Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami's
SRI VRAJA-VILASA-STAVA
Prayers Glorifying the Lord's Pastimes in Vraja
translated by Kusakratha dasa
Dedication
stavam vraja-vilasam sri-
raghunathanuvaditam
gurave prabhupadaya
gauravenarpayamy aham
I respectfully dedicate this
translation of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami's Sri Vraja-vilasa-stava to my spiritual master, His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
TEXT 1
The highwaymen lust, greed, and
anger have captured me and bound me with the ropes of the desire for fame. I
pray that the heroic devotees of Lord Krsna, the enemy of the Agha demon, may
defeat my captors and cut the rope that bind me.
TEXT 2
I am scorched by the blazing
forest fire of old age, deeply bitten by the poisonous snake of blindness,
pierced by the sharp arrows of forced dependence on others, and surrounded by
the lions of anger, lust, and greed. O Lord Krsna, please give me the nectarean
potion of pure love for You, which will make me strong and heroic enough to resist
all the enemies and constantly engage in Your devotional service without
deviation.
TEXT 3
By tasting a single drop of the
memory of the transcendental nectar ocean of the sweetness of the divine couple
my heart has become restless. I bow down before the land and people of Vraja. I
yearn to see my two masters.
TEXT 4
The disembodied demigod cupid,
who attained a body by continually tasting the nectar of the sight of the
divine couple, eternally illuminated this entire land of Vraja with a jubilant
festival of Lord Krsna's transcendental amorous pastimes. When shall I lovingly
gaze on Sri Sri Gandharva-Giridhari (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna), the crowning
garlands of all charming couples?
TEXT 5
The city of Dvaraka, where the
brother and sons of the Lord reside, and where the Lord enjoys transcendental
pastimes with a great multitude of queens, each eclipsing many hundreds of
goddesses of fortune, is dearer even than Vaikuntha. Because it is the place of
Lord Krsna's birth, Mathura, the abode of transcendental love, is even more
dear than Dvaraka. Within the district of Mathura, the land of Sri Vraja is
splendidly manifest. I eternally worship the land of Mathura.
TEXT 6
Even today affectionate Lord
Krsna enjoys the very sweet nectar of transcendental pastimes there, herding
the cows with His brother and His many dear friends. A wonderful sweetness
becomes manifest in the hearts of they who understand the nectar of this place.
Of Vraja, which is more dear even than the city of Mathura, I take shelter.
TEXT 7
Surrounded by their witty gopi friends, the youthful divine couple
enjoys many kinds of transcendental pastimes within the groves and mountain
caves and among the blossoming vines of Vrndavana forest. I worship Vrndavana
forest, which is delightful with the scent of Their lotus feet.
TEXT 8
In Vrndavana is the town of
Nandisvara, where the goddess of fortune always walks, there the great mystic
perfections are eternally present, where the cows are protected, where the
people of Vraja live, and where Lord Krsna happily enjoys transcendental pastimes
under the loving protection of His parents. I worship this town of Nandisvara,
the home of the king of Vraja and the most important part of the land of Vraja
TEXT 9
To celebrate his son's birth,
the king of Gokula respectfully gave in charity to the brahmanas palatable foods, nectar beverages, and transcendental
cows decorated with many jewels. Day after day he satisfied the brahmanas with these valuable
presentations, and he repeatedly begged for their blessings on his infant boy.
I worship the king of Gokula, who is always absorbed in thoughts of his son.
TEXT 10
May the queen of Vraja, whose
breasts continually trickle milk out of maternal love for her son, who is
prepared to give her life many millions of times to protect Him from even a
single drop of perspiration, and who is so attached to Him that if for a moment
she cannot see Him she cries like a cow frightened for her new born calf,
protect us.
TEXT 11
Because of her own son
Balarama's intimate friendship with Him, Rohini-devi showers her love upon Lord
Krsna. She is an expert cook, and she delights the king and queen of Vraja with
her sincere friendship and saintly qualities.
TEXT 12
The splendour of Lord Balarama's
transcendental form eclipses many millions of glistening moons, and the
slightest scent of His boundless strength is sufficient to destroy many armies
of demons. Although He knows the supernatural power of His younger brother,
Krsna, still, out of love for Him, He never leaves Him alone in the forest for
even a moment. I offer my prayers to Lord Balarama, the enemy of Denukasura.
