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Collection: Part 10 · VIDEHA MITHILA MAITHILI DISCUSSION CRITICISM SERIES PART 10
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0:00–0:09At the opening of the Sina Rama, Lava and Chandraketu, who is Boeing before Rama,
0:09–0:14descending from the Pushpaka chariot,
0:14–0:20He raises and embraces him with tears of affection,
0:20–0:23looking at Lava,
0:23–0:25Rama,
0:25–0:29Chandraketu, Moon of the Solar Race,
0:29–0:35Come to me at once and embrace me tightly.
0:35–0:42Your limbs are cool as blocks of ice, able to soothe even the burning of a heart such
0:42–0:44as mine.
0:44–0:47Are you well?
0:47–0:52And are the divine weapons dwelling within your body also well?
0:52–1:00Chandraketu, all is well because I have had the good fortune to meet Lava.
1:00–1:05This beautiful prince of marvelous deeds.
1:05–1:14I beg that father, look upon this supreme and noble hero with the same affection.
1:14–1:18He bears me, or with even greater affection.
1:18–1:26Rama, how fortunate that my child has found a new friend.
1:26–1:31His nature is at once unfathomable and beneficent.
1:31–1:41It is as though the signs of weapons had taken bodily form to protect the worlds, as though
1:41–1:45Kshatriya duty had become incarnate.
1:45–1:54You guard the treasure of sacred knowledge, as though all power had come into full flower.
1:54–2:03All virtues had gathered in one place, and all the merit of the world had accumulated.
2:03–2:08To stand here visibly revealed.
2:08–2:09Aside
2:09–2:14What a great man, purity of radiance and body, the one mighty refuge of trust, affection
2:14–2:17and devotion, the gentleness of supreme righteousness made flesh.
2:17–2:20This is a wonder, hostility has vanished and a joyous tenderness wells up.
2:20–2:21Where has my insolence dissolved?
2:21–2:23That humility now overwhelms me?
2:23–2:25At the very sight of him I have fallen under his power, why?
2:25–2:28Yet great men, like sacred places, possess some influence of a measurable worth.
2:28–2:31Rama, how does he suddenly bring rest to my sorrow?
2:31–2:33And for what reason does affection awaken in my inmost being?
2:33–2:35But to say that affection requires a cause is self-contradictory.
2:35–2:37There is some inward source of mutual attraction.
2:37–2:41does not depend on the least upon an outward cause. Why does the white lotus open at sunrise?
2:41–2:44Or the moonstone release its dew at moonrise?
2:44–3:02Joyfully gazing with humility and curiosity, embracing him affectionately, aside, allowed.
3:02–3:06Chandraketu, who is this? Chandraketu, dear friend, this is my revered father. Lava,
3:06–3:09And by right he is my father too, since you have called me, your dear friend.
3:09–3:10But in the Ramayana you address four men.
3:10–3:11By that title.
3:11–3:12Tell me, which of them is he?
3:12–3:14Shindraketu, he is my eldest father.
3:14–3:16Lava, then this is the lord of Raghu's line.
3:16–3:19How fortunate that this day has dawned to grant me sight of him.
3:19–3:21Father Lava, the disciple of the son of Prachatas.
3:21–3:22Bows before you.
3:22–3:24Rama, my child, may you live long, come to me.
3:24–3:26Enough, enough, put aside this formality.
3:26–3:27Embrace me tightly again and again.
3:27–3:30Your touch is like the inner petal of a firm, full-grown lotus.
3:30–3:31Tender and smooth yet strong.
3:31–3:33And cool is the heartwood of sandal or a moonbeam.
3:33–3:35Reviding the very breath of life.
3:35–3:37Lava, he feels such spontaneous affection for me.
3:37–3:39And in my ignorance I have committed so great an offense against him.
3:39–3:41Even raised weapons and attacked his men.
3:41–3:44May my revered father forgive Lava's childish offense today.
3:45–3:47What offense has my child committed?
3:48–3:54Chandraketu, hearing the guardians of the horse proclaim father's might.
3:55–3:58He became eager to display his own valor.
