Sri Prathama Kunja-vihary-ashtaka

[First Set of Eight Prayers Glorifying Lord Kesava,
Who Enjoys Pastimes in the Forest of Vrindavana]

by Srila Rupa Gosvami

 

Krsna who is called Syamasundara, is the beautiful color of a cloud. His lotuslike face as effulgent as the sun, His dress brilliant with jewels, and His body garlanded by flowers, He is the object of the ideal yogi's meditation.

1
indranila-mani-manjula-varnah
phulla-nipa-kusumancita-karnah
krishnalabhir akrisorasi hari
sundaro jayati kunja-vihari

indranila--sapphire; mani--jewel; manjula--charming; varnah--color; phulla--blossoming; nipa--kadamba; kusumancita--with flowers; karnah--ears; krishnalabhir--with garlands of gunja (berries or small conchshells); akrisa--decorated; urasi--chest; hari--charming; sundaro--handsome; jayati--all glories; kunja--in the forest; vihari--who enjoys transcendental pastimes All glories to Sri Krishna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrindavana forest. His complexion is as splendid as sapphires, He wears kadamba-blossom earrings, and His broad chest is decorated with a garland of gunja.

2
radhika-vadana-candra-cakorah
sarva-ballava-vadhu-dhriti-caurah
carcari-caturatancita-cari
caruto jayati kunja-vihari

radhika--of Radha; vadana--of the face; candra--the moon; cakorah--the cakora bird; sarva--all; ballava-vadhu--the gopis; dhriti--the peacefulness; caurah--stealing; carcari--carcari; caturatancita--with skill; cari--doing; caruto--expertly All glories to Sri Krishna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrindavana forest. He is the cakora bird who drinks the moonlight of Sri Radha’s face. He steals away the composure of all the gopis. Skillfully clapping His hands in the rhythm known as carcari, He dances very gracefully.

3
sarvatah prathita-kaulika-parva-
dhvamsanena hrita-vasava-garvah
goshtha-rakshana-krite giridhari
lilaya jayati kunja-vihari

sarvatah--everywhere; prathita--famous; kaulika--of the family; parva--the sacrifice; dhvamsanena--by stopping; hrita--taken; vasava--of Indra; garvah--the pride; goshtha--Vraja; rakshana--protection; krite--for the purpose; giridhari--lifting Govardhana Hill; lilaya--playfully All glories to Sri Krishna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrindavana forest. After stopping His relatives from performing the famous Indra-yajna sacrifice, He removed Indra’s pride and protected the people of Vraja by playfully lifting Govardhana Hill.

4
raga-mandala-vibhushita-vamsi-
vibhramena madanotsava-samsi
stuyamana-caritah suka-sari-
srenibhir jayati kunja-vihari

raga--of melodies; mandala--with a circle; vibhushita--decorated; vamsi--the flute; vibhramena--with pastimes; madanotsava--the festival of love; samsi--praising; stuyamana--being praised; caritah--pastimes; suka--the male parrot; sari--the female parrot; srenibhir--by the multitudes All glories to Sri Krishna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrindavana forest-pastimes that are glorified by the male and female parrots. By decorating His flute with many beautiful melodies, He glorifies the festival of His transcendental amorous love.

5
satakumbha-ruci-hari-dukulah
keki-candraka-virajita-culah
navya-yauvana-lasad-vraja-nari-
ranjano jayati kunja-vihari

satakumbha--of gold; ruci--the splendor; hari--eclipsing; dukulah--garments; keki--peacock; candraka--feather; virajita--splendid; culah--crown; navya--new; yauvana--youth; lasad--glistening; vraja--of Vraja; nari--the girls; ranjano--delighting All glories to Sri Krishna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrindavana forest. The luster of His silk garments eclipses the glory of gold. The top of His head is decorated with a peacock feather. He pleases the splendid girls of Vraja.

6
sthasaki-krita-sugandhi-patirah
svarna-kanci-parisobhi-katirah
radhikonnata-payodhara-vari-
kunjaro jayati kunja-vihari

sthasaki-krita--anointed; sugandhi--fragrant; patirah--sandal paste; svarna--golden; kanci--belt; parisobhi--splendid; katirah--hips; radhika--of Sri Radhika; unnata--beautiful; payodhara--face; vari--ropes; kunjaro--elephant All glories to Sri Krishna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrindavana forest. He is anointed with fragrant sandal paste. His hips are decorated with a golden belt. He is the elephant bound by the rope of the beautiful face of Sri Radhika.

7
gaura-dhatu-tilakojjvala-bhalah
keli-cancalita-campaka-malah
adri-kandara-griheshv abhisari
subhruvam jayati kunja-vihari

gaura--golden; dhatu--pigment; tilaka--tilaka; ujjvala--splendid; bhalah--forehead; keli--pastimes; cancalita--moving; campaka--campaka flower; malah--garland; adri--mountain; kandara--caves; griheshv--in the homes; abhisari--meeting; subhruvam--the beautiful-eyebrowed girls All glories to Sri Krishna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrindavana forest. His forehead is splendid with golden tilaka made from mineral pigments. His campaka garland moves to and fro in His pastimes. He meets the beautiful-eyebrowed gopis in the palatial caves of Govardhana Hill.

8
vibhramoccala-drig-ancala-nritya-
kshipta-gopa-lalanakhila-krityah
prema-matta-vrishabhanu-kumari-
nagaro jayati kunja-vihari

vibhrama--playful; uccala--moving; drig--eyes; ancala--corners; nritya--dancing; kshipta--cast aside; gopa-lalana--gopis; akhila--all; krityah--household duties; prema--with love; matta--intoxicated; vrishabhanu--of king Vrishabhanu; kumari--the daughter; nagaro--the hero All glories to Sri Krishna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrindavana forest. His dancing sidelong glances make the gopis drop all their household duties. He is the charming lover of Vrishabhanu’s daughter, who is mad with love for Him.

9
ashtakam madhura-kunja-vihari-
kridaya pathati yah kila hari
sa prayati vilasat-para-bhagam
tasya pada-kamalarcana-ragam

ashtakam--eight verses; madhura--charming; kunja--in the forest; vihari--enjoying transcendental pastimes; kridaya--with pastimes; pathati--reads; yah--one who; kila--indeed; hari--beautiful; sa--he; prayati--goes; vilasat--splendid; para-bhagam--virtues; tasya--of Him; pada--feet; kamala--lotus; arcana--worship; ragam--love He who reads these eight verses, which are beautified by the Lord’s charming pastimes in the forest, will attain many splendid transcendental virtues. He will become attached to the service of the Lord’s lotus feet.


[Translation by Kusakratha dasa]

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