Sita In Hermit-Garden: Tapasvini Poem by Harekrishna Meher

Beauty of Royal Garden
was the wave of ocean,
holding on head the foams of flowers.
Beholding the auspicious presence of hers,
on whose foot-shore
adorned was the Beauty with lustres
emitting from pearls of nails in yore,
here rejoiced with exhilaration
all the trees, creepers
and flowers of the hermit-garden. (1)

At first gaily gleams
the Spring season.
Glamorous golden beams
of the rising Sun
spreading on the leafage drenched by dews,
were spiritedly sporting in various hues.
Falling on the dew-drops charming
they were creating
marvellously the series
of diamonds, sapphires, pearls and rubies. (2)

Of Sita, the jewel among the chaste,
the feet that had taken away
the pride of lustres very well
from Ravana's ten heads richest
with many a Sun-jewel,
appearing in the hermit-garden today
as if scattered all the piled pride
of jewels, by her own stride. (3)

Sita's heart shone blue-coloured
bearing the form of Rama, her lord.
Stealing that heart, the trees
in joyous mood
turned deep dark-hued.
Husband is the sole resort
of the mind of the virtuous consort.
Of her limbs, the beauties
attracted by degrees
in various flowers abided in series. (4)

Black-bee took only the brilliance
of her locks of hairs.
Champak flower took the opulence
of her physical lustres.
Loveliness of lips went
to Mandara flower lucent.
Other beauties went there,
where they expressed their fervour.
There became
splendid all of them.
Beauty of heaven
as if descending on earth
made this garden
an abode of her sporting mirth. (5)

Ambrosial was the splendour of Sita.
Mead of flowers resembled ambrosia.
Delicacy and loveliness likewise went
and became permanent
in the limbs of flowers.
Being an ascetic-maid,
the virtuous wife,
made the forest her home-stead
in her arid life
and in her body devoid of glamours. (6)

To render sincere reception to Janaki,
for whole night,
all the spiders
decorating the canopy
comely and bright,
had furnished the garlands of golden flowers.
In hundreds, the ripe oranges were swinging
as golden balls charming. (7)

Bearing leaf-banners
arranged in lines,
had stood in the garden
the lovely Plantain-maiden.
Holding gift of flowers,
charming Muchukunda,
Vakula, Niali, Kunda
as well as Madhavi vines,
were awaiting there eagerly present.
Adorning with flowers own braid excellent,
nigh them was meanwhile
Rajanigandha, the vine juvenile. (8)

When Janaka's daughter,
with her maiden-friends reached anear,
someone among the creepers,
feeling horripilated with gentle zephyr,
kissed Sita's head,
thereon scattering flowers.
Someone elated, shook hand with hers.
Someone embraced her with cheers,
while some other
at her feet, homage paid. (9)

To lick her rufescent feet, own tongue,
Parijata flower spread long.
Wishing kiss affectionate,
in her pearl-lustred nails anon,
the agape Pomegranate
eagerly awaited her.
To owe the debt of compassion,
Chinichampa flower turned darkish green
emulating Rama's form, fine and serene. (10)

Somewhere like moon-digits tender
comely tiny plants,
keeping their heads lifted to the fence
with much ardour,
were ardently staring at her.
Within the fence remained others
whose heads couldn't reach, and there
peeping through the vents,
they expressed impatience
to obtain a glimpse of hers. (11)

Chanchi and Phulchuin birds thither
sitting on the fence of trees
were casting at her
their thirsty eyes,
and twittering sweetly in between.
Joyously swinging their tails were seen.
They have hope, when Sita would bless
by pouring water, they, fearless,
sitting on the basins of trees
would drink with ease. (12)

Falling once at the feet of Janaki,
Spider was again climbing a tree.
Making many a swift leap
from one tree to the other,
he was exhibiting his craftsmanship.
Sun, the proficient painter,
with various colours
was delineating the tenuous gossamers. (13)

Naturally the trees had leafage dark-green.
Sitting unsteady fain
somewhere on tree-peaks,
by brushing beaks,
beauteously bright were seen
Thinthini birds, emerald-lustred,
just like sun-beams stirred
by waves of the blue main. (14)

Replete with love-lustre
Rama's heart, restless alone
on the royal throne,
to dissipate Sita's dolour,
has as if rushed to the pleasure-grove.
Like drops of Rain
during the Svati-starred day,
the glamours, eye-alluring gay,
were creating pearls of love
in her heart's main. (15)

(Extracted from ‘Tapasvini of Gangadhara Meher'
By Dr. Harekrishna Meher)
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