3:59–4:03Rama, but that is the ornament of Akshatriya.
4:03–4:10A man of immense strength cannot endure another's display of power.
4:10–4:15It is his natural disposition, not an afficcation.
4:15–4:24If the sun, maker of day, continually scorches a sunstone with his rays, will it not, as though
4:24–4:29insulted, spit forth fire?
4:29–4:31King.
4:31–4:33Lava concentrates.
4:33–4:37Exit.
4:37–4:39His wrath too is astonishing.
4:39–4:43Father, look, my dear friend.
4:43–4:49This hero released the Dhrimbaka weapon and held the soldiers utterly motionless.
4:49–4:52Rama, Child Lava, withdraw the weapon.
4:52–4:54And Chandraketu.
4:54–4:58You too go and reassure the humbled, helpless soldiers.
4:58–5:01Chandraketu, as you command.
5:01–5:05Lava, the weapon has been pacified.
5:05–5:11My child, the deployment and withdrawal of these weapons.
5:11–5:17Together with their secret mantras are handed down through a lineage.
5:17–5:22Brahma and the other gods performed austerities.
5:22–5:29for a thousand years and more for the welfare of the Vedic way of life.
5:29–5:35Then these weapons, which those ancient masters became worthy to behold,
5:35–5:40worthy embodied forms of their own ascetic power.
5:40–5:47Thereafter Krishashiva imparted the complete secret law of their mantras.
5:47–5:53To Vishwamitra of Kusha's line, a disciple who had remained with him.
5:53–5:57For a thousand years and more.
5:57–6:01That holy sage bestowed them upon me.
6:01–6:04Such was the former succession.
6:04–6:09May I ask, how did that succession?
6:09–6:12Reach the noble prince.
6:12–6:15The weapons appear to their own accord before both of us.
6:15–6:18Reflecting.
6:18–6:21Why should that be impossible?
6:21–6:24Through the right-wing.
6:24–6:30Of extraordinary merit from a former birth, such power may arise.
6:30–6:34But why did you use the dual number?
6:34–6:37We are two brothers, twins.
6:37–6:40Then where is the other?
6:40–6:42Bandayana.
6:42–6:43Bandayana.
6:43–6:50Dear friend, do you say that the king's soldiers made so merciless an assault upon lava may
6:50–6:52he live long?
6:52–6:57Then the sun-like title of king shall set from the world, and the fire of the chatria
6:57–7:01weapon shall soon be extinguished.
7:01–7:06Who is this now, dark as a sapphire?
7:06–7:10Whose voice makes the hair rise upon my body?
7:10–7:20As buds burst upon the Kadamba, the moment a young black cloud begins its low thunder.
7:20–7:23It is my elder brother Kusha returning from Bharata's hermitage.
7:23–7:25Eagaly.
7:25–7:28Child, call your brother.
7:28–7:32May he live long.
7:32–7:34He goes.
7:34–7:36Enter Kusha.
7:36–7:39Certainly.
7:39–7:47With anger, curiosity, eagerness and resolution, sounding his bow string.
7:47–7:52He advances with long strides.
7:52–7:53Coming near.
7:53–7:58Since the age of Manu, son of Viva's van, these kings of the solar race have granted
7:58–8:01fearlessness even to Indra and have kept blazing the fierce fire of their Kshatriya power.
8:01–8:04To burn the arrogant, if today I gain the chance to fight the king of the solar race,
8:04–8:08how blessed my bow will be, its string consecrated in the terrible flame of my radiant divine
8:08–8:11Rama, what extraordinary manliness dwells in this kshatriya boy?
8:11–8:13His glance declares that he does not care a blade of grass.
8:13–8:16For any creature in the universe, he moves with tremendous force, as though making the
8:16–8:17earth herself bow.
8:17–8:20Young as he is, he bears within him the grave weight of a mountain.
8:20–8:23Is the heroic mood approaching in person, or pride itself embodied?
8:23–8:24Lava, victory to my elder brother.
8:24–8:26Kusha, my child, may you live long.
8:26–8:27What is this news of battle?
