190 B. Bandyopadhyaya — JIamtr "Rasa, [No. 3, 



sweet note of the cuckoo caught every heart and inflamed it with ardent 

 lust. But the soul of the sage could not be moved. The beauties of 

 spring had no effect upon it : it remained as firm as a rock. 



Spring failed. Cupid gave orders to summer. The earth became 

 hot with the sun's vertical rays. The Rishi opened his eyes. He saw, 

 Y ery near to him, a shady banian tree with spreading branches, a beautiful 

 pond full to the brim, a very handsome building wherein sat a troop of 

 heavenly maidens singing soul-enehanting airs and revelling as they liked* 

 with a cool, soft breeze blowing and scarfs flying round about their 

 persons. He saw Bambha and Urvasi braiding their hair before a mirror and 

 rubbing their bodies with musk, camphor, sandal- wood paste, saffron and other 

 perfumes. The daughters of Gandharvas and Kinnaras, dressed exquisitely, 

 were entertaining one another by placing garlands of flowers, each on the 

 other's neck, smiling and darting quick glances on the sage. But the Rishi 

 closed his eyes and became lost in contemplation. 



Summer failed. Then the rainy season came and bowed before Cupid. 

 Dark, heavy clouds hung on the air. It became intensely dark. Cold winds 

 began to blow from all quarters. The flashes of lightning were seen on 

 the sky, thunders roared, the gates of heaven were opened, and rain poured 

 forth in torrents. The lealapin (thrush) and the papiyd filled the air 

 with their melody. The nymphs of Cupid sang sweetly as they waved to and 

 fro in the swing. Now it rained fast, and they in a hurry began to run hither 

 and thither before the sage. A gust of wind blew. It removed their fine, 

 loose clothes, displaying their persons of roseate hue which none can see 

 without falling entangled in the snare of Cupid. The bees hummed, the 

 frogs croaked, and heavenly nymphs rivalled one another in the art of 

 fascination. Divested of their clothing they danced, they sang, they played 

 at balls, they made garlands of flowers and threw them at each other ; they 

 cast sidelong glances which, like arrows, pierced the heart of gods ; they 

 laughed, and their gentle laughter thrilled in every pulse and brought on a 

 fever of love. Yet the soul of Padam could not be moved. 



The rainy season failed. Cupid said, " Let autumn go and allure 

 the sage from his austere penance." The autumnal clouds were seen 

 hovering on the sky. All the rivers and tanks, being full of transparent 

 water, reflected the rays of the sun, bearing on their broad bosoms lotuses 

 of different colours. The pretty kingfisher, the humming bee, the ducks 

 and the reflections of the moon were dancing round about the white 

 lotuses. The earth wore a bright dress and looked like a matron in white. 

 The jassamine was in blossom. The celestial nymphs sang, taking in their 

 hands the bows and arrows of Cupid. The soft strains of their songs, wafted 

 by a gentle breeze, wounded the hearts of those whose lovers were not at home. 



