पृष्ठ:पदुमावति.djvu/३४३

104] PADUMĀWATI. 53 lieth a beauty-spot, like Dhruva seated on his new-moon throne. Like a monarch seated on a golden throne, he hath been endowed with every charm-weapon from the armoury (of love). Before him none can remain firm ; for (the destruction of) what (poor mortal) was such a union made ? For she hath endowed this monarch with a scymitar, with bows and discus' twain, and with (a quiver-full of) arrows. “World-Slayer" is his name. At these words Ratna-sēna fell fainting and cried : 'Alas, those weapons have all smitten me in a mortal spot!' 104. 'Item-Two eye-brows, black bows ready strung, from which she speedeth mortal shafts at whomsoe 'er she casteth but a glance. Upon each eye-brow is fixed this bow, aud (who knoweth) who it was that fashioned this weapon of Death. This was the bow which Kršņa bore; this was the bow which was grasped by Rāma's hand. With this bow was Rāvaņa slain; with this bow did Kamsa meet his fate. With this bow (Arjuna) smote the fish ;5 with this bow was Sahasra-bāhu sent to his last account. It is this bow which I recognized to be in her possession, and with it she, like a fair huntress, hath turned the world into a heap of slain. None hath e'er obtained the mastery over it. The Angels of Heaven, nay the well-guarded Goddesses themselves, have hidden themselves before it. No other bow beareth comparison with the brow-bows of this lady hun. tress. India's rainbow itself when it riseth in the sky, seeth them and dis- appeareth in its shame. 105. Item.—Two eyes, arch beyond compare, which rise and fall like the ocean in its pride. Therein two black bees flutter upon a coral-pink lotus. Intoxicated with its fragrance they dart around and seek to flee. 1 The tilaka, i.e., forehead-ornament, which I translate by "beauty-spot' is compared to Dhruva, or the pole-star, seated on the new-moon as on a throne. Dhruva was the son of Uttāna pāda. One day his step-mother thrust him from his father's arms, and placed therein her own son instead. Smarting under the slight he wandered forth and took to severe austerities. At length Vişnu, pleased at his devotion, made him the pole-star so that he might occupy the highest and most immoveable position possible. He has re. mained there ever since, with all the stars circling round him in his honour. % Just as no star except Dhruva is immoveable; all must go circling round him. S The scymitar is her nose; the bow, her eyebrows; the discuses, the pupils of her eyes; the arrows, her glances. 4 Vişnu's bow was named Çārnga. Krsna slew Kamsa, and Rāma slew Rāvana. Both were incarnations of Vişņu. 6 Rāhū is said to be for rõhā, the name of a kind of fish. There is a well-known story Maha-bhārata of how Arjuna won Draupadi for his bride by shooting a fish, after merely aiming at its reflection. His bow was named Gandiva. 6 Sahasra-bāhu's daughter Rēņakā was married to Jamadagni, a famous saint. Jamadagni was subsequently murdered by his father-in-law in order to obtain the famous cow of plenty. In revenge for his father's death Jamadagni's son Paraçı-rāna slew Sahasra-bāhu and exterminated all the Kşattriyas (to which caste Sahasra-bāhu belonged) from the face of the earth. Paraçu-rāma was one of Vişnu's incarnations. His usual weapon was a halbert (paraçu). 7 So gõpītā is explained in the commentary. The word might also be interpreted as meaning the Gõpis or herd-maidens, beloved of Krsņa.