8:27–8:28Lava, nothing.
8:28–8:31Brother, swallow your pride before this man, and conduct yourself humbly.
8:31–8:32Kusha why?
8:32–8:34The man standing there is the lord of Ragu himself.
8:34–8:37He bears affection for both of us, and is eager to see you before him.
8:37–8:39Thoughtfully.
9:03–9:05They both advance.
9:07–9:11Then, though he is a royal personage, no fault will attach to us if we bow before him.
9:11–9:17Brother, behold the great man, the majesty of all his supernatural deeds, may be read in his grave and radiant bearing.
9:17–9:31Looking, approaching, he embraces him aside. They move and sit in the proper order.
9:31–9:36His body breeds peace and his radiance purifies how fittingly the poet of the Ramayana transformed the goddess speech into visible form father
9:36–9:40Kusha disciple of the son of Prachatas pose before you Rama come to me
9:40–9:46Yes, come may you live long your body is tender as a cloud filled with the water of immortality and this man moved by a father's love
9:46–9:49Longs to embrace you but this child as though the very essence of my body
9:49–9:54Liquefied by affection had streamed from every limb and now stood outside me as though my consciousness my elemental self had taken
9:54–9:59Embodied form beyond me. Why is he drenched in the current of my heart which trembles with this profound joy and when I embrace his limbs?
9:59–10:04Why does he in turn drench me in a true flood of nectar lava father the son is forging my head my father sit for a moment
10:04–10:07Beneath the shade of the salary Rama whatever my child desires
10:08–10:10aside
10:11–10:13Studying them closely
10:15–10:17Reflecting
10:17–10:19Tearfully
10:20–10:22Weeping
10:22–10:26Though they are modest their manner of walking
10:26–10:36Standing, and sitting suggests that Kusha and Lava are future emperors.
10:36–10:45The royal dignity inherent in their bodies enhances the lovely beauty of every limb,
10:45–10:53as rays enhance the stainless moon, or drops of nectar a fully opened lotus.
10:53–10:59I see further signs that these two are princes of Raghu's line.
10:59–11:04Bodies dark as the neck of a full-grown pigeon.
11:04–11:08Sloping shoulders like a bull's.
11:08–11:12Steady gazes like a lion at rest.
11:12–11:17And voices deep and rich as festival drums.
11:17–11:21Not only do they bear the form of my own house.
11:21–11:25Every limb of both princes clearly resembles.
11:25–11:31Janaka's daughter as well, on close observation.
11:31–11:34The inference is easy.
11:34–11:40It is as though the face of my beloved has appeared again.
11:40–11:43Beautiful as the freshest lotus.
11:43–11:49The same face, lovely with the gleam of flawless white teeth.
11:49–11:53The same graceful ears.
11:53–11:56And though their eyes are red and dark,
11:56–12:01The same impress of her beautiful nature.
12:01–12:06This is the very forest where the son of Prachatas dwells.
12:06–12:12And where, I have heard, the queen was abandoned.
12:12–12:14Then there are,
12:14–12:18Their appearance, age, and radiance.
12:18–12:26It also astonishes me that the divine weapons appeared of themselves, as the command I gave
12:26–12:30the weapons in the picture gallery.
12:30–12:33Now born fruit.
12:33–12:39For I have heard that even the great men of old could not obtain them without initiation
12:39–12:43through an unbroken succession.
12:43–12:46Then this boundless joy.
12:46–12:54and sorrow, rising together in my heart, give conviction to my wavering soul.
12:54–13:00And above all, I knew that the queen carried twins in her womb.
13:00–13:09Long ago, when intimacy had blossomed and my affection, grew and became secure.
13:09–13:13And she was more at ease with me in private.
13:13–13:20Though natural modesty still restrained her gaze, I was the first to discover, by the
13:20–13:27touch of my palm, that there were two swellings in the womb.
13:27–13:31She herself learned it only some days later.
13:31–13:34Is there some way I might ask them?
13:34–13:36Father, what has happened?
13:36–13:39This rain of tears has made your face, the source of the world's welfare, like a night
13:39–13:42load of drenched, in the dew of dawn.
