English
Here he does not narrate the his- tory of a race of kings, but paints from the inexhausti- ble storehouse of his imagination the love of Uma for the great Siva, and their happy union. Uma’ was born the daughter of the deity of the Himalaya mountains, and a sweeter child never saw the light. Blest was that hour, and all the world was gay, When Mena’s daughter saw the light of day. A rosy glow filled ail the brightening sky, And odorous breeze came sweeping softly by, Breathed round the hill a sweet unearthly strain, And the glad heavens poured down their flowery rain. Griffith's Translation. The early years of the gentle maiden are described with exquisite grace and sweetness; but a ¢.cat future awaits her. The gods intend her as a bride to the mighty Siva, for unto them wilt be born a child who will lead the gods to victory against the Asuras. Siva is now engaged in pious contemplation‘in the Himalaya mountains, and itis arranged that the youthful Uma CHAP, XIL] POETRY. 431 will wait on the mighty god as a handmaiden, and look to all his needs. We can remember nothing lovelier and fresher in the creations of fancy than the image of Uma clad in chaste’ garments and decorated with flowers, attending on the: great god in his devotions, collecting flowers for him, and doing him due obeisance. In doing obeisance she stooped so low : That from her hair, Dropped the bright flower that starred the midnight there. : Griffith. And Siva pleased with her homage blessed her, - Surely thou shalt be Blessed with a husband who loves none but thee. . ” Griffith, s Everything might have gorie on smoothly to the de- sired end if the mischievous god of love had not inter. fered. He marks the moment of Siva’s weakness and lets, go his unerring shaft. Let the poet narrate the effect on the hermit-god Siva. Like the moon’s influence oa the sea at rest, Came passion stealing over the hermit’s breast, While on the maiden’s lip that mocked the dye Of ripe red fruit he bent his melting eye. And oh! how showed the lady’s love for him, The heaving bosom and each quivering limb ! Like young Kadambas, when the leaf buds swell ‘At the warm touch of spring they love so well, . But still with downeast eyes she sought the ground, And durst not turn their burning glances round. 432 PAURANIK PERIOD. [BOOK v. - Then with strong effort Siva lulled to rest The storm of passion in his troubled breast, And seeks, with angry eyes that round him roll, Whence came the tempest over his tranquil soul, He looked and saw the bold young archer stand, His bow bent ready in his skilful hand, Drawn towards the eye, —his shoulder well depressed, And the left foot thrown forward as a rest. Then was the hermit-god to madness lashed, Then from his eye red Aames. of fury flashed. So changed the beauty of that glorious brow, Scarce could the gaze support its terror now. Flark { heavenly voices sighing through the air: ‘Be calm great Siva, O be calm’ and spare !” Alas ! the angry eye’s resistless flashes Have scorched the gentle king of love to ashes! Griffith. Love’s bride laments the death of her lord, and Uma in mortification and grief retires into a wood and begins penances and prayer. The poet launches again into a description of the gentle and tender girl subjecting her- self to hard penances unsuited to her frame. Summer is passed amid scorching fires,—-in autumn she remains exposed to the rains,—and the blasts of winter see her still unshaken in her purpose. . A young hermit comés to enquire the reason of these severe penances undertaken by a young and tender damsel. Uma’s maidens explain to him the cause, but the hermit can scarcely believe that so gentle a creature should be in love with so unloveable a god as Siva, who CHAP, XiL.] POETRY. 433 3 remains smeared with ashes and wanders about in funeral places. Impatient Umi listened ; the quick blood Rashed to her temples in an angry flood. Griffith. She explains to the unmannerly hermit with passion- ate eloquence the glories of the great deity whom none knows and none can comprehend, and she rises to depart from the place in anger and scorn. She tumed away, with wrath her bosom swelling Its vest of bark in angry pride repelling, — But sudden lo, before her wondring eyes In altered form she sees the sage arise ; Tis Siva’s self before the astonished maid Ix all his gentlest majesty arrayed ! Griffith. Yes, it is Siva himself who had refused to be forced into love, but is now propitiated and pleased with Uméa’s - penances, and now humbly craves a return of his affec- tion from Uma the mountain maid. . Among the shorter poems of Kalidasa the best and sweetest. is the Meghadéta or the cloud messenger. The story is simple.. A Yaksha is banished by royal order from his home