Çré Govardhanäçraya-Daçaka
Ten Appeals For Shelter at Govardhana Hill
Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami
saptähaà murajit-karämbuja-paribhräjat-kaniñöhäìguliprodyad-
valgu-varäöakoparimilan-mugdha-dvirepho 'pi yaù
päthaù-kñepaka-çakra-nakra-mukhataù kroòe vrajaà dräg apät
kas taà gokula-bändhavaà giri-varaà govardhanaà näçrayet
Who would not take shelter of Govardhana hill? He,
being the friend of everyone in Gokula, is the best of
all mountains. He quickly took all the inhabitants of Sri
Vraja dhama in his lap, protecting them from death by
the devastating rainfall sent by the alligator-like king of
heavens, Indra. For seven days and nights he sheltered
them, resting on Lord Krishna's lotus-like hand, being
uplifted by Krishna's little finger, being present just as a
love-intoxicated bee on a nectar-filled seed-vessel of a
lotus.
indratve nibhåtaà gaväà suranadé-toyena dénätmanä
çakreëänugatä cakära surabhir yenäbhiñekaà hareù
yat-kacche 'jani tena nandita-janaà govinda-kuëòaà kåté
kas taà go-nikarendra-paööa-çikharaà govardhanaà näçrayet
On the land bordering Govardhana hill, the heavenly
surabhi cow, who was followed by humbled Indra,
secretly bathed Lord Hari with water from the celestial
Ganges, thus crowning Him to be the monarch and
protector of all cows. From the water of this bathing
ceremony the lake Govinda-kunda was created which
delights all people. Which accomplished person would
not take shelter of this Govardhana hill whose peaks are
the resting places for Govinda, the king of the multitude
of cows?
svar-dhuny-ädi-vareëya-tértha-gaëato hådyäny ajasraà hareù
séri-brahma-haräpsaraù-priyaka-tat-çré-däna-kuëòäny api
prema-kñema-ruci-pradäni parito bhräjanti yasya vraté
kas taà manyä-munéndra-varëita-guëaà govardhanaà näçrayet
The many sacred places of pilgrimage all around Govardhana
hill, Balarama-kund, Brahma-kund, Rudrakund,
Apsara-kund, Priyaka-kund and Sri Dan Nivartan
kund, are forever dearer to Lord Hari's heart than even
multitudes of the most exalted places as the heavenly
Ganges and others. These lakes are bestowing love for
the Lord, auspiciousness and taste for devotional service.
What person engaged in religious vows would not take
shelter of this Govardhana hill whose wonderful qualities
are described by the most revered sages?
jyotsnämokñaëa-mälya-hära-sumano-gauré-baläri-dhvajä
gändharvädi-saräàsi nirjhara-giriù çåìgära-siàhäsanam
gopälo 'pi hari-sthalaà harir api sphürjanti yat-sarvataù
kas taà go-måga-pakñi-våkña-lalitaà govardhanaà näçrayet
Govardhana hill is the place where Candra-sarovar, Papa
mocana-kund, Malyahar-kund, Kusuma-sarovar, Gaurikund,
Balaridhvaj-kund, Gandharva-kund, and other
lakes are splendidly present. There are many mountain
streams, and naturally formed stone-thrones and sitting
places suitable for amorous pastimes. There are many
pastime places of the Lord everywhere. Who would not
take shelter of this Govardhana hill who is charming with
it's many cows, deers, birds and trees?
gaìgä-koöy-adhikaà bakäri-pada-järiñöäri-kuëòaà vahan
bhaktyä yaù çirasä natena satataà preyän çiväd apy abhüt
rädhä-kuëòa-maëià tathaiva murajit-prauòha-prasädaà dadhät
preyaù-stavyamano 'bhavat ka iha taà govardhanaà näçrayet
The kund belonging to the foe of Arishta (Shyamakund),
which was created by His foot is millions of times greater
than Mother Ganga. Sri Govardhana always carries this
kund on his bowed head with devotion and has thus
become dearer to the Lord than even Lord Shiva. In the
same way he is holding the jewel Sri Radhakund on his
head which is the object of Krishna's complete favour.
