3. There the maidservants are waiting with their water pots, filled with water perfumed with flowers, camphor and saffron for your bathing, as the nymphs of the rivers, have presented themselves in person before you.
4. The temples are decorated with lotuses and other flowers, with the bees fluttering upon them; and hung over with fine muslin, as white as the fibers of lotus stalks.
6. The altars are filled with heaps of flowers, aromatic drugs and rice; and adorned with every decoration in the princely style.
7. The Bráhmans are waiting there for your majesty’s presence, after making their sacred ablution and purifications, and offering their prayers for the remission of sins; and are expecting to get their worthy gifts from thee.
8. The hand-maids are attending to their duties, graced with flappers (chámaras) in their hands; and the feasting ground is cleansed with sandal paste and water.
9. Rise therefore from thy seat, and be it well with thee to perform the prescribed duties; because it does not become the best of men, to be belated in the discharge of their duties.
10. Though thus besought by the head chamberlain, yet the king remained in his meditative mood, thinking on the wonderful phenomena of nature.
11. This royalty and these duties of mine, said he, are for a very short time; I do not require these things that are so transitory in their nature.
12. I must leave these things, that are at best but waters of the mirage; and remain close to myself in my lonesome seclusion, like a calm and solitary lake or sea.
13. These pleasures of the world, that are displayed around us, are entirely useless to me; I will leave them with promptness on my part, and remain in my happy retirement.