English
3 February 2021
Astonishingly delightful Gita Govind by Srila Jayadeva Goswami
Hare Krsna. Devotees from over 812 locations are chanting with us right now.
jaya radha-madhava kuñja-bihari
gopi-jana-vallabha giri-vara-dhari
The reason behind singing and remembering this song is that today is the disappearance day of Srila Jayadeva Goswami. Do you understand what disappearance means? It means that today he entered the eternal pastimes of Sri Radha Madhava. Nityalila pravistha Jayadeva Goswami Maharaj ki Jai. He served Sri Radha Madhava Deities just like Srila Rupa Goswami worshipped Sri Radha Govinda and Srila Sanatana Goswami worshipped Sri Radha Madan Mohan. He was not like the six Goswamis of Vrindavan. Jayadeva Goswami was a householder still he is called a Goswami.
He is famous for composing the epic transcendental poem known as Gita Govinda. He has written many verses and stotras. He has also written the Dasavatar stotra. From which we sing one stotra daily.
tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-sringam
dalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhringam
kesava dhrita-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
Translation
O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of half-man, half-lion! All glories to You! Just as one can easily crush a wasp between one’s fingernails, so in the same way the body of the wasplike demon Hiranyakasipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands.
This is composed by Srila Jayadeva Goswami. Srila Prabhupada taught us this Narasimha stotra and now the whole world glorifies Lord Narasimha Deva by singing this.
namas te narasimhaya
prahladahlada-dayine
hiranyakasipor vakshahsila-
tanka-nakhalaye
ito nrisimhah parato nrisimho
yato yato yami tato nrisimhah
bahir nrisimho hridaye nrisimho
nrisimham adim saranam prapadye
Translation
I offer my obeisances to Lord Narasimha who gives joy to Prahlada Maharaja and whose nails are like chisels on the stone like chest of the demon Hiranyakasipu.
Lord Narasimha is here and also there. Wherever I go, Lord Narasimha is there. He is in the heart and outside as well. I surrender to Lord Narasimha, the origin of all things and the supreme refuge.
Remember always while singing that this is given by Srila Jayadeva Goswami.
He has written this pranam mantra for the 10 main incarnations. In the end, he composed one stotra.
Vedan uddharate jaganti vahate bhu-golam
udbibhrate daityam darayate balim chalayate
ksatra-ksayam kurvate paulastyam jayate halam kalayate karunyam atanvate mlecchan murchayate dasakrti-krte krsnaya tubhyam namah
Translation
O Krsna, I offer my obeisances to You, who appear in ten incarnations. In your appearance as Matsya, You rescued the Vedas, and as Kurma, You supported the Mount Mandara on Your back. As Varaha, You lift the earth with Your tusks, and as the Narasimha, You tore open the chest of the demon Hiranyakasipu. In the form of Vamana, You tricked Bali by asking him for three steps of land, and then you took away the entire universe from him by expanding Your steps. As Parasurama, You annihilated all the wicked Ksatriya kings, and as Ramacandra, You killed the demon king, Ravana. In the form of Balarama, You drew the River Yamuna towards You. As Lord Buddha, You showed compassion towards everyone and at the end in Kaliyuga, You appear as Kalki to slay the (mlecchas) low-class men.
He wrote Dasavatar stotra and this pranam mantra for all ten incarnations of Visnu. Listen carefully to the meaning of this mantra and pay obeisances to each incarnation. Here Srila Jayadeva Goswami is paying obeisances to each and every incarnation. He says, “O Sri Krsna, the one who is the source of the 10 incarnations.” After paying obeisances to all ten incarnations he says, “krsnaya tubhyam namah - O Krsna please accept my obeisances unto You. All these ten are incarnations and You, O Krsna, are the source of all the incarnations. O Krsna, source of all incarnations, please accept my obeisances. I offered my obeisances again and again.”
- In your appearance as Matsya, You rescued the Vedas. You appeared as a fish to save the Vedas.
-As Kurma, You supported the Mount Mandara on Your back. You appeared as a tortoise and supported the Mandarachal Mountain on Your back during the churning of the ocean.
In every stotra He is saying,
Kesava dhrta Kurma rupa
Kesava dhrta Nrisimha rupa
Kesava dhrta Rama sharira
Kesava dhrta…Kesava dhrta
Kesava or Krsna is the source of this incarnation or that incarnation. Actually He is the source of every incarnation. Sometimes You appear as Kurma or Narasimha and so on. It is only Kesava(Krsna) who is coming in different forms.
