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 301 of: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
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more. Another maid enters to ask to hasten the wreathing
as the bridegroom was being conducted to the inner court-
room. V膩savadatt膩 hands over the finished garland
and the two maids go away. V膩savadatta also leaves
the stage full of sorrow to find solace in her bed,
if perchance she could get sleep and forget her grief.
(Act III).
The action of the next act begins a few days after
the marriage of Udayana and Padmavati. The interlude
opens with the soliloquy of the gluttonous Vid奴峁ka who
informs of the successful termination of the marriage
festivities, of the joyous life he is leading at the Magadha
palace and of the indigestion due to excessive eating and
consequent sleeplessness. A maid enters to inquire
whether the royal bridegroom had finished his bath, as
flowers and ointments were to be brought for him after
his bath. They both then leave the stage, Vid奴峁ka to
attend on the king, but only after telling the maid to bring
everything but food, as his bowels were playing him false.
The main scene opens with the entrance of Padmavati,
her retinue, and Vasavadatt膩 (in the guise of Avantik膩)
in the pleasure-garden to witness whether the sephalik膩
clusters have blossomed. They find the plants and
creepers in full bloom and after collecting flowers, sit
down on a stone-slab and engage in some pleasant chat,
After a time their talk turns to Udayana, and Padmavati
artlessly tells V膩savadatta that she was much devoted to
Udayana and felt wretched in his absence. In course of
conversation, Padmavati says she doubts whether
Vasavadatta had so much regard for her Lord, and
Vasavadatta cannot but reply that she had much more
regard. Asked the reason, V膩savadatta refers to her
elopement for the sake of her husband. The maid then
asks Padmavat墨 to request her husband to be taught to
play on the lute. Padmavat墨 says she had already spoken
to him, but, heaving a deep sigh, he had turned away his
face. She had not repeated her request, and her inference
from the king's conduct was that his memory of
Vasavadatta was still fresh. Vasavadatt膩 feels blessed that
her husband still cherished her love.
The king and Vid奴峁ka enter the pleasure-garden,
the former musing over the happy past and pungently
