Gita Govindam - Jayadeva- Dashavataram

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Gita GOVINDAM

by John Shepherd

 

 

>From a book of poetry to be published

Astapadi 1-1

 

O Keshava, O Hari!

When the worlds were under sea-waters

You became a fish,

And sailing like a ship

You raised Vedas above the sea.

Glory be to thee, O almighty!

 

 

Astapadi 1-2

 

O Keshava, O Hari!

You became a tortoise

With a swollen round back,

And held the weight of Mathra mountain

And the earth on your back,

That you still bear today.

Glory be to thee, O almighty!

 

 

Astapadi 1-3

 

O Keshava, O Hari!

You became a wild boar,

And to stop the earth from sinking

You held it up in your fangs,

Where it's stuck even today

Like a black-streak in the moon.

Glory be to thee, O almighty!

 

 

Astapadi 1-4

 

O Keshava, O Hari!

You became a man-lion

And with your lotus-like fingernails

You lacerated the honey-bee body

Of Hiranyakashyapa, the demon.

Glory be to thee, O almighty!

 

 

Astapadi 1-5

 

O Keshava, O Hari!

You became an amazing dwarf

And from your toe-nails emerged Ganges—

The sanctifier of the people.

You walked in three worlds

And deluded emperor Bali.

Glory be to thee, O almighty!

 

 

Astapadi 1-6

 

O Keshava, O Hari!

You became savior Parashu Rama

And filled five pools with blood

Of the tyrant Kshatriya Kings,

Thus ceasing the draught in the worlds,

And eliminating peoples' sins

By making them bathe in them.

Glory be to thee, O almighty!

 

 

Astapadi 1-7

 

O Keshave, O Hari!

You became Rama

And as desired by ten deities

In ten different directions,

You went to war with Ravaana

And gave them in sacrifice

His ten heads.

Glory be to thee, O almighty.

 

 

Astapadi 1-8

 

O Keshave, O Hari!

You became Bala Rama

The wielder of the plough,

And covering your fair body

In dark-cloudy clothes,

You hit the plough in Yamauna

That trembled in ripples,

Sending the ripples to your clothes.

Glory be to thee, O almighty!

 

 

Astapadi 1-9

 

O Keshava, O Hari!

You became kind Buddha

And found fault with animal-sacrifices

As taught by the words of Vedas.

Aha! What a change in rituals!

Glory be to thee, O almighty!

 

 

Astapadi 1-10

 

O Keshava, O Hari!

You became Kalki

And waved your sword like a comet

Ending all unruly races.

Many are your deeds indeed!

Glory be to thee, O almighty.

 

 

Astapadi 1-11

 

O Keshava, O Hari!

You can come in ten

different forms to save us,

I pray to thee to listen

to these songs of poet Jayadeva.

They're comforting and assuring

To the well-being of the world.

Glory be to thee, O almighty.

 

 

Verse 1-5

 

You saved Vedas becoming a fish,

Bore the earth' weight becoming a tortoise,

Lifted the earth in your fangs,

Slashed Hirankashyapa as a lion-man,

Deluded Bali being a dwarf-boy,

Killed Kshatriya's as Parusu Rama

Conquered Ravaana by becoming Rama,

Wielded plough as Bala Rama,

Fostered non-violence as Buddha,

Ended unruly races appearing as Kalki

And you put your ten faces as one.

My reverences are unto you, O Krishna.

 

Hari Aum!

 

*********************************************************************

GUYS, SPRING IS HERE !

 

enjoy the cool breeze, smell the fragrant flowers, hear the cuckoo

birds sing , and swim in the perennial love of Krishna PREMA with the

guiless heart of a gopi!

 

Once the moon -faced Krishna (pPDMANANA) appears in the lotus of your

heart ( hridaya kamalam) in this spreing season , the formless

BraHman will also manifest in all the four seasons of your Being!