Greg Bailey is Reader in Sanskrit at
COM
La Trobe University, Melbourne.
Richard Gombrich has for the past
twenty-eight years been Boden Professor
of Sanskrit at Oxford University. He is
General Editor of the Clay Sanskrit
Library.
The Clay Sanskrit Library is a unique
series that, through original text and
English translation, gives an international
readership access to the beauty and variety
of classical Sanskrit literature.
For a full list of titles, a searchable corpus
of CSL texts and translations, and further
information about the series, please visit:
www.claysanskritlibrary.com
WWW.CLAYSANSKRITLIBRARY.
CLAY SANSKRIT LIBRARY Here is a new Clay Sanskrit Library
translation of the Love Lyrics of three
ancient Indian poets.
marus sophisticated seventh-century ce
love
This anthology of the Love Lyrics of three Indian poets from lyrics Love Lyrics Hundred Poems are as much about
the social aspects of courting, betrayal,
the fourth to the eleventh centuries ce conjures up an
feminine indignance and masculine self-
atmosphere of love both sensual and social, ever in tension maru by maru & pity as about sensuality.
with loves rejection or repression. bhartri
hari bhartrihari Bhartriharis anthology Love, Politics,
blhana Disenchantment is the oldest of the
Translated by three, from the fourth century. Inter-
woven throughout his three hundred
GREG BAILEY idiosyncratic stanzas is a constant sense
of skepticism about sensuality and love,
bailey economic and social power, and
rejection of society and culture.
gombrich skrit l
an
ibr
clay s
In the eleventh century, Blhana
ary
composed his intense Fifty Stanzas of a
Thief. The poem is a thief s rhythmic
remembrance, in the moments before
his execution, of robbing a princesss
affections, and the clandestine pleasures
of their love in both separation
& and enjoyment.
by blhana
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS jjc The flavor of all these poems is the
universalized aesthetic experience of love.
Washington Square Edited and translated by
New York, NY 10003
www.nyupress.org RICHARD GOMBRICH
 Copyright
c by the CSL. Love Lyrics
All rights reserved.
First Edition .
by Amaru, Bhartr.hari
The Clay Sanskrit Library is co-published by
New York University Press TRANSLATED BY
and the JJC Foundation. GREG BAILEY
Further information about this volume
and the rest of the Clay Sanskrit Library
is available on the following websites: & by Bilhan
.a
www.claysanskritlibrary.com
www.nyupress.org EDITED AND TRANSLATED BY
RICHARD GOMBRICH
ISBN ---

Artwork by Robert Beer.

Cover design by Isabelle Onians.
Layout & typesetting by Somadeva Vasudeva. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
Printed in Great Britain by St Edmundsbury Press Ltd,
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on acid-free paper. JJC FOUNDATION
Bound by Hunter & Foulis, Edinburgh, Scotland.

C S L L L
T. G. Bailey & R. Gombrich (csl.) .
J : ..
 Contents
Sanskrit alphabetical order
CSL conventions
LOVE LYRICS
Introduction by Greg Bailey
B
Politics
Passion
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Disenchantment
Love lyrics / by Amaru, Bhartrihari, and Bilhana ;
A
edited and translated by Greg Bailey and Richard F. Gombrich.
Hundred Verses
st ed. p. cm.
(The Clay Sanskrit library) In English and Sanskrit; Introduction by Richard Gombrich
includes translations from Sanskrit.
Includes translations and originals of Amarus Amarusataka, B

Bhartr.haris Satakatraya, and Bilhan.as Caurapancasika The Fifty Stanzas of a Thief
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Notes
ISBN --- (cloth : alk. paper)
. Love poetry, SanskritTranslations into English. Index
I. Amaru. Amarusataka. English & Sanskrit. A sandhi grid is printed on the inside of the back cover

II. Bhartr.hari. Satakatraya. English & Sanskrit.
III. Bilhan.a, th cent. Caurapancasika. English & Sanskrit.
IV. Bailey, Greg,
V. Gombrich, Richard F. (Richard Francis),
VI. Series.
PK.L
.dc

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A . kanakaAcampakaAdamaAgaurm
dy api tam
phullAaravindaAvadanam
.
. tanuAromaArajm
S till I recall her, golden as a wreath
Of champaka owers, her full-blown lotus face,
Her slender line of down, her limbs confused
. madanaAvihvalaAsAalasAan gm
suptAo tthitam . By Passion, faint from passionate embrace;
. pramadaAgalitam iva cintayami.
vidyam I recollect her as she rose from sleep
Like knowledge carelessness has failed to keep.

