O, dark-tressed beauty
Ragam:
Rhythm:
Story Play (Attakkatha):
Characters:
Sloka
Thus Valala passed that night consoling Malini. The next night he went and hid in the dance hall and waited for Keechaka just as a lion would lie in wait for an elephant. At that time, Keechaka, blinded by his lust for Malini and driven by the unseen hand of the God of death, came there and happily spoke thus.
O, dark-tressed beauty, petite woman, haven't you seen me?
Why are you silent? Have you fallen asleep?
O dear, do you have a lover's tiff with me?
please do not delay our carnal tryst
The brutal things that I did to you, bear with me.
Happily whisper sweet nothings to me, you lucky one.
Ha, why is your soft and tender body feeling like a rock?
Are you not the one lying here, O Malini?
Reference:
Blinded by lust, Keechaka arrives for his tryst with Sairandhri, little knowing the night holds for him not love but death. In the dimly-lit dance hall, Keechaka assumes Valala’s covered form to be the sensuous person of Malini.
Stage Features:
Blinded by lust, Keechaka arrives for his tryst with Sairandhri, little knowing the night holds for him not love but death. In the dimly-lit dance hall, Keechaka assumes Valala’s covered form to be the sensuous person of Malini.
Supplementary Details:
The stony silence and Valala’s muscular contours under the covers arouse his suspicions, but he is ultimately caught by surprise and is in no frame of mind to fight back when Valala attacks. After a brief struggle between the two titans, Valala strangles Keechaka to death.