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and Jayalakshmiī. In the classical battle between Rāma

and Rāvaṇa which is famous as incomparable, rāmarā-
van

vaṇ
ayor yuddham rāmarāvaṇayor iva as Vālmīki has it.

Kälidāsa compares the goddess of victory as almost

equal and almost without a tilt towards either, like a

wall between two fighting elephants in rut: vikramavya-

tihāreņa sāmāṇyābhūd dvayor api, jayasriśrīr antară vedir

mattavāraṇayor iva, Raghuvamsa 12,93.
 

 
The laden cloud, dark in colour but noble in
intent, is a symbol of the munificence of heaven, the

intent, is a symbol of the munificence of heaven, the
downpour of parjanya assuring prosperity to the country.

There are two great traits in the cloud. There is not,

as made clear by the great poet and thinker Niīlakantha
ṇṭha
Diīkshita, the least trace of a desire for any return or
any waiting for a supplication from any as the cloud
drenches the world with its cool showers and helps

any waiting for a supplication from any as the cloud
drenches the world with its cool showers and helps
people to live happily in prosperity astapratyupakāra-

gandham akritasvaprarthana ṛitasvaprārthanāpeksham apyambhobhir bhu-

vam ārdrayanti jaladā jīvantyato jantavaḥ, Anyaāpadeśa-

śataka, 7. There are those who complain that by a
devastating heavy downpour, everything is destroyed,

devastating heavy downpour, everything is destroyed,
but Dikshita strongly condemns those that cry that by
its downpour the cloud has destroyed the walls of
temples, felled the dwellings of so many, flooded entire

its downpour the cloud has destroyed the walls of
temples, felled the dwellings of so many, flooded entire
areas, killed herds of cattle and so forth, forgetting

that if only that water were withheld the entire popula-

tion would perish, and finally, feeling apologetic, re-

quests the cloud to ignore the silly criticism of the

petty-minded, and be satisfied with the great good name

earned, so difficult to obtain : bhagnam bhittibhir ālayair
nipatitam srotobhir apla

nipatitam srotobhir āplā
vitam vidhvastam paśubhis cha
sangha
ś cha
saṅghaś
a iti krośanti vrishte tvayi, tvayyudgrihnati vāri
ṛishte tvayi, tvayyudgṛihṇati vāri
värida janaä naśyantyavasyam kshanaṇāt kirtim chintaya
 
r
 
īrtim chintaya
 
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