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

A SANSKRIT ROMANCE 73
His stiffened tail high-waving in the breeze—
No artist could portray this awful beast
[104] What time he croucheth on the mighty brow
Of some great elephant, shrill trumpeting
Adown the lonely dells of Vindhya's mount.'
Meanwhile, in the cool shade of a rose-apple tree ¹ that seemed
a paramour conspicuous on account of ⟨aphrodisiacs⟩, since it was
conspicuous on account of its ⟨mainas⟩,² he (Kandarpakētu) rested,
after having gone a few steps ³ along the Vindhya forest which
abounded in ⟨banyans⟩ as a river in a low region abounds in
⟨underbrush⟩; [105] which had ⟨great reeds everywhere⟩ as the
battlefield ⁴ of the capture of Uttara's kine had ⟨Bṛhannalā
appear⟩; which produced an abundance of ⟨camphor⟩ as the
entrance of a drum in a dry land produces an abundance of
⟨water from the clouds⟩⁵; which had ⟨sap inherent in many
trees⟩ as the nectarous converse of the wise has its ⟨savour drunk
by many a knave⟩; which continually held ⟨plantain trees⟩ as
Nalakūbara's desire was to hold ⟨Rambhā⟩ continually; [106]
which had its paths indicated by ⟨ghaṇṭāravā-plants⟩ as the
course of a must elephant has his path indicated by the ⟨sound
of his bells⟩; which had ⟨quickly growing kadambas⟩ as the
worship of the Holy Lord ⁶ has ⟨many fruits growing near by⟩;
which gave joy to hundreds of ⟨reeds⟩ as the wealth of Virāṭa
gave joy to hundreds of ⟨Kīcakas⟩.⁷
[107] Meanwhile, to the peak of the western mount climbed
¹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘in the shade under a rose-apple tree.’
² Tel. ed. and Srirangam text add, ‘like Vikartana, who ⟨loved Chāyā⟩, for it had
⟨delightful shade⟩; like Viṣṇu, who possessed ⟨Lakṣmī⟩, for it possessed ⟨beauty⟩; as
a king bent on invasion is adorned with ⟨thronging vehicles⟩, it was adorned with
⟨close-set leaves⟩; as the Veda is bedecked with many ⟨schools⟩, it was bedecked with
many ⟨branches⟩; as a group of courtesans has ⟨the love of many paramours⟩; it was
⟨bright with many buds⟩.’
³ Tel. ed., ‘a journey of some length’; Srirangam text, ‘a journey of some steps.’
⁴ Tel. ed., ‘as the land of the capture’; cf. Mahābhārata, 4. 36–69.
⁵ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘as the drum in the Kuru land brought a host of full
mighty men’ (i. e., the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas). The allusion seems to be to a rain charm.
⁶ Śiva. Tel. ed., ‘as the worship of the Holy Lord has ⟨many fruits gone forth
from afar⟩, it had ⟨lofty-growing kadambas⟩.’
⁷ Cf. Mahābhārata, 4. 14–22.