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RamasLastAct_03_Act3.mp4

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Collection: Part 10 · VIDEHA MITHILA MAITHILI DISCUSSION CRITICISM SERIES PART 10
Status: asr-draft
Human verified: No
Editorial review: not-reviewed
ASR model: small
Detected language: en (0.991346)
Duration: 39:06
Source: Open preserved recording

Timestamped machine output

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0:28–0:35leaves she had gathered, the little elephant who would stand impatiently before her.
0:35–0:37What has happened to him?
0:37–0:43He was playing in the river with his mate, when a wild elephant in rut shamelessly attacked
0:43–0:45him.
0:45–0:50Distraught moving forward a few steps.
0:50–0:56She acts as though memory returns, disolate.
0:56–0:58She feints,
0:58–1:00Enter Tamasa.
1:00–1:05My lord, save my little son, save him.
1:05–1:11God above, the sight of Pantavati, has brought those long familiar words back to my unfortunate lips.
1:11–1:13Ah, my lord!
1:13–1:17Tamasa, daughter, please take hold of yourself.
1:17–1:21Noble chariot, halt here.
1:21–1:31recovering consciousness suddenly agitated, smiling and weeping at once.
1:31–1:40Why does this human voice, deep and sweet, as the low rumble of a rain-filled cloud, flood my ears and suddenly throw unfortunate me into such turmoil?
1:40–1:47Tamasa, daughter. Like a peahen hearing distant thunder. How can a woman such as you become
1:47–1:52so agitated and eager? Over a sound so indistinct and uncertain.
1:52–1:59Sita, holy lady, why call it indistinct? It can only be the voice of my lord. I know
1:59–2:01his voice.
2:01–2:06Tamasa. I have heard that the king of the Ikshvaku line has come to Janasthana
2:06–2:09to punish a Shudra who is practicing austerities.
2:09–2:14Sita, it is fortunate that the king has not abandoned the duties of kingship.
2:14–2:16Voice offstage.
2:16–2:19Wear trees and animals too wear our kin.
2:19–2:22Wear I lived so long with my beloved.
2:22–2:25These are the mountain slopes of the Godavari.
2:25–2:29Filled with caves and cleft by rushing streams.
2:29–2:32Looking.
2:32–2:36She faints in Dutamasa's arms.
2:36–2:38supporting her.
2:39–2:40Aside
2:42–2:43recovering
2:44–2:47she falls at Thammasa's feet.
2:48–2:54God above, what is this? A body pale, wasted, and weak like the disk of the moon at dawn.
2:54–2:58Yet only his distinctive gentle and grave bearing allows me to recognize him.
2:58–3:00Yes, it must be my lord.
3:00–3:01Hold me.
3:01–3:05Tamasa, daughter, please take hold of yourself.
3:05–3:09Voice offstage, the sight of Panchavati.
3:09–3:14Rekindles the fire of grief that has slept so long within my heart.
3:14–3:18But first unconsciousness closes around me like a shroud of dense smoke.
3:18–3:20Ah, beloved Jonaki.
3:20–3:24Tamasa, this is exactly what my teacher feared.
3:24–3:27Sita, how can this be possible?
3:27–3:32Voice offstage, ah my queen, my beloved companion in the Dandaka Forest.
3:32–3:35Ah, princess of Videha.
3:35–3:40Sita, God above, as he takes my unfortunate name upon his lips, his blue lotus eyes roll
3:40–3:44back, he has fainted and fallen to the ground.
3:44–3:48How can I leave him stretched out on the lonely earth, friendless and helpless?
3:48–3:54Tamasa, save him, save him, give my lord his life back.
3:54–3:59Lovely daughter, only you have the power to restore the lord of the world to life.
3:59–4:02The touch of your hand is dear to him.
4:02–4:06The entire burden rests upon that alone.
4:06–4:10She exits an agitation.
4:10–4:16The scene opens to reveal Rama lying unconscious on the ground.
4:16–4:20Sita, weeping, carresses him.
4:20–4:24He begins to recover with an expression of supreme bliss.
4:24–4:28Let whatever must happen, happen.
4:28–4:32I obey the holy ladies command.
4:32–4:35Would suppress joy.
4:35–4:39It is as though the life of the whole world has returned.
4:39–4:45With fear and compassion, withdrawing her hand.
4:45–4:47Sitting up.
4:47–4:50But what is happening?
4:50–4:55Is this the essence pressed from heavenly sandal leaves?
4:55–5:01Were a drop fallen from a moonbeam stop crushed in a press?
5:01–5:05Has someone poured upon my heart the juice?
5:05–5:11Of the Divine Life Restoring Urban Cool The Life Already Burned?
5:11–5:15This touch is familiar from long ago.
5:15–5:21It restores consciousness and also brings deep intoxication.
5:21–5:29The instant it removes a faint born of pain, it produces the stillness of perfect bliss.
5:29–5:34Sita, this much is enough for now.
5:34–5:41Rama, is it possible that the queen has come out of affection to help me?
5:41–5:47Sita, ah, why does my lord speak of me now?
5:47–5:50Rama, let me look around.
5:50–6:00Sita, Tamasa, come. The king will be angry if he sees me here without permission.
6:00–6:07Tamasa, but daughter, through Bhagyathi's grace you are invisible even to the gods.
6:07–6:14Sita, ah, yes. You speak the truth.
6:14–6:19her voice breaking with anger,
6:19–6:22her eyes fill,
6:22–6:25beloved John Ake,
6:25–6:28surely it was beloved John Ake.
6:28–6:36Sita, my lord, after all that has happened, such an address is deeply improper.
6:36–6:45And yet, when he speaks to unfortunate me with affection, and when I had not imagined even for a moment,
6:45–6:53that I would see him again even in another birth, why should I be so hard and merciless toward him?
6:53–6:58I know his heart, just as he knows mine.
6:58–7:02Looking around, disillete.
7:02–7:04No.
7:04–7:08There is no one here.
7:08–7:13Tamesa, he abandoned me without cause, yet seeing him in this condition makes my heart
7:13–7:17experience feelings, I cannot myself understand.
7:17–7:21I understand, daughter, I understand.
7:21–7:23Chilled by despair.
7:23–7:25Bitter from his cruelty.
7:25–7:29Almost numb from meeting him after long separation.
7:29–7:31Forgiving through your own goodness.
7:31–7:36Filled with profound sympathy for every misery of your husband.
7:36–7:37Melted by love.
7:37–7:42Your heart is all these things in a single instant.
7:42–7:52My Queen, your touch is forgiveness itself, cool and moist with love, present, despite
7:52–7:56everything, to give me joy.
7:56–8:01But Queen of my heart, where are you?
8:01–8:05With rising compassion and anxiety.
8:05–8:10My Lord's sorrowful words about Sita are filled with deep affection and overflowing with the
8:10–8:12bliss of love.
8:12–8:16When I believe them, it seems my birth has been fulfilled, though the arrow of unjust
8:16–8:18abandonment remains terribly sharp.
8:18–8:23Rama, but what would beloved Jonaki be doing here?
8:23–8:27This is only Rama's pure delusion, the fruit of wishful imagining strengthened by
8:27–8:28long habit.
8:28–8:31Voice offstage, Danger.
