SRI AUROBINDO

Translations

from Sanskrit and Other Languages

II. From Bengali

Songs of Bidyapati

XLI

Angry beauty, be not loth!

I will swear a holy oath.

On thy garland’s serpent fold,

On thy sacred breasts of gold

Here I lay my yearning hand.

If I leave thee, if I touch

Other lady of delight,

Let this snake my bosom bite.

If thou deem my error such,

Be thy malice on me spent

In many an amorous punishment.

Bind my body with thine arms,

Scourge my limbs with pretty harms,

Press my panting heart with weight

Of thy sweet breasts passionate,

In thy labouring bosom deep

Night and day thy prisoner keep.

Punishments like these demand

Love’s sweet sins from love’s sweet hand.