Çré Govinda Dämodara
Stotram
Srila
Bilvamangala Thakura
All glories to Çré Çré Guru and Gauräìga
(1)
agre kurüëäm atha
päëòavänäà
duùçäsanenähåta-vastra-keçä
kåñëä tadäkroçad
ananya-näthä
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Before the assembled
Kurus and pandavas, when Duùçäsana caught her hair and clothing, Kåñëä (Draupadé), having no other Lord, cried
out, " Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava!"
(2)
çré kåñëa viñëo
madhu-kaiöabhäre
bhaktänukampin bhagavan
muräre
träyasva mäà keçava
lokanätha
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
O Lord Kåñëa, Viñëu,
enemy of the Madhu and Kaiöabha demons; O Supreme Personality of Godhead, enemy
of Mura, merciful upon the devotees; O Keçava, Lord of the worlds, Govinda,
Dämodara, Mädhava, please deliver me.
(3)
vikretukämä kila
gopa-kanyä
muräri-pädärpita-citta-våttiù
dadhyädikaà mohavaçäd
avocad
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Though desiring to sell
milk, dahé, butter, etc., the mind of a young gopé was so absorbed in the lotus
feet of Kåñëa that instead of calling out "Milk for sale," she
bewilderedly said,
"Govinda!", Dämodara!", and "Mädhava!"
(4)
ulükhale
sambhåta-tanòuläìç ca
saìghaööayantyo musalaiù
pramugdhäù
gäyanti gopyo
janitänurägä
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Their grinding-mortars
full of grains, the gopés minds are overcome as they thresh with their pestles,
singing "Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava!"
(5)
käcit karämbhoj a-puöe
niñaëëaà
kréòä-çukaà
kiàçuka-rakta-tuëòam
adhyäpayäm äsa
saroruhäkñé
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
A lotus-eyed girl
instructed the red-beaked pet parrot that was seated in the cup of her lotus
hand; she said, "Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava . . ."
(6)
gåhe gåhe
gopa-vadhü-samühaù
prati-kñaëaà
piïjara-särikänäm
skhalad-giraà väcayituà
pravåtto
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
In each and every house,
a bevy of gopa-women is engaged in making the caged parrots constantly utter
with broken words, "Govinda," "Dämodara," and
Mädhava."
(7)
paryyaëkikäbhäjam alam
kumäraà
prasväpayantyo
'khila-gopa-kanyäù
jaguù prabandhaà
svara-täla-bandhaà
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
With the little boy lying
in the swing, all of the gopés used to expertly sing compositions set to
musical notes and rhythm; they went, "Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava,"
while putting Him to rest.
(8)
rämänujaà
vékñaëa-keli-lolaàgopi gåhétvä nava-néta-golam
äbälakaà bälakam äjuhäva
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
The younger brother of
Balaräma, playing mischieviously, was dodging about her with restless eyes.
Taking a ball of fresh butter to lure Him over,
a gopé called Him: "O Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava . . ."
(9)
vicitra-varëäbharaëäbhiräme-
-bhidhehi
vakträmbuja-räjaùaàse
sadä madéye rasane
'gra-raëge
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
O my tongue, since my
mouth has become like a lotus by dint of the presence there of these eloquent,
ornamental, delightful syllables, you are like the swan that plays there. As
your foremost pleasure, always articulate the names, "Govinda,"
"Dämodara," and "Mädhava."
(10)
aìkädhirüòhaà
çiçu-gopa-güòhaà
stanaà dhayantaà
kamalaika-käntam
sambodhayäm äsa mudä
yaçodä
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
The one and only Lord of
Lakñmédevé, as an inconspicuous little cowherd baby, was seated in the lap of
mother Yaçodä, drinking her breast-milk. Merged in bliss, she addressed Him as
"Govinda," "Dämodara," and "Mädhava."
(11)
kréòantam antar-vrajam
ätmanaà svaà
samaà vayasyaiù
paçu-päla-bälaiù
premëä yaçodä prajuhäva
kåñëaà
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
In Vraja-dhäma, Kåñëa was
playing with His playmates, the boys of His age who protected the animals. With
great love, mother Yaçodä called out to her own son, "O Govinda, Dämodara,
Mädhava!"
(12)
yaçodayä gäòham
ulükhalena
go-kaëöha-päçena
nibadhyamanam
ruroda mandaà
navanéta-bhojé
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Being firmly tied up to
the grinding mortar with a cow's rope by mother Yaçodä, the plunderer of butter
softly whimpered. "Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava."
