Madhyama- Vyayoga (The Middle One)

 Madhyama- Vyayoga (The Middle One)

Dr Swati Joshi 

 The Middle one is one act play narratives. The title of the play itself suggests that the play is about Middle One who dominates the complete play. The play presents the helplessness and selfishness of one parent who is having three children. On the contrary it can be said that the play also represents the sacrifice of one of the child among three who is somewhere seems unwanted or less lovable in comparison to other children. The play begins with the stage manager who prays to God –

“May Hari’s foot protect you – a torment for the hearts of demons’ dames – lotus –blue like a burnished blade. His foot upraised to overstep the triple world, which gleams like a bridge of beryl in the ocean of the sky.”51

 The other characters of the Middle one are Old man who is the Brahman Kesavadasa, his wife and his three sons. They are first son, second son and third son. The names of the children and wife are not mention in the play. Another important character who dominates the play the Middle One is Ghatotakaca who is the son of Bhima and Hidimba. Then Bhima is next character who is known as middle one by his brother as here it is considered that there are only three sons of Kunti. The last character is Hidimba who is considered in the play as the wife of Bhima and mother of Ghatotakaca. Among all the characters of the play the character of Bhima who is known as middle one is very important along with the character of second child who is also known as middle one.

 Like other plays of Bhasa The Middle one is not representing the situation of war and the description of battlefield. But it can be said that there is a symbolic war situation between the relationship of characters, war of mental stress, war of sacrifices and selfishness or selfish less work. There is the description of war of hunger, duty of a son towards his mother, and war to sustain and to be safe. All the characters of the play moves around of these key words. All are trying to handle the situation on their level.

Plot Construction of The Middle One (Madhyama- Vyayoga)

 The play begins with the description of the prayer done by stage manager of Vishnu. After that suddenly the stage manager hears some noise a conversation between the Brahman and his wife. Then again stage manager comes and describes the character of Brahman who is terribly in fear with the appearance of Ghatotkaca. Bhasa very beautifully informs the audience that Ghatotkaca is an ogre and the son of the middle Pandava (Bhima). The description of the Ghatotkaca and Brahman is like this-

“This is an aged Brahman and his wife, with their weary children round them, followed by a monster of the night. He is distraught like a bull with his cow and frightened calf pursued by a tiger.”52

 The stage manager leaves the stage after this description. The aged Brahman, his wife and his three children are surprised to see the half human and half demon in the form to Ghatotkaca. Ghatotkaca comes there to find out a man for the dinner of his mother. The Brahmin and his family members are in fear of ogre.

“Old Man- This forest is haunted by demons; you must proceed with cautions. The very danger has befallen us.”53

  The Brahman family comes to know that even the four Pandavas are also here in the forest. The old man tells his wife that they can take the help of Pandavas because they are also here in this forest. The Brahman believes that he and his family will be saved by one of them.

“Now the Pandavas are fond of battle and kind to those who seek their protection: men of mighty deeds, taking sides with the oppressed. They have the power to inflict proper punishment on such perpetrators of frightful deeds.”54

 But unfortunately Brahman was informed by his first son that the Pandvas are away from this place. They have gone to do sacrifice in the yagna of Dhaumya’s ‘One Hundred Vessels”. The Brahman said now I have lost the hope to escape or saved by Pandavas. But then his first son again said that all four are not away from here. The middle one is here to look after his hermitage and must be somewhere here to do exercise. Ghatotkaca told them his mother is in need of one man for her breakfast.

“Hidimba: At last I have now found my much loved food; my mouth is watering. Happiness is clasping me. My eight sharp tripped tusks, whose thrust none can withstand, I will at length bury in the bodies and the tender flesh. I will leap on to a human neck tear the veins open and drink my fill of the warm, fresh foaming blood. Go; find out who is lying there in the forest. The strong human smell seems to refresh my nose. Kill all these persons and bring them to me.”55

 The Brahaman asks him is there any way to escape. Ghatotkaca replies that he needs only one man from his family others can go. Now the question arises who should be sacrificed for the family. Then the Brahman decides to sacrifice himself for other family members. Then the wife becomes ready to give her life for the rescue of the other family members. But Ghatotkaca refused to take both of them because the Brahman was old and his wife is having female sex. Now Ghatotkaca focuses on his three sons. He asks to give any one of the son. The Brahaman says that he wants his eldest son and the mother wants the youngest son. Now the choice is the middle one of the family, after knowing that he will serve his family he is quite happy. The middle one is thirsty and he asks for the permission to drink water from the near lake. Ghatotkaca is in hurry to satisfy the hunger of his mother, so he asks the Brahman to call his son soon. Ghatotkaca is eager to take him to his mother. He asks Brahman what is his name but he was not able to pronounce his name in grief. Then the first one calls him by Middle one.

“The ascetic unfortunate middle one.”56

 Then Ghatotaca shouts his name loudly “middle one” (Madhyama, Madhyama) come fast I am waiting for you. This noise is heard by Bhima (his name was also Middle one) who was also near them. But Bhima avoids it because he is busy in doing exercise. But, Ghatotkaca constantly calling his name middle one loudly. Bhima gets irritated. The Brahman boy the middle one comes over there. After some time Bhima also comes there, seeing Bhima the Brahman requests him to protect his son from the giant. Bhima asks Ghatotkaca to release the son of Brahman and offers himself at the place, but Bhima asks Ghatotkaca that he is ready to go with him but first Ghatotkaca has to fight with Bhima. Ghatotkaca is ready to fight with Bhima. First Gharotakaca has thrown a big tree on Bhima. But Bhima escapes and now they both indulge in hand to hand fight. But both are equal. Then Ghatotkaca tries to control Bhima by the magical noose which is given by his mother Hidimba. But the noose fails. After that incident Bhima decides to go with Ghatotkaca. They reach to the place where Hidimba is situated. Ghatotkaca calls his mother that he has brought some one for her meal. Hidimba recognizes Bhima and calls his son lunatic by saying that –

“He is a deity of yours and mine.”57

 Hidimba says Bhima is your father salutes him. Then Ghatotkaca says that he is ready to burn the fire in the Kingdom of Dhritrashtra. Hearing this Bhima becomes happy and says that this is what a father wants from his son and embraces him. The Brahman family also comes over there and becomes happy to know that Ghatotkaca is the son of Bhima and then the Brahman family leaves the place. At last Ghatotkaca and Bhima go along with Hidimba.

Dr Swati Joshi

Gujarat