Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

Dark, smooth, and curling hair fills the child’s head in abundance.
Her mother gazes upon the moon-like face and gives herself in sacrifice again and again.

Her anklets ring chham-chham, chhananan from her feet, filling all with bliss.
O new daughter of Janaka and Sunayana, perform the infant līlā of Sita.
Whoever beholds this beauty with their eyes regards the four liberations as insignificant.

The four daughters of Janaka are that very Reality made known by the Vedas.
The queen gazes absorbed in their beauty, forgetting awareness of every direction.

May Sita and the others dwell with Sri Janaka in the palace courtyard,
And may their Brahman-filled happiness forever abide within the heart and eyes of one who takes refuge in the Beloved.

From Sita’s limbs arise countless Lakshmis and Ratis;
The radiance of her body gives rise to countless Umas, Sharadas, and Shachis.

They forever remain in her service, watching the movement of her brows at every moment.
Whatever preference they perceive, they fulfil and proclaim that very instant.

Primordial Prakriti is one of her limbs, and the universe is the play of her brow.
Brahma, Hari, and Hara receive their qualities from her and perform creation, preservation, and dissolution.

From the markings upon her lotus feet descend the avatāras.
The fish and every other divine form are among Sita’s countless recreations.

Her mother takes her into her lap, kisses and fondles her, while emotions overflow.
Hearing a finger-snap, she dances in the courtyard and brings every happiness into being.
Sometimes she sees her reflection and dances; sometimes she walks, falls, and begins crying.
The princesses play together, laughing, bending, and then growing timid.

Sri Radha is the delight-bestowing Power praised by the Vedas.
Millions of Ratis call to her, “Make me an acharya of rāsa.”
From that moonlight arise forms, virtues, noble character, and infinite beauty;
Seeing the stainless fair limbs, even the young sun grows ashamed.

With Nandanandan she fashions many forms of rāsa.
Among all the women of Vraja, she appears as Lakshmi, Sharada, and Shachi.

Childhood Recreation

Her beauty from toenails to crown is tender and enchanting; the loveliness of her limbs cannot be described.
She sports throughout the palace and delights every heart, sometimes laughing and clapping her hands.
Sometimes the girls make one another dance, and sometimes they sing auspicious songs in sweet voices.
At times they speak with one another; at times they take up a mirror and gaze upon their faces.