उत्तररामचरितम् (महाकवि भवभूति - संस्कृत मूल एवं हिन्दी व्याख्या)

—IV. 1] UTTARARĀMACHARITA 220
Saudhātaki —Why then has he come here?
Dānda —To see the revered Vālmīki, his old and inti-
mate friend.
Saudha —Has he had an interview with his relations to-
day or not?
Dānda —It was only just now that the revered Vasiṣṭha
sent the venerable Arundhatī to Kausalyā to say 'thou must
come in person and see the king of Videha.
Saudha —Just as these old folks are met together, let us
likewise meet the boys and celebrate by playing the festive
occasion of a holiday. Where then is Janaka? (They walk
about.)
Dānda —Here is that aged royal sage Janaka, an ex-
pounder of Brahma who having paid his respects to Vālmīki
and Vasiṣṭha now takes up his seat at the root of the tree
outside the hermitage who (Verse 2) indeed is tormented
by grief for Sītā ever clinging to his heart, like an old tree
with fire spreading within. (Exeunt both).
End of mixed Vishkambhaka.
[Then enters Janaka.]
Janaka —(Verse 3) The grief produced by that great
calamity, inflicted upon my child, which was sharp, heart-
wounding and painful does not cease, but being poignant and
continually felt, and as if ever fresh though of long stand-
ing, still grinds through my vitals like a saw. What a hard
fate! My wretched body, though its essential elements are
dried up by old age, by overbearing grief and again by
frequent penances as Parāka, Sāntapana and others, and thus
deprived of its support, does not fall dead, and the Rishis
think those sunless worlds called Andhatāmisra are allotted to
those who slay themselves. The terrible agony of my grief,
which is as it were fresh even after many years and the
vividness of which is brought out by continual brooding, does
not cease. Oh! dear Sītā, sprung from sacrificial ground, such
is the lot of thy birth that has developed itself, that on account
of shame I cannot even weep freely. Alas! my daughter!
(Verse 4) I remember thy lotus-like face as a child, prone
to capricious smiles and tears, in which glittered the points of
some soft bud-like teeth, the sweet prattle of which was
faltering and senseless. O revered Earth, you are very hard
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