Sri Vraja Vilasa Stava

[madanmohandas]

Continuing after a protracted shelving

All day and night it quaffs nectar that drips,
When resting on the foe of Mura's lips;
And by its sound when to his lip applied,
Diminishes Radhika's stubborn pride;
I bow in adoration and salute,
Krishna's most fortunate Murali-flute. 48

Neither from messengers' flattery sweet,
Nor Nanda's son falling down at her feet,
Nor from his friends' cajoling nor advice;
Nor chiding from her dear friends would suffice
To drive away the haughty stubborn pride
That did in Radha's tender heart abide;
Contemning all such feeble efforts vain,
His bamboo flute with its melodic strain,
At once charms whereby she is pacified;
May Krishna's flute, his friend, be glorified! 49

Hari's dear pet peacock, Tandavik hight,
When hearing the flute is roused to delight;
And does his gaudy plumage fan and shake,
And shows his graceful dancing by the lake;
Affording immense happiness sublime
To the amorous playful pair divine;
Recalling that princely peacock with glee,
We would with eagerness his dancing see. 50

The slayer of Mura, the gracious Lord,
Did protection to the cowherds afford,
While with fond affection he took his stand,
And held aloft with his bounteous hand
Mount Govardhan. Where the couple resort
To caves and grottoes in amorous sport;
Where fallen cosmetics and ointments glow,
Which signs of Gandharva and her Lord show.
May Govardhan, shining with jewels rare,
To all of you grant his protective care. 51

Where Nipa trees the Champak vines entwine,
Where Ashok blooms and Mango blossoms shine;
Where creeping cloves the Bakul trees enlace,
And Punnagas the Jasmine vines embrace;
There in that delightsome region around,
Two charming and expansive lakes surround;
Wherein full fraught with amorous delight,
Radha and Madhava in sport unite.
At that dear place may I my refuge take;
At Radha's lake as well as Shyama's lake. 52

The delightsome Vrinda Forest sublime,
The glorious Mount Govardhan divine,
The Rasa arena of wondrous grace,
What then of any other sacred place?
Since these with an atom cannot compare
With that lake, to Mukunda precious, dear;
May I be bless'd asylum there to gain,
And in that highly sacred place remain. 53

A golden temple stands upon the shore,
With strands of pearls and jewels covered o'er;
Where the young groom and his young spouse employ
Their time in love, contemning other joy;
Like chief ministers of king Cupids' reign,
Who with great delight extend his domain.
I worship and my salutation make,
To that grand bower grove by Radha's lake. 54

Whose lustrous beauty radiance imparts,
Reflected in the clear pools of their hearts;
They are as necklaces of passion worn,
As each the other doth with love adorn;
The creator hath them with fortune bless'd,
With Lakshmi's wealth of the three worlds possessed;
Ah, when will I directly worship there,
The couple beloved, one dark, one fair? 55

The couple in their loving ecstasies,
Cast glances from the corners of their eyes;
With motions of their shoulders they display,
Subtle expression of amorous play;
In mellow humours of love that beguiles,
They love exchange with soft and tender smiles;
They with their warm embraces love express,
And to transfer nectar fond kisses press.
Let us salute sov'reigns of Cupids' reign,
The divine couple over and again. 56

Whose eyes are long and curving at the side,
Whose bosom and chest are ample and wide;
Whose gentle speech is fraught with crookedness,
Whose thighs are broad, whose limbs emit sweetness;
Radha-Madhava are beyond compare;
I always worship the young loving pair. 57

When wicked Arishta the bull was slain,
To cleanse and wash away the taint and stain,
With his foot Krishna pressed the ground to make
A nectar filled and fair expansive lake;
With broad steps to the water leading down,
And as Arishta's lake thereafter known;
As if a loving embrace to bestow,
Its waters with Radha's dear lake conflow.
I thus with longing and intensity,
This lake beloved worship constantly. 58

Which doth with dense Kadamba trees abound,
Where honey quaffers buzz and hover round,
Which is enchanting with its water clear,
Where often lotus-eyed damsels appear
To fetch water by pretence and deceit,
The son of cowherd Nanda there to meet;
And there they take joy to sport with the Lord.
May lake Pavana protection afford. 59

Parjanya, Krishna's grandfather, maintained
Worship of Narayana, and refrained
From food till his austerity had won
A dear, worthy and qualified grandson.
The slayer of the demons thus appeared,
As Giridhara, his grandson endeared.
I refuge take there in that sacred place,
Where he abstained from food and received grace. 60

[madanmohandas]

