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

A SANSKRIT ROMANCE 53
eyes>, he was «Śiva», for he was a «great monarch» who <gazed on all alike> ; though <made of pearls>, his «waist had no central
jewel», for he was <free from disease> and «virile» ; as a cloud
[36] <terrifies flamingoes with showers of exceeding purity>, he
<slew kings terrified by the edge of his flashing sword> ; though
a light upon a <pole>, his «wick was not consumed», for he was
the light of his <race> and his «estate was unimpaired».
The noble, resembling oceans with beauteous <mountains>,
with <waters> increased exceedingly, and with <contented crea- tures>, attained their highest growth through him who was, as it
were, the moon when its «house has all its digits, removes the
distress of night, opens the white lotuses», [37] is a friend to
«white lotus groves»,¹ and «adorns a quarter of the sky» ; for
the noble, with <radiant limbs>, with <life> increased exceedingly,
and with <amiable qualities>, [38] attained their highest growth
through him who was the «home of the aggregation of all virtues,
delighted in Śiva's way, destroyed his enemies», was a friend of
«pleasure groves on earth»,¹ and had his «hopes fulfilled».
And the hearts of women rejoiced at the sight of him who
was like the God of the Dolphin Banner, causing <Aniruddha>
delight, <dear to Rati>, and <armed with an arrow of flowers> ; for
he caused <unimpeded> delight, was a <friend of wantonness>, and
<surpassed the Flower-God>. For him who was as the spring
with the <attendant southern breeze>, with <sweet koel-notes>²
pleasing the ear,³ expanding the <buds>, making the <forests bend>, [39] <delightsome with fragrant flowers>, with <lotuses>
easy for all to gather, possessing an abundance of <white thorn- apple trees> spread abroad, but passing over the <wormwood>,
damsels felt attachment, being like creepers of the forest with
a thousand «buds», crowded with «bees», charming with
«sprigs», and with «sportive birds» ; since he had a <continual
¹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text omit.
² The notes of the koel, or Indian cuckoo (Eudynamis orientalis, Linn.), though in
themselves scarcely pleasant, are hailed with delight as a harbinger of spring, and the
bird is, therefore, regarded as a friend of love.
³ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘the eye and ear.’