Essay name: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
Author: A. D. Pusalker
This book studies Bhasa, the author of thirteen plays ascribed found in the Trivandrum Sanskrit Series. These works largely adhere to the rules of traditional Indian theatrics known as Natya-Shastra.
Page 269 of: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
269 (of 564)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
249
should not be attached to her sons (IV. 21.
啶� 啶︵啶粪 啷�
[na do峁 |
] a). S墨t膩 also pleads in Bharata's favour. R膩ma
is visibly affected, feeling sorry that Dasaratha was not
present to witness the devotion of Bharata; but he further
adds that he was quite helpless in the matter as the behest
of the king must be executed and the good name of the
family maintained. Bharata then requests to be allowed
to be by Rama's side; but R膩ma replies that this also
could not be done as the kingly duties had to be properly
performed. Bharata agrees to go back on condition that
Rama would take charge of the kingdom after his return
from exile. R膩ma accepts it. Bharata again asks the
gift of Rama's sandals, of which he intends to be the
regent during R膩ma's absence. R膩ma grants this request
also. After getting the sandals Bharata desires to crown
them by sprinkling the coronation water upon them and
R膩ma asks Sumantra to do as Bharata wished. Bharata
is immensely pleased and thinks that now he has done
the right thing and has risen high in the public estimation.
As the kingdom is not to be neglected even for a single
day, R膩ma asks Bharata to leave without any delay
and the latter is willing to start forthwith. R膩ma
requests Sumantra to protect Bharata; and Bharata and
Sumantra ascend the chariot in Rama's presence. R膩ma,
Sit膩, and Lak峁a峁嘺 accompany Bharata as far as the
door of the hermitage. (Act IV).
1 The fifth act describes the saddest part of the whole
of the R膩m膩ya峁嘺, viz., the capture of Si墨t膩. The scene
opens with S墨t膩 and a female ascetic in the Janasth膩na.
Sit盲 is shown to be quite at home in the new atmosphere
and her new duties, such as sweeping the hermitage,
worshipping the gods and sprinkling water over the forest
shrubs and trees." Then enters R膩ma steeped in
sorrowful thoughts. He is pained at the thought of the
deserted city of Ayodhya and of noble Bharata, who
alone has to bear the burden of the crown though they
are four brothers. To divert his attention from these sad
thoughts, he approaches S墨t膩, whom he finds watering
the plants, and he feels a pang at the sight of the delicate
woman unaccustomed to any work doing hard labour.
S墨t膩 finds her Lord troubled with sorrow and asks him
1 There ought to be a stage direction as to the exit of the Tapasi at the entry
of Rama.
