Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 3

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 359

330
CHAPTER FIVE
intoxicated by youth. In my wandering I came to a large city, Sankhapura, and went to see a festival to the Yakşa Sankhapāla. There I saw a girl in a mango-arbor, whose appearance was entirely beautiful, like a girl in Smara's harem. I, in love, stood there a long time, as if bound by such snares and she looked at me lovingly. She, above reproach, gave me betel through a friend, which was the cause of love as well as redness of lips. As I was thinking, “As I have accepted the betel and wish to do something in return, what is suitable for me?" a very powerful rogueelephant pulled up his tying-post, broke his leg-chains to pieces, and ran off. Abandoned by the elephant-keepers unable to remedy things at a distance, watched by the mahouts exceedingly bewildered as he ran, thrusting aside the helpless elephant-drivers carrying goads, the elephant reached the mango-arbor in a moment. All the attendants of the maiden filed. Generally when fear is present, one's self is more important than everything else. As the elephant charged, she was not able to run, but stood on the spot, trembling, like a doe before a lion. When the elephant had almost seized the girl with its trunk, I hit him at the base of the tail with a club. Leaving the girl, he turned like a serpent touched on the tail. I escaped the elephant, took the girl, and went elsewhere. I put her down in a place free from danger, but she, by whom deceit was barred, did not put me out of her heart. Her attendants came there again and, when they knew that Madira had been saved, they praised me, like bards.
She was led back to this mango-arbor by her friends and by chance elephant-spray fell, carried by the wind. Again they all ran here and there, terrified. She went somewhere ; and I do not know where. I wander about in the hope of seeing her. Without seeing her for a long time I came here, desolate. Even though I have no plan, I do not die, but live. Look at me. But there are, indeed, means of reaching Kesarā. I am talking to you as a