The Katha Sarit Sagara or Ocean of the Streams of Story Part 65

And when Mrigankadatta, who had long been yearning for his father, heard of his approach, he went out to meet him with all the kings. And he saw him from a distance, and dismounted from his horse, and fell at the feet of his father, who was seated on an elephant, and at the feet of his mother. And when embraced by his father, he filled with his body his clasping arms, with satisfaction his heart, and his eyes with tears. His mother too folded him in a long embrace, and looking at him again and again, was for some time unable to let him go, as if fearing a second separation. And Mrigankadatta introduced to his father Amaradatta the kings his friends, and they bowed before him and the queen. And that couple, the king and the queen, received lovingly those friends who had stood by their only son in his difficulties.

Then Amaradatta entered the palace of Mayavatu, and saw Sasankavati, his future daughter-in-law, who bowed at his feet. And after accepting a present, he departed with the queen and that daughter-in-law, and took up his quarters in his own camp. And there he took food with his son and all the kings, and spent that day agreeably with song, music, and dancing. And he thought that all his objects in life had been gained, thanks to his son Mrigankadatta, the future emperor, who had attained so much glory.

And in the meanwhile the wise king Karmasena, after deliberating, sent off an amba.s.sador to Mrigankadatta with the following message, which was contained in a letter, and also intended to be delivered by word of mouth; "I know that you will not come to Ujjayini; so I will send to you my own son Sushena; he will bestow on you with due ceremonies his sister Sasankavati; so you ought not, blameless one, to marry her in an irregular manner, if you value my friends.h.i.+p."

And when the prince had heard this message delivered in the royal hall of audience, his father the king himself gave this answer to the amba.s.sador; "Who but king Karmasena would send such a gracious message? That excellent monarch is truly well-disposed to us; so let him send here his son Sushena; we will so order matters as that his daughter's marriage shall give him satisfaction." When the king had given this answer and dismissed the messenger with due honours, he said to his son, and Srutadhi, and the kings, "We had better go now to Ayodhya; that is the place where the marriage can be performed with most eclat; and there we can entertain Sushena with becoming magnificence. And let king Mayavatu wait here for Sushena; when that prince arrives he can come on after us to Ayodhya with him. But we will go on in front to make the necessary preparations for the marriage." And all present approved this speech of the king's.

Then, the next day, the king with the queen and his soldiers, and Mrigankadatta with the kings and his ministers, started off with Sasankavati, exulting in their success, leaving Mayavatu to wait there for Sushena. Their army moved on like a deep and terrible sea, agitated with hundreds of waves in the form of troops of bounding horses, filling all the horizon with a flood of countless marching footmen, rendering all other sounds inaudible with the confused din that arose from it. And gradually advancing, father and son reached the palace of Saktiraks.h.i.+ta the king of the Kiratas, that lay in their course.

There they and their attendants were courteously and generously welcomed with heaps of valuable jewels, gold, and splendid garments. And they stayed there one day with their army, taking food and resting, and then they set out and reached in course of time their city of Ayodhya. It seemed like a lake in windy weather, as they entered it: for the ladies of the city that had climbed up to the windows of the palaces, as they moved to and fro, seemed like swaying full-blown lotuses, sending forth shoots of beauty; and their rolling eyes eager to behold the prince, who after a long absence had returned, bringing a bride with him, were like dancing blue lilies; it was crowded with a.s.sembling kingly swans; and tossing with wavy banners. And father and son looked grand, as they sat on thrones, being blessed by the Brahmans, praised by heralds, and hymned by bards.

And when the people there saw the great beauty of Sasankavati, they exclaimed in their astonishment, "If they were to behold this daughter of Karmasena, the Ocean would cease to boast of the beauty of his daughter Lakshmi, and the Himalaya would no longer pride himself on Gauri." And then, when the festival came on, the quarters, re-echoing the sound of the auspicious drums of rejoicing, as it were, gave notice to the kings. And the whole city was full of exultation, and the vermilion colours that covered it throughout, seemed like its red glow of affection overflowing in external form.

The next day the astrologers fixed an auspicious date for the prince's marriage, and his father king Amaradatta began to make preparations for it. And the city was filled so full of various jewels, coming from all quarters, that it put to shame the city of Kuvera.

