Love

I could not see her clearly

by Vidyapati c. 1352-1448

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

Love

Krishna:
I could not see her clearly:
Like a vine of lightning flashing from a wreath
of cloud,
She plunged an arrow in my heart.

Half the wimple had slipped, half was her face in smiles.
Half a wave in her eyes:
Half of her bosom I saw, half of the wimple filling,--
Love consumes me ever since.

Bright was her body withal, and golden cups her breasts.
Her bodice, Love transformed:
My wits were routed,-- meseems this snare
Was set by Kāmadev.

Pearl-teeth arow her lips did meet.
That murmured gentle words.
Vidyāpati says: Grief haunts my heart:
I saw her indeed, but hope was not sated.

✦ ✦ ✦

The First Passion of Krishna, VIII

MLA

Vidyapati. “I could not see her clearly.” Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/vidyapati/7/.

Chicago

Vidyapati. “I could not see her clearly.” Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/vidyapati/7/.

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