The painting illustrates a passage from the Gita Govinda, a 12th-century dramatic, lyrical poem, expressed as a cycle of songs. The poem tells of the love of the god Krishna and the mortal Radha. After one night of blissful union, Krishna resumes his love-play with milkmaidens. Radha becomes mad with jealousy, pride, and longing and spurns him. He realizes the quality and intensity of her love. In the passage illustrated, a friend helps the lovers to reconcile. The friend speaks to Krishna of Radha's pitiful condition, her conflicted emotions, and her overriding passion. He listens and gestures as if to say: "But I am here longing for her as well." THE SAKHI SPEAKS TO KRISHNA... Her body bristling with longing, Her breath sucking in words of confusion, Her voice cracking in deep cold fearÑ Obsessed by intense thoughts of passion, Radha sinks in a sea of erotic mood, Clinging to you in her meditation, cheat! She ornaments her limbs, When a leaf quivers or a feather falls, Suspecting your coming, She spreads out the bed And waits long in meditation. Making her bed of ornaments and fantasies, She evokes a hundred details of you In her own graceful play. But the frail girl will not survive Tonight without you. "Indolent Krishna" is the sixth part of the Gita Govinda Trans. Barbara Stoller Miller Radha pines Ruknuddin Rajasthan, Bikaner Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, 1685 7 7/16 in. x 5 1/4 in. (18.9 cm x 13.3 cm) Edwin Binney 3rd Collection