13:42–13:43Aside.
13:44–13:45Allowed.
14:12–14:16body by the agency of the holy valmiki, a hymn to the solar race. I greatly desire to hear
14:16–14:19some part of it. Kusha, we have rehearsed the entire composition, just now two verses. From
14:19–14:23the final chapter of the book of childhood come to mind. Rama, recite them, child. Kusha,
14:23–14:26Sita was dear to the great Rama by her very nature, but by all her virtues she increased
14:26–14:29that love still more. In the same way, Rama was dearer to Sita than life itself. Each
14:29–14:33heart knew perfectly well, the full measure of their mutual love.
14:33–14:43the shy smile, affection and grief. He stands as though stunned, in anguish.
14:43–14:53How terrible! Another merciless blow upon the tender quick of my heart. Queen, it was truly
14:53–15:03So, alas for the conduct of life, discordant, confused events ending in a fruitless, broken
15:03–15:13love, leaving only scorched pain, where shall such happiness be found again?
15:13–15:22And that perfect trust which made it grow, that solicitude each bore for the other, that
15:22–15:32deep-flowing savor of wonder, that oneness of two hearts, in sorrow and in joy alike,
15:32–15:43yet this sinful breath of mine still clings and will not depart. Ah, how terrible! They
15:43–15:52They have reminded me of that one uniquely painful time when countless qualities of my beloved
15:52–16:01were revealed all at once, when the girl's bud-like breasts had newly begun to swell,
16:01–16:08and in only a few days had grown a little fuller, when desire deepened by the combined force
16:08–16:20Of youth, love, and curiosity Was bold within her heart, yet shy upon her body.
16:20–16:28Lava, then hear this verse, spoken by the Lord of Ragu-tasita.
16:28–16:34While they rested in the Mundakini Grove near Mount Chitrakoota.
16:34–16:41As though the stone seat before you have been kept for you alone, and the kisara trees around
16:41–16:44it were showering flowers.
16:44–16:48Rama, how wonderfully innocent.
16:48–16:54A child can be, especially one raised in the forest.
16:54–17:01Queen, do you remember our intimate conversation on that occasion?
17:01–17:05How terrible this is!
17:05–17:09With the minds eye I see your face.
17:09–17:12Your brow bright as the moon.
17:12–17:17Your hair stirred by the gentle wind from the mandakini.
17:17–17:21Cool with beads of perspiration.
17:21–17:26Your cheeks open and lovely, without a saffron mark.
17:26–17:31And your exquisitely graceful ears.
17:31–17:40more beautiful for having no earrings. Oh Fate! Even in separation, the beloved surely
17:40–17:49gives some consolation. For through continual, profound meditation, I create her before my
17:49–18:00eyes. But when even that resource is taken away, the world becomes a desolate forest.
18:00–18:05And the heart feels as though it were slowly roasting.
18:05–18:09Over a smoldering fire of chaff.
18:09–18:18Vasishtha, Valmiki, Dasherata's queens, Janaka, and Orondotti, terrified by the news of the
18:18–18:21boy's battle, are at last approaching.
18:21–18:24Old age fetters their feet.
18:24–18:27And the hermitage lies far away.
18:27–18:30Yet though weariness slows their bodies.
18:30–18:33Their minds run on ahead.
18:33–18:36Looking in anguish.
18:36–18:39He rises.
18:39–18:44All move away, overcome with grief.
18:44–18:45What?
18:45–18:52Arundhati, Vasishta, my mothers, and Janaka are here.
18:52–18:57The very thought of seeing them is unbearable.
18:57–19:06Alas! Father Janaka himself is coming this way, like a thunderbolt, about to fall upon
19:06–19:16my wretched head. Once at the celebration of their children's marriage, our two fathers,
19:16–19:22met in the presence of Vasishtha and the others, and rejoiced to see how worthy the
19:22–19:31the alliance was. After all this ruin, how can I look upon such a friend of my father?
19:31–19:40And not shatter into a thousand pieces. And yet, what deed is too difficult for Rama?
