Govardhanastakam
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
1. krsna-prasadena samasta-saila-
samrajyam apnoti ca vairino 'pi
sakrasya yah prapa balim sa saksad
govardhano me disatam abhistam
krsna -- of Krsna; prasadena -- by the mercy; samasta -- of all; saila --
mountains;
samrajyam -- sovereignty; apnoti -- attains; ca -- and; vairinah -- from
the enemy; api -- even; sakrasya -- Indra; yah -- who; prapa -- attained;
balim -- the respectful offering; sah -- he; saksad -- directly;
govardhanah -- Govardhana Hill; me -- my; disatam -- may grant; abhistam
--
desire.
May Govardhana Hill, which by Krsna's mercy became the king of all mountains
and received the respectful tribute of its arch-enemy Indra, fulfull my
desire.
2. sva-prestha-hastambuja-saukumarya-
sukhanubhuter ati-bhumi-vrtteh
mahendra-vajrahatim apy ajanam
govardhano me disatam abhistam
sva -- own; prestha -- dear; hasta -- hand; ambuja -- lotus; saukumarya --
delicateness;
sukha -- of transcendental bliss; anubhuteh -- from the experience; ati --
abode; bhumi -- the earth; vrtteh -- because of the activity; mahendra --
of Indra; vajra -- of the thunderbolts; ahatim -- the striking; api --even;
ajanan -- unaware
As it was held above the earth it became so filled with happiness by
experiencing the softness of its beloved Krsna's lotus hand it did not even
know it was being struck by Indra's thunderbolt. May Govardhana Hill
fulfill my desire.
3. yatraiva krsno vrsabhanu-putrya
danam grhitum kalaham vitene
sruteh sprha yatra mahaty atah sri-
govardhano me disatam abhistam
yatra -- where; eva -- certainly; krsnah -- Krsna; vrsabhanu-putrya --
with Srimati Radharani, the daughter of King Vrsabhanu; danam -- the toll;
grhitum -- to collect; kalaham -- quarrel; vitene - instigated; sruteh - of
the Vedas; sprha -- desire; yatra -- where; mahati -- great; atah -- from
that; sri- govardhanah -- Govardhana Hill.
Trying to collect a toll, Krsna quarreled there with King Vrsabhanu's
daughter. The personified Vedas yearn to listen to that quarrel. May
Govardhana his fulfill my desire.
4. snatva sarah svasu samira-hasti
yatraiva nipadi-paraga-dhulih
alolayan khelati caru sa sri-
govardhano me disatam abhistam
snatva having bathed; sarah -- in the lake; svasu -- very quickly;
samira -- of the breese; hasti -- the elephant; yatra -- where; eva --
certainly; nipa -- of the kadamba; adi -- and the other flowers;
paraga-dhulih -- carrying the pollen; alolayan -- moving; khelati -- plays;
caru -- pleasantly; sah -- he; sri-govardhanah -- Govardhana Hill.
Bathing in a nearby lake, the elephant of a pleasant breeze, covered with
pollen of kadamba and other flowers, gracefully plays there. May Govardhana
Hill fulfill my desire.
5. kasturikabhih sayitam kim atrety
uham prabhoh svasya muhur vitanvan
naisargika-sviya-sila-sugandhair
govardhano me disatam abhistam
kasturikabhih -- with fragrant musk; sayitam -- sleeping; kim -- how is
it?; atra - here; iti -- thus; uham -- transformation; prabhoh -- of the
Supreme Lord; svasya -- own; muhur -- repeatedly; vitanvan -- spreading;
naisargika -- natural; sviya -- own; sila -- rocks; sugandhaih -- with
fragrances
Does the sweet fragrance of Govardhana come from the musk deer who relax
there? From the Lord who plays there? Or is it Govardhana's own natural
scent? May Govardhana Hill fulfill my desire.
6. vamsa-pratidhvany-anusara-vartma
didrksavo yatra harim harinyah
yantyo labhante na hi vismitah sa
govardhano me disatam abhistam
vamsa -- of the flute; pratidhvani -- echo; anusara -- following; vartma --
path; didrksavah -- eager to see; yatra -- where; harim -- Lord Hari;
harinyah - the deer; yantyah -- going; labhante -- attain; na -- not; hi
-- indeed; vismitah -- astonished; sah - he.
Searching there for Lord Hari on the path of His flute music, the astonished
deer do not find Him. May Govardhana Hill fulfill my desire.
7. yatraiva gangam anu navi radham
arohya madhye tu nimagna-naukah
krsno hi radhanugalo babhau sa
govardhano me disatam abhistam
yatra -- where; eva --- certainly; gangam -- the river; anu -- following;
navi -- in the boat; radham --- Srimati Radharani; arohya -- invited to
enter; madhye -- in the middle; tu -- but; nimagna-naukah -- began to
sink; krsnah -- Lord Krsna; hi -- certainly; radha-anugalah -- with
Srimati Radharani fearfully clinging to Krsna's neck; babhau -- appeared
very splendid; sah -- He.
As the Divine Couple travelled on the Ganges there the boat began to sink in
the middle. Krsna was splendidly handsome as Radha clung to His neck. May
Govardhana Hill fulfill my desire.
8. vina bhavet kim hari-dasa-varya-
padasrayam bhaktir atah srayami
yam eva saprema nijesayoh sri-
govardhano me disatam abhistam
vina -- without; bhavet -- there may be; kim -- how?; hari -- of Lord
Hari; dasa -- of the servants; varya -- of the best; pada -- of the lotus
feet; asrayam -- the shelter; bhaktih -- pure devotional service; atah --
therefore; asrayami -- I take shelter; yam -- of whom; eva -- certainly;
sa - with; prema -- pure love of Godhead; nija-isayoh -- of my two masters;
WIthout taking shelter of the feet of the hill that is the best of Lord
Hari's servants and full of love for the divine king and queen, how is it
possible to attain pure devotional service? May Govardhana Hill fulfill my
desire.
