महावीरचरितम् (महाकवि भवभूति - वीररस-प्रधान रामकथा नाटक सम्पूर्ण ७ अङ्क सटीक)

75] Act V, Princes in Combat — Translation [—v. 12¹ from Vaḍavā's¹ mouth, as when some falling mountain² dashes upon it and disturbs it—let it serve as a morsel: this stunning confused din arising on all sides from the army and resembling a billow of ocean when it is lashed by the winds that portend the dissolution of the universe! 9 Moves about excitedly. Chandraketu—Ho, my young warrior,— This thy extraordinary valour has endeared thee to me: thou art my friend therefore, and what is mine is even thine. Wherefore then dost thou deal destruction unto thy own dependants [this army]? Am not I, rather, the one on whom thou shouldst try thy mettle (nikasha), I, Chandraketu? 10 Lava, hastily turning, with joy—Oh, how gracious and yet stern is the language of this hero of great prowess—this Prince of the Solar race! Let alone these [soldiers] then; I'll rather pay him my [warrior's] compliments. Again a tumult behind the curtain. Lava, with wrath and disgust—Ah! I am vexed-past-endurance (kadar- thita) by these wretches that come in the way of a meeting between warriors! Advances towards them. Chandraketu—Behold, worthy [Sumantra], it is a sight to see : His attention riveted upon me in pride not unmingled with curiosity—the full-stretched bow in his hand, and my forces keeping close upon his rear—he is emulating the grace of some cloud decked with Indra's rainbow, and dragged by violent winds in two opposite directions. 11 Sumantra—The Prince at least knows how to look upon him: we, however, are simply lost in amazement! Chandraketu—O ye kings [and warriors],— That you in countless numbers, with him who is here alone—you upon horses and elephants and chariots, with him who is on foot—you sheathed in armour, with him whose upper garment is just the holy deer-skin—you mature in age, with him tender in years and a lovable person—that you should thus gird up your loins to battle with such as he—fie, oh fie upon you, and upon us! 12 Lava, resentfully—How? would he commiserate me? Reflecting. Well ¹ Submarine fire, which accounts for the non-increase in the volume of the ocean, in spite of the many rivers falling into it. ² When Indra began to clip with his thunder- bolt the wings of the mountains, some of them threw themselves into the ocean for shelter. The legend is given in Maitrāyaṇī Saṃhitā, i. 10¹³.