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 272 of: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
272 (of 564)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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6
. 252 66 keeper, to inform prince Bharata of the arrival of
Sumantra from Janasth膩na after visiting R膩ma; and the
door-keeper accordingly leaves the stage. The chamberlain
finds Bharata approaching, wearing bark garments and
having matted hair, eagerly awaiting the news from
Sumantra. Then enter Bharata and the Pratih膩r墨, and
Bharata orders the chamberlain to usher Sumantra
at once, and both the servants make their exit. The
door-keeper then leads Sumantra, who is again grieving
at his long life as he has heard one more misfortune in
the form of the loss of S墨t膩. Bharata asks Sumantra
whether he had seen devotional R膩ma, the replica of
Arundhati, viz., S墨t膩, and the fraternal love incarnate,
viz., Lak峁a峁嘺. Sumantra tries to circumvent and tells
him that the trio had left Janasth膩na. He further tries
to keep back the news from Bharata, but while telling
of Rama's friendship with Sugr墨va (who was deposed
by V盲lin, the kidnapper of his wife, and who had made
mountains his residence) blurts out the truth inadvertently
-'g' if: (VI. 10)-(Sugr墨va) was relieved 'by
R膩ma who was in an identical predicament.' Bharata
asks Sumantra the meaning of the identical
predicament," and the latter
tes; but he had to
yield when Bharata adjures him by the feet of the dead
king to tell the truth. When Bharata learns of the
kidnapping of S墨t膩, he faints. After recovering, the sad
plight of Rama and the suffering of the separation
heaped upon the hardships of Rama's forest life pain
Bharata. Then Bharata leads Sumantra to the court of
the queens and orders the door-keeper to announce his
approach to her ladyship, "who desires me to be king
(p. 1161). The door-keeper then tells
Kaikeyi of the return of Sumantra and the desire of
Bharata to see her, but she is in suspense as to the
particular connection in which Bharata wishes to reproach
her. She, however, orders the door-keeper to usher
Bharata in, and Bharata and Sumantra are ushered in.
Kaikeyi asks Bharata whether Sumantra had come from
R膩ma. But Bharata replies that he had some good.
news for her. Asked whether Kausaly膩 and Sumitr膩 be
called to hear it, Bharata says that they are not to hear
it. Kaikeyi feels something amiss, and the good news
proves to be the abduction of S墨t膩, by which Bharata
