from Jayadeva's Gitagovinda:
Joyful Krishna
"Clouds thicken the sky.
Tamala trees darken the forest.
The night frightens him.
Radha, you take him home!"
They leave at Nanda's order,
Passing trees in thickets on the way,
Until secret passions of Radha and Madhava
Triumph on the Jumna riverbank.
Jayadeva, wandering king of bards
Who sing at Padmavati's lotus feet,
Was obsessed in his heart
By rhythms of the goddess of speech,
And he made this lyrical poem
From tales of the passionate play
When Krishna loved Sri.
Umapatidhara is prodigal with speech,
Sarana is renowned for his subtle flowing sounds,
But only Jayadeva divines the pure design of words.
Dhoyi is famed as king of poets for his musical ear,
But no one rivals master Govardhana
For poems of erotic mood and sacred truth.
If remembering Hari enriches your heart,
If his arts of seduction arouse you,
Listen to Jayadeva's speech
In these sweet soft lyrical songs.
In seas that rage as the aeon of chaos collapses,
You keep the holy Veda like a ship straight on course.
You take form as the Fish, Krishna.
Triumph, Hari, Lord of the World!
Where the world rests on your vast back,
Thick scars show the weight of bearing earth.
You take form as the Tortoise, Krishna.
Triumph, Hari, Lord of the World!
The earth clings to the tip of your tusk
Like a speck of dust caught on the crescent moon.
You take form as the Boar, Krishna.
Triumph, Hari, Lord of the World!
Nails on your soft lotus hand are wondrous claws
Tearing the gold-robed body of black bee Hiranyakasipu.
You take form as the Man-lion, Krishna.
Triumph, Hari, Lord of the World!
Wondrous dwarf, when you cheat demon Bali with wide steps,
Water falls from your lotus toenails to purify creatures.
You take form as the dwarf, Krishna.
Triumph, Hari, Lord of the World!
You wash evil from the world in a flood of warrior's blood,
And the pain of existence is eased.
You take form as the axman Priest, Krishna.
Triumph, Hari, Lord of the World!
Invited by gods who guard the directions in battle,
You hurl Ravana's ten demon heads to the skies.
You take form as the prince Rama, Krishna.
Triumph, Hari, Lord of the World!
The robe on your bright body is colored with rain clouds,
And Jumna waters roiling in fear of your plow's attack.
You take form as the plowman Balarama, Krishna.
Triumph, Hari, Lord of the World!
Moved by deep compassion, you condemn the Vedic way
That ordains animal slaughter in rites of sacrifice.
You take form as the enlightened Buddha, Krishna.
Triumph, Hari, Lord of the World!
You raise your sword like a fiery meteor
Slashing barbarian hordes to death.
You take form as the avenger Kalki, Krishna.
Triumph, Hari, Lord of the World!
Listen to the perfect invocation of poet Jayadeva,
Joyously evoking the essence of existence!
You take the tenfold cosmic form, Krishna.
Triumph, Hari, Lord of the World!
For upholding the Vedas,
For supporting the earth,
For raising the world,
For tearing the demon asunder,
For cheating Bali,
For destroying the warrior class,
For conquering Ravana,
For wielding the plow,
For spreading compassion,
For routing the barbarians,
Homage to you, Krishna,
In your ten incarnate forms!
~ Translated by Barbara Stoler Miller ~
