Indian Poetry Part 7

Sound like that soft flute which made Such a magic in the shade-- Calling deer-eyed maidens nigh, Waking wish and stirring sigh, Thrilling blood and melting b.r.e.a.s.t.s, Whispering love's divine unrests, Winning blessings to descend, Bringing earthly ills to end;-- Me thou heard in this song now Thou, the great Enchantment, thou!_

(_Here ends that Sarga of the Gita Govinda ent.i.tled_ KALAHANTARITAVARNANE MUGDHAMUKUNDO.)

_SARGA THE TENTH._

MANINIVARNANE CHATURACHATURBHUJO.

KRISHNA IN PARADISE.

But she, abasing still her glorious eyes, And still not yielding all her face to him, Relented; till with softer upturned look She smiled, while the Maid pleaded; so thereat Came Krishna nearer, and his eager lips Mixed sighs with words in this fond song he sang:

(_What follows is to the Music_ DESHiYAVARaDi _and the Mode_ ASHTATaLi.)

O angel of my hope! O my heart's home!

My fear is lost in love, my love in fear; This bids me trust my burning wish, and come, That checks me with its memories, drawing near: Lift up thy look, and let the thing it saith End fear with grace, or darken love to death.

Or only speak once more, for though thou slay me, Thy heavenly mouth must move, and I shall hear Dulcet delights of perfect music sway me Again--again that voice so blest and dear; Sweet Judge! the prisoner prayeth for his doom That he may hear his fate divinely come.

Speak once more! then thou canst not choose but show Thy mouth's unparalleled and honeyed wonder Where, like pearls hid in red-lipped sh.e.l.ls, the row Of pearly teeth thy rose-red lips lie under; Ah me! I am that bird that woos the moon, And pipes--poor fool! to make it glitter soon.

Yet hear me on--because I cannot stay The pa.s.sion of my soul, because my gladness Will pour forth from my heart;--since that far day When through the mist of all my sin and sadness Thou didst vouchsafe--Surpa.s.sing One!--to break, All else I slighted for thy n.o.blest sake.

Thou, thou hast been my blood, my breath, my being; The pearl to plunge for in the sea of life; The sight to strain for, past the bounds of seeing; The victory to win through longest strife; My Queen! my crowned Mistress! my sphered bride!

Take this for truth, that what I say beside.

Of bold love--grown full-orbed at sight of thee-- May be forgiven with a quick remission; For, thou divine fulfilment of all hope!

Thou all-undreamed completion of the vision!

I gaze upon thy beauty, and my fear Pa.s.ses as clouds do, when the moon shines clear.

So if thou'rt angry still, this shall avail, Look straight at me, and let thy bright glance wound me; Fetter me! gyve me! lock me in the gaol Of thy delicious arms; make fast around me The silk-soft manacles of wrists and hands, Then kill me! I shall never break those bands.

The starlight jewels flashing on thy breast Have not my right to hear thy beating heart; The happy jasmine-buds that clasp thy waist Are soft usurpers of my place and part; If that fair girdle only there must shine, Give me the girdle's life--the girdle mine!

Thy brow like smooth Bandhuka-leaves; thy cheek Which the dark-tinted Madhuk's velvet shows; Thy long-lashed Lotus eyes, l.u.s.trous and meek; Thy nose a Tila-bud; thy teeth like rows Of Kunda-petals! he who pierceth hearts Points with thy lovelinesses all five darts.

But Radiant, Perfect, Sweet, Supreme, forgive!

My heart is wise--my tongue is foolish still: I know where I am come--I know I live-- I know that thou art Radha--that this will Last and be heaven: that I have leave to rise Up from thy feet, and look into thine eyes!

And, nearer coming, I ask for grace Now that the blest eyes turn to mine; Faithful I stand in this sacred place Since first I saw them shine: Dearest glory that stills my voice, Beauty unseen, unknown, unthought!

Splendour of love, in whose sweet light Darkness is past and nought; Ah, beyond words that sound on earth, Golden bloom of the garden of heaven!

Radha, enchantress! Radha, the queen!

Be this trespa.s.s forgiven-- In that I dare, with courage too much And a heart afraid,--so bold it is grown-- To hold thy hand with a bridegroom's touch, And take thee for mine, mine own.[4]

_So they met and so they ended Pain and parting, being blended Life with life--made one for ever In high love; and Jayadeva Hasteneth on to close the story Of their bridal grace and glory._

(_Here ends that Sarga of the Gita Govinda ent.i.tled_ MANINIVARNANE CHATURACHATURBHUJO.)

[Footnote 4: Much here also is necessarily paraphrased.]

_SARGA THE ELEVENTH._

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 splendour Of Apsarasas 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 b.r.e.a.s.t.s 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-sweetest charms.

So follow! while the flowers break forth In white and amber cl.u.s.ters, 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 pa.s.sed 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 jewelled 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 pa.s.sing foot, His heart would know and hear; Would hear the wood-buds saying, "It is Radha's foot that pa.s.ses;"

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, His--ever,--ever--his!

"_Mine_! "--hark! we are near enough for hearing-- "_Soon she will come--she will smile--she will say Honey-sweet words of heavenly endearing; O soul! listen; my Bride is on her way!_"

Hear'st him not, my Radha?

Lo, night bendeth o'er thee-- Darker than dark Tamala-leaves-- To list thy marriage-song; Dark as the touchstone that tries gold, And see now--on before thee-- Those lines of tender light that creep The clouded sky along: O night! that trieth gold of love, This love is proven perfect!

O lines that streak the touchstone sky, Plash forth true shining gold!

O rose-leaf feet, go boldly!

O 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 odours, 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 G.o.d 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 paused--abashed 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.)