________________
--21]
3. THE SECTION ON POETRY
273
is understood only by exceptionally clever people (i.e. by literary connoisseurs).
15) The poor (unfortunate) gāthā laments when it is being learnt by uneducated rustics. It is tortured (harassed) like a cow being milked by ignorant (unpractised) milkmen.
16) Oh gātha, you ; will be mutilated (disfigured) or be even degraded (corrupted or spoiled) (shortened) like a piece of sugar-cane being nibbled and munched hard and forcefully by the teeth of a rustic.
17) Not to appreciate the charm of the gäthäs, of songs (vocal music), of the notes of the lutes and of grown-up ladies-well, that itself is a great punishment (for those miscreants).
18) That which is done (composed or rendered) by those who do not know the metre (and also the whim of the master), -well, that is anything but charming (fruitful, effective); what is it? The gātha or service? Or rather both the gătha and service.
3. The Section on Poetry 19) Gems in the form of poems are produced (or emerge) when the vast and unfathomable ocean in the form of the poet's mind is churned with the Mandara-rod (churning-rod-like Mandara mountain) in the form of cogitation (contemplation).
20) That alone is (real) poetry, which, beautified by words bright (effective) with (exquisite) arrangement, and full of emotional appeal, warms up every breast (heart), like the waistband (girdle) of a woman playing the role of man in sexual intercourse), which (waist-band) brightens up the woman's feet because of its lustrous gems, which produces a tinkling sound, and which warms up (causes to glow with passion) the opponent (i.e. the partner in sexual intercourse) (or which torments the rival wife).
21) We never become satiated with the delight which springs from Prākrit poetry, from the utterances of clever people
VL... 18
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
