Open Your Door
BY JAYANGONDAN
(Rendered from Tamil by K. S.)
[Vijiadhara was a Chola king, who lived in the latter half of the eleventh century and in the beginning of the twelfth. His chief minister and commander-in-chief, Karunakara, led an army against the Kalingas, and defeated their king Anantapadma (? Anantavarma) in a famous battle. His poet-laureate, Jayangondan, has sung of the victory in a poem called Kalingattupparani.
The following two stanzas are from that part of the poem, where the women of the city are exhorted to throw their doors open and share in the rejoicing.]
I
Open wide your golden door,
Languid lady, walking slowly,
With your anklets lightly tinkling,
And your curly ringlets waving,
Swaying gently, gently swaying,
Like a peacock suddenly wakened;
Maiden of the dew-cool speech,
Open wide your golden door!
II
Lady, who in your black tresses
Keep entangled, plucked and twisted,
Lilies red with honey sweet
And the red hearts of young lovers,
Lady of the lovely tresses,
Open wide your red-gold door!