| (In this
episode, where Bharata meets Raama, we read in Vaalmeeki a long lecture on the art of
government, delivered by Raama to his brother. Often in our epics, we come across such
long dissertations on politics or morality. Modern fiction gives high priority to
narrative vigour, dramatic suspense and surprise. In old works, in addition to plenty of
these qualities, there were generous doses of didacticism. It may be added here that even old commentators noticed that the chapters of this
episode have got mixed up and displaced in Vaalmeeki. Kamban has of course regularised and
modernised the narrative. In Tulsidaas the meeting of Raama and Bharata is steeped in
bhakti and there is no room for any complications.) |
