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SETUBANDHA
125
ped on the summit of the western mountain, having lost the support of its rays.5
9. Having somehow endured the grief of separation from her beloved at night, the female Cakravāka bird ran to her mate, responding to his call, as if to welcome him at dawn.
10. As the moon clung to the summit of the western mountain its flanks were lit up by the enhanced lustre of the plants; and the oozing of water from the moonstones increased more than ever.7
11. The sky, with the stars sliding far down, and the moonbeams verging (towards the west), being driven by the rays of the morning sun, seemed to sink along with the moon, and rise (at the other end) from the Sunrise mountain.
12. The eventide gave joy to the damsels by bringing their consorts, and the night by affording the pleasures of love. But the morning wore on, causing the anguish of separation, with passion unquenched.
13. The morning dalliance was much more delightful than that of the evening: perfect because the frenzy brought by wine had worn off, and the joy was enhanced by confidence, with the girdle torn to shreds in the ardour of love.
14. The wine-bowl, abandoned by the young women, and smeared with the paint of their lips, and half covered with the lotus left in the remnant of wine,9 still emitted a mild fragrance like that of fading Bakula flowers.
15. The young women, allowed to leave by their beloved, were worn out with fatigue, their hair loose, and the hips encompassed by the girdle worn inside out;10 while faint traces of perfumed paint still adhered to their bodies.
4. 'from', acc. to Ramadasa's reading.
5. Kara means also 'hand' which brings into relief the idea of helplessness, 6. The birds (red geese) are believed to separate at nightfall.
7. i.e., owing to the contiguity of the moon whose influence on plants and moonstones is often mentioned in Kavya poetry.
8. Lit. with only a remnant left of the girdle torn.....
9. The lotus was placed in the bowl to perfume the wine during the revels of the night.
10. Indicates the listlessness of the damsels at the time of departure.
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