TEXT 13
Speaking with a voice that seems
to mock the roaring of hundreds of thousands of thunderclouds, Parjanya
Maharaja expresses his pride in having such a wonderful grandson. I offer my
respectful obeisances to Parjanya, Krsna's grandfather, who is expert at
delighting his grandson by speaking into His ear many joking words.
TEXT 14
I offer my respectful obeisances
to Variyasi-devi, Krsna's grandmother. With merry joking words she worships Sri
Krsna, calling Him the moon of grandsons. Happy and proud of her grandson, her
feet no longer touch the ground when she walks.
TEXT 15
His face handsome with a great
white beard, and his complexion dark, pious Upananda is the respected prime
minister in the council chambers of the king of Vraja. Considering Him millions
of times more dear than his own life, Upananda delights his nephew Krsna. I
pray that Upananda may always stay in the government council and protect the
land of Vraja.
TEXT 16
Nanda Maharaja's younger brother
Sannanda is very gentle, affectionate, and generous. His complexion is fair and
his beard black. He is very devoted to his elder brother, and he is the father
of Sunanda-gopi. He please Krsna by giving Him palatable dishes made with
buffalo yoghurt. He worships Krsna with ever breath. May Lord Krsna's uncle
Sannanda, the master of a great herd of buffalo, always protect us.
TEXT 17
Upananda's son Subhadra is dark
complexioned, youthful, handsome, and intelligent. He is the best of
astrologers. With his vast scholarship he has defeated even Brhaspati. He stays
at the left hand of the king of Vraja. With good advice he protects Lord Krsna,
who is millions of times more dear to him than his own life. With great
pleasure let us glorify and offer our respectful obeisances to Subhadra.
TEXT 18
Frightened that delicate Krsna
may be hurt by the demons, Ambika performed severe austerities for many days to
please the goddess Durga, who granted her a boon that her son Vijaya would
become a powerful hero able to kill many demons. May Ambika, Lord Krsna's
nurse, protect us.
TEXT 19
Saying "Where are the
demons? With ease I shall shorten their lives," Vijaya calls so loudly his
words are heard in millions of spiritual universes. Out of maternal affection
for Krsna, Ambika instructed her son Vijaya to always stay near child Krsna and
protect Him from the demons. I worship Vraja, the son of Krsna's nurse.
TEXT 20
Bhaguri Muni, the learned chief
priest of Vraja-pura, is the personification of all Vedas. Every day he chants mantras
for the protection of each of Krsna's limbs. Every day he smells Krsna's head.
Every day he offers Krsna many benedictions. I bow down and offer my respectful
obeisances to Bhaguri Muni, the best of sages.
TEXT 21
Sridama is the most expert and
clever of the cowherd boys, and he is the abode of intense love for Lord Krsna.
His complexion is dark, and is he proud that his qualities, age, clothing and
handsome features closely resemble those of Lord Krsna. If for a single moment
he cannot see his friend Krsna, he trembles with anxiety. I completely take
shelter of Sridama, the constant companion of Lord Krsna.
TEXT 22
Filled with deep love for Him,
and anxious that they may be separated, Subala never, even in dream, lets go of
the hand of Sri Krsna, the moon of Gokula. Subala's heart is sprinkled by the
waters of the swiftly moving mountain stream of devotion to Srimati Radhika. I
offer my respectful obeisances to Subala, whose body trembles with love for Sri
Sri Radha-Krsna.
TEXT 23
Assembling the surabhi cows in one place, hand in hand
Krsna's friends play and joke. For them the ocean of pure love has washed away
the mud of awe and reverence in Krsna's presence. Let us take shelter of these
boys, whose hearts, lives, and property are all places as an offering at Lord
Krsna's lotus feet.
TEXT 24
The personified mellows of
comedy, pure-hearted, eternally hungry, jubilant and splendid Madhumangala
daily induces the laughter of his two friends (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna) with a host
of comic speeches and gestures. With great devotion let us at once bow down to
offer our respects to Madhumangala, the joking friend of Lord Krsna, the moon
of Vrndavana.
