Free Malavikagnimitram by Kalidasa Page B

noble Kaushiki.
    MALAVIKA : It is.
    JYOTSNIKA and RAJANIKA : It’s hard to recognize the noble Kaushiki when she’s wearing the robes of an ascetic. Greetings, dear lady.
    KAUSHIKI : Bless you both.
    AGNIMITRA : Are they really your friends?
    KAUSHIKI : Yes.
    GAUTAMA : Then please, dear lady, tell us the rest of her story.
    KAUSHIKI (
sorrowfully
): Listen then. Please understand, Madhavasena’s minister Sumati is my elder brother.
    AGNIMITRA : Understood. And so . . .
    KAUSHIKI : Along with me, he rescued a lady whose brother had suffered much, 96 and hoping to marry her to your majesty, we joined a caravan heading for Vidisha.
    AGNIMITRA : Then what?
    KAUSHIKI : And then,
    A frightening gang of bandits, armed with bows,
with quiver straps wrapped round their chests
and peacock feathers dangling from head to heel
ambushed us, screaming and attacking! //10//
    Malavika displays fear.
    GAUTAMA : Fear not, my lady. Sister Kaushiki speaks only of things past.
    AGNIMITRA : And then what?
    KAUSHIKI : Then, at the right moment, the caravan leader’s personal guard joined the fight and fended off the bandits.
    AGNIMITRA : Sister, what we’re about to hear next must be difficult for you.
    KAUSHIKI : Then my brother
    tried to protect her from that wicked gang,
who she feared would attack.
My beloved brother, who loved the king,
paid his debts with his life. //11//
    JYOTSNIKA : Oh, Sumati is dead.
    RAJANIKA : And that must be how the princess got into this situation.
    Kaushiki sheds tears.
    AGNIMITRA : Sister, such is the journey of human life. Grieve not for your honourable brother, for he gave his body in the service of the king. And then . . .
    KAUSHIKI : Then I fainted, and when I regained consciousness, Malavika had disappeared and I couldn’t find her.
    AGNIMITRA : Sister, you’ve truly suffered a terrible hardship.
    KAUSHIKI : Then I cremated my brother’s body, and with the pain of widowhood renewed yet again, I crossed into your kingdom and donned these red robes.
    AGNIMITRA : Good, for this is the path of the virtuous. And then?
    KAUSHIKI : The princess went from the tribesmen to Virasena, and from Virasena to the queen. And it was only when I was granted entry into the queen’s quarters that I saw her again. This is the end of my story.
    MALAVIKA
(
to herself
): Hmm, what will the king say now?
    AGNIMITRA : Oh, disasters cause disgraces!
    This lady,
who ought be addressed with the title of queen,
was treated as a servant,
like using woven silk for a bathing towel. //12//
    DHARINI : Sister, it was wrong of you not to tell me of Malavika’s noble birth.
    KAUSHIKI : Oh no, heaven forbid! 97 I kept things secret for a good reason.
    DHARINI : And what was the reason?
    AGNIMITRA : Do tell us if you can.
    KAUSHIKI : Listen. When Malavika’s father was still alive, an old sage travelling with a temple festival made a prediction about her: 98 ‘After a year of experiencing the life of a servant, she will be united with a worthy husband.’ Seeing this fated prediction realized in humble service to you, I bided my time and waited for the right moment.
    AGNIMITRA : Waiting was a good idea.
    MAUDGALYA (
entering
): My lord, excuse the interruption, 99 but the minister sends a message: ‘We have agreed on a course of action in regard to Vidarbha, but we’d like to hear the king’s opinion.’
    AGNIMITRA : Maudgalya, I wish to appoint the noble brothers Yajnasena and Madhavasena as joint rulers.
    Let them govern separately,
from the north and south banks of the Varada
divided like the warm sun and cool moon,
who rule both night and day. //13//
    MAUDGALYA : My lord, I will inform the council of ministers.
    Agnimitra raises a finger in approval. Maudgalya exits.
    JYOTSNIKA
(
aside
): Lucky for the prince, he’ll get command over half the kingdom.
    MALAVIKA : Better than that, he’ll be spared life’s uncertainty.
    MAUDGALYA
(
entering
): Long live the king! The minister says: ‘The king has a brilliant intellect.’ And