The
realization of God in all things by the Vision of Divine
Love.
The poetic image used in the following verses is characteristically
Indian. The mother of a love-stricken girl 9symbolising
the human soul yearning to merge into the Godhead) is
complaining to her friends of the sad plight of her
child, whom love for Krishna has rendered ‘mad’; - the
effect of the ‘madness’ being that in all things she
is able to see nothing but forms of Krishna – the ultimate
spirit of the Universe.)
Seated, she caresses Earth and cries, “This Earth is
Vishnu’s;”
Salutes the sky and bids us, “Behold the Heaven He ruleth;”
Or standing with tear – filled eyes cries loud, “ O
Sea – hued Lord!”
All helpless am I, my friends; my child He has rendered
mad (1)
Or joining her hands she fancies, “the Sea where my
Lord reposes!”
Or hailing the ruddy sun she cries out, “Yes, This is
His form”
Languid, she bursts into tears and mutters Narayana’s
name.
I am dazed at the things she is doing, my gazelle, my
child, shaped god-like (2)
Knowing, she embraces red fire, is scorched and cries,
“O Deathless!”
And she hugs the wind; “Tis my own Govinda, “she tells
us.
She smells the honied Tulsi, my gazelle-like child,
Ah me !
How many the pranks she plays for my sinful eyes to
behold. (3)
The rising moon she showeth, “Tis the shining gem-hued
Krishna!”
Or, eyeing the standing hill, she cries: “O come, high
Vishnu!”
It rains; and she dances and cries out, “He hath come,
the God of my love !”
O the mad conceits He hath given to my tender, dear
one! (4)
The soft-limbed calf she embraces, for “Such did Krishna
tend,”
And follows the gliding serpent, explaining, “That is
His couch.”
I know not where this will end, this folly’s play in
my sweet one,
Afflicted, ay, for my sins, by Him, the Divine Magician
(5)
Where tumblers dance with their pots, she runs and cries,
“Govinda.”
At the charming notes of a flute she faints, for “Krishna,
He playeth.”
When cowherd dames bring butter, she is sure it was
tasted by Him.
So mad for the Lord who sucked out the Demoness’ life
through her bosom! (6)
In rising madness she raves, “All worlds are by Krishan
made.”
And she runs after folk ash-smeared; forsooth. They
serve high Vishnu!
Or she looks at the fragrant Tulsi and claims Narayana’s
garland.
She is ever for Vishnu, my darling, or in, or out of,
hr wits. (7)
And in all your wealthy princes she but sees the Lord
of Lakshmi.
At the sight of beautiful colours, she cries, “O my
Lord world-scanning!”
And all the shrines in the land, to her are shrines
of Vishnu.
In awe and in love, unceasing she adores the feet of
that Wizard. (8)
All Gods and Saints are Krishna-Devourer of Infinite
Spaces!
And the huge dark clouds are Krishna; all fain would
she fly to reach them.
Or the kine, they graze on the meadow and thither she
runs to find Him.
The Lord of illusions, He makes my dear one pant and
rave. (9)
Languid she stares around her or gazes afar into space;
She sweats and with eyes full of tears she sighs and
faints away;
Rising, she speaks but His name and cries, “do come,
O Lord!”
Ah, what shall I do with my poor child o’erwhelmed by
this maddest love? (10)
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