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106
SETUBANDHA
to them, cheerful even though unappeased; and sighed, happy even though unkissed.
64. The words, stern with manifest wrath, uttered by the maidens, with the face turned away, as they angrily wiped their lips and wept, when forcibly kissed by their beloved, delighted the latter.
65. The young women did not set out to meet their lovers nor did they dress their hair nor question the messenger girls (about the mission to the beloved). Bewildered by the moonlight, they trembled as they stood perplexed.
66. Delightful was the advent of the evening to the demons. The talk about Rāma was ignored, and confidence reposed in Ravana; while the activities of the young women proceeded as before.
67. What the messenger girls reported openly, returning after meeting the lovers, the young women caused to be repeated many a time, although it was false and brought them sorrow.13
68. During quarrels of love, the maidens, harassed by their beloved, sitting in front of them on the bed, could not turn the back upon them. Tears only welled up in their eyes.
69. The anger of the proud women, heightened by love, died away slowly in their hearts, gratified for a moment by the entreaties of the lovers, but saddened and perturbed again by the remembered offence.
70. Flurried at the sight of the beloved and abashed, the young women touched their hair and adjusted their bangles, and tightened their attire and talked aimlessly to their maiden friends.
71. It was a pretty sight as the gay women, hastening to receive their lovers, and enraptured by the beloved's embrace, went to bed without having finished their adornment, just as they
were.
13. The messengers had brought assurances from the lovers, which proved to be false. Acc. to another explanation, they made a false report obviously to tease the nayikās that the attitude of the nayakas was unfavourable. Cf. verse 79.
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