8:31–8:32Danger.
8:32–8:37Long ago Queen Sita reared him from infancy, feeding him with her own hand the tender tips
8:37–8:42of shellaki leaves she had gathered, the little elephant, who would stand impatiently before
8:42–8:43her.
8:43–8:46Rama, what has happened to him?
8:46–8:48Voice offstage, again.
8:48–8:51He was playing in the river with his mate.
8:51–8:54When a wild elephant in rut shamelessly attacked him.
8:54–8:58Sita, who will protect him now.
8:58–9:01He rises.
9:01–9:05Enter Vasanthi in alarm.
9:05–9:11Where is the villain who dared attack my beloved's little son and his mate?
9:11–9:15Vasanthi, is this King Ragan and Dana?
9:15–9:20Ah, this is my dear friend Vasanthi.
9:20–9:22Victory to the King.
9:22–9:24Looking.
9:24–9:26Why?
9:26–9:31This is Vasanthi, the queen's dear friend.
9:31–9:34Quickly, my lord, quickly!
9:34–9:39From here, go beyond Jatayu peak and descend toward the Gautavari by Cetia's Ford, though
9:39–9:41you will see the queen's little son.
9:41–9:44Ah, Father Jatayu!
9:44–9:47Without you Janasthana is empty.
9:47–9:52Ah, these reminders tear open the tender core of the heart.
9:52–9:57This way, my lord, this way.
9:57–10:03Holy Lady, truly even the forest divinities cannot see me.
10:03–10:08Dear Daughter, Mandekeene's power is far greater than that of all other divinities.
10:08–10:11Do not be anxious.
10:11–10:14They all move.
10:14–10:17Then we shall follow behind them.
10:17–10:22Holy Good Avery, I bow to you.
10:22–10:24Looking.
10:24–10:29Rejoice, my lord, the queen's little son has defeated the wild elephant and stands victorious
10:29–10:31beside his mate.
10:31–10:34Rammer, victory to him.
10:34–10:35May he live long.
10:35–10:39Cedar, our, how large he has grown.
10:39–10:42Rammer, my queen, how fortunate you are.
10:42–10:48Beloved wife, the son of yours, who once tore the larvely leaf from behind your
10:48–10:49ear.
10:49–10:54With the tips of new sprouting teeth, smooth as lotus petals, has today defeated
10:54–11:00an elephant in rut. Clearly the good fortune of his childhood still attends him. Cedar,
11:00–11:05may he live long, and from this day never be separated from his tender-hearted mate.
11:05–11:10Rammer, look, friend for Santi, look, the boy has nearly learned the art of honoring
11:10–11:16his beloved. While chewing a mouthful of lotus-dork a pruted in play. He pours his
11:16–11:21to spray into her mouth, with his water-beaded trunk. Water fragrant with a newly fallen
11:21–11:27Lotus. But he has not yet learned when they rest to show proper care by shading her with
11:27–11:30a straight stemmed Lotus leaf.
11:30–11:37Tamesa, seeing him so grown makes me think of Kusha and Lava. After all this time, what
11:37–11:39must they look like?
11:39–11:42They are just like this.
11:42–11:47How unfortunate I am to have been torn so cruelly not only from my husband but from
11:47–11:49my sons as well.
11:49–11:52So it was written by fate.
11:52–11:57What is the use of bearing sons if my lord can never kiss their faces, faces like two
11:57–12:02fresh lotuses, bright with a few tender white teeth just emerging, innocent childhood laughter,
12:02–12:07lisping speech, and hair gathered in top knots?
12:07–12:09May the gods be gracious.
12:09–12:14Tirmasa, the mere memory of my son's fills my breasts with milk, and with their father
12:14–12:20before me, for a moment I feel as though I have returned to the world of the living."
12:20–12:26What can one say? A child is the furthest limit of love and the root of the deepest bond between
12:26–12:32parents. Because a child is the shared object of both spouse's love. It is a knot of joy
12:32–12:34that binds their hearts together.
12:34–12:41My lord, look there as well. That same peacock sits like a joiled crown on the high branch
12:41–12:47of a cadambe tree, calling to his mate. Having just completed his uncomfortable festive tandaver
12:47–12:53dance, he has spread the soft feathers of his tail.
12:53–12:59Harise Phil, in wonder! It is the same one.
12:59–13:07Dear son, may every blessing be yours. Yes, so be it.
13:07–13:11I remember you with a father's affection.
13:11–13:17My simple-hearted wife made you dance as though you were her child.
13:17–13:23Clapping her hands and rolling her eyes to make you turn in circles.
13:23–13:27Her pupils revolved like wheels.
13:27–13:33And in the skillful quiver of her brows appeared every movement of the tandova.
13:33–13:39Ah, even animals recognized those they knew long ago.
13:39–13:48This cadamba tree, now in bloom, was planted from seed by my beloved queen.
13:48–13:52Looking, her eyes fill.
13:52–13:56How keen my lord's memory is.
13:56–14:00And surely the peacock remembers her.
14:00–14:05So he regards the tree as his own brother.
14:05–14:07Let your majesty sit here for a moment.
14:07–14:10This is the stone seat in the banana grove.
14:10–14:14Where you and your beloved wife used to rest.
14:14–14:19Cetare fed the foreens so much grass, that they would not let her leave.
14:19–14:23He sits elsewhere and weeps.
14:23–14:28I cannot bear to look at this.
14:28–14:33Friend Vasanti, what are you doing to my lord, and to me, by showing all this?
14:33–14:38God above, here is my lord, the same husband, the same forest of Panchavarti, the same friend
14:38–14:43Vasanti, the same woodland along the Godavari that witnessed our countless intimate moments,
14:43–14:47the same trees, birds, and animals that were like our children.
14:47–14:51All are before my eyes, yet for unfortunate me they have ceased to exist.
14:51–14:55How completely my world has overturned.
14:55–14:58Friend Cedar, do you not see Rama's condition?
14:58–15:01When his body was fresh as a blue lotus petal.
15:01–15:07She was a festival for the eyes. Even after one had gazed to the heart's content, he seemed
15:07–15:14new every moment. Now nearly senseless, at once pale and dark. So weakened by grief that
15:14–15:19he is difficult to recognize. He still gives joy to the eyes.
15:19–15:22I see, friend. I see.
15:22–15:29Daughter, continue to gaze upon your beloved for a long time.
15:29–15:32She continues to gaze.
15:32–15:36My Lord, who would believe that He could live without me and I without Him?
15:36–15:40Between falling tears, let me look at my beloved Lord a little longer.
15:40–15:44Seeing Him is like receiving a new birth.
15:44–15:49Weeping with affection, she embraces Sita.
15:49–15:55A swelling flood of tears born of joy and sorrow is released from your eyes, widened
15:55–15:56with longing.
15:56–16:00Your bright, sweet, innocent gaze, flowing with love,
16:00–16:04Bades the lord of your heart like a stream of milk.
16:04–16:08Sitting, her eyes fill,
16:08–16:12Pretending not to hear,
16:12–16:14Aside,
16:14–16:17Allowed,
16:17–16:20He begins to weep.
16:20–16:24Let the trees offer a welcome of honey-dripping flowers and fruit.
