XCVI.
Rādhā: A sorry end to all my love, my dear,
To let my life depend upon a wanton,—
Nowhere to look for help!
I could not see the hidden well,
But as I ran, I fell therein:
At first I nowise knew the heavy from the light,—
Now would I might return!
His honey-speech I understood for love,
At first I knew no better:
I yielded all my skill into another's hands,
Pride had fled afar my heart.
Till now I led another way of life,
But now I know what drowning is:
I with my own hands sharped the stake,
Whom can I blame now?
Hearken, fair young thing says Vidyāpati:
No other thought be in your heart!
Oft is life lost for sake of love,
Who does not know this in the world?
XCVII.
Rādhā: Why would you burn my body, O thou Bodiless?
I am not Shankara, but a gentle girl,
This is my flowing hair, not matted locks,
Not Gangā, but a jasmine garland on my head.
This is a pearl tiara, not the moon,
No eye upon my forehead, but a scarlet beauty-spot:
Not poison, but a trace of musk upon my throat,
A necklace on my breast, and not the lord of serpents.
Blue silk my robe, and not a tiger's skin,
This is a lotus of delight, and not a skull!
All this is loveliness, says Vidyāpati:
Not ashes on her limbs, but dust of Malaya.
XCVIII.
Dūtika: Often, in meditation on the name of Mādhava,
She changes into Mādhava himself:
Forgetful of her own desires and of her own identity,
She is enamoured of her own charms.
O Mādhava, your love is peerless!
The fire of sundering from herself devours her body in its flames,
I doubt if she may live.
Her friends are filled with grief, so sadly she regards them,
The tears are pouring from their eyes:
The cry of 'Rādhā, Rādhā,' echoing repeatedly,
She murmurs broken words.
When she is with Rādhā, she thinks that she is Mādhava,
And when with Mādhav, Rādhā:
And even so, this bitter love may not be broken asunder.
The pang of separation hurts her more and more.
Just as a tree both sides aflame quite utterly consumes
Some wretched insect's life:
In such a plight, Vallabha, I saw the nectar-face,
Says Vidyāpati.