Vraja Vilasa Stava. 61-63

Collecting from the mind-born Jahnavi,
And other river waters, Savitri,
With hosts of divine goddesses drew nigh,
When Vidhi gave pronouncement from the sky,
That regal consecrating drops be shed,
The rites of coronation to be sped;
And Radha as sov'reign empress be crowned,
Of the region by Vrinda Forest bound;
Where Sri Paurnamasi conducts the rite,
Wherein Radha was thrilled with much delight.
May that place where Radha was bathed with glee,
Sprinkle some drops of happiness on me. 61

The side of Nandisvara doth abound
With massy rocks and boulders all around,
Where architects with skill and cunning fraught,
A four sided stone pavilion wrought,
Where Krishna with his friends is wont to play,
With comic jest and witty repartee;
Let me attain refuge there I entreat,
Still fragrant with the scent of Hari's feet. 62

With wit and splendour and fair grace endued,
Surrounded by a wanton multitude
Of lovesome cowherd damsels, Mura's foe,
Away with Radha from their midst did go
And slipped away beneath the shady bowers
To a covert, where he decked her with flowers;
This place is most exquisite, sweet and dear,
The supreme wonder of the triple sphere;
May that place of the divine Rasa sport,
My only refuge be and my resort. 63

[madanmohandas]

Vraja Vilasa Stava. 64-68

Gandharvika and he who Mura smote,
Take their pleasure in riding on a boat,
On the waters of Mind-born Jahnavi,
And relish there abundant ecstasy;
There glist'ning stones adjacent to the shore,
Of Govardhan, are splashed and sprinkled o'er;
May the waves of the Mind-born Jahnavi,
Afford safety and protection to me. 64

There, somewhere, Madhava with his dear friends,
Upon the rocky verdant mountain wends;
Where glist'ning colourful pigments appear,
With which he doth his own person besmear;
And there beneath the fragrant leafy boughs,
He plays with his friends while tending the cows;
And there also with Sri Radha he goes,
For love-sport in the cool shady grottoes.
That chief of all the mountains I implore
For favours and devotedly adore. 65

In the expansive lakes and flowing streams,
Under the sultry heat of summers' beams,
The divine son of the cowherd chief strays,
And with his friends in the cool water plays;
They are by turns elated and abashed,
Now splashing joyfully, now being splashed;
And as they spray water vigorously,
Each strives with each intent on victory.
These divine lakes and rivers evermore,
I contemplate devoutly and adore. 66

When the blended tones of music they hear,
Of Veena and Flute, herds of gentle deer
Are fascinated with beatitude,
And the grass drops out of their mouths half chewed,
They softly pace forward by fondness bound,
And Radha and Baka's slayer surround;
And thus they please the couple every day.
May those timid deer joy to me convey. 67

The groves are resonant with swarms of bees,
And flower scent is carried on the breeze,
And there the amorous couple display,
The sweet rising billows of Cupids' play;
Let us attend the groves with pious care,
And sweep them with our long and trailing hair. 68

[madanmohandas]

Vraja Vilasa Stava. 69-71

Beneath the canopy of leafy trees,
Frequented by the nectar-seeking bees,
The honey drops and fragrant pollen bright,
Precipitating, on the bed alight;
Where the young couple playfully resort,
And regale in the relish of love-sport;
May the beautiful stately trees adored,
Protection and safety to me afford. 69

As Gandharva and he who Mura slew,
Collect flowers, a quarrel doth ensue,
And their dear friends, observing this the while,
Surrounding them, thereat begin to smile;
And the fair creepers as if to display
Their joy, put forth new blooms on every spray;
May I be bless'd with gramercy divine,
And serve each creeper and each tender vine. 70

By the humours of love made eloquent,
Who warble dulcetly to their content,
Exhilarated, exhilarating,
The feathered choristers delighted sing;
To Vraja's couple exceedingly dear,
Who fondly their sweet song and warbling hear.
May I be fortunate to hear and see
These birds, and may they confer bliss on me. 71

[madanmohandas]

Vraja Vilasa Stava. 72-77

Roving the Mangos and Kadamba trees,
And frequenting the Bakulas, the bees,
Fondly plunder the creeping jessamine,
And resonate a droning hum sublime;
Which doth the couple pleasantly entrance,
With the soft melodious ambiance.
Let us bow down as humble refugees,
In grateful salutation to the bees. 72

The bower king, Lord Giridhara hight,
Adorns with flowers, fraught with vast delight,
The divine empress of the leafy bowers,
And she in turn decks him with heaps of flowers,
Gathered from the king of Kadamba trees;
And urged by sweet humours and ecstasies,
The couple each other charm and beguile,
With the side-long glance and the tender smile.
May that king of Kadamba trees adored,
Divine vision and happiness afford. 73

