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194
vilayāu Bh; vilaā k, viraão V, vania B, vaniāu Y, virahão P -- virahasmi k -- paguppan to Ma; pahuşpasto Bh; pahuppatto k, pahupanto y, pahupanto P.
Even irresistable temptresses let themselves (occasionally) be tormented, (namely) by men who experience no grief when separated from their mistresses. (For) why would someone who is his own master (is the master) suffer to be kicked by someone else?
Whereas the usual place of the finite verb is at the end of the sentence, in this Gathā it is found at the beginning. For similar instances, see 562, 692, 693 and 769. According to Gonda (1952: 67) this results in the accentuation of the affirmative nature of the verb. Thus: 'contrary to what one generally believes laqahavilaās can be tormented'. Gāthā 817 shows that this indeed happens only rarely. Usually the ladahavilaas themselves are the tormentors. In fact only saints are deaf to their seductive charmes or, as here, people who are completely indifferent to female company: asoehi...daiavirahammi, 'people who experience no grief...when separated from their mistresses'. Gātā 817 reads as follows:
lagahavilaāņa loaņa- jhijjaħti mahāsattā
kadakkhavikkhevajanias aftāvā cittuvveanas ahā hosti.
The syntax of the Gātha is misunderstood by Weber. I should like to propose the following translation:
Tormented by the side-long glances of the irresistable (ladana) vilaās one (inevitably) becomes thin. (Only) great saints are able to bear the agitation of the mind (such women bring about).
In the second line of the Gathā under discussion a pun is made on the word asoa of the first line. Asoka-trees are believed to crave for a kick from a young woman. Only when satisfied in this desire do they bring forth flowers. For this motif, see Karpūramañjart II 43. The
