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64
CHAPTER TWO
Teachers approached, reciting their own poetry,108 with pupils gamboling like calves freed from a stake. Here was a Brāhman teacher, reciting charms from the Vedas; there were the sayings of astrologers full of consideration in regard to auspicious moments, etc. Here were the best joyous outcries of high-born women ; there the auspicious sound of songs of gazelle-eyed courtesans. Here was the tumult of bards suitable for the preparation of a festival ; there blessings in beautiful dvipathaka-meter of wandering bards. Here were the voices loud with joy of crowds of servants speaking to each other; there tumult made by door-keepers which was pleasing from the summoning of petitioners. In the palace-courtyard noise attained sole kingship, like thunder in the sky filled with rainy-season clouds.
In one place people anointed themselves with saffron and other ointments; in another they put on linen and other garments. On one side they honored themselves with divine wreaths and ornaments; on another they pleased themselves with betel mixed with camphor. They sprinkled saffron in the courtyard and arranged svastikas with pearls resembling lotuses. Arches were made with pillars of fresh plantain, and golden pitchers were set at the sides of the arches. The musician-women of the city, their braids of hair containing flowers, wearing head-dresses of wreaths of flowers, with wreaths hanging from their necks, like Śris of the seasons in person ; with shining jeweled earornaments, armlets, gold neck-ornaments, bracelets, and anklets, like goddesses of Ratnādri; their girdles forming a row, with upper garments whose fluttering borders hang down on both sides, like creepers of kalpa-trees, gave concerts charming with singing and clapping of the hands, like women of the gods. Young women of wealthy cityfamilies, wearing beautiful veils, with safflower-colored upper garments, thieves of the beauty of the eastern quarter covered by twilight-clouds, the beauty of their bodies
108 537. See App. I.
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