Dhīra Samīre (11th Aṣtapadi)
Ragam: Mohana Taḷam: Caturasra Eka Composer: Jayadeva Music: Pt. Raghunath Panigrahi
rati-sukha-sāre gatam abhisāre madana-manohara-veśam
na kuru nitamkbini gamana-vilambanam anusara tam hṛdayeśam dhīra-samīre yamunā-tīre vasati vane vana-mālī pīna-payodhara-parisara mardana-cañcala-kara-yuga-śālī
nāma-sametam kṛta-sanketam vādayate mṛdu veṇum bahu manute nanu te tanu-saṅgata-pavana-calitam api reṇum
patati patatre vicalati patre śankita-bhavad-upayānam racayati śayanam sacakita-nayanam paśyati tava panthānam
mukharam adhīram tyaja mañjīram ripum iva keli-sulolam cala sakhi kuñjam satimira-puñjam śīlaya nila-nicolam
urasi murārer upahita-hāre ghana iva tarala-balāke taḍid iva pīte rati-viparīte rājasi sukṛta-vipāke
vigalita-vasanam parihṛta-raśanam ghaṭaya jaghanam apidhānam kisalaya-śayane paṅkaja-nayane nidhim iva harsa-nidhānam
harir abhimāni rajanir idānim iyam api yāti virāmam
kuru mama vacanam satvara-racdanam pūraya madhu-ripu-kāmam
śrī-jayadeve kṛta-hari-seve bhaṇati parama-ramaṇīyam pramudita-hṛdayam harim atisadayam namata skṛta-kamanīyam
DETAILED MEANING
STANZA ONE
Dr. N. Gangadharan (DNG): Krishna awaits you at a place that has the charm of attracting the God of love, and that which is most suitable for amorous sports. Oh Beautiful one! Do not tarry long. You follow that lord that had captivated heart.
Krishna whose pair of hands had earlier sported on the bosom regions of the cowherdesses, stays on in that part of the Brindavana on the banks of the river Yamuna where the westerlies gently wafts.
rati-sukha-sāre gatam abhisāre madana-manohara-veśam
rati = amorous/romantic (ambiance of love) sukha = blissful
sāre = quintessentially
gatam = (he has) gone
abhisāre = in present place
madana = (more than) Cupid
manohara = (he is) enchanting/alluring veśam = appearance (in dress and demeanor)
Me: In this blissful place, perfect for love’s play, Krishna, enchanting in dress and demeanor, is waiting for you.
Barbara Stoler Miller (BSM): He ventures in secret to savor your passion, dressed for love’s delight.
na kuru nitamkbini gamana-vilambanam anusara tam hṛdayeśam
na = not
kuru = do
nitamkbini = high-hipped/full-hipped one gamana = in going
vilambanam = delay
anusara = follow
tam = your
hridayesham = heart’s lord
Me: Oh high-hipped one, do not delay in following the lord of your heart. BSM: Radha, don’t let full hips idle! Follow the lord of your heart!
dhīra-samīre yamunā-tīre vasati vane vana-mālī
dhīra = gentle but steady
samīre = wind/breeze
yamunā-tīre = (on the) Yamuna riverbank
vasati = located (waiting) in
vane = garden/woods/forest
vana-mālī = one wearing garlands of leaves & flowers (Krishna)
Me: In the breezy woods on the banks of the Yamuna, Krishna waits for you wearing garlands of leaves.
BSM: In woods on the wind-swept Yamuna bank, Krishna waits in wildflower garlands.
pīna-payodhara-parisara mardana-cañcala-kara-yuga-śālī
pīna = bosomy/buxom (gopis)
payodhara = breasts
parisara = position/proximity/site (in the bust region) mardana = in caressing
cañcala = moving (as in fondle)
kara = (with) hands
yuga = a couple of
śālī = having
Me: This master of love had earlier caressed the breasts of the other buxom gopis BSM: No translation of this line available.
