Читать книгу Seven Hundred Elegant Verses - Govardhana - Страница 40

In public our friend inflicts no harm ⋮ has little heat because she is cool in self-control ⋮ because of the coldness of her conduct; it is her husband who knows her fiery nature ⋮ tormenting heat, for he suffers ⋮ is burnt by her momen- tary perversity.*

By imagining them to be his wife, he achieves his satisfaction even with other women, as if he were looking upon temple statues made of stone as deities and gaining the objects prayed for.*

“Silly boy, if you don’t humble yourself a little you’ll never acquire her deep sweet love, any more than you could acquire the deep sweet water of a river without going down to it.”

45

It ⋮ she needs no extra fragrance ⋮ perfume, no hole for the string ⋮ search for virtuous qualities, and no stringing together ⋮ tricks to ensnare, but by its own nature the ketaka bud ⋮ she forms a head-ornament for young people ⋮ makes the young men bow before her.

“The garland you made with your own hands, lucky man, removes all her pain, and now she wears it as a medication against the recurring fever of sleeping with her husband.”*

By not considering her fine qualities, you handsome man, and treating her with indifference, you left her with no recourse—as a ship is forced into its course by a whirl-pool that is stronger than the ropes and pays no attention to the oars.