16:24–16:32Let the forest wind carry the full fragrance of newly opened lotuses and let the birds begin a sweet unbroken song a full voice
16:32–16:35For King Rama himself has returned to visit this forest
16:36–16:40Rama come friend for Santi shall we sit here?
16:40–16:44For Santi your Majesty. I hope Prince Lakshmana is well
16:45–16:46Rama
16:46–16:52May Thelae used to give water seed and grass with her lotus hands to these trees birds and deer
16:52–16:58Seeing them again, I am transformed as though my heart were melting and ready to burst into a flood.
16:58–17:03For Santi, but your Majesty, I asked whether Prince Lakshmana is well.
17:03–17:07Rama, R, a Your Majesty, eh, how cold the address.
17:07–17:12She asks only after Sermitri's welfare, yet her voice is choked with sobs.
17:12–17:17She must know what happened to Cetir. Yes, the prince is well.
17:17–17:20She faints.
17:20–17:25Our, my lord, why did you become so cruel in the end?
17:25–17:29Cedar, friend for Santi, how can you speak to him like that?
17:29–17:34My lord deserves compassion from everyone, most of all from my dear friend.
17:34–17:38For Santi, you are my life, my second heart.
17:38–17:42Moonlight to my eyes, nectar to my limbs.
17:42–17:45With countless hunted words like these.
17:45–17:51You enchanted that innocent girl. But enough. What is the use of saying more?
17:51–17:56To Marcer, naturally she is struck speechless, even driven nearly mad.
17:56–18:00Rammer, friend, please take hold of yourself.
18:00–18:03Recovering.
18:03–18:07But why did your Majesty perform that unspeakable deed?
18:07–18:11Cedar, stop. Friend Vasanti, stop.
18:11–18:14Rammer, because of the people's reproach.
18:14–18:17Vasanti, what cause the reproach?
18:17–18:20Rammer, only the people know.
18:20–18:23It is far too late for reproach now.
18:23–18:26Vasanti, cruel man.
18:26–18:29They say you value reputation.
18:29–18:32But what greater infamy could there be than this?
18:32–18:36Do you understand what became of that do-eyed woman in the forest?
18:36–18:39Tell me, my lord.
18:39–18:42Friend Vasanti, you are cruel and pitiless.
18:42–18:48pitiless, you are feeding the fire of a man already burning in flames. To Marsa, it is
18:48–18:55love and grief speaking. Rama, friend, what can be imagined in such a case? Her eyes, heavy
18:55–19:00with weariness from the child moving in her womb. Must have rolled like the eyes of a
19:00–19:07frightened yelling deer. Her body, tender as a lotus petal, or a mass of moonbeams. Must
19:07–19:16have been torn apart by wild beasts. My lord, I am alive, here, alive. Rama, R, beloved
19:16–19:23Jonarchy, where are you? Sita, God above, my lord too is calling out with all his voice.
19:23–19:31Daughter, this is beneficial. A grief-stricken person must try to let grief flow outward.
19:31–19:384. When flood water presses against a dam. It is resisted by releasing the water. And
19:38–19:44weeping helps a heart oppressed by sorrow. Become able to endure.
19:44–19:50Especially for Deerama, whose world has now become dreadful in so many ways. He must protect
19:50–19:55the whole earth according to rule, with the sharpest intelligence. While grief for his
19:55–20:00beloved dries his soul like a flower beneath summer heat. The fault of abandonment is
20:00–20:08his own, so lament brings no peace. Yet life stubbornly remains. Therefore weeping is surely
20:08–20:16a blessing. Rama, how terrible! In extreme agony the heart breaks, yet does not split.
20:16–20:22The ruined body reels, yet does not lose consciousness. The inner fire burns the limbs, yet does not
20:22–20:29reduce them to ash. Fate strikes the vital core, yet does not end life.
20:29–20:36Yes. That is the truth. Rama, people of the city and countryside. You would not allow the
20:36–20:43queen to remain in my house. Therefore I left her in the lonely forest, valuing her no more
20:43–20:48than a blade of grass and without grieving. But these long familiar sights are utterly
20:48–20:54destroying me. So forgive this helpless weeping that continues even now.
20:54–20:57Tamasa, how deep is the roar of his ocean of grief?
20:58–21:02The Santi, my lord, hold fast to courage before what has passed.
21:04–21:07Friend, what do you mean by courage?
21:08–21:12It is the twelfth year of this empty world without the Queen.
21:13–21:17A world in which even her name has nearly vanished.
21:18–21:20And still Rama lives.
21:20–21:25Sita, my Lord's words are torturing me.
21:25–21:30Tamasa, yes, daughter.
21:30–21:37These are the words of your beloved, now tender with love, now harsh with grief.
21:37–21:44A stream of honey mixed with poison dripping into your ears.
21:44–21:46Aside.
21:46–21:49Allowed.
21:49–21:53Vasanti, have I not endured at last?
21:53–21:57The burning goat of sorrow in my heart.
21:57–22:04Piercing the vital core like the point of a heated arrow lodged unseen within.
22:04–22:07Or like a poisonous sting.
22:07–22:14Sita, I am so unfortunate that even now I continue to cause my lord pain.
22:14–22:22Rama, though my heart had broken and grown numb, today, seeing the things dear and familiar
22:22–22:26to her, I was stunned again.
22:26–22:30Every remedy attempted with enormous effort.
22:30–22:36To restrain compassion awakened to a furious force failed within.
22:36–22:43The unspeakable transformation of consciousness burst outward in full flood.
22:43–22:48like floodwater breaking a sand bank and flowing without restraint.
22:48–22:56Sita, the blow of my lord's cruel, ceaselessly surging grief seems to have swept away the grief
22:56–23:01in my own heart, but left it beating wildly beyond control.
23:01–23:06Thus auntie, his condition is dreadful.
23:06–23:10I must try to distract him.
23:10–23:17Would Your Majesty now like to see the old familiar regions of Janasthana?
23:17–23:20They rise and move.
23:20–23:23In anguish.
23:23–23:25He feints.
23:25–23:28She feints.
23:28–23:34Sita rushes forward and touches his heart and head.
23:34–23:37He closes his eyes in delight.
23:37–23:41Yes, very well.
23:41–23:47Sita, what my friend thinks will entertain him will only inflame his grief.
23:47–23:53Vasanti, my lord, my lord.
23:53–23:59In this bower of vines you stood looking down the road toward home.
23:59–24:04She was delayed, enchanted by the swans on the Godavari.
24:04–24:12When she returned and saw you angry, she grew anxious and bowed with innocent folded hands
24:12–24:15like an unopened lotus.
24:15–24:20Sita, Basanti, you are very cruel.
24:20–24:26By making my unfortunate memory return again and again, you drive the knife still deeper
24:26–24:29into the tender core of my Lord's heart.
24:29–24:38Rama, heart hearted Jonaki, you appear everywhere, yet show me no mercy.
24:38–24:42My Queen, my heart is splitting.
24:42–24:46The bonds of my body are coming loose.
24:46–24:51The world is empty, and within I burn without cease.
24:51–24:58My soul, submerged in darkness, is drowning helplessly.
24:58–25:05unconsciousness closes around me. What shall wretched Rama do?
