Abhisāra

LI.

Sakhī: Gainlier than a royal olifant, more graceful than the swan, She goes to keep her tryst: Her glorious body far surpasses any golden bud, Or flawless flash of lightning.

Her tresses far surpass the clouds, the night, the yak, Or bees, or moss: Her eyebrow-tendril set on a crescent brow, surpasses Bow and bees and snakes.

Her face excels the golden mirror, the moon, the lily, Her lips the bimba-fruit and coral: Her teeth surpass the pearl, the jasmine and the granate seed. Her neck the figure of the conch.

Her beauteous breasts surpass the honey apple, or twin palmyra fruits, Or golden jars, mountains, or goblets: Her arms excel the lotus-root and jungle-rope. Her waist the drum's and lion's.

Softer than moss her vine of down and darker than the sūrm, The triple folds are lovelier than rolling waves: Her navel far surpasses any lake, or lotus-leaves. Her buttocks, head of olifant.

Her thighs excel the plaintain-stem, or trunk of royal olifant. Her hands and feet, the lotus of the land: Her nails surpass pomegranate-seeds, the moon, or gems. Her speech is more than nectar-sweet.

Says Vidyāpati: Her shape is unsurpassed, Peerless is Rādhā's beauty: Rājā Shivasimha Rūpanārāyana Is the eleventh Avatar!

LII.

Sakhī: Rādhā's love is young, No obstacle can stay her: She has started all alone, Reckless of any path.

She casts away the jewelled necklace That weighed upon her jutting breasts: She casts the rings and bracelets from her hands. And leaves them all along the road.

The jewelled anklets from her feet She flings afar and hurries on: The night is very thick and black, But Love lights up the gloom.

The way is fraught with dangers Which love's weapon overcomes: Vidyāpati knows your mind-- Never was such another seen.

LIII.

Krishna: The night is late, the fair one timorous and fearful: When will she of the olifant gait be here? The path is filled with dreadful snakes, How many dangers do her path beset, and she with feet so tender!

To the feet of Providence I trust her, Success attend the Beauty's tryst! The sky is black, the earth is sodden,-- My heart is anxious for her danger.

Heavy the darkness in every airt,-- Her feet may slip, she cannot find the path: Her glance beguiles each living thing Lakshmī comes in human form!

Says Vidyāpati the poet: The maid enamoured yields to none but Love.

LIV.

Sakhī: She veils her face, that lady shene,-- They tell the king: The moon is stolen. O lovely lover, how may you not be seen By watchmen keeping watch in every house?

Let not your smile flash out, sweet-face, Murmur but soft and low the music of your words,-- For near your lips are lustrous teeth. As near the vermeil mark is set a pearl.

Hearken, hearken, to my words of counsel, Even in dreams may nothing hinder: The moon differs from you but in her spots, For she is stained, and you are stainless.

Ha! Rājā Shivasimha and Lakshmī Dev, Says Vidyāpati: My heart is fearless.

LV.

Sakhī: The citizens are waking on the king's highway, Rays of the moon light up the dome of earth: No peace in new-born love,-- I am amazed to see you. Loveliness!

How many ways the damsel seeks to hide herself: She goes a-trysting in a boy's disguise. And binds her flowing tresses in a knot. Changing diversely the fashion of her dress.

And since her breasts may not be hidden by their veil, She clasps an instrument of music to her bosom: Thus she attains the darkness of the forest,-- The Lord of lovers cannot know her when he sees her!

Perplexed is Mādhava, when he perceives her, But at a touch the riddle is resolved. Says Vidyāpati: What happened then,-- What sports of Love ensued?