Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

—Sita places a morsel in her beloved’s mouth with her own hand;
smiling softly, she draws back her tender fingers.
Then her beloved laughingly places a morsel in Sita’s mouth;
she accepts it playfully, overcome with love.
Whichever dish Sita touches, the Beloved chooses first;
taking a morsel, he places it in her mouth.
In giving and receiving, neither remembers whether it is food or nectar.
Their mutual love is inconceivable, while the companions gaze happily at their faces.
They make their eyes into beds for one another,
and smile as each beholds the other.
Immersed in the Couple’s relishable beauty and affection, no one remembers eating.
Sita catches water in her hand and offers it into the lotus of the beloved boy’s mouth;
he takes the same and raises it to Sita’s lips, lovingly giving her drink.
When he takes one leaf she removes it; he retrieves it and brings it to his mouth.
Sita and the newcomer both lift another; until Sita drinks, the beloved boy drinks nothing.
If he receives something in his own hand, Sita immediately feeds him with hers.
Seeing this secret love, the Beloved smiles; the hunger of prema cannot be told.

Dance and music

They perform songs in many metres and rāgas,
each revealing her own gifts through dance.
They produce abundant music and dance, many arts steeped in melodic rasa;
seeing them, Rambha and the other celestial women marvel and pay homage.
The Couple sit together upon a single throne, with eight companions bearing fly-whisks and parasol.
Again and again they smile upon the performers, pleased, giving gifts and praising them.
They present betel; the women receive it upon their heads, and the Couple command their retinue.
Sri Sahaja rises and tunes her instrument; Chandrakala prepares her own.
Rasamanjari arrives exquisitely adorned, lovely and accomplished in countless arts.
Bowing, she begins the rāga; each companion establishes its rāginī in her own chamber.
All manifest their beauty with their retinues, until the atmosphere seems filled by a palace of melody.

Repose

Saturated with rasa, they go and sit upon the couch, turning their beauty toward repose.
The beloved boy reclines, caressing his beloved’s feet, while Rasamanjari waves a fly-whisk above.
Rasamanjari then touches the feet; receiving Sita’s command, she returns home filled with love.
Through the grace of Payahari—disciple of Krishnadas, avatāra and disciple of Anantananda—
every disciple crossed beyond.
Their arms placed around one another, every desire fulfilled night and day,
may Sita and Rama, abode of beauty, dwell within the heart of Premasakhi.