[38] And the faultless
and auspicious daughter of Virata, of fine teeth and slender-waist, of
thighs close unto each other and each like the trunk of an elephant, her
person embellished with an excellent garland, sought the son of Pritha
like a she-elephant seeking her mate. And like unto a precious gem or
the very embodiment of prosperity of Indra, of exceeding beauty and
large eyes, that charming and adored and celebrated damsel saluted
Arjuna. And saluted by her, Partha asked that maiden of close thighs and
golden complexion, saying 'What brings thee hither, a damsel decked in a
necklace of gold? Why art thou in such a hurry, O gazelle-eyed maiden?
Why is thy face, O beauteous lady, so cheerless? Tell me all this
without delay!'"
[36] _Vedi-Vilagnamadhya_--Vedi in this connection means a wasp
and not, as explained by Mallinatha in his commentary of the
_Kumarasambhava_, a sacrificial platform. I would remark in
passing that many of the most poetic and striking adjectives in
both the Raghu and the _Kumarasambhava_ of Kalidasa are borrowed
unblushingly from the _Ramayana_ and the _Mahabharata_.
[37] _Padma patrabha-nibha_ may also mean 'of the splendour of
the gem called Marakata.' Nilakantha, however, shows that this
would militate against the adjective _Kankojwalatwacham_ below.
[38] The princess being of the complexion of burnished gold and
Arjuna dark as a mass of clouds, the comparison is exceedingly
appropriate.
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