Prathama Govardhanastakam
O Govardhana, surrounded by flocks of peacocks maddened with longing to dance at the rising sound of the flute crowning Govinda's mouth, your body thrilled, as if sprouting, by the high waves of Radha-kunda - please fulfill my hopeful expectation!
O Govardhana, whose excellence so struck the minds of the Vraja-devis with wonder that they describe your service to Hari as the finest of all service; who, joining wondrous multitudes of radiance, illumine every direction - please fulfill my hopeful expectation!
O Govardhana, whose many caves serve the Lord as palaces, whose cooling bulbous roots, kin to the moon, delight him, and whose waterfalls, gleaming like cat's-eye gems, delight him also - please fulfill my hopeful expectation!
O Govardhana, whose peaks are lit by mineral colors, washed by love and pure enough to adorn him who is the eternal ornament of the universe; whose caves eternally echo with joy at the sound of the flute - please fulfill my hopeful expectation!
O Govardhana, upon whom shines an abundant array of stones, in whose midst Krishna constantly sits; you whose lovely nature is so well suited to the surabhi cows - please fulfill my hopeful expectation!
O Govardhana, who shook off the mass of clouds sent for destruction, and, defeating Indra whose harm once seemed unimaginable, dispelled the danger threatening your own people - please fulfill my hopeful expectation!
O Govardhana, who, taking the role of an umbrella atop the arm of his master, made his own name truly meaningful; for whom the sacrifice that Krishna himself devised still stands - please fulfill my hopeful expectation!
O Govardhana, companion to Radha's playful arts in the groves, your body sanctified by pieces of her broken bangles and necklaces; your foothills richly adorned by the rasa-dance - please fulfill my hopeful expectation!
O crest-jewel of mountain ranges, beloved of the cloud-dark Krishna! Whoever recites this set of eight verses about you - may your heart's Lord swiftly and abundantly increase his bliss of prema and joyfully accept him.
About Prathama Govardhanastakam
This astakam addresses Govardhana Hill directly, each verse ending with the plea "praty-asam me tvam kuru govardhana purnam," fulfill my hope, O Govardhana. It weaves together the hill's role as Krishna's flute-drawn dance floor for peacocks, its palace-like caves and gem-toned waterfalls, and the Govardhana-puja narrative in which Krishna lifted the hill to shelter Vraja from Indra's storm, ending the old sacrifice to the king of heaven in favor of worship of the hill itself.
- Composer
- Rupa Goswami · Read biography
- Verses
- 9
Frequently asked
Who wrote Prathama Govardhanastakam?
Prathama Govardhanastakam was composed by Rupa Goswami.
What is the meaning of Prathama Govardhanastakam?
O Govardhana, surrounded by flocks of peacocks maddened with longing to dance at the rising sound of the flute crowning Govinda's mouth, your body thrilled, as if sprouting, by the high waves of Radha-kunda - please fulfill my hopeful expectation!
How many verses does Prathama Govardhanastakam have?
Prathama Govardhanastakam has 9 verses.
Can I download Prathama Govardhanastakam as a PPT or PDF?
Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Prathama Govardhanastakam — 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.