Gopaladevastakam
AI-drafted translation — pending review
Sweet and tender-hearted, whose only wealth is pure love, whose attire is arranged by his own dear devotees, who has attained a singular beauty, always adorned with manifold jeweled ornaments — may that very Srila Gopaladeva shine forth within my heart.
Whose qualities and form are without compare, the very king of all sweetness, whose bodily luster has taken up a life of service to him, whose face is praised as surpassing millions of moons, whose smile conquers nectar itself, whose eyebrows dance and rise — may that very Srila Gopaladeva shine forth within my heart.
Who bears a wonderful, supreme portion of ornamentation, one hand resting at his side, revealing his own gracious presence, who has attained boundless measures of beauty, who protects his own devotees, and who is expert in expanding love — may that very Srila Gopaladeva shine forth within my heart.
Whose sidelong glances toward his beloved carry, by gradual stages, a growing passion, whose very smile proclaims a knowledge of the playful mellows of love, who calls to mind the worship due to Kamadeva, who is a lake of joyous, laughing swans — may that very Srila Gopaladeva shine forth within my heart.
On his right side, sunk in a weight of sweetness, three delicate folds appear, languid from the fullness of his form; elsewhere on him this beauty is like a very line drawn by Cupid himself — may that very Srila Gopaladeva shine forth within my heart.
Who carries a welling joy, causing it to rain forth continually, who cherishes his own circle of companions, feeding them and giving himself to them, who is the crest-jewel of the mountain, whose glory lies in the friendship he shares with Sridama and his other friends — may that very Srila Gopaladeva shine forth within my heart.
Who extends abundant love toward Madhavendra Puri, displaying the loving service that arose from that pure-hearted devotee's own heart, and who, by his own manifest power, later shone through the devotion of Vallabhacharya as well — may that very Srila Gopaladeva shine forth within my heart.
Whose excellent worship, filled with the joyous flavor of love, can still be witnessed every single day even now; who indeed could count the many offerings made in service to him? — may that very Srila Gopaladeva shine forth within my heart.
Whoever, with a guileless heart, remembers this very Lord, the supreme Giridhari, through this octet of verses, whether by night or day, at home or in the forest — to him, out of love, may that very Srila Gopaladeva shine forth within the heart.
About Gopaladevastakam
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura's Gopaladevastakam, a nine-verse hymn to the same Govardhana Deity, Gopala (Sri Nathji), whose care Gaudiya tradition traces to Madhavendra Puri and later to Vallabhacharya's lineage. Verse seven names both directly — his love for Madhavendra Puri, and the devotion of Vallabhacharya — making this one of the clearest textual bridges in Gaudiya literature between the Chaitanya sampradaya's paramaguru and the Pushti Marga's founding acharya, both devoted to the same Deity of the hill.
Frequently asked
Who wrote Gopaladevastakam?
Gopaladevastakam was composed by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.
What is the meaning of Gopaladevastakam?
Sweet and tender-hearted, whose only wealth is pure love, whose attire is arranged by his own dear devotees, who has attained a singular beauty, always adorned with manifold jeweled ornaments — may that very Srila Gopaladeva shine forth within my heart.
How many verses does Gopaladevastakam have?
Gopaladevastakam has 9 verses.
Can I download Gopaladevastakam as a PPT or PDF?
Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Gopaladevastakam — verse and translation on each slide — is available to download in both PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF formats from this page, for use in kirtan or temple programs.