STANZA TWO
DNG: Gently he plays the flute blending thy sweet name with the melodies. He considers the speck of dust that has touched your body and wafted on by the breeze as an invaluable prize.
nāma-sametam kṛta-sanketam vādayate mṛdu veṇum
nāma = your name
sametam = coupled with (his flute playing)
kṛta = to make
sanketam = there (indication of where he is playing his flute) vādayate = he plays
mṛdu = softly
veṇum = (his) flute
Me: As he softly plays his flute, he calls for you by blending your name seamlessly with the sweet melodies.
BSM: He plays your name to call you on his sweet reed flute.
bahu manute nanu te tanu-saṅgata-pavana-calitam api reṇum
bahu = highly
manute = (he) dotes on nanu = definitely
te = to your
tanu= body
saṅgata = attached
pavana = (by the) breeze calitam = moved
api = even
reṇum = particle (of pollen)
Me: He does on the pollen that once clung to your body and that has now been carried by the gentle breeze.
BSM: He cherishes breeze-blown pollen that touched your fragile body.
STANZA THREE
DNG: When the feather of a bird falls down or a leaf flutters he looks for your arrival with inquisitive eyes. He makes ready the couch of flowers.
patati patatre vicalati patre śankita-bhavad-upayānam
patati = while flapping/falling patatre = wing or feather (of a bird) patre = leaves
vicalati = while rustling
śankita = in anticipation
bhavat = your (with respect) upayānam = your nearby arrival
Me: When a bird’s wings flap (or feather falls) and the leaves rustle, he anticipates your arrival.
BSM: When a bird feather falls or a leaf stirs, he imagines your coming.
racayati śayanam sacakita-nayanam paśyati tava panthānam
racayati = (he) makes
śayanam = bed (of leaves)
sacakita = with flustered/anxious (with anticipation) nayanam = eyes
paśyati = (he) looks about
tava = your
panthānam = path (of arrival)
Me: He prepares a bed of tender leaves for you and anxiously eyes your path of arrival.
BSM: He makes the bed of love; he eyes your pathway anxiously.
STANZA FOUR
DNG: O Friend! Hasten to Krishna in the dark bowers after removing the tinkling anklets which betray by their loud sounds at the time of amorous sports.
mukharam adhīram tyaja mañjīram ripum iva keli-sulolam
mukharam = jangling/dissonant adhīram = highly
tyaja = discard
mañjīram = solid anklets
ripum = enemy (of evening amorous activities) iva = like (as if)
keli = in (amorous) sports
sulolam = moving/playing (as in lovemaking)
Me: Remove those dissonant anklets, the enemies of love play in the evening. BSM: Leave your noisy anklets! They clang like traitors in love play.
cala sakhi kuñjam satimira-puñjam śīlaya nila-nicolam
cala = quickly start
sakhi = friend
kuñjam = in/toward the bower (thicket) satimira = in darkness
puñjam = (covered with) shade
śīlaya = wear
nila = black
nicolam = shawl
Me: Oh friend, quickly go through the dark thicket clad in a dark shawl. BSM: Go to the darkened thicket, friend! Hide in a cloak of night!
STANZA FIVE
DNG: On account of your good deeds soon you will be shining like a golden streak of lightning on the chest region of Krishna resembling dark clouds of the rainy season and wearing a garland of white flowers resembling a flock of cranes darting across the clouds.
urasi murārer upahita-hāre ghana iva tarala-balāke
urasi = on the chest
murārer = of Krishna
upahita = (you) having/possessing hāre = pearly pendants
ghana = (dark monsoon) cloud
iva = like (also as in Krishna’s complexion) tarala = flittering/darting
balāke = cranes
Me: As you lie on Krishna’s chest, your pearly pendants will appear like flittering cranes against the dark clouds.
