Prayer to Lord Gopala

(From the Narada Pancaratra)

Text 1

navina-nirada-syamam

nilendivara-locanam

ballavi-nandanam vande

krsnam gopala-rupinam

navina - fresh; nirada - rain-cloud; syamam - dark; nila - blue; indivara - lotus flower; locanam - eyes; ballavi - of the gopi Yasoda; nandanam - the beloved son; vande - I offer respectful obeisances; Krsnam - to Lord Krsna; gopala - of a cowherd boy; rupinam - the form.

I offer respectful obeisances to Lord Krsna, the transcendental cowherd boy, who is the dear son of the gopi Yasoda. Krsna's complexion is as dark as a fresh rain-cloud, and His eyes are as beautiful as blue lotus flowers.

Text 2

sphurad-barhi-dalodbandha-

nila-kuncita-murdhajam

kadamba-kusumodbaddha-

vana-mala-vibhusitam

sphurat - splendid; barhi - peacock; dala - with a feather; udbaddha - tied; nila - dark; kuncita - curling; murdhajam - hair; kadamba - kadamba; kusuma - with flowers; udbaddha - tied; vana-mala - with a forest garland; vibhusitam - decorated.

A splendid peacock feather decorated His curling dark hair, and He is ornamented with a garland of kadamba flowers from the forest.

Text 3

ganda-mandalasamsargi-

calat-kancana-kundalam

sthula-mukta-phalodara-

hara-dyotita-vakrasam

ganda - of the cheeks; mandala - in the area; samsargi - touching; calat - moving; kancana - golden; kundalam - earrings; sthula - large; mukta - pearls; phala-udara - large; hara - necklace; dyotita - illumined; vakrasam - chest.

Lord Krsna's golden earrings swing to and fro, touching His cheeks. His chest is illumined by a long necklace of large pearls.

Text 4

hemangada-tula-koti-

kiritojjvala-vigraham

manda-maruta-sankrobha-

valgitambara-sancayam

hema - golden; angada - bracelets; tula - equal; koti - millions; kirita - crown; ujjvala - splendid; vigraham - form; manda - gentle; maruta - breeze; sankrobha - with the disturbance; valgita - moving; ambara - of garments; sancayam - collection.

Lord Krsna appears very splendid, decorated with a golden crown as large as millions of bracelets. His garments are moving, shaken by the gentle breeze.

Text 5

rucirartha-puta-nyasta-

vamsi-madhura-nihsvanaih

lasad-gopalika-ceto

mohayantam muhur muhuh

rucira - beautiful; aurta-puta - to the lips; nyasta - placed; vamsi - from the flute; madhura - sweet; nihsvanaih - with the sounds; lasat - splendid; gopalika - of the gopis; cetah - the minds; mohayantam - enchanting; muhuh muhuh - at every moment.

Lord Krsna enchants the minds of the beautiful gopis at every moment with the sweet music of the flute placed upon His charming lips.

Text 6

ballavi-vadanambhoja-

madhupana-madhu-vratam

krobhayantam manas tasam

sasmerapanga-vikranaih

ballavi - of the gopis; vadana - faces; ambhoja - lotus flowers; madhu - honey; pana - drinking; madhuvratam - bumble-bee; krobhayantam - agitating; manah - the minds; tasam - of them; sa - with; smera - amorous; apanga-vikranaih - side-long glances.

Lord Krsna is like a bumble-bee which drinks the honey of the lotus flowers which are the gopi's faces. Kassa agitates the gopis minds with amorous side-long glances.

Text 7

yauavan/odbhinna-dehabhih

samsaktabhih parasparam

vicitrambara-bhusabhir

gopa-naribhir avatam

yauvana - of youth; udbhinna - blossomed; dehabhih - forms; samsaktabhih parasparam - together; vicitra - amazing and colorful; ambara - garments; bhusabhih - and ornamenta; gopa-naribhih - by the gopis; avatam - surrounded.

Lord Krsna is closely surrounded by the gopis, who are all in the fresh bloom of youth, and decorated with colorful and amazing garments and ornaments.

Text 8

prabhinnanjana-kalindi-

jala-keli-kalotsukam

yodhayantam kvacid gopan

vyaharantam gavam ganam

prabhinna-anjana - black eye cosmetics; kalindi - the Yamuna river; jala - in the waters; keli - of pastimes; kala - for the art; utsukam - very eager; yodhayantam - fighting; kvacit - sometimes; gopan - the cowherd boys; vyaharantam - calling; gavam - of cows; ganam - the herd.

Sometimes Lord Krsna becomes eager to sport in the waters of the Yamuna river, which is as dark as black eye cosmetics. Sometimes He plays at fighting with the cowherd boys, and sometimes He calls the cows.

