SAUNDARANANDA 1.12: Big Hair, Puffy Rice, and Flowers

virejur hariNaa yatra
suptaa medhyaasu vediShu
sa-laajair maadhavii-puShpair
upahaaraaH kRtaa iva

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1.12
The stags there, their manes beautifully braided,

On undefiled elevations fit to be sacrificial altars,

Seemed as if,
complete with puffy rice and madhavi flowers,

They had been prepared as religious offerings.

COMMENT:
In this verse, which needs to be understood in conjunction with the further description of small and large deer in the next verse, I am not sure whether or not Ashvaghosha is continuing with the subtext of mocking the ascetics at Kapila's ashram. Assuming that he is, then given the double-meaning of the word supta, then I am not sure whether Ashvaghosha is comparing the ascetics to stags with shaggy manes or to sleeping fawns.

In conclusion, I may be wrong, but I think Ashvaghosha's intention might be to allude again, following on from the previous verse, to the traditional attitude of Indian ascetics and holy men who (sometimes in the name of non-vanity) pay so much attention to how they wear their hair.

This attitude of ascetic peacocks and stags could hardly be more different from the traditional attitude of a follower of the Buddha who simply shaves his head.

EH Johnston:
There the spotted deer, asleep in the enclosures sacred to worship, seemed as if made into offerings accompanied by madhavi flowers and puffed rice.

Linda Covill:
Here the deer slept in the sacrificial compounds, seemingly made into offerings along with dried rice and madhavi flowers.

VOCABULARY:
virejuH = 3rd pers. pl. perfect of viraaj: to be illustrious or eminent , shine forth , shine out (abl.) , glitter ; to appear as (nom.)
hariNaaH (nom. pl.): m. a deer , antelope , fawn , stag
yatra: ind. where

suptaaH = nom. pl. m. supta: (1) mfn. (fr. su + ptaa) having beautiful braids of hair; (2) mfn. sleeping, asleep; fallen asleep , slept , sleeping , asleep ; lain down to sleep (but not fallen asleep) ; paralysed , numbed , insensible ; closed (as a flower) ; resting , inactive , dull , latent
medhyaasu (loc. pl. f.): mfn. (fr. medha) full of sap , vigorous , fresh , mighty , strong ; fit for a sacrifice or oblation ; free from blemish (as a victim) , clean , pure , not defiling (by contact or by being eaten)
vediShu = loc. pl. vedi: f. an elevated (or according to some excavated) piece of ground serving for a sacrificial altar (generally strewed with kusha grass , and having receptacles for the sacrificial fire ; it is more or less raised and of various shapes , but usually narrow in the middle , on which account the female waist is often compared to it)

sa-laajaiH: with accompaniments of fried rice
sa: (possessive suffix) along with, containing, accompanied by etc.
laaja: m. pl. fried or parched grain (esp. rice grain)
maadhavii-puShpaiH (inst. pl. m.): with madhavi flowers
maadhavii: " spring-flower " , Gaertnera Racemosa
puShpa: flower

upahaaraaH (nom. pl.): m. offerings , oblations ; complimentary gift , present (to a king or superior) ; food (distributed to guests &c )
upa- √ hR: to bring near , reach forth , proffer , offer , place before , give to taste (esp. food)
kRtaaH (nom. pl. m.): mfn. done , made , accomplished , performed ; prepared , made ready
iva: like, as if