107] PADUMĀWATI. 55 So were these eyelash-arrows created, that they have smitten alike the warrior on the field and the tree in the forest. Under the form of hair have they pierced every animal, and, under the form of feathers, every bird. 107. 'Item.-A nose, thin as the edge of a glaive. With what can I compare it, for it is thinner than a sword and is joined unto her face?! When it saw her nose the parrots tribe was filled with shame. The planet Venus herself came down to be the pearl-stud that adorneth it. On account of it even I, Hirā-maội thy parrot, have become yellow in my jealousy; and, in that case, why need I, my Liege, tell the fate of others. I, thy parrot, who sing her praises, have a slender beak it is true, but it is hard, and her nose is tender and is adorned with a sweet flower-like mole. Every flower and every scent liveth in but one hop to wit that some day it may be brough near that nose and have its odour thereby inhaled. Over her lips and teeth its loveliness calleth to mind a parrot gazing at a pomegranate with soul entranced. On each side of that parrot sport two khanjanas. Who is it that is fated to have the bliss of tasting the nectar (of that pomegranate), and who is fated not? When it beheld the nectar of those lips the parrot transformed itself to that nose. It abideth ever by that shrine, for thither the zephyr of her breath doth waft the nectar's fragrance. 108. 'Item.-A lip, scarlet, full of nectar. The blood-red wild- gourd because of it hath humbly betaken itself to the depths of the forest that it may bear its fruit. Poets have called the midday-flower? crimson, but it is when she speaketh that it really raineth its blossoms. Then is it as though diamonds were swimming in a stream of coral, and when she smileth, the whole world becometh full of light. Her lips have become a still deeper scarlet 9 with the betel dye; and before them the red saffron- flower appeareth as though it had faded away. Brimful are they of nectar, for up till now they are untouched and none hath sipped it. The betel within her mouth ever poureth new colour into it; (happy will he be) for I An ordinary sword is held by the hand, not by the face. 2 A nose is frequently compared to a parrot's beak. 8 A paūriya is properly a rhapsodist who sings the praises of the Pravara or Pramara clan. Hence any panegyrist in general. • Parrots are very fond of pomegranate seeds. The colour of these is partly a delicate pink and partly a pure white. Hence the comparison with the lips and teeth. 6 The eyes. See stanza cv. 8 The bimba (momordica monadelpha) is a forest gourd with a bright red fruit to which lips are frequently compared. In Sanskrit bimbosthi, is a synonym for a pretty girl with coral lips. 7 The Dupahari or bandhujīva (pentapetes phoenicea) is a plant with deep ruby bun. ches of flowers. They bloom at midday, and immediately wither and fall off. The poet says that when Padmavati speaks, her lips appear like the shower of the red flowers of the dupahari. 8 Her teeth. 9 Majith is the dark red madder dye. When she chews betel, her lips become redder still.
