Jayadeva's Geeta Govinda - A Love Song 15 Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon
Jayadeva's Geeta Govinda - A Love Song 15
Radha looking at the moon tells her Sakhi:
"The desolate moon like Murari's lotus face fades in love's affliction.
The moon calms my disturbed mind, but the heartening Kamadeva
continues to tug at my heartstrings.
Radha's quivering lips longs for Krishna's kiss,
She draws an attractive musk- deer on the moon-
A fantasy figure!
Along the banks of cool Yamuna river,
Hidden behind the green woods,
Murari wins his Gopis with his ardent love.
The young hearts tremble,
When the Gopi's soft face masked by a cloud of thick hair,
Is ruffled by the disguised Kamadeva!
To the silky tresses of this Gopi
Krishna pins a bunch of shimmering blooms.
Along the banks of cool Yamuna river,
Hidden behind the green woods,
Murari wins his Gopis with his ardent love.
To the rounded breasts of a maiden
Krishna applies scented musk,
Makes star-shaped designs with pearls,
Crescent moon marks with nails,
And hangs a shining necklace too!
Along the banks of cool Yamuna river,
Hidden behind the green woods,
Murari wins his Gopis with his ardent love.
More beautiful than the lotus stems,
Softer than the tender lotus petals,
Cooler than the morning dew,
Are the hands of a cowherd-maiden.
Krishna slides emerald green bangles.
Along the banks of cool Yamuna river,
Hidden behind the green woods,
Murari wins his Gopis with his ardent love.
A Gopi has rounded hips,
Like the golden throne of Kamadeva,
Rati dwells.
Krishna ties a girdle of jewelled pendant
Around her seductive hips!
Along the banks of cool Yamuna river,
Hidden behind the green woods,
Murari wins his Gopis with his ardent love.
Krishna lifts the Gopi's feet and places on his chest
As if gracefully lifting a tender shoot.
With the juice of red flower essence,
He paints her feet and toes.
Along the banks of cool Yamuna river,
Hidden behind the green woods,
Murari wins his Gopis with his ardent love.
Krishna, an epitome of love,
Brother of the handsome Balarama-the plough wielder.
Tell me Sakhi! What is the use of my waiting for him?
One who is so immersed with other Gopis!
Along the banks of cool Yamuna river,
Hidden behind the green woods,
Murari wins his Gopis with his ardent love.
Jayadeva-the king among poets,
Places this glamorous love song at Hari's feet!
To be protected from the calamities of the Kaliyuga, .
He seeks the divine benevolence.
The spread of Geeta Govinda into different parts of India and Nepal and its unique impact on the literary and artistic traditions of India are worth researching. Through the spread of Bhakti movement, Geeta Govinda found its way into various regional languages and art forms. Geeta Govinda could be thus understood from different levels of consciousness through word, art, music and dance. The various translations, adaptations and imitations of Geeta Govinda are evidences of its vast popularity in the Indian context through centuries. It enriched immensely the cultural life and religious spirituality of India.It may be worthwhile to study the intercultural aspects of the various forms of reception and its impact on the regional literatures and cultures in India.
This famed song of Geeta Govinda has been translated by me from Sanskrit to English.
I published this work in the form of a book in 2002. The second Edition was published in 2006 and later, the third edition came out in 2010.
I am now happy to publish it in Poem Hunter for the poetry lovers.
Hi Geeta, Another Geetaka from Geetagovinda. The envy of Radha and her pain of separation from Krishna, are very aptly depicted in your lines exactly as Jayadevar did in the original. Always bordering on full sensuousness but never crossing the boundary. The references to the sensuous love of Krishna with the other Gopi, often is restricted to her bodily charms (compared to mine!) by Jayadevar. But your words-the choice of words transcends the bodily love.. Beautifully done.
A great painstaking effort Ma'am by you to uplift the heritage of our country. Your poetic skill adds to the beauty and body of the poem. A huge 10+++ for it. Regards. Subhas
Subhas, , so nice to see you on this page after quite a while. Thank you so much for reading the poem and your generous comment. Stay blessed.
This expression is more beautiful than the lotus stems and more pure like rose and soft like lotus. Murari wins his Gopis with his ardent love is great. Devotion and love flow simultaneously. Beautifully and excellently penned poem is shared here is interesting epic poem based on perception of Jayadeva's Geeta Govinda...10
My heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to you, Kumarmaniji for reading this famed poem on love, Your comments and votes are most valuable to me..
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
4/23/2024 5:59:39 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Excellent. An endearimng piece of poetry! My favourite lines, Radha's quivering lips longs for Krishna's kiss, She draws an attractive musk- deer on the moon- A fantasy figure!