पृष्ठम्:Sanskrit Studies.djvu/२४

16 SANSKRIT STUDIES princess, 'Why do you not, on a fit occasion, ask your lord to teach you how to play on the viņā?' Padmavati replied 'I have already done so.' Vasavadatta then eagerly enquired-. 'And what was his reply?' and Padmāvatī said 'Without uttering a syllable, he fetched a deep sigh and kept quiet.' It was certain from this that Udayana, recollecting the excellent qualities of Vasavadattā, was about to weep but restrained his tears out of regard for Padmavati's feelings. When Udayana arrived with the Vidūṣaka in the garden, Väsavadattā, as was the custom, retired into a bower nearby, Padmavati also accompanying her; and from there the hapless lady looked upon her lord for the first time after her long separation. The conversation between him and his friend the Vidūṣaka, made it clear to her how devoted to her memory the king was. All this, though consoling in one way, brought tears to her eyes, but under the pretext of not disturbing Padmavati from keeping company with Udayana, she returned to her apartment in the palace. One day, after this incident, Padmavatī became ill, and when the news reached Udayana, he felt very uneasy; for, as the poet says, overmuch love always apprehends evil. He went to see his queen along with the Vidūṣaka to the garden-house where Pad- mavati was reported to be. But he did not find her, though the bed prepared for her was there. Expecting her soon, Udayana remained there and the Vidūṣaka, in order to while away time, began to narrate a story. The story was about Ujjain which at once put Udayana in mind of Vasavadattā. Observing the effect which it had on the king, the Vidūṣaka changed the theme of his story. By that time Udayana fell asleep. The night was then growing cold; and the Vidūṣaka departed to fetch a shawl leaving the king alone, who began to talk of Vasavadatta in his dream. At that time, Vasavadattā who also had heard of her friend's indisposition which, because it meant anxiety to her lord, was doubly disconcerting to her, came to the garden- house to see her. When she came, she saw Udayana lying there on the couch; and mistaking him for Padmāvatī sat by his side. Just then Udayana said: 'O Vasavadattā, why have you not had your toilet?" Vasavadattā then discovered that it was not Pad- mavati but Udayana. Whil she was afraid that she had probably been discovered, Udayana muttered something from which she concluded that he was but dreaming. She accordingly made