Love

The day that Mādhava went his way

by Vidyapati c. 1352-1448

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

Love

Rādhā:
The day that Mādhava went his way
All those words poured forth:
My heart was heavy and heavier still to hear,
The tears were dropping from my eyes.

When morning dawned, then coming close,
Did Kānu swear an oath,
I held his hand upon my head:
Now all is otherwise.

Scanning the road, my heart is heavy:
The mādhavī vine is flowering,
The koil is a-calling, Kuhu, kuhu, resounding.
And every bee is buzzing.

Which is the city where my dear was stolen.
Pleased by what maid he won?
Vidyāpati says: Hearken, young damsel:
The thief is your lover himself.

✦ ✦ ✦

Reproaches, Lack and Longing, CXVIII

MLA

Vidyapati. “The day that Mādhava went his way.” Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/vidyapati/117/.

Chicago

Vidyapati. “The day that Mādhava went his way.” Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/vidyapati/117/.

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