Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

Whether the one upon whom love has fallen is high or low, that person becomes exceedingly dear.
Without seeing him, O prince, the anguish does not pass even through ten million remedies.
Although night and day are naturally companions and each must surely rest within the heart as incomparable joy,
The two eyes nevertheless remain tormented until they see their beloved pair,
Just as the cakora birds gaze toward the full moon and then become especially happy.
The many limits of caste and family may collapse, and even dharma may depart, O prince,
But the form of one’s own beloved must never be hidden from the eyes.
The body may remain subject to destiny, but let it never suffer separation from the beloved.
The body can endure suffering of many kinds, but it cannot bear the beloved’s pain.
When one’s own beloved is absent, all the things that once gave happiness appear instead as sorrow.
Although we are undiscerning women, low in social standing and ignorant in every way—

Rama’s Reply

“Whoever loves me—whether knowingly, unknowingly, or brought to me in any manner—
I guard that woman like the pupil of my eye.
I do not look upon even one of her faults; I look only upon the virtues found in her.
This is my pledge, beloved, though those defeated by love alone understand it:
Otherwise they will not attain me, however many remedies they attempt while regarding me as a mere man.
In this world, the greatness of many celebrated lovers is heard;
Examine them one by one, and in every case you will find some single defect.

“The lotus endures great suffering through the day; consider the mass of love it has accumulated.
Yet the sun shows it no compassion and leaves its lover burning in affliction.
Again, see how the cakora remains in torment, gazing toward the moon with no small love.
It considers that vision its own welfare, yet the moon does not ponder its love even slightly.
The serpent loves its jewel intensely and, when parted from it, does not readily forsake that love;
But the jewel has no love for the serpent and does not rise each day to remove its darkness.
The cātaka and the peacock long greatly for the cloud, O Princess Siddhi,
But the cloud gives no thought to their love and hurls hailstones upon them from above.
A fish dwells in water day and night and never remains apart from it;
Yet seeing the fish’s love, no grief arises in the water’s heart.
The moth, my dear, becomes enchanted on seeing the flame of a lamp;
It leaps into the fire and burns, but not the slightest pain arises in the flame.”