Pada 131
Listen, Rasikaraja Raghunandana, to ritual abuse spoken in the ways of love.
You are dark while my mistress is fair—what a very great wonder! If the color red should please you, then let us offer this proposal:
remain in Mithila for a little while and become a refined and tender city-dweller; dwell within Sri Lakshminidhi’s radiant palaces.
Perform whatever service pleases your Beloved and delights Srinidhi; then, dear one, you will become fair, and my mistress will take on your likeness.
All the companions laugh together, exchanging these delightful thoughts; hearing them, Raghunandana turns his face aside and smiles—Kamadendra gives himself in sacrifice.
Pada 132
The rasika prince Raghunandana eats with his beloved Sita, the refined lady and treasury of rasa.
Fifty-six delicacies, the six tastes and all their subtle variations, form an array of food that bestows delight.
Upon a table of wish-fulfilling gems lie soft dishes, delicate as foam upon milk.
Knowing the Divine Couple’s preferences, the women arrange one wondrous creation after another:
juicy fruits, sprouts, roots and plantain, sweet dried fruits and nectar-like confections;
many chutneys, pickles, murabba, and vegetables prepared in countless ways.
The supremely youthful women serve them, knowing the tastes of the Divine Couple.
Fragrant, cool water from the Sarayu fills a consecrated golden ewer.
Pausing amid conversation steeped in rasa, they pour the water with their own hands.
The couple eats from a single plate— a vast and lovely source of bliss.
Says Agra Ali: they are my very life; I break a straw before them and offer myself in sacrifice.