Part 10 - Description of Love Amusements of Usa and Aniruddha

The closing part of the fifth canto of the Usaharana provides a description of love-sports of Usa and Aniruddha. The context is that, as per the suggestion of Usha, her friend Citralekha brought Aniruddha from Dwaraka to the harem of Usa in Sonitapura. However, Usha had fast

144 longing for enjoying Aniruddha's company. And by the grace of goddess Parvati, a close meeting of Usa and Aniruddha took place with the help of Citralekha. At this juncture, it is said that Manmatha himself made his appearance in their minds to advise the secrets of love-sport. 99 Usha was a very beautiful woman with the lips red like the petals of Bandhuka flower. She cast her enticing glance at Aniruddha with intense love. She embraced Aniruddha with her tender arms. She experienced the joy of close embrace with Aniruddha without any fear of being seen by others. 100 Being immersed in sensual pleasure, Usa once again closely and amorously took Aniruddha to her bosom with her lotus-fibre-like hands, and won Aniruddha in her love pursuit. Afterwards, Aniruddha held her braid of hair which was adorned with the garland of flowers, and deeply kissed the lovely face of horripilating Usa. As a result of deep kiss and tied embrace, Usa's eyes became half-closed in overwhelming joy of union. 102 Though the lips of deer-eyed one, Usa were naturally red, she had applied cosmetics to her lips. This arose in the mind of Aniruddha a fast instinct of love, and therefore, he kissed and made the marks of his nails and teeth on her lips. Thus, he developed passion. So also, the sandal paste applied to Usa's breasts was removed and the knot of the garment 103 99. pracaritamudadesasakrpaya daguriyavidhi || (V.68) || 100. pragalbhamandaksakataksapataya tayavakrstam prathamam savibhramam | apodhasankam nijabahukaksyaya babandha bandhukadalarunadhara || (V.69) 101. bhujadvayasyasya jayadhvajayitam sumadhyama madhyagata manobhuvah | nipidya vakso rabhasopaguhanapratikriyabhirdayitam jigaya sa || (V.70) 102. tatah krtartho'payayau sakhijanah sakhapi sabhrastaka bhusanagraham | cucumba gadham sumukhim mukhambuje nimilitardhaksini romaharsinim || (V.71 ) 103. apaharannapyadharosthasamsrayam mrgidrsah purvamapurvamadadhe | saragamange nakhadantacihnite pratigraheccha nahi maninam nrnam || (V.72)

145 was loosened. Hence Usha's thighs were shone forth. At this time, an element of bashfulness, an obstruction to sensual pleasure, was slightly disappeared due to her excess passion for Aniruddha. 104 Further, poet exhibits thus Skilled in amorous sports, Usha was manifesting her love-lorn feeling in an intelligent manner. Her passionate movements of eyes, mouth, hands etc., were quite visible. In a climax of exhibiting her love-lorn condition, Usa just danced like a Nati in the temple-like bosom of Aniruddha. 105 Here, the poet introduces an instance of Purusayita-srngara, as Usa behaved like a man in sexual sport. During her sexual sport, Usa was making Manita kind of sound. This sound was more delightful as it was mixed with jingling sound of small golden bells fastened to her girdle. This delightful sound appeared to be an announcement of Cupid's victory as it were. 106 In addition to this, in the sexual sport, Usa's hair was dishevelled; her face appeared like the moon covered by the clouds; the drops of perspiration caused by sport-fatigue, on the lotus-like face of Usa shone like beautiful pearls. Also, in Usa's smiles, those pearl-like drops of perspiration were seen more beautiful because of brilliance of her teeth. This indeed attracted the heart of Aniruddha and made him engrossed in great delight. 107 In this manner, both Usa and Aniruddha in the royal 104. stanangarage galite varamsuke hatoccaye coruyuge virajati | ratatirekatsudrsastirodadhe kramena lajja rativighnakarini || (V.73) 105. suklrptasrngararasaprakasana nijangaviksepavilasamanthara | varoruvaksassthalarangamantape nati vidagdheva nanarta sundari || (V.74) 106. sanaih sanai kampitaka mrakancanapradiptakancimanimanjularavah | babhuva tasya manitasvanantare jayaya jisnorjagadangajanmanah || (V.75) 107. mukhena visramsikacena sitagum vidambayanti navamedhavisphutam | vyavayacaturyavisesasalini prakasayamasa rasam pade pade || vidagdhamugdhamukhapadmasambhava mano haranti klamavaribindavah | amusya dantaprabhaya sma (su ) subhraya vimisrita mauktikasannibhasriyah | (V.76-77)

146 residence of Banasura, enjoyed in great delight the happiness of their youthful stage. Besides, the poet finds another convenient context for the delineation of love scene between Usa and Aniruddha in the ninth canto of the poem. It was when Lord Krsna established His victory over Banasura, Krsna left for His Dwaraka together with Balarama, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Usha through His vehicle Garuda. While Aniruddha was placing his consort Usa on Garuda, he was filled with joy due to soft and lovely touch of Usa's hand. However, Garuda's moving in the air with great speed caused much delight to Aniruddha because he could enjoy the embrace of his queen Usha. In this context, the poet describes that, being blown by the wind, the upper garment of Usa was slipped down. The drops of perspiration mixed with Angaraga started dripping from her limbs, and the plump breasts of Usa were seen dancing. Such Usha was firmly held by Aniruddha in embrace. 108 As Usa seated on the moving Garuda holding Aniruddha tightly, the knot of her waist-garment was losened by the force of the wind. As a result, her thighs were seen slightly uncovered at that time. But, the brilliant light of the golden girdle veiled her thighs. Further the poet describes that, having seen Usa charming due to gentle smile, but filled with anxiety, Aniruddha greeted her and entertained the feeling of sensual pleasure. 110 Thus, as Usha was moving in the air, her curly hair was dishevelled; but her face looked more beautiful, and the drops of perspiration caused by heat of the Sun, added 108. srastottariyavasanasvasanavaruddham svedambubindunikarakulitangaragam | salasyanisvasitanrtyadurojamangam naiveksanam vyaramadasya tadavagadham || (IX.23) 109. paryasyamanaruciroruciramnisannam nivivilambanavikasikalatrabharam | atyuccayanabhayasamhrtadrstipatamadhyuru tamapidadhe manimekhalarcih || (IX.24) 110. yadrcchikoditakathantarahasabaddhavrilam svakiyajanatamatisankaya drstva | sadbhavanam jadamukhimabhinandya bharta sotkanthacittamagamatsarasatirekam || (IX.25 )

147 more charm to her face. Aniruddha felt very happy to see such face of Usha, as he experienced the joy of sexual sport. 111

111. kantavalokanamivatapasannikarsannilalakavalivisaravikirnavesam | pasyannidaghajalabindukanopagudham mugdhamukham kimapi nisvasitaih sa dadhyau || (IX.26)