Act III (Summary)

Dramatis Personae.

Nāgarika–City police man, Vicāra by name.
Puruṣa–Man from enemy side.
Kiṅkara–Servant of Vicāra.
Vaitālika I,II–Bard I, II
Vijñāna Śarmā–Minister
Dauvārika–Door-keeper
Dhāraṇā–(retentive memory)–Attendant of the Queen
Jīva–King
Buddhi–Queen

Scene I: On the streets of King Jīva’s Capital: Dawn

The Act opens with the entry of a city police man Vicāra by name and a man whose hands are tied behind, dragged by a servant. When questioned by Vicāra, the man claims to be an astrologer and a Vedic scholar with his face, hand and chest smeared with the sacred ash. He holds a copper pitcher in his hand and wears a chain of Rudrākṣa around his neck.

Being questioned by Vicāra about his reason for wandering in the night, the man says that he had a busy day and is searching for a resting place. They tell him that wandering at will during the night in the city in prohibited. The servant suspects the man to be a spy and insists that he should tell the truth. Finally the man reveals the fact that he is Gada (heart-disease), sent as a spy by Yakṣmā, the enemy king. Vicāra directs the servant to meet the minister Vijñāna Śarmā and seek his permission to let him free since he is given a warning and a word of refuge. Accepting this command, the servant leaves the stage with Gada.

On hearing the crowing of the cock, followed by the words of the bards behind the curtain, Vicāra realizing the dawn of a new day, goes out to join his duty for that day. (Śuddha Viṣkambhaka ends).

Scene II: King Jīva’s Chamber: Morning Time

The main Act begins with the entry of Vijñāna Śarmā the minister, to the balcony of the palace. He calls the door-keeper and orders him to inform the citizens to decorate the royal path and get ready to accord a grand welcome to the royal couple, returning to the capital from Puṇḍarīkapura.

When the citizens are busy in decorating the city swiftly to welcome the royal couple, the minister wonders whether their mission had been successful. By that time, he hears the recital of the bard behind the curtain which indicates the success of the king.

Directed by his wife Buddhi, king Jīva now enters into the royal path, much pleased with the loving welcome accorded to him by the citizens. From his conversation with his wife about the greatness of the grace of the lord Śiva and Pārvatī and the overwhelming power of goddess Śivabhakti, it is understood t hat he had obtained Rasa and Gandhaka from lord Śiva. The king is also confident that Vijñāna Śarmā, the able minister could complete successfully the remaining task of overcoming the diseases of enemies. They reach the royal palace and meet the minister.

As the minister greets them, the king narrates all the details, from his entry into Puṇḍarīkapura till his return. The minister in turn reports about the activities of the enemy king. The worried queen enquires about the next step the minister has planned. He replies that he would prepare suitable medicines with the Rasa and Gandhaka obtained from the Lord and requests them to take rest. All the three exit and the Act comes to an end.

Note: There are three verses in the course of the conversations of the characters–police man Vicāra, his servant and spy Gada. Three verses are rendered by the Vaitālikas. Thus the Śuddha Viṣkambhaka has six verses.

The main act has 31 verses including two verses from the nepathya. The total number of verses in this Act is 37.