Synopsis:
The play opens with an invocation of the Muses, Devi Saraswati in particular to inspire the narrator with an inward surging that could make him sing a song of a lofty theme describing the fall of a mighty hero.
The narrator, Kathak, leads us to Lanka, to the court of Ravana who laments the death of Birbahu, his son, who took charge of the battle and lost it, with his life, after a valiant struggle. Wh8ile facing a position to answer for the loss of so many worthy war-heroes that is caused by the king’s abduction of Seeta, Ravana defends it with the zeal of an indomitable Kshatriya who would rather stake everything to fight as enemy than to probe a cause. Instead of looking for the next general he decides to go to himself to lead the war. But Meghnad, most valiant of his sons arrives, intervenes, and offers his service. Ravana after some hesitation gives his consent and orders the ritual for his ablition, the act of “Abhisheka”.
The narrator then takes us to the celestial abode of Lord Indra, the God of the Gods. We find him shaken with fear for Meghnad who once made him accept a most humiliating defeat in direct confrontation. Indra devises to court the favor of Lord Shivathrough Devi Uma( Durga) and win from him the Power Ammunition to kill Meghnad. Pleased with Indra and Rama’s devotion Uma sets forth to tempt Lord Shiva to an act of wild love-making and thus elicit from Him a device for the slaying of Meghnad. Lord Shiva, even though seeing through the design, could not help to be enamored by the charm of Parvati. On his advice, Indra is sent to Maya, the Dark Goddess of Magic and illusion, who gives the Weapons that, would see an end of Meghnad. The act of winning of Ammunition or “Astralabha” ends here.
With the narrator we now come to the Pleasure-garden of Prince Meghnad where Pramila, the waiting for her husband. On getting the news of siege of Lanka and his army, Pramila, with the force of her warlike Amazons, sets forth to free Lanka and the Prince from the enemy’s clutch. But before the maestic female troupe, resplendent with the glory of the heavenly powers, Rama reverently makes way for the army to enter the city of Lanka. Pramila meets Meghnad, and the lovers were rejoicing their union, prepare and brace themselves for the fateful vigour and prepares for a battle that would be decisive. Hence ends the act of Meeting of the lovers or “Samagama”.
The narrator now comes to the act of ‘Preparation for the battle’ or “Udyog”. In both of the camps, of Rama and Ravana the Preparation is showed with great detail. Helped by Maya, Lakshmana, brother of Rama goes deep in the heart of the forest and offers his devotion to the War-goddess and asks for her blessings. It is granted to him, on the way, he meets Lord Shiva, protector of Lankan Dynasty, who also gives way to him. Heaven and earth join hands to wreck Meghnad. Unaware of all these fateful design Meghnad takes leave of his beloved wife and Parents and sets out for the battle. Only a shadow of an omen flickers in the heart of the Sati, the chaste Pramila, who perceives this could be their last meeting on this earth.
The fifth act, the slaying of the Hero or “Badh” begins with Lashmana and Bivishana, the traitor- brother of Ravana; Bivishana leads Lashmana through the secret passage to the Nikumbhila temple where Meghnad, after offering his prayer, would attain invincibility, while unarmed and busied with the retuals, Meghnad is confronted by the duo and challenged to a war. Meghnad asks their leave to collect his weapons according to the charter of the war regulations. But Lashmana, declines and empowered by Maya, kills him in an unjust fight. Bivishana also feels a pang of conscience over the fall of the mighty hero and laments his own plight as a traitor.
The eight and the last act, the narrator leads us to the scene of cremation where the pyre is lit for Meghnad. Pramila also climbs the fiery bed where her husband is lying. An armistice is declared by Rama for the funeral. The whole city of Lanka mourns the death of Meghnad, the last of the Mohicans.
