The Sanskrit drama : $b in its origin, development, theory and practiceKeith, Arthur Berriedale
History
The Sanskrit drama : $b in its origin, development, theory and practice
Keith, Arthur Berriedale
Sanskrit drama -- History and criticism
In Act V a conversation between Jāmbavant and an ascetic lady, Çravaṇā,
tells of the doings of Rāma until his advent in the forest. Çravaṇā
goes to Sugrīva to bespeak a kindly welcome for the wayfarers, while
Jāmbavant overhears a dialogue between Rāvaṇa, disguised as a juggler,
and Lakṣmaṇa. The vulture Jaṭāyu then appears with the grave news that
he has seen Rāvaṇa and Mārīca in the forest; Jāmbavant goes to warn
Sugrīva of the danger, while Jaṭāyu sees the rape of Sītā and pursues
the ravisher. After this entr’acte Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa enter, wandering
in grief in vain search. They are interrupted by a cry and see the
friendly forest chief, Guha, assailed by the headless Kabandha.
Lakṣmaṇa rescues him, but, in doing so, knocks off the tree, on which
it was suspended, the skeleton of Dundubhi, to the annoyance of Vālin,
who appears, and after a lengthy conversation challenges Rāma to
battle. The fight is described from the stage by Lakṣmaṇa and Guha; the
enemy is slain. Voices from behind the scenes report the coronation of
Sugrīva and his determination to aid Rāma in the recovery of Sītā, and
Lakṣmaṇa and his friend leave the stage to rejoin their party. In Act
VI Sāraṇa and Çuka, two spies of Rāvaṇa’s describe to Mālyavant the
building of the bridge over the ocean and the advent of Rāma’s army.
Voices from behind announce the departure of Kumbhakarṇa and Meghanāda
for battle; in the same way we learn of their fall and the last exit of
Rāvaṇa, whom Mālyavant decides to follow to the field. The final
struggle is described with tedious and tasteless prolixity by two
Vidyādharas, Ratnacūḍa and Hemān̄gada, and with this the Act closes.
In Act VII we have a determined effort to vie with the close of the
Mahāvīracarita. Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa, and Sugrīva proceed in
Kubera’s celestial car to Ayodhyā. But the route is diversified from
the simplicity of the model, for the travellers are taken to the
celestial regions to view in all its aspects the mythical mountain
Sumeru and the world of the moon; only then do they commence their
journey in its terrestrial aspect by a description of Siṅhala,
distinguished as usual from Lan̄kā; the route then passes over the
Malaya mountains, the forest, the mountain Prasravaṇa, the Godāvarī,
mount Mālyavant, Kuṇḍinīpura in the Mahārāṣṭra country, Kāñcī,
Ujjayinī, Māhiṣmatī, the Yamunā, the Ganges, Vārāṇasī, Mithilā and
Campā; the car goes then west to Prayāga, and later turns east to
Ayodhyā, where the priest Vasiṣṭha waits with Rāma’s brothers to crown
him king.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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