Part 40 (1/2)

Enough of this! Though every word that you Have said, be faithful, yet would s.h.i.+va please My eager heart all made of pa.s.sion true For him alone. Love sees no blemishes.

In response to this eloquence, the youth throws off his disguise, appearing as the G.o.d s.h.i.+va himself, and declares his love for her.

Parvati immediately discontinues her religious asceticism; for ”successful effort regenerates.”

_Sixth canto. Parvati is given in marriage_.--While Parvati departs to inform her father of what has happened, s.h.i.+va summons the seven sages, who are to make the formal proposal of marriage to the bride's parents. The seven sages appear, flying through the air, and with them Arundhati, the heavenly model of wifely faith and devotion. On seeing her, s.h.i.+va feels his eagerness for marriage increase, realising that

All actions of a holy life Are rooted in a virtuous wife.

s.h.i.+va then explains his purpose, and sends the seven sages to make the formal request for Parvati's hand. The seven sages fly to the brilliant city of Himalaya, where they are received by the mountain G.o.d. After a rather portentous interchange of compliments, the seven sages announce their errand, requesting Parvati's hand in behalf of s.h.i.+va. The father joyfully a.s.sents, and it is agreed that the marriage shall be celebrated after three days. These three days are spent by s.h.i.+va in impatient longing.

_Seventh canto. Parvati's wedding_.--The three days are spent in preparations for the wedding. So great is Parvati's unadorned beauty that the waiting-women can hardly take their eyes from her to inspect the wedding-dress. But the preparations are complete at last; and the bride is beautiful indeed.

As when the flowers are budding on a vine, Or white swans rest upon a river's sh.o.r.e, Or when at night the stars in heaven s.h.i.+ne, Her lovely beauty grew with gems she wore.

When wide-eyed glances gave her back the same Bright beauty--and the mirror never lies-- She waited with impatience till he came: For women dress to please their lovers' eyes.

Meanwhile s.h.i.+va finishes his preparations, and sets out on his wedding journey, accompanied by Brahma, Vishnu, and lesser G.o.ds. At his journey's end, he is received by his bride's father, and led through streets ankle-deep in flowers, where the windows are filled with the faces of eager and excited women, who gossip together thus:

For his sake it was well that Parvati Should mortify her body delicate; Thrice happy might his serving-woman be, And infinitely blest his bosom's mate.

s.h.i.+va and his retinue then enter the palace, where he is received with bashful love by Parvati, and the wedding is celebrated with due pomp.

The nymphs of heaven entertain the company with a play, and s.h.i.+va restores the body of Love.

_Eighth canto. The honeymoon_.--The first month of marital bliss is spent in Himalaya's palace. After this the happy pair wander for a time among the famous mountain-peaks. One of these they reach at sunset, and s.h.i.+va describes the evening glow to his bride. A few stanzas are given here.

See, my beloved, how the sun With beams that o'er the water shake From western skies has now begun A bridge of gold across the lake.

Upon the very tree-tops sway The peac.o.c.ks; even yet they hold And drink the dying light of day, Until their fans are molten gold.

The water-lily closes, but With wonderful reluctancy; As if it troubled her to shut Her door of welcome to the bee.

The steeds that draw the sun's bright car, With bended neck and falling plume And drooping mane, are seen afar To bury day in ocean's gloom.

The sun is down, and heaven sleeps: Thus every path of glory ends; As high as are the scaled steeps, The downward way as low descends.

s.h.i.+va then retires for meditation. On his return, he finds that his bride is peevish at being left alone even for a little time, and to soothe her, he describes the night which is now advancing. A few stanzas of this description run as follows.

The twilight glow is fading far And stains the west with blood-red light, As when a reeking scimitar Slants upward on a field of fight.

And vision fails above, below, Around, before us, at our back; The womb of night envelops slow The world with darkness vast and black.

Mute while the world is dazed with light, The smiling moon begins to rise And, being teased by eager night, Betrays the secrets of the skies.

Moon-fingers move the black, black hair Of night into its proper place, Who shuts her eyes, the lilies fair, As he sets kisses on her face.