________________
-252)
26. THE SECTION ON THE BEB
305
245) Oh bee, perched on a lotus-petal, do not roam about (in this manner), in the absence of the Mālatī. When fate becomes adverse (i.e, frowns), even the flowers of gourd-plants do not come our way (i.e. are not found or obtained).
246) Oh bee, learn to find pleasure in other flowers, give up this uneasiness of mind (worry). You will die while still brooding (on her, the Mālatī). How possibly can you get the Mālati in the autumn ?
247) Flowers devoid of good qualities reproached the bee for being a vagrant (bhramara). But having once secured the Mālatī, if that clever fellow wanders away still let him do so! (If that bee, being clever enough to extricate himself from the Mālatī, wanders away, let him do so!)
248) The bee, perched on the bud of the Kunda creeper, on remembering his merriment (dalliance) with the Mālatī, gave out (heaved) such a warm sigh that the Kunda creeper caught fire and began to blaze.
249) In the case of what bee (or person), whose body is perfumed with the juice (honey) of the Ketakī flower, whose abundant fragrance is spreading all round, will ever the acquisition ( realisition or conquest) of his heart's beloved be delayed (or postponed) (for long) ?
250) The bees did not at all desert the Mālati branch (i. e. the Mālati creeper), although its leaves had dropped down, although it was devoid of fragrance and although it had lost its juiciness (succulence), because they recollected the happiness which they had experienced already before (in its company).
251) Although the branch of the Mālati creeper was reduced to the condition of a stick shorn of flowers and leaves, it was no abandoned by the bees, as they remembered the (erstwhile) abun. dance of fragrance of the slightly opened buds.
252) Very clever (indeed) are those bees, who after having fully caused the (Mālatī) bud with tightly compressed (folded) petals to unfold, first drink its juice (i. e, are the first to drink its juice).
VL...20
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