7. Technique of the Ratnaketudaya

The plot is the creation of the poet. The invocatory verses are in praise of Lord Sive. When the prologue is over, the play proper is introduced through a device called Prevrttakam. When the Periparavaka describes the spring season, a voice behind the scenes sings the following verse. nihsesabhuvanavijayino nijabandhuvasantaniyamanasya ! kamasya yasah piko gayati raga pravardhayati vadhavah|| Though the verse is directly in praise of Cupid, it is suggestive of Ratnaketu and his triumph over the world. In the first set, there is a mixed (mibre) Viskambha in which Kalakantha and Vinavati take part. Ratnaketu's stay at Manipura as the guest of Jayasena and the forthcoming festival in the shrine of Sarvasiddhikari are mentioned in this Vishkembha. 34 34 Ibid., Act. I, p. 4.

In the second set, there is a prevesaka in which 569 569 Heranika and Medhavini take part. Herein, the sufferings of the princess on account of the pangs of love and the visit of Prabhavati to console her are indicated. Mukha Sandhi Commences in the first act of the drama. The hero king Ratnaketu and the heroine princess laveti meet each other at the temple of goddess Sarvasiddhikari. They immediately fall in love with each other. Thus in the first not, we find the germination of love. We find here both Bija and Arambha. The Mukha sandhi concludes at the end of the first not. Pratimukha Bandhi: Covers the entire second set. Here we find the further development of love. Both the hero and the heroine are undergoing pangs of love. To alleviate her agony, the hero sends a crest jewel to the princess. The heroine is relieved of her agony to a great extent after the receipt of the memento. In this act is incorporated both Bindu and Prayatna. The hero's valourous action figuring in this set in defeating the Vidyadhere Manikeme wins him the respect and esteem of Jayasens the king of Nishada, his own beloved lavati and the anchorite Prabhava ti. Garbha Sandhi: Commences at the beginning of the third set. There are several troubles which obstruct the union of the hero and heroine. The Vidyadhara Hanikarne comes to abduct the heroine but the hero drives him away. He then meets the heroine, and yet they are not to remain together. news of an impending invasion to his country makes the hero The

570 570 leave the heroine. The Garbha Sandhi comes to a close by the end of the third act. Avamarsa Sandhi: The hero is undergoing the intense pengs of separation. Prabhavati brings him happy tidings that coddess Sarvasiddhikari has agreed to his marrying Lilavati. The hero leaves for Manipura to marry the princess. The Avamarsa Sandhi takes up the entire fourth act. Mrvahana Sendhi occurs in the fifth act of the drama. Here we find the consummation of the love of the hero and the heroine vis. their marriage which takes place in this net. The hero besides getting the hand of Lilavati receives the kingdom of Nishada too. Both Karya end Niyetapti are also incorporated in this set. evening.