Ashraya

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