Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

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

Page 57

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CHAPTER TWO
Vīrabhadra asked her with brotherly affection, 'Where are you going, sister?' and Vinayavatī told him how it was. 'With what amusements does your friend pass the time, sister ?' Vīrabhadra asked and she replied, “With the lute, et cetera.' He said, 'I am going with you,' and she said, 'Admittance is not allowed to any man, not even a boy. How will you get it?' 'I shall assume a woman's appearance completely.' She agreed and he immediately put on women's clothes, like an actor. He went with her and when asked by Anangasundarī, 'Who is this girl with you, friend?' she said, 'It is my sister.'
Then Anangasundarī began to paint a swan grieved at separation (from her mate) on a tablet with lovely new paints. Vīrabhadra said to her, "You began to paint her grieved by separation, but her eye, et cetera are not right.' Anangasundari said, You paint it,' and gave the tablet and paints to Virabhadra. Vīrabhadra painted such a swan immediately and handed it to her. After examining it, she said, 'Indeed, skill in painting shows the inner emotions. Just so, her eye is shedding tear-drops. The face is sickly looking; the bill is holding a lotus-stalk feebly; the neck is languid ; the wings are unable to rise. This desolate appearance clearly describes her condition grieved by the separation, even though it is not described itself. Why, friend, did you not bring her, so skilled in the arts, for so long ? Why did you put her in a house and keep her like a secret ?'.
Vīrabhadra said, “My sister did not bring me from fear of our elders. There is no other reason.' Anangasundari said, 'In future you must come every day with your sister. What is her name, fair lady?' Vīrabhadra said quickly, *My name is Vīramati.' The princess said again, 'Do you know other arts also ?' Vinayavati said, 'You will soon know, yourself. There is no confidence in wonderful accomplishinents described by others.' Anangasundarī, delighted, said, 'Very well,' and, after entertaining Vinayavatī, dismissed her together with him (Vīrabhadra).