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

A SANSKRIT ROMANCE 51 [27] Even had Arjuna been ever with them, the ranks of his foes would not have been equal to the ⟨combats in the Mahābhā- rata⟩, for they were not equal to ⟨bearing great burdens⟩. Though ⟨Bhīṣma⟩, he was ≪unkind to Śāntanu≫, for he was ⟨terrible⟩ and had a ≪ceaseless desire for glory≫; though ⟨wandering on the mountains⟩, ≪he dwelt not on the hills≫, for he was ⟨accompanied by his attendants⟩ and ≪needed not the admiration of his family≫. [28] And, furthermore, he ⟨wavered ¹ not from the path of a warrior⟩, as Triśaṅku ² ⟨wavered ¹ in the path of the constella- tions⟩; though he was ⟨Śiva⟩, ≪he drank no poison≫, for he was a ⟨giver of weal⟩ and ≪not depressed≫; though he was a ⟨fire⟩, he was not a ≪flame≫, for he was a ⟨purifier⟩ and free from ≪evil habits≫; though he was a ⟨burner⟩, he was not a ≪consumer≫, for he had a ⟨longing for hermitages⟩ and was no ≪destroyer≫; [29] he was no Yama ⟨snatching life away suddenly⟩, for he did not ⟨deprive of life without reason⟩; he was no Rāhu increasing his ⟨radiance by swallowing the sun's disc⟩,³ for he did not increase his ⟨greed by seizing the kingdom of a friend⟩; he was no Nala crushed ⁴ by ⟨Kali⟩, for he was not crushed ⁴ by ⟨strife⟩; he was no Cakri exhilarated by the death of ⟨Śṛgāla⟩,⁵ for he was not exhilarated by the death of a ⟨craven⟩; he was attended by ⟨glory and generosity⟩ as the cowherd Nanda was attended by ⟨Yaśōdā⟩; he ⟨planned peace and war⟩ as Jarāsanda's ⟨body was disrupted union⟩⁶; he possessed ⟨generosity and luxury⟩ as Bhārgava ⟨ever wandered in the clouds⟩; [30] he was attended by ⟨good friends⟩ and commanded ≪good counsel≫ as Daśaratha was attended by ⟨Sumitrā⟩ and commanded ≪Sumantra≫; he was ⟨devoted to worthy objects of generosity⟩ and protected the ≪earth≫ as Dilīpa was ⟨beloved by Sudakṣiṇā⟩ and protected ¹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘fell.’ ² Srirangam text, ‘though Triśaṅku . . . . for he had triple powers.’ ³ Cf. Mahābhārata, 1. 19. ⁴ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘having his body conquered’; cf. Mahābhārata, 3. 58–61. ⁵ Cf. Harivaṁśa, 100. ⁶ Cf. Mahābhārata, 2. 17. E 2