Ritusamharam

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Ritusamharam Page 2

by Kalidasa


  the shade spread by their plumage.

  18

  Heated by a fiery sun,

  the mud around the lake has dried,

  and is now encrusted by

  the weeds of bhadramusta:

  a host of pigs dig deep into them

  with long snouts, as if to reach

  the cold richness of the earth below.

  19

  In the lake, the net of lotus roots

  lies mangled and the fish imperilled

  while the frightened birds have flown away;

  a throng of elephants now makes it,

  as they jostle one another,

  a dense melee of mud.

  20

  The hooded snake is now tormented

  by both the fire of its venom

  and the glare of the sun;

  the gem’s glow on its hood is dimmed

  by the sun’s candescence;

  overwrought with thirst, it sips

  the air with forked and twitching tongue,

  and does not hunt for frogs.

  21

  A herd of buffaloes has emerged

  from the ravines in the hillside,

  mouths frothing with a gush of foam,

  and red tongues hanging out of them;

  they too are distraught with thirst

  and in search of water.

  22

  When viewed from high above,

  the forest is a fearful sight

  with water diminished everywhere

  in the heat of a glaring sun,

  with bamboo sprouts by fire singed,

  and dry leaves swirling in the wind.

  23

  A flock of panting birds is perched

  on the trees with withered leaves;

  a family of apes, fatigued,

  searches for some hillside grove;

  a herd of wild oxen wanders—

  all wishing for water;

  and some brash young elephants

  suck it straight out of wells.

  24

  It has the red glow of safflower

  petals scattered fresh and clear,

  it is the fire: stoked by gusts of wind,

  strong and with a forceful speed,

  anxious to embrace the trees

  and the vines laced on their branches;

  it has, on all sides, scorched the ground.

  25

  A fire from the forest outskirts

  feeds on shrubs and spreads in moments

  through groves of dry and withered bamboos

  that crackle and sharply burst

  with a sound by the wind carried,

  as it pierces through the caves in hills,

  driving bands of beasts away.

  26

  The fire, by the wind propelled

  from forest outskirts, sweeps all over,

  more so on silk-cotton trees,

  their high branches bending down,

  their hollows lit by its golden glow.

  27

  Elephants, lions and wild buffaloes,

  their bodies almost seared by flames,

  give up their mutual antipathy

  and, together, like dear friends

  suffering in a common distress,

  come swiftly out of their abodes

  to the sand banks of the river

  in order to seek refuge.

  28

  But—a lake covered with lotus blooms,

  pleasant bathing in its waters,

  the lovely scent of trumpet flowers,

  moonlight spreading a web enjoyable,

  and, at night, some music sweet

  with beautiful and charming maidens

  on the terrace of a mansion:

  thus happily, may your summer pass.

  CANTO 2

  Monsoon

  1

  The time of rains has come, my darling,

  spreading its splendour like a king,

  with streaming clouds, the rutting elephants,

  lightning flashes, swirling banners,

  peals of thunder, beating drums:

  a season dear to lovers all.

  2

  Everywhere the sky is covered

  by dark clouds which have a glow

  like blue lotus flower leaves,

  at times like heaped collyrium powder,

  or the hue of nipples on the breasts

  of young women who are pregnant.

  3

  Hanging low with the weight of water,

  sought by thirsty chataka birds,

  the clouds move slowly and rain down

  in showers with delightful sounds.

  4

  Clouds also bear the bow of Indra,

  colourful and stringed with lightning,

  but their terrible twangs of thunder,

  and arrows sharp of pouring rain

  forcefully assail the mind

  and torment all travellers.

  5

  The earth—covered with sprouting grass

  gleaming like crushed emeralds,

  and a new growth of plantain trees

  with scarlet beetles upon them—

  now does shine, like a lovely girl

  in colourful jewels adorned.

  6

  A host of peacocks, brilliant

  with plumes, gorgeous and spread out,

  now eager for the sound of thunder,

  which for them is always thrilling,

  quickly seek to kiss their partners,

  and begin their dance today.

