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216
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JULY, 1876.
Great god of fate! in this dread state what
saving power is nigh? 'Gainst man's one heart Love's five-fold dart wins easy victory.
Dohá 94. Evory creature in the world, animate or in. animate, male or finale, forgot natural restraint and became subject to love.
Clau mái. In every heart was a craving for love: the tree bent its bougls to kiss the creeper; the overflowing river ran into the arms of Ocean; lakes and ponds effected a meeting. And when such was the case with inanimate creation, what need to speak of man? Beasts on land, and birds in the air, under the influence of love, were unmindful of time and season; all were agitated and blind with desire, and the swan regarded neither night nor day. Guds, demons, men, linnaras, serpents, ghosts, witches, goblins and imps, were all at once enslaved by lovo; even saints and hermits, sages and ascetics became again sensual under his influence.
Chhand 4. When saints and hermits own his sway, why
speak of serf and thrall ? God's whole creation, recreant grown, swore
Love was all in all; Kach jocund dame, each amorous swain, found
heaven in love's embrace : Two hours sped past, Love still stood fast and reigned in Brahma's place.
Soratha 8. None is so bold but Love steals his heart, and only they whom Rama protects can then escape.
Chaupdi. For two hours this triumph lasted, till Kamadeva drew nigh to Sambhu. On seeing him Love troinbled, and the whole world returned to itself. Every living creature at once grew calm, as when a drunkard recovers from his drunkenness. When Love looked at Siva, the invincible and unapproachable god, he feared; then returned shame too strong for words, and, resolved upon death, he formed his plan of attack. Forth with lusty Spring stepped forth, and every tree broke into blossom; wood and grove, lake and pond, every quarter of the heaven,
gladdened and overflowed as it were with love, and even the deadest soul was quickened at the sight.
Chhand 5. At Love's touch the dead were quickened, blog.
Bomed all the wood so dark, While a breeze soft, cool, and fragrant fanned
the love-enkindled spark. Laughs the lake with many a lotus, hum the
bees with drowsy sound, Swans and parrots chatter gaily, gladly dance the nymphs around.
Dohá 95. Though he tried every trick and manifold device, and triumphed over host and all, yet Siva's unbroken trance still continued, and Lovo grew furious.
Chaupai. Seeing a mango-tree with spreading boughe, he in his folly climbed up into it; then fitted a shaft to his flowery bow, and in his great passion taking aim and drawing the string home to the ear he let fly and lodged the five arrows in his breast. Then the trance was broken and Sambhu awoke. In the lord's soul was great agitation; he opened his eyes and looking all round saw Kamadeva in the mango-tree. At his wrath the three worlds trembled. Then Siva unclosed his third eye, and by its flash Kamadeva was reduced to ashes. A confused cry went up through the universe from the gods in their dismay, from the demons in exultation; the rich were sad when they remembered love's delights, while saints and hermits felt relieved of a thorn.||
Chand 6. The saints were freed from torment: but Rati
Swooned for woe, And in sad guise with weeping eyes at Siva's
throne fell low, Sore wailing and lamenting her dear lord's
hapless fate; Till quick to pardon spoke the god in words compassionate :
Dohá 96. “Henceforth, Rati, your husband's name shall be called Anang (the bodiless), and thus etherealized he shall pervade all things. But hear how you will again find him hereafterFiver, rainly calling to each other to cross. During love's brief triumph the curse was for once removed.
|| With this whole narrative compare that in the K2mara Sambhava of Kalidasa.-ED.
$ The male and female chakrou (swan, or rather Brah. mani duck) are doomed for ever to nocturnal separation, and are said to pass the night on the opposite banks of a