Text 9

kalindi-jala-samsargi-

sitalanila-sevite

kadamba-padapa-cchaye

sthitam vandavane kvacit

kalindi - of the Yamuna rover; jala - of the water; samsargi - because of contact; sitala - cool; anila - breeze; sevite - served; kadamba - kadamba; padapa - tree; chaye - in the shade; sthitam - stays; vandavana - in Vandavana; kvacit - somewhere.

Lord Krsna stays in the shade under a kadamba tree in a certain place in Vandavana, where there is a cool breeze blowing from the water of the Yamuna river.

Text 10

ratna-bhudhara-samlagna-

rathasana-parigraham

kalpa-padapa-madhya-stha-

hema-mandapika-gatam

ratna - of jewels; bhudhara - on a mountain; samlagna - attached; ratna - of jewels; asana - throne; parigraham - accepting; kalpa-padapa - a desire tree; madhyastha - underneath; hema - golden; mandapika - temple; gatam - within.

Underneath a desire tree within a golden temple, Lord Krsna is seated on jewelled throne placed upon a great platform of jewels.

Text 11

vasanta-kusumamoda-

surabhi-kata-dinmukhe

govardhana-girau ramye

sthitam rasa-rasotsukam

vasanta - spring; kusuma - of flowers; amoda - fragrance; surabhi-kata - made aromatic; dik-mukhe - all directions; govardhana - Govardhana; girau - on the hill; ramye - delightful; sthitam - staying; rasa-rasa - the rasa-dance; utsukam - intent on performing.

Intent on performing the rasa-dance, Lord Krsna stays on charming Govardhana hill, where all directions have been made aromatic by the spring flowers.

Text 12

savya-hasta-tala-nyasta-

giri-varyatapatrakam

khanditakhandalonmukta-

muktasara-ghanaghanam

savya - left; hasta - of the hand; tala - in the palm; nyasta - place; giri-varya - the best of mountains (Govardhana hill); atapatrakam - as an umbrella; khandita - broken; akhandala - of Indra; unmukta - released; mukta-sara - attack; bhanabhanam - of rain-clouds.

With His left hand, Lord Krsna lifted Govardhana hill, the best of mountains as if it were an umbrella. In this way He dispersed the attacking rain-clouds sent by Indra.

Text 13

venu-vadya-mahollasa-

kata-hunkara-nihsvanaih

savatsair unumkhaih sasvad

gokulair abhivikritam

venu - of the flute; vadya - of the music; maha - great; ullasa - joy; kata - performed; hunkara-nihsvanaih - making loud sounds; sa - with; vatsaih - the calves; unukhaih - with heads raised with expectation; sasvat-continually; go - of cows; kulaih - by the communities; abhivikritam - seen.

Their heads raised with expectation, the cows continually gaze ar Lord Krsna, accompanied by their calves. They have become jubilant by hearing the wonderful flute music of Krsna, and they respond by making loud sounds.

Text 14

Krsnam evanugayadbhis

tac-certa-vasa-vartibhih

danda-pasodyata-karair

gopalair upasobhitam

Krsnam - Lord Krsna; eva - certainly; anugayadbhih - singing; tat - His; certa - wonderful deeds; vasa-vartibhih - �obedient; danda - stick; pasa - rope; udyata - held up; karaih - in the hands; gopalaih - with the cowherd boys; upasobhitam - ornamented.

Krsna appears very splendid, accompanied by the singing cowherd boys who hold sticks and ropes in their hands, and who are always very agreeable to perform pastimes as Krsna desires.

Text 15

naradadyair muni-saesthair

veda-vedanga-paragaih

priti-susnigdhaya vaca

stuyamanam parat param

narada - by Narada; adyaih - headed; muni - of sages; srerthaih - by the best; veda - in the Vedas; vedanga - and Vedic supplements; paragaih - thoroughly learned; priti - of love; susnigdhaya - very affectionate; vaca - with words; stuyamanam - being praised; parat - that the highest; param - higher.

Lord Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, greater than the greatest. The best of the sages, headed by Narada, who are all thoroughly learned in the Vedas and Vedic supplements, glorify Lord Krsna, with greatly affectionate words.

Text 16

ya evam cintayed devam

bhaktya samstauti manavah

tri-sandhyam tasya turto 'sau

dadati varam ipsitam

yah - who; evam - in this way; cintayet; may meditate; devam - on the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhaktya - with devotion; samstauti - praised; manavah - human being; tri-sandhyam - at morning, noon and evening; tasya - of him; turtah - pleased; asau - He; dadati - grants; varam - benediction; ipsitam - desired.

Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes pleased with those who think of Him in this way and glorify Him in morning, noon and evening. Lord Krsna grants to that person his desired benediction.