dark clouds.[38] And the faultless and auspicious daughter of Virata, of fine teeth and slender-waist, of thighs close unto each other and each like the trunk of an elephant, her person embellished with an excellent garland, sought the son of Pritha like a she-elephant seeking her mate.  And like unto a precious gem or the very embodiment of prosperity of Indra, of exceeding beauty and large eyes, that charming and adored and celebrated damsel saluted Arjuna.  And saluted by her, Partha asked that maiden of close thighs and golden complexion, saying ’What brings thee hither, a damsel decked in a necklace of gold?  Why art thou in such a hurry, O gazelle-eyed maiden?  Why is thy face, O beauteous lady, so cheerless?  Tell me all this without delay!’”

[36] Vedi-Vilagnamadhya—­Vedi in this connection means a wasp and not, as explained by Mallinatha in his commentary of the Kumarasambhava, a sacrificial platform.  I would remark in passing that many of the most poetic and striking adjectives in both the Raghu and the Kumarasambhava of Kalidasa are borrowed unblushingly from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

    [37] Padma patrabha-nibha may also mean ’of the splendour of
    the gem called Marakata.’  Nilakantha, however, shows that this
    would militate against the adjective Kankojwalatwacham below.

[38] The princess being of the complexion of burnished gold and Arjuna dark as a mass of clouds, the comparison is exceedingly appropriate.  The Vaishnava poets of Bengal never tire of this simile in speaking of Radha and Krishna in the groves of Vrindavana.

Vaisampayana continued, “Beholding, O king, his friend, the princess of large-eyes (in that plight), her friend (Arjuna) cheerfully enquired of her (in these words) the cause of her arrival there and then.  And having approached that bull among men, the princess, standing in the midst of her female attendants, the displaying proper modesty[39], addressed him, saying, ’The kine of this realm, O Vrihannala, are being driven away by the Kurus, and it is to conquer them that my brother will set out bow in hand.  Not long ago his own charioteer was slain in battle, and there is none equal unto the one slain that can act as my brother’s charioteer.  And unto him striving to obtain a charioteer, Sairindhri, O Vrihannala, hath spoken about thy skill in the management of steeds.  Thou wert formerly the favourite charioteer of Arjuna, and it was with thee that that bull among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the whole earth.  Do thou, therefore, O Vrihannala, act as the charioteer of my brother. (By this time) our kine have surely been driven away by the Kurus to a great distance.  Requested by me if thou dost not act up to my words, I who am asking this service of thee out of affection, will give up my life!’ Thus addressed by this friend of graceful hips, that oppressor of foes, endued