Malavikagnimitram Read Online Free Page B

signet ring, engraved with a serpent seal, that I just picked up from the queen’s jeweller.
    BAKULAVALIKA
(
staring
): The golden glow from that ring catches the eye, it’s like a flower blooming at your fingertips.
    KAUMUDIKA : Where are you going, my friend?
    BAKULAVALIKA : By order of the queen I’m going to see the dance teacher Master Ganadasa to learn how Malavika is doing in her lessons.
    KAUMUDIKA : She’s kept so far away and busy, my friend. How did the king even see her?
    BAKULAVALIKA : Well, he saw her beside the queen, in a picture.
    KAUMUDIKA : How?
    BAKULAVALIKA : Listen, the queen once went to the art gallery and sat 8 staring at the fresh red paint on the master’s canvas. And then the king arrived.
    KAUMUDIKA : Then what?
    BAKULAVALIKA : The king greeted the queen and sat down beside her on the couch. And looking at the painting, he noticed a lady seated among the queen’s attendants, and asked . . .
    KAUMUDIKA : What did he ask?
    BAKULAVALIKA : ‘This mysterious woman beside you, my queen, what’s her name?’
    KAUMUDIKA : A fine body is certainly cause for desire! And then what?
    BAKULAVALIKA : When the king’s question went unanswered, he grew suspicious and pressed the queen over and over again. And when she didn’t reply, the young princess Vasulakshmi shouted, ‘Brother, she’s Malavika!’
    KAUMUDIKA
(
smiling
): Oh the innocence of a child! So tell me what happened next.
    BAKULAVALIKA : What else? Malavika was immediately sent away and kept out of the king’s sight.
    KAUMUDIKA : You should attend to your work now, my friend, and I must take this ring to the queen.
(
Exits
.)
    BAKULAVALIKA
(
turning and looking out
): The dance teacher is leaving the music hall, I’ll go to him now. (
Walks around
.)
    Enter Ganadasa.
    GANADASA : Granted, everyone thinks his family’s knowledge 9 is great, but the reverence paid to our dance traditions isn’t false, it’s the truth.
    Sages value it as a peaceful,
living 10 ritual to the gods.
Its two distinct parts 11 blend together
like Uma joined in Shiva’s own body.
The ways of the world, rising from the Three Qualities,
are depicted on stage with various emotions.
And though different people are of varying tastes,
dance delights them—one and all. //4//
    BAKULAVALIKA
(
approaching
): Greetings, master.
    GANADASA : Live long, my lady.
    BAKULAVALIKA : Sir, the queen hopes Malavika isn’t causing you too much frustration as she learns her lessons.
    GANADASA : My lady, inform the queen that Malavika is most talented, and very smart. What’s more:
    Each movement I demonstrate
to express a particular emotion,
the young girl betters in execution
as if she were teaching me. //5//
    BAKULAVALIKA
(
to herself
): Sounds like she’s better than Iravati.
(
Aloud
) So your student is quite accomplished. As her guru you must be pleased.
    GANADASA : My lady, the dance is quite difficult, it makes one wonder how she was brought to the queen.
    BAKULAVALIKA : The queen has a half-brother 12 named Virasena. He’s a commander stationed in a frontier fortress on the banks of the Narmada. He found this girl to have some artistic talent and sent her as a gift to his sister the queen.
    GANADASA
(
to himself
):
Her distinguished appearance makes me think she’s not of low birth. 13 (
Aloud
) My lady, she will surely make me famous.
    When a teacher’s art is imparted to a worthy student,
its quality changes,
like cloud-water turning to pearl
in an ocean oyster. //6//
    BAKULAVALIKA : Really? So where’s your student?
    GANADASA : I just taught her the five abhinayas 14 and told her to rest. She’s standing at the window now, looking out at the lake and enjoying the breeze.
    BAKULAVALIKA : Then let me go to her, sir, and inspire her further with her master’s praise!
    GANADASA : Go, see your friend. I’ll use this free moment to go home.
    Both exit.
    END INTERLUDE 15
    Enter the king accompanied by his minister who bears a letter in hand. Attendants stand to