Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/423

 THE FOREST. 363 Chaupái. Hearken, O saint, to the teaching of the Puránas, the Vedas and the saints: Woman is like the season of spring to the forest of infatuation ; like the heat of summer to dry up the pools and waterfalls of prayer, penance and devotional exercises: like the rains to rejoice the gnats' and frogs of lust, anger and pride; like the autumn to revive the lilylike growth of evil propensities; like the winter to distress and deaden all the lotus beds of piety; and lastly, like the dewy season to foster the jawása weeds of selfishness. Woman, again, is like a dárk and murky night, in which owls and deeds of darkness delight, or like a hook to catch the fish of sense and strength and honour and truth ; so say the wise. Dohá 39. Wanton woman is the root of all evil, a source of torment, a mine of all unhappiness; therefore, O saint, knowing all this, I prevented your marriage. Chaupái. As the saint listened to Raghupati's delightful discourse, his body quivered with emotion and his eyes filled with tears. “Tell me, is there any other lord, whose wont it is to be so kind and considerate to his servants. All, who will not abandon their errors, nor worship such a lord as this, are indeed dull and witless fools." Nárad the sage reverentially enquired further: "Hearken Ráma, versed in all wisdom; tell me, my lord Raghubír, lightener of earth's burdens, what are the marks of a saint ?" "Listen, reverend Sir, and I'will tell you what are the qualities of the saints, by virtue of which they hold me in their power. They have overcome the six disturbing influences; are sinless, passionless, and imperturbable; have no worldly goods, but live a life of chastity and contentedness; their wisdom is immeasurable; they are without desires and temperate in enjoyment; oceans of truth, inspired bards, tion; circumspect; void of pride and arrogance; persevering and eminently wise in the mystery of salvation; tised in medita- 1 Matsara, translated gnats,' also means ' selfishness' and may be intended in that sense here, as both meanings suit the context equally well. the winter and the spring. 3 According to the Sánkhya philosophy thero is an original eternal germ or primal source of all things, except soul, which is called Prakriti. From it are evolved certain vikáras, or productive products, or modifications, which occasion all the diversity of material phenomena, and which may Eherefore be designated 'disturbing influences.'
 * Sisira, the dewy season,' consists of the two months, Mágh and Phálgun, that come between