उत्तररामचरितम् (महाकवि भवभूति - संस्कृत मूल एवं हिन्दी व्याख्या)

226 TRANSTATION OF [ IV. /1—
recently brought forth young ones, and the fragrance of the
cooking of vegetables mixed with the fruit of the jujube is
diffused abroad slightly blended with the spreading odour of
cooked rice mixed with ghee.
Saudhātaki—Welcome are the gray bearded folks of
various descriptions who have been the cause of this holiday
First—(Laughing) Your reason for showing respect for
the elders is a peculiar one indeed!
Saudhātaki—O Dāṇḍāyana what is the name of the guest
that has come to day bringing with him a great company of
old folks?
Dāṇḍāyana—A truce to your joking! The fact is, it is
the revered Vasiṣṭha who has to day arrived from the hermit
age of Ṛśyaśṛṅga conducting the wives of the great king
Daśaratha with Arundhatī at their head Then why do you
chatter in this wild way?
Saudhātaki—Ah! Vasiṣṭha?
Dāṇḍ.—Certainly
Saudhā.—I however thought he was a tiger or a wolf
Dāṇḍa—How so? what do you mean?
Saudhā.—Why, the moment he arrived he greedily
feasted upon that poor tawny calf
Dāṇḍāyana—In acceptance of the holy text—the Madhu
parka should be accompanied with a dish of fleshmeat—house
holders offer a heifer a big bull or a goat to a Śrotriya coming
as a guest And the writers of holy law enjoin this as a duty
Saudhātaki—Oh you are caught.
Dāṇḍ.—How so?
Saudhā.—For, when the worshipful Vasiṣṭha arrived
the heifer was slaughtered. But to-day when the royal sage
Janaka came the revered Vālmīki offered the Madhuparka with
simple curds and honey, while he let off the heifer
Dāṇḍāyana—The holy sages prescribe this mode of recep
tion only in the case of those who have not abstained from
flesh, but the revered Janaka has abstained from flesh.
Saudhā.—For what reason?
Dāṇḍ.—The moment he heard the sad calamity that be-
fell Sītā, he took to the life of an anchorite and it is some years
since he has been practising religious austerities in the penance
grove of Chandradvīpa.