waters the baby elephants have stirred, the male elephant sees that its mate quenches its thirst before quenching its own. | He did say that the forest branches, their leaves devoid of their greenness and dried, would torture those who have bid goodbye to the pleasure of life together. But he added that in the same forest, the doves would, over their mates drooping because of the heat, overspread their wings in fond protection. | He did say that in the forest because of the sun's scorching heat the bamboos on the hills would all be withered, and it were hard for the way-farer to attain his goal. But he added that in that forest which is shadeless, the buck would so stand as to cast its shadow over the doe in fond protection against the heat.57 |
After the heroine has left her castle, the mother looks with fond regret at the places she frequented. She gazes with sorrow on the ayalai creeper, which the heroine planted with her own hands and watered daily, but which now has faded for want of its young gardener. She beholds with regret the nocci tree with leaves like the peacock's feet and flowers of dark hue, under which her daughter used to play building castles of sand, and the vast bower before the mansion which she so often frequented.58 The poems reporting the comments of those who see the lovers on their way to the hero's realm contain very apt observations. They see the heroine walking painfully over the stony way, and therefore say that the young man whose heart can bear to see his beloved suffer thus must be as cruel as thunder. Others look on them with compassion and understanding. A nurse inquires of a hermit chief whom she meets during her quest whether he has seen a young man and a young woman who have eloped from home as a result of their love. The hermit answers in lines that have become very familiar to lovers of Cankam Tamil: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The multi-fragrant sandal, benefits those who use it, and though born on the mountains, what benefit confers it on the mountain? | The peerless pearl benefits those who adorn themselves with it and, though born of the ocean, what benefit confers it on the ocean? | The music that comes from the seven strings, rejoices those who play on them, and though born of the lute, what benefit confers it on the lute? |
57Kali; 11, 6-17. | 58Nar; 305. |
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