Madhurāvijayam of Gaṅgādevī /136

MADHURÄVIJAYA M
 
28. Red insects looking like blood drops, began

to swarm the earth. They looked like the sparks of the
lightning fire that had dropped down on earth when

lightning fire that had dropped down on earth when
clouds clashed with clouds in a violent manner.
 
41
 

 
29. Frozen rain drops fell from clouds that

whirled round with the blowing of the eastern wind.

Looking at them, one wondered if they were not pearls

which were taken along with the sea-water during the

latter's formation.
 

 
30. In mountainous plateaus peacocks danced

singing sweet notes of shadja at the appearance of

clouds that were their favourites.
 

 
31. Travellers with desperate courage heard the

thundering of clouds in the sky which sounded like

celestial kettle-drums which Cupid beat with sticks of
lightning.
 

lightning.
 
32. For some days the forest presented this

appearance: Plantains put forth new shoots. Arjuna

trees blossomed and also the kadamba and kētaka.

Caātaka birds were in great glee, and also the peacocks.
 

 
33. Through winds, as if with hands, clouds

sprinkled kētaka dusts resembling holy ashes. The
murmuring of thunder was like the uttering of hum.

murmuring of thunder was like the uttering of hum.
And all this was effective in exorcising the evil-spirit

of love-anger which sometimes possessed the ladies of
the harem.
 

the harem.
 
34. The mind of the king was very much attract-

ed by pleasure-hillocks. Eyes in the tails of dancing

peacocks rendered them very picturesque, and camphor
 
F