Sri Govardhana-Vasa-Prarthana-Dasakam

[Guest guest]

(These texts are best viewed with Balaram or compatible font)

 

 

Çré Govardhana-Väsa-Prärthanä-Daçakam

 

by Çrémad Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé

 

nija-pati-bhuja-daëòacchatra-bhävaà prapadya

prati-hata-madadhåñöod-daëòa-devendra-garva

atula-påthula-çaila-çreëi-bhüpa! priyaà me

nija-nikaöa-niväsaà dehi govardhana! tvam (1)

 

O beautiful Govardhana, matchlessly enormous king of mountains! Please

bestow upon me my most cherished desire - residence near your side. You took

the shape of an umbrella with the arm of your own Lord as the handle, thus

pulverising the arrogant pride of Indra who was intoxicated by his own

opulence.

 

pramada-madana-léläù kandare kandare te

racayati nava-yünor-dvandvam asminn-amandam

iti kila kalanärthaà lagna-kastad-dvayor me

nija-nikaöa-niväsaà dehi govardhana! tvam (2)

 

O Govardhana! Please grant me a dwelling near your side so that I can easily

witness and serve the youthful lovers Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa as They perform newer

and newer secret, amorous léläs within your many caves where They become

completely maddened from drinking prema. You are present and making

everything possible.

 

anupama-maëi-vedé-ratna-siàhäsanorvé-

ruhajhara-darasänudroëi-saìgheñu-raìgaiù

saha bala-sakhibhiù saìkhelayan sva-priyaà me

nija-nikaöa-niväsaà dehi govardhana! tvam (3)

 

O Govardhana! Please grant me a dwelling near your side. If you say to me,

"Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa also perform pastimes at Saìketa and at other places in the

forests, so why don't you desire to reside there?" I will reply that upon

your incomparable pearl-studded altars, on your jewelled siàhäsanas, below

your trees, in your cracks and crevices, upon your crest, and in your

multitude of caves, Çré Kåñëa and Baladeva always enjoy playful sports

accompanied by Çrédämä and the other sakhäs.

 

rasa-nidhi-nava-yünoù säkñiëéà däna-keler-

dyuti-parimala-viddhäà çyäma-vedéà prakäçya

rasika-vara-kulänäà modam äsphälayan me

nija-nikaöa-niväsaà dehi govardhana! tvam (4)

 

O Govardhana! Please grant me residence near your side because, having

manifested a lustrous black vedé (raised sitting place) with an enchanting

scent, you facilitated and witnessed the däna-keli pastime enacted by the

youthful lovers Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa, who Themselves are a treasure-house of

delicious rasa-mellows. Thus you increase the transcendental pleasure of Çré

Kåñëa's exalted rasika devotees who relish those mellows.

 

hari-dayitam apürvaà rädhikä-kuëòam ätma-

priya-sakham iha kaëöhe narmaëä 'liìgya guptaù

nava-yuva-yuga-kheläs-tatra paçyan raho me

nija-nikaöa-niväsaà dehi govardhana! tvam (5)

 

O Govardhana! Please grant me residence near your side. The unprecedented

Rädhä-kuëòa is most dear to Çré Kåñëa and also your dear friend. Embracing

Rädhä-kuëòa to your neck in a playful mood, you remain hidden there while

watching Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa enjoy pastimes in Their freshly blossoming youth.

That secluded spot is also perfectly suitable for me - I will sit right

there and relish Their pastimes with you.

 

sthala-jala-tala-çañpair-bhüruhacchäyayä ca

prati-padam anukälaà hanta saàvardhayan gäù

tri-jagati nija-gotraà särthakaà khyäpayan me

nija-nikaöa-niväsaà dehi govardhana! tvam (6)

 

O Govardhana! Please grant me residence near your side. You are worshiping

Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa with your nice spacious fields, ponds, streams and

waterfalls, forests, fresh grass, and shade-trees, and you are nourishing

Çré Kåñëa's beloved cows whose numbers are thus increasing at every moment.

