महावीरचरितम् (महाकवि भवभूति - वीररस-प्रधान रामकथा नाटक सम्पूर्ण ७ अङ्क सटीक)

UTTARA-RĀMA-CHARITA OR LATER HISTORY OF RĀMA ACT I UNTO the Bards of yore this tribute of homage we tender, and bow down [next] unto [the Goddess of] Speech, that portion (kalā) immortal of the Supreme-spirit. 1 After [this] Invocation— **Stage-manager—**Enough: Why make it too long?—To-day, indeed on this festival (yātrā) of the Exalted Lord Kālapriya,¹ I have a request for this distinguished assembly. Your honours will be pleased to understand that there is a worthy scion of the Kāśyapa family, bearing the appellation of Śrīkaṇṭha and known [also] as Bhavabhūti: On whom, [as on God] Brahmā, the Goddess [of] Speech attends like a submissive handmaid. The Later History of Rāma, com- posed by him, is [here] going to be represented [by us]. 2 Here now, in deference to the matter in hand, I am transformed into an inhabitant of Ayodhyā ² and a contemporary [of Rāma]. Looking about him. How now, Sirs! This the period of the coronation of His Majesty the Honoured Rāma, the fire that consumed the race of Pulastya ³—when this [period] is, day and night, to be celebrated with incessant festive music, wherefore then, to-day, are the bards silent in these quadrangles? An Actor, *entering—*Sir, they have been sent away to their homes by His Majesty—the high-souled Demons and Monkeys and [other] allies [of Rāma] in the war at Laṅkā,⁴ as also the priestly and the royal sages— the sanctifiers of the various quarters—that had honoured the ceremony by their attendance, and as a mark of respect unto whom there was this festivity this many a day. And now— ¹ Of whom there is a famous temple in Ujjain in Central India. See on this point, however, Introduction, § 3. ² Capital of Kosala, the kingdom of Rāma. ³ The grandfather of Rāma's enemy, the demon Rāvaṇa. ⁴ Seat of Rāvaṇa's kingdom and identified with Ceylon.