Jayadeva's Geeta Govinda - A Love Song 18 Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon
Jayadeva's Geeta Govinda - A Love Song 18
Afflicted by Kama's arrows, desperate and driven by intense passion, Radha sits immersed in Hari's thoughts. Here, she is a Kalahantarita Nayika, in a quarrelsome mood, full of woes and complaints too. The Sakhi speaks to her.
When the soft breeze of spring blows,
Hari will come!
Then what in the world is happier than that?
Please don't be vain, Sakhi!
Madhava could choose to be indifferent as well.
The fully blossomed breasts
Are juicier than the date-palm fruits,
Do not waste their essence frivolously!
Please don't be vain, Sakhi!
Madhava could choose to be indifferent as well.
Do not refrain from advances of the charming Krishna!
How many times am I to repeat this to you?
Please don't be vain, Sakhi!
Madhava could choose to be indifferent as well.
Why do you cry so shamelessly?
All your friends are laughing at you!
Please don't be vain, Sakhi!
Madhava could choose to be indifferent as well.
Look at Madhava seated on a cool bed of lotuses!
Satisfy your thirsting eyes with this entrancing sight.
Please don't be vain, Sakhi!
Madhava could choose to be indifferent as well.
Why do you burden your heart with so much of remorse?
Lovers should not be separated from each other!
With this in mind, I am advising you. Listen to me, please!
Please don't be vain, Sakhi!
Madhava could choose to be indifferent as well
Let Madhava come near you and talk to you.
Why do you make your heart so miserable?
Please don't be vain, Sakhi!
Madhava could choose to be indifferent as well.
May this lyrical composition of Jayadeva,
Bring peace and tranquillity,
To those immersed in Madhu and his deeds.
Ashtapadi is another name for Geeta Govinda in South india. Jayadeva composed all the 24 poems of Geeta Govinda in eight verses. That's why these poems came to be popularly known as Ashtapadis. Ashta means eight and Pada means a verse.
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! Though knowing almost nothing of the cast in this song, I relate to it well. I recognize the trying to reason with someone stuck in a snit. Anyone who has done this can recognize the appropriateness of the refrain at the end of each stanza, trying to coax one from a foul mood. Cool! Hoping this finds you well in body, soul, and spirit, Glen
Hi Glen. Thanks for stopping by. Geeta Govinda is one long story, which comprises 24 songs, of eight verses each. To understand the story and its theme, properly and perfectly, it has to be read in order of the song sequence. But yes, i do agree it requires a lot of patience and time. But i am sure, you have got the feel of it, being a divine song of love of Radha and Krishna.. Thank you Glen!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/10/2024 8:29:54 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Dear Dr. Menon, thank u for your poet's note from which one can know the history of Jayadeva's Geeta Govinda and its adoration throughout the world. I came to know that the British Indologist William Jones was the first to carry Geeta Govinda across the oceans. His English translation (Calcutta 1792, reprinted in London 1799) became the source for the continental European reception. The German poet Wolfgang von Goethe was impressed by Geeta Govinda, which he read in the German translation, by F.H. van Dalberg (1802) . The German romantic poet Friedrich Rueckert (1829) undertook a poetic translation in verse form. I read 'Jayadeva's Geeta Govinda - A Love Song 18 ' that has been translated astutely by you in english language from sanskrit. Here the love among Radha and Krishna has been inscribed beautifully and touchingly through a Sakhi. When Radha sits immersed in Hari's thoughts, Sakhi says.... When the soft breeze of spring blows, Hari will come! Then what in the world is happier than that? Please don't be vain, Sakhi! Madhava could choose to be indifferent as well. Interesting to read more and moreover. Nice work.