19:40–19:51Voice offstage, alas! The moment they beheld the Lord of Raghu, whose beauty is now preserved.
19:51–19:58Only in his radiance, his mothers, already distraught, with trying to revive the fainting
19:58–20:04Janaka, have themselves fallen unconscious.
20:04–20:16Rama, father, mothers, do not waste compassion upon a sinner such as I, I showed none.
20:16–20:22To the woman who was the entire good fortune of Janaka and Raghu's line.
20:22–20:26I must go and bow before them.
20:26–20:30Kusha and Lava, this way, father.
20:30–20:32End of Act 6

Plain text

At the opening of the Sina Rama, Lava and Chandraketu, who is Boeing before Rama, descending from the Pushpaka chariot, He raises and embraces him with tears of affection, looking at Lava, Rama, Chandraketu, Moon of the Solar Race, Come to me at once and embrace me tightly. Your limbs are cool as blocks of ice, able to soothe even the burning of a heart such as mine. Are you well? And are the divine weapons dwelling within your body also well? Chandraketu, all is well because I have had the good fortune to meet Lava. This beautiful prince of marvelous deeds. I beg that father, look upon this supreme and noble hero with the same affection. He bears me, or with even greater affection. Rama, how fortunate that my child has found a new friend. His nature is at once unfathomable and beneficent. It is as though the signs of weapons had taken bodily form to protect the worlds, as though Kshatriya duty had become incarnate. You guard the treasure of sacred knowledge, as though all power had come into full flower. All virtues had gathered in one place, and all the merit of the world had accumulated. To stand here visibly revealed. Aside What a great man, purity of radiance and body, the one mighty refuge of trust, affection and devotion, the gentleness of supreme righteousness made flesh. This is a wonder, hostility has vanished and a joyous tenderness wells up. Where has my insolence dissolved? That humility now overwhelms me? At the very sight of him I have fallen under his power, why? Yet great men, like sacred places, possess some influence of a measurable worth. Rama, how does he suddenly bring rest to my sorrow? And for what reason does affection awaken in my inmost being? But to say that affection requires a cause is self-contradictory. There is some inward source of mutual attraction. does not depend on the least upon an outward cause. Why does the white lotus open at sunrise? Or the moonstone release its dew at moonrise? Joyfully gazing with humility and curiosity, embracing him affectionately, aside, allowed. Chandraketu, who is this? Chandraketu, dear friend, this is my revered father. Lava, And by right he is my father too, since you have called me, your dear friend. But in the Ramayana you address four men. By that title. Tell me, which of them is he? Shindraketu, he is my eldest father. Lava, then this is the lord of Raghu's line. How fortunate that this day has dawned to grant me sight of him. Father Lava, the disciple of the son of Prachatas. Bows before you. Rama, my child, may you live long, come to me. Enough, enough, put aside this formality. Embrace me tightly again and again. Your touch is like the inner petal of a firm, full-grown lotus. Tender and smooth yet strong. And cool is the heartwood of sandal or a moonbeam. Reviding the very breath of life. Lava, he feels such spontaneous affection for me. And in my ignorance I have committed so great an offense against him. Even raised weapons and attacked his men. May my revered father forgive Lava's childish offense today. What offense has my child committed? Chandraketu, hearing the guardians of the horse proclaim father's might. He became eager to display his own valor. Rama, but that is the ornament of Akshatriya. A man of immense strength cannot endure another's display of power. It is his natural disposition, not an afficcation. If the sun, maker of day, continually scorches a sunstone with his rays, will it not, as though insulted, spit forth fire? King. Lava concentrates. Exit. His wrath too is astonishing. Father, look, my dear friend. This hero released the Dhrimbaka weapon and held the soldiers utterly motionless. Rama, Child Lava, withdraw the weapon. And Chandraketu. You too go and reassure the humbled, helpless soldiers. Chandraketu, as you command. Lava, the weapon has been pacified. My child, the deployment and withdrawal of these weapons. Together with their secret mantras are handed down through a lineage. Brahma and the other gods performed austerities. for a thousand years and more for the welfare of the Vedic way of life. Then these weapons, which those ancient masters became worthy to behold, worthy embodied forms of their own