor's lofty hopes have been dashed, the throne has been shaken" "Be patient he has regained composure" "I should desist whose world has been made wildness" "Your Emperor rules as a god" "Does love also need the Emperor's permission?" "Prince, save my daughter!" "She will dash her head against the prison walls" "If she dies, India will become a vast burial ground... for the corpse of the Mughal Empire" "If the dungeon gates are not opened then the walls of dungeon will have to fall" "The heavy gates of the dungeon are not opened with swords, but with guile" "Bahaar" "Let us go away" "Where?" " Far away from Akbar's kingdom" "Arrest the insolent Salim" "You dare confront the Emperor for a maid?" "No, for a woman who in my reign will be the honour of the haughty Mughals" "The honour of the Mughals is too proud to be weighed against love of a maid" "Our India is not your heart, to be ruled by a slave-girl" "And my heart is not your India, for you to rule" "We have no claim over your heart, but we have a claim over you" "You are our son" "This, I am your son" "But in making me suffer... have you forgotten that I am a part of your body?" "No, Salim!" "You are the blossom of our countless prayers, the only asset of our life" "But do not stir a mother's love in order to tamper with royal customs" "Do not drag us beyond duty with the chains of your love" "Remember our responsibilities and your status" "Do not allow disrepute to eclipse your greatness" "Forget Anarkali" "For the sake of my milk that nourished you" "You ask me to pay the price for your milk" "No, Salim!" "Your milk became blood that flows in my veins" "If you command, I will shed it at your feet, but ask not for interest on it" "Son, what you are saying, you do not understand" "I understand fully." "Keep your precious India, give me Anarkali I beg of you" "I beg charity from Queen Jodha and from The Kingdom of Emperor Akbar" "These tears are the life-blood of Queen Jodha and the Emperor... which have trickled down from your eyes" "Stop these tears" "Anarkali shall be given to you" "Never!" "Infamy shall not be forgiven to the descendent of the Emperor Babar" "We command that Salim be dispatched to fight in the south" "A sword is held by a soldier, not a disappointed lover" "Do not expose the Prince's life to danger" "Death in battle is better... than death pining for a maid" "Stop!" "Our Salim shall not go on this expedition" "My command needs no endorsement by a mother's blind love" "But it needs Salim's endorsement" "Queen" "If you wish to see your command rejected, try to command Salim" "Is that his regard for us?" "Do not judge his love for you In his present state" "Let the storm pass, then see what he can become" "And how shall this storm pass?" "Give him Anarkali; by so doing he will become ours" "To regain our own son, are we to be obliged to a maid?" "What is not done for a child's sake?" "You are merely a mother" "And you are merely an Emperor" "Indeed!" "Mansingh, let my command be obeyed" "By Royal Command, our son... the heir and future Emperor... shall tomorrow at the break of dawn... proceed to Deccan at the head of the army" "Enough!" "I am not Akbar's heir" "Wait for me at the gate" "Prince, was that no foolhardy?" " If he only issues commands..." "I shall react with insolence and disobedience" "I won't allow you to act in naiveté." "This is no time for obstinacy and anger" "The Emperor is being obstinate." "He knows my wounds need balm... not a sword" "His might will not impress me" "The Emperor's dignity will not suffer the insult" "Your stubbornness will be the pretext for Anarkali's death" "He cannot do that!" " He will" "If you want Anarkali's life it stands beyond the battlefield" "Go and fight in Deccan" "If Anarkali's life is a reward of war..." "I shall change the course of war and twist the hands of death" "But who will be responsible for Anarkali's safety?" "I. She shall have the protection of my sword" "Your sword is but one against Akbar's millions" "I am a Rajpoot." "Millions will sacrifice themselves for my word" "Your Majesty, the sculptor is here" "We are glad to know that artists like you live in our kingdom" "The fact is, I am neglected" "No longer" "We admire the beauty of your art." "We shall honour and reward you" "I have many rewards for my art, but not for the truth within my art" "Then what do you want?" "To take the truth of my art to every corner of the kingdom" "We grant permission" "Your Majesty's generosity has perfected what was lacking" "Not as yet" "Your life lacks a certain happiness" "As reward, we shall give you a flourishing beauty... who once was your model" "Meaning?" "Tomorrow you shall marry Anarkali" "But, Your Majesty" "Is the reward insufficient?" "More than I dared hope" "Today I am convinced of His Majesty's justice" "You may go" "How fine is the difference between an Emperor's justice and