When the king of the gods bowed low his head,
With apprehension sore disquieted,
He fell prostrate and did for grace entreat,
And caught hold of the Lord’s delicate feet;
Then bathed him with Ganga brought from the sky,
While holy Surabhi did milk supply;
Thus anointed king of the cows’ domain,
He thence received of Govinda the name.
May that Govinda-kund, made manifest,
Appear before our sight and make us bless’d. 74

When the chief of Vraja, the cowherd king,
Of fine comestibles made offering;
A form colossal Agha's foe assumed,
To bless them, and the offerings consumed;
And as all the fine dainties he received,
Even Radha herself was thus deceived;
Let me take refuge at the wonderful,
Delightsome Anna-kuta festival. 75

Upon the king of mountains' lofty height,
Hari himself in exploits takes delight;
And there receives the highest honouring,
And regales in the pleasures of a king;
I worship that place with passion enthralled,
Most auspicious, and Hari-sthala called. 76

The fresh prince of lovers at dawn of day,
Erected a tollbooth to bar the way,
And proclaimed on king Cupids' stern decree,
That he, as toll-man, was to take the fee;
Thus Gandharva and her friends he obstructs,
And demands of them their fresh milk products.
I praise that platform where such deeds were shown,
Fraught with joy, and as Krishna-vedi known. 77

[madanmohandas]

Vraja Vilasa Stava 78

nibhritamajani yasmaaddaananivritirasminn-
ata idam abhidhaanam praapayattatsabhaayam/
rasavimukhanigidhe tatra tajjnaikavedye
sarasi bhavatu vaaso daananirvartanena//

The confidential place where dues were paid,
What time the Dana-keli game was played,
Is of great glory and now known to fame;
And Dana Sarovara is its name;
To those who relish sweet humours revealed;
From those who are averse to such concealed.
May I my fond dwelling at that place make,
Yclept the Dana Nivartana lake. 78

[madanmohandas]

Vraja Vilasa Stava 79/80

There are many lakes and shrines that surround
Mount Govardhan which with beauty abound;
Lake Seeri, and Brahma's fair lake divine,
Kadamba-khanda, Sumana sublime;
There Rudra's lake and Apasara's are seen,
Gaurika, Jyotsnamoksana's fair gleam;
The place of stolen garlands known to fame,
Renowned as Malyahara lake by name;
Vibhudhari and Indradhvaja hight,
Where raised platforms glisten with jewels bright;
The Chakra shrine and Mount Divine and more,
I praise with all devotion and adore. 79

Elsewhere, in his Govardhana Ashraya Dasakam, Sri Das Goswami has a verse like this,

The charming lake Jyotsnamokshana 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,
Teeming with kine, deer, birds and noble trees,
Where wafts a redolent and gentle breeze.
Who is that pious one that would not take
Refuge at Govardhan, and dwelling make? GAD.4

Ah! wondrous is the flower laden spring!
When the couple are seated on a swing;
Gandharva, Giridhara, full of grace,
Express their blooming joy upon each face;
While their dear friends, surrounding on each side,
The swing forward and backward gently guide;
I worship that place of worthy renown,
And as the fair Govinda-sthala known. 80

[madanmohandas]

Vraja Vilasa Stava. 81-84

When Kaliya had slighted his friends dear,
Who more dear than himself to him appear,
He mounted on the serpents fearful head,
And dancing, crushed him down with his firm tread;
I worship that Kaliya-hrada hight,
Where Hari danced with wonder and delight. 81

When once the foe of Mura, brave and bold,
Was oppressed with discomfort by the cold,
The twelve illustrious Sun gods appeared,
To whom he is worshipful and revered,
And while the men and women there surround,
And herds of kine emit their lowing sound,
The twelve Suns with their immense heat then shone,
And all his chilly discomfort was gone.
I seek refuge at that shrine known to fame,
Called Dvadasa-Surya tirtha by name. 82

Thus by the heat of the twelve Suns beset,
Govinda's handsome limbs began to sweat;
And from his delicate person arose,
A stream of fragrant sweat that shining flows
And collects in a pool to form a lake;
At that fair shrine my prostration I make,
Of sanctifying glory and renown,
As Praskandana Sarovara known. 83

Intent on worship of Katyayani,
The maidens plunged into the Kalindi,
To cleanse themselves and the Goddess adore,
And left their garments heaped upon the shore;
Meanwhile Mura's foe came clandestinely,
And lifted their garments and clomb a tree,
And while on that Kadamba tree he sate,
He laughed them to scorn in that shameful state;
But to please them and not to cause them pain,
And then returned their garments once again.
I take shelter at that delightsome shrine,
Where clothes were piled, Chiraghatta by name. 84

