Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

Jewelled and golden pahuncī, bracelets, and upper-arm ornaments are set in place.
The companions dress both of Sita’s arms from their very roots.
Upon Rama’s arms are armlets and bracelets that enchant the sages’ minds:
khaḍuvā, pahuncī, bangles, jewelled rings, and signet-rings.
Sita wears pachuvā, glass bangles, bracelets, rings, and finger-bands,
together with many curved ornaments fashioned in artistic gold and jewels.
Jewels and gold adorn the border of the yellow garment, with a fringe of pearls;
before it the autumn sunrise, lightning, and molten gold are ashamed.
Who could recount the countless ornaments of darling and Beloved?
Ramcharan says: only the companion who beholds them and remains intoxicated knows.

Whichever bower Rama and Sita enter,
the companions arrange worship for them there.
Rasika Janaki remains beside Jānaki,
while they wander through the colourful bowers of the forest.
Jānaki’s sportive Lord roams in happiness.

Friend, behold the Lord of the rāsa returning!
From the ornamented forest beside the Sarayu comes a beauty unique and incomparable.
I sacrifice myself upon the glances of the enchanting Couple, Sita and Rama.
Earrings, curls, swaying bulāq pendants—their radiance strikes our hearts.
Beside them shine singular companions, arrayed and fashioned into images of beauty.
From head to foot they wear flower ornaments with which Shyama adorned them by his own hand.
The companions come playing before the Lord, tossing a ball of flowers.
Bending again and again, they catch it and throw it to one another, while lover and beloved look on in delight.
When the Couple arrive, Ramcharan’s companions remove the flower ornaments.
They adorn them from head to foot with jewelled ornaments and seat them upon the throne.

Sita and Raghubir reign upon the throne.
The throne possesses the light of ten million suns and the coolness of ten million moons.
Their dark and fair bodies put to shame the beauty of ten million Kamas and Ratis.
They shine in jewels of many kinds and in yellow and blue garments.
Many companions devise arrangements of incense, and many prepare radiant lamps.
Many companions fashion food offerings, while many others bring water.