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

i. 3ᵃᵇ—] Bhavabhūti — Uttara-Rāma-Charita [16 Headed by Vasishṭha,¹ the Queen-mothers of Rāma, following the lead of Arundhatī,² are gone to the hermitage of [their] son-in-law for a sacrifice. 3 Stage-manager—Ah, that explains it. Actor—Being a stranger I ask, who can [this] son-in-law be? Stage-manager—King Daśaratha³ begot a daughter named Śāntā, whom—as an adopted child—he made over to king Lomapāda.⁴ 4 Her, Ṛishyaśṛiṅga, the son of Vibhāṇḍaka, married. He [Ṛishyaśṛiṅga] has now commenced a [sacrificial] session of twelve years; and, in consequence of that, leaving behind their daughter-in-law Jānakī,⁵ far gone with child though she is, the elders (guru)⁶ have gone thither. But what is [all] this to us? Come, let us rather repair to the royal portal, there to discharge the duties befitting our caste.⁷ Actor—If so, please your honour to think of some form of benediction— absolutely flawless—wherewith to approach [the King]. Stage-manager—Mārisha,⁸ It behoves us ever to be doing [whatever lies next]; for there is no escaping censure [any way]. As of women, so of compositions, people are malicious as to their purity (sādhutva⁹). 5 Actor—Ultra-malicious, say rather: For, even in the case of Queen Vaidehī,¹⁰ the people are not without their wicked talk. Her staying in the house of the Rākshasa¹¹ is at the bottom of it, and, as to the fire-ordeal,¹² they are not con- vinced. 6 Stage-manager—Should this scandal now come to [the ears of] His Majesty, it would be very unfortunate! Actor—In every wise will the sages and the deities work out a happy issue. Walking about. Ho, friends! Where now is His Majesty? Listening. So say the people: Coming hither to greet [Rāma] out of affection and having passed these days in festivity, Janaka has to-day gone to the Videhas.

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¹ The family-priest of Rāma. ⁸ The regular form by which the stage- ² Vasishṭha's wife. manager addresses an actor, who in turn ³ Father of Rāma. calls him Bhāva. ⁴ Of the kingdom of the Aṅgas. ⁹ The word means both chastity and excel- ⁵ I. e. Sītā, wife of Rāma, daughter of Janaka. lence. ⁶ A word almost impossible to render by one ¹⁰ I. e. Sītā, daughter of Janaka, king of the English word. It is applied to any one Videhas. to whose authority deference is due: ¹¹ I. e. the demon Rāvaṇa who had abducted parents, elderly relatives, teachers, and her. persons of piety and learning. ¹² Which Sītā underwent after Rāma had ⁷ The actors were supposed to be Śūdras. secured her release.