190 B. Bandyopidhyaya—Hamir Risa, [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, 
Very 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-enchanting airs and revelling as they liked, 
with a cool, soft breeze blowing and scarfs flying round about their 
persons. He saw Rambha 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 haldpin (thrush) and the papiyd filled the air 
with their melody. The nymphs of Cupid sang sweetly as they waved to and 
froin 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 
east 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. 
