Tales from the Hindu Dramatists | Page 6

party breaks up, and
the queen, with more housewifery than majesty, hastens away to
expedite her royal husband's dinner.
There stands an asoka tree in the garden. The Hindus believe that this
tree, when barren, may be induced to put forth flowers by the contact of
the foot of a handsome woman. The tree in question does not blossom,
and being the favourite of Dharini, she has proposed to try the effect of
her own foot. Unluckily however, the Vidhushaka, whilst setting her
swing in motion, has tumbled her out of it and the fall has sprained her
ankle, so that she cannot perform the ceremony herself: she therefore
deputes Malavika to do it for her, who accordingly comes to the spot
attired in royal habiliments, and accompanied by her friend Vakulavali.
In the conversation that ensues, she acknowledges her passion for the

king, who with his friend Gotama has been watching behind the tree,
and overhears the declaration; he therefore makes his appearance and
addresses a civil speech, to Malavika when he is interrupted by another
pair of listeners, Iravati and her attendant. She commands Malavika's
retreat, and leaves the king, in a violent rage, to inform Dharini of what
is going forward. The King never behaves as a despot but always with
much consideration for the feelings of his spouses.
The Vidushaka now informs the king that Malavika has been locked in
the Sarabhandagriha or the store or treasure room by the queen. The
room was no enviable place, as the Vidusaka compares it to Patala, the
infernal regions. He undertakes, however, to effect her liberation; and
whilst he prepares for his scheme, the Raja pays a visit to the queen.
Whilst the Raja is engaged in tranquil conversation with Dharini, and
the parivrajaka, the vidushaka rushes in, exclaiming he has been beaten
by a venomous snake, whilst gathering flowers to bring with him as a
present on his visit to the queen, and he exhibits his thumb bound with
his cord, and marked with the impressions made by the teeth of the
reptile. The parivrajaka, with some humour as well as good surgery,
recommends the actual cautery, or the amputation of the thumb; but the
vidushaka pretending to be in convulsions and dying, the snake-doctor
is sent for, who having had his clue refuses to come, and desires the
patient may be sent to him: the vidushaka is accordingly sent. The
queen is in great alarm, as being, however innocently, the cause of a
Brahman's death. Presently the messenger returns, stating that the only
hope is the application of the snake-stone to the bite, and requesting the
Raja to order one to be procured: the queen has one in her finger-ring,
which she instantly takes off and sends to the vidushaka. This is his
object, for the female jailor of Malavika has, as he has ascertained,
been instructed to liberate her prisoner only on being shown the seal
ring or signet of the queen, and having got this in his possession, he
immediately effects the damsel's release, after which the ring is
returned to the queen, and the Vidushaka is perfectly recovered.
The king then being summoned away by a concerted pretext, hastens to
the Samudra pavilion, where Malavika has been conveyed with her

friend and companion, Vakulavali. This pavilion is decorated with
portraits of the king and his queens, and Malavika is found by her lover
engrossed with their contemplation. Vakulavali retires. The Vidushaka
takes charge of the door, but he no sooner sits down on the threshold
than he falls asleep. The Raja and Malavika, consequently, have
scarcely time to exchange professions of regard, when they are again
disturbed by the vigilant and jealous Iravati, who sends information of
her discoveries to Dharini, and in the meantime remains sentinel over
the culprits. The party, however, is disturbed by news, that Agnimitra's
daughter has been almost frightened to death by a monkey, and Iravati
and the Raja hasten to her assistance, leaving Malavika to the
consolation derived from hearing that the Asoka tree is in blossom, an
omen of the final success of her own desires.
The Raja, Dharini and the Parivrajaka, with Malavika and other
attendants, gather about the Asoka tree, when some presents arrive from
the now submissive monarch of Viderbha, against whom the troops of
Virashena have been successful. Amongst the gifts are two female
slaves, who immediately recognize in Malavika the sister of
Madhavasena, the friend of Agnimitra, whom the armies of the latter
have just extricated from the captivity to which the Viderbha sovereign
had consigned him. It appears that when he was formerly seized by his
kinsman, his minister, Sumati, contrived to effect his own escape, along
with his sister and the young princess. That sister, Kausika, now reveals
herself in the