Post by madanmohandas on Jun 26, 2022 14:57:40 GMT -6
The opening passage of Visvanatha Chakravarti's Sri Prema Samputa.
One day Hari to Radha's courtyard came,
In the guise and dress of a lovesome dame;
He sat him down and his eyes did conceal,
By drawing o'er his face a crimson veil.
When Vrshabhanu's lovely daughter fair,
Beheld him at some distance seated there,
She said, 'O Lalita, companion mine,
Behold yon girl who makes my courtyard shine
With glowing lustre of the blue sapphire,
Who is she, shining in her fine attire?'
Lalita and Vishakha, on request,
Their steps toward the dark damsel addressed,
And said, 'O tender damsel, who are you?
Whence are you, why and what here would you do?'
But he said naught and silent did remain;
Then Radhika inquired of him again,
'O tell us who you are my damsel dear,
Are you a goddess sudden arrived here?
You shine with such a sweet lustre refined,
Your dark beauty has enraptured my mind. 1-4
Still he remained silent, whereat she said,
'O lovesome dame, be not disquieted,
We wish to be acquainted with your grace,
O modest damsel of the downcast face.
Take comfort in our confidence and thus
Why should you be reserved or shy with us?
Hearing this speech he sighed deeply in pain,
Covered his face and silent did remain.
Then she, 'O beauteous one, doth your heart pine?
Is it not so, for I perceive the sign,
O damsel with the lotus-face distressed,
Let all your sorrow be to us confessed,
Since confiding in a friend of ones' grief,
Extinguishes the pain and grants relief. 5-7
Do you disparted from your lover pine?
Or do you at some flaw in him repine?
Haply from you some insult he received,
And thus you are affrighted and aggrieved?
Or have some wicked gossips in their sport,
Deceived him with their lies and ill report?
Or is it that your husband you abhor,
Because he is dull witted and a bore?
Or do you feel the agony and pain,
In longing for one you cannot attain?
Or are you, like me, by elders chastised,
And with harsh speeches always criticised?
Do your superiors scold and oppress?
Tell me, is this the cause of your distress? 8-9
O dainty waisted dame, does your co-wife,
Blinded by vanity occasion strife,
With the keen arrows of her bitter word?
No, it is impossible and absurd!
Since you are the store of rarest beauty,
And of fortune the repository. 10
I heard as Paurnamasi told to me,
The story of the charming Mohini,
Who enchanted Shabhu with witching grace;
Are you the same, O you of bright moon-face?
Although he was bewildered, you were not,
But if Sri Hari came now to this spot,
'Twould be a sight of curiosity,
To see you enchanted mutually. 11
One day Hari to Radha's courtyard came,
In the guise and dress of a lovesome dame;
He sat him down and his eyes did conceal,
By drawing o'er his face a crimson veil.
When Vrshabhanu's lovely daughter fair,
Beheld him at some distance seated there,
She said, 'O Lalita, companion mine,
Behold yon girl who makes my courtyard shine
With glowing lustre of the blue sapphire,
Who is she, shining in her fine attire?'
Lalita and Vishakha, on request,
Their steps toward the dark damsel addressed,
And said, 'O tender damsel, who are you?
Whence are you, why and what here would you do?'
But he said naught and silent did remain;
Then Radhika inquired of him again,
'O tell us who you are my damsel dear,
Are you a goddess sudden arrived here?
You shine with such a sweet lustre refined,
Your dark beauty has enraptured my mind. 1-4
Still he remained silent, whereat she said,
'O lovesome dame, be not disquieted,
We wish to be acquainted with your grace,
O modest damsel of the downcast face.
Take comfort in our confidence and thus
Why should you be reserved or shy with us?
Hearing this speech he sighed deeply in pain,
Covered his face and silent did remain.
Then she, 'O beauteous one, doth your heart pine?
Is it not so, for I perceive the sign,
O damsel with the lotus-face distressed,
Let all your sorrow be to us confessed,
Since confiding in a friend of ones' grief,
Extinguishes the pain and grants relief. 5-7
Do you disparted from your lover pine?
Or do you at some flaw in him repine?
Haply from you some insult he received,
And thus you are affrighted and aggrieved?
Or have some wicked gossips in their sport,
Deceived him with their lies and ill report?
Or is it that your husband you abhor,
Because he is dull witted and a bore?
Or do you feel the agony and pain,
In longing for one you cannot attain?
Or are you, like me, by elders chastised,
And with harsh speeches always criticised?
Do your superiors scold and oppress?
Tell me, is this the cause of your distress? 8-9
O dainty waisted dame, does your co-wife,
Blinded by vanity occasion strife,
With the keen arrows of her bitter word?
No, it is impossible and absurd!
Since you are the store of rarest beauty,
And of fortune the repository. 10
I heard as Paurnamasi told to me,
The story of the charming Mohini,
Who enchanted Shabhu with witching grace;
Are you the same, O you of bright moon-face?
Although he was bewildered, you were not,
But if Sri Hari came now to this spot,
'Twould be a sight of curiosity,
To see you enchanted mutually. 11