उत्तररामचरितम् (महाकवि भवभूति - संस्कृत मूल एवं हिन्दी व्याख्या)

226 TRANSTATION OF [ IV. /1— recently brought forth young ones, and the fragrance of the cooking of vegetables mixed with the fruit of the jujube is diffused abroad slightly blended with the spreading odour of cooked rice mixed with ghee. Saudhātaki—Welcome are the gray bearded folks of various descriptions who have been the cause of this holiday First—(Laughing) Your reason for showing respect for the elders is a peculiar one indeed! Saudhātaki—O Dāṇḍāyana what is the name of the guest that has come to day bringing with him a great company of old folks? Dāṇḍāyana—A truce to your joking! The fact is, it is the revered Vasiṣṭha who has to day arrived from the hermit age of Ṛśyaśṛṅga conducting the wives of the great king Daśaratha with Arundhatī at their head Then why do you chatter in this wild way? Saudhātaki—Ah! Vasiṣṭha? Dāṇḍ.—Certainly Saudhā.—I however thought he was a tiger or a wolf Dāṇḍa—How so? what do you mean? Saudhā.—Why, the moment he arrived he greedily feasted upon that poor tawny calf Dāṇḍāyana—In acceptance of the holy text—the Madhu parka should be accompanied with a dish of fleshmeat—house holders offer a heifer a big bull or a goat to a Śrotriya coming as a guest And the writers of holy law enjoin this as a duty Saudhātaki—Oh you are caught. Dāṇḍ.—How so? Saudhā.—For, when the worshipful Vasiṣṭha arrived the heifer was slaughtered. But to-day when the royal sage Janaka came the revered Vālmīki offered the Madhuparka with simple curds and honey, while he let off the heifer Dāṇḍāyana—The holy sages prescribe this mode of recep tion only in the case of those who have not abstained from flesh, but the revered Janaka has abstained from flesh. Saudhā.—For what reason? Dāṇḍ.—The moment he heard the sad calamity that be- fell Sītā, he took to the life of an anchorite and it is some years since he has been practising religious austerities in the penance grove of Chandradvīpa.