- As Varaha, You lifted the earth with Your tusks.
-As Narasimha, You tore open the chest of the demon Hiranyakasipu.
- In the form of Vamana, You tricked Bali by asking him for three steps of land, and then You took away the entire universe from him by expanding Your steps.
-As Parasurama, You annihilated all the wicked Ksatriya kings.
-As Ramacandra, You killed the demon king, Ravana.
-In the form of Balarama, You drew the River Yamuna towards You. In the eighth avatara, Krsna is not mentioned. Instead he says, “You come as Balarama.” Balarama is an incarnation of Krsna.
-As Lord Buddha, You showed compassion towards everyone.
-At the end in Kaliyuga, You will appear as Kalki to slay the (mlecchas) low-class men.
He wrote the transcendental poem based on the sentiment of love in separation known as Gita Govinda. Gita Govinda is his matchless creation. It is based on the mood of conjugal love.It is the highest of all moods.
jaya jayojjwala-rasa sarva-rasa-sar
parakiya-bhave jaha brajete pracar
Translation
All glories, all glories to the mellow of conjugal love, which is the most excellent of all rasas and is propagated in Vraja by Sri Krishna in the form of the divine parakiya-bhava [paramour love]. (Jai Radhe Jai Krsna Jai Vrindavan)
In Vraja, Parakiya bhava or Sringar rasa is propagated. This mellow is mentioned in the Gita Govinda. In the beginning of the song, he mentions the qualifications required by a person to read Gita Govinda. He says, “Beware! Beware!” to those who are not interested in Sri Hari.
yadi hari smarane sarasam mano
yadi vilasa kala sukutoohalam
madhura komala kanta padavaleem
Srunu tada jayadeva sarasvateem ||
Translation
Dear audience, if remembering Sri Hari enriches your heart with feelings of deep love, and if you are curious to know about His ingenuity in the romantic arts, then may you become immersed in bliss by hearing Jayadeva’s narrations in these mellifluous, tender and pleasing songs.
yadi harismarane sarasam mano - if you can remember Hari with love or as soon as you remember Hari, your mind is filled with love.
In the beginning of Srimad Bhagavatam, it is written O Rasikaha Bhuvi Bhavukaha or pibat bhagvatam rasmalayam. Those who are Rasikaha or who have bhava (mood of love), Srimad Bhagavatam is for them. In the same way, Srila Jayadeva Goswami says, “As soon as you remember Hari, you develop the love for Him in your heart.” Then listen to poet Jayadeva's divine lyrics.
yadi vilasa kala sukutoohalam - Dear devotees, if your heart is moved with affection by constantly remembering Sri Krsna and your mind is steeped in curiosity to know about His delightful escapades such as räsa-vihära, kunja-viläsa (His pleasure in the love groves), His inventiveness in pastimes and the sweetness of His cunning behaviour, then by all means hear these honeyed words of Jayadeva, the bard of sringara-rasa. This poem is predominated by the conjugal mellow (sringära-rasa) and is exceptionally sweet.
The Lord’s pastimes and divine love sports in Vrindavan are there. Like we sing,
(jaya) radha-madhava (jaya) kunja-bihari
(jaya) gopi-jana-vallabha (jaya) giri-vara-dhari
(jaya) jasoda-nandana, (jaya) braja-jana-ranjana,
(jaya) jamuna-tira-vana-cari
Translation
Krsna is the lover of Radha. He displays many amorous pastimes in the groves of Vrindavana, He is the lover of the cowherd maidens of Vraja, the holder of the great hill named Govardhana, the beloved son of mother Yasoda, the delighter of the inhabitants of Vraja, and He wanders in the forests along the banks of the River Yamuna.
If you’re keen on hearing these pastimes, then only Hear this poem. If your mind is pure and always eager to hear about the highest pastimes of Krsna then upon listening about Krsna nectarean feelings will flood your mind.
madhura komala kanta padavaleem
srunu tada jayadeva sarasvateem
All the stanzas in this Gita Govinda are nectarean, sweet and soft, but BEWARE they are not for everyone. Especially those who are lusty or eager for objects of lust are not eligible to read Gita Govinda. If they read it, they’ll commit an offence. They will not understand Radha Krsna. It is better that you should not study. It is very sweet. In Gita Govinda the pastimes of Radha and Krsna are in the mood of conjugal love. There is the maan lila of Radharani. In maan lila, Srimati Radharani would go into seclusion in Her transcendental loving anger towards Krsna. It has pastimes of Radha and Krsna where Radharani is not talking to Krsna and Krsna is trying to persuade Radha Thakurani to talk. Krsna is holding Her lotus feet and praying.
mama sirasi mandanam / dehi pada-pallavam udaram
Krsna requested Radharani to place Her lotus feet on His head. He says, “Please be kind upon Me, O Radhe and keep Your lotus feet on My head.” Krsna keeps doing this. It’s normal.
When Jayadeva got the inspiration to write the beautiful lines ’Smara Garala Kandanam Mama Shirsi Mandanam Dhehi Padha Pallavam Udharam ….’ He abruptly threw away his pen with a wavering mind and got up from his seat. He did not want to continue writing. His eyes were filled with tears and he started to cry like a child, ‘What a sin I have committed….Lord…Apacaram…Apacaram. How could I write these lines? How can Sri Radha could keep Her feet on Lord Krsna's head? He is the Supreme Lord.’ He thought, devotees can keep the Lord’s feet on their head, but it is never possible for a devotee to keep his feet on the Lord’s head. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Why would He bow to Srimati Radharani? Why would She place Her feet on Krsna's head? He was composing this in Navadvipa near the Ganges where he was living with His wife, Padmavati. He decided to go for a bath in the Ganges, to meditate upon it for some time and then continue to write.
Within a short time someone knocked on the door and when his wife, Padmavati opened the door it was him. She asked him how come he had come back so fast? He said, “I have taken bath. Serve Me lunch.” She went to prepare the lunch. After He had lunch He went to continue with Gita Govinda.
Then again there was a knock on the door. When Padmavati opened the door it was Srila Jayadeva Goswami, again. She was surprised and said, “How did you come again!” He replied,”What do you mean again? I am coming for the first time after having bath.” She said, “No, you came and had your lunch. And then you went back to write.”
When they went to the place where he was writing his book, they saw that the part where he was in dilemma whether this should be written or not was already completed. After seeing this, he realized that the One who came, ate lunch and wrote this was Krsna. It was Krsna who came and completed the stanza. Krsna said, “Yes. This happens exactly this. It’s a daily affair. I have to do all this to convince Radharani. This is a fact.” This is all inconceivable and super natural. We cannot conceive this through our intelligence. It is true that this pastime happens wherein Krsna asks Srimati Radharani to place Her lotus feet on His head. Then Jayadeva Goswami completed it.
This song is very dear to Krsna. Jayadeva Goswami appeared 300 years before the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu was in Jagannatha Puri even He was very fond of this song and would hear it from His close associates, Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya.
mac-citta mad-gata-prana
bodhayantah parasparam
kathayantas ca mam nityam
tusyanti ca ramanti ca
Translation
The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Me. [BG 10.9]
Gita Govinda composed by Jayadeva Goswami was specially very dear to Mahaprabhu. It is the most favourite song of Lord Jagannatha in Puri and it is sung daily before the Lord goes to sleep. It has to be dear to Lord Jagannatha as well because after all,
jei gaura sei krsna sei jagannatha
Translation
He who is Gaura is He who is Krsna is He who is Jagannatha.
If it is dear to Mahaprabhu then it must be very dear to Lord Jagannatha as well and if it is dear to Lord Jagannatha then it has to be dear to Mahaprabhu. It is sung daily in Jagannatha Puri. There is a special pavilion in Parikrama Marga and the chanters chant or sing Gita Govinda there. We also heard them singing it in the Jagannatha temple. They write the whole Gita Govinda on a cloth and then wrap Lord Jagannatha with the cloth. Its like our harinama chadar which we wrap around ourselves. Lord Jagannatha feels very satisfied. He become atmarama ie, satisfied and He also experiences pleasure( hladini ).
In a small village near Puri, there lived a girl. She was the daughter of a gardener, and was very expert in singing Gita Govinda. One day while she was picking eggplant from the garden, she was chanting Gita Govinda very melodiously and with full devotion.
naham tisthami vaikunthe
_ yoginam hrdayesu va_
tatra tisthami narada
yatra gayanti mad-bhaktah
“I am not in Vaikuntha nor in the hearts of the yogis. I remain where My devotees engage in glorifying My activities.”
It is to be understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not leave the company of His devotees. According to this principle, Lord Jagannatha reached there where she was singing Gita Govinda with full devotion. When Lord Jagannatha heard this, He became so attracted that He could not stay in the temple. At once He left the altar and went to the garden where she was singing. Lord Jagannatha followed the girl, listening to her singing. He was so enchanted with this song of Gita Govinda that He forgot Himself. Then in the temple the pujaris brought the Raja bhoga offering so the Lord rushed back to the temple. While the Lord was walking back to the temple, His cloth was torn by the thorns of an eggplant tree. The top piece of His cloth fell on the ground, but the Lord was too engrossed in hearing Gita Govinda that He did not notice.