(13)
nijäìgaëe
kaìkaëa-keli-lolaà
gopé gåhétvä
navanéta-golam
ämardayat päëi-talena
netre
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
In His own courtyard,
Kåsëa was carelessly playing with a bracelet. So the gopé took a ball of butter
to Him, and shutting His eyes with her palm, she distracted Him, "O
Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava . . .(Guess what I have for you!)"
(14)
gåhe gåhe
gopa-vadhü-kadambäù
sarve militvä
samaväya-yoge
puëyäni nämäni paöhanti
nityaà
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
In house after house,
groups of cowherd ladies gather on various occasions, and together they always
chant the transcendental names of Kåñëa--"Govinda, Dämodara, and
Mädhava."
(15)
mandära-müle
vadanäbhirämaà
bimbädhare
pürita-veëu-nädam
go-gopa-gopé-jana-madhya-saàsthaà
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
His face is pleasing, and
the flute at His lips is filled with Divine sound. Amidst the cows, gopas, and
gopés, He stands at the base of a coral tree. Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava!
(16)
utthäya gopyo
'para-rätra-bhoge
småtvä
yaçodä-suta-bäla-kelim
gäyanti proccair
dadhi-manthayantyo
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Having risen early in the
Brahma-muhürta, and remembering the childish activities of the Son of mother
Yaçodä, the gopés loudly sing while churning butter--"Govinda, Dämodara,
Mädhava!"
(17)
jagdho 'tha datto
navanéta-piëòo
gåhe yaçodä
vicikitsayanté
uväca satyaà vada he
muräre
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Having churned and then
set aside a fresh lump of butter in the house, mother Yaçodä was now
suspicious--it had been eaten. She said, "Hey--Muräri! Govinda, Dämodara,
Mädhava, now tell me the truth . . ."
(18)
abhyarcya gehaà yuvatiù
pravåddha-
-prema-pravähä dadhi
nirmamantha
gäyanti gopyo 'tha
sakhé-sametä
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Having finished worship
at home, a young gopé, (like) a strong current of love for Kåñëa, churned the butter, and then joins together
with all the gopés and their friends and they sing, "Govinda, Dämodara,
Mädhava!"
(19)
kvacit prabhäte dadhi-pürëa-pätre
nikñipya manthaà yuvaté
mukundam
älokya gänaà vividhaà
karoti
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
One time, early in the
morning, just as a girl had put aside her churn in a pot full of butter--she
saw Mukunda. She then began to sing songs in various ways, about Govinda,
Dämodara, and Mädhava.
(20)
kréòäparaà
bhojana-majjanärthaà
hitaiñiëé stré tanujaà
yaçodä
äjühavat
prema-pari-plutäkñé
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
(Without having even
bathed or eaten,) Kåñëa was absorbed in play. Overwhelmed with affection,
mother Yaçodä, who thought only of her son's welfare, called out,
"Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava! (Come, take your bath and eat
something.)"
(21)
sukhaà çayänaà nilaye ca
viñëuà
devarñi-mukhyä munayaù
prapannäù
tenäcyute tanmayatäà
vrajanti
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Devaåñi Närada and other
Munis are always surrendered to Lord Viñëu, who rests upon His couch. They
always chant the names of "Govinda," "Dämodara," and
"Mädhava," and thus they attain spiritual forms similar to His.
(22)
vihäya nidräm aruëodaye
ca
vidhäya kåtyäni ca
vipramukhyäùvedävasäne prapaöhanti nityaà
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
After giving up sleep at
dawn, having completed their ritualistic duties, and at the end of their Vedic
chanting, the best of the learned brähmaëas always loudly chant, "Govinda,
Dämodara, Mädhava!"
(23)
våndävane gopa-gaëäç ca
gopyo
vilokya
govinda-viyoga-khinnam
rädhäà jaguù
säçru-vilocanäbhyäà
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
In Våndävana, seeing
Çrématé Rädhäräëé overwhelmed with separation from Govinda, groups of gopas and
gopés sang, with tears in their lotus eyes, "Govinda! Dämodara! O
Mädhava!"
(24)
prabhäta-saïcära-gatä nu
gävas
tad-rakñaëärthaà tanayaà
yaçodä
präbodhayat päëi-talena
mandaà
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
The cows having already
gone out to graze early in the morning, mother Yaçodä gently roused her
sleeping son with the palm of her hand, softly saying, "Govinda, Dämodara,
Mädhava."
(25)
praväla-çobhä iva
dérgha-keçä
vätämbu-parëäçana-püta-dehäù
müle tarüëäà munayaù
paöhanti
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
With long, matted hair
the color of coral, and bodies purified by eating only leaves, water, and air,
the sages sit beneath the trees and chant, "Govinda,"
"Dämodara," and "Mädhava."
