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7. YAŠASTILAKA AS AN ANTHOLOGY OF SANSKRIT VERSE
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The love life of animals in the spring is described in the following verse; हंसो यत्र मृणालिनीकिसलयैर्गण्डूषतोयैर्गजः कोकश्चुम्बनचेष्टितः परिपतन् पारापतः कूजितः ।
एणः शृङ्गाविघर्षणैर्मुगपतिर्गाढं पुनः श्लेषणैः शृङ्गारप्रसरप्रसादिहृदयः स्वां स्वां प्रियां सेवते ॥ In springtime the animals, their hearts gladdened by the surge of love, caress their mates, each his own; the swan with offerings of tender leaves of water-lilies, and the elephant with mouthfuls of water; the red goose with strenuous kissings, and the flying dove with cooings; the antelope with gentle scratchings with the horns; and the lion with close embraces ever and anon ( 3. 442).
Geographical names are sometimes used to add a zest to natural descriptions: आमन्दं पल्लवीनां रतिरभसभरप्राप्तकेलीविनोदाः सामोद केरलीनां मुखकमलवनामोदपानप्रगल्भाः। आशैत्यं कुन्तलीनां कुचकलशरसावासकाराः समीराः काले वान्ति स तस्मिन् किल मलयलतानतिनो दाक्षिणात्याः ॥ The breezes of the south, which make the creepers on the Malaya mountain dance, blew at the time, soft, fragrant and cool. Verily these breezes delight in the vehement gaiety of love, in which the Pallava women indulge; avidly imbibe the fragrance of the lotus mouths of the women of Kerala; and linger on the perspiration on the high bosoms of the women of Kuntala (2. 69).
Morning scenery is described in 3. 3-22, and moonrise in 3. 479-489. उत्कल्लोलो जलधिरजडं नीलनीरेजमेतन्मारः स्फारः प्रमदहृदयोदारचाराश्चकोराः । सौधोत्सङ्गाः सपदि विहितक्षीरपूराभिषङ्गा यस्योल्लासे स जयति जनानन्दनश्चन्द्र एषः ।। घृद्धिर्वधैर्विजयसमयः पुष्पकोदण्डपाणेः क्रीडानीडं रतिरसविधेः प्राणितं पञ्चमस्य ।
स्त्रीणां लीलावगमनिगमः कामिनां केलिहेतुः स्रोतःसूतिर्निजमाणेभुवां देव चन्द्रोदयोऽयम् ॥ Yonder Moon thrives in glory, causing delight to men. When he joyously rises, the ocean surges with waves; the blue lotus comes to life, the god of love waxes strong; the Cakora hirds move freely about with delighted hearts; and the surface of palaces is forth with flooded with milk! (3. 481). Sire, this moonrise causes the ocean to swell. It is the hour of the flowerbowed Cupid's triumph. It is the pleasure resort of the sentiment of love and the life-breath of the fifth note of the gamut. It is the science that teaches women their graceful movements; the occasion for the sports of lovers; and the source of the oozing of moonstones (3. 484).
Descriptions of mountains and the Siprā river occur in Book. V. The following verse is addressed to an ancient tree:
पान्धैः पल्लवलुण्टनं करटिभिः स्कन्धस्य संघट्टनं संबाधो हरिभिः शकुन्तनिकरैः क्षोदस्तु किं वर्ण्यते ।
किं चान्यत्तव देवदेहसदृशस्त्रैलोक्यमान्यस्थितेरात्मीया इव यस्य याचकजनैः स्वच्छन्दसेव्याः श्रियः ॥ Travellers pluck thy leaves; elephants shake thy trunk; monkeys harass thee; and how can the pecking by bevies of birds be described ? What else
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