Śrīla Raghunāth Dās Goswāmī Prabhu’s Śrī Śrī Govardhana-vāsa-prārthanā-daśakam.
The preferred prayer to Śrī Govardhan of Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Saraswatī Ṭhākur.
Śrī Śrī Govardhana-vāsa-prārthanā-daśakam
Ten prayers for a dwelling near Śrī Govardhan
nija-pati-bhuja-daṇḍa-chchhatra-bhāvaṁ prapadya
pratihata-mada-dhṛṣṭoddaṇḍa-devendra-garva
atula-pṛthula-śaila-śreṇi-bhūpa priyaṁ me
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam [1]
prapadya–You attained bhāvaṁ–the position chchhatra–of the umbrella daṇḍa–atop the handle bhuja–of the arm nija–of your pati–Lord [and] pratihata–crushed garva–the pride mada–of the proud, dhṛṣṭa–arrogant, uddaṇḍa–impudent indra–king deva–of the gods. [You are] atula–the incomparable bhūpa–king pṛthula–of [all] great śaila-śreṇi–mountains. dehi–Please give me–me priyaṁ–a dear nivāsaṁ–dwelling nija–of yours nikaṭa–near tvam–you, govardhana–O Govardhan! [1]
You became the umbrella atop the handle of the arm of your Lord and crushed the pride of proud, arrogant, impudent Indra. You are the incomparable king of all great mountains. Please give me a dear dwelling near you, O Govardhan!
pramada-madana-līlāḥ kandare kandare te
rachayati nava-yūnor dvandvam asminn amandam
iti kila kalanārthaṁ lagnakas tad-dvayor me
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam [2]
dvandvam–The pair nava–of young yūnoḥ–adolescents amandam–liberally rachayati–perform līlāḥ–Pastimes pramada–of mad madana–love asmin–in these kandare kandare–caves te–of yours. iti kila–So, artham–for the purpose kalana–of seeing [these Pastimes] dvayoḥ–of the two tat–of Them, [you are] lagnakaḥ–the intermediary. dehi–Please give me–me nivāsam–a dwelling nija–of yours nikaṭa–near tvam–you, govardhana–O Govardhan! [2]
The Divine Couple liberally enact Pastimes of mad love in your caves. So that I can see Their Pastimes, please give me a dwelling near you, O Govardhan!
anupama-maṇi-vedī-ratna-siṁhāsanorvī-
ruha-jhara-dara-sānu-droṇi-saṅgheṣu raṅgaiḥ
saha bala-sakhibhiḥ saṅkhelayan sva-priyaṁ me
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam [3]
saṅkhelayan–You induce sva-priyaṁ–your beloved [to] raṅgaiḥ–joyfully [play] saha–with bala–Balarām [and His] sakhibhiḥ–friends saṅgheṣu–amidst [your] ūrvīruha–trees jhara–brooks, dara–caves, sānu–plateaus, droṇi–valleys, [and] anupama–incomparable maṇi–jewelled vedī–terraces, [which resemble] ratna–jewelled siṁhāsana–thrones. dehi–Please give me–me nivāsam–a dwelling nija–of yours nikaṭa–near tvam–you, govardhana–O Govardhan! [3]
You induce your beloved to joyfully play with Balarām and His friends amidst your trees, brooks, caves, plateaus, valleys, and incomparable jeweled terraces, which resemble jeweled thrones. Please give me a dwelling near you, O Govardhan!
rasa-nidhi-nava-yūnoḥ sākṣiṇīṁ dāna-keler
dyuti-parimala-viddhāṁ śyāma-vedīṁ prakāśya
rasika-vara-kulānāṁ modam āsphālayan me
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam [4]
prakāśya–You provide śyāma–the dark, dyuti–lustrous, [and] parimala-viddhāṁ–fragrant vedīṁ–terrace [that is] sākṣiṇīṁ–the witness dāna–of the fare keleḥ–Pastime nava–of the young yūnoḥ–couple, [who are] nidhi–an ocean rasa–of rasa, [and] modam āsphālayan–you delight vara–the best kulānāṁ–amongst the rasika–relishers of rasa. dehi–Please give me–me nivāsam–a dwelling nija–of yours nikaṭa–near tvam–you, govardhana–O Govardhan! [4]
You provide the dark, lustrous, fragrant terrace that witnesses the fare Pastime of the Young Couple, who are an ocean of rasa, and you delight the best amongst those who relish of rasa. Please give me a dwelling near you, O Govardhan!