9. etat pathed yo hari-dasa-varya-
mahanubhavastakam ardra-cetah
sri-radhika-madhavayoh padabja-
dasyam sa vinded acirena saksat
etat -- this; pathet -- may read; yah - who; hari-dasa-varya -- of the
best of Lord Hari's servants; maha -- with great; anubhava -- glories;
astakam -- eight verses; ardra -- moistened with love of Godhead; cetah --
whose mind; sri-radhika-madhavayoh -- of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava; pada --
feet; abja -- lotus; dasyam -- service; sah -- he; vindet -- may find;
acirena -- quickly; saksat -- directly.
May the reader of these eight verses glorifying Lord Hari's greatest
servant, his heart melting with pure love, quickly attain direct service to
the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava.
by Srila Raghunath das Goswami
1.
O Govardhana! You became the umbrella which was held by the arm
of your own Lord Krsna! In this way Sri Krsna diminished Indra,
the king of the demigods, who was intoxicated by great pride. You
are the incomparable king of all the big mountains, please allow
me to live close by you.
2.
O Govardhana! The young Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, play
splendid wild loving games in your every cave, so I became very
eager to see Them there. Please allow me to live close by you.
3.
O Govardhana! In topmost joy Krsna plays together with Balarama
and the cowherd boys in your incomparable jeweled pavilions and
thrones, in the hollows of your trees, in your caves, and
valleys. Please allow me to live close by you!
4.
O Govardhana! You are the witness of Radha and Krsna's tax game
(In which Krsna charges tax from the ghee the gopis carry on
their heads) which is an ocean of mellows. You increase the joy
of the mellows of the devotees with your display of bluish
platforms that are full of splendour and fragrance. Please allow
me to live close by you!
5.
O Govardhana! You affectionately and secretly embrace the neck of
your own dear friend, Sri Radha Kunda, the place which is very
dear to you and Lord Hari. Please allow me to live close by you
and show me the intimate pastimes of the Divine Young Couple
there!
6. O Govardhana! You make your name, keeper of cows, successfully
constantly giving land, water, grass and the shade of your trees
to the cows and thus you are famous in the three worlds. Please
allow me to live close by you!
7.
O Govardhana! Your glories are increased by the enemy of Aghasura
and Bakasura, Sri Krsna, when He protected the Vrajavasis and
vanquished Indra by quickly using you as their new shelter from
the rain. Please allow me to live close by you.!
8.
O Govardhana! King of mountains! Because the nectar of your name
as Hari's best servant emanated from Srimati Radharani's pearl-like mouth,
which was revealed by Vedic scriptures like Srimad
Bhagavatam (10.21.18), you are called the new tilaka (because of
your long thin bluish shape at the edge of Vraja) of Vraja.
Please allow me to live close by you.
9.
O Govardhana! You are the only giver of joy to Sri Sri Radha
Krsna and Their associates, that are always surrounded by the
people, animals and birds of Vraja in the mood of friendship.
Please mercifully accept me and allow me to live close by you.
10.
O Govardhana! Although I am vile and deceitful, the causelessly
merciful Sri Sacinandana submitted me to you. Therefore, do not
consider whether I am qualified or unqualified and accept me.
Allow me please to live close by you.
11.
Anyone who carefully recites these ten verses praising the king of mountains
Srila Govardhana, that are the givers of divine mellows, will swiftly attain
a place to live close by Govardhana, the bestower of bliss, and he will
attain the precious jewel of the auspicious loving service of the Divine
Couple, Sri Sri Radha Krsna.
namaste girirajaya sri govardhana namine
ashesha klesha nashaya paramananda dayine
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the king of all hills, Govardhana Hill
(the source of enjoyment for the senses, land, and cows). He is a servant
of Krsna and is Krsna Himself. He puts an end to unlimited sufferings and
bestows the supreme bliss. (Preyo Bhakti Rasarnava)
hantayam adrir abala hari-dasa-varyo
yad rama-krsna-carana-sparasa-pramodah
manam tanoti saha-go-ganayos tayor yat
paniya-suyavasa-kandara-kandamulaih
Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this
hill supplies Krsna and Balarama, along with Their calves, cows and cowherd
friends, with all kinds of necessities-water for drinking, very soft grass,
caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respects
to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Krsna and Balarama,
Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant. (SB 10.21.18)
These two verses are known as the sri-govardhana-pranama-mantra.
govardhano jayati saila-kulaadhi-raajo
yo gopikaabhirudito hari-daasa-varyah
krsnena sakra-makha-bhanga-krtaarcito yah
saptaaham asya kara-padma-tale 'py avatseet
saptaaham evaacyuta-hasta-pankaje
bhrngaayamaanam phala-moola-kandaraih
samsevyamaanam harim aatma-vindakair
govardhanaadrim sirasaa namaami
"Glorious is Sri Govardhana, the great King in the dynasty of hills, whom
the gopis praised as the best of Krsna's servants; who was resting for seven
days in Krsna's lotus hand and whom Krsna made worshipable by disrupting
Indra's sacrifice."
"I offer my prostrated obeisances to the Govardhana Hill, who was kept for
seven days in the lotus hand of the infallible Lord Krsna and who served Him
with his own paraphernalia swarms of black bees and an abundance of
delicious fruits and roots."