Govardhana
tatraivotpadyate dainyaṁ tat premāpi sadā satām
tatraivotpadyate dainyaṁ tat premāpi sadā satām |
tat-tac-chūnyam ivāraṇya-sarid-giry-ādi paśyatām ||
sadā hāhā-ravākrānta-vadanānāṁ tathā hṛdi |
mahā-santāpa-dagdhānāṁ sva-priyaṁ parimṛgyatām ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.5.242–243)
[Uddhava to Gopa Kumāra:] “There [i.e., in Gokula], humility (dainya) and prema always arise within the sādhus who see the forests [i.e., such as Vṛndāvana], waters [such as the Yamunā], mountains [such as Govardhana], and so forth as though empty, [those sādhus] whose mouths are filled with cries of “Hā! Hā!”, and who are burned by intense sorrow at heart as they search for their Beloved.”
nirupadhi-karuṇena śrī-śacī-nandanena
nirupadhi-karuṇena śrī-śacī-nandanena
tvayi kapaṭi-śaṭho’pi tvat-priyeṇārpito’smi |
iti khalu mama yogyāyogyatāṁ tām agṛhṇan
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam ||
(Govardhana-vāsa-prārthanā-daśakam: 10)
“Although I am crooked and deceitful, I have been given to you by your dear one, the unconditionally compassionate Son of Śrī Śacī. So, may you please do not judge my fitness and unfitness, and give me a dwelling near you, O Govardhana!”
pramada-madana-līlāḥ kandare kandare te
pramada-madana-līlāḥ kandare kandare te
racayati nava-yūnor dvandvam asminn amandam |
iti kila kalanārthaṁ lagnakas tad-dvayor me
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam ||
(Govardhana-vāsa-prārthanā-daśakam: 2)
“The Pair of fresh youths liberally enact līlās of madden love in these caves of yours. Thus, for the sake of my beholding that Pair [so engaged upon you], may you please become an intermediary and give me a dwelling near you, O Govardhana!”
vinā bhavet kiṁ hari-dāsa-varya-padāśrayaṁ
vinā bhavet kiṁ hari-dāsa-varya-
padāśrayaṁ bhaktir ataḥ śrayāmi |
yam eva saprema nijeśayoḥ śrī-
govardhano me diśatām abhīṣṭam ||
(Viśvanātha Cakravartīpāda’s Govardhanāṣṭakam: 8)
“Can bhakti [to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa] ever manifest without the shelter of the feet of the best of Hari’s servants?[Never.] Therefore, I take shelter In [Govardhana,] he who is endowed with prema for his own Īśas. May Śrī Govardhana fulfill my desire.”
tvaṁ sākṣāt kṛṣṇacandrasya paripūrṇatamasya ca
tvaṁ sākṣāt kṛṣṇacandrasya paripūrṇatamasya ca |
goloke go-gaṇair yukte gopī-gopāla-saṁyute ||
tvaṁ hi govardhano nāma vṛndāraṇye virājase |
tvaṁ no girīṇāṁ sarveṣāṁ giri-rājo’si sāmpratam ||
namo vṛndāvanāṅkāya tubhyaṁ goloka-mauline |
pūrṇa-brahmātapatrāya namo govardhanāya ca ||
(Garga-saṁhitā: 2.2.13–5)
[The Himālayas praise Govardhana as he descends to the earth:] “You are known as Govardhana and you reside in Goloka, replete with the cows, cowherd men, and cowherd women of the Suprememost Being Kṛṣṇacandra. You are now the king of all of us mountains. Obeisance and obeisance unto you, the lap of Vṛndāvana, the crown of Goloka, and the umbrella of the Supreme Brahman.”
śrī-kṛṣṇa-dāsa-varyo’yaṁ śrī-govardhana-bhūdharaḥ
śrī-kṛṣṇa-dāsa-varyo’yaṁ śrī-govardhana-bhūdharaḥ |
(Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 16.232)
“The best of the servants of Śrī Kṛṣṇa is Govardhan.”
deve varṣati yajña-viplava-ruṣā vajrāsma-varṣānilaiḥ
deve varṣati yajña-viplava-ruṣā vajrāsma-varṣānilaiḥ
sīdat-pāla-paśu-striy ātma-śaraṇaṁ dṛṣṭvānukampy utsmayam |
utpāṭyaika-kareṇa śailam abalo līlocchilīndhraṁ yathā
bibrad goṣṭham apān mahendra-mada-bhit prīyān na indro gavām ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.26.25)
“Seeing the cowherd men, animals, and women sheltered in Him suffering from the lightning, hail, and wind cast down by Indra, who was angered by the disruption of the sacrifice, He compassionately smiled, lifted up Govardhan with one hand like a child playfully lifting up a mushroom, and protected Vraja. May this destroyer of Indra’s pride, the Lord of the cows, be pleased with us.”