25:05–25:10Sita, God above, my Lord has fainted again.
25:10–25:16Vasanti, my Lord, please regain consciousness.
25:16–25:23Sita, my Lord, you are the source of well-being for the whole mortal world, yet for you,
25:23–25:30Afflicted by unceasing self-destructive calamity, the blessing of birth has been reversed, all
25:30–25:33because of unfortunate me.
25:33–25:36Ah, I am destroyed.
25:36–25:42Tamasa, daughter, regain consciousness.
25:42–25:47The touch of your hand alone will restore dear Rama to life.
25:47–25:53Vasanti, ah, he is still unconscious.
25:53–25:57Sita, dear friend, where are you?
25:57–26:00Consol the Lord of your life.
26:00–26:07Vasanti, what good fortune, dear Rama has regained consciousness.
26:07–26:19Rama, a touch, as though rubbing nearly ambrosia-alloyment, over every limb of my body, within and without,
26:19–26:29has suddenly restored me to life and spread through me in new and blissful faintness.
26:29–26:35Friend Vasanti, how fortunate you are!
26:35–26:37Relishing the touch!
26:37–26:41He takes her hand.
26:41–26:45Sita quickly frees her hand and steps back.
26:45–26:47How so?
26:47–26:51Rammer, friend, it means Jonaki has returned.
26:51–26:53What else could it mean?
26:53–26:57Fasanti, but my lord, dear Rama, where is she?
26:57–27:00Rama, look, she is here before me.
27:00–27:05Fasanti, why do you burn me with this cruel and meaningless ravings, cutting again into
27:05–27:08the vital core already scorched by grief for my dear friend?
27:08–27:14Seater, I must withdraw, yet my lord's touch, so soft and cool with long, true affection,
27:14–27:18so soothing to long and cruel pain, seems to have farcened my hand there.
27:18–27:23It is at once damp with sweat, weary, agitated, trembling, and helpless.
27:23–27:27Rammer, friend, why call it a raving?
27:27–27:31The hand I held at our wedding, wearing its bracelet.
27:31–27:35Long familiar, mine to touch whenever I wished, cool as nectar.
27:35–27:39Cedar, my lord, this is that very hand.
27:39–27:41Now I understand.
27:41–27:46Rammer, this very hand, her hand.
27:46–27:48Soft as a larvaly stem.
27:48–27:51beautiful that every other hand is measured against it.
27:51–27:56Cedar, God above, in the joy of my Lord's touch I have made a terrible mistake.
27:56–28:01Rammer, friend for Santi, my sense is a numb with joy and my mind so shaken that I cannot
28:01–28:02trust myself.
28:02–28:05Please touch her yourself and see.
28:05–28:10For Santi, R, this is complete madness.
28:10–28:13Looking at her tenderly.
28:13–28:15Aside.
28:15–28:20God above, what a mistake!
28:20–28:25I was so stunned that I suddenly released that pedal soft hand.
28:25–28:30My own hand trembled and sweated like hers.
28:30–28:36Sita, God above, I still have no control over myself.
28:36–28:43At once restless, numb, and confused, the pain is unbearable.
28:43–28:52TAMASA. At your beloved's touch, poor child, sweat and goose flesh cover your limbs. You
28:52–29:00tremble like the trunk of a cadamba tree swaying in the wind, wet with new rain and suddenly
29:00–29:11breaking into buds. Sita, ah, I am ashamed before Tamasa of this unruly body. She must
29:11–29:19be thinking, after such abandonment, such infatuation still.
29:19–29:20Looking around.
29:20–29:22What?
29:22–29:25Nowhere.
29:25–29:27Merciless Vadahi, have pity.
29:27–29:35Sita, surely I am merciless, to remain alive while seeing you in this condition.
29:35–29:40Rama, my queen, where are you?
29:40–29:43Do not leave me like this.
29:43–29:51Sita, ah, my lord, are you not saying the reverse of the truth?
29:51–29:56My lord, by your extraordinary strength, please put an end to this complete delusion.
29:56–29:58How could my dear friend be here?
29:58–30:03Rama, clearly he is not, otherwise why would Vasanti herself not see her?
30:03–30:10Yes, it must be a dream, but no, I was not asleep, where is sleep for Rama now?
30:10–30:15Surely that holy mental illusion, repeatedly produced by imagination, has closed around me
30:15–30:16again.
30:16–30:17Cedar, no!
30:17–30:21Crew me, I have confused my lord.
30:21–30:24For Santi, my lord, look!
30:24–30:29The black-iron chariot of the sun of Pulashtir, destroyed by Jataryu.
30:29–30:34Before it, mule-like beasts with monkey faces, now only skeletons.
30:34–30:38From here the enemy cut off Jataryu's wings with his sword, and rose into the
30:38–30:43sky with radiant Cedar, like a cloud encircled by lightning.
30:43–30:46Entera.
30:46–30:50My lord, father has been killed, and I am being carried away.
30:50–30:52Save me.
30:52–30:54Springing up.
30:54–30:59Villain, thief of both father and Cedar at once.
30:59–31:01Where are you fleeing?
31:01–31:06My lord, you were the fire of annihilation to the Rakshasa race.
31:06–31:08Could any object of your wrath still remain alive?
31:09–31:12Ah, for a moment I went completely mad.
31:13–31:18Ah, but my calamity today is altogether different.
31:19–31:21Then a remedy was available.
31:22–31:27Heroic battle constantly diverted the mind and filled the world with wonder.
31:28–31:33I knew separation from my wife would end with the enemy's death.
31:33–31:40But how bitter it is to endure endless separation in silence.
31:40–31:45Endless. Ah, I am truly destroyed.
31:45–31:51Ah, where friendship with the Monkey King is useless.
31:51–31:55And the strength of the Monkey's fame.
31:55–32:00Where Jambavans wisdom shows no path.
32:00–32:08nor the wisdom of the Wind God Sun, where even Nawa, son of Vishvakarma, can build no
32:08–32:18bridge. Beloved, where are you, beyond even the reach of Somethry's arrows? Sita, how
32:18–32:23dear the first separation seems now?
32:23–32:29started, distraught, clinging to thamasa.
32:29–32:35Friend Vasanti, the sight of Rama now brings his friends only sorrow.
32:35–32:39How long shall I make you weep?
32:39–32:41Give me leave to depart.
32:41–32:46Sita, Tamasa, my lord is going.
32:46–32:52Tamasa, daughter, take hold of yourself.
32:52–32:58happens, we must now go to Bhagyarthi to perform the rites for the birth anniversary of Kusha
32:58–33:02and Lava, may they live forever.
33:02–33:09Sita, holy lady, please let me look upon him one last moment, him whom I shall never see
33:09–33:11again.
33:11–33:20Rama, to assist at the horse sacrifice, I now have another consecrated wife.
33:20–33:33trembling, breathing in relief, embracing her with affection, smiles and tears, bowing
33:33–33:37her head in embarrassment aside.
33:37–33:39My Lord Who?
33:39–33:42Rama, a golden image of Sita.
33:42–33:47Sita, my Lord, yes, now you are truly my husband.
33:47–33:52At last you have drawn from me the sharp point of the arrow of shame caused by abandonment.
