Post by madanmohandas on Apr 11, 2021 8:41:38 GMT -6
Astakaliya Lila sonnets
Recall Radha and Krishna at night's close,
Whom with sweet poetry agreeable,
Blent with allusions disagreeable,
Vrinda's pet parrots waken from repose.
The couple from the play-bed soon arise,
And by their dear companions are observed
In lazy languor, and are by them served.
While glances they exchange with lotus-eyes.
But when the old she-monkey Kakkati,
Raises a clamour that occasions fear,
Assails them with a dread and anxious care,
Disconsolation and perplexity.
The lovers thus in separation burn,
And to their several homes must return. 1
I seek refuge at dawn of early day
With Radhika, bathed and dressed by her friends,
Who, on the queen of Vraja's order wends,
And thus to cook for Krishna makes her way;
Of Krishna's orts then with her friends partakes.
I seek refuge with Sri Govinda too,
His early morning duty to pursue,
He to the milking parlour his way takes,
Foregathers with his friends in merry bands,
And while all joyfully they make their way,
They talk and frolic and wrestle and play,
And Krishna milks his cows with his own hands.
Then ornamented, bathed and breakfasted,
The early morning hours of dawn are sped. 2
In the mid morning with his cows and friends,
While gazed upon with apprehensive woes,
Krishna towards the forest pasture wends,
And smiles and casts fond glances as he goes.
Meantime recall Radhika who was sent
To cull flowers for worshipping the Sun,
By old Jatila, and eagerly went
To gather fragrant blooms, which having done,
She longs to attain Krishna's company,
With anxious care and ever brooding doubts,
Prepares to venture forth clandestinely,
But waits for news of Krishna's whereabouts.
Anon to Radha kund they make their way,
And revel in divine love sports all day. 3
Recall Radha and Krishna at midday,
Who meet with love-longing and ardent zeal;
Whose limbs the ornaments of joy display,
In order their emotions to conceal.
They speed for Cupid's sacrifice the rites,
The which their amorous passion evokes,
Then ride a swing enjoying love's delights,
With laughter and insinuating jokes.
Krishna then roams the groves with his consorts,
Where all six seasons show their qualities;
They play exhilarating water sports,
And dine on diverse fruits and sweet dainties.
Then, worshipping the Sun, they make their way
Back home; and thus concludes the middle day. 4
Recall Radha when Surya sinks his ray,
Who bathed and adorned with attentive care,
Soon to the kitchen parlour takes her way,
For her beloved, dainties to prepare.
Then having thus prepared sweet dainty cates,
To see her lover eagerly she yearns,
In his longed-for return anticipates,
The time when he from the pasture returns.
Also, meantime, recall Sri Krishna's deeds,
Attended by his friends, tending the cows,
As homeward he from the pasture proceeds,
He glances of fond affection bestows.
Radha and Krishna's eager gazes meet;
He then bows down before his parents feet. 5
Remember Radhika at the day's end,
Who, fine dainties for Krishna, made with care,
Delivers through the hand of a dear friend,
Then eager waits for the friend to repair.
They then partake confections of all sorts,
And thus beguile the hour of eventide,
Mixed with the Moon of Vrindavana's orts,
While serving maids attend on every side.
Meantime recall Krishna, now bathed and fed,
And with fond tender affection caressed,
Adorned with gems and freshly garlanded,
Who then with permission his way addressed
To milk his favourite cows, then homeward wends,
To share a light refection with his friends. 6
Recall Radha and Krishna at night's close,
Whom with sweet poetry agreeable,
Blent with allusions disagreeable,
Vrinda's pet parrots waken from repose.
The couple from the play-bed soon arise,
And by their dear companions are observed
In lazy languor, and are by them served.
While glances they exchange with lotus-eyes.
But when the old she-monkey Kakkati,
Raises a clamour that occasions fear,
Assails them with a dread and anxious care,
Disconsolation and perplexity.
The lovers thus in separation burn,
And to their several homes must return. 1
I seek refuge at dawn of early day
With Radhika, bathed and dressed by her friends,
Who, on the queen of Vraja's order wends,
And thus to cook for Krishna makes her way;
Of Krishna's orts then with her friends partakes.
I seek refuge with Sri Govinda too,
His early morning duty to pursue,
He to the milking parlour his way takes,
Foregathers with his friends in merry bands,
And while all joyfully they make their way,
They talk and frolic and wrestle and play,
And Krishna milks his cows with his own hands.
Then ornamented, bathed and breakfasted,
The early morning hours of dawn are sped. 2
In the mid morning with his cows and friends,
While gazed upon with apprehensive woes,
Krishna towards the forest pasture wends,
And smiles and casts fond glances as he goes.
Meantime recall Radhika who was sent
To cull flowers for worshipping the Sun,
By old Jatila, and eagerly went
To gather fragrant blooms, which having done,
She longs to attain Krishna's company,
With anxious care and ever brooding doubts,
Prepares to venture forth clandestinely,
But waits for news of Krishna's whereabouts.
Anon to Radha kund they make their way,
And revel in divine love sports all day. 3
Recall Radha and Krishna at midday,
Who meet with love-longing and ardent zeal;
Whose limbs the ornaments of joy display,
In order their emotions to conceal.
They speed for Cupid's sacrifice the rites,
The which their amorous passion evokes,
Then ride a swing enjoying love's delights,
With laughter and insinuating jokes.
Krishna then roams the groves with his consorts,
Where all six seasons show their qualities;
They play exhilarating water sports,
And dine on diverse fruits and sweet dainties.
Then, worshipping the Sun, they make their way
Back home; and thus concludes the middle day. 4
Recall Radha when Surya sinks his ray,
Who bathed and adorned with attentive care,
Soon to the kitchen parlour takes her way,
For her beloved, dainties to prepare.
Then having thus prepared sweet dainty cates,
To see her lover eagerly she yearns,
In his longed-for return anticipates,
The time when he from the pasture returns.
Also, meantime, recall Sri Krishna's deeds,
Attended by his friends, tending the cows,
As homeward he from the pasture proceeds,
He glances of fond affection bestows.
Radha and Krishna's eager gazes meet;
He then bows down before his parents feet. 5
Remember Radhika at the day's end,
Who, fine dainties for Krishna, made with care,
Delivers through the hand of a dear friend,
Then eager waits for the friend to repair.
They then partake confections of all sorts,
And thus beguile the hour of eventide,
Mixed with the Moon of Vrindavana's orts,
While serving maids attend on every side.
Meantime recall Krishna, now bathed and fed,
And with fond tender affection caressed,
Adorned with gems and freshly garlanded,
Who then with permission his way addressed
To milk his favourite cows, then homeward wends,
To share a light refection with his friends. 6