Contents
Gita Govinda -Shri Jayadeva Gosvami
Act One : sämoda dämodaraù
The Delighted Captive of Love
Scene Three
Song 3
Verse 36
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“O sakhi, look! The forest is covered with the fragrant white powder of pollen from half-opened mallikä buds. The Malaya breeze, a bosom friend of Kämadeva, is invigorated by the aroma of ketaké flowers. He acts like Cupid’s arrow, burning the hearts of lonely lovers in the forest.” CommentaryAlluding to the arousing effect of the Malaya breeze in springtime, Rädhä’s companion says, “This gently moving air sets fire to the hearts of lonely lovers.” One may ask, “Why does the air burn their consciousness? What offence have they committed?” The answer is given here: “He burns the hearts of lonely lovers just to obey the order of his bosom friend.” A bosom friend is as dear as one’s life-air (prana). Therefore the gently moving air is likened to Kämadeva’s friend. Friends are also like-minded. This quality is revealed by his concurrent behaviour. When mallikä vines blossom slightly, a white layer of radiant pollen spreads profusely like a white petticoat (paöaväsa). This verse, composed in mäliné chanda, contains a combination of samäsokti and varëänupräsa alaìkäras. |
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