Yasastilaka and Indian Culture

SR No.: 001609
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Krishnakant Handiqui
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur
Publication Year: 1968
Total Pages: 566
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Story, Literature, & Culture
File Size: 16 MB

Page 92

4. YASASTILAKA AS A PROSE ROMANCE
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part of the forest is covered with the leaves of the banana plants cut up by the hooves of the bucks attacked by leopards. At one place antelopes, oppressed by an uncommon thirst, run and lap up the ripples of a mirage. At another place the trees are ghastly with the blood of stags pierced by the horn of some fierce rhinoceros, and all the Rallaka deer are transfixed by the spines of the porcupines moving about freely."
Similar delineation of the wild life of nature is found in the descripion of the Sipra river in Book V (p. 208):
अन्योन्यापघनघनाघट्टकुपितकुम्भीर भयभ्राम्यत्ककुभकुहूत्कारमुखरम्, अवाघाटब कोटचेष्टितश्च कितकमलमूलनिलीमानपोताधानम्, अम्बुरुह कुहरविहरदवहार विघ्नितवैखानस कुसुमोञ्छन विधानम्, उदीर्णदर्पदीवि तुमुलकलिकोलाहलावलोकमूकमूककलोकम्, उन्मत्तमकरकरास्फालनोत्ताललहरिको त्तालितारविन्दकन्दरद्रवन्मकरन्द बिन्दुचन्द्रकावचयचटुलचञ्चरीकमेचकवीचिकानीकम्, उद्दामोदकद्विपदशनदश्यमानमृणालिनीशकलसारप्रसरम्, अतुच्छकच्छपाच्छोटमूर्छत्पाठीन पृष्ठपीठीउठदुद्दण्डडिण्डीरपिण्डशिखण्डिताटनितटीनिकट कर्करम् ..
"The waters resound with the cries of the water-fowl hovering about in fear of the alligators enraged at the heavy clash of each other's bodies, and the young fish lie hidden under the lotus beds, scared by the movements of the silent cranes; while the gathering of flowers by anchorites is hampered by the water-snakes prowling inside the lotus beds. The frogs keep quiet on hearing the noise of the fierce fights of ferocious waterserpents; and the ripples are darkened by the bees briskly collecting the spreading honey drops oozing from the inner cavity of the lotus blossoms swayed by the surging waves caused by frenzied crocodiles splashing the water with their claws. The waters are overspread with fragments of lilies chewed by fierce hippopotami; and the contiguous rocks of the mountain slopes are fringed with heavy masses of foam floating on the broad backs of the Pathina fish, excited by the splash made by huge tortoises."
Among other descriptions of nature the oncoming darkness is described towards the end of Book III, and Book IV opens with an overwrought picture of sunset and the evening twilight. Elaborate descriptions of the seasons occur in Books I and III, and although the imagery is conventional, there are graphic touches; for example, in the portrayal of the flowers and plants of the rainy season when "the fields are uneven with dense masses of mushrooms; the horizon is pink with blossoms of water-pepper plants; the crevices of mountain rocks are delightfully fragrant with jasmine flowers; .the hill tops are adorned with Girimallika buds;..
the mountain bowers are gay with Sarja and Arjuna trees; and the leafy petals of the Ketaki flowers glisten, shaped like Cupid's darts." (Book III).
1 Ms. A reads दीवट for दीवि.
2 This is the reading of Ms. A. The printed text reads frenare. 10