O
NCE RADHAS friends were gone,
12.1
Love refused to tolerate any more bashfulness:
Her lips bathed in irrepressible smiles,
Radha couldn’t take her eyes off the bed of fresh leaves
and petals;
Looking at her, and well aware that her heart was in the
mood for love,
Krishna spoke to his beloved:
Song Twenty-three
STEP, MY SEXY lady, with your lotus foot
on this bed of blossoms, and oppress
The rivals of your feet, these flowers,
to make this well made bed a mess.
Obey me now, right now, dear Radha—
I, the god Narayana, have always followed you.
Refrain
On your foot I’ll place my hand, a lotus,
for you have walked a long, long way;
Rest your anklets, faithful followers no less than I,
on the bed and let them stay.
Obey me now, right now, dear Radha—
I, the god Narayana, have always followed you.