Still when I see the richness of her youth,

. sasiAmukhm
Ady api tam . navaAyauvanAad.hyam
.
The moon her face, the swelling of her breast.
pnaAstanm . yadi gauraAkantim
. punar aham Her beautys pallor, and her every limb
pasyami manmathaAsarAanalaApd.itAan gm
. By Kamas re-bearing darts distressed,
. prati karomi suAstalani.
gatran.i sam Even today as I recall that sight
My limbs grow cold and shiver with delight.

Still when her eyes, as lotus petals long,

. yadi punah. kamalAayatAaks.m
Ady api tam . Like Fortunes, goddess lotus-born, I see,
pasyami pvaraApayodharaAbharaAkhinnam And see her wearied by her bosoms load,
With both my arms clasping her close to me
. pd.ya bahuAyugalena pibami vaktram
sam
As honey-bee his darling lotus sips
unmattavan madhukarah. kamalam . yath es.t.am. I would grow drunk on mead within her lips.

Still I remember how her body lay

Exhausted by our love, her pale cheeks lined
. nidhuvanaAklamaAnih.AsahAan gm
Ady api tam
With tumbled locks of hair, and round my neck
aApan.d.uAgan.d.aApatitAalakaAkuntalAalim
The tendrils of her arms she tightly twined;
pracchannaApapaAkr.taAmantharam avahantm
. Held me so close as if she bore within
kan.t.hAavasaktaAmr.duAbahuAlatam
. smarami. Her heart concealed some secret deed of sin.

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. surataAjagaraAghurn.amanaA
Ady api tam
tiryagAvalatAtaralaAtarakaAdrghaAnetram
sr.n garaAsaraAkamalAakaraArajaAham
. sm
. Towards me, as in shame she turned away.
vrd.aAvinamraAvadanam us.asi smarami.
:
Still I remember sleepless nights we passed
In pleasure; her long eyes at break of day,
Tremulous roving stars, threw sidelong looks
A swan princess into a lotus bed
Upon a lake of love inclined her head.

Still, could I once again behold my love,

. yadi punah. sravan.AayatAaks.m
Ady api tam .
Her eyes so long they seemed to touch her ears,
pasyami drghaAvirahaAjvaritAan gaAyas.t.im Could I behold my darlings slender form,
angair aham
. samupaguhya tato tigad.ham
. Long racked by parted lovers tender fears,
n o nmlayami nayane na ca tam
. tyajami. Id clasp that body wasted by loves fever
And close my eyes, and never more would leave her.

Still I recall that lovely full-moon face,

. surataAtan.d.avaAsutraAdharm
Ady api tam . The disarray of her dishevelled tresses,
. madaAvihvalAan gm
purn.AenduAsundaraAmukhm The weight of ample hips and bosom, which
Her dainty, passion-weary limbs depresses;
. visalaAjaghanaAstanaAbharaAnamram
tanvm .
These attributes her leading role enhance
vyalolaAkuntalaAkalapavatm
. smarami. In loves ecstatic, earth-dissolving dance.

Still I recall the grace of her repose

As she reclined, with perfume all around
. masr.n.aAcandanaApankaAmisraA
Ady api tam
Arising from the fragrant musk of deer
kasturikaAparimalAo tthaAvisarpiAgandham
Blended with smoothest sandal nely ground.
anyonyaAcancuAput.aAcumbanaAkhanjart.aA Her eyes in lovely uttering imitate
yugmAabhiramaAnayanam
. sayane smarami. A curve-beaked wagtail billing with his mate.

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. nidhuvane madhuApanaAraktam
Ady api tam . Still I recall her ushed with love and wine,
llAadharam . capalAayatAaks.m
. kr.saAtanum Great eyes in which the darting pupils swim,
Her slender body and her sportive lips;
kasmraApankaAmr.gaAnabhiAkr.tAan gaAragam
. On a ground of Kashmir saron every limb
karpuraApugaAparipurn.aAmukhm
. smarami. With gures in black deer-musk ornamented;
Her mouth with camphor and with betel scented.