ascetic power. Thereafter Krishashiva imparted the complete secret law of their mantras. To Vishwamitra of Kusha's line, a disciple who had remained with him. For a thousand years and more. That holy sage bestowed them upon me. Such was the former succession. May I ask, how did that succession? Reach the noble prince. The weapons appear to their own accord before both of us. Reflecting. Why should that be impossible? Through the right-wing. Of extraordinary merit from a former birth, such power may arise. But why did you use the dual number? We are two brothers, twins. Then where is the other? Bandayana. Bandayana. Dear friend, do you say that the king's soldiers made so merciless an assault upon lava may he live long? Then the sun-like title of king shall set from the world, and the fire of the chatria weapon shall soon be extinguished. Who is this now, dark as a sapphire? Whose voice makes the hair rise upon my body? As buds burst upon the Kadamba, the moment a young black cloud begins its low thunder. It is my elder brother Kusha returning from Bharata's hermitage. Eagaly. Child, call your brother. May he live long. He goes. Enter Kusha. Certainly. With anger, curiosity, eagerness and resolution, sounding his bow string. He advances with long strides. Coming near. Since the age of Manu, son of Viva's van, these kings of the solar race have granted fearlessness even to Indra and have kept blazing the fierce fire of their Kshatriya power. To burn the arrogant, if today I gain the chance to fight the king of the solar race, how blessed my bow will be, its string consecrated in the terrible flame of my radiant divine Rama, what extraordinary manliness dwells in this kshatriya boy? His glance declares that he does not care a blade of grass. For any creature in the universe, he moves with tremendous force, as though making the earth herself bow. Young as he is, he bears within him the grave weight of a mountain. Is the heroic mood approaching in person, or pride itself embodied? Lava, victory to my elder brother. Kusha, my child, may you live long. What is this news of battle? Lava, nothing. Brother, swallow your pride before this man, and conduct yourself humbly. Kusha why? The man standing there is the lord of Ragu himself. He bears affection for both of us, and is eager to see you before him. Thoughtfully. They both advance. Then, though he is a royal personage, no fault will attach to us if we bow before him. Brother, behold the great man, the majesty of all his supernatural deeds, may be read in his grave and radiant bearing. Looking, approaching, he embraces him aside. They move and sit in the proper order. His body breeds peace and his radiance purifies how fittingly the poet of the Ramayana transformed the goddess speech into visible form father Kusha disciple of the son of Prachatas pose before you Rama come to me Yes, come may you live long your body is tender as a cloud filled with the water of immortality and this man moved by a father's love Longs to embrace you but this child as though the very essence of my body Liquefied by affection had streamed from every limb and now stood outside me as though my consciousness my elemental self had taken Embodied form beyond me. Why is he drenched in the current of my heart which trembles with this profound joy and when I embrace his limbs? Why does he in turn drench me in a true flood of nectar lava father the son is forging my head my father sit for a moment Beneath the shade of the salary Rama whatever my child desires aside Studying them closely Reflecting Tearfully Weeping Though they are modest their manner of walking Standing, and sitting suggests that Kusha and Lava are future emperors. The royal dignity inherent in their bodies enhances the lovely beauty of every limb, as rays enhance the stainless moon, or drops of nectar a fully opened lotus. I see further signs that these two are princes of Raghu's line. Bodies dark as the neck of a full-grown pigeon. Sloping shoulders like a bull's. Steady gazes like a lion at rest. And voices deep and rich as festival drums. Not only do they bear the form of my own house. Every limb of both princes clearly resembles. Janaka's daughter as well, on close observation. The inference is easy. It is as though the face of my beloved has appeared again. Beautiful as the freshest lotus. The same face, lovely with the gleam of flawless white teeth. The same graceful ears. And though their eyes are red and dark, The same impress of her beautiful nature. This is the very forest where the son of Prachatas dwells. And where, I have heard, the queen was abandoned. Then there are, Their appearance, age, and radiance. It also astonishes me that the divine weapons appeared of themselves, as