Appendix A: Mahāvāṇī

—Janaka’s daughter delights him and shatters the pride of Love, leaving only auspiciousness.
This lovely song of Sitapati, woven as a graceful garland of verses, is uttered by “Sri Rasika.”
Wondrously adorned and disciplined by rhythm, it bestows delight upon the ears of good people.

“My Eyes Are Soothed by Beholding the Couple’s Beauty”

My eyes are soothed by beholding the Couple’s beauty.
In the lake of loveliness they shine like two water-born lotuses, one blue and one yellow.
Their faces appear to be a city of beauty where many forms of mutual accord can be seen.
They steal the heart when, smiling gently, they speak with one another.
Sometimes they sit and play caupar, each taking sides over victory and defeat.
They are filled with beauty, virtue, and cleverness, surrounded by a company of companions.
Sometimes they roam the courtyard of Kanak Bhavan and sometimes climb to the upper terrace.
The rasika companions follow and watch wherever the two beloveds go.

“The Youthful Couple Are the Life-Giving Elixir of Life”

The youthful Couple are the life-giving elixir of life.
Through the night their clever, heart-stealing eyes drink ever more intoxication, repose, and delight.
Laughing and making one another laugh, robbed of all restraint, they take the very essence of rasa.
Abandoning clear memory and understanding beneath the shade of beauty, they become moon and cakora.
All around, fortunate companions teach them Love’s twisting arts.
Sri Yugal Ananya says: the two rasikas remain entwined from night until dawn.

“Fill Your Eyes with the Beauty of Sita and Raghubir”

Fill your eyes with the beauty of Sita and Raghubir.
Beloved and darling shine in Kanak Bhavan, their bodies dark and fair.
Every limb is coloured in ever-new hues and splendid many-coloured garments shine.
A flower-wand rests in the darling’s hand, while the Beloved’s pure hand holds bow and arrow.
The garden of their gaze bears the fruit of awakened love; my mind-parrot dances there.
O one embodied as a human, remember and worship them: for their sake the steadfast sages accepted bodies.
Make the heart your page, love your pen, true principle your ink, and tears of joy your inkpot;
Companion, paint there the portrait of the glorious beauty of Sri Janaki’s splendid Couple.

“Sita’s Eyes Possess Ever-New Beauty”

Sita’s eyes possess ever-new beauty.
On the pretext of collyrium, they see their beloved and make within the mind a dark encampment of delight.
Her limbs are fair and her delicate crimson garment so fine that its fineness cannot be described.
Moment by moment, clouds of beauty rain rasa upon the mind’s thirsting cātaka.
Their union is eternal; separation does not enter even a dream, and they remain absorbed in their own delight.
Their secret sport is attained by grace and the guru; only accomplished rasikas understand it.