उत्तररामचरितम् (महाकवि भवभूति - संस्कृत मूल एवं हिन्दी व्याख्या)

—IV. 26] UTTARARĀMACHARITA. 239
Lava —(Wistfully to himself) Oh! As'vamedha is indeed
the mighty test of the superiority of world subduing Kshatri-
yas—that casts reproach upon all the rest of the warrior tribe
(Behind the Scenes).
(Verse 27) This horse is the banner or rather the
proclamation of valour of the only hero of the seven worlds,
the foe of the race of the ten headed Ravana.
Lava —(With pride) Ah! how irritating the words are!
Boys —What say ye! The prince is clever indeed!
Lava —Ho ho! Is then the world void of Kshatriyas
that proclamations are made in such a style?
(Behind the Scenes)
Yea, sir! whence can there be Kshatriyas as compared
to the great king?
Lava —Fie upon you impudent babblers! (Verse 28)
If they (Kshatriyas) are, they do exist, but what means this
threatening proclamation to-day? Why utter these words?
Here I carry off that (boasted) banner of yours. Ho! you
boys, surround the horse and drive it with clods of earth.
Let the poor thing graze among the deer
(Enter a man full of indignant pride)
Man —Curse on thy thoughtlessness! what didst thou
say? Surely the lines of very fierce soldiers will not put up
with an insolent speech even from a boy. Prince Chandraketu
is difficult to be subdued, so run quickly along yonder thicket
of trees before the prince who has his mind occupied with the
delight of beholding this wonderful wood advances.
Boys —Prince, enough of this horse! the lines of soldiers
with flashing weapons threaten the prince, and the hermitage
is far hence, therefore let us flee with the leaps of deer.
Lava —(Smiling) What, are the weapons really flashing?
(Twanging his bow) (Verse 29) Let this bow, lapping with
the tongue of its string its broad tooth like points, emitting forth
a terrible hoarse roar, enlarge its maw, imitating the yawning
of the machine-like jaws of death grinning when busy in
swallowing (the world)
(All walk round in proper order and depart).
End of Act IV.