Jayadeva's Geeta Govinda - A Love Song 16 Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

In this song of Jayadeva, Radha is portrayed as a victim of many emotions. On one hand, she is extremely sad, angry and jealous because Hari is not with her. On the other hand, she is smitten by the fiery and intoxicating arrows of the Cupid. This makes Radha yearn for Krishna more and more. Radha talks to her Sakhi or friend in a sarcastic fashion imagining her beloved Krishna engrossed in amorous plays with the other maidens of Vrindavana.

"O Sakhi! Why the hell are you unhappy?
Does it matter if that unsympathetic dumb- fool does not come?
If he sports with other women, it is not your fault!
Is it? So why be anxious?
My heart cries for him and I feel a volcano breaking out within me.
May be I am dying!
By the virtue of my excessive love for him, I hope,
He will naturally be drawn back to me."

Krishna's roving eyes like blue-lotus,
Appraise her lying on a bed of sprouts,
Yet she remains unhurt and unaffected.
O Sakhi! Hari with a garland
Of wild flowers around his neck,
Bewitches the Gopis with his rapturous love!

Krishna kisses the beautiful face and
The fully blossomed lotus-like mouth,
On the flower decked couch,
Yet, the maiden remains unmindful of Kämä's sharp arrows.
O Sakhi! Hari with a garland,
Of wild flowers around his neck,
Bewitches the Gopis with his rapturous love!

Krishna's nectar sweet words will soothe
The strongly blowing mountain winds
And Kama's scorching heat in the maiden.
O Sakhi! Hari with a garland
Of wild flowers around the neck,
Bewitches the Gopis with his rapturous love!

Krishna's feet are like the exquisite blue lotus,
Even the coldest moon-beams will not make her shiver.
O Sakhi! Hari with a garland
Of wild flowers around the neck,
Bewitches the Gopis with his rapturous love!



Krishna's dark handsome physique
When united with her,
A soothing balm to her heavy heart!
O Sakhi! Krishna with a garland
Of wild flowers round his neck,
Bewitches the Gopis with his rapturous love!

When she engages in romantic interludes
With Krishna attired in golden coloured robe,
What does it matter even if other people make fun of her?
She remains immune to them!
O Sakhi! Hari with a garland
Of wild flowers around the neck,
Bewitches the Gopis with his rapturous love!

He is superior to all the young men of this world.
The maiden who has the luck to enjoy,
The buoyant game of love with Krishna
Remains unscathed by pain and sorrows!
O Sakhi! Hari with a garland
Of wild flowers around the neck,
Bewitches the Gopis with his rapturous love!

Through Jayadeva's this song of love,
May Krishna enter and dwell,
In the hearts of all his devotees!