322 Birds in Sanskrit Literature "श्रीश्वस्येव मधुर: स्वरो यस्य स तथा क्रोश्वस्यैव मधुरारावके । क्रौञ्चस्येव अप्रयासेन विनिर्गतोऽपि दीर्घदेशव्यापी स्वरो येषां ते क्रोश्चस्वराः। क्रौञ्चसदृशेषु निर्हादिस्वरेषु ।” Sub Voice कोंचस्सर. "महया महया सद्देणं कोंचारवं करेमाणा ।"--"महता महता शब्देन दीघंतर निनादिनः क्रौञ्चस्येव बहुव्यापित्वाद् बहुअनुनादित्वात्। Ibid. Vol. 5. pp. 1445-46. The sौच mountain in the Himalayas is described as resounding with the loud calls of the birds: "क्रो व्वं महामन्यु *: क्रोञ्चनादनिनादिनम् ।" MBh. 9.46.84. The trumpeting of elephants in pain or when wounded with a shower of sharp arrows: "अभीक्ष्णं क्रौञ्चवन्नदति" -पालकाप्य, 3.5 (p. 385); "क्रौञ्चवद् विनदन्तोऽन्ये नाराचाभिहता गजा: ।" MBh. 7.20.52. The sharp neighing of a spirited war-horse: "क्रौञ्चवद् रिपुवधाय हेषितम्" । बृहत्संहिता, 97.7. 18. A selection from literature, illustrative of the associations and habits of these birds as also in support of the earlier remarks that the term सारस (स with आरस, having a loud call) has been used not only for the Sarus but also for other Cranes, is given below : "अद्यापि छिद्रं तत्पार्थ क्रौञ्चस्य परिवर्तते । येन हंसाध क्रौचा मानसाय प्रयान्ति च ॥ ** स्कन्दपुराण, कौमारिका खण्ड, 33.182 The arrival of the Cranes in autumn and their flight in formation: MBh. 3.183.10 क्रौञ्चहंससमाकीर्णा शरत् प्रमुदिताऽभवत् । सततमतिमनोज्ञः क्रौञ्चमालापरीतः प्रदिशतु हिमयुक्तः काल एषः सुखं वः । श्रेणीकृता व्यरोचन्त राजन क्रौचा इवाम्बरे । दृष्ट्वा च विमलं व्योम गतविद्युद्वलाहकम् । सारसारव संघुष्टं विललापातया गिरा ॥ ऋतुसहार, 4.18 MBh. 7.139.33. रामायण, 4.30.5.
- महामन्युः कात्तिकेयः क्रौञ्चनादनिनादित कौञ्चं शक्त्या विभेद——is the principal sentence,
- *This statement is based upon facts observed by the ancients that the migratory Geese,
Swans, and Cranes avoiding the higher Himalayas pass through the valleys one of which is known as the कोञ्चरन्ध. Cranes पंक्त्यः शरदि मत्तानां सारासानामिवाम्बरे । श्रेणीभूता प्रकाशन्ते यान्तः श्येना इवाम्बरे Ibid. 3.55.95 श्येन in the last line clearly stands for the श्येनाव्य (the Crane known by the name of श्येन, 'the white) or the Great White Crane, for no Hawk or Eagle is known to fly in numbers or in formation (श्रेणीभूत ) 'सारस' as a bird of the autumn, शरत्यक्षी, in the above passages is synonymous with कोच, for the Sarus proper is not a winter visitor ( शरदिमन्त) with us nor does it fly very high or in large formations. The Demoiselles may also be intended by the term सारस. श्रेणीबद्धाद् वितन्वद्भिरस्तम्भां तोरणस्रजम् । सारसः कलनिह्लादैः क्वचिदुन्नमिताननं ॥ हविवंश, 3.55.19. 19. Small numbers of Sarus, flying low in V-form have been compared to a decorative festoon hanging in a curve over an arch-way in one of the most beautiful similes of Kālidása: 323 रघुवंश, 1.41 But the poet would seem to be indebted for the beautiful picture to the following from the Rāmāyana: विपक्वशालिप्रसवानि भुक्त्वा प्रहर्षिता सारसचारूपंक्तिः । नभः समाक्रामति शीघ्रवेगा वातावधूता ग्रथितेव माला ॥ 4.30.48. ऋज्वायतां च विरलां च नतोन्नतां च सप्तर्षिवंशकुटिलां च निवर्तनेषु । निर्मुच्यमानभुजगोदरनिर्मलस्य सीमामिवाम्बरतलस्य विभज्यमानाम् ॥ A very large flight of Cranes probably the Demoiselles, called सारसपंक्ति in the text, is beautifully described in the following verse: स्वप्नवासवदत्तम्, 4.2. The charming association of the Common and the Demoiselle Cranes with the larger rivers, the Common and the Sarus Cranes announcing their presence in the wheat and barley crops covered by the heavy morning mist, their undisturbed happiness in the rice-fields combined with a cloud- less autumn, crystal waters and smiling flowers-all these have been re- called with affection. The ancients loved their birds and did not grudge them a share in the rich bounties of mother earth :- हंससारसचक्राः कुरैश्च समन्ततः । पुलिनान्यवकीर्णानि नदीनां पश्य लक्ष्मण ॥ रामायण, 4.30.63 प्रोद्धृष्टां क्रौञ्चकुरैश्चक्रवाकोपकूजिताम् (नदीम्) | MBh. 3.64.113.
