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

118 VĀSAVADATTĀ

the leadership of men is courted by many ⟨kingdoms⟩¹—he
entered the Vindhya forest,² which had a multitude of ⟨bow-
string-hemp plants⟩ arising as the Last Day has a multitude of
⟨suns⟩ arising; [244] with ⟨infinite roots⟩ as the existence of the
Serpent King ³ is ⟨rooted in Ananta⟩; with ⟨owls⟩ dwelling at
will as the assembly of the gods has ⟨Indra⟩ standing at will ;
rich in many ⁴ ⟨Bengal quince-trees⟩ as honour to the noble is
rich in ⟨fruit of many ⁴ blessings⟩ ; with ⟨deep-rooted arjuna-
trees⟩ as the battlefield of the Bhāratas had ⟨Arjuna loftily
grown⟩ ; with ⟨racemose asparagus plants ever with a thousand
roots⟩ as the status of Pulōman’s family had ⟨Indrāṇī fit for Him
who hath a thousand eyes⟩⁵ ; with fruitful ⁶ ⟨gaṇikārikās⟩ as the
bent of mind ⁷ of a keeper of courtesans ⁸ has a fruitful ⁶ ⟨recourse
to harlots⟩ ; [245] with expanded ⟨ushokas, chir-pines, and
kamala-trees⟩ as the success of the righteous has ⟨noble men
joyous, free from sorrow, and upright⟩ ; containing ⟨emblic myro-
balan⟩ as the play of children has ⟨pleasure for their nurses⟩ ;
composed in some places of ⟨pepper-trees⟩ as the bent of mind
of the hero of Raghu’s line ⁹ was toward the ⟨princess of Vidēha⟩ ;
[246] with ⟨amṛta-plants⟩ appearing in other places as the time
of the churning of the ocean of milk had ⟨nectar⟩ appearing ;
with ⟨aparājitā-plants⟩ at will as the might ¹⁰ of Nārāyaṇa was
⟨invincible⟩ at will ; revealing ⟨stalks of bitter-apples⟩ in yet

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¹ Tel. ed. adds ‘dominated by ⟨headless corpses⟩ as the Daṇḍaka forest was dominated
by ⟨Kabandha⟩; surrounded by many ⟨conjurers⟩ as a universal monarch is surrounded
by many ⟨kings⟩; with ⟨crows⟩ moving about as heaven has ⟨Bala’s foe [Indra]⟩ moving
about’ ; so also the Srirangam text, except for the omission of the last simile. For
the allusion to Kabandha, cf. Mahābhārata, 3. 279.
² With this description Cartellieri (‘Subandhu and Bāṇa,’ in WZKM. 1. 132) com-
pares that given by the Kādambarī (pp. 38–43, Bombay ed., 1890 (tr. Ridding,
pp. 16–18, London, 1896)).
³ The cosmic serpent Śēṣa. Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘kingdom.’
⁴ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text omit ‘many.’
⁵ Indra. ⁶ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘revealing.’
⁷ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text omit ‘of mind.’
⁸ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘Śūrapāla.’ The basis of the legend connected with
him seems to be thus far unknown.
⁹ Rāma.
¹⁰ Tel. ed., ‘form’ ; Srirangam text, ‘⟨shining with pellucid water⟩ as the might of
Nārāyaṇa was ⟨bright and invincible⟩.’