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SRI AUROBINDO

Translations

from Sanskrit and Other Languages

II. From Bengali

Songs of Bidyapati

XVIII

In her beautiful face did use

A star of the red ceruse,

As tho’ the moon with the sun to aid

Were arisen and darkness hung afraid

Behind in her burden of great, dark hair.

O woman of moonlight rarer than nature’s,

O delicate body, wonderful features,

Whence did Fate build you with effort made fair?

The buds of her flowerlike breasts between

Her robe’s white folds were a little seen.

The snows may cover the high bright hill,

Hidden it is not, strive as you will.

From her darkened eyes, her shy look roving

On lids love-troubled tenderly burned,

Like the purple lilies winds were moving

By the weight of a bee overturned.

Hearken, O girl, to Bidyapati

And the lyre made sweet in the year’s sweet end,

To Lachhima, lady of Mithila city,

And Shiva Singha the King, his friend.