33:52–33:57Rama, at least there, eyes forever drowned in tears find a little rest.
33:57–34:02Sita, blessed is the woman whom my lord honours so greatly for his consolation, for that reason
34:02–34:05she is a source of hope to the world.
34:05–34:08Tamasa, daughter, you are praising yourself.
34:08–34:12Sita, the holy lady is teasing me.
34:12–34:17Vasanti, what caused you such great anguish has become grace toward us all.
34:17–34:20If you must go, go according to your duty.
34:20–34:24Sita, Vasanti has become my sworn enemy.
34:24–34:26Tamasa, daughter, come.
34:26–34:29Let us go.
34:29–34:30Desolate.
34:30–34:33Yes, I must go.
34:33–34:36Tamasa, but how can you go when?
34:36–34:40However hard you try, your eyes, widened with longing.
34:40–34:45fixed upon your beloved, and cannot be turned away.
34:45–34:47She faints.
34:47–34:50I bow to my lord's lotus feet.
34:50–34:54Surely it is the fruit of incomparable merit that I saw him today.
34:54–34:58Daughter, please take hold of yourself.
34:58–35:01Recovering.
35:01–35:05How long is the full moon visible amid black clouds?
35:05–35:08How intricate this story is.
35:08–35:11The dominant emotion is one, sorrow.
35:11–35:15But as circumstances change, it assumes many forms.
35:15–35:19As water becomes whirlpool, bubble or wave.
35:19–35:23Though in the end all are one thing, water alone.
35:23–35:26All rise.
35:26–35:31Respectively to Sita and Rama.
35:31–35:34Excent all.
35:34–35:38Enter to Young Acetics.
35:38–35:42Noble Chariot, come here at once.
35:42–35:45Tomasa and Vasanti.
35:45–35:51May Earth, the Divine River, and the other goddesses like us.
35:51–35:56May the teacher who first employed poetic meter.
35:56–36:01May the sage Vasishta and his companion Arundhati.
36:01–36:07May all of them bless you and grant you lasting good fortune.
36:07–36:10End of Act 3.
36:10–36:13Interlude to Act 4.
36:13–36:20First ascetic, Sautataki, how beautiful Valmiki's hermitage looks, with all its decorations
36:20–36:24and the crowds of arriving guests.
36:24–36:26Look!
36:26–36:33A hermitage deer is drinking its fill of the cream left from sweet, warm milk rice.
36:33–36:38Prepared for his mate, who has just given birth.
36:38–36:44The smell of greens cooking with jujupe fruit spreads through the air.
36:44–36:51With the faintest fragrance of rice and clarified butter.
36:51–36:53Laughing!
36:53–36:56A heartfelt welcome to the guests, especially these old people, whose arrival gives us
36:56–37:01a holiday from our studies. First ascetic, Soda Taki, your reverence for the elderly
37:01–37:02is entirely unprecedented.
37:03–37:07Bandayana, what is the name of the guest walking at the head of that company of old women?
37:09–37:13No more joking. You surely know that this is Vasishta, who has come from Rishesh Ringer's
37:13–37:19homage protecting King Dashrath's wives with Orundati leading them. Why ask such a foolish
37:19–37:26question? Interlude to Act 4. Soda Taki, what? Vasishta. Bandayana, yes, of course.
37:26–37:31So the Taki, I was certain he was a tiger or a wolf.
37:31–37:32What do you mean?
37:32–37:37So the Taki, from the moment he arrived, our poor little calf has been terrified.
37:37–37:42Bandayana, when a land guest arrives, a householder following the Vedic rule offers a welcome
37:42–37:46gift of meat by slaughtering a yelling calf, the bull, or a goat.
37:46–37:50According to the authors of the Dhamma Sutras, that is righteousness.
37:50–37:54So the Taki, you have caught yourself in a contradiction.
37:54–37:56Bandayana, how?
37:56–37:58They turn.
37:58–38:01Excent both.
38:01–38:06When the venerable Vasishtha arrived, a yearling calf was slaughtered.
38:06–38:08But when the royal sage Janaka came later today,
38:08–38:12Vamiki offered him only milk and curds, and the heifer was spared.
38:12–38:16Bandayana, the sage's rule applies to those who have not renounced meat.
38:16–38:18Janaka has given it up.
38:18–38:20So the Taki, why?
38:20–38:24Bandayana, the moment he heard of the reversal of Queen Sita's fortune, he became anaesthetic.
38:24–38:28For several years he has been practicing austerities in the sacred grove of Shandradvipa.
38:28–38:30Interlude to act 4.
38:30–38:32Sodataki, then why has he come here?
38:32–38:36Bandayana, to see his lifelong friend, the son of Prachettas.
38:36–38:38Sodataki, has he met his relatives?
38:38–38:44Bandayana, Vasishta has just sent Arun Dati to Queen Kosalia, so that she may meet the king of Videha.
38:44–38:50Sodataki, since the old people have gathered together, let us gather with our classmates and enjoy a holiday of games.
38:50–38:53Bandayana, there is the ancient royal sage, our teacher Jannaka.
38:53–38:58After bowing to the son of Prachetas and to Vasishta, he is seated beneath a tree outside
38:58–38:59the hermitage.
38:59–39:02In his heart grief, Vasishta burns without cease.
39:02–39:05Like fire eating an old tree from within.
39:05–39:05End of the interlude.

