Scene 1

Place: Courtyard of the Palace.

Enter: Maitreya, Saudamini, and Kichaka's two dasis, First Dasi and Second Dasi.

MAITREYA

Hello, girls, where are you going! If you have an escort, where is he? Or, are you just running around here and there in the courtyard with fans in your hands?

FIRST DASI

Kichaka Maharaja will soon be arriving here, so we have come.

SECOND DASI

Maharaja brought us here to see how Brihannada gives music lessons to the Rani Saheb.

MAITREYA

Can you sing anything?

SAUDAMINI

You need a good voice to sing. Is your voice good?

MAITREYA

Why do you need a good voice? Before Brihannada came here the Maharaja had put me in charge of giving music lessons. When I used to teach, I never insisted that the singer have a good voice. Once you sit down to sing, what difference does it make to music if your voice is not good, or even if you sing like a donkey?

FIRST DASI

Wish we had been here when Virata Maharaja had assigned you to teach the music class.

SECOND DASI

Even now if you could teach once in a while, we will surely come to learn.

MAITREYA

Even if your voice is cracked, it will be fine in my music. Only your feet have to be strong. Because my music should be performed with a constant tapping of the feet. I won't be able to teach my foot-tapping songs to a lame person.