58-59] PADUMĀWATI. 29 and how to fly. That which a parrot reciteth is but what he hath been taught. How much sense hath a creature whose soul hath no eyes ? If he see rubies and pearls, his soul knoweth them not. He fancieth that they are but pomegranates and grapes, and so doth he fill his beak with them.' 58. So they returned to the king with this reply, and the parrot did humbly address Padmavati, eating fear within his heart. "Princess, mayst thou live happily for ages, but give unto me leave to betake myself to a forest home. When once the beauty of a pearl hath been fouled, how can its water e'er again be pure ? No safety is there for that servant, whom his master in his heart is determined to kill. How can even the name of birds exist in the house where the death-cat danceth? In thy rule have I seen great happiness, so much that it could not be written if I were asked to recount it. Whate'er my heart desired, I ate, and I depart lamenting that I have not served thee (more). He killeth luckless ones, who feareth not his own faults. What sport can the plantain have, that dwelleth near the (thorny) jujube'?3 59. The princess then said in sorrow, 'If my life go, how can my body survive? Hirāmaņi, thou art the dove of my life, nor have I ever found thee wanting in thy service. I fain would not sift parting into thy service ;may I ever keep thee in the cage of my heart. I am human, and thou art my darling bird. Our love for each other is a pure one, and who then, can dare kill thee? What (a mean) love is that which fadeth in the body! That alone is love which departeth with one's life. Take thou the burden of my love and there will be no sorrow in thy heart, whether on the path of (that) love there be good or there be evil? How can that mountain-load of love upon thy shoulder be destroyed, for it is bound unto my life?' The parrot would not stay, for it still feared in its soul that soon that death would come ; for,' thought he, 'if a man's steersman be his enemy, he will some time sink the ship.' 1 Pāni=āb, the 'water' of a jewel. % Anta= antahkarana. 3 If the plantain sportively flung its leaves about, they would be torn by the jujube's thorns.
- A difficult sentence. If not corrupt, to be translated as above. An akhā is a sieve,
hence ākhna means to sift. Padmavati means that she wishes to avoid sifting the bad flour of separation into, and mingling it with the good floor of long and faithful service. Akhnū, may be derived from ākhyān, and may mean to speak. The line would then mean if thou desirest to abandon thy service, I say thee nay.' 6 i. e., while the body yet lives.
