Hanuman Nataka (critical study)
by Nurima Yeasmin | 2015 | 41,386 words
This page relates ‘Hanuman-Nataka, Act 14 (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 14 (Summary)
In the beginning of the 14th Act, it is presented that Rāvaṇa sent the messenger Lohitākṣa to Rāma with the message that if Rāma gave him the Paraśuastra then he would make Sītā free and hand over her to Rāma.[1] There is found the conversation between Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. Lohitākṣa having heard Rāma’s words came back to Rāvaṇa and said about Rāma’s power. Then Rāvaṇa came to Mandodarī and asked her what he should do at that time; because everyone except him, of his side had met death.[2] Having heard Rāvaṇa’s horrifying words Mandodarī said that she wanted to fight with them if he would give her the permission, because she was also a Kṣatriya.[3] At last, after the terrible fight between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, Rāvaṇa was killed by Rāma. Then Sītā became united with her husband Rāma. However, Rāma wanted to test Sītā’s purity by fire[4] (Agniparīkṣā). Sītā did it accordingly.[5] Rāma accepted her after she got tested by fire. Mandodarī came to Rāma and praised Rāma’s mother, father, dynasty, while taking into account Rāma’s approach towards her.[6] Thereafter, the coronation of Vibhīṣaṇa was performed as per rule.[7] Rāma came back to Ayodhyā, wherein the coronation ceremony of Rāma was celebrated.[8] With turn of events, Rāma sent Sītā with Lakṣmana for exile.[9] Lakṣmaṇa became very unhappy and lamented immensely. With this, the last Act of the drama comes to its end. The name of this Act is Śrī Rāmavijaya.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
(tataḥ prātaḥkāle, rāvaṇo lohitākṣaṃ dūtamāhūya samādiśati)
re lohitākṣa! vānaravāhinīṃ gatvā rāmamiti brūhiaye rāma
jāmadagnyaṃ nirjitya yastvayā hara prasādaparaśurgṛhītastaṃ rāvaṇāya prayaccha tatastava sītāṃ prayacchāmi/ ibi
d., XIV,p.194
[2]:
[3]:
[4]:
[5]:
(i) jānakī—(satvaraṃ, jvalatpāvakamupagamya) bho bhagavan agṇe!
manasi vacasi kāye jāgare svapnamārge yadi mama patibhāvo rāghavādanyapuṅsi/
tadiha daha mamā’ṅgaṃ pāvakaṃ pāvakatvaṃ//
sulalitaphalabhājāṃ tvaṃ hi karmaikasākṣī// ibid., XIV.54
(ii) iti jvalattīvradahanāntarāle dehaṃ bikṣepa ibid., XIV, p. 241
[6]:
[7]:
mahābhāge! na khalu rākṣasīnāṃ sahagamane dharmaḥ/
atastvayā vibhīṣaṇālayamāsthāya laṅkācale rājyaṃ cirāya bhujyatāmiti/
vibhīṣaṇaṃ laṅkādhipatyābhiṣekaṃ nāṭayati/ ibid., XIV. P. 243