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

i. 3ᵃᵇ—] Bhavabhūti — Uttara-Rāma-Charita [16
Headed by Vasishṭha,¹ the Queen-mothers of Rāma, following the
lead of Arundhatī,² are gone to the hermitage of [their] son-in-law
for a sacrifice. 3
Stage-manager—Ah, that explains it.
Actor—Being a stranger I ask, who can [this] son-in-law be?
Stage-manager—King Daśaratha³ begot a daughter named Śāntā,
whom—as an adopted child—he made over to king Lomapāda.⁴ 4
Her, Ṛishyaśṛiṅga, the son of Vibhāṇḍaka, married. He [Ṛishyaśṛiṅga] has
now commenced a [sacrificial] session of twelve years; and, in consequence
of that, leaving behind their daughter-in-law Jānakī,⁵ far gone with child
though she is, the elders (guru)⁶ have gone thither. But what is [all] this
to us? Come, let us rather repair to the royal portal, there to discharge
the duties befitting our caste.⁷
Actor—If so, please your honour to think of some form of benediction—
absolutely flawless—wherewith to approach [the King].
Stage-manager—Mārisha,⁸
It behoves us ever to be doing [whatever lies next]; for there is
no escaping censure [any way]. As of women, so of compositions,
people are malicious as to their purity (sādhutva⁹). 5
Actor—Ultra-malicious, say rather:
For, even in the case of Queen Vaidehī,¹⁰ the people are not without
their wicked talk. Her staying in the house of the Rākshasa¹¹ is
at the bottom of it, and, as to the fire-ordeal,¹² they are not con-
vinced. 6
Stage-manager—Should this scandal now come to [the ears of] His Majesty,
it would be very unfortunate!
Actor—In every wise will the sages and the deities work out a happy issue.
Walking about. Ho, friends! Where now is His Majesty? Listening. So
say the people:
Coming hither to greet [Rāma] out of affection and having passed
these days in festivity, Janaka has to-day gone to the Videhas.

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¹ The family-priest of Rāma. ⁸ The regular form by which the stage-
² Vasishṭha's wife. manager addresses an actor, who in turn
³ Father of Rāma. calls him Bhāva.
⁴ Of the kingdom of the Aṅgas. ⁹ The word means both chastity and excel-
⁵ I. e. Sītā, wife of Rāma, daughter of Janaka. lence.
⁶ A word almost impossible to render by one ¹⁰ I. e. Sītā, daughter of Janaka, king of the
English word. It is applied to any one Videhas.
to whose authority deference is due: ¹¹ I. e. the demon Rāvaṇa who had abducted
parents, elderly relatives, teachers, and her.
persons of piety and learning. ¹² Which Sītā underwent after Rāma had
⁷ The actors were supposed to be Śūdras. secured her release.