Angulimala

l take refuge in Buddha

l take refuge in Dhamma

l take refuge in Sangha

When your invaluable heart is afraid

When it stumbles

Then, oh human, chant

l take refuge in Buddha

l take refuge in Dhamma

l take refuge in Sangha

When unrest plays its tune

When red blood is spilled

When the flames of violence rise

When humans become animals

When people's smiles turn poisonous

Springtime has come

Flowers bloom in every forest

My cheery heart dances

Joy is all around

The bumblebee hums as it kisses the buds

The buds remove their veils and dance

The leaves on the yellow peepul sway

Nobody is lonely today

lt is the time of union and bonding

With every step, her anklet rings

The maiden decks herself up

She adjusts her veil and goes to her beloved

Shyness in her eyes, love in her gestures

Acceptance in her heart, refusal on her lips

lnstruments play

The water gun sprays colors

Today is the day of colors

Rain? ln spring?

This is very inauspicious.

Surely trouble is on the way.

Congratulations, priest! lt's a boy.

Really?

You've answered our prayers, God.

There's no end to my happiness today.

- Bahuk! - Yes?

Ask the royal astrologer for his horoscope.

Here, your darling is ten days old now. Bless him.

Long live, my son. Make your clan proud.

- Greetings, royal priest. - Greetings, royal astrologer.

Come in, please.

Greetings, royal astrologer.

Have a sweet.

What's the matter?

Sit down.

What does the horoscope say?

Why are you silent?

What can l say?

- Are his stars... - Not aligned properly?

They're all wrong.

- His lifetime? - Very long.

- Health? - Well.

- Knowledge? - Lots of it.

Then what's wrong with his stars?

This child will be a murderer.

His hands will slice many necks.

He brought storm and destruction when he was born...

and it will always follow him.

Every place he passes through will be destroyed.

He'll thirst for human blood.

Oh God, what is this l hear?

Don't say that, astrologer.

God has given him to us after a lot of worship.

Don't say that, astrologer.

lt doesn't matter what l say.

The stars and his horoscope have spoken.

Alright, l'm leaving.

l have to reach the court.

So do l.

The king wishes to bless the child.

How radiant his face is.

Astrologer, have you made our little priest's horoscope?

- l have, my lord. - How is his future?

- Horrible. - What are you saying?

Yes, my lord.

His horoscope says he will become a murderer.

A murderer?

Yes, my lord. His hands will slice many necks.

Every place he passes through will be destroyed.

This child will thirst for human blood.

Child? He's a wolf!

This wolf should be drowned in the Ganges!

Yes, he should be killed before he kills.

My lord!

Please calm down.

Nobody can be punished before they commit a crime.

And then, horoscopes can be wrong.

Praise the king.

My horoscopes have never been wrong.

Alright, astrologer.

But how can we strangle a child who can't even move yet?

Yes, if he grows up to be a sinner...

l'll teach him religion until he's twelve.

And after that, l will take him to my gurukul.

And the royal treasury will pay for his education.

Praise the king.

Priest, what have you named him?'

My lord, his naming ceremony has yet to take place.

Then name him Ahinsak (non-violent).

As you wish, my lord. Ahinsak, who can never be violent.

Who can never give grief to anyone. Ahinsak.

l will practice religion and charity for his betterment.

Salutations to the god of Brahmins

Salutations to the creator of the world

Salutations to Krishna

Flute-carrying Gopal

My son takes refuge in you

He rests in your feet

Take care of him

My flower is fragile, and your world, tough

Kanha, take his sinking boat to the shore

Oh sailor...

keep away trouble

Cleanse his sins with the holy water from my eyes

l offer you my life. Make my son immortal

May he light the torch of peace in this world

May he make his country proud

l know. lt's my son, Ahinsak.

You don't wear good clothes. Why?

- So that you're good. - l'm not good now?

Of course you are. l ask God to make you better.

Why don't you just ask me? You'll tell God, he'll tell me.

Why go to all that trouble for an easy task?

Rogue! l'll box your ears before l take the easy way.

- What's going on? - Father, mother's boxing my ears.

Alright. You're not ready yet?

Congratulations, your majesty.

Long live the princess.

Thank you, teacher.

Children with gifts for the princess may step forward.

The chief minister's son, Maruti.

Take it, Mangala.

Lord Chandrasen's son, Dhanpal.

- Ahinsak. - What a beautiful garland!

Thank you. Do you like flowers?

Yes. No, put it around my neck.

Do it.

l want to ask the children a few questions.

- Ask, my lord. - Will you answer them?

- Yes, my lord. - They'll be difficult.

Alright, tell me, who is man's biggest enemy?

- A lion. - No. You?

- A snake. - No, our fathers, who always hit us.

No, child. Fathers are like gods.

Alright, you tell me.

My lord, a man's biggest enemy is anger.

Anger. Good. Who is a man's best friend?

- Wealth. - No, a sword.

- No, sweetballs. - No. You tell me.

My lord, a man's best friend is his religion.

- Wonderful! Royal astrologer? - Yes, my lord?

Have you seen the power of knowledge?

l apologize, my lord, but the stars are powerful too.

Gyandutta, you've really bettered Ahinsak.

- Teacher? - Yes, my lord?

You will take Ahinsak to the gurukul today with the other children.

And the day he returns here, even better than he is now...

will mark the victory of hard work and ordination over destiny.

Son, your teacher is now your father.

Respect him, study well, and become a scholar.

But mother, how will l have a mother like you in the gurukul?

Your teacher's wife will be in the gurukul.

She'll be your mother.

See that you always obey and serve her.

Will she love me like you do?

Yes, and you were alone here. You'll have many brothers there.

Be good to them and don't pick fights.

- l'm Ahinsak, mother. - Yes, you are.

But parents' hearts are always worried.

Teacher, our only son is with you now.

- Please forgive his mistakes. - Don't worry, it'll be alright.

Come, son.

These are the children of Shravasti.

This is your gurumata.

- Maruti. - Long live. - Dhanpal. - Long live.

- Krishna. - Long live. - And this is Ahinsak.

- Long live, son, and stay happy. -Come.

When l left home, my mother said l'd have a new mother here.

Yes, son. This gurukul is your new home, and she is your new mother.

Then l needn't worry. You're just like my mother.

My blessings, son. Between his teaching and my love...

you'll be perfect when you return to your mother.

But mother, you aren't much older than me.

You can't box my ears like my mother does.

You idiot, age doesn't matter. Of course l'll box your ears.

- But not too hard. - Come.

- What kind of gurumata is she? - She's barely older than us.

You're right, child. For years, the gurukul had no mother.

The teacher accepted our pleas, and we got her.

Now l get it. The teacher married recently.

Alright, come on.

Yesterday, Ahinsak won. Today, we'll study the Upanishads.

What form does the soul take? Ahinsak?

You take aim now, but at the small fruit, alright?

- Wonderful. - Well done, son.

- All my children are very good. - And Ahinsak?

The best. Well done.