उत्तररामचरितम् (महाकवि भवभूति - संस्कृत मूल एवं हिन्दी व्याख्या)

236 TRANSLATION OF [IV 22- Arun and Jan. —Ha! ha! That dear Chandraketu is to be seen to-day coming as he does on the occasion of guarding the sacrificial horse, is surely a happy day. Kausalyā — 'The son of dear Lakshmana commands,' such are the words I hear—charming like drops of nectar Lava —Noble Sir! who is this man named Chandra- ketu? Janaka —Thou knowest Rama and Lakshmana, the sons of Dasaratha? Lava —They are the heroes of the poem called Rāmā- yana. Janaka —Just so Lava —How then can I not know them? Janaka —Chandraketu is the son of that Lakshmana Lava —Son of Ūrmilā then and the grandson of the royal sage king of Mithila Arund. —(Smiling) Oh! the boy has shown a great knowledge of the poem Janaka —(Reflecting) If you are so conversant with that history, then answer me this question. What are the names of the children of these sons of Dasaratha and from what wives they were severally born? Lava —This part of the poem has not been heard before by me or by any one else Janaka —What? has it not been composed by the bard? Lava —It has been composed, but not published. However a certain portion of it has been arranged in a different form, full of sentiments and rendered fit for dramatic representa- tion, and after writing it with his own hand, the revered sage has sent it to the sage Bharata, the author of the aphoristic work on dramaturgy Janaka —With what object? Lava —That revered sage Bharata will cause it to be acted by the Apsarases. Janaka —All this sounds extremely wonderful. Lava —Moreover the revered Vālmīki has been exceedingly careful in this matter. That manuscript was sent to the hermitage of Bharata with some pupils and my brother was despatched, bow in hand, as their escort to ward off any possible danger Kausalyā —My dear child! hast thou a brother too?