Original · Devanagari
चतुरानन सहि चरितनफनि पायो ॥२॥ मंडल चहुँदिस सुघर सहेली अद्भुत नेह जनायो । मध्य विराजत राम जानकी शोभा कहत लजायो ॥३॥ स्याम गवर घन बिजुरी मानो अरुन पीत पहि- रायो ॥ सीस चंद्रका क्रीट सुकट छवि मनिगन जड़ायो ॥४॥ जुगल बदनपैं अलकैं झलकैं पलकन चित चुरायो ॥ करगहि पुष्पछरी मन मोहन सखियन रास सिखायो ॥५॥ कोई वीन कोई ताल पखावज कोई सुरमंद सुनायो । कोई तंबूरा तान तनावे तनमान मनानि ठहरायो ॥६॥ मृदंग उपंगति संगति राग बिहाग जमायो । इक सुर कौनहैं बाजत नूपुर उननठननठनायो । भाव बनावनि सैन चलावन थेईताताताथेईथायो । छिननि छिननि अंग मोरति दोरति सखिजनलाल सिखायो ॥८॥ कबहुँक मिलिकै निरतै दोउनव
Fresh English translation
[The song of Rāma's secret continues:] Neither four-faced Brahmā nor the serpent Śeṣa can reach the full account of these deeds. (2) All around the circle graceful companions reveal wondrous love; Rāma and Jānakī shine at the center, and speech is ashamed before their beauty. (3) The dark and fair pair are like rain cloud and lightning, clothed in crimson and yellow. A moon-shaped crown adorns the head, its lovely form set with hosts of jewels. (4) Curls flicker upon the two faces; their glances steal the heart. With flowers in hand, the heart-enchanting companions teach the rāsa. (5) One plays the vīṇā, one keeps tāla on the pakhāvaj, and one sounds a gentle note. Another stretches a tāna upon the tambūrā, bringing body and mind to rest. (6) The mṛdaṅga's subsidiary rhythms join together and establish rāga Bihāg. In one pitch the anklets sound unana-ṭhanana-ṭhanāyo. Gesture, expression, and directing signs move to theī-tā-tā-tā-theī-thāyo. Moment after moment the limbs turn and circle as the companions teach the beloved. (8) Sometimes the two meet and dance, ever fresh—[the song continues on the next page].