Today's Beautiful Gem: `The Misery of Separation' by BhavabhUti, translation
based on that by Berridale Keith.

"iyaM gehe lakSmIr iyam amRtavartir nayanayor
asAv asyAh: spars'o vapuSi bahulas' candanarasah:
ayaM kaNThe bAhuh: s'is'iramasRNo mauktikasarah:
kim asyA na preyo yadi param asahyas tu virahah:"

"She is indeed the wealth of my abode; a thread of ambrosia to the eyes;
Her touch here on my body is as fragrant as the sandalwood extract;
Her arm around my neck is soft and cool as a garland of pearls;
What is in her that is not endearing except the sorrow of separation?"

Note: No sooner did Emperor Rama utter these words than a spy enters to inform him of the rumours that ultimately lead to Sita's banishment resulting in the misery of separation. Uttararamacarita of Bhavabhuti is very famous for its pathos (karuNa rasa).

Om s'aantih: Peace! - J. K. Mohana Rao.

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