Sambodhi 2006 Vol 30

Author(s): J B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 91

Vol. xxx, 2006
PUMSKOKILAKŪJITA IN KĀLIDĀSA
85
Parabhrtā, the female cuckoo is the loving friend of the damsels as they offer their body (own self-persona) to their lovers. Poet Māgha expresses this idea in the following verse which is definitely based on the views expressed by Kālidāsa in the above-quoted two verses :
प्रियसखीसदृशं प्रतिबोधिताः किमपि काम्यगिरा परपुष्टया ।
प्रियतमाय वपुर्गुरुमत्सरच्छिदुरयाऽदुरयाचितमङ्गनाः ॥ Māgha has very adeptly painted the beauty of yamaka in 'grensge'. The male cuckoo gets intoxicated by sipping the fresh juice of the mangosprouts. His libido is aroused and he kisses his beloved darling :
पुंस्कोकिलश्चुतरसासवेन मत्तः प्रियां चुम्बति रागहष्टः । By sipping the liquor made of fresh juice of the mango-sprouts, its throat gets tinged with passion and the male cuckoo begins its sweet music. The male cuckoo's sweet notes, the pleasant evenings, the moon beams, the fragrant breeze, humming of intoxicated swarms of blackbees and the drinking of wine at nightall this is elixir (panacea) to Cupid (Love) :
रम्यः प्रदोषसमयः स्फुटचन्द्रभासः
पुंस्कोकिलस्य विरुतं पवनः सुगन्धिः । मत्तालियूथविरुतं निशि शीधुपानं
सर्वं रसायनमिदं कुसुमायुधस्य ॥° The conqueror of the world is Kāma. Just as kings have at their disposal the bards who praise them and eulogise them, similarly cuckoos are the bards of Kāma. They are the court singers of Kāma whose prime duty is to sing eulogy of their lord. In the concluding verse of ķtusaṁhāra, the sovereignty of Kāma is described with a wish that may the Bodiless one (Cupid) in the company of his beloved friend spring shower happiness on all, whose bards are the sweet-singing cuckoos :
आम्रीमञ्जुलमञ्जरीवरशर: सत् किंशुकं यद्धनु
यस्यालिकुलं कलङ्करहितं छत्रं सितांशुः सितम् । मत्तेभो मलयानिलः परभृता यद्वन्दिनो लोकजित्
सोऽयं वो वितरीतरीतु वितनुर्भद्रं वसन्तान्वितः ॥१९