Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

Young companions of equal age shine with bodies flashing like lightning.
Through movement, song, and melody they unfold the seven notes, revealing ever-new musical graces.
At the centre are two incomparable moons, surrounded in every direction by the young women like hosts of stars.
Gyanali sees the happy assembly—who could avoid becoming caught in this net of rasa?

Life of the world and beloved of Janaki, bestower of autumn happiness,
He sports with the boon-giving Lady within Ashokavana.
She is a golden vine beside the tamala tree,
Forever intertwined with an arm about his shoulder.

A crown and crescent adorn the head above a gentle smile.
Gazing from toenails to crown upon their ornaments and excellent garments, the mind submits entirely.
The ocean of beauty rises and flows as a river of rasa.
Gyanali drinks continually, yet her thirst never diminishes.

The treasury of all sportive art dances among the fresh companions,
The treasure, life, and immeasurable breath of every rasika.
Earrings play against the cheeks beside the ears;
Seeing crown and dangling ornaments upon the head, millions of eyes and minds are held fast.

The rows of curls form bee-filled bowers, intoxicating connoisseurs with rasa.
Drunk with rasa, the brows become bows and the sharp eyes strike like arrows.
Seeing the yellow garment drawn tightly at the waist and the smile of the companion,
Millions of male and female dancers seem pale in their gentle movements.

Assuming such a dancer’s guise, he steals the mind of everyone.
Gyanali asks: who in all three worlds could perform like this?

Every day the restless Couple roam through Pramodavana amid ever-new waves of play.
Greedy for rasa and radiant with loveliness, the captivating beloved and her lover speak with laughter, stealing one another’s hearts.
The brilliant moonlight is immense; her lover’s face is the moon and Sita its rasika cakora, while their arms rest upon one another’s shoulders.
They exchange words of fresh affection and happiness, opening the movements of gesture, feeling, turning eyes, and rasa-bright teeth.

Gyanali says Sita and her lover, accomplished connoisseurs, sport through the radiant autumn night, purchasing the companions’ hearts.

Today preparations are made for the rāsa of rasa, with delicate Sita beside him.
Auspicious substances fill golden vessels, and lovely pitchers hold excellent fragrant water.
Lal’s beloved adorns her fresh body in all sixteen enchanting embellishments.
Lovely-faced, magnificent in beauty, she illumines the whole lineage of Nimi.
The makers of instruments and musical arts prepare rhythm together with all seven notes.