  7

  Rivers rushing towards the sea

  bring down, with the flow torrential

  of their turbid, mud-laced waters,

  trees which were upon their banks:

  they are like wanton women in

  a hurry to reach somewhere.

  8

  The woodlands on the Vindhya hills,

  their trees embellished with new foliage,

  and dales covered with dark green grass

  that has sprouted tender shoots

  now being nibbled at by does—

  all this now enchants the mind.

  9

  The sandy forest grounds are teeming

  with deer whose faces are adorned

  with eyes lotus-like and large,

  and tremulous with some sudden fright—

  this too does fill the mind

  with eagerness and longing.

  10

  Even on nights pitch-dark, with clouds

  that thunder loud and constantly,

  lightning flashes paths illumine

  for girls in love who go to their lovers.

  11

  Scared witless by the terrible

  rolling thunder of the clouds,

  the girls do closely clutch in bed

  even lovers who make mistakes.

  12

  But the wives of those who are

  at this time out travelling:

  they just stay without a hope,

  with no garlands or ornaments

  or any use of cosmetics;

  only teardrops from their eyes

  sprinkling the buds of their lips.

  13

  Water that rained recently,

  now grey with vermin, twigs and dust,

  starts flowing to lower levels

  in curling patterns serpentine

  as hosts of frogs stare at this cascade

  with eyes that look frightened.

  14

  Eager bees, with hums enchanting,

  now forsake the lilies that

  have lost their leaves and petals,

  and the fools descend on the disc-like patterns

  on the plumage of the dancing peacocks,

  hoping they are new lotus blooms.

  15

  Wild forest elephants, rapturous

  at the thunder of the rain clouds,

  their rut-stained temp
les drenched

  and washed clean like lotus blooms,

  and flocks of bees buzzing around them,

  now trumpet again and again.

  16

  Their rocks caressed

  by rain-filled clouds,

  and flowing water

  on all sides,

  with a host of peacocks

  ready to dance,

  the hills now foster

  moods of longing.

  17

  And the breeze rustling through

  groves of sarja and kadamba,

  of arjuna, nipa, ketaki trees,

  carrying their flower scents

  and also cooled by drizzling clouds:

  whom does this not fill with longing?

  18

  Women with contrived ornaments

  of fragrant flowers for their ears,

  and floral garlands on their breasts,

  their braids resting on the hips,

  now, with some wine in their mouths,

  arouse the passions of their lovers.

  19

  Clouds adorned with rainbows

  and flashing streaks of lightning,

  hanging low with the weight of water,

  and women with their gem-encrusted

  girdles and bright earrings—

  both entrance the minds of travellers.

  20

  Chaplets strung with flowers fresh

  of kadamba, kesara, ketaki,

  are worn on women’s heads today,

  and on their ears the sprouting clusters

  of blossoms from kakubha trees,

  made up to be ornaments.

  21

  At dusk, having heard clouds rumble,

  women quickly leave their elders

  and to their own bedchambers go,

  their limbs perfumed with sandal paste

  and the dark incense of aguru,

  their scented hair adorned with flowers.

  22

  Clouds, from heights descended,

  dark as blue lilies, full of water,

  move slowly in a gentle breeze;

  and with their rainbows heavenly,

  they seem to steal away the broken

  hearts of travellers’ lonely wives.

  23

  And the forest, its heat cooled

  all over by showers of rain,

  is as if filled with a great delight:

  the kadamba flowering everywhere,

  and tree branches dancing in the breeze

  as the ketaki laughs with its needle leaves.

  24

  Like a lover for his bride,

  the host of clouds has now created

  for the forest’s head a wreath

  of bakula and of malati sprays,

  with new blossoms of yuthika buds

  and fresh kadamba blooms for ears.

  25

  Young women, with garlands worn

  looped around their upthrust breasts,

  sheer snow-white silks on rounded hips—

  their waists are marked with charming folds

  and a faint, fine line of hair

  where fresh rain droplets too appear.

  26

  Cooled by waters of the rain,

  the wind carries the pleasing scent

  of pollen from the ketaki blooms,

  makes the trees, bent low with flowers,

  to dance, and thus can steal away

  the hearts of lonely travellers.

