Today's Beautiful Gem: Description of spring, from Kaalidaasa's R^itusaMhaara.
"drumaaH sapushhpaaH salilaM sapadmaM
striyaH sakaamaaH pavanaH sugandhiH |
sukhaaH pradoshhaH divasaashcha ramyaaH
sarvaM priye chaarutaraM vasante ||"
"Blossom-filled trees, lotus-filled
lakes,
Passion-filled women, scent-filled breezes,
comfort-filled morns, beauty-filled days,
Everything is lovely in the prettiest season-- the Spring!"
"puMskokilaH+chuuta-rasaa-savena
mattaH priyaaM chumbati raagahR^ishhTaH |
kuujan.h dvirephoH+apyayam+ambujastaH
priyaM priyaayaaH prakaroti chaaTum.h ||"
"Intoxicated by the nectar of mango blossoms,
the koel kisses his mate happily in love;
The bee too hums around the lotuses
whispering sweet-nothings to his mate."
"aamrii-ma.njula-ma.njarii varasharaH sat kiMshukaM yat+dhanuH+
jyaa yasya+alikulaM kala.nka-rahitaH+chhatraM sita+aMshuH sitaM |
matta+ibho malaya+anilaH parabhR^ito yadvandino loka-jit
sa+ayaM vo vitariitariitu vitanuH+bhadraM vasanta+anvitaH ||"
"The lovely mango shoot is his choicest arrow;
the good kimshuka is his arched bow;
the swarm of bees is his bow string;
the moon is his spotless parasol;
the gentle breeze is his proud vehicle;
the cuckoos are his panegyrists;
May the world-conquering Manmatha,
accompanied by Vasanta,
grant you more and more joy!"
Note: R^itusaMhaara is the first Sanskrit
book ever printed. It was
printed in the Bengali script more than two centuries ago!
Om shaantiH Peace! - J. K. Mohana Rao.
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