43 PADUMĀWATI. [95-98 and in beauty, they are but her shadow. I. Hirā-maņi, was her bird, and in her service did I become full grown. Thus did I gain the speech of men; otherwise what would I have been but a bird,-a fistful of feathers. As long as I live, night and day, do I e'er bear her name in memory, and, (as I do so), I die (of shame, that I serve her no more). My face is red, and my body green, and them will I carry with me in both worlds, (for I speak the truth.)' 96. As Hirāmaņi described the lotus, the king, like the fabled bee, became enamoured. "Come hither, my bright bird. This island hath killed the serpent.3 Thon, who hast dwelt in the home of golden fragrance, how art thou not well named Hirā-maņi ? * Who is the king? How lofty is that island, at the mere hearing of which my soul hath become a moth enchanted by a candle. When I hear it mine eyes become agitated like the Kilakilā Ocean. Tell me of the spotless fragrance of the lady. Hath she found a bee for a companion, or is she still but a bud, and not an opened flower? And tell me also of the beauteous Padminis there, and how the fate of each is in her own abode. Come, tell me all the tale of them. I long to see that isle. My desire hath arisen at hearing thy recital.' 97. "O King, how can I tell all that? The isle of Simhala is like unto Kailāsa.7 Whoe'er hath gone there hath been fascinated, and ages may pass, but none hath e'er returned. In every house are Padminis of the thirty- six castes, and it is ever spring both day and night. With whatever here a flower-garden bloometh, there, of that colour, flowereth a fragrant damsel. Gandharva-sēna is there the mighty king-created by God like Indra amidst his heavenly nymphs. This Padmāvati is his daughter, glorious amongst all lights. Suitors from all lands have bowed themselves for her, but to all, in his pride, the king refaseth an answer. Even as when the sun riseth, the moon concealeth herself in his glory, so there all hide themselves before Padmāvati's beauty.' 98. When Ratna, the Jewel, heard the name of the Sun, his face became flushed.9. Tell me, Learned One, again this tale. Thou hast told me of her colonrs, or the twelve different kinds of brilliancy. There are twelve A'dityas or forms of the san, each of which lends a different kind of brilliancy. 1 Literally, the two lines (black and red) round my throat, which indicate fall growth, appeared. Cf. lxxix, 6 and xcix, 7. 2 The love of the bee for the lotus is one of the common places of Indian poetry. 3 This is impossible to translate literally. It has two meanings. It may mean either this light (dīpa) which has hitherto killed merely small moths, has killed me, the great serpent. Or it may mean this (description of the) island has killed the snake (i.e., Naga- mati), and I cease to care for her.'
- Diamond-jewel.
6 Here again, there is a pun on the two meanings of the word dipa, an island, and a light. 6 One of the geven Oceans, with a particularly stormy sea. Vide p. 2, note 2. 7 Çiva's heaven. The poet, as usual, confuses it with that of Indra. 8 The castes are usually enumerated in a catalogue of thirty-six. See Hindi Comm. 9 Or, if we take Ratna as meaning 'a jewel, especially the gem called sūrya-kānta, or
