The Mango Quivers With the Joy of Love

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Beautiful Radha, jasmine-bosomed Radha
All in the Spring-time waited by the wood
For Krishna fair, Krishna the all-forgetful,
Krishrna with earthly love’s false fire consuming.

Another delightful illustration of the joy of spring from Canto I, it shows Radha seated on the bank of the Yamuna, listening to the speech of her female companion. The ground is carpeted with flowers, and the shrubs and trees are laden with blossoms. Every branch upon the vakula tree droops downwards with a hundred blooms, and in every bloom is a bee. The tamala, with leaves dark and odorous, claims a tribute from the musk, which it vanquishes. The full-blown blossoms of kesara gleam like the sceptre of the world’s monarch, Love.

The orange tree, shivering with joy in its full white blossom, seems to laugh at the pain of those who are still pining in love! The pointed leaves of the keora resemble the darts of Kama, piercing the hearts of lovers. The bunches of pink patali flowers are filled with bees, like the quiver of Smara full of shafts. The tender blossoms of the garuna smile to see the whole world laying shame aside, and from white blush modest red. The far-scented madhavi beautifies the mango trees round which it twines and pours incense through the grove. And the fresh silken-soft mallika seduces with rich perfume even the hearts of the hermits. The painting illustrates the following verse:

unmil anmad hugan dhalub dhamad
hupav yadhut achut ankura
kridat koki lakakalika laravai
rudgir nakar najvarah
niyante pathikaih katham kathamapi
dhyana vadha nakshana
prapta prana sama sama gama
rasolla sairami vasarah

The sakhi diverts Radha’s attention to the mango trees in heavy bloom:

“These spring time days are hard to get through. The ears are in a feverish state, for they are continuously and cruelly struck by the joyful melodies that the koel trills forth from the blossoming branches of the mango, which are shaken by the bees attracted by their honey and fragrance. Now the hearts of lonely travelers, who are away from their mates, are pierced with anguish, and derive satisfaction from a dreamy vision of embrace with their sweethearts.”