tyranny" "After such a beautiful reward, that laughter express your happiness" "Happy?" "Only vile people give expression to happiness" "I am mocking the gifts of a fool" "You reject the Royal Command and the precious reward?" "Certainly" "Are you aware of the consequences?" "This very masterpiece may come to life with my blood" "By rejecting Akbar's command... you have shown courage and devotion to truth" "I am most grateful" "The Prince's gratitude is not my reward for truth" "Then what do you want?" "I want to see Anarkali's destiny secure in your truth" "A message from the Prince" "Let it be read aloud" "To the Emperor of India, Jal Al-u-Din Mohammed Akbar" "Let it be known that the heir to the throne, Noor-u-Din Mohammed Salim... through this message... declares his independence of you" "I demand that the Emperor accept Anarkali as my wife... and the future Queen of India" "He should accept that I am a proud Prince of the Timuride lineage... whose kings, regardless of custom or religion, chose their own queens" "Therefore, I have the right to choose my own queen" "I am asserting that right" "If the Emperor does not accept my decision..." "This document of the vanity of youth be read to the end" "I cannot" "The veil of courtesy is lifted today" "If the Emperor does not accept my decision... be it known that rebellion has commenced" "We accept this blind revolt" "Tell the Chronicler to add the name of a paramour to the list of rebels" "We shall fight, and I shall lead the army myself" "Has the Queen forgotten that she always performs this rite?" "The Queen says she cannot present the sword to slay the Prince" "Custom cannot be broken; we shall receive the sword from her hands" "The sword that severed the heads of rebels was received by me from you" "You shall perform that rite today" "You ask for the sword which will kill my son, your Majesty" "Not your son, but a rebel... who has vowed to make you a widow" "Will you not offer the sword for my safety and your triumph?" "There is no triumph for me." "I shall lose, whatever happens" "My husband on one side, my son on the other" "Now you must choose son or husband" "Queen of the Rajpoot wives, women of honour, why do you hesitate?" "Daughter of proud warriors, why do your hands tremble?" "How can these hands lift Akbar's sword... if they cannot bear bridal bracelets?" "Emperor" "You have wiped the bridal symbol from my forehead... and you shall replace it with Salim's blood" "If the price of my bridal loyalty is Salim's blood... take the sword and slay my child!" "I shall not even sigh" "The first beat of the war-drum shall herald her death" "Whose death, Your Majesty?" "Her death, in the darkness of whose love..." "Salim cannot recognize us" "Destroy that darkness" "Destroy that enchanting serpent who writhes between Salim and me" ""Lord help me, I'm unfortunate"" ""I am in dire straits..."" ""my ship is in troubled waters"" ""Lord help me, I'm unfortunate"" ""Help me, Lord"" ""Restore what I have lost"" ""You know..."" ""even my secret thoughts"" ""My hands are tied..."" ""and my heart is wounded"" ""Have mercy, Lord"" ""Misery clouds me, my Protector"" ""Lord, save my ship..."" ""it is drowning"" ""There is a sign of a storm..."" ""which makes life even more difficult"" ""Have mercy, Lord"" "Open the door of the prison, I have come to take Anarkali" "Akbar commands she be given to death alone" "And I have to take her out alive." "A Rajpoot has given his word" "The army awaits His Majesty" "Victory is nigh" "May the Emperor triumph" "That is the will of the Creator" "O Emperor of Emperors" "You have bestowed on this man boundless wealth from your treasury" "I have been called Protector of the world, and Shadow of God" "Now let me hear a voice that calls me father" "Akbar, are these the same hands which you lifted in prayer?" "Mansingh, before the battle I shall go and meet Salim" "It is not advisable for the Emperor to enter the rebel's camp alone" "But it is right for a father" "His Majesty is coming" "Leave us" "Has His Majesty come to pardon a rebel?" "An unfortunate father, whom the world calls an Emperor... has come to conciliate with his offended son and seek his love" "You destroy your son's love, and yet you seek his love" "An Emperor has come in the guise of a father" "Emperors do not cry" "But a father's eye are tearful" "Your poor father is rendered helpless by the principles of Emperor Akbar" "And Salim is rendered helpless by his love" "Love can conquer hearts, but not armies" "Your emotions cannot fight an omnipotent Emperor" "The battlefield shall decide" "An Emperor's decision need not wait for battle" "The first beat of the war-drum shall herald Anarkali's death" "Did we beseech Allah for you to show us this day?" "If the son can fulfil his obduracy by slaying the father then... here stands the father" "Prince!" "Has an Emperor's might overcome a Rajpoot's