TALES FROM THE HINDU DRAMATISTS - Awaken Video
TALES FROM THE HINDU DRAMATISTS - Awaken Video
TALES FROM THE HINDU DRAMATISTS - Awaken Video
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"why should you be ashamed? Attachment to exalted worth becomes your<br />
native excellence. But be assured I will not betray you; it is more<br />
likely this prattling bird will repeat our conversation." The friend<br />
brings some leaves and fibres of the lotus, and binds the former with<br />
the latter upon Sagarika's bosom. She exclaims, "Enough, enough, my<br />
friend, take away these leaves and fibres,--it is vain to offer relief.<br />
I have fixed my heart where I dare not raise my hopes. I am overcome<br />
with shame--I am enslaved by passion--my love is without return--death,<br />
my only refuge." She faints and recovers after a short while. A noise<br />
behind proclaims that a monkey has escaped from the stable, and,<br />
rattling the ends of his broken chain of gold, he clatters along. Afraid<br />
of the advent of the monkey, they both rush to hide in the shade of a<br />
_tamala_ grove, leaving the drawing behind. The ape breaks the cage to<br />
get at the curds and rice and lets the _Sarika_ fly.<br />
Vasantaka now notices that the jasmine has been covered with countless<br />
buds, as if smiling disdainfully upon the queen's favourite _Madhavi_.<br />
He is surprised at the most marvellous power of the venerable<br />
Sri-Khanda-Dasa, a great sage come to court from _Sri-Parvata_, by whose<br />
simple will the strange event has happened. He thinks of going to the<br />
king to inform his Majesty when the king appears. He congratulates his<br />
Majesty, on his propitious fortune. The king observes, "Inconceivable is<br />
the virtue of drugs, and charms, and gems. Lead the way, and let these<br />
eyes this day obtain by the sight the fruit of their formation."<br />
Vasantaka advances, stops to listen and turns back in alarm for he<br />
fancies a goblin in yonder _Bakula_ tree. The goblin turns out a<br />
starling. The courtier remarks, "she says, give the Brahman something to<br />
eat." The king observes, "something to eat is ever the burden of the<br />
glutton's song. Come, say truly, what does she utter. The friend listens<br />
and repeats, "Who is this you have delineated? Do not be offended<br />
without cause; I have given your _Kamadeva_ my _Rati_. Why should you be<br />
ashamed? Attachment to exalted worth becomes your native excellence.<br />
Take away these lotus leaves and fibres--it is in vain you strive to<br />
offer me relief. I have fixed my heart where I dare not raise my<br />
hopes;--I am overcome with shame and despair, and death is my only<br />
refuge." The king interprets thus:--"Oh, I suppose some female has been<br />
drawing her lover's portrait, and passing it off on her companion as the<br />
picture of the god of love: her friend has found her out; and<br />
ingeniously exposed her evasion, by delineating her in the character of<br />
_Kama-deva's_ bride. The lady that is pictured is very handsome. Some<br />
young female may be supposed to have spoken, indifferent to life,<br />
because uncertain of her affection being returned. The delicate maid<br />
entrusts her companion with the sorrows of her breast: the tattling<br />
parrot or imitative starling repeats her words, and they find an<br />
hospitable welcome in the ears of the fortunate. The companion, laughing<br />
loudly, observes, "You may as well drop these evasive interpretations;<br />
why not say at once, "the damsel doubts my returning her passion." Who<br />
but yourself could have been delineated as the god of the flowery bow?".<br />
The friend claps his hands and laughs. His obstreperous mirth frightens<br />
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