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poem in English through rich rhythmical sounds, in imitation of JayadevaT s Sanskrit e ^
jaya jaya deva 'hare
The Overture
The sky was thick with clouds, the forest was dark with black-barked tamata trees.
"Night frightens him.
Radha, you take him home'"
She followed Nanda's orders —
and as they strayed through a lush wayside grove
the play of Radha and Krishna's love
began in secret on the Jamna river bank.
Jayadeva is the king of wandering singers --
watching his wife Padmavati's dancing feet
his deep thoughts quickened
to his muse's fluid motions
and he made this poem
composed from tales of Krishna's passionate play.
It thinking of Krishna
fills your heart with emotion,
if the arts of passion arouse you —
Listen to Jayadeva's muse
singing these sweet soft love songs.
^The translations are based on three editions of the Gitagovinda:
Lassen, Christianuso Gita Govinda: Jayadevae Poetae Indioz
Drama Lyricum (Bonn: 1836), Telang, M.R and W»Lc Panshikaro Gitagovinda^ with Kasikapriya of
Kwnbha and Rasamanjarl of samkara MiSra (Bombay: NSP, 1899). Vasudeva Sastri, K, Gitagovinda ^ith Abhinaya. Tanjore Saraswati
Mahal Series, No. 6 (Tanjore: 1950)o
An account of the considerations involved in my translations of Sanskrit poetry are published in an article entitled "Camels in the Pleasure-Garden" in MahfU, VI, 1 (19'?0): 33-41 o