SRI AUROBINDO
Translations
from Sanskrit and Other Languages
II. From Bengali
XXI
The moonwhite maiden from her bath
Passing I saw on a woodland path.
Moonwhite beauty from all sweet things
Had stolen beauty fit for kings.
The tresses that her small hands wrung
A rain of glittering water flung
As carcanets of loveliest pearl
Did from a fan imperial whirl.
Her wet curls wearing wondrous grace
Like bees besieged her lotus face
For all that honey wild with lust.
The water from her sweet eyes thrust
Yet left them reddened, as in the ooze
Petals of lotus with ceruse.
Heavy with water her thin robe
Defined each bright and milky globe;
Like golden apples gleamed her breasts
On which the happy hoar-frost rests.
So the robe clung as if it said
“Soon will she leave me and love be dead,
Nor ever once shall I attain
Such exquisite delight again.”
So the robe thought, as well appears,
And therefore sorrowed, showering tears.