Still I remember my beloveds face

Ady api tat kanakaAgauraAkr.tAan gaAragam
.
Gleaming with pearls of sweat and sarons gold;
prasvedaAbinduAvitatam
. vadanam
. priyayah. The abundant moisture and her wandering eyes
ante smarami ratiAkhedaAvilolaAnetram
. All the fatigue of loves fulllment told.
RahAu paragaAparimuktam iv enduAbimbam. No brighter does the full-faced moon appear
When from Eclipses jaws she frees her sphere.

Still I remember how one night, oended,

Ady api tan manasi sam
. parivartate me
ratrau mayi ks.utavati ks.itiApalaAputrya
jv eti! mangalaAvacah. parihr.tya kopat
. kanakaApatram analapantya.
karn.e kr.tam
The princess would not speak, and so refrained
When I had sneezed from the auspicious words
Long life!, by which such omens are restrained,
But wordlessly upon her ear reset
The golden leaf which was her amulet.

Still I remember, ringed with curls, her face,

A rotund moon on whose cool rays were fed
. calaAcakoraAvilolaAnetram
Ady api tam .
Two swift chakora birds, her restless eyes;
stAam
. suAman.d.alaAmukhm
. kut.ilAagraAkesam Her lips as the bandhuka bloom were red;
mattAebhaAkumbhaAsadr.saAstanaAbharaAnamram
. She bowed with heavy breasts as prominent
bandhukaApus.paAsadr.sAaus.t.haAput.am
. smarami. As temples of a rutting elephant.

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Ady api tatApran.ayaAbhanguraAdr.s.t.iApatam
. *Still I recall the graceful coquetry
tasyah. smarami ratiAvibhramaAgatraAbhangam Of those curved limbs, the loving sidelong look,
The golden earrings beating on her cheeks
vastrAan calaAskhalataAcaruApayodharAantam
. As sweat-pearl glistening her body shook.
dantaAcchadam
. dasanaAkhan.d.anaAman.d.anam
. ca. Her slipping garment showed her lovely breast;
Her lip was dented where my teeth had pressed.

Ady apy asokaAnavaApallavaAraktaAhastam Still I recall my darlings hands, as red

.
As when the ashoka tree new buds unfurls.
muktaAphalaApracayaAcumbitaAcucukAagram Her gait was gentle, stately as a swans;
antah. smitAo cchvasitaApan.d.uraAgan.d.aAbhittim. Her nipples kissed by necklaces of pearls.
tam
. vallabha m alasa A ham
. sa A gatim
. smara mi. Her pallid cheeks my memory beguile:
They blossomed into dimples with her smile.

Still I recall the gold-anointed thigh

Ady api tatAkanakaAren.uAghanAo ruAdese On which her gold-embroidered garment glinted.
nyastam . smarami nakharaAks.ataAlaks.ma tasyah. As she got up I tugged it to reveal
akr.s.t.aAhemaArucirAambaram utthitaya The marks which my love-frenzied nails had printed.
Then in embarrassment she would not stay
lajjaAvasat karaAdhr.tam
. ca tato vrajantyah.. But hid them with her hand and ran away.

Still I remember when I am alone

The jet-black eyes collyrium had kissed;
. vidhr.taAkajjalaAcaruAnetram
Ady api tam .
Her braided hair, one mass of full-blown owers;
protphullaApus.paAnikarAakulaAkesaApasam
And golden bangles dangling from each wrist.
sinduraAsam
. lulitaAmauktikaAharaAdantam Sweet betel-juice had tinged her teeth with red
abaddhaAhemaAkat.akam
. rahasi smarami. A string of pearls smeared with vermilion lead.

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. galitaAbandhanaAkesaApasam
Ady api tam . Still when alone I recollect the smile
srastaAsrajam
. smitaAsudhaAmadhurAadharAaus.t.hm Which tasted nectar-sweet upon her lip;
I see the fastenings of her braided hair
pnAo nnataAstanaAyugAo pavicaraAcumbanA
Slip from their place, and see the garlands slip;
muktAavalm
. rahasi lolaAdr.sam smarami. The wandering gaze, the string of pearls which rests
Kissing a pair of full uplifted breasts.

Still I recall how wreaths of jewel lamps,

. dhavalaAvesmani ratnaAdpaA
Ady api tam
Garlanded round us in that palace white,
malaAmayukhaApat.alair dalitAandhaAkare Fragmented darkness with their mass of rays;
svapnAo dyame rahasi sam
. mukhaAdarsanAo ttham
. Her eyes were pained in modesty and fright
lajjaAbhayAartaAnayanam anucintayami. When I surprised her bending over me
To spy her sleeping lover secretly.