hari-dayitam apūrvaṁ rādhikā-kuṇḍam ātma-
priya-sakham iha kaṇṭhe narmaṇāliṅgya guptaḥ
nava-yuva-yuga-khelās tatra paśyan raho me
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam [5]
iha–Here, narmaṇā–playfully āliṅgya–embracing kaṇṭhe–around the neck [your] ātma–own priya–dear sakham–friend rādhikā-kuṇḍam–Rādhā Kuṇḍa, apūrvaṁ–the incomparable dayitam–favourite hari–of the Lord, guptaḥ–you hide rahaḥ–in a secluded place tatra–there [and] paśyan–watch khelāḥ–the Pastimes nava–of the new, yuva–youthful yuga–Couple. dehi–Please give me–me nivāsam–a dwelling nija–of yours nikaṭa–near tvam–you, govardhana–O Govardhan! [5]
Playfully embracing around the neck your dear friend Rādhā Kuṇḍa, the incomparable favourite of the Lord, you hide in a secluded place beside her and watch the Pastimes of the Young Couple. Please give me a dwelling near you, O Govardhan!
sthala-jala-tala-śaṣpair bhūruhach-chhāyayā cha
prati-padam anukālaṁ hanta samvardhayan gāḥ
tri-jagati nija-gotraṁ sārthakaṁ khyāpayan me
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam [6]
hanta–Indeed, [you] anukālaṁ–always samvardhayan–fully nourish gāḥ–the cows prati-padam–at every place [with your] sthala–land, jala–water, tala–plains, [and] śaṣpaiḥ–grass, [and] cha–and chhāyayā–the shade bhūruhat–of [your] trees, [and thus] khyāpayan–proclaim sārthakaṁ–the fulfilment nija–of your gotraṁ–name tri-jagati–throughout the three worlds. dehi–Please give me–me nivāsam–a dwelling nija–of yours nikaṭa–near tvam–you, govardhana–O Govardhan! [6]
You always fully nourish the cows everywhere with your land, water, plains, and grass, and the shade of your trees, and thus proclaim the fulfilment of your name throughout the three worlds. Please give me a dwelling near you, O Govardhan!
Note: Govardhana means “he who nourishes (vardhana) the cows (go).”
sura-pati-kṛta-dīrgha-drohato goṣṭha-rakṣāṁ
tava nava-gṛha-rūpasyāntare kurvataiva
agha-baka-ripuṇochchhair datta-māna drutaṁ me
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam [7]
[You are] uchchhaiḥ–highly datta-māna–honoured ripuṇā–by the enemy agha–of Agha baka–and Baka, [who] eva rakṣāṁ kurvatā–fully protected [His] goṣṭha–community [from the] dīrgha–long drohataḥ–attack kṛta–made pati–by the king sura–of the gods antare–beneath tava–your rūpasya–form [as their] nava–new gṛha–home. [Please] drutaṁ–quickly dehi–give me–me nivāsam–a dwelling nija–of yours nikaṭa–near tvam–you, govardhana–O Govardhan! [7]
You are highly honoured by Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the enemy of Agha and Baka, who protected His community from the onslaught of Indra beneath your form as their new home. Please quickly give me a dwelling near you, O Govardhan!
