Appointment with Kalidasa

Author(s): G K Bhatt
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 43

Appointment with Kalidasa
Dharini to pardon all his faults and look after his family after his death. The queen. is alarmed that she was an indirect cause of a Brahmin's death. The physician is sent for. Gautama has taken a number of people into his conspiracy, particularly Jayasena, the messenger and go-between. She brings the medical opinion, as taught, that a surgical operation to let out the poisoned blood was necessary, which Parivrăjika confirms from her knowledge; in addition, a mantra procedure was necessary for which some object with an effigy of serpent was required; Dhariņi in her anxiety and fear for the Brahmin's safety takes out her signet-ring and gives it to Jayasena, because it has the serpent's figure carved on it. The Vidüşaka is apparently taken to the royal physician; but he and Jayasena meet on the way; she is left back to carry the message, after proper interval of time, to the queen that Gautma was out of danger to his life; and the Viduşaka armed with the ring, collects the king and together they go to the Samudragṛha. Gautma shows the ring to Madhavikā; he silences her suspicion by bluffing that the king's stars were not favourabla and so it was decided to release all prisoners as a mark of auspiciousness; further, Dhāriņi had put the girls in prison to humour Iravati; she did not want to hurt her feelings: so, in stead of sending her own servent she had sent Gautama with the ring as it would give the impression that the king was personally interested in setting the girls free. The entire hoax works perfectly. Agnimitra is able to meet Malavika in the privacy of the Samudragṛha. Gautama choses to sit near the gate, sends Bakulavalika to watch the path leading to the Samudragriha, and the lovers are left to themselves. But it happens that Iravatt is on her way to the Samudragrha. She is still fuming with anger, but is repentent also of her rash behaviour in the Pramadavan. A little uncertain and also proud she had decided to present her apology to the picture of Agnimitra placed in the Samudragṛha. When she and her maid see Gautma at the entrance they suspect some intrigue. The maid drops a crooked stick on the Vidasaka who was dozing at the moment without any care in the world. His instinctive fear for the serpent suddenly rouses him and he shouts in alarm for help. Agnimitra and Malavika come out running from the house, and Bakulävalikä too from another direction. Iravati understands everything in a flash. The situation has repeated itself. Only a lucky coincidence saves it. Vasulakṣmi, playing with a ball, was frightened by a brown monkey and was shaking like a leaf in fear. Everybody's attention is turned to the child. Agnimitra runs to console her; Iravati in her natural concern for the child forgets her anger; and Gautama finds, to his relief, that a partisan, a brown monkey, has come to his assistance and saved the situation.
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A number of things happen in the fifth and the final act. The golden Aśoka blossoms into full luxury before the five nights are over. Dhariņi is delighted. She arranges a special festive ceremony around the Aśoka and orders that Malavika be dressed in a bridal dress used by Vidarbha maidens This work is particularly entrusted to the clever Parivrajika. There is a side-thread in this story of love, namely, the dispute between the two Vidarbha princes Yajñasena and Madhavasena; the