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 287 of: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
287 (of 564)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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267
The interlude informs us of the arrival of many
messengers at Mah膩sena's court from various kings asking
for the hand of his daughter in marriage, and of Mah膩sena's
indecision in the matter. The main scene opens with
the entry of Pradyota Mah膩sena with his retinue, obviously
worried at the scant courtesy shown to him by Vatsar膩ja.
He explains to the chamberlain his reasons for not arriving
at a definite choice of a bridegroom as he wishes to have
many qualities in the prospective son-in-law. (II. 4):
啶曕啶侧 啶むぞ啶掂啷嵿啷嵿げ啶距き啷嵿く啶� 啶啶班ぅ啶ぎ啶た啶曕ぞ啶權啶曕啶� 啶灌た 啶え啶膏ぞ
啶むい啶� 啶膏ぞ啶ㄠ啶曕啶班啶多 啶啶︵啶班お啶� 啶椸啶｀ 啶灌啶啶� 啶げ啶掂ぞ啶ㄠ 啷�
啶むい啷� 啶班啶 啶曕ぞ啶ㄠ啶むた 啶� 啶栢げ啷� 啶椸啶｀い啶� 啶膏啶む啶班啶溹え啶く啶距い啷�
啶むい啷� 啶掂啶班啶啶︵啷嵿ぐ啶� 啶� 啶灌た 啶� 啶ぐ啶苦お啶距げ啷嵿く啶� 啶啶掂い啶 啷�
[kula峁� t膩vacchl膩bhya峁� prathamamabhik膩峁卥峁 hi manas膩
tata岣� s膩nukro艣a峁� m峁沝urapi gu峁噊 hye峁 balav膩n |
tato r奴pe k膩nti na khalu gu峁嘺ta岣� str墨janabhay膩t
tato v墨ryodagra峁� na hi na parip膩ly膩 yuvataya岣� ||
] He then desires to consult the queen in the matter of the
marriage problem and she enters with her retinue. The
queen asks him to engage a music teacher for Vasavadatt膩,
who had roused in her an interest for music and who was
then in the concert hall taking her lessons from Uttar膩.
Mah膩sena replies that V膩savadatta's husband would teach
her all that; and this brings from the queen her query
as to Mah膩sena's choice of the bridegroom. Mah膩sena
tells her that he has not yet made up his mind and
appreciates the peculiarly awkward position of the mind of
the Indian mother at the prospect of her daughter's
marriage (II. 7) :
啶呧う啶む啶む啶む啶ぞ啶椸い啶� 啶侧啶� 啶︵い啷嵿い啷囙い啶� 啶掂啶ぅ啶苦い啶� 啶え啶� 啷�
啶оぐ啷嵿ぎ啶膏啶ㄠ啶灌ぞ啶ㄠ啶むぐ啷� 啶ㄠ啶じ啷嵿い啶� 啶︵啶冟啶苦い啶距 啶栢げ啷� 啶ぞ啶むぐ啶� 啷�
[adattety膩gat膩 laj膩 datteti vyathita峁� mana岣� |
dharmasneh膩ntare nyast膩 du岣hit膩岣� khalu m膩tara岣� ||
] and says that a number of kings had so far sent their
envoys. Practical and wise mother that the queen is,
she replies by saying, 鈥淕ive her to such a person as would
never cause us to rue the day " (p. 29 啶溹す啶� 啶︵啶� 啶ぞ 啶膏え啷嵿い啶啶ぞ啶, 啶むす啶�
[jahi daia y膩 santapp膩mo, tahi
] g) The king then enumerates the various royal suitors
and asks the queen about her choice. No sooner
the question is put than enters a chamberlain with the
words Vatsar膩ja'. Mah膩sena refuses to believe the news
of the capture of Vatsar膩ja, but is overjoyed at being
convinced of the truth, and exclaims 啶忇し 啶膏ぎ啶距じ啶� - 啶呧う啷嵿く啶距じ啷嵿ぎ啶� 啶す啶距じ啷囙え啶� 啷�
( [e峁 sam膩sa岣� - ady膩smi mah膩sena岣� |
(] p. 32). He orders the captive to be treated in a
right royal fashion. The queen is wonder-struck at
the excessive delight displayed by Mah膩sena, and on
hearing about Vatsaraja from her husband, indicates her