giri-nṛpa hari-dāsa-śreṇi-varyeti nāmā-
mṛtam idam uditaṁ śrī-rādhikā-vaktra-chandrāt
vraja-nava-tilakatve kḷpta vedaiḥ sphuṭaṁ me
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam [8]
nṛpa–O king giri–of mountains! amṛtam–The nectar nāma–of [your] name varya–“the best hari–of the Lord’s dāsa-śreṇi–servants”, [when] idam–this iti–thus uditaṁ–came forth chandrāt–from the moon-like vaktra–face śrī-rādhikā–of Śrī Rādhikā, [you were] sphuṭaṁ–clearly kḷpta–established vedaiḥ–by the Vedas nava–as the new tilakatve–tilak vraja–of Vraja. dehi–Please give me–me nivāsam–a dwelling nija–of yours nikaṭa–near tvam–you, govardhana–O Govardhan! [8]
O king of mountains! When the nectar of your name “Hari-dāsa-varya: the best of the Lord’s servants” came forth from the moon-like face of Śrī Rādhikā, you were clearly established by the Vedas as the new tilak of Vraja. Please give me a dwelling near you, O Govardhan!
nija-jana-yuta-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-maitrī-rasākta-
vraja-nara-paśu-pakṣi-vrāta-saukhyaika-dātaḥ
agaṇita-karuṇatvān mām urīkṛtya tāntaṁ
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam [9]
[You] eka–alone [are] dātaḥ–the giver saukhya–of happiness nara–to the people, paśu–animals, [and] pakṣi-vrāta–birds vraja–of Vraja, [who are] ākta–anointed rasa–with the mood maitrī–of friendship rādhā–for Rādhā and kṛṣṇa–Kṛṣṇa, yuta–accompanied nija–by Their jana–associates. [Because you are] agaṇita–immeasurably karuṇatvān–merciful, urīkṛtya–please accept mām–me, [who am] tāntaṁ–wearied, [and] dehi–give [me] nivāsam–a dwelling nija–of yours nikaṭa–near tvam–you, govardhana–O Govardhan! [9]
You alone give happiness to the people, animals, and birds of Vraja, who are filled with the mood of friendship towards Rādhā, Kṛṣṇa, and Their companions. You are immeasurably merciful. So, please accept me, a wearied soul, and give me a dwelling near you, O Govardhan!
nirupadhi-karuṇena śrī-śachī-nandanena
tvayi kapaṭi-śaṭho ’pi tvat-priyeṇārpito ’smi
iti khalu mama yogyāyogyatāṁ tām agṛhṇan
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam [10]
api–Although [I am] kapaṭi–insincere [and] śaṭhaḥ–deceitful, asmi–I have been arpitaḥ–given tvayi–to You [by] tvat–Your priyeṇa–dear nandanena–Son śrī-śachī–of Śrī Śachī, [who is] nirupadhi–unconditionally karuṇena–merciful. iti–So, khalu–now, agṛhṇan–please do not judge tām–that, mama–my yogya–fitness [or] ayogyatāṁ–unfitness, [and] dehi–give [me] nivāsaṁ–a dwelling nija-nikaṭa–near tvam–you, govardhana–O Govardhan! [10]
Although I am insincere and deceitful, I have been given to you by Your dear Śrī Śachī Nandan, who is unconditionally merciful. So, please do not judge whether I am qualified or unqualified, and give me a dwelling near you, O Govardhan!
rasada-daśakam asya śrīla-govardhanasya
kṣiti-dhara-kula-bhartur yaḥ prayatnād adhīte
sa sapadi sukhade ’smin vāsam āsādya sākṣāch
chhubhada-yugala-sevā-ratnam āpnoti tūrṇam [11]
sa–One yaḥ–who prayatnāt–carefully adhīte–studies daśakam–these ten verses, rasada–which are nectarean, śrīla-govardhanasya–about Śrī Govardhan, asya–who [is] bhartuḥ–the king kṣiti-dhara-kula–of mountains, [will] sapadi–soon āsādya–attain vāsam–a dwelling asmin–at this sukhade–joyous [place and] tūrṇam–quickly āpnoti–attain śubhada–the precious ratnam–jewel sākṣāt–of personal sevā–service yugala–to the Couple. [11]
One who carefully studies these ten nectarean verses describing the king of mountains, Śrī Govardhan, will soon attain a dwelling at this joyous place and quickly attain the precious jewel of personal service to the Divine Couple.