उत्तररामचरितम् (महाकवि भवभूति - संस्कृत मूल एवं हिन्दी व्याख्या)

—IV. 8] UTTARARĀMACHARITA. 231
Kausalyā—How can I show my face in the presence of
that royal sage her father after what has happened to my
dear daughter in law!
Arundhatī—(Verse 9) Here is thy estimable
relation, the chief of the house of Janaka to whom the saint
Yājñavalkya expounded the whole knowledge of Brahma.
Kausalyā—Here is that royal saint, the father of my
dear daughter in law, the delight of the heart of the great
king (Daśaratha) Alas! alas I am made to remember those
days which were charming on account of the absence of
dejection. O Destiny! All that is no more.
Janaka—(approaching) Revered Arundhatī, Janaka
of Videha whose banner is the plough bows to you.
(Verse 10) With head resting on the ground I honour
thee by whom thy husband though a storehouse of holy light,
though certainly greatest even among the great sages of old,
considers himself purified, thee who art the cause of welfare to
to the three worlds, who art to be worshipped by the whole
earth like the goddess of the dawn.
Arundhatī—May the supreme Light shine upon thee!
May the god that blazes and stands beyond the reach of
darkness purify thee!
Janaka—Worthy Gr̥ṣṭi is that mother of the king
who protects his subjects, all right!
Kañcukī—(To himself) We are cruelly and unre-
servedly reproached (Aloud) Royal saint! Thou oughtest
not to inflict fresh sorrow, as thou dost by this anger, upon
the queen, who is already very sorrowful, and has long lost
the sight of the moon face of dear Rāma. It was surely some
lamentable misfortune of dear Rāma also. For hearing that
some dreadful slander was spreading everywhere among the
citizens and the country folk, who, being mean minded, would
not believe in the purification by fire, his Majesty committed
that piece of cruelty.
Janaka—(angrily) Ha! who indeed is this so-called fire
that he should presume to purify my daughter? Alas! After
we have been insulted by Rāma, we are again insulted by
persons talking in this way.
Arundhatī—(Sighing) Even so! To mention fire in
connection with my darling is derogatory. The word Sītā speaks
enough. Alas, daughter! (Verse 11) As for thy standing