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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 />

63

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