264 Journal of 



[N.S., XIII, 



In Mahasena's town 111 be with him, 

 In prison with my lord, in jungle deep. 

 Yea, should they kill him, die with him I will 

 To be his servant in the world to come. 



This splendid devotion keeps him to his dangerous task 



and allows him to despise death. When after his last heroic 



fight he is taken to Mahasena's palace, wounded and in fetters, 

 he savs : — 



t/ 



I've helped the king of Vatsa to escape. 

 'Tis true I am in chains and doomed to die, 

 Because my sword has failed me in mv need ; 

 But I brought freedom to my lord and bliss 

 And thus I say : the victory is mine. (4th Act, sloka 5). 



At the same time he has all the qualities necessary for his 

 dangerous exploit. Thus Udayana's mother speaks of h i m when 

 she implores him to save her son : "He is my son's friend and 

 councillor ; he is shrewd ; he is not afraid of danger ; he does 

 not lose heart before obstacles; he does not despair when 

 deceived by the enemy ; the blows of fate do not discourage 

 him. On the other hand, though he is not an old man he has 

 not much understanding for the romantic sides of life. Love he 

 thinks rather a nuisance and an obstacle to his plans. The 

 attairs of his master's heart have exactly as much interest for 

 him as they are of value for the state. As a matter of fact he 

 could well say that he was the state ; for his roval master had 



V ^ l uahfeies of a gallant knight but none of a ruler. In 



v augandharayana our poet has draw n a stern, manlv figure. A 

 ripe strong character with decidedly manly feelings. Love to 

 his master and friend, a high conception of his own post and its 

 auties, coupled with a strong desire for fame, are the mainsprings 

 oi nis soul. His antagonist is Pradyot;. Mahasena. He is a 



Kinci ot Napoleon in a small way. But the poet did not intend 

 to snow us Mahasena the concpieror. Only once the king men- 

 tions his political successes :— 



"The mighty princes follow me like slaves : 



Iheir golden crowns are coaled with the dust, 



that on the road si rike up my horse's hoofs."' (Act 

 sloka 3). 



UthHH* *?*. ac ? uainted rather with Mahasena the man, the 

 St™*- ^ h V sband - The Poet has chosen a very interesting 



ch^r S ^° W US SOme of the intimate traits of the kings 

 famil^r!' a ^7- to allow us at the s - l 'ne time a glimpse into the 

 h^ii! °i 1S time - V ^avadatta. the king's only daughter 

 for ■ thJ I i marriageable age ; a number of suitors have asked 

 deekinn 7 the , Vnncess, but Mahasena cannot come to a 

 chamberla ex ' )lail!s the reasons for this hesitation to his 



