SAUNDARANANDA 4.34: Ehi -- An Imperative to Come Hither

n' aaham yiyaasor guru-darshan'-aartham
arhaami kartum tava dharma-piiDaaM
gacch' aarya-putr' aihi ca shiighram eva
visheShako yaavad ayaM na shuShkaH

= = - = = - - = - = -
= = - = = - - = - = =
= = - = = - - = - = -
- = - = = - - = - = =

4.34
"Since you wish to go and see the Guru

I must not get in the way of your dharma-duty.

Go, noble husband, but come quickly back,

Before this paint on my face is dry.

COMMENT:
Sundari's exhortation in line 3 is ehi (imperative singular of aa- √i, to come near). This is the same imperative that the Buddha is said to have used when welcoming a practitioner who had decided to go forth into the wandering life: ehi bhikShu, "Come, beggar!"


EH Johnston:
' It is not meet for me to hinder you in the performance of your duty to go and see the Guru. Go, my lord, but return quickly before the paint is dry.

Linda Covill:
"You wish to leave in order to see the guru, and I ought not to hinder you in your duty. Go, my dear husband, but come back quickly before my vishesaka dries."

VOCABULARY:
na: not
aham (nom. sg.): I
yiyaasoH = gen. sg. m. yiyaasu: mfn. (fr. desid yaa) wishing to go
guru-darshan'-aartham (acc. sg.): the aim of seeing the guru
guru: heavy, weighty, venerable
darshana: seeing, meeting with
artham: aim, purpose

arhaami (1st pers. sg. arh): I should, I ought
kartum = inf. kR: to do, make
tava (gen. sg. m.): your
dharma-piiDaam (acc. sg.): a restriction on duty
piiDaa: f. pain , suffering , annoyance , harm , injury , violation , damage ; restriction , limitation
piiD: to squeeze ; hurt , harm , injure , oppress , pain , vex ;

gaccha = 2nd pers. sg. imperative √gam: to go
aarya-putra (voc.): son of an Aryan or honourable man , (honourable designation of the son of an elder brother or of any person of rank); designation of a husband by his wife (in dram.)
ehi = 2nd pers. sg. imperative aa- √i: to come near
ca: and
shiighram: ind. quickly , rapidly , fast
eva: (emphatic)

visheShakaH (nom. sg.): m. painted face-mark
yaavan na: before
ayam (nom. sg. m.) : this, this here
shuShkaH (nom. sg. m.): mfn. dried , dried up , dry