470 Analysis of the Raghu Vans' a. [No. 6. 



face of the city, as the clouds the earth when parched by summer's 

 heat. Summer came prompting the maidens to ornament themselves 

 with jewelled garments and with vests which a breath could blow away. 

 The days of summer heat increased and night was very short, both 

 like husband and wife, who separating after a quarrel are burning in 

 the flames of sorrow. 



Kusa and his women entered tents erected on the banks of the 

 Sarayu, the women amused themselves in sporting with the swans and 

 dashing water high which washed off the paint from their limbs, exhi- 

 biting diverse colours like the dawn covered with clouds, but their 

 joy of heart restored a colour to their eyes similar to that of the 

 pigment washed away by the water, which by its concussion gave the 

 sound of a drum ; on hearing which the sweetly singing peacocks 

 expanded their tails, the Raja sported with them in the water as a 

 wild elephant does amid the lotus flowers, in contact with the king ; 

 the women shone more brilliantly, like ordinary gems with an emerald. 

 But while bathing the Raja lost the bracelet, the pledge of victory 

 given to him by his father Rama. The fishermen searched in vain and 

 with countenances languid as the lotus gave to him the news, but to 

 Kusa the hook of the enemies this was soon restored : amid the rain 

 of flowers Kusa married Kumadvati of the serpent race. 



By Kumadvati a son Atithi was born, fair as the moon towards the 

 dawn of day. Kusa, his father, by having a son endowed with equal 

 good qualities as himself multiplied himself. Preparations were made 

 for the son's inauguration as King : the sweet and deep-toned clang of 

 the musical instruments gave presage of the happiness of his reign, the 

 lustral ceremonies were performed by the scattering durva grass, 

 barley stems, the bark of the fig and lotus calices — the Rrahmans moved 

 in procession singing triumphal songs while water from the Ganges 

 was poured on his head in streams. The King elated with the praises 

 of the heralds seemed like a great cloud hailed by the chdtaka birds ; 

 as the splendour of fire sprinkled by rain is increased, so was the 

 Raja's by the sacred water. As a mark of joy he ordered prisoners 

 to be free, oxen to be taken from the yoke, cows not to be milked, 

 and the parrots shut up in cages to be released. The King seated 

 on an ivory throne, had his hair decorated with a row of gems, his 

 body was coloured with the yellow pigment rochana and his members 