[madanmohandas]

Vraja Vilasa Stava. 85-87

By whose loud neighing and bellowing dread,
The triple sphere trembled, discomfited,
When his rolling dilated eyeballs dire
Burnt with fury, he set the world on fire;
But Baka's slayer he could not surpass,
Who slew him as one tears a blade of grass.
Thus having the wicked horse Keshi slain,
He went to wash his hands of bloody stain;
I worship at that place and bow me down,
As the delightful Keshi-tirtha known. 85

With fine rice and varieties of food,
That which is drunk or licked or sucked or chewed;
Rare comestibles with fragrance replete,
Which doth heaven's ambrosia defeat,
The fair wives of the sacrificial priests,
Rama and Acyuta with their friends feasts;
I bow down with devotion, seeking grace,
At that spot called the holy dining place. 86

Aspiring to attain the rare grace,
Of the delightsome and loving embrace,
Of noble cowherd Nanda's darling son,
The cowherd maids worshipped the Mighty One;
And proceeding to the Yamuna's shore,
With faith the illustrious God adore;
I bow down in devotion there and pray,
At Gopishvara-tirtha every day. 87

[madanmohandas]

Sri Vraja Vilasa Stava. 88/89

Noting how her father adored the Sun,
Due to fear of Kamsa, the wicked one,
Radha herself in a sequestered place,
Adored the Sun and prayed for his good grace,
That she might win for her husband forsooth,
A certain dark complexioned handsome youth.
May Suryadeva, illustrious Sun,
Grant his protection and his benison. 88

To celebrate the grand nativity
At the advent of Mura's enemy,
The lord of Vraja bounteously gives
Largess of charity and donatives,
To the vipras, steadfast in holy vows,
Two hundred thousand decorated cows;
Mounds of grain and sesame piled high,
With gold and pearls in heaps to beautify;
I bow to that place where the cowherd king,
In the Great Forest made his offering. 89

[madanmohandas]

Sri Vraja Vilasa Stava. 90-92

When Gandharvika, like a gem divine,
Was born of Kirtida's womb, like a mine;
Her glory with great joy was glorified,
By gods, sages, and all mankind beside;
The cowherd damsels and cowherd men shine,
Assembled with herds of Surabhi kine,
Upon the auspicious festivity,
At that place known as Mukhyeravali,
In Vrishabhanu raja's city bright.
May I be fulfilled of love at the sight. 90

Although she takes great joy softly to rest
Her lovers' lotus-feet upon her breast,
Yet Sri Radha is fraught with anxious care,
His tender feet might not her hard breast bare.
May he allow us always to reside,
And in the cowherd settlement abide;
Who always with a divine lustre shines,
When on the coils of Shesha he reclines. 91

Let us worship the Kama-forest hight,
Where Radha and Madhava take delight;
Where cowherd damosels much pleasure take,
Where shines the Kama-sarovara lake. 92

[madanmohandas]

Sri Vraja Vilasa Stava. 93/94

My Goddess when she playfully contends
In bouts of wrestling with her bosom friends,
She then displays a haughty wrestlers' pride,
But when a round the foe of Baka tried,
A skirmish ensued and amorous fight,
Which afforded Cupid immense delight.
Let us worship that place with bowing down,
Which as the Bhandira forest is known. 93

When the plough wielder into a rage flew,
He with the tip of his plough forceful drew
The Dark-river, for the indignity
Shown him, to drag her to the briny sea;
There men can see unto this very day,
Where Rama dragged the river from its way.
Devoutly and with wonder and delight,
I bow to that place, Rama Ghatta hight. 94

SB.10.65.23-28
Now he, Mighty Bala, inebriate,
Summoned Yamuna to facilitate
His water sport and flow nearby that spot;
But thinking him a drunkard she did not
Comply with him nor to his summons bow,
Whereat the Mighty One took up his plough,
And out of measure wrath he dragged by force
The river and redirected her course.
"Thou wanton one," said he, "and dost thou dare,
Defy my summons? Now with my ploughshare,
I shall thy channel in hundreds divide,
Thou sinful one, and minish thy great pride!"
Thus chastened by the Yadu's darling Lord,
Yamuna, in dread fear, his grace implored,
And bowing at his feet, disquieted,
The terrified Yamuna to him said,
"O Rama, Rama, of the mighty prowess!
I knew not of thy power, I confess,
That by a fraction of thyself doth hold,
As its great Lord, the universal world.
Thy Almightyhood was to me unknown,
O thou most puissant and Almighty One,
But now I have surrendered unto thee,
Who love the devout and the refugee."

