श्रीगोवर्द्धनाष्टकम् (२)
Śrī Govardhanāṣṭakam (2)
Eight verses in praise of Śrī Govardhana
By Śrīmad Rūpa Gosvāmīpāda
नमः श्रीगोवर्द्धनाय ।
namaḥ śrī-govardhanāya |
Obeisance unto Śrī Govardhana.
नीलस्कन्धोज्ज्वलरुचिभरैर्मण्डिते बाहुदण्डे
छत्रच्छायां दधदघरिपोर्लब्धसप्ताहवासः ।
धारापातग्लपितमनसां रक्षिता गोकुलानां
कृष्णप्रेयान्प्रथयतु सदा शर्म गोवर्द्धनो नः ॥१॥
nīla-skandhojjvala-ruci-bharair maṇḍite bāhu-daṇḍe
chatra-cchāyāṁ dadhad agha-ripor labdha-saptāha-vāsaḥ |
dhārā-pāta-glapita-manasāṁ rakṣitā gokulānāṁ
kṛṣṇa-preyān prathayatu sadā śarma govardhano naḥ ||1||
The protector of the dear companions
Of Kṛṣṇa in Gokula,
Whose minds were distressed
By falling torrents [of rain],
Acting as an umbrella shade
Upon having attained residence for seven days
Atop the staff of the Foe of Agha’s [i.e., Kṛṣṇa’s] arm
[Which was] Decorated with an abundance of bright luster
From his swarthy shoulder—
May Govardhana
Always increase our joy.
Commentary: Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa reads the word śarma, which can also connote shelter, protection, and auspiciousness, to mean “joy” (sukham) here.
भीतो यस्मादपरिगणयन्बान्धवस्नेहबन्धान्
सिन्धावद्रिस्त्वरितमविशत्पार्वतीपूर्वजोऽपि ।
यस्तं जम्भद्विषमकुरुत स्तम्भसंभेदशून्यं
स प्रौढात्मा प्रथयतु सदा शर्म गोवर्द्धनो नः ॥२॥
bhīto yasmād aparigaṇayan bāndhava-sneha-bandhān
sindhāv adris tvaritam aviśat pārvatī-pūrvajo’pi |
yas taṁ jambha-dviṣam akuruta stambha-saṁbheda-śūnyaṁ
sa prauḍhātmā prathayatu sadā śarma govardhano naḥ ||2||
He of strong heart
Who made devoid of a trace of arrogance
Jambha’s foe,
Out of fear of whom
Even Pārvatī’s elder brother
Disregarded his bonds of affection for his relatives
And quickly entered the ocean—
May Govardhana
Always increase our joy.
Commentary: Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa comments that “Jambha’s foe” (jambha-dviṣam) refers to Indra, who is known to have defeated Jambha, a former chief of the asuras, in battle, and that “Pārvatī’s elder brother” (pārvatī-pūrvajaḥ) refers to Mount Maināka, who neglected to defend his fellow mountains when they were attacked by Indra and instead fled and hid in the ocean.
आविष्कृत्य प्रकटमुकुटाटोपमङ्गं स्थवीयः
शैलोऽस्मीति स्फुटमभिदधत्तुष्टिविस्फारदृष्टिः ।
यस्मै कृष्णः स्वयमरसयद्बल्लवैर्दत्तमन्नं
धन्यः सो’यं प्रथयतु सदा शर्म गोवर्द्धनो नः ॥३॥
āviṣkṛtya prakaṭa-mukuṭāṭopam aṅgaṁ sthavīyaḥ
śailo’smīti sphuṭam abhidadhat tuṣṭi-visphāra-dṛṣṭiḥ |
yasmai kṛṣṇaḥ svayam arasayad ballavair dattam annaṁ
dhanyaḥ so’yaṁ prathayatu sadā śarma govardhano naḥ ||3||
Revealing a vast form
With a manifest multitude of crests,
And saying clearly, “I am the mountain,”
With his eyes wide with satisfaction,
Kṛṣṇa personally ate the food
Offered by the ballavas unto whom—
May he, fortunate Govardhana,
Always increase our joy.
अद्याप्यूर्जप्रतिपदि महान्भ्राजते यस्य यज्ञः
कृष्णोपज्ञं जगति सुरभीसैरिभीक्रीडयाढ्यः ।
शष्पालम्बोत्तमतटया यः कुटुम्बं पशूनां
सोऽयं भूयः प्रथयतु सदा शर्म गोवर्द्धनो नः ॥४॥
adyāpy ūrja-pratipadi mahān bhrājate yasya yajñaḥ
kṛṣṇopajñaṁ jagati surabhī-sairibhī-krīḍayāḍhyaḥ |
śaṣpālambottama-taṭayā yaḥ kuṭumbaṁ paśūnāṁ
so’yaṁ bhūyaḥ prathayatu sadā śarma govardhano naḥ ||4||
He whose worship on Pratipad in Ūrja,
Inaugurated by Kṛṣṇa [himself],
Shines greatly still today,
He who is enriched
With the play of cows and buffaloes,
He who is an abounding household of animals
By virtue of his slopes fostering fresh grasses—
May Govardhana
Always increase our joy.