And soon a servant of king Mayavatu's came to the sovereign in high spirits, introduced by the warder, and said to him, "King, prince Sushena and king Mayavatu have arrived, and they are both waiting on the frontier of this realm of Ayodhya." When king Amaradatta heard that, he sent his own general with a body of soldiers to meet Sushena. And Mrigankadatta, out of regard for his friend, also went out with the general from Ayodhya to meet the prince. And both of those princes dismounted, while yet a great distance apart, and met together, embracing one another and asking after one another's health. And out of love they entered the city in the same chariot, giving a great feast to the eyes of the ladies of the city.

And there Sushena had an interview with the king, and was received by him with much respect, and then he went to the private apartments of his sister Sasankavati. There she rose up weeping and embraced him, and he sat down, and said to the princess who was overwhelmed with shame, "My father directs me to tell you that you have done nothing unbecoming, for he has just come to learn that prince Mrigankadatta was appointed your husband by the G.o.ddess Gauri in a dream, and it is the highest duty of women to follow the steps of their husbands." When he said this to the girl, she dismissed her shame, looking at her heart with downcast face, as if to tell it that its desire was gained.

Then Sushena brought and gave to Sasankavati in the presence of the king her own acc.u.mulated wealth; two thousand bharas [496] of gold, five camels heavily laden with jewelled ornaments, and another treasure of gold. And he said, "This is her own private property, but, as for what her father has sent, I will give it her in due course at the marriage altar." Then they all ate and drank, and spent the day there in the king's presence in great comfort, with Mrigankadatta and his suite.

The next day dawned, the day fixed as auspicious, and Mrigankadatta performed his own daily ceremony, of bathing and so on; in which the king himself displayed the utmost interest, in his joy at the occasion. And then Sasankavati, though her beauty was sufficient bridal ornament, was solemnly adorned by the ladies, only out of regard for the good old custom, not because anything of the kind was needed. Then the bride and bridegroom left the room in which the previous ceremony took place, and in which Sushena presided, and ascended the altar-platform, where a fire was burning. And on it the prince received the hand of the princess, which was resplendent with the hues of a lotus that she held, as Vishnu the hand of Lakshmi. And when they circ.u.mambulated the fire, the face of Sasankavati was red and tearful from heat and smoke, though anger was far from her. And the handfuls of parched grain, thrown into the fire, appeared like the laughs of the G.o.d of Love, pleased with the success of his scheme. And when the first handful was thrown, Sushena gave five thousand horses, and a hundred elephants, and two hundred bharas of gold, and twenty camels laden with loads of splendid raiment, valuable gems, and pearl-ornaments. And at each subsequent sprinkling of grain, Sasankavati's brother gave her a portion of the wealth gained by the conquest of the earth, double that given at the preceding.

Then Mrigankadatta, the auspicious ceremony of his marriage having been performed, entered his own palace with his newly married bride, Sasankavati, while the sound of festal drums rose in the air. And the king, his father, gratified his ministers and the citizens of his capital, with presents of elephants, horses, garments, ornaments, meat, and drink, suited to the worth of the recipient, beginning with the circle of dependent monarchs, and ending with the parrots and pet mainas. And the king displayed on this occasion such exceedingly lavish generosity that even the trees had garments and gems fastened to them, and presented the appearance of earthly wis.h.i.+ng-trees.

Then the king and Mrigankadatta feasted with the kings and Sasankavati and Sushena, and spent the rest of the day in a wine-party. Then, after the inhabitants of the palace had eaten and drunk well, and enjoyed music and dancing, the sun, having accomplished his journey, and having drunk up the moisture of the earth, entered the cavern of the western mountain. And the glory of the day, seeing that he had departed somewhere or other with the evening that was all ablaze with a warm glow, ran after him in a fit of jealous anger, and the birds flying to and fro seemed like her agitated zone. [497] And then in due course appeared advancing the wanton nymph Night, beautiful with her waving black robe of darkness, and showing a face in which stars rolled for eyeb.a.l.l.s, and the G.o.d of Love waxed mighty. And the moon, own brother to the curved corner of an angry long-eyed beauty's eye, arose, and glowing with fresh rosy colour, made itself the driving-hook of the elephant of the eastern mountain. And the eastern quarter, that was clear and bright with the departure of the darkness, bore a laughing face, to which the moon, like a new shoot of the twining plant of Love, formed an extemporized ear-ornament. And at night Mrigankadatta, after performing his evening devotions, retired to his luxuriously appointed bed-chamber with his bride Sasankavati. And during it, that fair one's moonlike countenance, dispelling the darkness, and lighting up the pictured panels of the room, seemed to render unnecessary the lamps hanging there, that were made of precious stones. [498]

