'UTTARA-RĀMACARITA' 43 into tears more than once. This intensely human side of Rāma contributes to the heightening of pathos. A hero of epic severity would not appeal to us in the same manner. One of the first glimpses we get of Sītā reveals her inner nature. When she is asked by Rāma what pastime would please her most, she proposes to go to the forest, although the forest has been so fruitful of misery to her. This shows that she is not a lady to take delight in ordinary conventional pleasures. She is modest, kind, considerate and is in every way a fit helpmate of Rāma. But the most noticeable features of Sīta are her intense love for Rāma and her charity of judgment. She never thinks harshly of Rāma, although she has been wronged by him; rather her love for him seems to grow in separation. Love that can stand the test under such trying circumstances is rare indeed. There is a remarkable union of innocence and pride of race in Lava. In Sumantra's words, he is characterized both by darpa and saujanya. A spirit of ardent adventure is seen in him. He fights with Candraketu, not for self-glorification, but only for vindicating the honour of the Ksatriya race, which has been called in question by the heralds of Rāma. He is perfectly fair-minded and kind towards the foe. He bears a wise head on young shoulders. He combines in him the splendour of Rāma and the grace of Sītā, and the royal dignity of both. One of the main traits of Lakṣmaṇa is his faith in Rama. He is very tender-hearted, and the extent of his misery for having assisted in the exile of Sītā is indicated by the sigh of relief which escapes him when Sītā is restored to Rāma at last. But, speaking as a whole, Lakṣmaṇa's is not a fully drawn character. This lack of development may be designed, for it brings out Lakṣmaṇa's chief characteristic of self-suppression. He is almost the equal of Rāma in every respect, but he is content to remain in the back- ground. There is one other personage whose character must be briefly referred to here. He does not appear on the stage at all¹; but yet his benign influence is felt throughout the play. This is Vālmīki. He is a sage who has renounced the world; but he has not become a recluse. Renunciation has not narrowed his sympathies, but widened them; so much so that he does not ¹[Except at the very end of the play when he comes forward to present Lava and Kuśa to their parents.-Ed.]
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