(26)
evaà bruväëä virahäturä
bhåçäà
vraja-striyaù
kåñëa-viñikta-mänasäù
visåjya lajjäà ruruduù
sma su-svaraà
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
"After speaking
these words, the ladies of Vraja, who were so attached to Kåñëa, felt extremely
agitated by their imminent separation from Him. They forgot all worldly shame
and loudly cried out,'O Govinda! O Dämodara! O Mädhava!'"
n.b.--(This verse is
identical with Çrémad Bhägavatam, 10. 39.31; it describes the gopés' reaction
to Akrüra's taking Kåñëa and Balaräma away from Våndävana. The above
translation is that of H.H. Hådayänanda
Gosvämé.)
(27)
gopé kadäcin
maëi-piïjara-sthaà
çukaà vaco väcayituà
pravåttä
änanda-kanda vraja-candra
kåñëa
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Sometimes a gopé is
engaged in teaching a parrot within a jewelled cage to recite names like:
"Änanda-kanda" (source of bliss), "Vraja-candra" (moon of
Vraja), "Kåñëa," "Govinda," "Dämodara," and
"Mädhava."
(28)
go-vatsa-bälaiù
çiçu-käka-pakñaà
badhnantam
ambhoja-daläyatäkñam
uväca mätä cibukaà
gåhétvä
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
The lotus-eyed Lord was
tying the çikhä of a cowherd boy to the tail of a calf when His mother caught
Him, lifted up His chin, and said, "Govinda! Dämodara! Mädhava!"
(29)
prabhäta-käle
vara-vallavaughä
go-rakñaëärthaà
dhåta-vetra-daëòäù
äkärayäm äsur anantam
ädyam
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
In the early morning a
group of His favorite cowherd boys arrived, stick-canes in hand, to take care
of the cows. They addressed the unlimited, primeval Personality of Godhead,
"Hey, Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava!"
(30)
jaläçaye käliya-mardanäya
yadä kadambäd apatan
muräre
gopäìganäç cakruçur etya
gopä
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
When Lord Muräri jumped
from the Kadamba branch into the water to chastise the Käliya serpent, all the
gopés and cowherd boys went there and cried out, "Oh! Govinda! Dämodara!
Mädhava!"
(31)
akrüram äsädya yadä
mukundaç
cäpotsavärthaà mathuräà
praviñöaù
tadä sa paurair jayatéty
abhäñi
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
After Lord Mukunda had
met with Akrüra and entered Mathurä to attend the ceremony of breaking the bow
of Kaàsa, all the citizens then shouted, "Jaya Govinda! Jaya Dämodara!
Jaya Mädhava!"
(32)
kaàsasya dütena yadaiva
nétau
våndävanäntäd
vasudeva-sünau
ruroda gopé bhavanasya
madhye
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
When both sons of
Vasudeva had actually been taken out of Våndävana by the messenger of Kaàsa,
Yaçodä sobbed within the house, wailing, "Govinda, Dämodara,
Mädhava!"
(33)
sarovare
käliya-näga-baddhaà
çiçuà yaçodä-tanayaà
niçamya
cakrur luöantyaù pathi
gopa-bälä
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Hearing how the son of
Yaçodä, who was but a child, was wrapped within the coils of the Käliya serpent
at the pond, the cowherd boys cried "Govinda! Dämodara! Mädhava!" and
scurried down the path.
(34)
akrüra-yäne
yadu-vaàça-näthaà
saàgacchamänaà mathuräà
nirékñya
ücur viyogät kila
gopa-bälä
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Seeing the Lord of the
Yadus proceeding towards Mathurä upon Akrüra's chariot, the cowherd boys, upon
realization of their impending separation, said, "O Govinda! Dämodara,
Mädhava! (Where are you going? Are You actually leaving us now?)
(35)
cakranda gopé
naliné-vanänte
kåñëena hénä kusume
çayänä
praphulla-nélotpala-locanäbhyäà
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
At the edge of a lotus
forest, a gopé lay down upon the bed of flowers, bereft of Kåñëa. Tears flowed
from her lotus eyes (as she wept,) "Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava."
(36)
mätä-pitåbhyäà
pariväryamäëä
gehaà praviñöä vilaläpa
gopé
ägatya mäà pälaya
viçvanätha
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Being very restricted by
her mother and father, the lamenting
gopé entered the house, thinking, "(Now that) I have arrived home, save
me, O Lord of the universe! O Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava!"
(37)
våndävana-sthaà harim äçu
buddhvä
gopé gatä käpi vanaà
niçäyäm
taträpy adåñöväti-bhayäd
avocad
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Thinking that Kåñëa was
in the forest, a gopé fled into the forest in the middle of night. But seeing
that Kåñëa wasn't actually there, she became very fearful, and cried,
"Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava!"
