Post by madanmohandas on Feb 14, 2020 15:39:36 GMT -6
Sri Raghunatha Das Goswami's Sri Govardhan-aasraya dasaka which consists of ten stanzas and a bonus stanza for good measure and blessing (phala sruti)
Who like a bee did on the lotus land
On the small finger of Murajit's hand,
And sheltered from the splashing crocodile,
Of Shakra who poured forth his rains the while;
And thereby did the cowherd folk defend,
In Gokula, as their well wishing friend.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 1
Thereafter in a shady covert nigh
Govinda kund, Shakra came from the sky,
With Surabhi, the mother of the kine,
To consecrate Hari as Lord divine;
The guilty Shakra holy water bore,
Which in ceremonial bath they pour.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 2
More splendid than the holy spots is seen,
Even greater that the heavenly stream,
Which the best of great sages glorify,
Delightsome to the heart of Lord Hari;
Govardhan in sanctity doth abound,
With many sacred lakes environed round;
Siri, Brahma, and Hara kunda named,
Apsara, Priyaka, Sri Dana famed;
Which the relish of pure love doth confer
Upon the dedicated worshiper.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 3
The charming lake Jyotsnamoksana* hight,
And Malyahara, afford vast delight;
Sumana* lake and Gauri's sacred shrine,
Balaridhvaja, Gandharva divine;
The lion throne called by Shringara's name,
Gopal and Haristhala, known to fame;
Where wafts a gentle and redolent breeze,
Teeming with kine, deer, birds and noble trees;
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 4
*Jyotsnamoksana-Chandra sarovara
*Sumana- Kusuma sarovara
With all due devotion and pious care,
On his lowered head Govardhan doth bare
The charming lake known by Arista's name,
Which from Bakari's kick a lake became;
Thus he more dear than Shiva as beseems,
Who bears upon his head the Ganga's streams;
A million times more santifying still,
Is Radha's lake, which like a precious jewel
The high grace of Murajit does confer,
Upon the devout praising worshiper.
Who is the pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 5
How blessed is the mount Govardhan where
The amorous and adolescent pair
Are always absorbed in erotic play.
Where Madhava, the ferryman one day,
Brought lovesome Radha on his boat to take
His way across Manasa Ganga lake;
But only when half of the way was crossed,
A gale blew up and the boat rudely tossed,
She prayed for help in sore perplexity,
He calmed the waves and took his wished for fee.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 6
At Govardhan during the spring time nights,
The Rasa dance is held with all delights,
Where Krishna's splendid fragrant arm is cast
About Radhika's neck to hold her fast;
Surrounded by each companion and friend,
While a hundred Shri goddesses attend.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 7
With each their group the other to oppose,
A most adventurous quarrel arose,
With glances cast keen as the pointed dart,
And wounding each with a mutual smart;
With circumlocution and witching whiles,
Perpetual laughter and tender smiles;
And thus they play the Toll levying game,
Known as the Dana-Keli sport by name.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and delling make? 8
How blessed is mount Govardhan divine,
Where with Sankarshana he tends the kine,
Where with friends like Sridama he regales,
And sings delightsome melodious scales,
Where he to a shady grotto resorts,
To dally with Radha in Cupid's sports.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 9
Nor Kalindi, the daughter of the Sun,
Nor other great mountains such grace have won,
Nor even the high Nandishvara hill,
Which hopes of Vrindavan's people fulfil,
Have earned such honour and been so adored
As Govardhan by Mukunda the Lord.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make?10
(Phala Sruti)
By mercy of mount Govardhan forsooth,
These ten verses have issued from the mouth,
Which residence at mount Govardhan grant,
From this blind and decrepit supplicant;
And thereby seek I Govardhan to please,
And celebrate his many qualities,
If I can afford him some happiness,
My labour will bear the fruit of success. 11
Who like a bee did on the lotus land
On the small finger of Murajit's hand,
And sheltered from the splashing crocodile,
Of Shakra who poured forth his rains the while;
And thereby did the cowherd folk defend,
In Gokula, as their well wishing friend.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 1
Thereafter in a shady covert nigh
Govinda kund, Shakra came from the sky,
With Surabhi, the mother of the kine,
To consecrate Hari as Lord divine;
The guilty Shakra holy water bore,
Which in ceremonial bath they pour.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 2
More splendid than the holy spots is seen,
Even greater that the heavenly stream,
Which the best of great sages glorify,
Delightsome to the heart of Lord Hari;
Govardhan in sanctity doth abound,
With many sacred lakes environed round;
Siri, Brahma, and Hara kunda named,
Apsara, Priyaka, Sri Dana famed;
Which the relish of pure love doth confer
Upon the dedicated worshiper.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 3
The charming lake Jyotsnamoksana* hight,
And Malyahara, afford vast delight;
Sumana* lake and Gauri's sacred shrine,
Balaridhvaja, Gandharva divine;
The lion throne called by Shringara's name,
Gopal and Haristhala, known to fame;
Where wafts a gentle and redolent breeze,
Teeming with kine, deer, birds and noble trees;
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 4
*Jyotsnamoksana-Chandra sarovara
*Sumana- Kusuma sarovara
With all due devotion and pious care,
On his lowered head Govardhan doth bare
The charming lake known by Arista's name,
Which from Bakari's kick a lake became;
Thus he more dear than Shiva as beseems,
Who bears upon his head the Ganga's streams;
A million times more santifying still,
Is Radha's lake, which like a precious jewel
The high grace of Murajit does confer,
Upon the devout praising worshiper.
Who is the pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 5
How blessed is the mount Govardhan where
The amorous and adolescent pair
Are always absorbed in erotic play.
Where Madhava, the ferryman one day,
Brought lovesome Radha on his boat to take
His way across Manasa Ganga lake;
But only when half of the way was crossed,
A gale blew up and the boat rudely tossed,
She prayed for help in sore perplexity,
He calmed the waves and took his wished for fee.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 6
At Govardhan during the spring time nights,
The Rasa dance is held with all delights,
Where Krishna's splendid fragrant arm is cast
About Radhika's neck to hold her fast;
Surrounded by each companion and friend,
While a hundred Shri goddesses attend.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 7
With each their group the other to oppose,
A most adventurous quarrel arose,
With glances cast keen as the pointed dart,
And wounding each with a mutual smart;
With circumlocution and witching whiles,
Perpetual laughter and tender smiles;
And thus they play the Toll levying game,
Known as the Dana-Keli sport by name.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and delling make? 8
How blessed is mount Govardhan divine,
Where with Sankarshana he tends the kine,
Where with friends like Sridama he regales,
And sings delightsome melodious scales,
Where he to a shady grotto resorts,
To dally with Radha in Cupid's sports.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make? 9
Nor Kalindi, the daughter of the Sun,
Nor other great mountains such grace have won,
Nor even the high Nandishvara hill,
Which hopes of Vrindavan's people fulfil,
Have earned such honour and been so adored
As Govardhan by Mukunda the Lord.
Who is that pious one who would not take
Refuge at Govardhan and dwelling make?10
(Phala Sruti)
By mercy of mount Govardhan forsooth,
These ten verses have issued from the mouth,
Which residence at mount Govardhan grant,
From this blind and decrepit supplicant;
And thereby seek I Govardhan to please,
And celebrate his many qualities,
If I can afford him some happiness,
My labour will bear the fruit of success. 11