Plain text

अछि। अछि। अछि। अछि। अछि। अछि। अछि। अछि। अछि। अछि। अछि। अछि। अछि। अछि। leaves she had gathered, the little elephant who would stand impatiently before her. What has happened to him? He was playing in the river with his mate, when a wild elephant in rut shamelessly attacked him. Distraught moving forward a few steps. She acts as though memory returns, disolate. She feints, Enter Tamasa. My lord, save my little son, save him. God above, the sight of Pantavati, has brought those long familiar words back to my unfortunate lips. Ah, my lord! Tamasa, daughter, please take hold of yourself. Noble chariot, halt here. recovering consciousness suddenly agitated, smiling and weeping at once. Why does this human voice, deep and sweet, as the low rumble of a rain-filled cloud, flood my ears and suddenly throw unfortunate me into such turmoil? Tamasa, daughter. Like a peahen hearing distant thunder. How can a woman such as you become so agitated and eager? Over a sound so indistinct and uncertain. Sita, holy lady, why call it indistinct? It can only be the voice of my lord. I know his voice. Tamasa. I have heard that the king of the Ikshvaku line has come to Janasthana to punish a Shudra who is practicing austerities. Sita, it is fortunate that the king has not abandoned the duties of kingship. Voice offstage. Wear trees and animals too wear our kin. Wear I lived so long with my beloved. These are the mountain slopes of the Godavari. Filled with caves and cleft by rushing streams. Looking. She faints in Dutamasa's arms. supporting her. Aside recovering she falls at Thammasa's feet. God above, what is this? A body pale, wasted, and weak like the disk of the moon at dawn. Yet only his distinctive gentle and grave bearing allows me to recognize him. Yes, it must be my lord. Hold me. Tamasa, daughter, please take hold of yourself. Voice offstage, the sight of Panchavati. Rekindles the fire of grief that has slept so long within my heart. But first unconsciousness closes around me like a shroud of dense smoke. Ah, beloved Jonaki. Tamasa, this is exactly what my teacher feared. Sita, how can this be possible? Voice offstage, ah my queen, my beloved companion in the Dandaka Forest. Ah, princess of Videha. Sita, God above, as he takes my unfortunate name upon his lips, his blue lotus eyes roll back, he has fainted and fallen to the ground. How can I leave him stretched out on the lonely earth, friendless and helpless? Tamasa, save him, save him, give my lord his life back. Lovely daughter, only you have the power to restore the lord of the world to life. The touch of your hand is dear to him. The entire burden rests upon that alone. She exits an agitation. The scene opens to reveal Rama lying unconscious on the ground. Sita, weeping, carresses him. He begins to recover with an expression of supreme bliss. Let whatever must happen, happen. I obey the holy ladies command. Would suppress joy. It is as though the life of the whole world has returned. With fear and compassion, withdrawing her hand. Sitting up. But what is happening? Is this the essence pressed from heavenly sandal leaves? Were a drop fallen from a moonbeam stop crushed in a press? Has someone poured upon my heart the juice? Of the Divine Life Restoring Urban Cool The Life Already Burned? This touch is familiar from long ago. It restores consciousness and also brings deep intoxication. The instant it removes a faint born of pain, it produces the stillness of perfect bliss. Sita, this much is enough for now. Rama, is it possible that the queen has come out of affection to help me? Sita, ah, why does my lord speak of me now? Rama, let me look around. Sita, Tamasa, come. The king will be angry if he sees me here without permission. Tamasa, but daughter, through Bhagyathi's grace you are invisible even to the gods. Sita, ah, yes. You speak the truth. her voice breaking with anger, her eyes fill, beloved John Ake, surely it was beloved John Ake. Sita, my lord, after all that has happened, such an address is deeply improper. And yet, when he speaks to unfortunate me with affection, and when I had not imagined even for a moment, that I would see him again even in another birth, why should I be so hard and merciless toward him? I know his heart, just as he knows mine. Looking around, disillete. No. There is no one here. Tamesa, he abandoned me without cause, yet seeing him in this condition makes my heart experience feelings, I cannot myself understand. I understand, daughter, I understand. Chilled by despair. Bitter from his cruelty. Almost numb from meeting him after long separation. Forgiving through your own goodness. Filled with profound sympathy for every misery of your husband. Melted by love. Your heart is all these things in a single instant. My Queen, your touch is forgiveness itself, cool and moist with love, present, despite everything, to give me joy. But Queen of my heart, where are you? With rising compassion and anxiety. My Lord's sorrowful words about Sita are filled with deep affection and overflowing with the bliss of love. When I believe them, it seems my birth has been fulfilled, though the arrow of unjust abandonment remains terribly sharp. Rama, but what would beloved Jonaki be doing here? This is only Rama's pure delusion, the fruit of wishful imagining strengthened by long habit. Voice offstage, Danger. Danger. Long ago Queen Sita reared him from infancy, feeding him with her own hand the tender tips of shellaki leaves she had gathered, the little elephant, who would stand impatiently before her. Rama, what has happened to him? Voice offstage, again. He was playing in the river with his mate. When a wild elephant in rut shamelessly attacked him. Sita, who will protect him now. He rises. Enter Vasanthi in alarm. Where is the villain who dared attack my beloved's little son and his mate? Vasanthi, is this King Ragan and Dana? Ah, this is my dear friend Vasanthi. Victory to the King. Looking. Why? This is Vasanthi, the queen's dear friend. Quickly, my lord, quickly! From here, go beyond Jatayu peak and descend toward the Gautavari by Cetia's Ford, though you will see the queen's little son. Ah, Father Jatayu! Without you Janasthana is empty. Ah, these reminders tear open the tender core of the heart. This way, my lord, this way. Holy Lady, truly even the forest divinities cannot see me. Dear Daughter, Mandekeene's power is far greater than that of all other divinities. Do not be anxious. They all move. Then we shall follow behind them. Holy Good Avery, I bow to you. Looking. Rejoice, my lord, the queen's little son has defeated the wild elephant and stands victorious beside his mate. Rammer, victory to him. May he live long. Cedar, our, how large he has grown. Rammer, my queen, how fortunate you are. Beloved wife, the son of yours, who once tore the larvely leaf from behind your ear. With the tips of new sprouting teeth, smooth as lotus petals, has today defeated an elephant in rut. Clearly the good fortune of his childhood still attends him. Cedar, may he live long, and from this day never be separated from his tender-hearted mate. Rammer, look, friend for Santi, look, the boy has nearly learned the art of honoring his beloved. While chewing a mouthful of lotus-dork a pruted in play. He pours his to spray into her mouth, with his water-beaded trunk. Water fragrant with a newly fallen Lotus. But he has not yet learned when they rest to show proper care by shading her with a straight stemmed Lotus leaf. Tamesa, seeing him so grown makes me think of Kusha and Lava. After all this time, what must they look like? They are just like this. How unfortunate I am to have been torn so cruelly not only from my husband but from my sons as well. So it was written by fate. What is the use of bearing sons if my lord can never kiss their faces, faces like two fresh lotuses, bright with a few tender white teeth just emerging, innocent childhood laughter, lisping speech, and hair gathered in top knots? May the gods be gracious. Tirmasa, the mere memory of my son's fills my breasts with milk, and with their father before me, for a moment I feel as though I have returned to the world of the living." What can one say? A child is the furthest limit of love and the root of the deepest bond between parents. Because a child is the shared object of both spouse's love. It is a knot of joy that binds their hearts together. My lord, look there as well. That same peacock sits like a joiled crown on the high branch of a cadambe tree, calling to his mate. Having just completed his uncomfortable festive tandaver dance, he has spread the soft feathers of his tail. Harise Phil, in wonder! It is the same one. Dear son, may every blessing be yours. Yes, so be it. I remember you with a father's affection. My simple-hearted wife made you dance as