A SANSCRIT POEM BY SHRI HARSHA. 



329 



Yet they are blind ; and tho' they plainly hear, 

 Yet are they deaf ; and tho' the vivid light 

 Around them shines, they grope as in the dark. 



In these descriptive pieces compound words are necessarily used, and 

 it is not uncommon in the Naishadha for one of these to make a whole line 

 or half a stanza. The first page of the work furnishes an example, 



The halo of the fame of his glory bright as the white canopy of the Chhatra of state 

 supported by a golden rod. 



The use of figures and images is another striking characteristic of 

 the Naishadha. It is impossible to open the book in any part without 

 seeing figures of varied form and size — Shri Harsha does not commence in 

 a style which he is unable to continue, and the following is the first stanza 

 of his work which may therefore be regarded as a pattern of the whole. 



The history of this King the wise esteem, 

 And drink with greater zest than nectar sweet. 

 The white and royal chhatra's canopy. 

 But feebly shews the halo of his fame : 

 In him a thousand glories are combined. 



His figures are so numerous that they pervade every subject he 

 touches, and even simple incidents and common topics are adorned with 

 these ornaments of speech. One instance will be sufficient to illustrate 

 this remark. The following passage occurs in the 16th book. 



The King conducted Nala and his wife 

 Unto the borders of his wide domain ; 

 And then with mind distressed and speech confused ; 

 X 