Still I remember in her slenderness

. virahaAvahniAnipd.itAan gm
Ady api tam . The only vessel of my tender pleasure,
. kurangaAnayanam
tanvm . suratAaikaApatram Her limbs on re with separations ame,
nanaAvicitraAkr.taAman.d.anam avahantm Her teeth as lovely as the various treasure
. tam
.
Of ornaments with which her body shone;
rajaAham
. saAgamanam
. suAdatm
. smarami. Eyes of a deer, and movements of a swan.

Still I recall my darling as she came,

Bent by her bosoms weight, to pleasures bower,
Ady api tam . kucaAbharaAnamram
. vihasitam .
House of the god who wounds with ery darts,
muktaAkalapaAdhavalAkr.taAkan.t.haAdesam
Herself a beautiful and full-blown ower.
tatAkeliAmandaraAgirau kusumAayudhasya Her smile at me was radiance to bedeck
. smarami rucirAo jjvalaApus.paAketum.
kantam The clustered pearls which gleamed upon her neck.

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Ady api cat.uAsataAdurlalitAo citAartham
. Still I recall how my beloved spoke
tasyah. smarami surataAklamaAvihvalayah. When weary with our play; her tongue, confused,
Wished to assure me of her wild delight
avyaktaAnisvanitaAkataraAkathyamanaA
But stumbled on the atteries she used.
. krn.aAvarn.aAruciram
sam . vacanam
. priyayah.. With timid murmurings and accents blurred
How charmingly she jumbled every word.

Still in another life I shall recall

. surataAghurn.aAnimlitAaks.m
Ady api tam
srastAan gaAyas.t.iAgalitAam
. sukaAkesaApasam
sr.n garaAvariAruhaAkananaArajaAham
. sm
janmAantare pi nidhane py anucintayami.
.
What I recall at this my hour of dying:
The slender body of my royal swan
. Amid loves lotus clusters languid lying;
Her eyes were closed in pleasure as we revelled,
Her garment loosened and her hair dishevelled.

Still could I see once more, as day declines

Ady api tam . mr.gaAsavakAaks.m
. pran.ayinm . My loving mistress of the fawn-like eyes,
pyus.aApurn.aAkucaAkumbhaAyugam
. vahantm Carrying like two nectar-laden jars
Her swelling breasts, I would for such a prize
. yadi punar divasAavasane
pasyamy aham
Renounce the joys of royalty on earth,
svargAapavargaAnaraArajaAsukham
. tyajami. Heavenly bliss, and freedom from rebirth.

Still I recall my darling, whom the shafts

Of love, the ower-arrowed god, distress;
. ks.itiAtale varaAkaminnam
Ady api tam .
Above the choicest beauties of the earth
sarvAan gaAsundarataya prathamAaikaArekham
She shines with rays of awless loveliness
sr.n garaAnat.akaArasAo ttamaApanaApatrm . As the new moon, the cup from which I savor
kantam . smar a mi kusum A a
yudha A b
a . aAkhinnam.
n Where love is played the plays essential avor.

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. stimitaAvastram iv an gaAlagnam
Ady api tam . Still I recall her, clinging close to me
praud.haApratapaAmadanAanalaAtaptaAdeham As a wet garment, while the furious ame
Of passion seared her body, a mere girl
balam anathaAsaran.am anukampanyam
. Who more to me than life itself became.
pran.Aadhikam
. ks.an.am aham
. na hi vismarami. No moment fails the piteous recollection
Of her distress, who lacks her lords protection.

Still when I think of those of lovely form

. prathamato varaAsundarn.am
Ady api tam .
snehAaikaApatraAghat.itam avanAsaAputrm
tapo jana virahaAjah. sukumaraAgatryah.
sod.hum
. na sakyata iti praticintayami.
My thoughts turn rst of all to the princess
Whose tender limbs were surely formed to be
The sole recipients of my tenderness.
My fellow men, this absence from my fair
Burns me with ercer ame than I can bear.

Still, though I know this is my nal hour,

Ady api vismayaAkarm
. tridasan vihaya
buddhir balac calati me kim aham
. karomi
janann api pratimuhurtam ih antaAkale
kant eti vallabhatar eti mam eti dhra.
O my bewildererwhat can I do?
My thoughts are ever and again constrained
To leave the unaging gods and y to you.
My constant one, I think of you alone
As dearest, as beloved, as my own.