word?" "One may slight a Rajpoot's life... but not his word" "Where is Anarkali?" "Salim is successful without war." "There shall be no war" "There shall be war" "We pray that on the battlefield God protects you... from the wrath of Akbar" "Anarkali" "That you still live bodes ill for Salim" "Before the long shadow of my sword falls upon your heads... before you are wiped out without trace..." "I demand the return of Anarkali" "This sword has destroyed the conceit of many warriors" "Today, it shall not only protect Anarkali... but also all lovers... whose heartbeats refuse to be enslaved by an emperor" "Mansingh!" "Attack!" "Charge!" "Bury the abominable life of Anarkali" "Anarkali is in danger." "Permit me to take her to a safe place" "The Emperor has returned victorious from the field of battle" "Is this bridal sign Salim's blood?" "Behold this sword, not a drop of Salim's blood is on it" "You must be the only sword in the world to be embraced by a mother" "I want to see Salim" "You cannot" "Why?" "A father's sword was merciful... but an Emperor's justice will be done" "The accused, Noor-u-Din Mohammed Salim... son of Jal Al-u-Din Mohammed Akbar... is presented before this Court" "The proceedings may begin" "Noor-u-Din Mohammed Salim, you are accused... of dishonouring the heirdom for the sake of a slave-girl" "You scorned Royal commands" "You compelled Durjan Singh to commit treason by forcefully freeing Anarkali" "You led the imperial army into revolt" "These accusations can be withdrawn... and your foolish disobedience forgiven... and our graciousness extended to you, provided you return Anarkali" "So you can put her to death" "Certainly" "Then the Emperor should also punish... unruly moths which fall in love with the flame" "Imprison the flower-loving bumble bee that hums sweet melodies of love" "Dam the stream that would be one with the ocean" "I do not wish to hear demented arguments of love" "I want Anarkali" "I shall not give her" "We swear by the glory of Taimur... that you shall forget your claim to this glorious throne" "Agreed." "I accept no throne which shall stand upon Anarkali's coffin" "I accept no crown which impales my heart" "You wish to melt the Mughal crown in the fires of your love... to make anklets for a dancer" "You want a beautiful maid to dance upon the Throne of India" "You are debasing your future daughter-in-law" "Be silent" "Under the pretext of justice, the emperor will not get Anarkali" "First he must kill his son" "Justice is more precious than our son" "Noor-u-Din Mohammed Salim... you have taken advantage of our magnanimity" "You refuse to produce Anarkali to us" "Anarkali's sentence of death remains" "But in her place... we pronounce it on you" "Mercy, Your Majesty!" "None shall appeal to my mercy" "What more than death can be expected of a bigoted Emperor?" "When the Chronicler writes in Salim's blood of his and Anarkali's death... the previous chapter will describe Akbar's death" "Go!" "What news have you got?" " Akbar the Great has commanded... the Prince's execution tomorrow in place of Anarkali" "As long as my hands can grasp a sword... death shall not come near the Prince" "Where are you going?" " To face Akbar the Great" "But you are wounded!" " My body is wounded... but not my courage!" "Mata" "Do you see fear on your son's face!" "No." "I have faith in my blood" "I have come to congratulate my son" "Rajpoot warriors make even death their bride" "May every mother possess a heart such as Queen Jodha" "This historic day... marks the defeat of Akbar the Great and the triumph of love" "I am grateful to you" "I congratulate the mothers of those martyrs... who sacrificed their lives for truth and love" "My last request... is that you join those who have a heart, not those who have wealth" "Long live the Prince!" ""The lover celebrates..."" ""along the path of love"" ""Be Joyous..."" ""Love attains martyrdom"" ""Long Live Love!"" ""You remain free of wealth's fetters"" ""You are in the temple, the mosque of every creed"" ""You are in Krishna's flute and the Muezzin's call"" ""Thanks to you, faith is alive in the world"" ""Walls of hate cannot keep out love's storm"" ""Love cannot be killed by blades and swords"" ""Lovers may die, but their memory lives on"" ""Love's revolt can change the world"" ""Set the citadels ablaze, reject the throne"" ""Do not stand before death as a mendicant"" ""He whose religion is royal splendour is a man without creed"" ""He whose heart is devoid of love is formed of stone, not flesh"" ""Enemy of love, regain your senses, or you shall perish"" ""Long Live Love"" "Long live Mansingh!" "May your Majesty order the Prince's release" "After Anarkali's death" "He lives" "Your Majesty" "Congratulations on the Prince's life" "And to you, on your death" "Take away this bewitching pest... and wall her up alive" "May the sun of the Emperor's glory shine