BSM: Your garlands fall on Krishna’s chest like white cranes on a dark cloud.
taḍid iva pīte rati-viparīte rājasi sukṛta-vipāke
taḍid = streak of lightning
iva = like (as if)
pīte = yellow complexion (Radha is golden-hued)
rati = amorous/romance (ambiance of love)
viparīte = love’s foreplay
rājasi = you will glisten
sukṛta-vipāke = because of meritious acts/good deeds or commendable at lovemaking
Me: You will glisten like a streak of lightning in love’s play with him because of your deeds (or your considerable skills in lovemaking).
BSM: Shining lighting over him, Radha, you rule in the climax of love.
STANZA SIX
DNG: O Lotus-eyed one! You shed your silken garments and the girdle with tinkling bells and make explicit your charming form on the bed of tender shoots. It will give him much pleasure.
vigalita-vasanam parihṛta-raśanam ghaṭaya jaghanam apidhānam
vigalita = slither down (your clothes slide off)
vasanam = clothing
parihṛta = slip/stolen
raśanam = waist-strings (girdle slips off on their own account) ghaṭaya = showcase/bedeck (with your own body)
jaghanam = on the hips apidhānam = (without) covering
Me: Your clothing will slither down, your waist-strings will seem to loosen themselves, and your hips will be uncovered.
BSM: Loosen your clothes, untie your belt, open your loins!
kisalaya-śayane paṅkaja-nayane nidhim iva harsa-nidhānam
kisalaya = on tender leafy śayane = bed
paṅkaja-nayane = lotus-eyed one nidhim = treasure trove
iva = like (as if)
harsa = for bliss
nidhānam = (you are) primary source
Me: On a bed of tender leaves, oh lotus-eyed one, you will be a treasure trove of pleasure for him.
BSM: Radha, your gift of delight is like treasure in a bed of vines.
STANZA SEVEN
DNG: Krishna is amorously disposed. It is the right time now and it will end soon. You do as I advise. Hasten now and fulfill the longings of Krishna.
harir abhimāni rajanir idānim iyam api yāti virāmam
harir = Krishna
abhimāni = self-respecting man (meaning that he would leave if you do not come)\ idānim = now
iyam = this
rajanir = night
api = even
yāti = quickly passes by
virāmam = (to its) end
Me: As a self-respecting man, Krishna dutifully waits for you, but the night has already starting to pass!
BSM: Hari is proud. This night is about to end now.
kuru mama vacanam satvara-racdanam pūraya madhu-ripu-kāmam
kuru = do/make (happen) mama = my
vacanam = words
satvara = with haste racdanam = persuasive words pūraya = fulfill
madhu ripu = demon Madhu’s enemy (Krishna) kāmam = desire
Me: Heed my words and quickly go to Krishna and fulfill his desire! BSM: Speed my promise to him! Fulfill the desire of Madhu’s foe!
STANZA EIGHT
DNG: While the poet Jayadeva bent on serving Lord Hari sings this enchanting song, (O Devotees) you worship Hari, the most merciful one always blissful and in whom all virtues find their final function.
śrī-jayadeve kṛta-hari-seve bhaṇati parama-ramaṇīyam
śrī-jayadeve = by Jayadeva kṛta = making
hari = Krishna
seve = service (worship of) bhaṇati = is being said
parama = exulted/highly ramaṇīyam = pleasant (poetry)
Me: To worship Sri Krishna, Jayadeva sings this highly pleasant poem. BSM: While Jayadeva sings his enticing song to worship Hari,
pramudita-hṛdayam harim atisadayam namata skṛta-kamanīyam
pramudita = gladdening
hṛdayam = heart
harim = at Krishna
atisadayam = highly benevolent one namata = bow down before/prostrate before skṛta = by merit
kamanīyam = desirable one
Me: Total surrender to Krishna, the benevolent, accomplished, and desirable one, gladdens the heart of Jayadeva and of other devotees.
BSM: Bow to Hari! He loves your favor – his heart is joyful and gentle.