Lines of Ecstasy - Sringara Śathaka

Kidambi Sridharan

Verses of Bharthruhari 

1. Smitena Bhāvena Ca Lajjayā Bhiyā 

   Parāṅmukhairardhakaṭākṣavīkṣnaiḥ   | 

   Vacobhirīrṣyakalahena Līlayā 

   Samastabhāvaiḥ Khalu Bandanaṁ Striyaḥ   ||    

   Translation:  

   The little smile that reveals her subtle tender heart, 

   Those edgy shy glances; strides, deliberately short, 

   A bit of envy, some bickering, some sweet-talking, 

   Indeed, these make women enticingly breath-taking! 

2. Bhrūcāturyāt Kuñcitākṣāḥ Kaṭākṣāḥ 

   Snigdhā Vāco Lajjitantāścha Hāsāḥ   | 

   Līlāmandaṁ Prasthitaṁ Ca Sthitaṁ Ca, 

   Strīṇāmetad Bhūṣaṇa Cāyudhaṁ Ca   || 

   Translation: 

   The play of the brows, the sparkling looks of the eyes, 

   The nectarine speech, the giggles, the stately strides, 

   The lovely traits help the dames to attract and woo, 

   These are their true ornaments and handy weapons too! 

 3. Kvacitsabhrūbhaṅgaiḥ Kvacidapi Ca Lajjāparigataiḥ 

    Kvacid Bhūritrastaiḥ Kvacidapi Līlavilasitaiḥ   | 

    Kumārīṇāmetairmadasubhagairnetravalitaiḥ 

    Spurannīlābjānāṁ Prakaraparikīrṇā Iva Diśaḥ   || 

    Translation:  

    Like blooming blue lilies in a pool, which are well knit, 

    Lovely dames got together and upbeat is nature’s spirit, 

    Some are shy, some are scared, some play their brows, 

    Some do throw love glances and all around, mirth grows! 

4. Vaktraṁ Candravikāsi Paṅkajaparīhāsakṣame Locane, 

    Varṇaḥ Svarṇamapākariṣṇuralinījiṣṇuḥ Kacānāṁ Cayaḥ   | 

    Vakṣojāvibhakumbhavibhramaharau Gurvī Nitambasthalī 

    Vācāṁ Hāri Ca Mārdāvaṁ Yuvatiṣu Svābhāvikaṁ Maṇḍanaṃ   || 

    Translation: 

    Her lovely lunar face: eyes, which seem to slight the lilies, 

    Her super golden skin, hair like the glistening black bees, 

    Breasts like the tusker’s temples, firm hips, honeying voice. 

    Indeed, they are the natural feminine ornaments of choice! 

 5. Smitaṁ Kiñcimugdhaṁ Saralataralo Dṛṣṭivibhavaḥ 

    Parispando Vācāmabhinavavilāsoktisarasaḥ   | 

    Gatānāmārambhaḥ Kisalayitalīlāparikaraḥ 

    Spṛśantyāstāruṇyaṁ Kimiva Na Hi Ramyaṁ Mṛgadṛśaḥ   || 

    Translation: 

    The pretty smile, the expectant gleaning glances, 

    Suggestive little strides, love-soaked utterances. 

    Like the emerging tender leaves, the young lasses 

    Lure men folk, these doe eyed pretty mistresses! 

(Extracts from ‘Honey Drops’ – Centum Verses of Love by Kidambi, Sridharan)