Krishna The Divine Lover

Krishna The Divine Lover

(Kajri, Hori, Jhoola, Dadra)
Diwana Kiye Shaam
Literary translations by Rekha Surya
An ancient Indian treatise speaks of the Nav Rasas, or the nine emotions which govern human lives. Of these, Shringara Rasa, or romantic love, is the source of Thumri and its allied forms—Dadra, Kajri, Jhoola, Hori, Chaiti. These folk songs sung in a classical style, sometimes express Radha’s love for Krishna.
Radha’s love for Krishna is a mystical concept, symbolizing human yearning for divinity.

Dadra

The word ‘dadra’ is derived from ‘dadur’, meaning frog, as the rhythm resembles the sprightly leaps of a frog.
Krishna, the evil eye will fall upon you!
I’m restless all day, sleepless all night—

Krishna, your haunting flute kills me!

Dadra

Radha is tortured by Krishna’s infidelity:
What magic spell has Krishna cast,

To push me off the edge of sanity?

In that lane he comes and goes,

Making up lame excuses to me.

He laughs and chats with another,

Burning one who is already burnt.

Hori
Hori is based on Holi, the frolicsome festival of colour.

When my Krishna returns from Brij,

I’ll play Holi with him in abundance!
Just one fistful of colour I’ll fling at him

So sharply, that it shall make him flinch!

If he once dares to rebuke me,

I’ll lift my veil to utter curses!

Dadra

My heart is restless, Krishna,

because of you.
At the village well, on the pathways,

They laugh at me, making me weep—

My girlfriends tarnish my reputation,

because of you.

Urchins throw pebbles at me

While people call me insane—

Lunatic has become my name,

because of you.

Jhoola

Jhoola, meaning ‘swing’, celebrates the rainy season when village girls sit swinging on wooden planks tied to ropes hanging from tree-branches.
My heart sways along with the swing,

Since my Krishna sits on it beside me.

This swing is rare, precious, very dear,

Since my Krishna sits on it beside me.

Dancing peacocks, lush foliage,

Tiny raindrops, all weave magic.

Kajri

Like Jhoola, Kajri reflects the romantic monsoon season.

Krishna still hasn’t come.

The clouds crackle with thunder, rain pours in torrents;

My pain of separation deepens as the nightingale sings—

Just look at the darkness of the clouds!
Krishna still hasn’t come.
His intoxicating eyes sparkle like jewels, his youth glows;

His beauty aims arrows, piercing many hearts—

He makes all the girls of Brij distraught!
Krishna still hasn’t come.

Dadra

Radha is forewarned by her ‘sakhi’ of succumbing to the charms of Krishna:
Don’t go alone, Radha,

To the banks of the Jamuna.

Grazing his cows by the river,

Playing his flute, is Krishna.

Kajri
The sky is overcast with dark clouds—

My bed’s so empty without Krishna!

Lightening flashes, thunder and rain—

My bed’s so empty without Krishna!

A relevant verse by Josh Malihabadi:
Raindrops pierce my heart,

Burning me in your absence,

Stinging my whole being, as

They slash this way and that.

Jhoola

The heavy, dark clouds come low;

Swinging on the swing is Krishna.
On the kadamba tree is a swing with silken ropes—

Swinging on the swing is Krishna.

Sway! Sway! Sway! My girlfriends push with gusto—

Swinging on the swing is Krishna.

Dadra

In mock anger, Krishna teasingly twists Radha’s arm; she pleads with him to let go:

Listen to me my love, I beg and touch your feet—

Krishna, don’t twist my arm!

A relevant Urdu couplet:

I implore you, fall at your feet and request you—

Even then if you don’t listen, what can one do?