Gitagovinda

Edwin Arnold

Translated by Edwin Arnold

28 chapters · about 2 h

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The opening

INTRODUCTION.

OM!

REVERENCE TO GANESHA!

“The sky is clouded; and the wood resembles The sky, thick-arched with black Tamâla boughs; O Radha, Radha! take this Soul, that trembles In life’s deep midnight, to Thy golden house.” So Nanda spoke,—and, led by Radha’s spirit, The feet of Krishna found the road aright; Wherefore, in bliss which all high hearts inherit, Together taste they Love’s divine delight.

He who wrote these things for thee, Of the Son of Wassoodee, Was the poet Jayadeva; Him Saraswati gave ever Fancies fair his mind to throng, Like pictures palace-walls along; Ever to his notes of love Lakshmi’s mystic dancers move. If thy spirit seeks to brood On Hari glorious, Hari good; If it feeds on solemn numbers. Dim as dreams and soft as slumbers, Lend thine ear to Jayadev, Lord of all the spells that save. Umapatidhara’s strain Glows like roses after rain; Sharan’s stream-like song is grand, If its tide ye understand; Bard more wise beneath the sun Is not found than Govardhun; Dhoyi holds the listener still With his shlokes of subtle skill; But for sweet words suited well Jayadeva doth excel.

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About this edition

The words
Edwin Arnold's English translation, copied word for word.
Left out
  • The source library's header, footer and license
  • Section title carried as the source-derived part on its chapters
  • Page numbers and running heads from the printed pages
  • Closing line, omitted by house style (3 blocks)
  • Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers, in 2 places
  • Section heading carried as the source-derived part on its poems
  • A preface, foreword or afterword, in 4 places