TWO SONGS FROM CHANDIDASA
(Rendered from Bengali
by Samir Kanta Gupta)
“Listen, my dear
playmate,
How shall I live
without seeing Kanu?
My anxious Rights
weigh heavy with my tears of woe.
Look, friend, and turn
not away
Till drinking his
beauty your eyes satiate and droop,
As he stands with his
charming flute in hand;
And his smile rains a
shower a of nectar, of pearl and cora1.
O, this treasure, if I
could keep hidden close to my bosom!
For who knows, my
playmate,
If
somebody will not rob me of it?
I do not feel secure
To
keep this wealth anywhere else.
In my heart of heart,
Where the soul
breathes,
There have I placed
his throne;
There shall I lodge
him in secrecy,
Lest, while I fall
asleep,
Someone burgle in and
steal away.”
Chandidasa
says:
Such a treasure
You will most
certainly keep hidden.
Who knows how many
thieves are out to burgle and steal?
Radha
says, “My sweet playmate!
Extreme is the sorrow
And I can hardly
breathe.
I will remain an
eternal friend to whosoever will bring back my Shyama
to me.
If I do not get him,
I will give up this
life,
I will plunge into the
waters of the Yamuna.
As these words fell
from Radha’s lips
Her companions stood
thunder-struck;
And after a thoughtful
pause
One amongst them spoke
with deliberation:
“Listen, dear Radha, and quieten thyself;
Be not anxious:
We will bring thy Shyama to thee.”
They consoled her
And wiped her tears of
grief
With
the hand of tender care.
Chandidasa
says: “Speed with the wind
And bring back Murari, to whom Love opened all the doors.”