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Authorship of ķtusaṁhara: A Reappraisal
19
अलिपंक्तिरनेकशस्वया गुणकृत्ये धनुषो नियोजिता । Kumar. IV. 15. प्रायश्चापं न वहति भयान्मन्मथः षट्पदज्यम् | Megh. 71.
The Rtusamhāra mentions certain flowers with which the young domsels seek to adorn different parts of their body. They put on the fresh Karņikāra flower in their ears, Aśoka alternates with Navamallikā in their tresses. 18 The Meghaduta completes the picture by enlisting the various flowers they use as adornment on other parts.
हस्ते लीलाकमलमलके बालकुन्दानुविद्ध नीता लोध्रप्रसवरजसा पाण्डुतामाननश्रीः ।
चूड़ापाशे नवकुरबकं चारु कणे शिरीषं
__ सीमन्ते च त्वदुपगमजं यत्र नीप वधूनाम् || Megh. 15. The Rtusamhāra again agrees with the Meghduta in its description of the features of feminine beauty, Tremulous and bewitching eyes, thick bosoms, thin waist and heavy lips are universally acknowledged to heighten the female charm. The well-known verse of Meghadata-तन्वी श्यामा शिखरिदशना पक्वबिम्बाधरोष्ठी (79) is an obvious improvement on simple juvenile description in the Rtu
नेत्रेषु लोलो मदिरालसेषु, गण्डेषु पाण्डुः कठिनः स्तनेषु । मध्येषु निम्नो जघनेषु पीन: स्त्रोणामनंगो बहुधा स्थितोऽद्य || VI. 10.
The impact of the spring is not restricted to human beings alone, it stirs the lower creatures also to amorous activities. The male cuckoo, with its passion raised by the mango-blossom, kisses its darling. And the lowly bee begins to fawn upon its female. Such is the all-pervasive effect of the vernal season.
पुस्कोकिलश्चूतरसासवेन मत्तः प्रियां चुम्बति रागहृष्टः । कूजद्विरेफोऽप्ययमम्बुजस्य प्रियं प्रियायाः प्रकरोति चाटु || Rtu. VI. 14.
A similar picture of their behaviour consequent on untimely advent of the spring is found in the Kumārasambhava.
चूनाङ्करास्वादकषायकण्ठः पुंस्कोकिलो यन्मधुरं चुकूज | Kumar III. 32. मधुः द्विरेफः कुसुमै कपात्रे पपो प्रियां स्वामनुवर्तमानः । Ibid. III. 36.
The similarities between the Rtusamhāra and Kalidāsa's undisputed works, as detailed above, are so numerous and so close that it will be hazardous to dismiss them as chance coincidences. The hand of a common author is visibly manifest behind them,
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