Love

How many reproaches and scornful words of my elders

by Vidyapati c. 1352-1448

Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen (1915) · From Bangiya Padabali (trans. 1915)

Love

Rādhā:
How many reproaches and scornful words of my elders
I counted for nought in my heart, deep-laden in love.

For whose sake I forsook without shame the path of duty,
He now has forsaken my companionship.

Now dearest maiden, tell Murari for me and remind him,
'The worthy forsake not any without regard to their innocence.'

O dear companion, he that is wise,
Even though sentence be harsh, does justice at least.

What more can I say, that am but a helpless woman?
It is you that are skilled in speech and full of resource.

Tell Kānu this with honeyed words,
I pray you do it, appease his wrath.

For your wiles are many, and what do I know?
Vidyāpati says: This song is of love.

✦ ✦ ✦

Reproaches, Lack and Longing, CXII

MLA

Vidyapati. “How many reproaches and scornful words of my elders.” Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/vidyapati/111/.

Chicago

Vidyapati. “How many reproaches and scornful words of my elders.” Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/vidyapati/111/.

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