[A DarkChamber. QUEEN SUDARSHANA. Her Maid of Honour,
SURANGAMA]

SUDARSHANA. Light, light! Where is light? Will the lamp never
be lighted in this chamber?

SURANGAMA. My Queen, all your other rooms are lighted--will you
never long to escape from the light into a dark room like this?

SUDARSHANA. But why should this room be kept dark?

SURANGAMA. Because otherwise you would know neither light nor
darkness.

SUDARSHANA. Living in this dark room you have grown to speak
darkly and strangely--I cannot understand you, Surangama. But
tell me, in what part of the palace is this chamber situated? I
cannot make out either the entrance or the way out of this room.

SURANGAMA. This room is placed deep down, in the very heart of
the earth. The King has built this room specially for your sake.

SUDARSHANA. Why, he has no dearth of rooms--why need he have
made this chamber of darkness specially for me?

SURANGAMA. You can meet others in the lighted rooms: but only in
this dark room can you meet your lord.