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

A SANSKRIT ROMANCE 129
adorned with ⟨lotuses, chowries, and the Matsyas⟩¹; the refuge of
⟨mountains⟩ as a good man is the refuge of his ⟨family⟩²; charming
in that it was the ⟨abode of Viṣṇu⟩ as a noble man is charming
because of his ⟨unshaken firmness⟩; with ⟨crocodiles and dolphins
ready⟩ as an upright prince ⟨promotes the affairs of good folk⟩;
with its ⟨surface overflowed by the Karatōyā⟩ as a wrathful man
has his ⟨face covered with water from his hands⟩; [271] sprinkled
with the water of the ⟨Candanā⟩ as one separated (from his
beloved) is sprinkled with ⟨sandal⟩ water; followed by the
⟨Narmadā⟩ as a voluptuary is followed by ⟨jesters⟩³; though it
had ⟨cast forth its venom⟩,⁴ it showed an abundance of «poison»,
for it ⟨raised aloft a mass of dark blue⟩ and showed an abundance
of «water»; though it was very ⟨old⟩, «fair women clung about
its neck», for it was very ⟨great⟩ and its «vicinity was filled with
Madagascar potatoes»; though it was the place of origin of ⟨the
gods⟩, it was «not ruled by the gods», for it was the place of
origin of ⟨Surā⟩⁴ and was «ruled by the demons».
[272] And he thought: ‘Ah, me! Kindness hath been shown
by Fate even though it hath wrought injury, since this ocean
hath been brought⁵ within the range of mine eyes! Therefore,
abandoning my body here, I shall quench the fire of separation
from my love.⁶ Even though desertion of the body⁷ is not
permitted one free from disease, yet it must be done.⁸ Doth not
every one do deeds which ought to be done or ought not to be
done? Thus, what is not done by each one in vain life⁹?
[273] As for example¹⁰: ⟨the Lord of the Twice-Born⟩ ravished
¹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘adorned with ⟨lotuses and beautiful fish⟩ as the series
of Viśvamitra’s sons was adorned with ⟨Ambhōja, Cāru, and Matsya⟩.’
² Tel. ed., ‘with superiority in ⟨mountains⟩ as a good man has superiority in ⟨family⟩.’
³ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘with ⟨fishes and crabs⟩ as the zodiacal signs have
⟨Pisces and Cancer⟩; adorned with many ⟨pearls⟩ as a voluptuary is adorned with
many ⟨courtesans⟩.’
⁴ Namely, at the churning of the ocean by the gods and demons.
⁵ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘hath come.’
⁶ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘therefore I abandon my body here.’
⁷ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘of life.’ ⁸ Tel. ed. adds ‘by us.’
⁹ Tel. ed., ‘every one doth not do everything he should in vain life. What, indeed,
is not done by whom?’; similarly the Srirangam text.
¹⁰ A similar list of misdeeds of divine and amous personages is given in the Daśa-
K