Hanuman Nataka (critical study)
by Nurima Yeasmin | 2015 | 41,386 words
This page relates ‘Hanuman-Nataka, Act 4 (Summary)’ of the English study on the Hanuman-nataka written by Shri Damodara Mishra in the 11th century. The Hanumannataka is a Mahanataka—a fourteen-act Sanskrit drama dealing with the story of Rama and Hanumat (Hanuman) and presents the events in the lifes of Rama, Sita, Ravana and Hanuman (the son of Anjana and Vayu—the God of the Winds) based on the Ramayana story.
Hanuman-Nāṭaka, Act 4 (Summary)
In the 4th Act, it is found that Rāvaṇa was disguised as a beggar and caught Sītā to Laṅkā. Jaṭāyu’s unsuccessful attempt to rescue Sītā is presented. The story is carried down to Rāma’s return after the chase to the deserted hut.
Rāma and Lakṣmana went after the golden deer. Then Rāvaṇa came to Sītā in disguise as a beggar[1] and kidnapped her. She went on crying addressing the name of Rāma, and Lakṣmaṇa.[2] Jaṭāyu, the bird tried his best to make Sītā free from Rāvaṇa but he failed.[3] Jaṭāyu became very sad because he promised Daśaratha to save his kingdom.[4] At last Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa came back to the hut and when they saw that Sītā was not there, they became nervous.[5] The name of this Act is Sītāharaṇa.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
mārīcamṛgayāvyagre rāme prāpte ca rāvaṇe /
bhayādiva kuraṅgīṇāmasyāḥ paśyāmi locane// ibid., IV. 5
[2]:
[3]:
[4]: