Stava-mālā chapter-74

Dvitiyam Govardhanastakam

sri-govardhanaya namah

I offer respects to Govardhana.

nila-stambhojjvala-ruci-bharair mandite bahu-dande chatra-cchayam dadhad-agharipor labdha-saptaha-vasah | dharapata-glapita-manasam raksita gokulanam krsna-preyan prathayatu sada sarma govardhana nah ||1||

May Govardhana, who was the protector of Gokula’s people whose minds were exhausted from the rain, and who was beautiful as an umbrella, living for seven days over Krsna’s hand, decorated with the great shining beauty of his black shoulder, always bestow happiness to us.

May Govardhana always bestow happiness to us. It is described. He lived for seven days, having the beauty of an umbrella, over Krsna’s hand. Chdya means beauty according to Amara- kosa. Krsna’s hand is described. It decorated his dark shoulder, shining with beauty. The mountain is further described. It protected the people of Gokula whose minds were exhausted from the downpour.

bhlto yasmad apariganayan bandhava-sneha-bandhan sindhav adris tvaritam avisat parvati-purvajo’pi I yas tam jambha-dvisam akuruta stambha-sambheda-sunyam sa praudhatma prathayatu sada sarma govardhana nah ||2||

May bold hearted Govardhana, who deflated the pride of Indra, who made Mainaka, not considering the affection of other mountains, quickly disappeared in the ocean out of fear, always bestow happiness to us.

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The elder brother of Parvati, Mainaka, afraid of Indra, not considering affectionate relationships with other mountains, disappeared in the ocean. Bold hearted, Govardhana made that Indra (sambha-dvisam) devoid of pride.

dviskrtya prakata-mukutatopam angam sthaviyah sailo’smiti sphutam abhidadhat tusti-visphara-drstih I yasmai krsnah svayam arasayad ballavair dattam annath dhanyah so’yam prathayatu sadd sarma govardhano nah ||3||

May fortunate Govardhana, to whom the cowherds offered food which Krsna ate after he manifested a huge form with obvious pride, with eyes wide and clearly said, “I am the mountain,” always bestow happiness to us.

Krsna ate (arasayat) the four types of food offered to Govardhana by cowherds (ballavaih). What did Krsna do before eating? Manifesting a huge body (sthaviyah angam) with a show of pride (prakata-mukutatopam), he said clearly, “I am the mountain.” He became one with the mountain. He is further described. He had eyes wide (visphara) with satisfaction.

adyapy urja-pratipadi mahan bhrajate yasya yajnah krsnopajnam jagati surabhl-sairibhi-kridayadhyah | saspalambottama-tataya yah kutumbam pasunam so’yam bhuyah prathayatu sadd sarma govardhano nah ||4||

May Govardhana, whose great worship, including playing with cows and buffalos, on the first day of Kartika, is resplendent even today in the world, who became herds of cows, with slopes of fresh grass, always bestow happiness to us.

Even today on the first tithi of Kartika (urja), a sacrifice, a great ceremony of worship of Govardhan, invented by Krsna, shines. Ujra means Kartika month according to Amara-kosa. It includes (adhyah) playing with cows and buffalos (sairibht). Sairibha

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means a buffalo according to Halayudha. Govardhana, with excellent slopes supporting fresh green grass from the many cool streams, became the herd of cows.

sn-gandharva-dayita-sarasi-padma-saurabhya-ratnam hrtva sankotkara-para-vasair asvanam sancaradbhih I ambhah-ksoda-praharika-kulenakulenanuyatair vatairjustah prathayatu sada sarma govardhano nah ||5||

May Govardhana, served by breezes which, having stolen the jewels of lotus perfume from the couple’s kundas and silently fleeing in fear, are attacked by agitated water drops which act as guardians of the kundas, always bestow happiness to us.

t Govardhana is again described with more details. Govardhana is served by winds. The winds are described. Stealing the jewel of fragrance from the lotuses in Radha’s and Krsna’s kundas, the winds have great fear (sahkotkara-para-vasair). Silently fleeing, they are attacked by groups of guards in the form of water drops (ambhah-ksoda), who are agitated (akulena). In fear of their masters they say, “They take these jewels, cheating us though we were alert.” The wind is fragrant because of the lotuses. It is gentle since it moves without noise. It is cool because of the water drops. It serves Govardhana, who is like a great king.

kamsardtes tari-vilasitair dtardnahga-rahgair abhinndm pranayam abhitah patram unmilayantyah | dhauta-gravdvalir amalinair manasamartya-sindhor vlci-vrataih prathayatu sada sarma govardhano nah ||6||

May Govardhana, whose stones are washed by the pure waves of Manasa Gariga, which manifests everywhere affection for Krsna and the gopis through boat pastimes with collecting fees out of love, always bestow happiness to us.

Govardhana is further described.

Its stones are washed by the many waves of Manasa Gahga (manasamartya-sindhoh). Amartya-sindhu means the devata’s Gahga. Sindhu means river according to Halayudha. The waves are described. They are pure, bright like milk (amalinaih). Manasa Gahga is described. It reveals everywhere affection for Krsna and the gopis by pastimes with a boat. Tan means boat according to Amara-kosa. The pastimes are described. They include amorous pastimes with paying taxes (atara). Atara means paying taxes according to Amara-kosa. There is a fee for crossing the water as a loving pastime. The affection is described. It is a support (patrarn) for Krsna bringing the gopis under his control. Or it is a means of drinking the sweetness of the pastime.

yasyadhyaksah sakala-hathinamadade cakravartl suklam nanyad vraja-mrga-drsam arpanad vigrahasya I ghattasyoccair madhukara-rucas tasya dhama-prapancaih syama-prasthah prathayatu sada sarma govardhano nah ||7||

May Govardhana, having a plateau dark with the great beauty of a sapphire toll gate, whose owner is the king of rascals who does not accept anything except the gopis bodies as a tax, always bestow happiness to us.

Govardhana is further described. It has a plateau made dark by great beauty of toll station (ghattasya). The station is described. It is made of sapphire (madhukara-rucah). Whose station is this? It is owned by the best of the insistent. Its controller is Krsna. He does not accept any fee except the bodies of the gopis, who carry on their head milk for sacrifices, as they go on the path, to the place of sacrifice near Govinda kunda. He accepts their bodies as the tax.

gandharvayah surata-kalahoddamata-vavadukaih klanta-srotrotpala-valayibhih ksipta-pinchavatamsaih kunjais talpopari pariluthad-vaijayanti-parltaih | punyariga-srih prathayatu sada sarma govardhano nah ||8||

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May Govardhana, whose body is beautiful with bowers manifesting Radha’s noisy love quarrels and strewn with withered ear ornaments and bracelets, with thrown off peacock feathers, with plundered Vaijayanti garland on the bed, always bestow happiness to us.

Its body is beautiful (punydriga-srih) with bowers. They are described. The bowers are noisy with the unrestrained quarrels of Radha during love. The scene is further described. The rest is clear.

yas tustatma sphutam anupathec chraddhaya suddhayantar medhyah padyastakam acatulah susthu govardhanasya I sandram govardhana-dhara-pada-dvandva-sonaravinde vindan premotkaram iha karoty adri-raje sa vasam ||9||

The person who with satisfied mind and pure heart, with pure faith, clearly recites this astaka concerning Govardhana, while sitting, attaining intense prema for the red lotus feet of Krsna, will live at Govardhana.

The author explains the results for the recite of this astaka: residence at Govardhana. The person who with pure faith recites this astaka with pure heart (antarmedhyah), while sitting down (acatulah), lives at Govardhana, enjoying intense prema at the red lotus feet of the lifter of Govardhana. By my blessing may he live there. Thus, the second astaka on Govardhana called that which gives bliss of living at Govardhana (sn-girindra- vasananda-da) has been explained.