TEXT 25
Accompanied by an expert friend,
Paurnamasi daily arranges the secret rendezvous of expert Sri Sri Radha and
Krsna. I worship noble and auspicious Paurnamasi, who at every moment tastes
the nectar happiness of seeing the pastimes of the divine couple.
TEXT 26
Noble, generous, learned,
intelligent, fair complexioned, highly born, fifty-year old King Vrsabhanu
wears a neatly clipped beard. He is the close friend of Nanda, the king of
Vraja. To him Sri Radha is dearer even than his eldest child, Sridhama. I constantly
worship famous King Vrsabhanu.
TEXT 27
Her mind overwhelmed with a
flood of love, Kirtida-devi daily sends her two unmarried daughters to
diligently gather all news of Srimati Radharani's recent auspicious activities.
May Kirtida-devi, the mother of Srimati Radharani, protect us all.
TEXT 28
Angrily and deviously placing
many obstacles to stop Their amorous pastimes, Mukhara-devi only increases the
transcendental happiness of her two young grandchildren, Sri Sri Radha and
Krsna. I respectfully bow down before elderly Mukhara-devi, and I place her
lotus feet upon my head.
TEXT 29
Flooded with nectar of intense
love for her two friends (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna), who are more dear to her than
her own life, affectionately arrogant in Their presence, and daily arranging
for Their rendezvous, Lalita-devi expertly teaches her friend Radha the art of
jealous anger. I pray Lalita-devi will one day accept me as one of her
associates.
TEXT 30
Visakha-devi is the place where
the youthful divine couple enjoys affectionate and playful joking pastimes. Her
sweet transcendental singing eclipses the voices of the cuckoo. I pray that
Visakha-devi may become pleased with me and accept me as her student.
TEXT 31
Filled with a great flood of
love and decorating the ever-blossoming groves of Vrndavana with many fragrant
flowers, Vrnda-devi creates a festive atmosphere for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna to
enjoy transcendental pastimes with Their dear friends. Let me surrender to
Vrnda-devi.
TEXT 32
Bringing Srimati Radharani to
cook by the order of the queen of Vraja, and, as they both walked together on
the path, pleasing Her by affectionately and continually narrating the latest
news of Lord Krsna, charming Kundalata-devi, glowing with friendship and
auspicious playfulness, became filled with happiness. I worship Kundalata-devi.
TEXT 33
Brought by the queen of Vraja to
cook many palatable dishes, of her own accord affectionate Dhanistha-devi,
using many clever tricks, happily arranged for Srimati Radharani to meet Her
lover, Krsna, in the forest groves of Nandisvara Hill. I worship
Dhanistha-devi, for whom her friend Radha is more dear than life.
TEXT 34
Her heart enchanted by
repeatedly hearing the glories of the divine couple and longing to meet Them,
Nandimukhi-devi left Avantipura and went to the land of Vraja, where she
eternally increases the happiness of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna's splendid
nectarean pastimes. I eternally offer my respectful obeisances to
Nandimukhi-devi.
TEXT 35
Her waters filled with musk and
saffron fallen from Sri Sri Radha-Krsna as They enjoy many nectar
water-pastimes, the Yamuna River happily smiles at Them with her foam and
splashes Them with the beautiful hands of her waves. I pray the Yamuna River
may bring transcendental happiness to us.
TEXT 36
Moved by the appeal of supremely
blissful Lord Krsna, the gopis
spontaneously and angrily rebuke Srimati Radharani, who is more dearer to them
than their own life's breath, and encourage Her to again enjoy pastimes with
Krsna. Bowing my head I take shelter of these dear friends of Srimati
Radharani, who daily arranges for Her to enjoy transcendental pastimes with
Lord Krsna.
TEXT 37
With great love, enthusiasm, and
respect, Krsna's servants, who are much like His friends, serve Him in many
ways and please Him by bringing the flute, vina,
water, betel nuts, and other articles. I worship Krsna's servants, who have
Patri as their leader.
