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

A SANSKRIT ROMANCE 79
uneven by the feeding of the horses of the chariot of the sun
which are obedient when lashed by the whip in the hands ¹ of
Anūru ; that show the beauty of an untimely evening by thou-
sands of thick, soft, young shoots ² produced by sprinkling with
quantities of drops of ambrosia adhering to the feet of the gazelle
in the moon ; that are ⟨refuges of joy most excellent⟩ as Bharata's
conduct was ⟨ever a refuge to Rāma⟩ ; that sustain ⟨cocoanut
palms⟩ as great heroes sustain the ⟨wanton sport of women⟩ ; that
extend wide the ⟨bedda-nut trees⟩ as raw youths let their ⟨eyes⟩
stray wide ³ ; that have ⟨lofty ⁴ iron-wood trees⟩ as lions bent on
cleaving the frontal lobes of must ⁵ elephants have ⟨bristling
manes⟩ ; that, though they have ⟨omens of approaching death⟩,
are «long-lived», for they indeed have ⟨soap-berry trees⟩ and
«saj-trees» ⁶ ; [121] it (the city) is filled with ⟨many temples⟩ as
the belly of Aditi is filled with ⟨hosts of many gods⟩ ; it is
adorned with ⟨great offerings⟩ and abounds in «gallants» as Hell
is adorned by ⟨great Bali⟩ and abounds in «serpents» ; it is pure
even through its ⟨drinking haunts⟩, because of its ⟨temples⟩ ; it is
free from calamities even through its ⟨serpents⟩, because of its
⟨wealthy⟩ inhabitants. Where also ⁷ dwells a king named Śr̥ṅgā-
raśēkhara, whose staff-like arms are marked with the impress ⁸ of
the jewelled earrings of sleeping women exhausted by much ⁹
passion ; whose lotus hands are fragrant with the perfume of
the garlands of flowers in the hair of the goddess of fortune of
his mighty adversaries ; [122] who makes ⟨the affairs of others
prosper in many ways⟩ like a far-famed field which yields ⟨great
store of grain⟩. He cleaves the ⟨might (of the foe), is pure, rules
¹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text omit ‘hands.’
² Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘flower-shoots.’
³ Tel. ed., ‘have their faculties of politeness far away.’ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text
insert here, ‘that are devoted to the ⟨China rose⟩ as ascetics are devoted to ⟨muttered
prayers⟩; that are adorned with ⟨purging cassias⟩ as those ornamented are adorned
with ⟨made garlands⟩.’
⁴ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘blooming.’
⁵ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text omit ‘must.’
⁶ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text add ‘though ⟨provided with ascetics⟩, they are «dominated
by passion», for they are ⟨filled with muni-⟩ and «madana-»trees.’
⁷ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘there.’ ⁸ Tel. ed., ‘edges.’
⁹ Tel. ed. and Srirangam text, ‘vehemence.’