There was dirt and thorns in the clothes of the Lord and the pujaris wondered what had happened. When they opened the temple gate, they were surprised to see that Lord’s cloth was torn and His top piece of cloth was missing. Pieces of cloth were scattered here and there. It was as if the Lord had not been dressed properly. After seeing this, the pujaris became very worried. Later the pujaris found out that the Lord would go to hear Gita Govinda from that girl. So this song Gita Govinda has a special place in Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya. It is the song of the highest mood. The mood with which Srila Jayadeva Goswami composed the Gita Govinda is beyond our understanding. We cannot even imagine this level of devotion of Jayadeva Goswami. This high level of devotion is present in Jayadeva Goswami. We can judge a person by what he is singing, writing or talking. We can understand who Jayadeva Goswami is from his writings and singing. He claims that there cannot be any comparison with the sweetness of Gita Govinda. In the end of Gita Govinda, he writes,
sädhvi mädhvika cintä na bhavati bhavatah sarkare karkasäsi
dräkse draksyanti ke tväm amrta mrtam asi ksira niram rasas te mäkanda kranda käntädhara dharani-talam gaccha yacchanti yävad
bhävam srngära-särasvatam iha jayadevasya visvag-vacämsi
Translation
O powerful wine, do not think you are so intoxicating. O sugar, you are harsh. O grapes, who will look at you? O nectar (amrta), you are indeed lifeless (mrta). O milk, you taste like water. O ripe mango, now go and weep. O lips of a ladylove, now you can go to hell. All of you no longer have any value as long as Sri Jayadeva’s eloquent, essential description of erotic love is manifest in this world.
He says, sarkare karkasäsi - O sugar you are mere sand in front of my Gita Govinda. In this verse Sri Jayadeva is describing the sweet artistry of his Gita Govinda. Everything is tasteless and low in the face of this lyrical song. sarkare means O Sugar! Karkasä means dirt in front my Gita. You are mere dirt in front of the sweetness of my Gita Govinda.
dräkse draksyanti ke - O sweet grapes who would look at you now? In Sanskrit, dräkse is grapes and draksyanti ke means who will look at you? Grapes, beware! Why would any connoisseur of rasa ever even look in your direction?
He says, tväm amrta mrtam asi - O nectar (amrta), you are indeed lifeless (mrta). O nectar, you have been over glorified. Your name is Amrta- never dying. But in front of my song, you are mortal. My Gita Govinda is immortal.
ksira niram rasas te - O milk, you taste like water. O milk you are no more than water. No better than water. Oh milk, do not proudly think, “I am rasa,” because your rasa is just water in front of my Gita Govinda. Ksira means milk and nira means water.
mäkanda kranda - O ripe mango, now go and weep. In Sanskrit, Makanda means mango pulp and Kranda means weeping. Srila Jayadeva Goswami says, “O Mango pulp you keep crying. Your taste comes no where.” He ripe mango, you have to cry. The rasika devotees will take no heed of your growing old and drying up.
He is playing beautifully with words. We can observe, how he is saying, Drakse-draksyanti, amrta-mrtam, ksira- nira, makanda-kranda.
käntädhara dharani-talam gaccha yacchanti - Then he says, “O womanisers, you go to hell. O lips of passionate maidens! You also have no place. Go to hell, the residence of the infernals. In Sanskrit, Kantadhara - those who enjoy the lips of women. talam gaccha means go to hell. The people in the mode of ignorance go to hell so he says the people who are always engrossed in thoughts and actions of pleasure with women should go to hell. He says that nothing can be compared to the nectarean Gita Govinda. None of you can provide any sweetness for those who are expert in relishing the rasa of this poetry.
madhur komal kant padavali, rhinnu tada jaydev sarasvatim - may you become immersed in bliss by hearing Jayadeva’s narrations in these mellifluous, tender and pleasing songs.
Read it. Forget käntädhara and any other so called material sweet fruit or anything. For the rasika devotees, the astonishingly delightful taste of the rasa of Gita Govinda is not available anywhere else. The holy name is as sweet as Gita Govinda. You must relish the nectarean holy name. We shall stop here. We won’t be able to take questions today. Do try to read more about Srila Jayadeva Goswami during the day.
Hare Krishna. Thank you.