Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

New blue rainclouds bend low in the sky, rumbling sweetly as they pour their streams.
Lightning flashes and peacocks call out upon seeing the dark cloudbank.
A gathered company of young women, renowned throughout the world for their skill, goes forth and swings the Pair.
Beholding the beauty of the two, Rasdev sacrifices the bodies, minds, and wealth of ten million Cupids.

The beloved youth swings with his cherished maiden and the companions.
All the women of every direction stand assembled.
A lovely golden swing hangs within a graceful bower upon the bank of the Sarayu.
Rain pours through the forest, lightning reveals its brilliance, water overflows, and the river’s current rushes away.
A cool, gentle, steady wind carries profound fragrance, and buds open upon the trees.
Beholding it, Rasdev says that a surge of bliss fills every lane of Ayodhya.

Dark, dark are the clouds; they appear ever darker.
Over their own mango grove, every flash of lightning gives away its radiance; tender youth is repeatedly steeped in colour.
Peacocks call until weary, crickets produce their heavy ringing, and every garden path and branch awakens.
Ayodhya’s wanderer, Rasdev’s beloved, stands within the heart; his dear form awakens everywhere.

Vinaya-cālīsī

Sri Rupasaras Ji

At the direction of Sri Siyasharan Ji Maharaj Mayukariya Ji, Sri Rajkishorivarsharan Ji, also known as Paramanand Ji, prepared a commentary upon this work and had it printed at the Oriental Press in Ayodhya in 1932 CE.

It contains forty dohās. Rupalata Ji’s devotional disposition is that of a maidservant, and these priceless couplets were written while wholly absorbed in that feeling. Their language is lucid and full of devotional emotion.

Examples:

Raghubar’s beloved is the cherished maiden, and the cherished maiden’s beloved is Rama.
In a bower of Kanak Bhavan, those abodes of happiness wander.

When will these eyes behold Sita-Rama with arms about one another’s necks?
The brilliance of ten million moons glitters there, putting ten million Cupids to shame.

The cherished maiden is steeped in colour and the beloved youth is steeped in colour.
When shall I behold Sitalal among the colour-drenched companions?

O Sita, daughter of a king,
In the gallery of the newly wedded bride, the youthful prince shines.