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

5] Synoptic Analysis of the Play
ACT I. THE PICTURE-GALLERY
TRANSLATION, PAGES 17–30.
Scene 1 (i. 7³—i. 14³). Ayodhyā: A chamber in Rāma's palace. Enter
Rāma and Sītā. He tries to console her. Enters the chamberlain (i. 8⁶)
to announce the arrival of Aṣṭāvakra, a messenger from Ṛiṣyaśṛiṅga's
hermitage, and exit. Enters Aṣṭāvakra with his message: A. that all
is well with the Queen-mothers and the rest, and that they confidently
expect (i. 9¹) for Sītā heroic¹ progeny; B. that all the women enjoin
upon Rāma to satisfy promptly any longings of pregnancy (i. 10²) that
Sītā may have; and C. that his family-preceptor, Vasiṣṭha, exhorts
Rāma to do his utmost to keep his subjects pleased.² Exit Aṣṭāvakra,
announcing the entrance of Lakṣmaṇa. Enters Lakṣmaṇa and
proposes (i. 12⁵), as a diversion, a visit to the picture-gallery.
Scene 2 (i. 14⁴—i. 33¹⁶). Ayodhyā: the palace-corridor with paintings on
the walls depicting Rāma's earlier history. Rāma and Sītā inspect the
paintings,³ Lakṣmaṇa serving as cicerone or guide and explaining
them (i. 14⁴—i. 33²). The pictures of these familiar scenes arouse in
Sītā a longing (i. 33⁶ f.) for an excursion to the Ganges. Rāma orders
Lakṣmaṇa to bring forthwith an easy carriage for her (i. 33¹¹ f.).
Exit Lakṣmaṇa (i. 33¹⁶).
Scene 3 (i. 33¹⁷—i. 51¹⁵). Ayodhyā: a balcony near the palace-corridor.
After the pictures Sītā feels fatigue. Rāma begs her to rest; she does
so, her head pillowed on Rāma's arm, and falls asleep (i. 37³). Enters
a female warder (i. 38¹) to announce Durmukha, an old and trusty
spy, and exit. Enters Durmukha (i. 38⁸), who, with grief, whispers
to Rāma (i. 39⁷) the scandalous rumour about Sītā. Rāma knows her
innocence and yet, to please the people, resolves to abandon her (i. 40¹).

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¹ The Sanskrit word for 'heroic' means both
'valorous' and 'male'.
² This message has an important bearing on
the action of the play. A. The confident
expectation as to the sex of Sītā's offspring,
and Rāma's further knowledge (cp. vi. 28)
that it was to be twins, serve as im-
portant links in the recognition and final
identification of the two sons when Rāma
encounters them in Act vi. B. gives
Rāma the pretext under cover of which
Sītā is led away (cp. i. 33⁷f., i. 43¹, i. 51⁹f.).
C. Vasiṣṭha's reminder fortifies Rāma
in his resolve (i. 41¹, i. 42).

³ This episode gives occasion for the tender
love between Rāma and Sītā to show itself,
and thus heightens by contrast the grief
of their ensuing separation. Incidentally
the sight of the picture of the magic
missiles (jṛimbhakāstra) leads Rāma to
assure Sītā that the actual missiles shall
be at the service of her offspring (i. 15²).
The picture of the Ganges calls forth
from Rāma a prayer to the river for
Sītā's welfare (i. 23¹). Both these inci-
dents are important in the dénouement
of the play.