though you were her child. Clapping her hands and rolling her eyes to make you turn in circles. Her pupils revolved like wheels. And in the skillful quiver of her brows appeared every movement of the tandova. Ah, even animals recognized those they knew long ago. This cadamba tree, now in bloom, was planted from seed by my beloved queen. Looking, her eyes fill. How keen my lord's memory is. And surely the peacock remembers her. So he regards the tree as his own brother. Let your majesty sit here for a moment. This is the stone seat in the banana grove. Where you and your beloved wife used to rest. Cetare fed the foreens so much grass, that they would not let her leave. He sits elsewhere and weeps. I cannot bear to look at this. Friend Vasanti, what are you doing to my lord, and to me, by showing all this? God above, here is my lord, the same husband, the same forest of Panchavarti, the same friend Vasanti, the same woodland along the Godavari that witnessed our countless intimate moments, the same trees, birds, and animals that were like our children. All are before my eyes, yet for unfortunate me they have ceased to exist. How completely my world has overturned. Friend Cedar, do you not see Rama's condition? When his body was fresh as a blue lotus petal. She was a festival for the eyes. Even after one had gazed to the heart's content, he seemed new every moment. Now nearly senseless, at once pale and dark. So weakened by grief that he is difficult to recognize. He still gives joy to the eyes. I see, friend. I see. Daughter, continue to gaze upon your beloved for a long time. She continues to gaze. My Lord, who would believe that He could live without me and I without Him? Between falling tears, let me look at my beloved Lord a little longer. Seeing Him is like receiving a new birth. Weeping with affection, she embraces Sita. A swelling flood of tears born of joy and sorrow is released from your eyes, widened with longing. Your bright, sweet, innocent gaze, flowing with love, Bades the lord of your heart like a stream of milk. Sitting, her eyes fill, Pretending not to hear, Aside, Allowed, He begins to weep. Let the trees offer a welcome of honey-dripping flowers and fruit. Let the forest wind carry the full fragrance of newly opened lotuses and let the birds begin a sweet unbroken song a full voice For King Rama himself has returned to visit this forest Rama come friend for Santi shall we sit here? For Santi your Majesty. I hope Prince Lakshmana is well Rama May Thelae used to give water seed and grass with her lotus hands to these trees birds and deer Seeing them again, I am transformed as though my heart were melting and ready to burst into a flood. For Santi, but your Majesty, I asked whether Prince Lakshmana is well. Rama, R, a Your Majesty, eh, how cold the address. She asks only after Sermitri's welfare, yet her voice is choked with sobs. She must know what happened to Cetir. Yes, the prince is well. She faints. Our, my lord, why did you become so cruel in the end? Cedar, friend for Santi, how can you speak to him like that? My lord deserves compassion from everyone, most of all from my dear friend. For Santi, you are my life, my second heart. Moonlight to my eyes, nectar to my limbs. With countless hunted words like these. You enchanted that innocent girl. But enough. What is the use of saying more? To Marcer, naturally she is struck speechless, even driven nearly mad. Rammer, friend, please take hold of yourself. Recovering. But why did your Majesty perform that unspeakable deed? Cedar, stop. Friend Vasanti, stop. Rammer, because of the people's reproach. Vasanti, what cause the reproach? Rammer, only the people know. It is far too late for reproach now. Vasanti, cruel man. They say you value reputation. But what greater infamy could there be than this? Do you understand what became of that do-eyed woman in the forest? Tell me, my lord. Friend Vasanti, you are cruel and pitiless. pitiless, you are feeding the fire of a man already burning in flames. To Marsa, it is love and grief speaking. Rama, friend, what can be imagined in such a case? Her eyes, heavy with weariness from the child moving in her womb. Must have rolled like the eyes of a frightened yelling deer. Her body, tender as a lotus petal, or a mass of moonbeams. Must have been torn apart by wild beasts. My lord, I am alive, here, alive. Rama, R, beloved Jonarchy, where are you? Sita, God above, my lord too is calling out with all his voice. Daughter, this is beneficial. A grief-stricken person must try to let grief flow outward. 4. When flood water presses against a dam. It is resisted by releasing the water. And weeping helps a heart oppressed by sorrow. Become able to endure. Especially for Deerama, whose world has now become dreadful in so many ways. He must protect the whole earth according to rule, with the sharpest intelligence. While grief for his beloved dries his soul like a flower beneath summer heat. The fault of abandonment is his own, so lament brings no peace. Yet life stubbornly remains. Therefore weeping is surely a blessing. Rama, how terrible! In extreme agony the heart breaks, yet does not split. The ruined body reels, yet does not lose consciousness. The inner fire burns the limbs, yet does not reduce them to ash. Fate strikes the vital core, yet does not end life. Yes. That is the truth. Rama, people of the city and countryside. You would not allow the queen to remain in my house. Therefore I left her in the lonely forest, valuing her no more than a blade of grass and without grieving. But these long familiar sights are utterly destroying me. So forgive this helpless weeping that continues even now. Tamasa, how deep is the roar of his ocean of grief? The Santi, my lord, hold fast to courage before what has passed. Friend, what do you mean by courage? It is the twelfth year of this empty world without the Queen. A world in which even her name has nearly vanished. And still Rama lives. Sita, my Lord's words are torturing me. Tamasa, yes, daughter. These are the words of your beloved, now tender with love, now harsh with grief. A stream of honey mixed with poison dripping into your ears. Aside. Allowed. Vasanti, have I not endured at last? The burning goat of sorrow in my heart. Piercing the vital core like the point of a heated arrow lodged unseen within. Or like a poisonous sting. Sita, I am so unfortunate that even now I continue to cause my lord pain. Rama, though my heart had broken and grown numb, today, seeing the things dear and familiar to her, I was stunned again. Every remedy attempted with enormous effort. To restrain compassion awakened to a furious force failed within. The unspeakable transformation of consciousness burst outward in full flood. like floodwater breaking a sand bank and flowing without restraint. Sita, the blow of my lord's cruel, ceaselessly surging grief seems to have swept away the grief in my own heart, but left it beating wildly beyond control. Thus auntie, his condition is dreadful. I must try to distract him. Would Your Majesty now like to see the old familiar regions of Janasthana? They rise and move. In anguish. He feints. She feints. Sita rushes forward and touches his heart and head. He closes his eyes in delight. Yes, very well. Sita, what my friend thinks will entertain him will only inflame his grief. Vasanti, my lord, my lord. In this bower of vines you stood looking down the road toward home. She was delayed, enchanted by the swans on the Godavari. When she returned and saw you angry, she grew anxious and bowed with innocent folded hands like an unopened lotus. Sita, Basanti, you are very cruel. By making my unfortunate memory return again and again, you drive the knife still deeper into the tender core of my Lord's heart. Rama, heart hearted Jonaki, you appear everywhere, yet show me no mercy. My Queen, my heart is splitting. The bonds of my body are coming loose. The world is empty, and within I burn without cease. My soul, submerged in darkness, is drowning helplessly. unconsciousness closes around me. What shall wretched Rama do? Sita, God above, my Lord has fainted again. Vasanti, my Lord, please regain consciousness. Sita, my Lord, you are the source of well-being for the whole mortal world, yet for you, Afflicted by unceasing self-destructive calamity, the blessing of birth has been reversed, all because of unfortunate me. Ah, I am destroyed. Tamasa, daughter, regain consciousness. The touch of your hand alone will restore dear Rama to life. Vasanti, ah, he is still unconscious. Sita, dear friend, where are you? Consol the Lord of your life. Vasanti, what good fortune, dear Rama has regained consciousness. Rama, a touch, as though rubbing nearly ambrosia-alloyment, over every limb of my body, within and without, has suddenly restored me to