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SETUBANDHA
129 42. His sleep wore off as he ceased to roll, and took his ease by turning over in bed, hearing confusedly the auspicious music of the morning.
43. Disturbed by wrath at the sound of Rāma's bow, the remnant of Rāvana's sleep, free from the effect of wine, came to an end as it slowly departed from the multitude of his eyes, red with drink.
44. As he lay in bed he moved and lifted up his (ten) pairs of arms, which, standing apart, with the fingers interlaced, -resembled lofty bejewelled gates.23
45. Thereafter Rāvana's war-drum began to be beaten, heralding the preparations for the battle; while the gods were perturbed as the Airāvata elephant broke its post, crazed with fear.24
46. Awakened by the warning of the battle, the demons, seizing hold of whatever weapons came to hand, sallied out after caressing a little their young mistresses who hugged them with their eyes closed.
47. When the sudden beat of the drum, a call to arms, was heard, the lips of the lovers, held fast by the young women as they took leave of them, parted from their mouth, slackening even though unreleased.
48. When the sound of arming for the battle was heard, the arms of the young women, clinging to their beloved's neck, slackened because of the pause in dalliance; fear was only a minor pretext.**
49. Hastening on hearing the alarm, the demons, impatient as they took up arms, their hands unsteady, allowed the delightful embrace of their beloved to slacken as the breasts slipped from their bosom.
23. The raised arms are compared to the pillars of a gate, and the Interlaced fingers to the carved decorations at the top.
24. i.e., they were reminded of Rāvana's war with Indra, to whom the elephant belonged. Cf. verse 76.
25. i.e., the real cause was the coolness of the lovers due to anxiety. S. 17
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| SR No. | 001384 |
| Book Title | Setubandha |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Krishnakant Handiqui |
| Publisher | Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad |
| Publication Year | 1976 |
| Total Pages | 812 |
| Language | English, Sanskrit |
| Classification | Book_English & Literature |
| File Size | 14 MB |