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

A SANSKRIT ROMANCE 73 His stiffened tail high-waving in the breeze— No artist could portray this awful beast [104] What time he croucheth on the mighty brow Of some great elephant, shrill trumpeting Adown the lonely dells of Vindhya's mount.' Meanwhile, in the cool shade of a rose-apple tree ¹ that seemed a paramour conspicuous on account of ⟨aphrodisiacs⟩, since it was conspicuous on account of its ⟨mainas⟩,² he (Kandarpakētu) rested, after having gone a few steps ³ along the Vindhya forest which abounded in ⟨banyans⟩ as a river in a low region abounds in ⟨underbrush⟩; [105] which had ⟨great reeds everywhere⟩ as the battlefield ⁴ of the capture of Uttara's kine had ⟨Bṛhannalā appear⟩; which produced an abundance of ⟨camphor⟩ as the entrance of a drum in a dry land produces an abundance of ⟨water from the clouds⟩⁵; which had ⟨sap inherent in many trees⟩ as the nectarous converse of the wise has its ⟨savour drunk by many a knave⟩; which continually held ⟨plantain trees⟩ as Nalakūbara's desire was to hold ⟨Rambhā⟩ continually; [106] which had its paths indicated by ⟨ghaṇṭāravā-plants⟩ as the course of a must elephant has his path indicated by the ⟨sound of his bells⟩; which had ⟨quickly growing kadambas⟩ as the worship of the Holy Lord ⁶ has ⟨many fruits growing near by⟩; which gave joy to hundreds of ⟨reeds⟩ as the wealth of Virāṭa gave joy to hundreds of ⟨Kīcakas⟩.⁷ [107] Meanwhile, to the peak of the western mount climbed ¹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘in the shade under a rose-apple tree.’ ² Tel. ed. and Srirangam text add, ‘like Vikartana, who ⟨loved Chāyā⟩, for it had ⟨delightful shade⟩; like Viṣṇu, who possessed ⟨Lakṣmī⟩, for it possessed ⟨beauty⟩; as a king bent on invasion is adorned with ⟨thronging vehicles⟩, it was adorned with ⟨close-set leaves⟩; as the Veda is bedecked with many ⟨schools⟩, it was bedecked with many ⟨branches⟩; as a group of courtesans has ⟨the love of many paramours⟩; it was ⟨bright with many buds⟩.’ ³ Tel. ed., ‘a journey of some length’; Srirangam text, ‘a journey of some steps.’ ⁴ Tel. ed., ‘as the land of the capture’; cf. Mahābhārata, 4. 36–69. ⁵ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘as the drum in the Kuru land brought a host of full mighty men’ (i. e., the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas). The allusion seems to be to a rain charm. ⁶ Śiva. Tel. ed., ‘as the worship of the Holy Lord has ⟨many fruits gone forth from afar⟩, it had ⟨lofty-growing kadambas⟩.’ ⁷ Cf. Mahābhārata, 4. 14–22.