TEXT 38
By offering Her betel nuts, by
massaging Her feet, by bringing Her water, by arranging for Her secret meeting
with Lord Krsna, and by performing many other services, many gopi maidservants affectionately please
Sri Radha, the great queen of Vrndavana forest. Then the divine couple enjoy
Their pastimes, these maidservants are not at all shy, even in the presence of
the great gopis for whom Sri Radha is
more dear than life. I take shelter of these gopi maidservants, who have Srimati Rupa-manjari as their leader.
TEXT 39
Considering the expanded ocean
of their own happiness to be as insignificant as a blade of grass, and filled
with pure love for Sri Krsna, the enemy of the Mura demon, the Lord's personal
associates strive to make Him always happy. I worship these fortunate
associates of Lord Krsna, the husband of the goddess of fortune.
TEXT 40
Let me worship the personal
associates of Srimati Radharani. when Radharani becomes happy they are pleased.
If for a moment they cannot see Radharani they become so distraught that they
appear almost dead. They must have performed many pious activities in their
previous births in order to attain this auspicious condition where they love
Srimati Radharani more than their own lives.
TEXT 41
In order to increase the
splendid and nectarean jealous love of Srimati Radharani, who sometimes becomes
proud of Her own good fortune, Lord Krsna briefly enjoys pastimes with other gopis, who blossom with many amorous
desires. Let us offer our respectful obeisances to these gopis, who must have performed many great pious activities in their
previous births in order to play this role in the Lord's pastimes.
TEXT 42
Affectionately protected by
Krsna, and their hearts rapt in meditation on the particles of dust falling
from the tips of His handsome lotus toenails, the gopas experience a happiness greater than the happiness of many
millions of universes. I worship these exalted gopas.
TEXT 43
Considering Him dearer than
their own lives, out of intense parental love the elderly gopis worship even a drop of perspiration from Lord Krsna's lotus
feet, and for a long time they kiss His head, decorated with handsome locks of
hair. I worship the dust of these gopi's
feet.
TEXT 44
The hooves of Sri Krsna's surabhi cows are decorated with
sapphires, their horns are studded with gold, and their white cheeks have
crippled the pride of the snow-capped mountain peaks. I pray these surabhi cows may protect us.
TEXT 45
In the company of Balarama and
His other friends, and His own body splendidly covered with the dust raised by
their hooves, the prince of Vraja daily enjoys a great festival of protecting
and milking the cows. With great happiness He eagerly enjoys pastimes with them
in the great forests and on the grand hills and riverbanks of Vraja. Let me
worship these surabhi cows.
TEXT 46
All glories to Lord Krsna's pet
bull Padmagandha, whose handsome horns are covered with gold and studded with
jewels, whose hooves are splendidly decorated with sapphires, and whose
splendid neck is decorated with a swinging garland of reddish flowers.
TEXT 47
Sometimes Lord Krsna feeds the
calves, earnestly placing small bunches of tender fresh grass in their mouths,
and sometimes He very carefully massages their limbs. I yearn to one day see
these calves of Lord Krsna jumping and frolicking in Vrndavana.
TEXT 48
The fortunate flute deeply
drinks the nectar of Lord Krsna's lips day and night. I offer my respectful
obeisances to this flute, which, with its transcendental music, weakens the
pride of Srimati Radharani.
TEXT 49
Neither the flattering cajoling
words spoken by Krsna's gopi
messengers nor the many hints, allegories, and joking instructions spoken by
Krsna's cowherd friends nor Krsna's personally falling at Her feet and begging
Her to forgive Him nor even the harsh criticisms spoken by Her intimate friends
were able to rout the proud jealous anger residing in Srimati Radha's heart.
Only Lord Krsna's flute, disdaining all previous useless attempts, was able to
very easily chase away that jealous anger. Let us glorify Lord Krsna's exalted
and powerful friend, His flute.
TEXT 50
Pleased by the music of Lord
Krsna's flute, the best of the peacocks performs a great festival of dancing in
the forest by the shore of a lake. Gracefully moving his handsome tail, he
delights the divine couple enjoying transcendental pastimes in the forest.
Meditating on this, we ardently yearn to see that dancing king of peacocks.
