Sambodhi 2006 Vol 30

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

Page 92

86
SUSHMA KULSHRESHTHA & ABHA KULSHRESHTHA
SAMBODHI
Being the bard of Kāmadeva, the male cuckoo is adept in music. It renders ālāpa, the elaboration of musical notes. Ālāpa is a technical term of musicology which means the presentation of any rāga through elaboration of musical notes. The grand season spring is attractive with the sweet music of cuckoos. Kālidāsa wishes that may the spring shower happiness on all !
मलयपवनविद्धः कोकिलालापरम्यः
सुरभिमधुनिषेकाल्लब्धगन्धप्रबन्धः । विविधमधुपयूथैर्वेष्ट्यमानः समन्ताद्
भवतु तव वसन्तश्रेष्ठकालः सुखाय ॥१२ The god of love Kāmadeva is Puspabāna. He is so called as he is supposed to use five flowers as his arrows. The flowers are Aravinda (red lotus), Asoka (Jonesia asoka Roxb), Cūta (mango-blossom), (Navamallikā (Jasminum sambac) and Nīlotpala (blue lotus) :
अरविन्दमशोकश्च चूतं च नवमल्लिका ।
नीलोत्पलञ्च पञ्चैते पञ्चबाणस्य सायकाः ॥३ According to some authorities, the following are the names of the arrows of Kāma : Sammohana (causing delusion), Unmādana (causing excitement). Sosana (drying up), Tāpana (heating) and Stambhana (paralysing). The cooing of cuckoos brings information of Kāmadeva's arrow of mango-blossom. At the advent of spring, when mango-trees are laden with fresh mañjarīs, the male cuckoo sips its fresh juice, its throat gets intoxicated and it begins its music. Thus, it pierces people with mango-blossom-arrows. When Kāma is reduced to ashes by Siva, his sweet-heart Rati laments thus : 'O Kusumāyudha ! Say, by whom will the fresh blossom of mango-tree, the beautiful stem of which is reddishgreen and the sprouting of which is proclaimed by the notes of the male cuckoo, be now used as his arrow ? :
हरितारुणचारुबन्धनः कलपुंस्कोकिलशब्दसूचितः । वद सम्प्रति कस्य बाणतां नवचूतप्रसवो गमिष्यति ॥१४
Kālidāsa is of the firm belief that the voice of the cuckoo becomes clear and sweet when it tastes the mango-sprouts. Hence, the melodious voice of the cuckoo indicates the presence of mango-blossoms.