Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

When shall my eyes behold them intoxicated, their paired glances drunk with Love?
The eyes will refuse to blink and the mouth will be unable to form words.

When shall I behold the cherished young woman with her charming beloved after amorous union—
Faces languid, ornaments and garments loosened by their loving play?

The beautiful companions of every region restore their ornaments and clothes.
Betel stain, collyrium, and reddened lips—may I behold this image forever.

O compassionate Janaki, knower of Rama and of Janaki’s own heart,
You know every member of the retinue; you are my life and breath.

When will you reveal the palace bliss of drinking milk together in delight,
In the company of the youthful sovereign Pair at the hour of sleep?

After embracing and feeding one another betel, they lie down and bestow happiness.
When the beloved reclines in the palace beside her lover, friend, may my eyes drink their beauty.

The beloved youth and cherished maiden awake in the palace bower, saturated with one another’s beauty.
When shall I behold this vision? Then my accumulated fortune will awaken.

Remember my longing for union.
My heart aches in separation from you; day and night, hear me, I wander mad.
Not an instant, moment, or smallest measure of time passes for me without sovereign Sita, friend.
Mithila’s young princess is Shubhashila’s life and treasure—come and meet me.

Friend, the lovers awake steeped in the rasa of love.
Their eyes sway with the intoxication of affection, and their arms rest upon one another’s shoulders.
Those enjoyers of the beauty and bliss of the rāsa dance have captured Love itself within their two eyes.
The boundless beauty of their limbs flashes, stealing away the splendour of Rati’s lord.
Shubhashila arranges Sita’s curls; affection has made the body languid.

At dawn a companion arrives and sings sweet melodic phrases.
The wise beloved and lover awaken and grant their vision.
Beholding their beauty wearied from the rāsa, she circles offerings around them to ward away harm.
The burning of body and mind disappears, and happiness settles within the heart.
Hearing the ārati, the cherished maiden and youth open their eyes.
Their great eyes roll languidly, steeped in love for one another.