10
SANSKRIT STUDIES
Principal Dramatis Personae
Udayana — King of Vatsa.
Vasavadatta — Queen.
Padmavatl — Princess of Magadha. Yaugandharayana — Prime Minister. Ruman van — Commander-in- Chief.
The Clown.
The Chamberlain.
A religious student.
PadmavatTs Nurse.
Once upon a time, there ruled in KausambI, the capital of the Vatsa country, a royal family of great prowess descended from Aijuna of Mahabhdrata fame. The most renowned, prince ojL that line was Udayana who was not .inferior in valour or magnanimity of soul to Arjuna himself. This prince was highlv accomplished and was particularly famous for his skill in music and in_elephant-iiu nting. It was his addiction to the latter that led him into captivity while yet he was very young. But we are not now concerned with this mis-adventure of his. It is sufH- cient to remember that at Ujjain whereto he was taken Its capti ve he was required to teach playing on the vln a to V asavadatta, the beloved daughter of his captor Mahase na, the Valiant. Udayana, charmed by the beauty of the princess, fell in love with her and she also was smitten with a like passion for him.
- — V „ . „ - ~~ -
Escaping from the captivity soon, he returned with his pupil, the princess, to his capital KausambI where he married her. The match was not unwelcome to Mahasena at all. In fact his motive in capturing Udayana and employing him later as music-master to his daughter was that a natural affection might grow between them. But the prince had been too impatient in running away with Vasavadatta. Prevented thus from witnessing with their own eyes their daughter united in happy wedlock to the youth of their choice, Mahasena and his queen celebrated the
^ of . the bride and: the bridegroom^ there-
byderiving what little satisfaction they could. Udayana resumed sovereignty over his kingdom with Vasavadatta as^ his queen and lor some time the couple lived happily to gether ^ There was
