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

A SANSKRIT ROMANCE 53 eyes>, he was «Śiva», for he was a «great monarch» who <gazed on all alike> ; though <made of pearls>, his «waist had no central jewel», for he was <free from disease> and «virile» ; as a cloud [36] <terrifies flamingoes with showers of exceeding purity>, he <slew kings terrified by the edge of his flashing sword> ; though a light upon a <pole>, his «wick was not consumed», for he was the light of his <race> and his «estate was unimpaired». The noble, resembling oceans with beauteous <mountains>, with <waters> increased exceedingly, and with <contented crea- tures>, attained their highest growth through him who was, as it were, the moon when its «house has all its digits, removes the distress of night, opens the white lotuses», [37] is a friend to «white lotus groves»,¹ and «adorns a quarter of the sky» ; for the noble, with <radiant limbs>, with <life> increased exceedingly, and with <amiable qualities>, [38] attained their highest growth through him who was the «home of the aggregation of all virtues, delighted in Śiva's way, destroyed his enemies», was a friend of «pleasure groves on earth»,¹ and had his «hopes fulfilled». And the hearts of women rejoiced at the sight of him who was like the God of the Dolphin Banner, causing <Aniruddha> delight, <dear to Rati>, and <armed with an arrow of flowers> ; for he caused <unimpeded> delight, was a <friend of wantonness>, and <surpassed the Flower-God>. For him who was as the spring with the <attendant southern breeze>, with <sweet koel-notes>² pleasing the ear,³ expanding the <buds>, making the <forests bend>, [39] <delightsome with fragrant flowers>, with <lotuses> easy for all to gather, possessing an abundance of <white thorn- apple trees> spread abroad, but passing over the <wormwood>, damsels felt attachment, being like creepers of the forest with a thousand «buds», crowded with «bees», charming with «sprigs», and with «sportive birds» ; since he had a <continual ¹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text omit. ² The notes of the koel, or Indian cuckoo (Eudynamis orientalis, Linn.), though in themselves scarcely pleasant, are hailed with delight as a harbinger of spring, and the bird is, therefore, regarded as a friend of love. ³ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘the eye and ear.’