Page 57 - Pundole's Auction M0015

The Sixteen Adornments for Women

‘First come ablutions of all kinds,
Second the bath, then raiment clean,
Fourth braiding hair, and then applying
Cosmetics; putting vermillion
In the parting of the hair; on brow
Crescent of Sandal paste – then paint
A black mole on the cheek, enow
With Sandal paste the limbs anoint
and palms with paste of myrtle leaves
With flowers and ornaments then deck
Chew betel leaves to sweeten breath
And cardamom and then the teeth
With powder stain, lips paint red;
Last collyrium in eyes that tease –
Thus with sixteen adornments helped,
Each moment you your spouse should please’

(Rasikapriya of Keshavadasa, translated by K.P. Bahadur,
Delhi, 1972, p. 33)