प्रियदर्शिका नाटिका (सम्राट हर्षवर्धन - चतुरङ्क शास्त्रीय नाटिका सान्वय सटीक)

XXIII Araṇyikā in such a manner as to rouse the suspicion of the Queen. The Queen rises from her seat in a fit of displeasure unable any longer to witness acting of that kind and goes out. She finds Vasantaka who has been asleep in the adjoining room. Thinking that the King may also be there, she rouses him, when he reveals the truth in his drowsiness. The Queen thus comes to know the whole trick and in her anger breaks up the play She then orders both A'raṇyikā and Vasantaka to be imprisoned and departs without listening to the apology of the King. Act IV.—Manoramā enters and is sorely grieved to see that A'rṇyikā has still been kept confined by the relentless Queen. The poor girl, she says, is in deep despair, not because of the hardships of the prison, but because she is not able to see the King. Just then Kāñchanamālā, the Queen's attendant, enters and informs Manoramā that the Queen has been in deep distress since she received a letter from her mother, Aṅgāravatī, informing her that King Dṛḍhavarman, husband of her mother's sister, has been held a captive for more than a year by the Kaliṅga King, and taunting her for King Vatsa's not having lifted a finger to rescue him. In the next scene Vāsavadattā appears, seated in the ivory-tower of the palace, attended by Sāṁkṛtyāyanī. The latter tries to comfort the sorrowful Vāsavadattā, assuring her of the faithful affection of the king. At this time the King enters with the Vidūshaka, talking about the means of conciliating the Queen and setting A'raṇyikā free from her captivity. He approaches Vāsavadattā and tries to appease her. Being informed by Sāṁkṛtyāyanī of the real cause of the Queen's sorrow, the king informs her of the expedition sent by him against the Kaliṅga king and how the latter's armies have been defeated and how he expects shortly to hear of the complete overthrow and destruction of Kaliṅga. At this moment Vijayasena, the victorious general, and the chamberlain of Dṛḍhavarman are announced. The chamberlain informs the king how Vijayasena defeated and slew the accursed king of Kaliṅga in battle and restored his master Dṛḍhavarman to his kingdom. He then narrates how Dṛḍhavarman's daughter Priyadarsikā is lost and no trace of her can be found. At this moment Manoramā hurriedly enters with the sad news that A'raṇyikā has drunk poison. On hearing this Vāsavadattā is smitten with penitence