And the next morning Mrigankadatta was aroused by the soft sweet strains of the following song, "The night has past; leave your bed, prince, for the breezes of morning are blowing, fanning the perfumed locks of the gazelle-eyed fair ones. And the dewdrops collected on the points of the blades of durva-gra.s.s sparkle brilliantly, looking like pearls fallen from the necklace of the night quickly following the moon. And observe, prince, the bees that long sported in the cups of the white water-lilies opening when touched by the beams of the moon, and drank the honey, and were joyous at having obtained an entrance, now that the water-lilies are closed and their glory is departing, are seeking some other retreat; for to whom are black souls faithful in calamity? And the G.o.d of Love, seeing that the lip of night has been adorned by the finger of the sun, has stripped it of the moon which served it for a beauty-patch, and has gradually dissipated the darkness which was a black powder to set it off." Aroused by these strains at the hour of dawn, Mrigankadatta cast off sleep, and leaving Sasankavati, at once started up from his couch. And he rose and performed the ceremonies of the day, his father having made all the arrangements that devolved on him; and accompanied by his beloved he pa.s.sed many more days in similar rejoicing. Then his father, Amaradatta, first inaugurated the prince's brother-in-law Sushena with the holy waters, and placed a turban of honour on his head; and bestowed on him as a mark of respect a suitable territory and elephants, horses, quant.i.ties of gold, and garments, and a hundred beautiful women. And then the king complimented the king of the Savaras and the king of the Kiratas, Mayavatu and Saktiraks.h.i.+ta, with their relations and wives, and that king Durgapisacha the leader of the host of the Matangas, and the ministers of Mrigankadatta with Srutadhi, by giving them territories, cows, horses, gold and garments. Then king Amaradatta dismissed the king of the Kiratas and the other monarchs, with Sushena, to their own dominions: and ruled his realm in happiness, at ease because his valour was so well known. Mrigankadatta, for his part, having conquered his enemies, and attained his ends, remained in happiness with his wife Sasankavati, whom he had gained after a long struggle, and with Bhimaparakrama and his other ministers.

And in course of time old age, slowly creeping on, approached the root of the ear of that king Amaradatta, appearing as if it had taken form in order to say to him, "You have enjoyed the good things of fortune; your age is fully ripe; surely it is now time to retire from the world." Then the king's mind became averse to enjoyment, and he said to his ministers, "Listen, I will now tell you the scheme which I have in my mind. My life has pa.s.sed; that grey hue which is the harbinger of Death has just now twitched my locks; and when old age once arrives, a vicious clinging to enjoyment on the part of persons like myself, when all the zest is gone, is mere vanity. And though in some people a mad pa.s.sion of avarice and l.u.s.t goes on increasing with increasing age, that is without doubt the natural tendency of base souls, and the good do not acquire it. Now I have this son here Mrigankadatta, who has gained glory by conquering the sovereign of Avanti and his allied kings [499], who abounds in good qualities, is beloved by the subjects, and has excellent friends. So I propose to make over to him my mighty kingdom, and to retire to a holy water for mortification of the flesh; conduct in conformity with the laws laid down for the various periods of life, that their enemies cannot blame, becomes men of great soul."

When the calm and resolute ministers heard this determined speech of the king's, they, and in due course the queen and the citizens all approved it, saying, "So let it be!" Then the king performed the joyful ceremony of the coronation [500] of his son Mrigankadatta at a moment fixed by the astrologers, on a day selected by the chief Brahmans a.s.sembled together. And on that day the palace of the king was full of people running hither and thither at the order of the warder, and all the officials in it had their hands full, and it reeled with the merriment of famous bards and of lovely women who were dancing there. And while the water of holy places was being poured in copious showers upon the head of Mrigankadatta and his wife, a second flood seemed to gush from the eyes of his joyful parents. And, when that new king, of lion-like might, mounted his lion-seat, it seemed as if his enemies, bowed down by fear of his wrath, crouched on the ground in a fas.h.i.+on other than lion-like.