for ever... and may my Prince outlive the moon and the stars" "Accept my life, I have been richly rewarded" "Anarkali, it is the custom to allow the condemned a last wish" "If you have one, ask His Majesty" "My last wish is not within his Majesty's power" "Our grace is not so limited that it cannot grant a maid's last wish" "Speak" "Before her death, this maid wishes to become a queen" "What lurked in your heart has come to your lips" "Even in the awesome night before your doom... you dream of being the queen of India" "Do not misconstrue my wish" "The Prince had promised... to make me his Queen" "I do not want his promise proved false" "I do not want the future Emperor of India... to blush for not keeping his promise to a slave" "That shame shall not befall the future Emperor" "Mansingh, release Salim" "Before dawn, make Salim smell this plume drenched in potion of oblivion" "Thus he will forget you and remain oblivious of your death" "Guard will take you from your lover's arms... and place you in the arms of death" "Death draws nearer to love" "It shall be done" "If not, Salim will not let you die... and I shall not let you live" "I died long ago" "Permit the coffin to be borne away" "You may go" "In return for your Majesty's magnanimous gifts... this slave forgives Jal Al-u-Din Mohammed Akbar for her murder" ""How can hearts pine less?"" ""How can love diminish?"" ""When the night is so drunken..."" ""what shall dawn be like?"" ""The melodies are intoxicating..."" ""goblets brim with joy"" ""The joy that reigns here..."" ""is the legend of tomorrow" ""How could the season of love be more beautiful?" ""Both lover and beloved are together"" ""Alluring eyes, love pining within the heart"" ""Within this splendour..."" ""why should she give a thought to death?"" ""Strange is the state of lovers"" ""What can be said of the end of love?"" ""If ankle-bells break, then what shall happen, my companion?"" "Why have you done this?" "Have these beautiful hands said farewell to love?" "Can they betray me?" "Do not turn your face from me, Anarkali" "Come close and tell me;" "can you abandon me?" "Can you?" "Never, Prince" "Anarkali can abandon her life... but not you" "Abandon your life?" "Who wants to deprive you of life?" "No one" "Was I made insensible only for you to be taken from me?" "Fate willed it so" "Fate must change its verdict" "Anarkali, the shadows close in" "The cowardly slaves of Akbar the Great are coming to take you away" "I can see them" "Come out!" "Anarkali is mine, no one can take her away from me" "These unclean slaves... cannot touch your chaste body" "Beloved, come to me" "You insolent" "My very life" ""From the half-light of dawn..."" ""comes the call of death"" ""It sounds as if someone has stilled the song of life"" ""May God always protect you"" ""Accept this message of a true heart"" ""I leave this world of yours behind"" ""Arise, accept my farewell"" ""Tomorrow, when my funeral procession passes by..."" ""promise that you will not bear my coffin on your shoulder"" ""Let not our love suffer disgrace"" ""Accept this message of my tears"" "My child, my daughter" "I swear by these sacred scales of justice... that whatever you may request of me shall be granted" "Your Majesty!" "Where is His Majesty?" "Disrespectful woman, what do you want?" "My daughter's life" "Perhaps you are too shocked to comprehend our justice" "Remember this token, Your Majesty" "You promised me whatever I might ask" "I ask for the life of Anarkali" "I remember nothing" "A just king never goes back on his word" "I said I remember nothing" "You can forget your promise... but the Emperor of Emperors, who made you Emperor, will never forget" "On judgement Day..." "I shall seek justice before Him" "Take her away" "My daughter, Your Majesty!" "Ask what you wish" "What can a king who has broken his word give?" "Look!" "Anarkali, my child!" "Forgive me, Your Majesty" "This tunnel will lead you beyond the realm of the Mughal empire" "The secret that Anarkali is alive... you shall not reveal" "All his life Salim will believe that Anarkali is dead" "So be it." "By letting her live, the emperor has kept his justice alive" "Anarkali, make obeisance" "As long as the world survives, Anarkali... you shall remain the eternal symbol of love" "Mughal history shall remember you for ever... because you gave new life to the descendants of Babar and Humayun" "But I..." "I can give you nothing but a life of obscurity" "I am helpless" "I swear by God, I am not an enemy of love, but a slave of principles" "Consider the helplessness of a slave... then, perhaps, you can forgive me" "Anarkali, His Majesty is addressing you" "Take her" "And that is how my beloved Emperor... spared Anarkali's life" "In the eyes of the world he appeared cruel and unjust" "I am the living testimony of that Emperor's justice" "He whom the world remembers as The Great Mughal"