Śrī Keśavāṣṭakam
Śrī Keśavāṣṭakam
Eight verses in praise of Śrī Keśava’s return to Vraja from the forest in the evening
By Śrīmad Rūpa Gosvāmīpāda
Cows
yayā sarvam idaṁ vyāptaṁ jagat sthāvara-jaṅgamam
yayā sarvam idaṁ vyāptaṁ jagat sthāvara-jaṅgamam |
tāṁ dhenuṁ śirasā vande bhūta-bhavyasya mātaram ||
(Mahābhārata: 13.79.15)
“With my head I offer obeisance
To the cow,
The mother of the past and future,
She by whom this entire world
Of moving and inert beings is pervaded.”
namo gobhyaḥ śrīmatībhyaḥ saurabheyībhya eva ca
namo gobhyaḥ śrīmatībhyaḥ saurabheyībhya eva ca |
namo brahma-sutābhyaś ca pavitrābhyo namo namaḥ ||
(Agni Purāṇa: 292.19)
“Obeisance unto [all] blessed cows,
Unto these descendants of Surabhi.
Obeisance unto these daughters of Brahmā.
Unto these sacred ones,
Obeisance and obeisance.”
tvaṁ mātā sarva-devānāṁ tvaṁ ca yajñasya kāraṇam
tvaṁ mātā sarva-devānāṁ tvaṁ ca yajñasya kāraṇam |
tvaṁ tīrthaṁ sarva-tīrthānāṁ namas te’stu sadānaghe ||
(Skanda Purāṇa: 3.2.10.18)
“You are the mother of all the devas.
You are the means of sacrifice (yajña).
You are the object of worship of all objects of worship.
Always may my obeisance be unto you,
O taintless one.”
sarva-kāma-dudhe devi sarva-tīrthābhiṣecini
sarva-kāma-dudhe devi sarva-tīrthābhiṣecini |
pāvani surabhi śreṣṭhe devi tubhyaṁ namo namaḥ ||
(Unknown source)
“O you who yield all desires,
O Goddess,
O you who consecrate all sacred places,
O Purifier,
O Surabhi,
O Exalted one,
O Goddess,
Unto you,
Obeisance and obeisance.”
namo devyai mahādevyai surabhyai ca namo namaḥ
namo devyai mahādevyai surabhyai ca namo namaḥ |
gavāṁ bīja-svarūpāyai namas te jagad-ambike ||
namo rādhā-priyāyai ca padmāṁśāyai namo namaḥ |
namaḥ kṛṣṇa-priyāyai ca gavāṁ mātre namo namaḥ ||
kalpa-vṛkṣa-svarūpāyai sarveṣāṁ satataṁ pare |
kṣīradāyai dhanadāyai buddhidāyai namo namaḥ ||
śubhāyai ca subhadrāyai go-pradāyai namo namaḥ |
yaśodāyai kīrtidāyai dharmadāyai namo namaḥ ||
(Devī Bhāgavatam: 9.49.24–27)
“Obeisance unto the Goddess.
Unto the great Goddess,
Surabhi,
Obeisance and obeisance.
Obeisance unto you,
The seed-form of [all] cows,
O Mother of the universe.
Obeisance unto you who are dear to Rādhā.
Obeisance and obeisance
Unto you who are a part of Padmā [i.e., Lakṣmī].
Obeisance unto you who are dear to Kṛsṇa.
Unto the Mother of [all] cows,
Obeisance and obeisance.
O Great One,
Unto you who are of the nature of a desire-tree
For everyone always,
Unto you who bestow milk,
Unto you who bestow wealth,
Unto you who bestow intelligence,
Obeisance and obeisance.
Unto you who are auspicious,
Unto you who are blessed,
Unto you who bestow cows,
Obeisance and obeisance.
Unto you who bestow glory,
Unto you who bestow renown,
Unto you who bestow dharma,
Obeisance and obeisance.”
lakṣmī-śvarūpāṁ paramāṁ rādhā-sahacarīṁ parām
lakṣmī-svarūpāṁ paramāṁ rādhā-sahacarīṁ parām |
gavām adhiṣṭhātṛ-devīṁ gavām ādyāṁ gavāṁ prasūm ||
pavitra-rūpāṁ pūtāṁ ca bhaktānāṁ sarva-kāmadām |
yayā pūtaṁ sarva-viśvaṁ tāṁ devīṁ surabhiṁ bhaje ||
(Devī Bhāgavatam: 9.49.18–19)
“An excellent form of Lakṣmī,
An excellent companion of Rādhā,
The presiding goddess of [all] cows,
The foremost of [all] cows,
The mother of [all] cows,
Of sacred form,
Pure,
A fulfiller of all the desires of bhaktas,
[She] By whom the entire world is purified—
I worship her,
Goddess Surabhi.”
