UTTARARAMACHARITAM – ACT 2

“Entrance into Panchavati/

Dandaka revisited”

By Mamta Garg
MA (Sanskrit) – 1st Year
Mangala Shlokam

Idam kavibhyaha purvebhyo

Namovaakam prashaasmahe
Vandemadevataam vaacham
Amrutaamaatmanah kalaam.
Introduction to Play
 A Sanskrit Play of 7 Acts
 Masterpiece of Bhavabhuti – ‘Uttararamacharite Bhavabhutirvishishyate’
 Renowned for poetic beauty and masterly presentation of karuna rasa, the
sentiment of Pathos
 Later History of Rama after return from exile
 Storyline : Coronation of Rama => abandonment of Sita => her recue =>
birth of twins Lava & Kusha and their education with Valmiki Rishi =>
Shadow Act => Ashvamedha Sacrifice => Herioism of twins to capture
horse => their recognition by Rama => fire ordeal of Sita => Reunion.
About Bhavabhuti
 Udumbara Brahmin – trace their lineage to saint Kashyapa
 Father : Nilakantha; Mother : Jatukarni
 Original Name : Shrikantha
 Learned scholar in Indian Philosophy
 Works : Mahavira-charita; Malati-madhava;
Uttararamacharitam
 Adept in picturization of rasas/feelings/emotions – karuna
rasa, prema mimaamsa, vira rasa, sringara rasa, etc.
 Eg: “Eko rasah karuna eva…”
Main Characters in Act2
Atreyi

Vasanti

Rama

Shambuka
Sequence of Events
Shuddha Vishkambhaka – Description of events happened in 12 years
passed between the Act1 and Act2 through dialogue between Vasanti and
Atreyi

Rama slains Shambuka

Shambuka appears as Divya Purusha

Description of Janasthana

Expressions of grief of Rama

Shambuka conveys Agastya Rishi’s message

Rama and Shambuka make move towards Agastya Rishi’s Ashrama

Shuddha Vishkambhaha
2 Obstacles of learning in Valmiki’s
Ashrama
Sita’s abandonment
Rama’s engagement in Ashvamedha
Sacrifice – golden statue of Sita and
searching Shambuka
Some noteworthy Shlokas

 This is a blessed day for me, for the meeting of the good with the good
happens with difficulty and with especial merit.
 Bhavabhuti has expressed various such subhaashitas and life sayings in
the whole work.
 This one particularly presents humbleness of Vasanti, the Goddess of
forests, who admires the saint lady, Atreyi.
Karuna Rasa pradhaana shloka

Who can fathom or understand the minds of extraordinary people who

are harder than the diamond at once and softer than even the flowers
another time.
Beautiful description of nature has been done in the
Act :
• Trees are the home of birds on Godavri River,
• in which the beautiful tribes of jungle fowl and
pigeons utter their notes
• From the bark of which the insects are picked
out by the beaks of birds scratching in shade
• River is honored by tribute of flowers which fall
on account of shaking caused by grating of
itching lumps on cheeks of elephants
Even death produced by association with the good ferries men across men to
bliss.
Humbleness of Shambuka indicated.
• Greatness of Rama and humbleness
of Shambuka indicated

• That one who is to be sought after in

the world as Lord of creatures has
arrived seeking me an outcast, having
traversed hundreds of yojanas, that is
in this matter the benefit of my
penance; otherwise how could you
ever have come from Ayodhya again
into the wood of Dandaka?
 These verses express how much Rama loved
Sita and how he remembered his stay with her
wife in Panchavati so vividly and how much
he misses her now – prema mimaamsa &
karuna rasa.
• Here is that very wood behold once
more today, in which we were dwelling
for a long time as hermits occupied in
our duties and enjoying worldly
pleasures as householders. - 22

• Then why has this misfortune today

befallen Rama? For my grief is so
intense that it seems like fresh biting
poison circulating in my body and a
wound re-opened in the centre of my
heart. - 26

• Alas! How can I, cursed Rama, that am

alone now, having left my dear one to
die, on the borders of Panchavati,
where we used to dwell once and the
same account we used to recall in
Ayodhya. - 28
End of Act2 positively with Panchavati description by Shamuka.
Here are those southern mountains, the peaks of which are blue from having
their crests adorned with the clouds, in the ravines of which the waters of
Godavari river make a bubbling sound.
Here is that same confluence of the streams, the waters of which are deep ,
which is awful with the roar of the waves rushing troubled with dashing against
one another.
Importance of Act 2
 This Act inspires us to be humble and considerate, irrespective of
our position and work.
 This Act also eliminates the hero’s stereotype character (as in
most other plays) since Rama is seen here as an emotional person

=> Who at first is hesitant to kill Shambuka but, finally commits it

reminding his right hand of his harsh act of abandoning his
pregnant wife, Sita.

=> Who, through his pathetic dialogues in Panchavati, seems to be

distressed and alone without Sita.
Conclusion
 Thus, the 2nd Act of Uttararamacharitam ends with Rama
and Shambuka proceeding towards Agastya Rishi’s
Ashrama.

 Further, in third Act or Shadow Act, Murala and Tamasa

will be seen discussing about Sita’s account and Sita
will revive Rama to Life through her touch without
being seen.
Dhanyawaadah!