f.23

An illustration of the nineth verse of the second song of the Sanskrit devotional poem Gita Govinda (‘Song of the Cowherd’) by Jayadeva.

श्रीजयदेवकवेरिदम् कुरुतेमुदम् ये ॥
मङ्गलमुज्ज्वलगीतम् जयजयदेवहरे ॥९॥ ॥२॥ ॥

'The Poet Jayadeva joyously sings this song of invocation
In an auspicious prayer. Triumph, God of Triumph, Hari!  9 2'

In the ninth illustration of the second song, the poet Jayadeva sits on a carpet in the centre of a garden as he sings out his verses from a palm leaf manuscript to Radha and Krishna who sit opposite. Below them sit the patron and his family.

For further information on this series of paintings see RCIN 1005114.

Translation adapted from Barbara Stoller Miller, Jayadeva’s Gitagovinda (1978).