Act IV (Summary)

Dramatis Personae.

Vidūṣaka–King Jīva's friend and court jester.
Vijñāna Śarmā–Minister
Jīva–King
Dauvārika–Door-keeper
Smṛti–(Recollection) Bhakti's friend.
Śivabhakti /Bhakti–Devotion towards lord Śiva.
Śraddhā–(religious faith.) Bhakti's friend.
Buddhi–Queen
Padmamukhī and Candramukhī–Female attendants in the harem.
Vaitālika I & II–Bards (behind the curtain).

Scene I: Royal Kitchen: Late noon

The fourth Act, opens with the entry of Vidūṣaka, the court jester and the hero's friend. His soliloquy reveals the continuation of the main story that the king is consulting with his minister in his personal chamber, having come to understand through his spies that the enemy king Yakṣmā, has charted out a scheme to attack king Jīva with his (Yakṣmā's) full force. The enemy king is also aware of the fact that the hero has obtained Rasa and Gandhaka from lord Śiva and goddess Pārvatī.

Vidūṣaka is now hungry and hence is very much in need of food. Hence instead of going to the royal chamber, he enters the kitchen. On trying to taste each of the prepared food he is directed by the chef to go and ask the king for food.

Disappointed Vidūṣaka goes to the king's chamber. Annoyed to see the minister with the king, he waits outside the chamber.

Scene II: King’s Chamber: Mid-Day

The king and the minister are deeply involved in a serious discussion and hence do not realise the time. It is mid-day. The minister advises the king to bathe and observe the day-time duties. At this juncture Vidūṣaka enters and greets both the king and the minister and expresses his hunger.

In the meantime, the door-keeper Prāṇa enters and informs the king about the arrival of the kings of the nearby countries with their offerings.

Leaving Vidūṣaka inside the king’s personal chamber, both the king and the minister come to the third chamber where the visitors stay.

The playwright very cleverly adopts a technique here for avoiding the presence of these kings on the stage. Through the words of the minister, each king is introduced and also the object being offered by them is described. Accepting these offerings, the king directs the minister to duly and suitably reward these kings. In between this, Vidūṣaka expresses his unbearable hunger and the king requests the minister to take Vidūṣaka to the harem where he may be served food by his queen.

When they leave, king Jīva also has his bath and moves to the prayer-hall to offer his dedicated worship to lord Śiva and his consort Pārvatī.

He recollects goddess Śivabhakti, who helped him to have the darśana of the universal parents and through their grace receiving the Rasa and Gandhaka, with which he can ward off all adverse impacts. He feels extremely sorry for his forgetfulness and starts thinking about the great Bliss he experienced during his penance. Smṛti, friend to Śivabhakti who enters the place at that time understands the king's mind and quickly brings in Śivabhakti and Śraddhā from Puṇḍarīkapura.

Though Śivabhakti is angry at first on hearing from Smṛti about the hero's forgetfulness, being pacified by Śraddhā, she decides to meet the king. She comes to the hero's personal chamber with Śraddhā. Śraddhā tells Śivabhakti that the king had fallen a victim to the powerful influence of Māyādevī (illusion). Since Śivabhakti has a special liking for the hero, who is an abode of truth and knowledge, she decides to help him in getting his desire fulfilled and in making him free from worries and diseases by guiding him in the right path.

When Śraddhā and Śivabhakti meet the king, Śivabhakti advises him to follow properly the guidelines given by the minister in completely driving away all his inimical diseases. Śivabhakti promises to return when he wins over his enemies and would show the way to obtain eternal Bliss. Entrusting this responsibility to Smṛti, Śivabhakti takes leave of him and goes away with Śraddhā. Smṛti is requested by the king to be with him always.

At this juncture, Vijñāna Śarmā, returns with Vidūṣaka, who has had a satisfying lunch. On seeing them, the king requests them to wait for him and goes with the door keeper to complete his afternoon rituals.

It is heard from behind the curtain that the king with his queen is going to the garden. Along with Vidūṣaka, the minister also hurries to the royal garden.

Scene III: Royal Garden: Twilight

The pleasant evening breeze gently blows in that garden and the royal couple enjoy the beauty of mother Nature. Vijñāna Śarmā with Vidūṣaka joins them. Vijñāna Śarmā is astonished to notice that all the six seasonal beauty is present there. He discusses this feature with the king. The dramatist utilizes this opportunity to portray the six seasons, their special natural splendour and also the impact of the climatic changes on human health.

The minister further explains that generally it is known that the night time consists of evening twilight, midnight and dawn and the day time consists of fore-noon, noon and after-noon. Though this everyday schedule is divided thus, all these six seasons have their respective impact on these six parts of the day. In these hours, the onset, increase and decrease of the three–Pitta, Kapha and Vāta can also be seen.

After this interesting discussion, the king wants to enjoy the sport of swinging with his queen. On the orders of the minister, the door-keeper brings Padmamukhī and Candramukhī; they sing very melodiously suiting the occasion.

Two Bards from behind the curtain, announce the onset of the evening twilight. The minister and the king with their retinue retire to observe the evening rituals.

Note: There are forty five verses in this fourth Act. Of these, four verses are in Prakṛt. Three are rendered from behind the curtain.