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21. RAJIMATI AND RATHANEMI
(The tough-minded heroine involved in a conflict with a pleasure seeking young man is a typical Miltonic situation. But Milton's Young Lady confronted by Comus has to seek the helping hand of the heavens whereas Räjimati here stands on her own and puts her assailant to shame.)
-GSB
Krsna suggested to king Ugrasena that for his daughter, • Rájimati, Prince Aristanemi would be the proper match. Räjimati was a beautiful young lady with such lustrous complexion that people thought it sparkled like lightning. Aristanemi, Krsna's cousin, was indeed an appropriate groom for her. King Ugrasena saw no hitch and the wedding was to take place at his residence.
Accordingly prince Aristanemi was bathed in perfumed water dressed in gorgeous garments, decked up in all kinds of jewellery and put upon an impressively decorated elephant. He was given the escort of elephants, chariots, cavalry units and infantry men, in keeping with the dignity of his position in the royal family of Sauripura. In a splendid procession headed by drummers and musicians Aristanemi started for the residence of the bride. On his way however he saw a number of birds and other animals shut up in cages. He looked at them, saw a piteous look in their eyes and felt greatly disturbed by the sight. He asked his mahout why these poor animals were shut up like that. The mahout said that they were being taken to the palace for his wedding feast. 'Good-heavens', thought Aristanemi, was his marriage to cost so much ? All these animals will be slaughtered, there will be such a lot of bloodshed - all for the wedding of a man and woman...!"
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