The Indian Song of Songs
Introduction
Om!
Reverence to Ganesha!
“The sky is clouded; and the wood resembles
The sky, thick-arched with black Tamâla boughs;
O Radha, Radha! take this Soul, that trembles
In life’s deep midnight, to Thy golden house.”
So Nanda spoke,—and, led by Radha’s spirit,
The feet of Krishna found the road aright;
Wherefore, in bliss which all high hearts inherit,
Together taste they Love’s divine delight.
He who wrote these things for thee,
Of the Son of Wassoodee,
Was the poet Jayadeva;
Him Saraswati gave ever
Fancies fair his mind to throng,
Like pictures palace-walls along;
Ever to his notes of love
Lakshmi’s mystic dancers move.
If thy spirit seeks to brood
On Hari glorious, Hari good;
If it feeds on solemn numbers.
Dim as dreams and soft as slumbers,
Lend thine ear to Jayadev,
Lord of all the spells that save.
Umapatidhara’s strain
Glows like roses after rain;
Sharan’s stream-like song is grand,
If its tide ye understand;
Bard more wise beneath the sun
Is not found than Govardhun;
Dhoyi holds the listener still
With his shlokes of subtle skill;
But for sweet words suited well
Jayadeva doth excel.
(What follows is to the Music Mâlava and the Mode Rupaka.)