Lilavaikaha

Author(s): K R Chandra, Ramniklal M Shah
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 78

Lilavai-Kahå of Koühala
the king of gods, being frightened, ordered the divine nymph
Rambhā (thus) - 585.1 "(Dear) Rambhā, go and create distraction in the mind
of) the great sage, staying in the thick forest, sitting on
a reed-seat with his heart set on severe penance". 585.2 At the command of the king of gods, that beautiful nymph
being delighted (lit. with delighted limbs or body) at once came to the forest where the great sage was mortifying
himself. 586.3 Then in the mind of that great sage, perturbed on secing
the heavenly nymph, the fire of passion began to burn, seeking to consume the tree of penance as it was incensed
hy (lit. sprinkled with) the ghee of temptation. 586. Staying for quite some time with him, whose mind was
infatuated with passion, she became pregnant, (thus) making
the king of gods happy. 587. And I was born of that Rambhā, most beautiful (woman)
in the three worlds. Deserting me after delivery (or, my
birth) she ascended to heaven, 588. Then, dear friend, my father also, seeing me without my
mother, propitiated the sylvan deities with great regard at
that time. 589. So they nurtured me with the nectar-like fruit-juices till
I becane healthy and could walk on my feet in that
penance grove. : 590. With my body clad in bark-garment (or bodice) and living
like the young one of a deer, I enjoyed the pleasure of
playing in my childhood with the young deer. 591. After some days I left behind my childhood (lit. I was
left by that childhood) and my mind was inclined towards waiting upon my revered father (lit. waiting upon my
father's lotus-like feet). 592. I brought different kinds of bulbous roots and fruits from
trees (lit. born of trees, or, flowers of trees acc. to