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

95] Act VII, Reunion — Translation [—vii. 3⁶ Rāma—The meaning is, that sages possess a direct intuition of what is right (dharma). The knowledge of [such] exalted personages is uncoloured by passions, is a Repository of Truth,¹ is never known to fail. It must therefore be beyond [every possibility of] doubt. [Voice,] behind the curtain—Alas, my noble Lord! Alas, dear Lakshmaṇa! Alone and undefended as I am, and with these pangs of childbirth upon me, in this [dreary] forest, the beasts of prey, desperate [with hunger], are longing to devour me! Therefore now, ill-starred that I am, I will throw myself into the Mandākinī [Ganges]. Lakshmaṇa, to himself—Woe and alas! This is something quite un- expected! Stage-manager—The daughter of the All-sustaining [Earth], Queen Sītā, being abandoned by the King in the great forest: she, with travail coming upon her, is throwing herself into the divine Ganges. 2 Exit. Rāma, excitedly—Queen, my Queen! Just tarry [but] one instant! Lakshmaṇa—My noble brother, this is a play! Rāma—Alas, Queen! Thou dear companion in the wilderness of Daṇḍakā! This then has been the evil ripening of thy fate—and through Rāma! Lakshmaṇa—Noble brother, let us, if you please, see how the play turns out. Rāma—Here am I, ready and with a heart of adamant! Then enters Sītā swooning and supported by Pṛithivī [the Earth] and Jāhnavī [the Ganges], who have each an infant in their lap. Rāma—Brother, lend me thy support: I seem to be plunging into some unknown and untrodden [abyss of] gloom! The two Goddesses [Pṛithivī and Bhāgīrathī]— Take heart, [Sītā,] thou blessed daughter of [Janaka,] King of the Videhas: Fortune is smiling upon thee. While in the waters thou hast given birth to two sons that shall be the upholders of Raghu's line. 3 Sītā, recovering—Oh, joy! I have given birth to [two] sons!—Ha, my noble Lord! Swoons [again]. Lakshmaṇa, falling [at Rāma's feet]—I say, my noble brother, Fortune is smiling upon us! The stock of Raghu has put forth glorious offshoots. Observing. Oh, how now? Overwhelmed by the flood of stirring tears, my noble brother has swooned quite away! Fans [him]. The two Goddesses—Cheer up, dear daughter, cheer up! Sītā, recovering—Who may your Ladyship be—and you? ¹ A technical term of Yoga, for which see Notes.