SRI AUROBINDO

Translations

from Sanskrit and Other Languages

II. From Bengali

Songs of Bidyapati

XXXIV

Hide now thy face, O darling white,

Hide it well with thy robe’s delight.

For the King has heard that one the moon

Has stolen and his sentinels soon

At each house stationed and each again,

Damsel beloved, will thee detain.

Laugh not thy lightning, O nectarous face!

Low and few from their sweet home press

The accents of those lyric lips.¹

Thy teeth make starlight, through eclipse,²

And on the brow of the high-born girl

A vermeil drop and a shimmering pearl.

Hearken, good counsel, beautiful maid;

Even in a dream be not afraid,

Spots hath the moon, no beauty clear.

Stained is she, thou stainless, dear.

¹ voice

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² maiden choice,

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