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

A SANSKRIT ROMANCE 51
[27] Even had Arjuna been ever with them, the ranks of his
foes would not have been equal to the ⟨combats in the Mahābhā-
rata⟩, for they were not equal to ⟨bearing great burdens⟩. Though
⟨Bhīṣma⟩, he was ≪unkind to Śāntanu≫, for he was ⟨terrible⟩ and
had a ≪ceaseless desire for glory≫; though ⟨wandering on the
mountains⟩, ≪he dwelt not on the hills≫, for he was ⟨accompanied
by his attendants⟩ and ≪needed not the admiration of his
family≫.
[28] And, furthermore, he ⟨wavered ¹ not from the path of
a warrior⟩, as Triśaṅku ² ⟨wavered ¹ in the path of the constella-
tions⟩; though he was ⟨Śiva⟩, ≪he drank no poison≫, for he was
a ⟨giver of weal⟩ and ≪not depressed≫; though he was a ⟨fire⟩,
he was not a ≪flame≫, for he was a ⟨purifier⟩ and free from ≪evil
habits≫; though he was a ⟨burner⟩, he was not a ≪consumer≫,
for he had a ⟨longing for hermitages⟩ and was no ≪destroyer≫;
[29] he was no Yama ⟨snatching life away suddenly⟩, for he did
not ⟨deprive of life without reason⟩; he was no Rāhu increasing
his ⟨radiance by swallowing the sun's disc⟩,³ for he did not increase
his ⟨greed by seizing the kingdom of a friend⟩; he was no Nala
crushed ⁴ by ⟨Kali⟩, for he was not crushed ⁴ by ⟨strife⟩; he was
no Cakri exhilarated by the death of ⟨Śṛgāla⟩,⁵ for he was not
exhilarated by the death of a ⟨craven⟩; he was attended by
⟨glory and generosity⟩ as the cowherd Nanda was attended by
⟨Yaśōdā⟩; he ⟨planned peace and war⟩ as Jarāsanda's ⟨body was
disrupted union⟩⁶; he possessed ⟨generosity and luxury⟩ as
Bhārgava ⟨ever wandered in the clouds⟩; [30] he was attended
by ⟨good friends⟩ and commanded ≪good counsel≫ as Daśaratha
was attended by ⟨Sumitrā⟩ and commanded ≪Sumantra≫; he
was ⟨devoted to worthy objects of generosity⟩ and protected
the ≪earth≫ as Dilīpa was ⟨beloved by Sudakṣiṇā⟩ and protected
¹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘fell.’
² Srirangam text, ‘though Triśaṅku . . . . for he had triple powers.’
³ Cf. Mahābhārata, 1. 19.
⁴ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘having his body conquered’; cf. Mahābhārata,
3. 58–61.
⁵ Cf. Harivaṁśa, 100.
⁶ Cf. Mahābhārata, 2. 17.
E 2