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MAY, 1913.]
INDIAN INSCRIPTIONS AND THE KAVYA
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Nos. 2482, 2535. Still more frequently are the pangs of the wives of the enemies, described, in the prasastis, with very various modes of expression.
As for the description of the temple, it is naturally (verse 30) resembling a mountain', white like the pure rays of the moon that has risen up', and 'quite comparable to a lovely jewel on the crest of the western city. After the restoration of the temple, it is said (verse 38) to be touching the sky, as it were, with its beautiful turrets,' and 'the receptacle of the spotless rays of the sun and the moon, at their rise', i. e., reflecting their rays. At last in verse 42, the poet assures us:
As the heaven with the moon, and the bosom of Sârigin with the Kaustubha jewel shines in pure lustre so does the whole of this stately city embellished with this best of temples. The similes and modes of expressions occurring in these verses also belong to the repertory of the artificial poets.
The last points in our inscription, which deserve special attention, are the descriptions of the two seasons. Of these, that of the winter in the kulaka formed by verses 31-35 runs thus :
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31. In the season, wherein the houses are full of beautiful women, which is pleasant on account of the feeble rays of the Sun, and the warmth of fire, when the fish conceal themselves deep under water, when the rays of the Moon, the top floors of houses, sandal ointment, palm-fans and pearl-necklaces afford no enjoyment, when the hoar-frost burns down the water-lilies,'
32. In the season, which is made lovely by the swarms of bees rejoiced by the juice of the opened flowers of the rodhra, the priyangu tree and the jasmine creeper, when the solitary branches of the lavalt and of the nagana, dance under the force of the cold wind full of frost,'
33. When the young men counteract the effects of frost and snow-fall, by fast embracing the massive thighs, the lovely breasts and the bulky hips of their beloveds,'
34. When four hundred and ninety-three years had passed, according to the reckoning of the Mâlavas, in the season when one should derive pleasure from the high breasts of women,'
35. On the auspicious thirteenth day of the bright half of the month of Sahasya was this temple consecrated with the ceremony of auspicious benediction.
Ritusanhara V. 3, corresponds to a part of the first verse in this description:
न चन्दनं चन्द्रमरीचिशीतलं न हर्म्यपृष्ठ शरदिन्दु निर्मलम् ।
न वायवः सान्द्रतुषारशीतला जनस्य चित्तं रमयन्ति सांप्रतम् ॥
Neither the sandal-ointment cooling like the rays of the moon, nor the terrace pure bright like the autumnal moon, nor the winds cold with dense frost, please at present the minds of men.' The idea of our verse 83 and of the close of verse 34 is expressed in Ritusashara, V. 9, thus:
पयोधरैः कुङ्कुमरागपिञ्चरैः सुखोपसेब्यैर्नवयौवनोष्मभिः । विलासिनीभिः परिपीडितोरसः स्वपन्ति शीतं परिभूय कामिनः ॥
Also verse No. 3925 in Sârigadhara's Paddhati bears a very great resemblance to the ideas contained in the verses before us:
प्रालेयशैलशिशिरानिलसंप्रयोगः श्री कुन्दनकरन्नहतामिवृन्दः । wintersak Lagisigg petering veggie ||
Now comes the season, which brings cold winds from the snow-mountains, when the swarms of bees are attracted by the juice of the jasmine in full bloom, when one should cling close to the high breasts of charming beloveds, breasts which are coloured yellow with saffron-ointments.'
Similar verses are found not seldom; and one may refer to Sárng. Paddh. Nos. 3924,3937, and Vikramánkacharita XVI. 8 ff, 47-49, as parallels in point. In connection with verse 32, it must be added that 'the dancing of the branches or the creepers, owing to the wind' is a favourite
28 should rather go with T.S.G.
