1917.] The Dramas of Bhasa: A literary study. 263 



fall upon him. He puts up a heroic fight, but the odds against 

 him are too heavy. All his followers except one are killed and 

 after a long resistance he sinks to the ground, exhausted and 

 unconscious. Covered with wounds he is taken to Ujjaini. 



Yaugandharayana learns too late of this plot to warn his 

 master, but he is decided to save him at all costs Open war 

 being impossible with the prince as a hostage in the enemy's 

 hands, ruse must be pitted against ruse. A hint is given to the 

 minister in a miraculous manner by the divine sage Vyasa, who 

 appears and leaves a madman's garb behind him. This serves 

 him as a disguise, and together with another minister in the 

 cloak of a Buddhist monk, and the prince's buffoon who dresses 

 as a religious mendicant, he steals himself into Ujjaini to release 



ill ^ TY1 1-^1" £*T* 



The young king has meanwhile met with an exceedingly 

 chivalrous treatment at the hands of Mahasena A brave 

 fighter himself, the king of Avanti appreciates gallantry m his 

 enemy. He keeps his royal prisoner in the coolest part ot the 

 palace, and Udayana recovers quickly. Meanwhile the intrigue 

 of the faithful servants develops. Yaugandharayana has gradu 

 allv filled the palace and city with his spies and devises a cun- 

 ning plan which he explains to his friends at a sec ****** 

 But here a new difficulty arises. By some accident U^yana 

 has seen the king's lovely daughter Vasavadatta and she has 

 seen him. The inevitable happens ; the two young people ^ fall 

 at once in love with each other. Udayana naturallv refuses 

 leave his prison which the visits of Ins beloved co, \™*»£ 

 paradise. He puts forth his ultimatum ; either I ^getter 

 with Vasavadatta or I remain prisoner. K*P"™"££ 

 finds a way also out of this difficulty. One ot his »»"» 

 mahout of Vasavadatta's elephant, and on a da pi e^ uu^ 



arranged the loving couple elopes. The foltM ^f^^ 

 bead of the small force which he has f^^ ove r - 

 Ujjaini covers their flight, manfully hghtmg ^ « _ 

 whelming odds ; but his sword is broken and he has o^u 



render il his enemies. He is prepared to suffer Jh .utmost 



penalty for his &<$£j$22tf^^ 



rto^rh: he^^rttt he forgives plover, and 

 will hale the proper marriage-rites formed ojert^ por 

 traits. Needless to sav that the queen . Mahasena s consort, 

 a considerable share in this noble dwjot mm feter He 



. The central figure of the &>^»g£^A one 



. . hvely drawn, ne shows sc >^™^»^ 



which an other qualities ™-fi%^££S!^ 



faithfulness to his master. This is Deauuiuuv r 

 promise to save Udayana (1st Act, sloka 14) . 



