56 PADUMĀWATI. [108 whom that fragrant nectar is destined. At the sight of that. blooming beau- teous one the whole world is inflamed with passion; but when she fully smileth those lips yet become more encarmined, and appear filled with the vital fluid. Such, my Liege, is the nectar of her lips, that every world hath hopes but for them. For whom hath that lotus blossomed forth ? What bee will sip its honey ? 109. "Item.Her teeth, like diamonds on a pedestal: between each, deep deep black. Like a gleam of lightning in a dark Autumn night, so are these thirty-two caused to flash. Their sheen exceedeth that of dia- monds,-nay, the sheen of diamonds is but their reflection. From the day that that sheen was created, the sheen of many things is but their sheen. The sun, the moon, the stars, jewels, diamonds, rubies, pearls all owe their glory but to it. Whene'er she openeth her lips, the smile that cometh thereby scattereth drops of light around. The brightness of summer lightning cannot equal it; verily, no other brilliance approacheth it. When she smileth or laugheth adamant blazeth forth in glory, the pomegranate could not equal her teeth in beauty, and hence its heart did burst.s 110. 'Item.-- A tongue, whose words are full of savour, inflaming the heart of him who heareth its nectar speech. It hath stolen the song of the cātuka* and of the cuckoo; nor can the melody of flute and lute compare with it. The cataka and the cuckoo abide not with us, for they hear her voice and hide themselves in shame. It speaketh words full of the wine of love, and he who heareth it becometh drunken, and staggereth in giddiness. On it is all the wisdom of the tetrad of the vēdas, -all that is within the Rc, the Yajus, the Sāman, and the Atharvan. Not a sentence speaketh it that hath not four different meanings.? Indra and Brahmā, astonished at her 1 The pedestal is the gums. The interstices between the teeth are blackened with misi, which is a powder made up of yellow myrobalan, gall-nut, iron-filings, vitriol, and other ingredients. % Bhādő is an Antumn month of the rainy season. Its nights are black with clouds. The misi represents the dark clouds. 8 It has already been stated (stanza cvü) that teeth are often compared to pome- granate seeds. When this frait ripens it bursts and scatters its seeds. The poet said this is a case of a burst or broken heart.
- The pied cuckoo (cuculus melanoleucus).
6 These two birds only sing during spring and the rainy season. 8 The names of the four vēdas. 7 Students of Indian classics need not be told of the immense admiration exhibited for language capable of being interpreted with a double meaning. It is one of the great tests of learning. One time Krsna was in company with six herd-maidens. The first asked him for a leaf platter for her food. The second said 'come to my house to-day.' The third said 'fasten my ear-pendant. The fourth said "give me a light.' The fifth said 'pluck me a flower.' The sixth said 'bring me water.'
