#046 , VERSES 46 TO 50

46. Noo satya mrigaanka eeshoo
vadanii bhuutoo, na ca indiivara
dvandvam loocana taam gatam,
na kanakair api anga yasht`ih krita,
Kim tveevam kavi bhihi prataaritaam
anaastatvam vijaanan api
Tvang maamsaasthi mayam vapur
mriga dris`aam mandoo janaha seevatee.

This verse is a jibe/taunt against poets who describe women with exaggerated similes comparing them with the moon, lotus, lightning etc. He sneers that even wise, discriminating men get misled by poets.

The face is not the moon. The eyes are not lotus petals. The body is not made of gold. The body is of flesh and bones.

47. Liilavatiinaam sahajaa vilaasaa,
Sta eeva muud`hasya hridi sphuranti
Raagoo nasinyaa nisarga siddhas
tatra bhramati eeva mudhaa shad`anghri.

Here is a beautiful metaphor. Red color is natural to a red tulip. Yet, the bee gets tempted and orbits around it. Bewitching looks are natural to lasses. Yet fools persuade themselves that the looks are aimed at them.

48. Yadeetat puurn`eendu dyuti
haram udaaraakriti param,
Mukhaabjam tanvangyaaha kila
vasati yatraadhara madhu,
Idam tat kimpaaka druma
phalam idaaniim atirasam,
vyatiitee asmin kaalee visham
iva bhavishyatyasukhadam.

Here, the poet is contrasting the faces of a woman, first in her stage of youth and later in her state of old age.

Youthful face: stealing the light from full moon; charming figure; lotus face; nectar-filled lips. Juicy and succulent like a ‘Kimpaka’ fruit.

Face in old age: Like poison. Causes unhappiness.

49. Unmiilattrival`ii taranga valayaa,
proottunga piina stana dvandvee,
noodyata cakravaaka yugal`aa,
vaktraa ambujoodbhaasinii,
kaantaakaara dharaa, ma diiyam
abhitaha kruuraas`ayaa neeshyatee (kruuraatranaapeekshyatee),
Samsaaraarn`ava majjanam yadi,
tadaa duureen`a santyajyataam.

The poet uses a beautiful metaphor. He compares women to rivers. If wise scholars want not to get drowned in the ocean of the mundane worldly life, they should stay away from the river of ‘women’. The common factors between a river and a woman observed the poet are:

a) tuffs of hair = waves;
b) high round breasts = ‘chakravaka’ birds flying above the waves;
c) face = lotus flowers;
d) eyes = fish;
e) naval = whirlpool;
f) hips = sand dunes.

50. Jalpanti saartham anyeena,
pas`yanti anyam savibhramaaha,
hridgatam cintayanti anyam,
priyaha koo naama yooshitaam?

Women speak to a person affectionately; look at another with awe; think about somebody else in the mind. Who is the dearest of a woman? (Women can be awfully concealing and fickle).