[madanmohandas]

Sri Vraja Vilasa Stava. 95-97

When his fond favorite friends had by mistake,
Entered the belly of Agha the snake,
Whose virulent contagious poison dire
Burned with the heat of raging forest fire;
Then seeing this, to effect their rescue,
The foe of Mura the great demon slew.
May that place afford protection to me,
Where died the serpent called Sarpa-sthali. 95

Eager his Masters' glory to survey,
The Maker stole the calves and boys away;
Then to bring to the cows and mothers joy,
Hari assumed form of each calf and boy;
I worship at that place and bow me down,
Which is as Vatsa-hara-sthali known. 96

Having stolen the boys and calves, the god,
Prostrated in repentance like a rod;
Then with exquisite verses glorifies,
The son of Vraja's king with tear filled eyes;
And pleased hearing his praises sung the while,
Mukunda stood before him with a smile;
Let us offer praises all day and night,
Where the Four-faced his praises did recite. 97

[madanmohandas]

Sri Vraja Vilasa Stava. 98/99

The sweet fragrance conveyed upon the breeze,
Intoxicates swarms of plundering bees,
Who like storm troopers ravish all the flowers,
On wish yielding vines in the leafy bowers;
There are expansive lakes and lofty hills,
Flowing rivers and splendid bubbling rills;
Thus the twelve forests delightsome appear,
Which are to Krishna exceedingly dear;
May I always bow down there and revere. 98

The fond servant and friend, the bon ami,
Full frought with love for Mura's enemy,
More dear than millions of his vital airs,
For ten long months his severance he bears;
And in the distant cowherd settlement,
He spent his time with joy and brought content;
The narratives of Krishna's exploits told,
And constantly his qualities extolled,
To the cowherds who did their life regain,
He said, 'you will see Krishna here again!'
I bow and bear the feet upon my head
Of Uddhava, Krishna's most beloved. 99

[madanmohandas]

Concluding Vraja Vilasa Stava. 100-107

Where even Brahma, the creating god,
Desires to take his birth as the sod
In Vraja, or as a bush or a shrub,
That they might his person with their feet rub;
Let me salute with pious reverence,
And bow to all in order and sequence,
To the dwellers of Vraja glorified,
Who always in Vraja fondly abide. 100

Due to excess of affection steadfast,
Having devotion practiced in the past,
In worship of Gandharva beautiful,
Along with Acyuta, immutable;
There are some who have my Queens' grace received,
And a dwelling by her dear lake achieved;
These great and learned ones of self-control,
Are dear to me as my own life and soul. 101

Whatever grass, shrubs and insects are here,
In the settlement of cowherds are dear;
Full fraught with bliss and wondrous fair display,
Where they assist Mukunda in his play.
And scripture over and again repeats,
How even Brahma earnestly entreats
To always dwell there, and others beside,
Devoutly pray in Vraja to reside.
I also bow me down and humbly pray,
To all the creatures that in Vraja stay. 102

Wandering about here and there at will,
Down the path by lofty Govardhan hill,
Will I exclaim loudly in mad despair,
'O Radha Krishna!' while loitering there?
And stumbling as I go from place to place,
Where he revealed his pastimes and his grace,
When will I in divine ecstasy rove,
And sprinkle those places with tears of love? 103

Nor Brahma, Narada, nor Hara too,
Nor great devotees who pure love pursue,
The full knowledge of Vraja comprehend,
Nor can of its rare sweetness apprehend;
But Baladeva and his mother dear,
Due to their fond love have perception clear.
Then how should it be possible for me,
To describe its glory adequately? 104

Even if I had opportunity,
To go to Acyuta's divine city,
And bathe in streams of loving ecstasies,
With Acyuta's beloved devotees,
I would not there or anywhere betake
Myself, and dwelling in Vraja forsake;
And even if the Vraja-people tell
Their gossip, I pray I may with them dwell. 105

With fond passion Sri Rupa manjari,
Attends the Mighty Mura's enemy,
And doth Radha's fair qualities extol;
May her two feet be my exclusive goal. 106

Whoever daily doth this hymn recite,
As the 'Vraja-Vilasa-Stava' hight,
Which describes the persons and the places,
Of Vraja with their charm and sweet graces;
And with eagerness the reading maintain,
The divine manifest vision will gain,
Of the sweet and amorous couple fair,
Surrounded by their companions there. 107

Thus ends Sri Raghunatha das Goswami's
Sri Vraja-Vilasa-Stava.