Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE INDIAN SONG OF SONGS (GITA GOVINDA): SARGA THE ELEVENTH, by JAYADEVA Poet's Biography First Line: Thus followed soft and lasting peace, and griefs Last Line: Displayed; may all approve! Subject(s): Beauty; Soul | ||||||||
RADHIKAMILANE. SANANDADAMODARO. THE UNION OF RADHA AND KRISHNA. Thus followed soft and lasting peace, and griefs Died while she listened to his tender tongue, Her eyes of antelope alight with love; And while he led the way to the bride-bower The maidens of her train adorned her fair With golden marriage-cloths, and sang this song: (What follows is to the Music VASANTA and the Mode YATI.) Follow, happy Radha! follow, In the quiet falling twilight The steps of him who followed thee So steadfastly and far; Let us bring thee where the banjulas Have spread a roof of crimson, Lit up by many a marriage-lamp Of planet, sun, and star: For the hours of doubt are over, And thy glad and faithful lover Hath found the road by tears and prayers To thy divinest side; And thou wilt not now deny him One delight of all thy beauty, But yield up open-hearted His pearl, his prize, his bride. Oh, follow! while we fill the air With songs and softest music; Lauding thy wedded loveliness, Dear Mistress past compare! For there is not any splendor Of Apsarases immortal No glory of their beauty rich But Radha has a share; Oh, follow! while we sing the song That fills the worlds with longing, The music of the Lord of love Who melts all hearts with bliss; For now is born the gladness That springs from mortal sadness. And all soft thoughts and things and hopes Were presages of this. Then, follow, happiest Lady! Follow him thou lovest wholly; The hour is come to follow now The soul thy spells have led; His are thy breasts like jasper-cups, And his thine eyes like planets; Thy fragrant hair, thy stately neck, Thy queenly sumptuous head; Thy soft small feet, thy perfect lips, Thy teeth like jasmine petals, Thy gleaming rounded shoulders, And long caressing arms, Being thine to give, are his; and his The twin strings of thy girdle. And his the priceless treasure Of thine utter-sweetness charms. So follow! while the flowers break forth In white and amber clusters, At the breath of thy pure presence, And the radiance on thy brow; Oh. follow where the Asokas wave Their sprays of gold and purple, As if to beckon thee the way That Krishna passed but now; He is gone a little forward! Though thy steps are faint for pleasure, Let him hear the tattling ripple Of the bangles round thy feet; Moving slowly o'er the blossoms On the path which he has shown thee, That when he turns to listen It may make his fond heart beat. And loose thy jeweled girdle A little, that its rubies May tinkle softest music too, And whisper thou art near; Though now, if in the forest Thou should'st bend one blade of Kusha With silken touch of passing foot, His heart would know and hear; Would hear the wood-buds saying, "It is Radha's foot that passes!" Would hear the wind sigh love-sick, "It is Radha's fragrance, this;" Would hear thine own heart beating Within thy panting bosom, And know thee coming, coming, Hisever,everhis! "Mine!"hark! we are near enough for hearing "Soon she will comeshe will smileshe will say Honey-sweet words of heavenly endearing; Oh, soul! listen; my Bride is on her way!" Hear'st him not, my Radha? Lo, night bendeth o'er thee Darker than dark Tamâla-leaves To list thy marriage-song; Dark as the touchstone that tries gold, And see nowon before thee Those lines of tender light that creep The clouded sky along: Oh, night! that trieth gold of love, This love is proven perfect! Oh, lines that streak the touchstone sky, Flash forth true shining gold! Oh, rose-leaf feet, go boldly! Oh, night!that lovest lovers Thy softest robe of silence About these bridals fold! See'st thou not, my Radha? Lo, the night, thy bridesmaid, Comes!her eyes thick-painted With soorma of the gloom The night that binds the planet-worlds For jewels on her forehead, And for emblem and for garland Loves the blue-black lotus-bloom; The night that scents her breath so sweet With cool and musky odors, That joys to spread her veil of shade Over the limbs of love; And when, with loving weary, Yet dreaming love, they slumber, Sets the far stars for silver lamps To light them from above. So came she where he stood, awaiting her At the bower's entry, like a god to see, With marriage-gladness and the grace of heaven. The great pearl set upon his glorious head Shone like a moon among the leaves, and shone Like stars the gems that kept her gold gown close: But still a little while she pausedabashed At her delight, of her deep joy afraid And they that tended her sang once more this: (What follows is to the Music VARADI and the Mode RUPAKA.) Enter, thrice happy! enter, thrice desired! And let the gates of Hari shut thee in With the soul destined to thee from of old. Tremble not! Lay thy lovely shame aside; Lay it aside with thine unfastened zone, And love him with the love that knows not fear, Because it fears not change; enter thou in, Flower of all sweet and stainless womanhood! Forever to grow bright, forever new; Enter beneath the flowers, oh, flower fair! Beneath these tendrils. Loveliest! that entwine And clasp, and wreathe, and cling, with kissing stems; Enter, with tender-blowing airs of heaven, Soft as love's breath and gentle as the tones Of lover's whispers, when the lips come close: Enter the house of Love, oh, loveliest! Enter the marriage-bower, most beautiful! And take and give the joy that Hari grants. Thy heart has entered, let thy feet go too! Lo, Krishna! lo, the one that thirsts for thee! Give him the drink of amrit from thy lips. Then she, no more delaying entered straight: Her step a little faltered, but her face Shone with unutterable quick love; andwhile The music of her bangles passed the porch Shame, which had lingered in her downcast eyes, Departed shamed ... and like the mighty deep, Which sees the moon and rises, all his life Uprose to drink her beams. Here ends that Sarga of the Gîta Govinda entitled RADHIKAMILANE SANANDADAMODARO.) Hari keep you! He whose might, On the King of Serpents seated, Flashes forth in dazzling light From the Great Snake's gems repeated: Hari keep you! He whose graces, Manifold in majesty, Multiplied in heavenly places Multiply on earthto see Better with a hundred eyes Her bright charms who by him lies. What skill may be in singing, What worship sound in song, What lore be taught in loving, What right divined from wrong: Such things hath Jayadeva In this his Hymn of Love, Which lauds Govinda ever, Displayed; may all approve! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CRUEL FALCON by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE WHOLE SOUL by PHILIP LEVINE I KNOW MY SOUL by CLAUDE MCKAY HONORING THE SAND; IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH CAMPBELL by ROBERT BLY THE CHINESE PEAKS; FOR DONALD HALL by ROBERT BLY THE LIFE OF TOWNS: TOWN OF THE EXHUMATION by ANNE CARSON THE INDIAN SONG OF SONGS (GITA GOVINDA): HYMN TO VISHNU by JAYADEVA THE INDIAN SONG OF SONGS (GITA GOVINDA): INTRODUCTION by JAYADEVA THE INDIAN SONG OF SONGS (GITA GOVINDA): SARGA THE EIGHHTH by JAYADEVA |
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