venerable appearance, now conducted me to the markets
of the city and, with his friendly assistance, in the course
of the next few days I was able to sell my wares at a good
profit — and to purchase an abundance of those products
of the northern plains which are so highly prized among
our people.
My business was thus brought to a happy conclusion
long before the embassy had begun to think of getting
ready to start on its return journey; and I was in no way
sorry, for I had now full liberty to see the town and to
partake of its pleasures, which I did to the full, in the
company of Somadatta, the son of my host.
18
~ 4 ~
T
HE MAIDEN BALL‐PLAYER
O
NE DELIGHTFUL AFTERNOON we took
ourselves to a public garden outside the town — a
really magnificent park it was, lying close to the high
with shady groups of trees, large lotus
in
gseat
my
dens in Kosambī
re ju
aint.
banks of the Gangā
ponds, marble summer‐houses and jasmine arbours
which, at this hour of the day, life and bustle reigned
supreme. Here we were gently rocked on a golden swin
by the attendants, while with ravished hearts we
listened to the lovesick notes of the Kokila bird and the
sweet chatter of the green parrots. All at once there rose
on the air the merry tinkling of anklets, and instantly
friend sprang out of the swing and called to me:
“Look, Kāmanīta! The fairest mai
a
st approaching, virgins specially chosen from the
richest and most noble houses, come to do honour to the
Goddess who dwells on the Vindhaya mountains by
engaging in ball games. Count yourself fortunate, my
friend, for at this game we may see them without restr
Come, we must not miss our chance.”
Naturally I waited for no second bidding but made
haste to follow.
*
*
*
On a spacious stage decorated with precious
stones the maidens appeared, ready for the game. And, if
21
it must be acknowledged that it was a rare sight to behold
f
jewels
nd g
‐
ames of many kinds, they all stepped back
e
and glowed in every feature with the
t
l.
this galaxy of fair young creatures in all their glory o
shimmering silk, airy muslin veils, pearls, sparkling
a
olden bangles, what must be said of the game itself
that gave to all these gracious figures such varied opportu
nities of displaying their wealth of subtle beauty in the
most charming of positions and movements? And yet that
was, as it were, but a prologue. For when these gazelle‐
eyed worshippers had entertained us for a considerable
time with g
except for one, who remained alone in the centre of th
jewelled stage: in the centre of the stage... and in the
centre of my heart.
Ah, my friend, what shall I say? To talk of her
beauty would be an audacity! I should need to be a poet
like Bharata himself to conjure up to your imagination
even a faint reflection of it. Let it suffice that this maiden,
with the gentle radiance of the moon in her face, was of
such faultless form
freshness of youth, that I felt her to be the incarnate
Goddess of Fortune and Beauty. Every hair on my body
quivered with delight as I beheld her.
In honour of the Goddess whom she so perfectly
represented, she soon began a performance worthy of a
great artist. Dropping the ball easily on the stage, as i
slowly rose she gave it, with flower‐like hand, thumb
slightly bent and tender fingers outstretched, a sharp
downward blow, then struck it, as it rebounded, with the
back of her hand and caught it again in mid‐air as it fel
She tossed it in slow, in medium and in quick time, now
inciting it to rapid motion, then gently quieting it.
Then, striking it alternately with the right hand and
with the left, she drove it towards every point of the
compass and caught it as it returned. If you are acquainted
with the mysteries of ball‐play — as it seems to me from
22
the intelligence of your expression that you are — I need
only tell you that you have probably never seen the
Curnapāda and the Gītamarga so perfectly mastered.
Then she did something that I had never seen and
I do not understand how it
as t
of
s
h
r, I suc‐
eeded in tripping him up; but he, in order to hold me
h I wore round my
eck, and to which an amulet was attached. The chain
il
I
of which I had not even heard. She took two golden balls
and, while her feet moved in a dance to the tinkling of the
jewels she wore, she made the balls spring so rapidly in
lightning‐like lines, that it was as if one saw the golden
bars of a cage in which a wondrous bird hopped daintily
to and fro.
It was at this point that our eyes suddenly met.
To this day, O stranger,
w
hat I did not instantly drop dead, to be reborn in a
heaven of bliss. It may well be, however, that the fruits
deeds done in a former life were not yet exhausted.
Indeed, this karma from my wanderings in the past has, it
seems, carried me safely through various mortal danger
down to the present day, and I trust it will do so for a long
time to come.
But to return. At this instant one of the balls, whic
had hitherto been so obedient to her, escaped and flew in
a mighty curve down from the stage. Many young men
rushed to seize it. I reached it at the same moment as
another richly‐dressed youth and we flew at one another,
because neither was willing to yield it. Owing to my
absolute familiarity with the tricks of the wrestle
c
back, caught at the crystal chain whic
n
snapped, he went crashing to the earth and I secured the
ball. In a fury, he sprang up and hurled the chain at my
feet. The amulet was a tiger‐eye, not a specially precious
stone, yet it was an infallible safeguard against the ev
eye; and now, just as his enraged glare landed upon me,
was without it. But what did that matter to me? Did I not
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