Then his father, king Amaradatta, prolonged for seven days the great feast, in which the king's highway was decorated, and the subject kings honoured according to their worth. And on the eighth day he went out of the city with his wife, and after turning back Mrigankadatta and the citizens, who followed him with tearful faces, he went with his ministers to Varanasi. There the king remained with his body steeped in Ganges water, wors.h.i.+pping Siva three times a day, performing penance, like a hermit, by living on roots and fruits; and his wife shared all his devotions and privations.

But Mrigankadatta, for his part, having obtained that kingdom broad and pure as the sky, which the sun takes as his domain, and having overwhelmed the kings with imposition of numerous tributes, as the sun does the mountains with showers of rays, began to blaze forth with increasing heat of valour. And a.s.sociated with his lieutenants Mayavatu and Karmasena and the others, and with his own ministers headed by Srutadhi, he conquered this circle of the earth, with all its continents, as far as the four cardinal points, and ruled it under one umbrella. And while he was king, such calamities as famine, and the dread of robbers and of foreign invaders were heard of only in tales; and the world was ever joyous and happy, and enjoyed unparalleled felicity, so that it seemed as if the gentle reign of Rama the good were renewed. And so the monarch established himself in that city of Ayodhya with his ministers, and kings came from various quarters to wors.h.i.+p the lotus of his foot, and he long enjoyed with his beloved Sasankavati pleasures the joy of which no enemy marred. [501]

When the hermit Pisangajata had told this story in the wood on the Malaya mountain to Naravahanadatta, who was separated from his beloved, he went on to say to him, "So, my son, as Mrigankadatta in old time gained Sasankavati after enduring affliction, you also will regain your Madanamanchuka." When Naravahanadatta had heard this nectarous utterance of the mighty hermit Pisangajata, he conceived in his heart the hope of regaining Madanamanchuka. And with his mind fixed on her, he took leave of that good hermit, and roamed about on the Malaya mountain, looking for Lalitalochana, whom he had lost, the fair one that originally brought him there.

BOOK XIII.

CHAPTER CIV.

May that Ganesa, whom, when dancing in the twilight intervals between the Yugas, all the worlds seem to imitate by rising and falling, protect you!

May the blaze of the eye in the forehead of Siva, who is smeared with the beautiful red dye used by Gauri for adorning her feet, befriend you for your happiness!

We adore the G.o.ddess Sarasvati, taking form as speech to our heart's delight, the bee that dwells in the lotus on the lake of the mighty poet's mind. [502]

Then Naravahanadatta, the son of the king of Vatsa, afflicted with separation, being without Madanamanchuka, roamed about on those lower slopes of mount Malaya, and in its bordering forests, which were in all the beauty of spring, but found joy nowhere. The cl.u.s.ter of mango-blossoms, though in itself soft, yet seeming, on account of the bees [503] that settled on it, like the pliant bow of the G.o.d of Love, cleft his heart. And the song of the cuckoo, though sweet in itself, was hard to bear, and gave pain to his ears, as it seemed to be harsh with the reproachful utterances of Mara. [504] And the wind of the Malaya mountain, though in itself cool, yet being yellow with the pollen of flowers, and so looking like the fire of Cupid, seemed to burn him, when it fell on his limbs. So he slowly left that region, being, so to speak, drummed out of it by those groves that were all resonant with the hum of bees.

And gradually, as he journeyed on, with the deity for his guide, by a path that led towards the Ganges, he reached the bank of a lake in a neighbouring wood. And there he beheld two young Brahmans of handsome appearance, sitting at the foot of a tree, engaged in unrestrained conversation. And when they saw him, they thought he was the G.o.d of Love, and they rose up, and bowing before him, said, "All hail to thee, adorable G.o.d of the flowery bow! Tell us why thou wanderest here alone without that fragrant artillery of thine, and where is that Rati thy constant companion?" When the son of the king of Vatsa heard that, he said to those Brahmans, "I am not the G.o.d Kama, I am a mere mortal; but I have indeed lost my Rati." [505] When the prince had said this, he told his history, and said to those Brahmans, "Who are you, and of what kind is this talk that you two are carrying on here?" Then one of those young Brahmans said to him respectfully, "King, how can we tell our secret in the presence of a man of your worth? Nevertheless, out of respect for your command, I will tell our history; give ear!"

The first Brahman's story.

