वासवदत्ता (महाकवि सुबन्धु - श्लेष-प्रधान शास्त्रीय गद्यकाव्य सान्वय सटीक)

106 VĀSAVADATTĀ

Lakṣmī with her gentle smile,¹ (though herself) unsurpassed ; yielding unto thee ; with her heart spotless as a mirror ; trans- cending the tendrils with her lotus hand ; with coquetry in her sportful fingers ²; peering perturbedly³ through the interstices of the bars of her windows ;—she suffereth distress at eventide,⁴ being lonely without thee, her ram : for, O lord of life ! who here depend not for life upon some happy man ⁵ ? [Thou lord of vio- lence ! She, the receptacle of bliss, surpassing Lakṣmī with her gentle smile,¹ (though herself) unsurpassed ; yielding unto thee ; with her heart spotless as a mirror ; transcending the tendrils with her lotus hand ; with coquetry in her sportful fingers ²; peering perturbedly³ through the interstices of the bars of her windows ;—she laugheth not, (but) suffereth distress at eventide,⁴ being lonely without thee, her ram : for, O destroyer of life ! who here depend not for life upon some happy man ⁵ ?]’ ; [208] ‘Let other women be ! I suffer slavery before thee ! Therefore be there love because of love ! [Thou that art cast off by other (women) ! Thou speechless one ! Thou slave (even) in the pre- sence of the base ! I ⁶ go to her ! Therefore let hatred arise from love !]’ ; [209] ‘Straightway thou art mightily beloved ; why dost thou not perform the lovely rites of love, especially since death standeth immediately near ⁷ ? [Thou art straightway utterly devoid of love, why dost thou not perform the lovely rites of love, especially since death standeth immediately near ⁷ ?]’ ; [210] ‘Thou purifier of them that have the minds of false lovers ! Thou glorious one ! By love is she ⁸ to be won, great and noble,⁹ with large eyes, with sidelong glances ; then her attendants will show

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¹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘she by whom the lotus-dwelling Lakṣmī is surpassed with smiling laughter.’ ² Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘her fingers sportful, as it were, with coquetry.’ ³ Tel. ed. omits ‘perturbedly.’ ⁴ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘she suffereth distress (even) without (an ascetic’s) curse, having her destruction prevented by her folk.’ ⁵ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘on what happy man doth she not depend ’? ⁶ The messenger. ⁷ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘since stern death is immediately near.’ ⁸ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘this unparalleled maid.’ ⁹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘accompanied by Lakṣmī.’