gītagovindaṃ dvādaśaḥ sargaḥ - suprīta pītāmbaraḥ

When the host of companions had departed, Sri Hari (Krishna) looked at Radha—who, overwhelmed by deep modesty and the power of love, offered a faint, blooming smile while casting her eyes upon the bed of fresh sprouts—and spoke to her. [[V1 (Gita 23-1)]] O beloved, place your lotus-feet upon this bed of blossoms; let them experience the beauty of surpassing the soft petals of your feet, which now serve as your devotees. O Radhika, now follow Narayan who is following you. [[V1 (Gita 23-2)]] I shall serve your feet with my lotus-hands, for you have traveled a great distance. For a moment, grace the bed; let me, who am expert in following your lead, be like an anklet upon your feet. [[V1 (Gita 23-3)]] Speak words as sweet as the nectar flowing from the moon of your face. I shall remove the garment from your chest, which acts as a barrier to our union, as if it were the lingering shadow of our separation. [[V1 (Gita 23-4)]] Place your pot-like breasts—which are trembling with the thrill of our intense embrace—upon my chest; cool the fever of desire that is otherwise so hard to extinguish. [[V1 (Gita 23-5)]] O lady of the future, offer me the nectar of your lips; revive this servant who is as if dead. My heart is fixed upon you, and my body, devoid of pleasure, is scorched by the fire of separation. [[V1 (Gita 23-6)]] O moon-faced one, let the jeweled girdle at your waist sound out, for it is the companion to your neck. Quiet the long-standing weariness in my ears, which are distressed by the singing of the cuckoo. [[V1 (Gita 23-7)]] O beloved, your eyes, now closed as if in shame, have seen me overwhelmed by a futile anger. Cease this; let go of the fatigue of our love-play. [[V1 (Gita 23-8)]] May this song, composed by Sri Jayadeva, which at every step brings joy to the enemy of Madhu (Krishna), generate a delightful play of emotions in the hearts of the connoisseurs. [[V1 (69)]] During the erotic sport, when the battle of love began, Radha—in her eagerness to conquer her lover—took the initiative; but in her agitation, her hips became motionless, her arm-creepers grew limp, her chest trembled, and her eyes closed. Where can women find the inherent nature of masculine prowess in such moments? [[V1 (70)]] Then, though exhausted by their love-play, Radha—the one who holds her lover in complete subjection—spoke to her beloved, free from all shyness, requesting that he adorn her. [[V1 (Gita 24-1)]] O descendant of Yadu, with your hands, which are cooler than sandalwood paste, apply patterns of musk upon my breasts, which resemble auspicious golden jars of the God of Love. [[V1 (Gita 24-2)]] O beloved, brighten my eyes with collyrium that shames a swarm of bees; the kohl has become smudged from the kissing of your lips. [[V1 (Gita 24-3)]] O lotus-faced one, place pendants upon my ears, which are the vanquishers of the playful waves of a young deer's eyes; adorn them as a fitting plaything for the arrows of Manmatha (Cupid). [[V1 (Gita 24-4)]] Upon my hair, which surpasses the beauty of a swarm of bees, place beautiful flowers before my face; and upon my face, which outshines the lotus, apply the marks of beauty that incite desire. [[V1 (Gita 24-5)]] O moon-faced one, upon the moon of my forehead, draw a graceful tilak with musk; let it be the mark of beauty that relieves the exhaustion of my efforts. [[V1 (Gita 24-6)]] O you who honor your beloved, adorn my radiant tresses—the banners of the God of Love—with flowers, just as a peacock adorns its tail, leaving them beautifully disheveled from our love-play. [[V1 (Gita 24-7)]] O beautiful one, upon my lush hips—which are the mountain pass for the elephant of desire—place the jeweled girdle and ornaments, for you are pure of heart. [[V1 (Gita 24-8)]] O Lord, place your heart mercifully into the beautiful words of Jayadeva, which serve as an adornment; they are the nectar of remembrance of Hari’s feet, which destroys the fever of worldly existence and all sins. [[V1 (71)]] "Draw patterns upon my breasts, paint designs upon my cheeks, fasten the girdle upon my hips, adorn my braid with a garland, place a row of bangles upon my wrists, and put anklets upon my feet"—thus commanded, the delighted Krishna, wearing his yellow garment, did exactly as she asked. [[V1 (72)]] Whatever skill in the arts of song, whatever meditation on the Divine, whatever wisdom regarding the essence of Shringara (love), and whatever grace in poetry is found here—may the wise and joyous hearts of all refine these through this Sri Gita Govinda, the work of the poet-scholar Jayadeva, whose soul is dedicated solely to Krishna. [[V1 (73)]] May this poetry of Sri Gita Govinda, composed by Sri Jayadeva—the son of Rama Devi and Bhojadeva—reside forever in the hearts of those who are as dear to him as the sages like Parashara.