gavāṁ keva kathā kṛṣṇa te te’pi bhavataḥ priyāḥ
gavāṁ keva kathā kṛṣṇa te te’pi bhavataḥ priyāḥ |
mṛgā vihaṅgā bhāṇḍīra-kadambādyāś ca pādapāḥ ||
latāni kuñja-puñjāni śādvalāny api jīvanam |
bhavaty evārpayāmāsuḥ kṣīṇāś ca sarito’drayaḥ ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 1.6.116–117)
“[Baladeva to Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā:] Why talk like this [only] of the cows, O Kṛṣṇa? The animals, birds, and trees like the bhāṇḍīras and kadambas—they all too are dear to you. The creepers, multitudes of bowers, and greenswards have all offered their lives to you alone. The rivers and hills too are emaciated [in your absence].”
vijñāpya tātaṁ dohāya gato’sau gāś ca tā mudā
vijñāpya tātaṁ dohāya gato’sau gāś ca tā mudā |
militāḥ svābhitaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sāntvayāmāsa sāntvanaiḥ ||
śrī-hasta-mārjanaiḥ kaṇḍūyanair gāḥ prīṇayan hariḥ |
dudoha dohayāmāsa vatsāṁs tais taiś ca pāyayan ||
vatsā nipīyodara-pūram uccakais
tṛptiṁ gatā gopa-gaṇā yathepsitam |
dugdhvā nivṛttāś ca gavāṁ tathāpy aho
nodhaḥ-payaḥ-pūrtir avāpa hīnatām ||
kṛṣṇānanābjārpita-netra-cetasāṁ
gavāṁ svayaṁ saṁsravad audhasaṁ payaḥ |
gopāḥ stanādho-dhṛta-kumbha-sañcayaiḥ
sambhṛtya ninyuḥ purato vrajeśituḥ ||
(Govinda-līlāmṛta: 20.30–33)
“He informed his father and went to milk [the cows]. Kṛṣṇa comforted the cows delightedly assembled around him with comforting gestures. After pleasing them by scratching and wiping them with his beautiful hands, Hari milked the cows and had them [i.e., his fellow cowherds] feed the calves milk and milk [the other cows]. The calves drank a belly-full [of milk] and greatly felt satisfaction. The cowherds also milked [the cows] to the extent desired and desisted. Still, aho! The fulness with milk of the cows’ udders did not undergo depletion. The cowherds collected in pots held below their udders the milk flowing of its own accord from the udders of the cows, whose eyes and hearts were fixed on the lotus of Kṛṣṇa’s face, and [then] brought it before the king of Vraja [viz., Nanda Mahārāja].”
hihī gaṅge godāvari śabali kālindi dhavale
hihī gaṅge godāvari śabali kālindi dhavale
hihī dhūmre tuṅgi bhramari yamune haṁsi kamale |
hihī rambhe campe kariṇi hariṇīti vraja-vidhur
muhur nāma-grāhaṁ nikhila-surabhīr āhvayad asau ||
nyastāṅgaḥ prapadopari praghaṭayan jānu-dvaye dohanīṁ
kāścid dogdhi payaḥ svayaṁ tv atha parāḥ svair dohayaty unmukhīḥ |
anyāḥ pāyayati sva-tarṇaka-gaṇān kaṇḍūyanaiḥ prīṇayann
itthaṁ nanda-sutaḥ prage sva-surabhīr ānandayan nandati ||
(Govinda-līlāmṛta: 2.40–41)
“‘Hihī, Gaṅge!
Godāvari! Śabali! Kālindi! Dhavale!
Hihī, Dhūmre! Tuṅgi! Bhramari! Yamune! Haṁsi! Kamale!
Hihī, Rambhe! Campe! Kariṇi! Harini!’
Repeatedly taking their names in this way,
The Moon of Vraja calls all the cows.
Placing his body [weight] over the tips of his toes
And setting a milk vessel between his knees,
He personally milks some of the cows himself
And has other eager ones milked by his companions.
He pleases others by scratching [them]
And has their calves drink [their] milk.
In this way delighting his cows,
The Son of Nanda delights in the morning.”