TALES FROM THE HINDU DRAMATISTS - Awaken Video
TALES FROM THE HINDU DRAMATISTS - Awaken Video
TALES FROM THE HINDU DRAMATISTS - Awaken Video
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
every foe; the burden of my government reposes on able shoulders; the<br />
seasons are favourable; and my subjects, prosperous and happy. In<br />
Vasavadatta, the daughter of Pradyota, I have a wife whom I adore, and<br />
in Vasantaka, a friend in whom I can confide. Attended by such a friend,<br />
at such a season, and so disposed I might fancy myself the deity of<br />
desire, and this vernal celebration held in honour of myself. Kausambi<br />
outvies the residence of the god of wealth. Her numerous sons are clad<br />
in cloth of gold, decked with glittering ornaments and tossing their<br />
heads proudly with splendid crests.<br />
Vasantaka says:--<br />
"Observe the general joy. As if intoxicated with delight, the people<br />
dance along the streets, sporting merrily with each other's persons and<br />
mutually scattering the yellow-tinted fluid. On every side, the music<br />
of the drum and the buzz of frolic crowds fill all the air. The very<br />
atmosphere is of a yellow hue, with clouds of flowery fragrance."<br />
At the request of the queen, conveyed through her attendants, the king<br />
proceeds with his friend to join her in offering homage to the image of<br />
the flower-armed deity, which stands at the foot of the red _Asoka_<br />
tree. The queen enters the garden accompanied by Kanchanmala, her<br />
principal attendant, Sagarika and other damsels. Noticing Sagarika, the<br />
queen thinks, "What carelessness! an object I have hitherto so<br />
cautiously concealed, thus heedlessly exposed! I must remove her hence<br />
before the arrival of the king." She says, "How now, Sagarika, what<br />
makes you here? where is my favourite starling, that I left to your<br />
charge, and whom it seems you have quitted for this ceremony? Return to<br />
your place." Sagarika withdraws to a short distance and thinks, "the<br />
bird is safe with my friend Susangata. I should like to witness the<br />
ceremony. I wonder if _Annaga_ is worshipped here as in my father's<br />
mansion! I will keep myself concealed amongst the shrubs and watch them,<br />
and for my own presentation to the deity I will go, cull a few of these<br />
flowers." The king now joins the queen. Kanchanmala delivers the<br />
accustomed gifts of sandal, saffron, and flowers to the queen, who<br />
offers them to the image. The king thus eulogises the beauty of the<br />
queen, "Whilst thus employed, my love, you resemble a graceful creeper<br />
turning round a coral tree: your robes of the orange dye, your person<br />
fresh from the bath. As rests your hand upon the stem of the _Asoka_,<br />
it seems to put forth a new and lovelier shoot. The unembodied god<br />
to-day will regret his disencumbered essence, and sigh to be material,<br />
that he might enjoy the touch of that soft hand."<br />
The worship of the divinity concluded, the queen worships the king.<br />
Sagarika views the scene, mistakes the king for the god and observes,<br />
"What do I see? Can this be true? Does then the deity, whose effigy only<br />
we adore in the dwelling of my father, here condescend to accept in<br />
person the homage of his votaries? I, too, though thus remote, present<br />
my humble offering."<br />
She throws down the flowers and continues:--"Glory to the flower-armed<br />
61