Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

Groves and vines surround them on every side, while the earth is decorated in many ways with gems and gold.
Beautiful groups of many colours gather at his left, edged in gold and dressed in yellow.
Amid them the cherished crimson maiden shines; even Love grows shy upon seeing her beauty.
Fresh and singular companions appear with their beloved royal youths, handsomely dressed.
Everyone is filled with delight, ardour, and enthusiasm; cries of “Victory! Victory!” arise from both sides.
Vina, mṛdaṅga, hand-cymbals, and ḍaph resound while dancers perform in many ways.
Baijnath says: hearing it, the world is enchanted—not one god, human, or sage remains unaffected.

Beloved Sita swings upon the swing.
In the centre of the pleasure palace, the beloved youth swings her while women sing his virtues.
The colourful swing is a treasury of beauty.
The bee-like companions bloom like flower buds as they behold the immense splendour.
Colourful ornaments cover their limbs and colourful songs pour forth from accomplished women.
Their dancing bodies are steeped in colour as dark clouds thicken overhead.
Clouds gather and thunder, lightning flashes, and peacocks cry loudly; friend, the colourful swing bestows happiness.
Baijnath sacrifices himself to the beauty of the beloved Pair’s swinging.

Mother, the youthful Couple swing upon the swing—
Dasharatha’s son and Janaka’s daughter, touching one another and joining arms.
The movement of crowns, jewelled necklaces, and hanging ornaments steals consciousness.
Beholding the paired lotus eyes in the lake of beauty and the earrings like twin suns at dawn, the mind is captured.
Their gentle laughter, shining bodies, ornaments, and gold-edged garments gleam.
Friend, seeing their varied cloud-and-lightning play, the peacock-eyes stand astonished.
Beholding the flash of the forehead mark, the eyes’ corners cannot tolerate even a blink.
Whatever one was before, one becomes transformed by rasa—alas, my mind is trapped there.
Blue and yellow cloth shine wondrously beside the dark body.
Baijnath offers to this vision a hundred million Cupids accompanied by Rati.

Mother, Dasharatha’s son swings upon the swing.
At his left Janaka’s daughter shines like a golden vine upon a tamala tree.
A lovely jewelled crown adorns his head, and an enchanting auspicious mark shines upon his brow.
Loose curls cover his cheeks and earrings gleam upon his broad ears.
Chewing betel, they smile and gaze upon one another, filling every watcher with delight.
When a push sends the swing forward, they place arms around one another’s necks and their jewelled necklaces collide upon their breasts.