Chapter Seven: Literature of the Rasika Tradition

—his unfathomable learning, extraordinary poetic power, and marvelous musical genius. The very invocatory verse offers a divine intimation of sweet worship:

May the flawless love-sports of Raghava—whose inmost disposition is filled with ever-new passion—together with the Daughter of Janaka in the bower-houses of the Sarayu triumph on every side.

Hearing Chandrakala describe the forest’s beauty in spring, Jānaki immediately wishes to see that beauty. Chandrakala, however, begins to describe not only the beauty of the forest but also Rama’s play there with other companions. Jānaki is consequently filled with the loving anger of jealousy. The first canto ends with this enactment of māna, the beloved’s offended reserve.

In Jānaki’s heart there now awakens an intense longing to meet Bhagavan Rama, and she confides the pain of separation to Chandrakala. She fears that Ramachandra is enjoying a secluded excursion with some other fortunate heroine. The second canto poignantly depicts Jānaki’s faded and afflicted heart, wearied by lovers’ quarrel and the agony of separation.¹

One of its songs addresses her:

The jewel of the Raghus sports here in the springtime—
O slender-waisted daughter of the king,
O Jānaki, whose heart swells with ripening youth.
One noble maiden kisses him;
another sings before him, keeping the rhythm.
With one he laughs,
and in another he awakens the flowering of desire.
May this song of Hari concerning Raghavira
dwell deep within the heart, filled with rasa.²