Thus he has become most praiseworthy even amongst
the most dear. Who would not take shelter of this Govardhana
hill?
yasyäà mädhava-näviko rasavatém ädhäya rädhäà tarau
madhye caïcala-keli-päta-valanät träsaiù stuvatyäs tataù
sväbhiñöhaà paëam ädadhe vahati sä yasmin mano-jähnavé
kas taà tan nava-dam-pati-pratibhuvaà govardhanaà näçrayet
On Govardhana hill the Manasi Ganga is flowing. In the
middle of her waters the boatman Madhava has taken
sweet Radha on a boat. Ganga Devi's waters are playing
being unsteady, so her waves are shaking the boat. Out
of fear Sri Radha is offering prayers and then Madhava
takes from Her His desired wages. Who would not take
shelter of this Govardhana hill who is pratibhü form of
this divine fresh couple.
räse çré-çata-vandya-sundara-sakhé-våndäïcitä saurabhabhräjat-
kåñëa-rasäla-bähu-vilasat-kaëöhé madhau mädhavé
rädhä nåtyati yatra cäru valate räsa-sthalé sä parä
yasmin sa sukåté tam unnatam aye govardhanaà näçrayet
O, what pious person would not take shelter of this
sublime Govardhana hill where Sri Radha , the beloved
of Madhava, dances in the spring season at the transcendental
räsa-lélä place? She moves beautifully, being
revered by hundreds of groups of worshipable lovely
friends. Krishna has placed His fragrant arm playfully
around Her neck.
yatra svéya-gaëasya vikrama-bhåtä väcä muhuù phullatoù
smera-krüra-dåg-anta-vibhrama-çaraiù çaçvan mitho viddhayoù
tad yünor nava-däna-såñöija-kalir bhaìgyä hasan jåmbhate
kas taà tat-påthu-keli-sücana-çilaà govardhanaà näçrayet
At Govardhana, the ever-fresh love-quarrel of the divine
couple about paying tax is laughingly unfolding
by indirect, crooked speech. The divine couples' faces
are blossoming constantly because of the forceful bold
words of Their companions, and They are perpetually
piercing each other's hearts by Their arrow-like, amorously
playful, smiling, sharp side-long glances. Who
would not take shelter of this Govardhana hill whose
stones are pointing out this great amusing pastime?
çrédämädi-vayasya-saïcaya-våtaù saìkarñaëenollasan
yasmin go-caya-cäru-cäraëa-paro réréti gäyaty asau
raìge güòha-guhäsu ca prathayati smära-kriyäà rädhayä
kas taà saubhaga-bhüñitäïcita-tanuà govardhanaà näçrayet
At Govardhana, Sri Krishna is surrounded by a multitude
of friends as Sridama and others, and He is delighted
by Balarama. There, He laughingly sings "ri-ri", being
absorbed in His pleasurable pastimes of herding the
many cows. In the räsa-lélä dance arena and inside
Govardhana's hidden caves, He celebrates amorous
pastimes with Sri Radha. Who would not take shelter
of this Govardhana hill whose body is distinguished
because of being adorned with great fortune?
kälindéà tapanodbhaväà giri-gaëän aty-unnamac-cekharän
çré-våndävipinaà janepsita-dharaà nandéçvaraà cäçrayam
hitvä yaà pratipüjayan vraja-kåte mänaà mukundo dadau
kas taà çåìgi-kiréöinaà giri-nåpaà govardhanaà näçrayet
nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
Mukunda (Krishna) had disregarded the daughter of
the Sun-god, Kalindi (Yamuna), a quantity of very high
mountains, the forest of Vrindavan, and the place of refuge
desired by all, the Nandishvar-hill in Nandagaon and
has given respect to Sri Govardhana, nicely worshipping
him for the sake of the inhabitants of Vraja. Who would
not take shelter of this Govardhana hill who is the king
of all mountains and whose peaks are his crowns?
tasmin väsadam asya ramya-daçakaà govardhanasyeha yat
prädurbhütam idaà yadéya-kåpayä jérëändha-vakträd api
tasyodyad-guëa-vånda-bandhura-khaëer jévätu-rüpasya tattoñäyäpi
alaà bhavatv iha phalaà pakvaà mayä mågyate
This charming Govardhana-daçakam grants residence
near him. It has come from the mouth of an old, blind
man by the mercy of Him* who is a beautiful mine of
uncountable excellent qualities and who is my very life.
Solely his satisfaction is the ripened fruit strived after by
me in presenting this daçakam.
* Translators Note: referring either to Sri Govardhana or Srila Rupa Goswami, or both.
— From the book 'Sri Stavavali' by Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami, Translated
by Vrajsevika devi dasi ·
https://www.youtube.com/results?q=Govardhan+Ashraya