  27

  ‘When we hang low with water’s burden

  this is our ultimate refuge.’

  It is as if with this consideration

  that rain clouds shower and give joy

  to the Vindhya mountain peaks

  that smouldered in summer’s fire.

  28

  Delightful with its many virtues,

  enchanter of all lovers’ hearts,

  friend of trees, their vines and branches,

  freeing all of them from miseries,

  may this season of the rains,

  the very life of all the creatures,

  grant you all the benefits

  that are most often sought.

  CANTO 3

  Autumn

  1

  Autumn comes, a sight agreeable,

  like the arrival of a new bride:

  her cloak, the kasha florets white;

  the lotus bloom, her lovely face;

  the passionate cries of water birds

  are the charming tinkles of her anklets;

  and the bowing stems of ripened rice

  in fields are the embodiment

  of her slender bending form.

  2

  All has now been made more white:

  the earth with kasha blooms on grass;

  the night with moonlight’s lucid glow;

  the rivers with many swans;

  the lakes with kumuda water lilies;

  and in forests the devil’s trees

  are bent with masses of their blossoms,

  and gardens gleam with malati flowers.

  3

  With the glittering flits of shaphari fishes

  as their girdles many-stringed,

  and white birds along the shores

  forming their pearl garlands,

  rivers, with now broadened banks,

  are like comely wide-hipped women,

  and they have a gentle flow today.

  4

  The clouds have shed their waters now,

  fluffy, small, they float in hundreds,

  like ivory, conch shells, lily-roots pale,

  along the currents of the wind;

  and the sky then looks in places

  like a sovereign being saluted

  with the waving of white yak tails

  as royal whisks around the throne.

  5

  The sky now has a charming sheen,

  blue-grey, like spilt eye powder,

  and the ground is reddened by

  the pink pollen of bandhuka blooms,

  while the sloping land is covered

  with rolling fields of ripened rice:

  in this world, which youthful heart

  would not by all this be aroused?

  6

  Which heart would not be rent asunder

  by the sight of kovidara trees?

  Their tender branch tips are now rippling

  in soft currents of the breeze,

  as their foliage is embroidered

  with a spread of flowers,

  the nectar from which is quaffed

  by the maddened, hovering bees.

  7

  Freed of veils that were the clouds,

  garbed but in a film of moonlight,

  with a host of stars as jewels arrayed,

  and for its face a waxing moon

  that will grow from day to day,

  night now appears just like a girl,

  into a beautiful woman turning.

  8

  The flowing waves look like their garlands,

  pecked at by flocks of swimming ducks;

  their banks now filled with geese and storks

  and the resonant cries of swans;

  their waters are now reddened by

  the pollen of lotus and lily flowers—

  such at present are the rivers,

  that gladden people everywhere.

  9

  The moon is a feast for every eye,

  its rays steal the hearts of all

  in deep delight, then cool them

  as if with fine sprays of water:

  but it can also greatly hurt

  the minds and bodies of young women

  wounded by the poisoned arrows

  of separation from their husbands.

  10

  A breeze quivers the nets of plants,

  grain-filled, in the fields of rice;

  it also makes the amaranth shrubs

>   dance laden with flowers;

  and it ruffles the lilies blooming

  in their muddy pools:

  this breeze unsettles forcibly

  the minds of all the youths.

  11

  And the lakes, embellished with

  amorous pairs of swans,

  with lotus blossoms ornamented

  in colours white and blue

  rippling in a gentle breeze,

  make hearts tremble all at once.

  12

  Now, Indra’s bow has disappeared

  within the bellies of the clouds,

  and lightning, his flag celestial,

  no longer does flash:

  cranes no more upwards fan the air

  with the flapping of their wings,

  nor peacocks with uplifted faces

  look towards the sky.

  13

  As peacocks have now stopped their dancing,

  Kama has forsaken them

  for the sweet symphony of swans;

  the treasury of blossoms too

  has passed from trees such as kadamba,

  kutaja, arjuna, sarja and nipa

  to the seven-leafed devil’s tree.

  14

  With the fragrance wonderful

 

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