Commentary: Ūrja is another name for the month of Kārtika [which typically occurs each year during October and November], and Pratipad refers to the first day of the waxing fortnight of this month. Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa comments that the “fresh grasses” (śaṣpa) on Govardhana’s banks arise from the cool created by his numerous waterfalls (bahu-nirjhara-vāri-śaityotpannānāṁ bāla-tṛṇānām).
श्रीगान्धर्वादयितसरसीपद्मसौरभ्यरत्नं
हृत्वा शङ्कोत्करपरवशैरस्वनं सञ्चरद्भिः ।
अम्भःक्षोदप्रहरिककुलेनाकुलेनानुयातै-
र्वातैर्जुष्टः प्रथयतु सदा शर्म गोवर्द्धनो नः ॥५॥
śrī-gāndharvā-dayita-sarasī-padma-saurabhya-ratnaṁ
hṛtvā śaṅkotkara-paravaśair asvanaṁ sañcaradbhiḥ |
ambhaḥ-kṣoda-praharika-kulenākulenānuyātair
vātair juṣṭaḥ prathayatu sadā śarma govardhano naḥ ||5||
Frequented by breezes
[Which are] Gripped by fear and moving sliently
After having stolen the jewel
Of the fragrances of the lotuses
In Śrī Gāndharvā and her beloved’s ponds,
And [which so also are] followed by the agitated watchmen
Of water droplets [therefrom]—
May Govardhana
Always increase our joy.
Commentary: “Śrī Gāndharvā and her beloved’s ponds” (śrī-gāndharvā-dayita-sarasī) refers to Śrī Rādhā Kuṇḍa and Śrī Śyāma Kuṇḍa. Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa explains that the author protrays the fragrant nature of Govardhana by stating that breezes as though steal the fragrances of lotuses in Śrī Rādhā Kuṇḍa and Śrī Śyāma Kuṇḍa and frequently spread such fragrances acrosss Govardhana as they blow by (atra padma-saurabhyeti sugandhitvam). Similarly, the author protrays the mildness of Govardhana by saying that these breezes move silently (asvanam iti mandatvam) and so also the coolness of Govardhana by saying that droplets of water from these kuṇḍas follow these breezes (ambhaḥ-kṣodeti śītalatvaṁ vātānāṁ vyajyate) and as if seize (ākrāntaiḥ) these “stolen” fragrances just as watchmen might chase someone who has deceitfully stolen jewels they are charged with protecting (jāgraho’smān vañcayitvā ratnāny ete nayantīti svāmibhīti vyagrety arthaḥ). In sum, the author seeks to convey the greatness and kingship [i.e., preeminence] of Govardhana on account of its being adorned with such mild, fragrant, misty breezes (gires tat-sevitatvān mahan-mahārājatvaṁ ceti).
कंसारातेस्तरिविलसितैरातरानङ्गरङ्गै-
राभीरीणां प्रणयमभितः पात्रमुन्मीलयन्त्याः ।
धौतग्रावावलिरमलिनैर्मानसामर्त्यसिन्धो-
र्वीचिव्रातैः प्रथयतु सदा शर्म गोवर्द्धनो नः ॥६॥
kaṁsārātes tari-vilasitair ātarānaṅga-raṅgair
ābhīrīṇāṁ praṇayam abhitaḥ pātram unmīlayantyāḥ |
dhauta-grāvāvalir amalinair mānasāmartya-sindhor
vīci-vrātaiḥ prathayatu sadā śarma govardhano naḥ ||6||
He whose stones are washed
By sets of taintless waves
Of the Mānasa Gaṅgā,
[Which is] Manifesting in all directions
The vessel of the ābhīrīs’ affection
For Kaṁsa’s Foe
Through the merriment of amour
Based on a fare
In the midst of play upon a boat—
May Govardhana
Always increase our joy.
Commentary: The Mānasa Gaṅgā is referred to in this verse by the name Mānasāmartya-sindhu, wherein Amartya-sindhu is a synonym for the Gaṅgā. Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa explains that the word sindhu, which typically connotes an ocean, is also known to refer to a river, and that the Gaṅgā is known as the river (sindhu) of the immortals (amartya) because of its presence in Svarga, the abode of the devas (amartya sindhur deva-nadī gaṅgety arthaḥ). Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa further comments that the Mānasa Gaṅgā’s waves being described as “taintless” (amalinaiḥ) implies that they are bright like milk (amalinair iti dugdhavad ujjvalair ity arthaḥ). The ābhīrīs’, that is, the gopīs’, affection (praṇayaṁ sneham) for Kaṁśa’s Foe, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is described by the author as a vessel (pātram) because it is the basis of Kṛṣṇa’s becoming captivated, or, because it is the means to drink the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s mellifluousness (praṇayaṁ kīdṛśam ity āha—pātram iti kṛṣṇa-vaśyatāyāḥ bhājanam adhikaraṇam ity arthaḥ, tan-mādhuryāmṛta-pāna-sādhanaṁ vā). The Mānasa Gaṅgā is described as “manifesting” (unmīlayantyāḥ) this affection (praṇayaṁ) in the sense that she provides all the facility for this līlā of Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs playfully quarrelling over how a fare Kṛṣṇa demands for his boat rowing is to be paid.
