Jayadeva composed the Gita Govinda, the ‘Song of the Cowherd’, in the twelfth century. In which language is this lyrical poem written?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Sanskrit
Option (1) Prakrit — Incorrect. The Gita Govinda is not a Prakrit poem; Jayadeva wrote it in Sanskrit.
Option (2) Brajbhasha — Incorrect. Brajbhasha is the language of Keshav Das’s Rasikapriya, not of Jayadeva’s poem.
Option (3) Persian — Incorrect. Persian is the language of the inscription on the Bundi Ragamala, not of a poem on Radha and Krishna.
Option (4) Sanskrit — Correct. The Gita Govinda is a lyrical poem in Sanskrit. It evokes shringara rasa and portrays the love of Radha and Krishna.
NCERT (2026-27): “Themes of Paintings – An Overview …Composed in the twelfth century by Jayadeva, who is believed to have been the court poet of Lakshmana Sen of Bengal, Gita Govinda, the ‘Song of the Cowherd’, is a lyrical poem in Sanskrit, evoking shringara rasa, portraying the mystical love between Radha and Krishna through worldly imageries.…” “Themes of Paintings – An Overview …Rasikapriya, translated as ‘The Connoisseur’s Delight’, is replete with complex poetic interpretations and was composed to incite aesthetic pleasure to elite courtiers. Composed in Brajbhasha by Keshav Das, the court poet of Raja Madhukar Shah of Orchha in 1591, Rasikapriya explores various emotive states, such as love, togetherness, jilt, jealousy, quarrel and its aftermath, separation, anger, etc., that are common between lovers represented through the characters of Radha and Krishna.…” |