Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

When shall I consciously adorn my body as a lovely maiden, casting away identification with the physical form,
and dwell within the sacred Golden Residence, beholding the Couple’s beauty?

Within the ever-joyful pavilion, upon a flower-bed shaped from the very form of rasa,
when shall I fix my eyes in attachment, gaze upon them, and become intoxicated beyond all worldly heat?

All around sound jham-jham and jhana-jhana: anklets, girdle-bells, and vīṇās.
When shall I hear every day the lovely companions’ sweet and graceful music?

In the middle of the Colour Palace, darling and Beloved are treasuries of joy.
When shall I be blessed by seeing them steeped in mutual love?

When shall my own eyes behold their exceedingly languid limbs—
the lover held helpless by his beloved’s love, together with Sita and immersed in rasa’s colour?

Their intoxicated eyes are reddened by the intimate mystery and remove every alien flavour.
Seeing them, I shall rejoice and offer myself; hearing their nectarean words, I shall melt.

At dawn, the two remain drunk upon love, delight, and the supreme intoxication of Love.
Leaning toward one another and steeped in affection, their bodies will enchant me.

Their excellent words, languid under rasa’s control, are flowers containing the essence of happiness.
When will they make the heart’s exhilaration surge, so that I offer myself completely?

Their garments and ornaments loosened, the youthful Couple appear in love’s reversed play.
On what incomparable blessed day shall I behold it and attain the certainty of love?

Beside Sri Yutheshvari stand the two matchless forms who are her very life.
When shall I lift the curtain, behold them, and fall into the well of exhilarated rasa?

Their breasts are entangled in the absorption of rasa, and radiant attachment binds them.
My body helpless, I shall approach their auspicious seat with hands raised in delight.

Fair and dark, lovely and tender, embodiments of supreme delight—
when shall I behold them in the midst of the gathered companions and drink until life itself is intoxicated?

When shall my eyes watch them going, amid the company of Sri’s companions,
toward the pure bower of adornment, while my eager heart is seized by longing?

Sri Rasaraja and his enchanting partner sit within the sweet pavilion.
Having severed every other relationship, I shall behold them arrayed in adornment.

Having tastefully arranged garments and ornaments of colour upon every limb from nails to crown,
I shall place a mirror in their lotus hands and behold their auspicious beauty.