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Vol. xxx, 2006
PUMSKOKILAKŪJITA IN KĀLIDĀSA
..89
of the kunda flowers and the charm of their sprout-like hands with young shoots of trees readiant like coral :
परभृतकलगीतैर्लादिभिः सद्वचांसि
___ स्मितदशनमयूखान् कुन्दपुष्पप्रभाभिः । कलकिसलयकान्ति पल्लवैर्विद्रुमाभै
रुपहसति वसन्तः कामिनीनामिदानीम् ॥२ At one place, Kālidāsa describes the sweet notes of cuckoos as excelling the sweet words of esteemed women. At an other place, he narrates the first cooings of female cuckoos as the limited utterances by innocent yount maidens :
प्रथममन्यभृताभिरुदीरिता:
प्रविरला इव मुग्धवधूकथाः । सुरभिगन्धिषु शुश्रुविरे गिरः
कुसुमितासु मिता वनराजिषु ॥२३ There in the rows of forests fragrant with scent and abounding in flowers were heard the measured cooings first uttered by the cuckoos, like the moderate expressions given out by bewitching bashful females.
The female cuckoo is the most efficient amongst the birds. She is adorned with the coveted title 'Madanadūti', The sweet music presented by the cuckoo is capable of iminishing the pride of women. In the absence of Urvasī, the lovelorn Purūravas asks each bird and animal about her. Beholding a female cuckoo, he asks her thus :
इयमातपान्तसंधुक्षितमदा जम्बूविटपमध्यास्ते परभृता । विहङ्गमेषु पण्डिता जातिरेषा । यावदेनामभ्यर्थये । भवति, त्वां कामिनो मदनदूतिमुदाहरन्ति
मानावभङ्गनिपुणं त्वममोघमस्त्रम् । तामानय प्रियतमां मम वा समीपं
मां वा नयाशु कलभाषिणि ! यत्र कान्ता ॥२४ Here is a cuckoo seated on a branch of the Jambū tree, with her passion inflamed by the termination of the sultry season. Of all the species of birds, this species is very clever. I will, therefore, entreat her. Madam, lovers describe you as the messenger of love, and you are an unfailing weapon, skilled in taming the