Still I recall her in whose eyes I saw

Ady api tam The shy mobility of a gazelle.
. gamanam ity uditam
. madyam
When she had heard that I must go from her
srutv aiva bhruAharin.m iva cancalAaks.m
Her tongue would falter on the word Farewell;
vacah. skhaladAvigaladAasruAjalAakulAaks.m
. From brimming eyes water of tears would ow,
. cintayami guruAsokaAvinamraAvaktram.
sam And with the weight of grief her head hung low.

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Ady api jatu nipun.am
. yatata may api Still, though my eye may diligently search
. dr.sa jagati jatiAvidhe vadhunam
dr.s.t.am This world, which is so full of every kind
Of comely woman, yet the counterpart
saundaryaAnirjitaAratiAdvijaArajaAkanteh.
Of my beloveds face I cannot nd.
kantAananasya sadrsam vadanam
. gun.air na. She conquers by the beauty of that face
Both Loves beloved and the moon in grace.

Still I recall the white-toothed girl, from whom

. ks.an.aAviyogaAvis.Ao pameyam
Ady api tam .
It was poison for a moment to be parted;
sange punar bahutaram amr.tAabhis.ekam Then in renewed embrace anointing me
majAjvaAdharan.aAkarm
. madanat saAtandram With copious nectar, she new life imparted,
. BrahmaAKesavaAHaraih.? suAdatm
kim . smarami. Herself fatigued by love; if she is mine,
Why do I need the trinity divine?

Still my mind inches at the memory

Ady api rajaAgr.hato mayi nyamane How from the royal palace I was led
durvaraAbhs.an.aAkarair YamaAdutaAkalpaih. By fearsome men, who, ineluctable,
Seemed envoys from the ruler of the dead.
kim
. kim. taya bahuvidham . madAarthe
. na kr.tam
In grief I cannot tell how for my sake
vaktum. na paryata iti vyathate mano me. There was no eort that she did not make.

Still does it pain my heart by night and day

Ady api me nisi diva hr.dayam That I before me may no longer see
. dunoti
At every step I take my darlings face
purn.AenduAsundaraAmukham
. mama vallabhayah. In full-moon beauty shining upon me.
lavan.yaAnirjitaAratiAks.ataAkamaAdarpam
. The god of love is wounded in his pride,
bhuyah. purah. pratipadam
. na vilokyate yat. For she is far more charming than his bride.

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Greg Bailey is Reader in Sanskrit at
La Trobe University, Melbourne.
Richard Gombrich has for the past
twenty-eight years been Boden Professor
of Sanskrit at Oxford University. He is
General Editor of the Clay Sanskrit
This anthology of the Love Lyrics of three Indian poets from
Library.
WWW.CLAYSANSKRITLIBRARY.COM CLAY SANSKRIT LIBRARY Here is a new Clay Sanskrit Library
translation of the Love Lyrics of three
ancient Indian poets.
marus sophisticated seventh-century ce
love
lyrics Love Lyrics Hundred Poems are as much about
the social aspects of courting, betrayal,
the fourth to the eleventh centuries ce conjures up an
feminine indignance and masculine self-
atmosphere of love both sensual and social, ever in tension maru by maru & pity as about sensuality.
with loves rejection or repression. bhartri
hari bhartrihari Bhartriharis anthology Love, Politics,
blhana Disenchantment is the oldest of the
Translated by three, from the fourth century. Inter-
woven throughout his three hundred
GREG BAILEY idiosyncratic stanzas is a constant sense
of skepticism about sensuality and love,
bailey economic and social power, and
rejection of society and culture.
gombrich skrit l
an

ibr
clay s
In the eleventh century, Blhana

The Clay Sanskrit Library is a unique
series that, through original text and
English translation, gives an international
readership access to the beauty and variety
of classical Sanskrit literature.
For a full list of titles, a searchable corpus
of CSL texts and translations, and further
information about the series, please visit:
www.claysanskritlibrary.com
ary
composed his intense Fifty Stanzas of a
Thief. The poem is a thief s rhythmic
remembrance, in the moments before
his execution, of robbing a princesss
affections, and the clandestine pleasures
of their love in both separation
& and enjoyment.
by blhana
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS jjc The flavor of all these poems is the
universalized aesthetic experience of love.
Washington Square Edited and translated by
New York, NY 10003
www.nyupress.org RICHARD GOMBRICH