Madhumalati by Behl Aditya; Weightman Simon; Manjhan Simon

Author:Behl, Aditya; Weightman, Simon; Manjhan, Simon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2000-12-03T05:00:00+00:00

337. Rūpamañjarī said, ‘I’ll just go for a moment

and see where Pemā and Madhumālatī are.

Otherwise I shall be worried and anxious,

for I have a suspicion about that picture-pavilion.’

‘Listen to me, O Queen,’ replied Madhurā,

‘you are clever, wise, and always practical.

The path is long and the night is dark.

Why go to the picture-pavilion at all?

You sit here and I will send for them,

or if you want, I shall fetch them myself.

The two are girlhood friends, enjoying themselves and playing games together.

What business have you and I to intrude among these young girls?’

338. Madhurā restrained her in many ways,

but the Queen remained restless in her heart.

‘They are childhood friends playing together,

enjoying themselves in their father’s house.

They have been separated for many days.

Let no one stop them playing together!’

But Rūpamañjarī would not be stopped

from going immediately to the pavilion,

though Madhurā was most embarrassed.

She took twenty maidservants with her,

and went with the Queen to the pavilion.

Even though Madhurā stopped her many times, the Queen would not listen.

She went herself to the picture-pavilion, and saw there all the signs of love.

339. One is ashamed to describe what she saw

when the Queen reached the picture-pavilion.

The sun’s rays were hidden in the moon’s orbit.

Seeing the sun, the moon had given up its brilliance.

The Queen saw this and became black as Rāhu.

She came to Pemā and abused her roundly,

‘Shameless one, don’t you care about my honour?

Why have you let this virgin cloth be stained?

I left her with you, trusting in your care.

Why have you brought disgrace on my family?

The saints have said so before, and their sayings have been proven true,

that one becomes evil oneself if one associates with evil people.’

340. Pemā said, ‘Now listen to what I am saying.

You are a mother to me, so I suffer your words.

I am not upset at your insults or abuse,

since I regard you as I do my mother Madhurā.

But first you must establish that I have sinned,

then you may abuse me as you wish.

Don’t let your heart deceive you, O Queen,

these two are as pure as Gagā water.

I know everything about their former love,

and all that has happened between them.’

Pemā then told the story from the beginning, of how the two lovers had met,

how their beds were changed and their rings, and how their hearts were now at peace.

341. The Queen called Pemā to her side and asked,

‘Give clear answers to these my questions.

Tell me why he behaves like this.

Is he an unhappy beggar or a lordly king?

Is he from a noble family or a base one?

Why is he dirty—is it from separation’s sorrow?

Did he hear about Madhumālatī from someone,

or did he fall in love the moment he saw her?’

Then Pemā told her all there was to tell,

‘Kanaigiri is a beautiful fort, and Sūrajbhānu is its king and protector.

He is the heir to that kingdom, and his mother Kamalā’s life’s support.

342. ‘But listen, O mother, in these two lovers’ minds,

there is nothing except seeing and touching the other.

I am not such a fool that I would mix

water and purest milk. Her pool of nectar*

is as full today as the day she was born.

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