________________
SANATKUMĀRACAKRICARITRA
177 torrents like sharp arrows; crossing without effort, like a rājahansa, here and there the forest-streams with trees uprooted by their speed, though they were difficult to cross; traversing the muddy road with ease, like a boar, he spent the rainy season, wandering in search of his friend.
Enduring the terrible heat of Citrā 236 on his head and the hot sand on his feet, as if he were living in the cavity of a fire-vessel; his mind unceasingly on clear water, lotuses, birds, hansas, et cetera, crying, "Where are you? Where are you, friend?” going among charging elephants irritated by the saptaparṇa which smells like ichor, like an elephant that had come into the forest; carried forward by the wind fragrant with lotuses like a friend, he spent the autumn, wandering like an autumn-cloud.
The water of ponds and rivers being made into ice by the north wind like a brother of Mt. Hima; the rows of red lotuses, day-blooming white lotuses, night-blooming white lotuses, and blue lotuses in the water being consumed everywhere (by cold), incombustible even by a forestfire; the Kirātas suffering from cold and even wishing for a forest-fire; he passed the winter, surely possessing a strong determination. : Taking steps fearlessly in old leaves, fallen knee-deep from trees, which concealed snakes and scorpions; unshaken at the roars of lions whose ears were pricked up and who had been awakened by noises painful to hear, as if they knew the weak points of the ears; satisfying his hunger only by eating fresh shoots, he passed the cool weather, though he himself was not cool because of worry about his friend.
Meeting with Sanatkumāra (147–176) So a year passed while Mahendrasinha wandered over the forest in the search for Sanatkumāra. One day, after he had gone some distance in the forest, he stopped and
280 137. A nakşatra, constellation, Spica virginis, in ascendency in the autumn. In Gujarāt this season is hot.
12
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
