Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

Bṛhat Pada-vinoda

Poet Rasdev

This work was printed at the Lakshminarayan Press in Moradabad and published in 1908 CE by Chhotelal Lakshmichand of Bombay. It too is entirely worthy of respect from the standpoint of pure poetry.

Examples:

Friend, behold the lovely beauty of Janaki’s beloved.
His enchanting dark body is like a wish-fulfilling tree of Love, or a blue raincloud upon the earth that makes every creature abandon its own home to gaze.
A crown rests firmly upon his head and fine earrings curve beside it, like twin suns lending limitless radiance to his ears.
A yellow-saffron mark shines upon his brow, illumining the path of the mind like a divine preceptor.
Dark curling locks fall upon his face like Saturn encircling twin Rahus within his mansion.
The slipping necklace upon his breast, yellow cloth at his waist, and play of the wind resemble lightning meeting a dark cloud.
His arms extend to his knees; jewel of Raghu’s lotus-line, he bears lovely bow and arrows that make the deer tremble.
Seated upon a beautiful golden throne set with gems, he fulfils every desire that dwells in Rasdev’s heart.

That lovely, tender, heart-enchanting form has entered my mind.
A crown shines upon his head, earrings grace his ears, and an auspicious saffron mark gleams upon his fine brow.
Yellow cloth encircles his waist; locks fall across his face like a dark cloud drinking nectar from the moon.
Beholding Abhirama’s beauty, Rasdev says that the faces of a hundred Cupids are blackened with shame.

Friend, behold today the beauty of Janaki’s very life.
His face is an abode of splendour; jasmine buds are vanquished by it, and Cupid’s proud intelligence collapses upon seeing it.
Jewelled ornaments rest upon his limbs like lightning, granting abundant gifts even to the gods who bow before him.
Upon the excellent couch sits the jewel of Raghu’s line; servant Rasdev has no hope in any other.

Behold Sri Raghubir’s eyes.
Amid dark and white appears the red lotus, as though bee wings had gathered around it.
Their glances, movements, eyelids, and blinking humble fish, Love, wagtail birds, deer, and bees.
Long and paired beneath curving brows, they are serpents that return again and again to taste rasa, says Rasdev.

Look, friend—his beauty has increased beyond measure.
Round cheeks, swaying earrings, and sweet speech are recognised as priceless.
Even without ornaments there is no defect, yet fine jewelled decorations rest upon him like beautiful peacock feathers.
When his smile reveals flashing teeth, it is lightning appearing within a cloud.
Locks hang over the moon of his face like graceful serpents drinking nectar’s essence.