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

A SANSKRIT ROMANCE 137 its abodes of grass huts being hidden in clumps of trees; its general's house being arranged; [291] the (fodder) bags being put down; its tents being begun; the courtesans' quarters being set up; with hundreds of neighs of horses being heard; with hundreds of drum-skins being beaten for the halt; with a place of sweet water being sought; with multitudes of market flags being displayed. [292] 'As I thought: "Is this the host of my father come to search for me, or perchance (the army) of my lord"?, the general of the army ran toward me, being informed of events by a scout.¹ Then in like manner there ran up the Kirāta general, who had gone out to hunt followed by an army.² Immediately I thought: "If I inform my lord, then he, being alone, will be killed by these; [293] but if I do not inform him, then shall I be slain by them." 'Even at the instant of my thought there arose³ a battle of the two armies⁴ as of two vultures eager for one quarry. Then—on the battle's threshing-floor, where the rays of the sun were removed⁵ by the shower-clouds of arrows from the hostile bows⁶; [294] with Vidyādharas wandering about, embracing their opportunities for brave warriors that had been tossed high by pairs of tusks of elephants skilled in deeds of battle⁷; with countless circles of the bards of the gods gathering to witness the the like, I, awakening before thee at the end of sleep, will fetch fruit, roots, and so forth"—so thinking, I went just a nalva [400 cubits] into the forest to seek fruit and the like.' ¹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, 'then, as I suddenly saw the camp of an army hidden in a clump of trees and thought: "Is this my father's host come to fetch me or the host of my noble lord"? a Kirāta general, informed of the news from afar by a scout, ran to me.' ² Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, 'then in like manner, hearing this, there ran up another Kirāta general, who had gone out to hunt accompanied by a similar army.' ³ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, 'then there arose,' omitting Vāsavadattā's reflexions. ⁴ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text omit 'armies.' ⁵ Tel. ed., 'hidden.' ⁶ Tel. ed. omits 'from the hostile bows'; Srirangam text omits 'hostile.' ⁷ Tel. ed., 'with female Vidyādharas wandering about, embracing brave warriors that had been cloven by the edges of swords high uplifted by hands skilled in deeds of battle'; similarly the Srirangam text.