Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

—and, seated there in majesty, delights every eye. All the gods sit in their aerial cars with their respective wives and behold the spectacle. The citizens then come forward to meet him. The women perform the rite of welcome, place garlands upon him, and receive the customary gifts and offerings.

The second chapter contains an exceedingly sweet episode involving the post-wedding viewing of the bridegroom’s face and the associated domestic rites. It also describes the marriage and the ceremonies performed by the young prince’s family. The third chapter describes the worship of the gods after the wedding.

The fourth describes the game of untying the wedding bracelet and the sport of piercing a fish. In the fish-piercing game, Sri Janaki holds the cord attached to the fish and Rama Ji holds the bow. Rama wishes to strike it, but through Sita Ji’s skill the fish repeatedly escapes.

The fifth chapter is the section on amorous enjoyment and gives a highly captivating description of the unfolding conjugal union of Rama and Sita. The sixth describes the cauthārī ceremony and presents a beautiful portrayal of Rama and Sita. The seventh describes the erotic play of Sri Rama and Janaki. In the eighth, the Maharani arrives in Ayodhya with all her companions and celestial women. The ninth relates the sweet recreation of Rama and Sita. The tenth gives an extensive description of food prepared by Sita. The eleventh concerns their mutual exchange of presents and the writing of letters. In the twelfth, Sri Rama and Janaki return once more to Mithila.

The manuscript was written in Jhansi in Vikrama Samvat 1907, corresponding to Shalivahana 1762.

Sita and her beloved are entangled in the net of affection.
The lovely princess is a treasury of beauty, delighting Sita’s beloved; the royal youth is a connoisseur tenderly attached to her.
Beautiful teeth and fragrant lips captivate them; helpless with love, the youthful Pair are an ocean of rasa.
Yugal Ali says: long live the great-eyed Couple, the lord and lady who relish love’s nectar.

Friend, my hunger for beloved Sita is never appeased.
Upon the lovely bed in the pleasure bower, the beloved is a dark tamala tree and she a golden vine beside it.
The circle of companions forms the garden border, while her lovely arms bloom like graceful branches.
Yugal Ali’s beautiful wish is the finest flower: may it blossom and bear the fruit of their union forever.

The beloved Pair sleep upon a couch that moves like a swing.
Accomplished women sing and gently swing that treasury of beauty, intoxicated by youth.
Tender young women massage their limbs, while a sweet parrot offers betel.
Some women wave fly-whisks, fans, and peacock-feather whisks; others praise their beauty.
On every side, millions of royal maidens serve the supremely beautiful Couple.

Friend, today Sita’s beauty has increased beyond measure.
The royal youth has adorned her with his own hands, and the loveliness of every limb has grown still greater.
Pearls grace the parting of her hair, flowers are woven into her braid, and a moon-shaped ornament adorns her head.
A bindī shines upon her broad forehead, and many kinds of tiny diamonds are set in the ornaments at her ears.