SRI AUROBINDO
Translations
from Sanskrit and Other Languages
II. From Bengali
XXIV
Beautiful Rai, the flower-like maid
Risen from the river where she played,
Saw under downcast lids and shy
The lovely boy, dark Krishna named.
A high-born child with face afraid
Before her elders and eyes ashamed
She might not gaze as she went by.
O subtle is that beautiful girl!
She left the gracious troop behind;
With half-turned face and half-declined
From far in front fell sweet her call.
She broke her carcanet of pearl
And let the precious seedlings fall.
“O friends, my broken carcanet.”
Each girl her lovely hand did set
Stooping to find the scattered grain.
Meanwhile the damsel’s eyes full fain,
Like birds that on white moonbeams feed,
Of Krishna’s shape took amorous heed.
Divine the nectar that she drained,
O Krishna, from thy cheeks of light.
Yea, each of each had honied sight.
Thus gazing girl and boy extend
Love’s boundaries seen by none but me
The poet, sweet Bidyapati.