(38)
sukhaà çayänä nilaye nije
'pi
nämäni viñëoù pravadanti
martyäù
te niçcitaà tanmayatäà
vrajanti
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Even the ordinary mortals
comfortably seated at home who chant the names of Viñëu, "Govinda,
Dämodara," and "Mädhava," certainly attain (at least) the
liberation of having a form similar to that of the Lord.
(39)
sä nérajäkñém avalokya
rädhäà
ruroda
govinda-viyoga-khinnäm
sakhé
praphullotpala-locanäbhyäà
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Seeing Çrématé Rädhäräëi
crying from the pangs of separation from Govinda, the blooming lotus eyes of
Rädhä's girlfriend also filled with tears, and she too cried, "Govinda,
Dämodara, Mädhava."
(40)
jihve rasajïe
madhura-priyä tvaà
satyaà hitaà tväà paramaà
vadämi
ävarëayethä
madhuräkñaräëi
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
O my tongue, you are fond
of sweet things and are of discriminating taste; I tell you the highest truth,
which is also the most beneficial. Please just recite these sweet syllables:
"Govinda," "Dämodara," and "Mädhava."
(41)
ätyantika-vyädhiharaà
janänäà
cikitsakaà veda-vido
vadanti
saàsära-täpa-traya-näça-béjaà
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
The knowers of the Vedas
say that this is the cure-all of the worst diseases of mankind, and that this
is the seed of the destruction of the threefold miseries of material existence--"Govinda,
Dämodara, Mädhava!"
(42)
tätäjïayä gacchati
rämcandre
salakñmaëe 'raëyacaye
saséte
cakranda rämasya nijä
janitré
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Upon Rämacandra's going
into the forest due to his father's order, along with Lakñmaëa and Sétä, (and
thus becoming) a forest-rover, His mother cried, "O Govinda, Dämodara,
Mädhava!"
(43)
ekäkiné
daëòaka-känanäntät
sä néyamänä
daçakandhareëa
sétä tadäkroçad
ananya-näthä
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Left there alone, Sétä
was carried out of the forest by the ten-headed Rävaëa. At that time, accepting
no other Lord, Sétä cried, "O Govinda! Dämodara! Mädhava!"
(44)
rämädviyuktä janakätmajä
sä
vicintayanté hrdi
räma-rüpam
ruroda sétä raghunatha
pähi
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Separated from Räma, the
daughter of King Janaka was completely anxious, and with the form of Räma
within her heart, she cried, "O Raghunätha! Protect me! O Govinda,
Dämodara, Mädhava!"
(45)
praséda viñëo
raghu-vaàça-nätha
suräsuräëäà
sukha-duùkha-heto
ruroda sétä tu
samudra-madhye
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
"O Lord Viñëu, be
gracious! Lord of the Raghu clan, cause of the happiness and distress of gods
and demons alike, O Govinda, Dämoadara, Mädhava!" Thus Sétä cried, (by the
time she had been carried) over the middle of the ocean.
(46)
antar-jale
gräha-gåhéta-pädo
visåñtä-vikliñöa-samasta-bandhuù
tadä gajendro nitaräà
jagäda
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Caught by his foot and
pulled into the water, Gajendra, his friends all harassed and frightened away,
then called out incessantly, "Govinda, Dämodara, Mädhava!"
(47)
haàsadhvajaù çaìkhayuto
dadarça
putraà kaöähe prapatantam
enam
puëyäni nämäni harer
japantaà
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Along with his priest
Çaìkhayuta, King Haàsadhvaja saw his son Sudhanvä falling into a vat, but the
boy was chanting the transcendental names of Hari, Govinda, Dämodara, and
Mädhava.
(48)
durväsaso väkyam upetya
kåñëä
sä cäbravét
känana-väsinéçam
antaùpraviñöaà
manasäjuhäva
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
Accepting Durväsa Muni's
request (that she feed his thousands of disciples, even though she hadn't the
means to do this) Draupadé mentally called out to the Lord within, the Lord of
a forest dweller (like her), and she said, "Govinda, Dämodara,
Mädhava!"
(49)
dhyeyaù sadä yogibhir
aprameyaù
cintä-haraç
cintita-pärijätaù
kastürikä-kalpita-néla-varëo
govinda dämodara
mädhaveti
He is always meditated
upon by the yogés as being inscrutable. He is the remover of all anxieties, and
is the desire-tree of all that is desireable. His bluish complexion is as
attractive as Kastürikä. Govinda! Dämodara! Mädhava!