उत्तररामचरितम् (महाकवि भवभूति - संस्कृत मूल एवं हिन्दी व्याख्या)

-II 6] UTTARARĀMACHARITA. 61
ficial session lasting for 12 years had come to an end. From
this passage we see that between the events narrated in the
first Act and those in the second, a period of twelve years had
elapsed. विसर्जिता sent back, bidden farewell to. वधूरहितान्
deprived of (our) daughter in law (सीता). अनुमोदितम् seconded,
approved. परेयुङ्गा वाच — supply आसन् or निवृत्ता. G seems to
have read 'वसिष्ठस्यापि श्रद्धा which means 'वसिष्ठ had an inclination'
P 39 स राजा सम्प्रति in what work is that king now
engaged? किनारम्भ is another reading. क आरम्भ (undertak-
ing) यस्य. Mark that वासन्ती does not use the word राम or
रामभद्र. She resents the treatment meted out to her friend
and does not wish to take his name even. She suggests that
he is a mere king and that he forgot his duties as a husband
in abandoning सीता. क आचार यस्य स किमाचार. Compare क्षुद्रयो-
जन (text p 33). ऋतु क्लृप्तः he has begun the अश्वमेध sacrifice.
अश्वमेध (अश्व मेध्यते हिंस्यतेऽत्र) a horse sacrifice. In ancient times
this sacrifice was performed by kings for progeny, but subse-
quently for sovereignty. A horse was let loose to wander
over the earth for one year protected by an army. When the
horse entered any foreign territory, the king had either to
yield or to fight the army. After the horse returned at
the end of the year the rites were performed amidst great
rejoicings. In the बालकाण्ड सर्ग I° 14, a detailed description
of the अश्वमेध performed by दशरथ is given. हा धिक् alas
fie (upon him), has he married also? Such rites as अश्वमेध
were to be performed along with one's wife. As सीता had been
abandoned वासन्ती inferred from the fact that राम had begun the
अश्वमेध that he must have married some other woman. This
gives her a shock and she asks the question 'परिणीतमपि' Com-
pare बालकाण्ड 13 'यज्ञवाटं गता सर्वे यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि । तैनाश्च सह पत्नीभी
राजा दाक्षामुपार्विशत् ॥ 41 का चारिणी then (if he has not married
again) who is the wife co-operating with him in the religious
rites in the sacrifice? हिरण्मयी मूर्ति the golden image of सीता (is the
सहधर्मचारिणी of राम in the sacrifice). हिरण्मयी is derived from हिरण्य
with the affix मयट् used in the sense of विकार. Rama had aban-
doned सीता not because he himself did not love her or because
he had any doubts about her, but as a painful duty towards his
subjects. His love had abated not a whit by the lapse of
twelve years and still cherishing in his heart his love for one
whom he supposed to be dead, he had placed a golden image
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