Fighting like Crows (Simile)
Dasacharya complains to Majayya, another Brahmin, about their aghara: "Garuda and Lakshmana of our aghara fight there, like crows over a piece of gold." He compares Garuda and Lakshmana to crows to say that they are petty and selfish.
Like a Peacock's Tail (Simile)
After sleeping with Chandri, Praneshacharya looks up at the sky: “He looked about wonderingly. A night of undying stars, spread out like a peacock’s tail.” This simile works to display Praneshacharya's sense of wonder about the night sky, while also suggesting the beauty of this sight. This comparison also implies that Praneshacharya is experiencing a moment of child-like emotion, as the night sky appears to him as vast and unfamiliar.
Stilling the Waves (Metaphor)
Reflecting on his spiritual beliefs, Praneshacharya thinks back on a maxim he learned long ago: “Yoga is the stilling of the waves of the mind.” Yoga is compared to the stilling of waves, as it is supposed to bring a sense of calm to the person practicing it. This metaphor also contrasts with Praneshacharya's present experience of his mind, as his thoughts feel chaotic and disordered.
A Creeper Around One's Feet (Metaphor)
While feeling annoyed with Putta, Praneshacharya has the following thought: "There seems to be no escaping this man's company. A creeper winding around one's feet." This metaphor serves to show how irritating Praneshacharya finds Putta while also describing how firmly he has entwined himself in Praneshacharya's affairs.
A String in the Wind (Metaphor)
While considering his romantic entanglement with Chandri, Praneshacharya thinks about how his actions have made him "a piece of string in the wind." He uses this metaphor to describe the way his actions have robbed him of a sense of self, leaving him at the whims of fortune.
