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

UTTARA-RĀMA-CHARITA
OR
LATER HISTORY OF RĀMA
ACT I
UNTO the Bards of yore this tribute of homage we tender, and
bow down [next] unto [the Goddess of] Speech, that portion
(kalā) immortal of the Supreme-spirit. 1
After [this] Invocation—
**Stage-manager—**Enough: Why make it too long?—To-day, indeed on this
festival (yātrā) of the Exalted Lord Kālapriya,¹ I have a request for this
distinguished assembly. Your honours will be pleased to understand that
there is a worthy scion of the Kāśyapa family, bearing the appellation of
Śrīkaṇṭha and known [also] as Bhavabhūti:
On whom, [as on God] Brahmā, the Goddess [of] Speech attends
like a submissive handmaid. The Later History of Rāma, com-
posed by him, is [here] going to be represented [by us]. 2
Here now, in deference to the matter in hand, I am transformed into an
inhabitant of Ayodhyā ² and a contemporary [of Rāma]. Looking about
him. How now, Sirs! This the period of the coronation of His Majesty
the Honoured Rāma, the fire that consumed the race of Pulastya ³—when
this [period] is, day and night, to be celebrated with incessant festive music,
wherefore then, to-day, are the bards silent in these quadrangles?
An Actor, *entering—*Sir, they have been sent away to their homes by
His Majesty—the high-souled Demons and Monkeys and [other] allies
[of Rāma] in the war at Laṅkā,⁴ as also the priestly and the royal sages—
the sanctifiers of the various quarters—that had honoured the ceremony by
their attendance, and as a mark of respect unto whom there was this
festivity this many a day. And now—
¹ Of whom there is a famous temple in Ujjain
in Central India. See on this point,
however, Introduction, § 3.
² Capital of Kosala, the kingdom of Rāma.
³ The grandfather of Rāma's enemy, the demon Rāvaṇa.
⁴ Seat of Rāvaṇa's kingdom and identified with Ceylon.