TEXT 51
Full of love for the residents
of Vraja and eager to protect them, Lord Krsna respectfully lifted Govardhana
Hills for seven days with His graceful hand. The caves of Govardhana Hill are
splendidly decorated with kunkuma
particles left when Sri Sri Radha-Krsna enjoyed transcendental pastimes. May
Govardhana Hill, which is studded with many beautiful jewels, protect you all.
TEXT 52
Filled with many campaka trees, beautiful young asoka trees, mango trees, kesanagara trees, bakula trees, lavanga
creepers, and madhavi creepers, the
area around Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda is very beautiful and pleasing to the
heart, and it is the favourite pastime place of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. Let me
take shelter of these two lakes: Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda.
TEXT 53
The delightful forest of
Vrndavana, beautiful Govardhana Hill, and the nectarean arena of the rasa dance, what to speak of other
places, are not equal to even a single particle of one of the atoms of
Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda. Let me take shelter of these two lakes, which are
more dear to Lord Krsna than His own life's breath.
TEXT 54
By the shore of Radha-kunda is a
grand pavilion made of gold, pearls, and precious gems. IN that pavilion, Sri
Sri Radha and Krsna, considering everything else unimportant, enjoy
transcendental pastimes as the two prime ministers of the deity of
transcendental love, and They happily anoint that kingdom of love with the
sandal paste of Their pastimes. I eternally worship this splendid grove by the
shore of Radha-kunda.
TEXT 55
The divine couple is splendidly
reflected on the shore of the lake of each other's heart. They are necklaces
lovingly worn by each other. The creator Brahma has blessed Them with all good
fortune. They are the resting place of all the opulences in the three worlds.
When will I be able to directly worship the fair and dark divine couple?
TEXT 56
With restless sidelong glances,
with movements of Their shoulders, with the nectar of gentle smiles, with
kissing each other's nectar lips, and with firm embraces, the youthful divine
couple affectionately fulfils each other's transcendental desires. Let us offer
our respectful obeisances to Them, the two splendid monarchs of ujjvala-rasa.
TEXT 57
In Their eyes is great length,
in the corner of Their eyes crookedness, in Their chest and breasts largeness,
in Their gentle words charming crookedness, in Their hips broadness, and in all
Their limbs extraordinary intense sweetness. I eternally worship the youthful
splendour Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.
TEXT 58
When the demon Arista was slain,
a great lake named Arista-kunda, filled with nectar and surrounded by
staircases, sprang from Lord Krsna's lotus foot. Because it is the favourite of
Sri Radha, this lake embraces the name Radha-kunda. I eternally worship
Radha-kunda.
TEXT 59
On the pretext of going to fetch
clear water the lotus-eyed gopis
again and again meet Lord Krsna with great happiness and love at
Pavana-sarovara lake, which is filled with many kadamba trees and the pleasant humming sounds of many bees. May
Pavana-sarovara lake protect us.
TEXT 60
Going to the shore of a certain
lake, Parjanya Maharaja, who was to become Krsna's grandfather, fasted,
performed austerities, and worshipped Lord Narayana in order to attain a worthy
grandson. Partly for this reason Sri Krsna, who is the reservoir of all
transcendental virtues and the lifter of Govardhana Hill, appeared as the son
of Nanda, the king of Vraja, and the grandson of Parjanya Maharaja. The place
where Parjanya Maharaja fasted is famous in this world as Ksunnahara-sarovara
(the lake of fasting). I pray that I may take shelter of this sacred place.
TEXT 61
Ordered by Brahma, who spoke
from the sky, Paurnamasi-devi crowned Srimati Radharani queen of the forest of
Vrndavana, by jubilantly sprinkling the waters of the Manasa-ganga and other
sacred rivers upon Her head in the company of Savitri-devi and the other
delighted demigoddesses. I pray that sacred place, known as
Unmatta-radha-sthali (the place where Srimati Radharani became overwhelmed with
happiness) may sprinkle some transcendental happiness upon me.
TEXT 62
Joking and playing, Lord Krsna
enjoyed many pastimes with His friends in a small stone pavilion built by
expert architects on Nandisvara Hill. Let me take shelter of that pavilion,
which is anointed with the transcendental fragrance of Lord Krsna's feet.
TEXT 63
As He was dancing with the intelligent, graceful, and splendidly beautiful