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i6
Satya Vrat
idea is repeated in the Raghuvamsa where Daśaratha, when out on an hunting expedition, is referred to have desisted from discharging arrow on the dear as their eyes bore close resemblance with those of his own spouses and thereby served to remind him of their graceful movements.
त्रासातिमात्रचटुलैः स्मरतः सुनेत्रैः प्रौढप्रियानयनविभ्रमचेष्टितानि ॥ Raghu. IX.58.
While the cause of longing is implied in the ķtusamhära, it is expressly stated in the Raghuvamsa as if to remove the lacuna in the former.
The description of the Abhisarikās is favourite with Kalidasa. As they rush to meet their lovers in the pitch darkness of night, flashes of lightning show them the ground and thus serve the purpose of guided lamps.
अभीक्ष्णमुश्चछनता पयोमुचा घनान्धकारीकृतशर्वरीष्वपि । तबिनभादर्शितमार्गभूमयः प्रयान्ति रागादमिसारिकाः स्त्रियः ।। Rtu. III. 10.
This desription bears so striking similarity to the beautiful portrayal of the Abhisārikās of Ujjayini in the Meghadata that the two could not but have sprung from the same poat.
गच्छन्तीनां रमणवसति योषितां तत्र नक्त रुद्धालोके नरपतिपथे सूचिभेद्येस्तमोभिः । सौदामन्या कनकनिकषस्निग्धया दर्शयोवी तोयोत्सर्गस्तनितमुखरो मा स्म भूर्विक्लवास्ताः ॥ Megh. 37. .
According to the author of Řtusamhāra the ladies, when frightened by terrific thunderings of the cloud, close themselves in the embraces of their lovers though they had earlier offended them through their dubious behaviour.
पयोधरैर्भीमगभीरनिस्वनैस्तडिद्भिरुद्वेजितचेतसो भृशम् । कृतापराधानपि योषितः प्रियान्परिष्वजन्ते शयने निरन्तरम् ॥ Rtu. II. 11.
This verse corresponds so closely to the idea expressed in one of the stanzas in the description of Agnivarna's sexual orgy in Raghuvísa that there can be no doubt about their common origin. The relevant verse reads as follows.
विग्रहाच्च शयने पराङ्मुखी नेतुमबलाः स तत्वरे । आचकांक्ष घनशब्दविक्लवास्ता विवृत्य विशती जान्तरम् ।। Raghu. XIX. 38.
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