The Sanskrit Drama in its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice c17.s2.30.2

c17.s2.30.2

He then presents himself in the guise of a Tāpasa to Siṃhaṇa, but runs away when the king goes to pay him due honour. Suspicion is thus aroused, and Suvega is seized; from his matted locks is extracted a letter addressed to Saṃgrāmasiṃha. It refers to the horse which it treats as a present from Devapāla to Saṃgrāmasiṃha, and advises him to attack Siṃhaṇa when he has entered Gujarāt, the Mālava king engaging to assail him at that moment. Siṃhaṇa asks Nipuṇaka to ascertain the truth about the horse, and he has no difficulty through Suvega in terrifying Saṃgrāmasiṃha into flight. We then find Vastupāla on the stage; his spy Kuçalaka reports that Saṃgrāmasiṃha menaces Cambay; Vastupāla takes precautions for its defence, and summons Bhuvanapāla, Saṃgrāmasiṃha’s minister, with whom he arrives at an understanding, assuring Vīradhavala of that prince’s aid. In Act III Vīradhavala and Tejaḥpāla hear from a spy Kamalaka the fate of Mewār’s king Jayatala; attacked by the Mlecchas, the people in despair flung themselves into wells, burned themselves in their houses or hanged themselves, until he had heartened them and discouraged the foe by announcing the approach of Vīradhavala, at whose name the Turuṣkas fled in terror. Vīradhavala extols the cleverness of Vastupāla, who has enabled him to dispose of all his enemies save the Mlecchas, and Tejaḥpāla assures him of succes even against these foes.