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

118 VĀSAVADATTĀ

the leadership of men is courted by many ⟨kingdoms⟩¹—he entered the Vindhya forest,² which had a multitude of ⟨bow- string-hemp plants⟩ arising as the Last Day has a multitude of ⟨suns⟩ arising; [244] with ⟨infinite roots⟩ as the existence of the Serpent King ³ is ⟨rooted in Ananta⟩; with ⟨owls⟩ dwelling at will as the assembly of the gods has ⟨Indra⟩ standing at will ; rich in many ⁴ ⟨Bengal quince-trees⟩ as honour to the noble is rich in ⟨fruit of many ⁴ blessings⟩ ; with ⟨deep-rooted arjuna- trees⟩ as the battlefield of the Bhāratas had ⟨Arjuna loftily grown⟩ ; with ⟨racemose asparagus plants ever with a thousand roots⟩ as the status of Pulōman’s family had ⟨Indrāṇī fit for Him who hath a thousand eyes⟩⁵ ; with fruitful ⁶ ⟨gaṇikārikās⟩ as the bent of mind ⁷ of a keeper of courtesans ⁸ has a fruitful ⁶ ⟨recourse to harlots⟩ ; [245] with expanded ⟨ushokas, chir-pines, and kamala-trees⟩ as the success of the righteous has ⟨noble men joyous, free from sorrow, and upright⟩ ; containing ⟨emblic myro- balan⟩ as the play of children has ⟨pleasure for their nurses⟩ ; composed in some places of ⟨pepper-trees⟩ as the bent of mind of the hero of Raghu’s line ⁹ was toward the ⟨princess of Vidēha⟩ ; [246] with ⟨amṛta-plants⟩ appearing in other places as the time of the churning of the ocean of milk had ⟨nectar⟩ appearing ; with ⟨aparājitā-plants⟩ at will as the might ¹⁰ of Nārāyaṇa was ⟨invincible⟩ at will ; revealing ⟨stalks of bitter-apples⟩ in yet

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¹ Tel. ed. adds ‘dominated by ⟨headless corpses⟩ as the Daṇḍaka forest was dominated by ⟨Kabandha⟩; surrounded by many ⟨conjurers⟩ as a universal monarch is surrounded by many ⟨kings⟩; with ⟨crows⟩ moving about as heaven has ⟨Bala’s foe [Indra]⟩ moving about’ ; so also the Srirangam text, except for the omission of the last simile. For the allusion to Kabandha, cf. Mahābhārata, 3. 279. ² With this description Cartellieri (‘Subandhu and Bāṇa,’ in WZKM. 1. 132) com- pares that given by the Kādambarī (pp. 38–43, Bombay ed., 1890 (tr. Ridding, pp. 16–18, London, 1896)). ³ The cosmic serpent Śēṣa. Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘kingdom.’ ⁴ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text omit ‘many.’ ⁵ Indra. ⁶ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘revealing.’ ⁷ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text omit ‘of mind.’ ⁸ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘Śūrapāla.’ The basis of the legend connected with him seems to be thus far unknown. ⁹ Rāma. ¹⁰ Tel. ed., ‘form’ ; Srirangam text, ‘⟨shining with pellucid water⟩ as the might of Nārāyaṇa was ⟨bright and invincible⟩.’