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

61] Act IV, Kausalyā and Janaka — Translation [—iv. 3¹ Saudhātaki—For, when the holy Vasishṭha comes the heifer is slain; whereas on the arrival, later this very day, of the royal sage Janaka, even the exalted Vālmīki makes his welcome-offering merely with curds and honey: the heifer is let off. Bhāṇḍāyana—The former (evam) ritual is laid down by the sages for those who have not abjured meat; whereas venerable Janaka has abjured meat. Saudhātaki—And why? Bhāṇḍāyana—Because as soon as he heard of that adverse turn which Queen Sītā's fate had taken, he took up the life of an anchorite. And so it is now some years since he has been practising penance in the penance- grove [called] Chandra-dvīpa.¹ Saudhātaki—If so, why has he come here? Bhāṇḍāyana—Merely to see the [exalted] son of Varuṇa, [Vālmīki,] his old and intimate friend. Saudhātaki—Has he then to-day met his relatives, or has he not? Bhāṇḍāyana—It is only just now that the exalted Vasishṭha sent the exalted Arundhatī unto the Queen[-mother] Kausalyā, bidding her to go in person and meet the King of Videha [Janaka]. Saudhātaki—As these old folks have congregated together, so likewise let us band our comrades together and—as is meet (sambhāvemha)—play in celebration of this [great] holiday. They walk about. Bhāṇḍāyana—And this here is that discourser in Brahma, that ancient royal sage, King Janaka, who, having paid his honours to Vālmīki and Vasishṭha, is now reposing under the shade (mūla) of this tree outside the hermitage: he who— With Sītā's sorrow ever preying upon his heart, is burning [within himself]; like unto an ancient tree invaded by some inwardly- consuming fire. 2 Both go out. END OF INTERLUDE. Then enters Janaka. Janaka—Kept alive (vishakta) by that great and intense and agonizing, by that heart-rending calamity that fell upon my child [Sītā], this my acute and incessantly flowing grief that grides my vitals like a saw, even with this lapse of time it ceases not, as if it were a recent [grief]! 3 Oh, woful luck, that while age and this overwhelming sorrow, and ¹ Lit. Moon-island.