KĀLIDĀŠA AND THE GUPTAS 94 hendra yields, the Käverī is crossed, the south invaded, the Pandyas pay tribute of pearls. Thence the hero bends his path north, through the Malaya and Dardura hills, the sea of his host covers the long slopes of the Sahya mountain, the dust of the army clings to the hair of the ladies of Kerala, the Murala river, the Trikūṭa hill witness his fame. Thence by land, as a pious king, not by the polluting sea, he advances against the Persians and the Yavanas, Greeks; the dust of the conflict hides the warring hosts whose presence is revealed by the twang of their bows alone, the bearded foemen cover thick the ground, those who escape death cast off their helms in token of submission; the victors wearied slake their thirst with wine. Next Raghu bids his steeds roll in the Indus-a variant has Oxus-sands, overthrows Hūnas and Kambojas; the winds of the Himalaya set the reeds hymning his victories. The mountain folk feel his power, fire flashes from the mountain-sides beneath the rain of spears and arrows, and the folk of the Utsavas lose for ever their joy in festivals (utsava). The Lauhityā is crossed, Prāgjyotiṣa subdued, and Kāmarūpa yields tribute of wild elephants. In this spirited and martial narrative we may justly see the reflex in the poet's mind of Samudragupta's great conquests, and with customary skill the subject changes in Canto v to a very different theme. Raghu's generosity impoverishes him; when a Brahmin Kautsa begs him to aid him to meet the vast de- mands of his teacher, he resolves to storm the treasure-house of Kubera, god of wealth, but a rain of gold saves him from impiety. The Brahmin's gratitude secures him a son, Aja, who soon equals his father. Bidden to take part in the Svayamvara, at which the sister of a kingly neighbour will choose her mate, he sets forth; on the way he boldly attacks a monstrous wild elephant, which under his stroke changes to a Gandharva, con- demned by a curse to wear this shape until released by the blow of an Ikṣvākuid's arrow, who gives him in reward a magic weapon. Canto vi presents us with a brilliant picture of the Svayamvara; the princess, with her companion Sunanda beside her, passes by prince after prince as they stand eager before her ; 1 This fact renders it far more probable that his Açvamedha is that present to Kalidasa's mind than that of Kumāragupta, of whom we have no record of great military achievements.
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