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

A SANSKRIT ROMANCE 137
its abodes of grass huts being hidden in clumps of trees; its
general's house being arranged; [291] the (fodder) bags being
put down; its tents being begun; the courtesans' quarters being
set up; with hundreds of neighs of horses being heard; with
hundreds of drum-skins being beaten for the halt; with a place
of sweet water being sought; with multitudes of market flags
being displayed.
[292] 'As I thought: "Is this the host of my father come to
search for me, or perchance (the army) of my lord"?, the general
of the army ran toward me, being informed of events by
a scout.¹ Then in like manner there ran up the Kirāta general,
who had gone out to hunt followed by an army.² Immediately
I thought: "If I inform my lord, then he, being alone, will be
killed by these; [293] but if I do not inform him, then shall
I be slain by them."
'Even at the instant of my thought there arose³ a battle of the
two armies⁴ as of two vultures eager for one quarry. Then—on
the battle's threshing-floor, where the rays of the sun were
removed⁵ by the shower-clouds of arrows from the hostile
bows⁶; [294] with Vidyādharas wandering about, embracing
their opportunities for brave warriors that had been tossed high
by pairs of tusks of elephants skilled in deeds of battle⁷; with
countless circles of the bards of the gods gathering to witness the
the like, I, awakening before thee at the end of sleep, will fetch fruit, roots, and so
forth"—so thinking, I went just a nalva [400 cubits] into the forest to seek fruit and
the like.'
¹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, 'then, as I suddenly saw the camp of an army hidden
in a clump of trees and thought: "Is this my father's host come to fetch me or the
host of my noble lord"? a Kirāta general, informed of the news from afar by
a scout, ran to me.'
² Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, 'then in like manner, hearing this, there ran up
another Kirāta general, who had gone out to hunt accompanied by a similar army.'
³ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, 'then there arose,' omitting Vāsavadattā's reflexions.
⁴ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text omit 'armies.'
⁵ Tel. ed., 'hidden.'
⁶ Tel. ed. omits 'from the hostile bows'; Srirangam text omits 'hostile.'
⁷ Tel. ed., 'with female Vidyādharas wandering about, embracing brave warriors
that had been cloven by the edges of swords high uplifted by hands skilled in deeds of
battle'; similarly the Srirangam text.