रत्नावली नाटिका (सम्राट हर्षवर्धन - शास्त्रीय नाटिका रत्न सम्पूर्ण ४ अङ्क सान्वय सटीक)

xxviii RATNAVALI
the broad fact of the original story upon which the subject-matter
of his play is based and the names यौगन्धरायण, काञ्चनमाला, रुमण्वान्,
वसन्तक, वासवदत्ता, लावणक of the original are found in the play ; but so
far as the development of the main action is concerned he has
made important modifications of the original. In the original the
foreteller predicted that the marriage with Padmávatí, the
daughter of the king of Magadha would make Udayana the
paramount monarch ; but in the present play, the marriage of
Udayana with Ratnávali, the daughter of Vikramabáhu, the king
of Simhala was predicted to be the assurance of the paramount
monarchy of the king Udayana. The shipwreck of Ratnávali (after-
wards named Ságariká while she was being brought across the sea
to the Vatsa kingdom) is the invention of the poet. The rumour
of Vásavadattá being killed in the Lávánaka fire is common.
In the original story Vásavadattá remained incognito in the
Magadha palace ; and after the nuptial ceremony was finished
with Padmávatí, Vásavadattá returned to the Kaus'ámbi palace.
Here Ratnávali under the name of Ságariká was put under the
care of Vásavadattá who could not recognize her until she was
rescued from the fire that broke out in the palace by the magical
skill of the magician. The introduction of the magician is the
poet's own creation.
General Estimate of the play.—Though Harsha is not original
so far as the subject-matter of the Drama is concerned yet the
inventive genius and the skill of a dramatist which he has shown
is praiseworthy though not unique. Dr. Keith observes, "The
originality of his Nátikás is not perhaps great, but he has effectively
devised the plot in both (Ratnávali and Priyadars'iká) ; the action
moves smoothly and in either play there is ingenuity. The scene
of the magician's activity in the Ratnávali is depicted with humour
and vivacity ; the parrot's escape and its chatter are sketched
with piquancy and the exchange of costumes in the Ratnávali is
natural and effective." Of all his plays the Ratnaváli specially