the command I gave the weapons in the picture gallery. Now born fruit. For I have heard that even the great men of old could not obtain them without initiation through an unbroken succession. Then this boundless joy. and sorrow, rising together in my heart, give conviction to my wavering soul. And above all, I knew that the queen carried twins in her womb. Long ago, when intimacy had blossomed and my affection, grew and became secure. And she was more at ease with me in private. Though natural modesty still restrained her gaze, I was the first to discover, by the touch of my palm, that there were two swellings in the womb. She herself learned it only some days later. Is there some way I might ask them? Father, what has happened? This rain of tears has made your face, the source of the world's welfare, like a night load of drenched, in the dew of dawn. Aside. Allowed. body by the agency of the holy valmiki, a hymn to the solar race. I greatly desire to hear some part of it. Kusha, we have rehearsed the entire composition, just now two verses. From the final chapter of the book of childhood come to mind. Rama, recite them, child. Kusha, Sita was dear to the great Rama by her very nature, but by all her virtues she increased that love still more. In the same way, Rama was dearer to Sita than life itself. Each heart knew perfectly well, the full measure of their mutual love. the shy smile, affection and grief. He stands as though stunned, in anguish. How terrible! Another merciless blow upon the tender quick of my heart. Queen, it was truly So, alas for the conduct of life, discordant, confused events ending in a fruitless, broken love, leaving only scorched pain, where shall such happiness be found again? And that perfect trust which made it grow, that solicitude each bore for the other, that deep-flowing savor of wonder, that oneness of two hearts, in sorrow and in joy alike, yet this sinful breath of mine still clings and will not depart. Ah, how terrible! They They have reminded me of that one uniquely painful time when countless qualities of my beloved were revealed all at once, when the girl's bud-like breasts had newly begun to swell, and in only a few days had grown a little fuller, when desire deepened by the combined force Of youth, love, and curiosity Was bold within her heart, yet shy upon her body. Lava, then hear this verse, spoken by the Lord of Ragu-tasita. While they rested in the Mundakini Grove near Mount Chitrakoota. As though the stone seat before you have been kept for you alone, and the kisara trees around it were showering flowers. Rama, how wonderfully innocent. A child can be, especially one raised in the forest. Queen, do you remember our intimate conversation on that occasion? How terrible this is! With the minds eye I see your face. Your brow bright as the moon. Your hair stirred by the gentle wind from the mandakini. Cool with beads of perspiration. Your cheeks open and lovely, without a saffron mark. And your exquisitely graceful ears. more beautiful for having no earrings. Oh Fate! Even in separation, the beloved surely gives some consolation. For through continual, profound meditation, I create her before my eyes. But when even that resource is taken away, the world becomes a desolate forest. And the heart feels as though it were slowly roasting. Over a smoldering fire of chaff. Vasishtha, Valmiki, Dasherata's queens, Janaka, and Orondotti, terrified by the news of the boy's battle, are at last approaching. Old age fetters their feet. And the hermitage lies far away. Yet though weariness slows their bodies. Their minds run on ahead. Looking in anguish. He rises. All move away, overcome with grief. What? Arundhati, Vasishta, my mothers, and Janaka are here. The very thought of seeing them is unbearable. Alas! Father Janaka himself is coming this way, like a thunderbolt, about to fall upon my wretched head. Once at the celebration of their children's marriage, our two fathers, met in the presence of Vasishtha and the others, and rejoiced to see how worthy the the alliance was. After all this ruin, how can I look upon such a friend of my father? And not shatter into a thousand pieces. And yet, what deed is too difficult for Rama? Voice offstage, alas! The moment they beheld the Lord of Raghu, whose beauty is now preserved. Only in his radiance, his mothers, already distraught, with trying to revive the fainting Janaka, have themselves fallen unconscious. Rama, father, mothers, do not waste compassion upon a sinner such as I, I showed none. To the woman who was the entire good fortune of Janaka and Raghu's line. I must go and bow before them. Kusha and Lava, this way, father. End of Act 6

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