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Chapter XVII : (Rasārņava-Sudhākara)
1. You unwise one, at midday when the paddyfield was unfrequented and the doe
ate the paddy, how is it that you were away to see Vanavātikā ?
2. What is the use of my father whose feet (lit. tips of toes) are kissed by the kings'
crowns (lit. ends of kings' crowns)? Or what is the use of my father-in-law who shares with Indra his great throne ? Those countries, those mountains, that forest region where to the feet of Rāma, the son of Kausalya, I bow down and where I rejoice are dearer to me - are more precious to me.
3. (Note : Haṁsapadikā had once been the king Dusyanta's favourite, but she had
fallen into neglect. The king was now paying attetion to the senior queen Vasumatī. The younger Hassapadik, therefore taunts the king by resorting to the figure 'Anyokti)
"You unreliable honey - sucker, how could you have forgotten the fresh mango - blossom that you had so avidly enjoyed ? Now you have retired to the bed of a lotus to do nothing ! flippant as you are !
4. For translation vide DR - Avaloka S. No. (16.31) supra.
5. The more the villager's wife / rustic woman babbles under the influence of drink
about things unmentionable, the more the decent young ladies feel embarrassed; they shut their ears and move away.
6. "When my beloved comes back home from his journeys I shall sure cross with
him. Let him then try to appease me" - so said the young lady ; but when she saw him coming back unexpectedly, all her plans slipped out of her mind.
7. Look ! the young wife hears only half of the words that her husband says at the
time of leave-taking and being quite overcome by her feelings, does not exactly know whether to bid him farewell or prevent his departure.
8. When the father-in-law set on fire the thickets near their house, the
daughter-in-law felt so distracted that she could not take in anything that her mother-in-law said in whatever way.
9. She sat with her cheek supported on his palm, with a blank mind. Her stare is
