Svapnavasavadattam - The Svapnavāsavadattam Act-II

ACT - II

[Palace garden at Magadha]

(Enter a Maid)

MAID — Kunjarika, Kunjarika! Where, 0 where, is the princess PadmavatT?

What dost thou say that the princess has been playing with a ball near the madhavi bower? I will then just approach the princess. (Walking about and looking). Oh, here is the princess coming hither-wards, playing with her ball, with her face having its pendant earrings raised up, bestrewed with drops of perspiration produced by exertion and looking charming owing to exertion. I will just approach her.

(Exit)

(Enter Padmavati, playing with a ball, accompanied by her retinue and Vasavadatta)

Vasavadatta — Friend, here is your ball.

PADMAVATT— Lady it is enough now.

VASAVADATTA — Friend, having played with the ball for a very long time, your hands with redness enhanced, belong as it were, to someone else.

MAID — Play on, play on, my princess; let the charming days of maidenhood be enjoyed.

VASAVADATTA — No, no; not at all. My dear, you are looking more beautiful than ever today. Looking at your face from all sides, you appear as charming as a bride.

PADMAVATI — Away with you. Do not make fun of me. VASAVADATTA — Here I hold my tongue, you, the would-be daughter in-law of Mahasena.

PADMAVATT — Who, pray, is this Mahasena?

VASAVADATTA — There is a king of Ujjayini', named Pradyota, who is called Mahasena on account of his vast army.

MAID: My princess does not desire alliance with him.

VASAVADATTA — Then with whom does she desire it now? MAID — There is a King of the Vatsa country by name

Udayana.

The princess is attracted by his qualities.

VASAVADATTA — (To herself) She wants my lord as her hus­band (aloud) for what reason?

MAID: Because he is tender hearted.

VASAVADATTA — (Aside) I know it: I know it. This person (my­self) too,was thus infatuated.

MAID — But, Princess, suppose the king is ugly.

VASAVADATTA — No, No, he is good looking.

PADMAVATI — How do you know that, dear lady?

VASAVADATTA — (Aside) Partiality to my lord has made me transgress the bounds of propriety. What shall I do now? Yes, I see (Aloud), that is what everybody says in Ujjayini, my dear.

PADMAVATT— It can be so. He is not. of course inaccessible to the people of Ujjayini. That is really called beauty which has a charm for the minds of all.

(Enter a nurse)

NURSE — Victory to the princess. Princess you are given away.

1. Ujjayini, an ancient city on the banks of the River K§ipra, was the capital of the kingdom of Avanti. It is the modern day Ujjain, in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

VASAVADATTA — To whom, good lady?

NURSE — To Udayana, the king of the Vatsas. VASAVADATTA— Now, is it all well with the king?

NURSE — Not only is he well, but he has arrived here and has accepted the hand of the princess.

VASAVADATTA— Oh, a great mishap!

NURSE — Where is the mishap in this?

VASAVADATTA — Oh, nothing. His grief was so great, and now he is indifferent.

NURSE — Lady, the hearts of great men are ruled by the sacred scriptures, and are therefore easy to console.

VASAVADATTA — Good lady, tell me, did he ask for her hand?

NURSE — Oh, no. He came here for some other purpose, when our King observing his nobility, wisdom, youth and beauty, offered to him the hand of the princess of his own accord.

VASAVADATTA — (Aside) Oh! So that is it! Thus my lord is without reproach.

(Enter another maid)

Second Maid — Make haste, lady, make haste. Today indeed, the constellation is propitious. And our Queen says that the nuptial ceremony should be performed just today.

VASAVADATTA — (Aside) The more they hasten, the deeper the gloom in my heart.

NURSE — Come Princess, come.

(Exeunt omnes)

End of Act II