There is in the territory of Kalinga a city of the name of Sobhavati, which has never been entered by the demon Kali, nor touched by evildoers, nor seen by a foreign foe: such has it been made by the Creator. In it there was a wise and rich Brahman, of the name of Yasaskara, who had offered many sacrifices, and he had an excellent wife named Mekhala. I was born to them as an only son, when they were already in middle life, and I was in due course reared up by them, and invested with the sacrificial thread.

Then, while as a boy I was studying the Vedas, there arose a mighty famine in that land, owing to drought. So my father and my mother went off with me to a city named Visala, taking with them their wealth and their servants. In that city, in which fortune and learning dwelt together, having laid aside their long feud, my father established himself, having had a house given him by a merchant, who was a friend of his. And I dwelt there in the house of my preceptor, engaged in the acquisition of learning, in the society of my fellow-students of equal age.

And among them I had a friend, a promising young man of the military caste, Vijayasena by name, the son of a very rich Kshatriya. And one day the unmarried sister of that friend of mine, whose name was Madiravati, came with him to my teacher's house. So beautiful was she that I feel convinced that the Creator made the orb of the moon, that is like nectar to the eyes of men, out of the overflowing of the perfect loveliness of her face. I ween, the G.o.d of Love, when he beheld her form, which was to him a sixth weapon, bewildering the world, valued but little his other five shafts. When I saw her, and heard from that friend her name and descent, I was at once overpowered by Love's potent sway, and my mind was altogether fixed upon her. And she, for her part, looked askance at me with modest loving eye, and the down standing erect on her cheeks told that love had begun to sprout. And after she had remained there a long time on the pretext of play, she at last tore herself away and went home, sending to me from the reverted corner of her eye a look that was a messenger of love.

Then I went home, grieved at having to part with her, and throwing myself flat, I tossed up and down convulsively like a fish on dry land. I said to myself, "Shall I ever again behold her face, which is the Creator's storehouse of all the nectar of beauty? Happy are her companions [506] whom she looks at with that laughing eye, and talks freely to with that mouth." Engaged in such thoughts as these, I with difficulty got through that day and night, and on the second day I went to the house of my teacher.

There my friend Vijayasena approached me courteously, and in the course of a confidential conversation, said to me joyfully, "My mother has heard from my sister Madiravati that you are so great a friend of mine, and being full of love for you, she wishes to behold you; so, if you have any regard for me, come with me to our house; let it be adorned for us with the dust of your lotus-like foot." This speech of his was a sudden refreshment to me, as an unexpected heavy shower of rain is to a traveller in the desert. So I consented, and went to his house, and there I had an interview with his mother, and was welcomed by her, and remained there gladdened by beholding my beloved.

Then Vijayasena, having been summoned by his father, left me, and the foster-sister of Madiravati came to me, and said, bowing before me, "Prince, the princess Madiravati trained up to maturity in our garden a jasmine creeper; and it has recently produced a splendid crop of flowers, which laugh and gleam with joyous exultation at being united with the spring. To-day the princess herself has gathered its buds, in defiance of the bees that settled on the flowers; and she has threaded them, like pearls, into a necklace, and she sends this to you her old friend as a new present." When that dexterous girl had said this, she gave me the garland, and with it leaves of the betel, together with camphor and the five fruits. So I threw round my neck the garland, which my beloved had made with her own hand, and I enjoyed exceeding pleasure, surpa.s.sing the joy of many embraces. [507] And putting the betel into my mouth, I said to that dear companion of hers, "What can I say more than this, my good girl? I have in my heart such intense love for your companion, that, if I could sacrifice my life for her, I should consider that it had not been given me in vain; for she is the sovereign of my being." When I had said this, I dismissed her, and I went to my teacher's house with Vijayasena, who had that moment come in.

The next day Vijayasena came with Madiravati to our house, to the great delight [508] of my parents. So the love of myself and Madiravati, though carefully concealed, increased every day from being in one another's society.

And one day a servant of Madiravati's said to me in secret, "Listen, n.o.ble sir, and lay up [509] in your heart what I am going to tell you. Ever since my darling Madiravati beheld you there in your teacher's house, she has no appet.i.te for her food, she does not adorn herself, she takes no pleasure in music, she does not play with her parrots and other pets; she finds that fanning with plantain leaves, and moist anointings with sandal-wood ointment, and the rays of the moon, though cool as snow, torture her with heat; and every day she grows perceptibly thinner, like the streak of the moon in the black fortnight, and the only thing that seems to give her any relief is conversation about you; this is what my daughter told me, who knows all that she does, who attends her like a shadow, and never leaves her side. Moreover, I drew Madiravati herself into a confidential conversation, and questioned her, and she confessed to me that her affections were fixed on you. So now, auspicious sir, if you wish her life to be saved, take steps to have her wishes fulfilled." This nectarous speech of hers delighted me, and I said, "That altogether depends on you, I am completely at your disposal." When she heard this, she returned delighted, and I, relying on her, conceived hopes, and went home with my mind at ease.

