Gaudavaho

Author(s): Vakpatiraj, Narhari Govind Suru, P L Vaidya, A N Upadhye, H C Bhayani
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 57

(XL) diverting their attention from the main theme. In Gāthā 844, for instance, they request him to tell them at length how this great King killed the Magadha king'. Hearing this the Poet just smiles a bit and tells them "how difficult it is to find words to adequately praise our Master, since the very joy of it fills and chokes up the throat (847). He excels even the great king Prthu who cannot stand comparison with him " (856). Then he gives a long discourse about wordly life, the types of people one comes across and a sense of futility and frustration which life in this world breeds (857-1005). “You will, however, be cured of this sad feeling and this will be your precious reward, if you listen to the great merits of our Master being extolled by me" (1006). “To test his great strength, God Siva had once assumed the form of a lion (1011). Our King even now upholds on his bosom the goddess Lakşmi, coming out of the milky ocean churned long back by the gods and demons (1039). He is Kesava or Visnu incarnate, enveloped in his fair glory (1045). He it was who viewed and interviewed the goddess Earth when, harassed, she approached him in the form of a fair lady to tell him of her woes (1063). He is born in the race of the Moon which boasts of many an illustrious predecessor (1065). Such is this King, to describe whose greatness, even the great Snake would find it difficult with his thousand tongues (1072). How are we then competent to do so? I shall, however, tell you at the end of the night how the eastern King was killed by our Master (1073). This Gaudavaho, a great (literary undertaking,Mahārambha ), will now (i.e. next morning) be narrated by me, hearing which, both the great kings and the great poets will lose their own pride of achievements and (feel themselves small before our King and before me )” ( 1074).