Your very name 'Govardhana' (gäù means cows, and vardhayati means to nourish

and increase) is successful and renowned throughout the three worlds. If I

can reside near you, I will also be able to receive the darçana of my

iñöadeva Çré Kåñëa, who comes to you when He brings His cows out to graze.

 

sura-pati-kåta-dérgha-drohato goñöha-rakñäà

tava nava gåha-rüpasy äntare kurvataiva

agha-baka-ripuëoccair-dattamäna! drutaà me

nija-nikaöa-niväsaà dehi govardhana! tvam (7)

 

O Govardhana! Please bestow upon me residence by your side. Çré Kåñëa, the

slayer of Aghäsura and Bakäsura, showed you special honour by establishing

Vraja beneath you while holding you aloft, thereby turning you into a new

home for the Vrajaväsés and protecting them from Indra's hostility. You are

the crown of Våndävana and Kåñëa always takes care of you since you are His

dear devotee. Kåñëa's nature is that He is merciful to those who, although

unqualified, reside near those whom He honours, so by residing near you I

also will certainly obtain Kåñëa's mercy.

 

giri-nåpa! haridäsa-çreëé-varyeti-nämä-

måtam idam uditaà çré-rädhikä-vaktra-candrät

vraja-nava-tilakatve klåpta! vedaiù sphuöaà me

nija-nikaöa-niväsaà dehi govardhana! tvam (8)

 

O Giriräja Mahäräja! From the moon-like face of Çrématé Rädhikä the

following words have issued: "This hill is the best of those who are known

as Haridäsa." These words from the Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.21.18) have

revealed the nectar of your name, and all the Vedas have established you as

the fresh tilaka of Vraja-maëòala. You are such a high-class devotee, so if

I stay with you, I will certainly get high-class bhakti. Therefore the most

desirable place to reside is near your side; please grant me a dwelling

there.

 

nija-janayuta-rädhä-kåñëa-maitré-rasäkta-

vraja-nara-paçu-pakñi vräta-saukhyaika-dätaù

agaëita-karuëatvän-mäm uré-kåtya täntaà

nija-nikaöa-niväsaà dehi govardhana! tvam (9)

 

O Govardhana! You are absorbed in the rasa of friendship towards Çré

Rädhä-Kåñëa who are surrounded by Their sakhés and sakhäs, and you are the

unparalleled source of happiness for the men, women, birds, animals, and all

the living entities of Vraja. You are so kind. Kåñëa just touched you and

automatically you lifted yourself up to serve Him, becoming weightless on

His finger. You fulfill Kåñëa's deires and protect all Vrajaväsés, so please

accept this most fallen and miserable person and by mercifully bestowing

upon me residence near your side, make even poor me a worthy recipient of

Çré Kåñëa's love.

 

nirupadhi-karuëena çré-çacé-nandanena

tvayi kapaöi-çaöho 'pi tvat-priyeëärpito 'smi

iti khalu mama yogyäyogyatäà tämagåhëan

nija-nikaöa-niväsaà dehi govardhana! tvam (10)

 

O Govardhana! Although I am a cheater and a rogue, the greatly merciful Çré

Çacé-nandana Kåñëa Caitanya, who is most dear to you, has offered me unto

you (so you are therefore obliged to accept me). Without considering whether

I am qualified or unqualified, please bestow upon me a residence near your

side.

 

rasada-daçakam-asya çréla-govardhanasya

kñiti-dhara-kula-bhartur-yaùprayatnädadhéte

sa sapadi sukhade 'smin väsamäsädya säkñäc-

chubhada-yugala-sevä-ratnam äpnoti türëam (11)

 

Whoever ardently meditates on these ten nectarean verses glorifying Çréla

Govar-dhana, the master of mountains, will very quickly obtain blissful

residence near Govardhana, thereby attaining the auspicious jewel of direct

service to Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa.