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

47] Act III, The Shadow — Translation [—iii. 16ᵇ Rāma, with sympathetic eagerness—Well, what of him? [Same Voice,] behind the curtain, once more— he, sporting in the water in the company of his mate, is busily engaged in combat by a mighty leader of another herd of tuskers, who has in wanton-pride (darpa) assailed him. 15 c, d Sītā—Who now will succour him? Rāma—Where, where is that wicked [beast] that is assailing one who was as a son unto my dear wife—and that too while he is enjoying his mate's company? Rises. Vāsantī, entering, greatly agitated—How! Is it the King, the joy of Raghu's race? Sītā—Why! It is my dear friend, Vāsantī! Vāsantī—Victory attend Your Majesty! Rāma, observing [her]—Who! My Queen's dear friend, Vāsantī? Vāsantī—Haste, Sire, haste: along this way, south of Jaṭāyu's peak, past [what they call] Sītā's Ford, do you descend down to Godāvarī's bank and honour [by your visit] the Queen's [foster-]son, [the elephant]. Sītā—Alas, father Jaṭāyu! Void without thee ¹ [now must be] this Jana- sthāna! Rāma—Alas! They really tear the [very] vitals of my heart—these familiar allusions! Vāsantī—This, this way, Sire! Sītā—Honoured [Tamasā]! And is it indeed true that even sylvan deities can't see me? ² Tamasā—Knowest thou not (ayi), darling, that superior by far to [that of] ⎫ all other divinities is the power of the divine Mandākinī [Ganges]? Why ⎬ dost thou fear then? ⎭ Sītā—In that case—let us go after [them]. [Sītā and Tamasā] walk about. Rāma—My homage to thee, exalted Godāvarī! Vāsantī, observing—Sire! Rejoice at the victory [gained] by the Queen's [foster-]son [that is there] in the company of his mate. Rāma—May victory and long life attend him! Sītā—Oh! And has he grown thus [big]! Rāma—Queen! Here is something to be glad of— With his tapering tusks, just sprouting and soft like fibres of lotus, [he] who used to pull, O fair-bodied one, the lavalī leaves ¹ See note 2, page 24, above. invisible to Rāma and Vāsantī. The poet ² It is necessary to bear in mind that through- himself draws our attention to this fact out this Act Sītā and Tamasā remain whenever we seem most near forgetting it.