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CHAPTER VII
YASASTILAKA AS AN ANTHOLOGY OF SANSKRIT VERSE
The large number of verses interspersed in Yasastilaka makes it a veritable anthology of Kavya poetry in the tenth century. There are groups of verses on diverse topics as well as individual slokas, which can be detached from the context without causing any appreciable break in the narrative, and form, so to speak, an independent body of verse valuable for the study of the poetry of the period. These verses, as a rule, are composed in a comparatively easy style more attractive than the intricate prose, in which Somadeva chose to recount his story.
I. COURT POETRY
A number of verse-groups forming part of the autobiographical record of Yasodhara deals with aspects of medieval court life, with which the romance is so closely bound up, and often gives vivid pictures of scenes which Somadeva must have personally witnessed. The cultural value of these verses can hardly be overestimated, and the following specimens form a more or less consecutive scries.
a) BIRTH OF YASODHARA
The festivities and the atmosphere of gaiety at the royal palace at Ujjayini on the occasion of the birth of Yasodhara are described in a dozen verses (2. 68-79).
नृत्यद्वृद्धपुरन्ध्रिगेयसुभगाः सोल्लास हल्लाननाः खेळद्वामन कामिनीप्रियभुवः सानन्दधात्रीकुलाः । पिष्टापीडविडम्यमान जरतीसीमन्तकान्ताङ्गणास्तूरोद्यावरवैः समं किल बभुः शुद्धान्तमध्यास्तदा ॥
At that hour the inner apartments, delightful with the songs of the old matrons dancing therein, rang with the festive notes of musical instruments, and the countenance of the attendants beamed with joy. The floor presented an amusing scene, dwarfish women indulging in sports. Groups of delighted nurses were about, and the forecourts were charming with the presence of old dames, their hair heavily laden with heaps of coloured powder (2.68).
आनन्दवाद्यरवपूरितदिङ्मुखानि पौराङ्गनाजन विनोदमनोहराणि ।
आमुक्तकेतुरचितोत्सव तोरणानि कामं तदा शुशुभिरे नगरे गृहाणि ॥
At that time the mansions in the city brightly shone, with flags flying and decorative arches built for the occasion. Charming they were with
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