यस्याध्यक्षः सकलहठिनामाददे चक्रवर्ती
शुल्कं नान्यद्व्रजमृगदृशामर्पणाद्विग्रहस्य ।
घट्टस्योच्चैर्मधुकररुचस्तस्य धामप्रपञ्चैः
श्यामप्रस्थः प्रथयतु सदा शर्म गोवर्द्धनो नः ॥७॥
yasyādhyakṣaḥ sakala-haṭhinām ādade cakravartī
śulkaṁ nānyad vraja-mṛga-dṛśām arpaṇād vigrahasya |
ghaṭṭasyoccair madhukara-rucas tasya dhāma-prapañcaiḥ
śyāma-prasthaḥ prathayatu sadā śarma govardhano naḥ ||7||
He whose plateau is greenish
On account of the radiance of the toll-station [thereupon],
Highly resplendant with emeralds,
The overseer of which, [Kṛṣṇa,]
The king of all who are insistent,
Did not accept any fare
Other than an offering of the body
From the doe-eyed [ladies] of Vraja—
May Govardhana
Always increase our joy.
Commentary: Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa comments that when Śrī Kṛṣṇa, pretending to be the overseer of the toll-station on Govardhana, held a pot used for sacrifice on his head (yajñiya-dhṛta-kumbha-śirasāṁ) and insisted upon being paid a fare for allowing the gopīs to pass by along the path, Kṛṣṇa’s not accepting any fare from the gopīs other than an offering of their bodies implies that he did indeed accept this offering of their bodies as the fare he sought to receive (vraja-mṛga-dṛśāṁ vigrahasyārpaṇād anyac chuklaṁ paṇaṁ nādade; vigrahārpaṇam eva paṇaṁ svīcakra ity arthaḥ).
गान्धर्वायाः सुरतकलहोद्दामतावावदूकैः
क्लान्तश्रोत्रोत्पलवलयिभिः क्षिप्तपिञ्छावतंसैः ।
कुञ्जैस्तल्पोपरि परिलुठद्वैजयन्तीपरीतैः
पुण्याङ्गश्रीः प्रथयतु सदा शर्म गोवर्द्धनो नः ॥८॥
gāndharvāyāḥ surata-kalahoddāmatā-vāvadūkaiḥ
klānta-śrotrotpala-valayibhiḥ kṣipta-piñchāvataṁsaiḥ |
kuñjais talpopari pariluṭhad-vaijayantī-parītaiḥ
puṇyāṅga-śrīḥ prathayatu sadā śarma govardhano naḥ ||8||
He of lovely beauty of figure
By virtue of kuñjas
Expressive of Gāndharvā’s boldness
In quarrels of amour
By means of wilting lotus flower earrings,
Scattered peacock-feather crests,
And discarded crushed vaijayantī garlands on beds—
May Govardhana
Always increase our joy.
यस्तुष्टात्मा स्फुटमनुपठेच्छ्रद्धया शुद्धयान्त-
र्मेध्यः पद्याष्टकमचटुलः सुष्ठु गोवर्द्धनस्य ।
सान्द्रं गोवर्द्धनधरपदद्वन्द्वशोणारविन्दं
विन्दन्प्रेमोत्करमिह करोत्यद्रिराजे स वासम् ॥९॥
yas tuṣṭātmā sphuṭam anupaṭhec chraddhayā śuddhayāntar-
medhyaḥ padyāṣṭakam acaṭulaḥ suṣṭhu govardhanasya |
sāndraṁ govardhana-dhara-pada-dvandva-śoṇāravindaṁ
vindan premotkaram iha karoty adrirāje sa vāsam ||9||
One of satisfied mind and pure interior
Who repeatedly recites clearly and excellently
This poem of eight verses about Govardhana
With pure śraddhā
Attains a great abundance of prema
For the two reddish lotus feet
Of The Lifter of Govardhana
And resides here upon the king of mountains [i.e., Govardhana].
Commentary: Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa comments that this second Govardhanāṣṭakam composed by Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī is known as Śrī Girīndra-vāsānandada, “That which bestows the joy of residing upon the beautiful king of mountains.”
Meter
Mandākrāntā
Source
Stava-mālā editions by Śrī Purī Dāsa Mahāśaya, Śrī Rāma Nārāyaṇa Vidyāratna, and Nirṇaya Sāgara Press.