Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

Do his lips shine so beautifully in order to drink Sita’s form?
The lovely colour of Raghubira’s lips enchants even Varuni.
It seems the Beloved’s tongue cannot describe Sita’s beauty;
taking a thousand arrow-like rays, the poet seeks to speak through the eyes.
Enchanting eyelashes spread like fans with silken ends,
as though the youthful prince were fanning the beloved of his life.
His pair of broad chakora eyes continually obtains beauty
by drinking the moonlight of Sri Jānaki’s moon-face.
His elevated nose seems a perfected pathway for the breath;
the fragrance of the clever Lady’s limbs is the stainless road of delight.
Lovely, pure ears shine like two emerald vessels,
held ready to drink the nectar of the darling girl’s words.
Gem-set earrings filled with beauty hang there,
like two peacocks of Love dwelling upon the peak of a blue mountain.
His round dark cheeks glow beautifully,
like spotless mirrors deeply pleasing to Sita’s mind.
Between them the two earrings glitter with light,
like reflections of the sun falling upon the restless waters of the Yamuna.
Beside richly crimson lips stands a fresh row of teeth,
like a string of pearls shining upon hibiscus blossoms.
His tender, stainless, restless, relishable tongue enchants the mind,
like a lotus petal shining within Lakshmi’s temple.
Or is it a clever companion of Sita, awakening delight within her mind,
smiling as she speaks sweet words of her Beloved and pleases her?
His breath blows quickly, increasing the fresh vine of affection in the heart;
from the betel-reddened mouth arises every fragrance,
as though the lotus of the heart had opened and released waves of perfume.