Prathama Sri Kunjaviharyastakam
Beautiful in hue like sapphire, his ears decorated with blossoming kadamba flowers, his broad chest wearing necklaces of gunja-berries - all glory to the beautiful wanderer of the groves!
He who is the cakora bird to the moon of Radhika's face, the thief of composure of all the cowherd wives, whose dance steps are graced with skill in the carcari dance - glory to the charming wanderer of the groves!
By overturning the festival celebrated everywhere in Indra's honor, he stole away Indra's pride; for the sake of protecting the cowherd community he became the lifter of the hill - glory, through his pastime, to the wanderer of the groves!
With the enchanting play of his flute adorned with circling melodies, proclaiming the festival of Cupid, his deeds praised by flocks of parrots and mynah birds - glory to the wanderer of the groves!
Wearing garments whose luster outshines gold, his hair-tuft beautified with a peacock feather's eye, delighting the youthful, radiant women of Vraja - glory to the wanderer of the groves!
His body decorated with designs of fragrant sandalwood paste, his waist beautified by a golden girdle, he who is an elephant held captive by the raised breasts of Radhika - glory to the wanderer of the groves!
His forehead brilliant with a tilaka of bright minerals, his campaka garland swaying in play, he who goes out to meet the lovely-browed gopis in the mountain's cave-dwellings - glory to the wanderer of the groves!
With restless, dancing, playful glances he makes the cowherd women forget all their duties; he who is the lover of Vrsabhanu's daughter, maddened with love - glory to the wanderer of the groves!
Whoever recites this set of eight verses on the sweet pastimes of the wanderer of the groves attains the resplendent supreme destination and loving devotion to the worship of his lotus feet.
About Prathama Sri Kunjaviharyastakam
Attributed to Rupa Gosvami, this astakam praises Krishna under the epithet "kunja-vihari," the wanderer of the groves, with that refrain closing every verse. Verse six turns on a pun, calling him "kunjara" (elephant) sporting among Radhika's raised, pot-shaped breasts, a sound-echo typical of Rupa Gosvami's ornamented style, while verse three recalls his overturning of the traditional Indra sacrifice to institute Govardhana worship instead.
- Composer
- Rupa Goswami · Read biography
- Verses
- 9
Frequently asked
Who wrote Prathama Sri Kunjaviharyastakam?
Prathama Sri Kunjaviharyastakam was composed by Rupa Goswami.
What is the meaning of Prathama Sri Kunjaviharyastakam?
Beautiful in hue like sapphire, his ears decorated with blossoming kadamba flowers, his broad chest wearing necklaces of gunja-berries - all glory to the beautiful wanderer of the groves!
How many verses does Prathama Sri Kunjaviharyastakam have?
Prathama Sri Kunjaviharyastakam has 9 verses.
Can I download Prathama Sri Kunjaviharyastakam as a PPT or PDF?
Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Prathama Sri Kunjaviharyastakam — 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.