for being too fond of his wife and neglecting his duties; and in bis exile he gazes on the dark cloud of the rainy season and bids it carry a message of love to his dear beloved at home. The lover indicates the way by which the cloud should proceed, arid the poet describes the various parts of India from the Vindyhas to the Himalaya mountains in RC. DB, A LIL, 28 434 PAURANIK PERIOD. [BOOK V. verse, which, for richness of fancy and melody of rythm, has never been excelled in the literature of the world. On Naga Nadi’s banks thy waters shed, And raise the feeble jasmin’s languid head. Grant for a while thy interposing shroud, To where those damsels woo the friendly cloud ; As while the garland’s flowery stores they seek, The scorching sunbeams tinge their tender cheek, The ear hung lotus fades, and vain they chase, Fatigued and faint, the drops that dew the face. ' ‘What though to northern climes thy journey lay, Consent to track a shortly devious way. To fair Ujyaint’s palaces and pride, And beauteous daughters turn awhile aside ; Those glancing eyes, those lightning looks unseen, Dark are thy days, and thou in vain hast been, * * * * Behold the city whose immortal fame Glows in Avanti’s or Visala’s name! Renowned for deeds that worth and love inspire, And bards to paint them with poetic fire : The fairest portion of celestial birth, Of Indra’s paradise transferred to earth, The last reward to acts austerest given, The only recompense then left to heaven, Here as the early zyphers waft along, Tn swelling harmony, the woodland song, They scatter sweetness from the fragrant flower, That joyful opens to thé morning hour ; With friendly zeal they sport around the maid Who early courts their vivifying aid, And cool from Sivra’s jelid waves embrace Each languid limb and enervated grace. ; Wilson's translation, CHAP. XIL] POETRY. 435 A short poem on the seasons is also ascribed to Kali- dasa, Bhfravi who was a contemporary or a successor of Kalidasa is by a long way inferior to him in all the quali- ties which make a great and a true poet. In the rich- ness of a creative fancy, in true tenderness and pathos, and even in the sweetness and melody of verse, Kalidasa is incomparably a greater poet. But nevertheless Bhéravil boasts of a vigour of thought and of language, a spirited | and lofty eloquence in expression, which Kalidasa seldom | equals. Only one Mahakavya, the Kirdtdryuntam of Bh4rayi has been Jeft to us, and it is one of the most vigorous and spirited poems in the Sanscrit language. The story is taken from the Mahabharata. Yudhis- thira is in exile, and his spirited wife Draupadi urges him to break the treaty with his cousins and to win back his kingdom. With the burning eloquence of a proud and a wronged woman she points out to him that peace and submission ill become a Kshatriya ; that faith is not to be kept with the faithless; that kingdoms and glory are not won by meekness and resignation. Cast off thy sloth, assume thy native power, And, manlike, deal destruction to thy foe t Not kings, but hermits seek sechusion’s bower, Forget their wrongs, arid meekly bend in woe. If mighty men, whose treasure is their fame, _ Like thee consent their manhood to degrade, . Then woe to warrior’s pride and warrior’s name, . And honour, courage, chivalry be dead ! 436 PAURANIK PERIOD. [BOOK v. But vain these words! If spoilt of thy great name, Thou seek’st in holy peace to sink thy ire, Forego these arms,—that bow of royal fame, Go plait thy locks,—like hermits worship fire! From an unpublished translation by the present writer. Yudhisthira’s spirited brother Bhima supports Drau- padi; but Yudhisthira is not to be moved from his plighted word, and recommends resignation. In the meantime Vyasa, the mythical compiler of the Vedas, comes to see the king in his exile, and advises Arjuna to seek by penance celestial arms, with which he will be able to conquer his foes in the hour of battle. Arjuna accordingly takes leave of his brothers, and Draupadi of course urges him on to the task with her persuasive eloquence. The hero retires into the solitudes of the Himalaya mountains to perform his penances. : No part of the poem brings out Bhdaravi’s merits as a poet to greater advantage than the account ‘of Arjuna’s penances in this wild solitude, His innate pride and worth are admirably contrasted with his present voca- tion; and the influence of his presence is felt by the animate and inanimate creatures of the peaceful hermitage. Indra’s messenger sees this strange hermit and reports to the god accordingly. Like a strange luminary of the sky, Though clad in humble barks, on yonder hill, A holy man, intent on purpose high, os Doth pettances! And earth is hushed and still ! CHAP. XIL} ' POETRY.