life and spread through me in new and blissful faintness. Friend Vasanti, how fortunate you are! Relishing the touch! He takes her hand. Sita quickly frees her hand and steps back. How so? Rammer, friend, it means Jonaki has returned. What else could it mean? Fasanti, but my lord, dear Rama, where is she? Rama, look, she is here before me. Fasanti, why do you burn me with this cruel and meaningless ravings, cutting again into the vital core already scorched by grief for my dear friend? Seater, I must withdraw, yet my lord's touch, so soft and cool with long, true affection, so soothing to long and cruel pain, seems to have farcened my hand there. It is at once damp with sweat, weary, agitated, trembling, and helpless. Rammer, friend, why call it a raving? The hand I held at our wedding, wearing its bracelet. Long familiar, mine to touch whenever I wished, cool as nectar. Cedar, my lord, this is that very hand. Now I understand. Rammer, this very hand, her hand. Soft as a larvaly stem. beautiful that every other hand is measured against it. Cedar, God above, in the joy of my Lord's touch I have made a terrible mistake. Rammer, friend for Santi, my sense is a numb with joy and my mind so shaken that I cannot trust myself. Please touch her yourself and see. For Santi, R, this is complete madness. Looking at her tenderly. Aside. God above, what a mistake! I was so stunned that I suddenly released that pedal soft hand. My own hand trembled and sweated like hers. Sita, God above, I still have no control over myself. At once restless, numb, and confused, the pain is unbearable. TAMASA. At your beloved's touch, poor child, sweat and goose flesh cover your limbs. You tremble like the trunk of a cadamba tree swaying in the wind, wet with new rain and suddenly breaking into buds. Sita, ah, I am ashamed before Tamasa of this unruly body. She must be thinking, after such abandonment, such infatuation still. Looking around. What? Nowhere. Merciless Vadahi, have pity. Sita, surely I am merciless, to remain alive while seeing you in this condition. Rama, my queen, where are you? Do not leave me like this. Sita, ah, my lord, are you not saying the reverse of the truth? My lord, by your extraordinary strength, please put an end to this complete delusion. How could my dear friend be here? Rama, clearly he is not, otherwise why would Vasanti herself not see her? Yes, it must be a dream, but no, I was not asleep, where is sleep for Rama now? Surely that holy mental illusion, repeatedly produced by imagination, has closed around me again. Cedar, no! Crew me, I have confused my lord. For Santi, my lord, look! The black-iron chariot of the sun of Pulashtir, destroyed by Jataryu. Before it, mule-like beasts with monkey faces, now only skeletons. From here the enemy cut off Jataryu's wings with his sword, and rose into the sky with radiant Cedar, like a cloud encircled by lightning. Entera. My lord, father has been killed, and I am being carried away. Save me. Springing up. Villain, thief of both father and Cedar at once. Where are you fleeing? My lord, you were the fire of annihilation to the Rakshasa race. Could any object of your wrath still remain alive? Ah, for a moment I went completely mad. Ah, but my calamity today is altogether different. Then a remedy was available. Heroic battle constantly diverted the mind and filled the world with wonder. I knew separation from my wife would end with the enemy's death. But how bitter it is to endure endless separation in silence. Endless. Ah, I am truly destroyed. Ah, where friendship with the Monkey King is useless. And the strength of the Monkey's fame. Where Jambavans wisdom shows no path. nor the wisdom of the Wind God Sun, where even Nawa, son of Vishvakarma, can build no bridge. Beloved, where are you, beyond even the reach of Somethry's arrows? Sita, how dear the first separation seems now? started, distraught, clinging to thamasa. Friend Vasanti, the sight of Rama now brings his friends only sorrow. How long shall I make you weep? Give me leave to depart. Sita, Tamasa, my lord is going. Tamasa, daughter, take hold of yourself. happens, we must now go to Bhagyarthi to perform the rites for the birth anniversary of Kusha and Lava, may they live forever. Sita, holy lady, please let me look upon him one last moment, him whom I shall never see again. Rama, to assist at the horse sacrifice, I now have another consecrated wife. trembling, breathing in relief, embracing her with affection, smiles and tears, bowing her head in embarrassment aside. My Lord Who? Rama, a golden image of Sita. Sita, my Lord, yes, now you are truly my husband. At last you have drawn from me the sharp point of the arrow of shame caused by abandonment. Rama, at least there, eyes forever drowned in tears find a little rest. Sita, blessed is the woman whom my lord honours so greatly for his consolation, for that reason she is a source of hope to the world. Tamasa, daughter, you are praising yourself. Sita, the holy lady is teasing me. Vasanti, what caused you such great anguish has become grace toward us all. If you must go, go according to your duty. Sita, Vasanti has become my sworn enemy. Tamasa, daughter, come. Let us go. Desolate. Yes, I must go. Tamasa, but how can you go when? However hard you try, your eyes, widened with longing. fixed upon your beloved, and cannot be turned away. She faints. I bow to my lord's lotus feet. Surely it is the fruit of incomparable merit that I saw him today. Daughter, please take hold of yourself. Recovering. How long is the full moon visible amid black clouds? How intricate this story is. The dominant emotion is one, sorrow. But as circumstances change, it assumes many forms. As water becomes whirlpool, bubble or wave. Though in the end all are one thing, water alone. All rise. Respectively to Sita and Rama. Excent all. Enter to Young Acetics. Noble Chariot, come here at once. Tomasa and Vasanti. May Earth, the Divine River, and the other goddesses like us. May the teacher who first employed poetic meter. May the sage Vasishta and his companion Arundhati. May all of them bless you and grant you lasting good fortune. End of Act 3. Interlude to Act 4. First ascetic, Sautataki, how beautiful Valmiki's hermitage looks, with all its decorations and the crowds of arriving guests. Look! A hermitage deer is drinking its fill of the cream left from sweet, warm milk rice. Prepared for his mate, who has just given birth. The smell of greens cooking with jujupe fruit spreads through the air. With the faintest fragrance of rice and clarified butter. Laughing! A heartfelt welcome to the guests, especially these old people, whose arrival gives us a holiday from our studies. First ascetic, Soda Taki, your reverence for the elderly is entirely unprecedented. Bandayana, what is the name of the guest walking at the head of that company of old women? No more joking. You surely know that this is Vasishta, who has come from Rishesh Ringer's homage protecting King Dashrath's wives with Orundati leading them. Why ask such a foolish question? Interlude to Act 4. Soda Taki, what? Vasishta. Bandayana, yes, of course. So the Taki, I was certain he was a tiger or a wolf. What do you mean? So the Taki, from the moment he arrived, our poor little calf has been terrified. Bandayana, when a land guest arrives, a householder following the Vedic rule offers a welcome gift of meat by slaughtering a yelling calf, the bull, or a goat. According to the authors of the Dhamma Sutras, that is righteousness. So the Taki, you have caught yourself in a contradiction. Bandayana, how? They turn. Excent both. When the venerable Vasishtha arrived, a yearling calf was slaughtered. But when the royal sage Janaka came later today, Vamiki offered him only milk and curds, and the heifer was spared. Bandayana, the sage's rule applies to those who have not renounced meat. Janaka has given it up. So the Taki, why? Bandayana, the moment he heard of the reversal of Queen Sita's fortune, he became anaesthetic. For several years he has been practicing austerities in the sacred grove of Shandradvipa. Interlude to act 4. Sodataki, then why has he come here? Bandayana, to see his lifelong friend, the son of Prachettas. Sodataki, has he met his relatives? Bandayana, Vasishta has just sent Arun Dati to Queen Kosalia, so that she may meet the king of Videha. Sodataki, since the old people have gathered together, let us gather with our classmates and enjoy a holiday of games. Bandayana, there is the ancient royal sage, our teacher Jannaka. After bowing to the son of Prachetas and to Vasishta, he is seated beneath a tree outside the hermitage. In his heart grief, Vasishta burns without cease. Like fire eating an old tree from within. End of the interlude.

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