The next day an influential young Kshatriya came from Ujjayini and asked Madiravati's father for her hand. And her father promised to give him his daughter; and I heard that news, terrible to my ears, from her attendants. Then I was for a long time amazed, as if fallen from heaven, as if struck with a thunderbolt, as if possessed by a demon. But I recovered, and said to myself, "What is the use of bewilderment now? I will wait and see the end. It is the self-possessed man that gains his desire."

Buoyed up by such hopes I pa.s.sed some days, and my beloved one's companions came to me and supported me by telling me what she said; but at last Madiravati was informed that the auspicious moment had been fixed, and the day of her marriage arrived celebrated with great rejoicings. So she was shut up in her father's house, and prevented from roaming about at will, and the processional entry of the bridegroom's friends drew nigh, heralded by the sound of drums.

When I saw that, I considered that my miserable life had lost all its zest, and came to the conclusion that death was to be preferred to separation; so I went outside the city, and climbed up a banyan-tree, and fastened a noose to it, and I let myself drop from the tree suspended by that noose, and let go at the same time my chimerical hope of obtaining my beloved. And a moment afterwards I found myself, having recovered the consciousness which I had lost, lying in the lap of a young man who had cut the noose; and perceiving that he had without doubt saved my life, I said to him, "n.o.ble sir, you have to-day shewn your compa.s.sionate nature; but I am tortured by separation from my beloved and I prefer death to life. The moon is like fire to me, food is poison, songs pierce my ear like needles, a garden is a prison, a wreath of flowers is a series of envenomed shafts, and anointing with sandal-wood ointment and other unguents is a rain of burning coals. Tell me, friend, what pleasure can wretched bereaved ones, like myself, to whom everything in the world is turned upside down, find in life?"

When I had said this, that friend in misfortune asked me my history, and I told him the whole of my love affair with Madiravati. Then that good man said to me, "Why, though wise, are you bewildered? What is the use of surrendering life, for the sake of which we acquire all other things?" a propos of this, hear my story, which I now proceed to relate to you.

The second Brahman's story.

There is in the bosom of the Himalayas a country named Nishada, which is the only refuge of virtue, banished from the earth by Kali, and the native land of truth, and the home of the Krita age. The inhabitants of that land are insatiable of learning, but not of money-getting; they are satisfied with their own wives, but with benefiting others never. I am the son of a Brahman of that country who was rich in virtue and wealth. I left my home, my friend, out of a curiosity which impelled me to see other countries, and wandering about, visiting teachers, I reached in course of time the city of Sankhapura not far from here, where there is a great purifying lake of clear water, sacred to Sankhapala king of the Nagas, and called Sankhahrada.

While I was living there in the house of my spiritual preceptor, I went one holy bathing festival to visit the lake Sankhahrada. Its banks were crowded, and its waters troubled on every side by people who had come from all countries, like the sea when the G.o.ds and Asuras churned it. I beheld that great lake, which seemed to make the women look more lovely, as their garlands of flowers fell from their loosened braids, while it gently stroked their waists with its waves like hands, and made itself slightly yellow with the unguents which its embraces rubbed off from their bodies. I then went to the south of the lake, and beheld a clump of trees, which looked like the body of Cupid being consumed by the fire of Siva's eye; its lapinchas did duty for smoke, its kinsukas for red coals, and it was all aflame with twining ma.s.ses of the full-blown scarlet asoka.

There I saw a certain maiden gathering flowers at the entrance of an arbour composed of the atimukta creeper; she seemed with her playful sidelong glances to be threatening the lotus in her ear; she kept raising her twining arm and displaying half her bosom; and her beautiful loosened hair, hanging down her back, seemed like the darkness seeking shelter to escape from her moon-like face. And I said to myself "Surely the Creator must have made this girl, after he had got his hand in by creating Rambha and her sister-nymphs, but one can see that she is mortal by the winking of her eyes."