The Buddha-Carita

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Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha
maõikuüóaladaùñapatralekhaü mukhapadmaü vinataü tathàparasyàþ |
èatapatramivàrdhacakranàóaü sthitakàraüóavaghaññitaü cakàèe || 5.53
53. The lotus-face of another, bowed down, with the pinguent-lines on her person
rubbed by the jewelled earrings, appeared to be a lotus with its stalk bent into a halfcircle,
and shaken by a duck standing on it. 1
aparàþ èayità yathopaviùñàþ stanabhàrairavamanyamànagàtràþ |
upaguhya parasparaü virejurbhujapàèaistapanãyapàrihàryaiþ || 5.54
54. Others, lying as they sat, with their limbs oppressed by the weight of their bosoms,
shone in their beauty, mutually clasping one another with their twining arms decorated
with golden bracelets.
mahatãü parivàdinãü ca kàcidvanitàliügya sakhãmiva prasuptà |
vijughårõa calatsuvarõasåtràü vadanenàkulakarõikojjvalena || 5.55
55. And another damsel lay sound asleep, embracing her big lute as if it were a female
friend, and rolled it about, while its golden strings trembled, with her own face bright
with her shaken earrings.
paõavaü yuvatirbhujàüsadeèàdavavisraüsitacàrupàèamanyà |
savilàsaratàütatàütamårvorvivare kàütamivàbhinãya èièye || 5.56
56. Another lay, with her tabour, 2
aparà na babhurnimãlitàkùyo vipulàkùyo 'pi èubhabhruvo 'pi satyaþ |
pratisaükucitàraviüdakoèàþ savitaryastamite yathà nalinyaþ || 5.57
57. Others showed no lustre with their eyes shut, although they were really full-eyed
and fair-browed, Þ like the lotus-beds with their buds closed at the setting of the sun.
èithilàkulamårdhajà tathànyà jaghanasrastavibhåùaõàüèukàütà |
aèayiùña vikãrõakaüñhasåtrà gajabhagnà pratipàtitàüganeva || 5.58
58. Another, with her hair loose and dishevelled, and her skirts and ornaments fallen
from her loins, lay with her necklace in confusion, like a woman crushed by an
elephant and then dropped.
1 This is a hard verse, but the women's face above the bent body seems to be compared to the
duck standing on the flower and bending the stalk.
2 [Ed: So Cowell, who apparantly found it impossible to translate the rest of the verse. Johnson
was not so reticent, and rendered the verse: ßAnother young woman lay, bringing her paõava,
whose beautiful netting had slipped from her armpit, between her thighs, like a lover
exhausted at the end of his sport.û]
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Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha
aparàstvavaèà hriyà viyuktà dhÔtimatyo 'pi vapurguõairupetàþ |
vinièaèvasurulvaõaü èayànà vikÔtàkùiptabhujà jajÔübhire ca || 5.59
59. Others, helpless and lost to shame, though naturally self-possessed and endued with
all graces of person, breathed violently as they lay and yawned with their arms
distorted and tossed about.
vyapaviddhavibhåùaõasrajo 'nyà visÔtàgraüthanavàsaso visaüjÿàþ |
animãlitaèuklaniècalàkùyo na virejuþ èayità gatàsukalpàþ || 5.60
60. Others, with their ornaments and garlands thrown off, Þ unconscious, with their
garments spread out unfastened, Þ their bright eyes wide open and motionless, Þ lay
without any beauty as if they were dead.
vivÔtàsyapuñà vivÔddhagàtrà prapatadvaktrajalà prakàèaguhyà |
aparà madaghårõiteva èièye na babhàùe vikÔtaü vapuþ pupoùa || 5.61
61. Another, with fully-developed limbs, her mouth wide open, her saliva dropping, and
her person exposed, lay as though sprawling in intoxication, Þ she spoke not, but bore
every limb distorted.
iti sattvakulànuråparåpaü vividhaü sa pramadàjanaþ èayànaþ |
sarasaþ sadÔèaü babhàra råpaü pavanàvarjitarugõapuùkarasya || 5.62
62. Thus that company of women, lying in different attitudes, according to their
disposition and family, bore the aspect of a lake whose lotuses were bent down and
broken by the wind.
samavekùya tataèca tàþ èayànà vikÔtàstà yuvatãradhãraceùñàþ |
guõavadvapuùo 'pi valgubhàso nÔpasånuþ sa vigarhayàü babhåva || 5.63
63. Then having seen these young women thus lying distorted and with uncontrolled
gestures, however excellent their forms and graceful their appearance, Þ the king's
son felt moved with scorn.
aèucirvikÔtaèca jãvaloke vanitànàmayamãdÔèaþ svabhàvaþ |
vasanàbharaõaistu vaücyamànaþ puruùaþ strãviùayeùu ràgameti || 5.64
64. `Such is the nature of women, impure and monstrous in the world of living beings;
but deceived by dress and ornaments a man becomes infatuated by a woman's
attractions.
vimÔèedyadi yoùitàü manuùyaþ prakÔtiü svapnavikàramãdÔèaü ca |
dhruvamatra na vardhayetpramàdaü guõasaükalpahatastu ràgameti || 5.65
65. `If a man would but consider the natural state of women and this change produced
in them by sleep, assuredly he would not cherish his folly; but he is smitten from a
right will and so succumbs to passion.'
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