3.1.3. Rejoicing in the Embrace
1101 All joys that senses five- sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch- can give, In this resplendent armlets-bearing damsel live! The (simultaneous) enjoyment of the five senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch can only be found with bright braceleted (women).
1102 Disease and medicine antagonists we surely see; This maid, to pain she gives, herself is remedy. The remedy for a disease is always something different (from it); but for the disease caused by this jewelled maid, she is herself the cure.
1103 Than rest in her soft arms to whom the soul is giv’n, Is any sweeter joy in his, the Lotus-eyed-one’s heaven? Can the lotus-eyed Vishnu’s heaven be indeed as sweet to those who delight to sleep in the delicate arms of their beloved ?
1104 Withdraw, it burns; approach, it soothes the pain; Whence did the maid this wondrous fire obtain? From whence has she got this fire that burns when I withdraw and cools when I approach ?
1105 In her embrace, whose locks with flowery wreaths are bound, 134 Each varied form of joy the soul can wish is found. The shoulders of her whose locks are adorned with flowers delight me as if they were the very sweets I have desired (to get).
1106 Ambrosia are the simple maiden’s arms; when I attain Their touch, my withered life puts forth its buds again! The shoulders of this fair one are made of ambrosia, for they revive me with pleasure every time I embrace them.
1107 As when one eats from household store, with kindly grace Sharing his meal: such is this golden maid’s embrace. The embraces of a gold-complexioned beautiful female are as pleasant as to dwell in one’s own house and live by one’s own (earnings) after distributing (a portion of it in charity).
1108 Sweet is the strict embrace of those whom fond affection binds, Where no dissevering breath of discord entrance finds. To ardent lovers sweet is the embrace that cannot be penetrated even by a breath of breeze.
1109 The jealous variance, the healing of the strife, reunion gained: These are the fruits from wedded love obtained. Love quarrel, reconciliation and intercourse – these are the advantages reaped by those who marry for lust.
1110 The more men learn, the more their lack of learning they detect; ‘Tis so when I approach the maid with gleaming jewels decked. As (one’s) ignorance is discovered the more one learns, so does repeated intercourse with a welladorned female (only create a desire for more).
3.1.4. The Praise of her Beauty
1111 O flower of the sensitive plant! than thee More tender’s the maiden beloved by me. May you flourish, O Anicham! you have a delicate nature. But my beloved is more delicate than you.
1112 You deemed, as you saw the flowers, her eyes were as flowers, my soul, That many may see; it was surely some folly that over you stole! O my soul, fancying that flowers which are seen by many can resemble her eyes, you become confused at the sight of them.
1113 As tender shoot her frame; teeth, pearls; around her odours blend; Darts are the eyes of her whose shoulders like the bambu bend. 135 The complexion of this bamboo-shouldered one is that of a shoot; her teeth, are pearls; her breath, fragrance; and her dyed eyes, lances.
1114 The lotus, seeing her, with head demiss, the ground would eye, And say, ‘With eyes of her, rich gems who wears, we cannot vie.’ If the blue lotus could see, it would stoop and look at the ground saying, “I can never resemble the eyes of this excellent jewelled one.”
1115 The flowers of the sensitive plant as a girdle around her she placed; The stems she forgot to nip off; they ‘ll weigh down the delicate waist. No merry drums will be beaten for the (tender) waist of her who has adorned herself with the anicham without having removed its stem.
1116 The stars perplexed are rushing wildly from their spheres; For like another moon this maiden’s face appears. The stars have become confused in their places not being able to distinguish between the moon and the maid’s countenance.
1117 In moon, that waxing waning shines, as sports appear, Are any spots discerned in face of maiden here? Could there be spots in the face of this maid like those in the bright full moon ?
1118 Farewell, O moon! If that thine orb could shine Bright as her face, thou shouldst be love of mine. If you can indeed shine like the face of women, flourish, O moon, for then would you be worth loving ?
1119 If as her face, whose eyes are flowers, thou wouldst have charms for me, Shine for my eyes alone, O moon, shine not for all to see! O moon, if you wish to resemble the face of her whose eyes are like (these) flowers, do not appear so as to be seen by all.
1120 The flower of the sensitive plant, and the down on the swan’s white breast, As the thorn are harsh, by the delicate feet of this maiden pressed. The anicham and the feathers of the swan are to the feet of females, like the fruit of the (thorny) Nerunji.