Method of the description of Seasons

Continued from Previous Page

The subject is relevant for the exegesis of shringara rasa, the titillation of love making. Till now the poet wanted to describe the seasons, rutus. Now in this section in the first six slokas the spring season, vasantha rutu, is described for it is prominent in rousing sexual desire.

Who and which would be without good qualities when spring season comes in the year? Everything around would be beautiful and scintillating. The breeze would be blowing spreading sweet smells. Trees would be putting fresh leaves. During nights women with faces resembling the blooming full moon, with sweat slightly oozing out owing to copulation, would be sweet too. (81)

During this season the sweet singing koils would be making people merry. The songs of the beloved bird would be ‘killing’ youthful lasses suffering from viraha, the feeling of suffering separation. In other seasons even nectar would be like poison. Spring is the most pleasant of all the six seasons particularly for youthful lovers, those moving and not moving afar. The idea of the poet is that for those suffering separation would be unbearable grief. (82)

Only some would be experiencing great joy and comfort in the sex-play along with their darlings. Joy-giving other things are the fragrance of flowers in the season and the pleasant conversations with poets and falling asleep in moonlight. These are only a few among many others. (83)

There is another reading for this sloka, paathaa antaram which is not included here.

In the spring season young women with their husbands being far away would be flaming in their loneliness. This is comparable to the koils near the bunches of flowers on the mango trees which have a delicate fragrance which they think are looking at them. Sweet fragrance from the distant trees reduces the tiresomeness of the sex-act. (84)

In this world ladies vie with one another in becoming angry with their husbands for having sex with ‘other’ women. They wreak vengeance and keeping looking the other way when the husband is with her. In the pleasant spring, even such women would be transported and giving up their anger, embrace their men. (85)

In the pleasant spring season, the filaments of sweet mango flowers would spread their fragrance all around. Bees sucking honey from flowers would b tired. In the delectable season who would not have a desire for copulation!? All would be roused with desire. (86)

In grishma, summer, mem anointing themselves with sandal paste would go to their water fountains and the fragrance of flowers, moonshine and delightful breeze.   All these stimulate Manmadha vikara, Cupid’s powerful influences. (87)

The fortunate and meritorious ones, punyavantulu would enjoy their beloved young women decked with flower garlands, and enjoy the breeze from their hand fans, the sandalwood paste on their bodies, sweet liquor in the upper floors in their buildings. The clothes of their sweet hearts fascinate their lotus-eyed darlings. (88)

In a house that is whitewashed, the lady’s lotus face, the fragrant anointments, those who crave for samsara have deep desire. But those who do not have any desire, samsara, sexual joy does no harm. (89)

The rainy season, Varsha rutu, stimulates sexual desire. The fragrance of sanna jaji, the tender jasmine, the sweating breasts of the lass would fascinate the male. The idea of the poet is that even the rainy season rouses excites sexual desire in all. (90)

The sky with thick clouds, fields covered with plentiful mushrooms, the breezes from wild jasmines, with groups of peacocks making noises – all forest areas make lasses and their lovers happy. (91)

Clouds, peacocks, mushrooms and the scenery would stimulate the sexual urge. Travellers on tours, wandering, leave their beloved lasses and have them in their minds. They cannot forward their sighs to their beloved ones owing to the noises around. They cannot walk fast owing to the mushrooms whitening the way. The poet feels that in such situations the travellers regret undertaking any tour. (92)

Flashes of lightening on one side, the fragrance of mogali - khewda, ketaki flowers on the other; flashes on the clouds, lovers cannot tolerate or suffer. All the things mentioned above the clouds and conversations of peacocks - rouse the passion for sex-play. Women suffer the pain of separation from their lovers. This is what the poet speaks of. (93)

The thick clouds and thunders in the season of rains, Varsha ritu, would not allow even a pin point of light in the darkness. Rain drops and the golden hue on the paths would give great joy for women rousing their romantic feeling. (94)

Since the fierce rain stops them to go to their beloved ones, the lovers cannot leave their high towered buildings. Women with wide eyes would be trembling because of the cold and they would be waiting for the warm hug of their lovers. Winds would be blowing with cold sprays and such are bad days, without the sun’s warmth. The meritorious, blessed ones would be waiting for a good day to have sexual union. (95)

The one who sleeps half of the night before fearless, satisfying coition, the one with deep desire seeking wine and his lass and embraces her tightly is the fortunate one. The poet’s idea is that the man who drinks water given by the lass after coition is the one fulfilled. The idea of the poet is that the autumnal nights are the most suitable for sex-play. (96)

In the winter season, hemanta rutu, the fulfilled one who eats well with milk, ghee and curd, smears himself with sandal paste, gets tired with several acts in the sex-play hugs his lass chewing paan and would sleep happily (97)

In hemantha rutu, winter season, when cool breezes from kadamba trees with fabulous flowers and bees hovering – the lass who does not embrace hard her lover spends the hellish nights with great difficulty. (98)

In sisira rutu cold and chilly, sighing at her hair falling down, her blouse opening, showing her breasts in shivering cold, opening up her sari too thinks of her lover. (99)

The breeze dragging her by her hand, closing the eyes forcefully causing horripilation, makes her organs shiver heaving out sighs as if her lover does this all. (100)

Thus ends, shringara shataka, stree prashamsa, sambhoga varnana, kaamini garhanamu, suvirakta, durvirakta paddhati and rutu varnana in five parts, this dwiteeyaashwaasamu. This is the end of shringara shatakam.

Continued to Next Page