1.1. The story of the birth of Yasodhara

[Full title: Court poetry (1) Birth of Yasodhara]

The large number of verses interspersed in Yasastilaka makes it a veritable anthology of Kavya poetry in the tenth century. There are groups of verses on diverse topics as well as individual slokas, which can be detached from the context without causing any appreciable break in the narrative, and form, so to speak, an independent body of verse valuable for the study of the poetry of the period. These verses, as a rule, are composed in a comparatively easy style more attractive than the intricate prose, in which Somadeva chose to recount his story. I. COURT POETRY A number of verse-groups forming part of the autobiographical record of Yasodhara deals with aspects of medieval court life, with which the romance is so closely bound up, and often gives vivid pictures of scenes which Somadeva must have personally witnessed. The cultural value of these verses can hardly be overestimated, and the following specimens form a more or less consecutive scries. a) BIRTH OF YASODHARA The festivities and the atmosphere of gaiety at the royal palace at Ujjayini on the occasion of the birth of Yasodhara are described in a dozen verses (2. 68-79). nrtyadvrddhapurandhrigeyasubhagah sollasahallananah kheladvamana kaminipriyabhuvah sanandadhatrikulah | pistapidavidambya manajaratisimantakantanganasturodyavaravaih samam kila babhuh suddhantamadhyastada || At that hour the inner apartments, delightful with the songs of the old matrons dancing therein, rang with the festive notes of musical instruments, and the countenance of the attendants beamed with joy. The floor presented an amusing scene, dwarfish women indulging in sports. Groups of delighted nurses were about, and the forecourts were charming with the presence of old dames, their hair heavily laden with heaps of coloured powder (2. 68). anandavadyaravapuritadinmukhani pauranganajana vinodamanoharani | amuktaketuracitotsavatoranani kamam tada susubhire nagare grhani || At that time the mansions in the city brightly shone, with flags flying and decorative arches built for the occasion. Charming they were with

140 YASASTILAKA AND INDIAN OULTURE the pleasantry of the women of the city, and filled the quarters with the gay notes of music (2.75 ). akhandalapratimaputravatam dhurinah strilocanotpalavilasarasapravinah | trailokyapavanayasah kiranodayena tvam nandatattanayajanma mahotsavena || dharmah pallavitah striyah kusumitah kamah phalaih sladhyate vamsaste ksitinatha samprati param chayam sritah kamapi | bhudevi sakrtarthatamupagata mulanvayanam punascitte mati na deva sandritarasastvatputrajanmotsavah || sanandam bandivrndaih kvacidavanipatih stuyate prarthitathairbandhunam tustidanaih kvacidatanumudah sauvidallastvarante | akalpam bhartrlaksmimiyamanubhavatat putrapautraisca sardham devityevam purodhah kvacidapi ca pathatyasisah kamitasrih || svargah kalpadrumairbhuh kuladharanidharaigauradhamna payodhidyauh pusna bhogiloko bhujagaparivrdhenakaraksmeva ratnaih | devastavacciraya prathita prthuyasah kirtiprthvi tatheyam devi ca stat pramodavahadivasavati putrajanmotsavena || At one place the bards, asking for various gifts, praised the king (Yasorgha) in joy : " Thou art chief among those who possess sons like Indra. Thou dost delight in the amorous play of women's lotus eyes. Mayst thou rejoice in the birth of thy son, a mighty festival, the source of a worldpurifying halo of fame! The tree of virtue has put forth leaves, riches have blossomed forth, and desire is crowned with success. Thy dynasty, o king, now attains a radiant glory beyond all words. The divine Earth has her crowning desire fulfilled. And, sire, the joy of thy ministers occasioned by the birth of thy child, knows no bounds, for it has deepened the affection of their hearts." At one place the chamberlains were hurrying to and fro, overjoyed at the gifts presented by their friends. Elsewhere the family priest, desiring wealth, recited blessings: "May the queen share for years the prosperity of her consort in company with her sons and grandsons! Just as heaven is delighted with the Kalpa trees, the ocean with the moon, and the nether regions with the lord of the serpents; similarly, may the king, with his fame spreading far and wide, long enjoy days of happiness on account of the joyous birth of this child! May the queen, too, be likewise happy, great in her renown; just as the earth is happy with the great mountainranges, the sky with the sun, and the bosom of the earth with its jewels!" (2.76-79).