The First Meeting Of Radha And Krishna

Krishna went playing in the lanes of Braj,

a yellow silk garment round his waist,

holding a top and a string to spin it with,

a crown of peacock-feathers adorning his head

his ears with charming ear-rings decked,

his teeth flashing brighter than the sun's rays,

his limbs anointed with sandalwood-paste.

On the Yamuna bank he chanced to see Radha;

a tika mark of turmeric on her brow,

dressed in a flowing skirt and blue blouse,

her lovely long wreathed hair dangling behind,

a stripling, fair, of beauty unsurpassed

with he a bevy of fair milkmaids:

Krishna's eyes met her's;

love woke in his heart,

says Suradasa, bewitched by her,

he gazed and gazed.

Translated by: Kalaivani Retnavellu