NARAYANEEYAM DASAKAM - 63 - GOVARDHANODHARANAM

Dasakam - 63 - Govardhanodharanam

Above the land of Vraja, clouds were seen on all directions. Thunderbolt was heard continuously and was spreading faster which scared the people of Vraja. The colour of the clouds were as dark as the skin of Krishna, which enthused him. Rain started pouring, accompanied by big hail stones. Gopas were terrified with the torrential rain and understood that it was due to the anger of Indra. They requested Krishna to protect them from Indra who cannot be won easily by anyone. Hearing their laments, Krishna assured them once again not to fear.

Krishna said that Govardhana mountain is their protecting deity, So undoubtedly,  it will only protect Vraja from the wrath of Indra. Smilingly saying thus, he uprooted the Govardhana mountain. Krishna lifted the mountain in his lotus flower like finger and held it like an umbrella standing on a soft sand bed  of the mountain where rain water cannot reach. The entire gopas, cows and calf took refuge under the lifted mountain.

While holding the mountain in his tender hands, Krishna engaged himself in amusing conversations with the cowherd boys and girls. He pampered the cows by patting them constantly. Gopas were delighted watching Krishna's actions. They wondered, how Krishna is able to hold such a huge mountain on his tender left arm for such a long time. Was it due to the glory of the mountain itself?, they questioned Krishna.

Indra was surprised too but then thought that Krishna, merely a boy, cannot bear the weight of such a huge mountain for long and hence will drop it down for sure. With contempt, Indra made rain pour continuously for seven days. Krishna did not stir from his position. The clouds exhausted all its water and the wind (vayu) pushed the clouds afar. Indra noticing all the above, got really scared and ran away.

Rain stopped and Gopas slowly came out of the shelter along with cows and calves. Krishna put the Govardhana mountain back to its place. Gopas hugged Krishna in happiness, praising him for protecting them from the wrath of Indra by his mighty action. Devas praised Krishna's mighty action and recollected how Krishna carried the earth in his varaha avatar and protected the earth from sinking in the ocean. For him, lifting this Govardhana hills was not a difficult task at all.

Bhattathiri worshipped Krishna of such glory to protect him from his afflictions which was duly acknowledged by the Lord of Guruvayoor.

PS : Govardhana Leela symbolises Jnana and Bhakti. Basic need for Jeeva is to hold to the Lord. Small finger with which Krishna holds the mountain symbolises Sathva Guna, which can be enhanced only bu Saadhu sangham. Our Indriyams are coaxed by desire, which is represented by the rain. - From Guru Savitri Renganathan mami's explanation during Sapthaham - 2017.

Lyrics of Dasakam 63

ददृशिरे किल तत्-क्षणम् अक्षत-

स्तनित जृम्भित कम्पित दिक्तटा: ।

सुषमया भवदङ्गतुलां गता

व्रजपदोपरि वारिधरास्त्वया ॥१॥

dadR^ishire kila tat-kshaNam akshata-

stanita jR^imbhita kampita diktaTaa: |

suShamayaa bhavadangatulaaM gataa

vrajapadOpari vaaridharaastvayaa || 1 ||

विपुल करक मिश्रै: तोय धारा निपातै:

दिशि दिशि पशुपानां मण्डले दण्ड्यमाने ।

कुपित हरि कृतान्न: पाहि पाहीति तेषां

वचनम् अजित श्रृण्वन् मा बिभीत इत्यभाणी: ॥२॥

vipula karaka mishrai: tOya dhaaraa nipaatai:

dishi dishi pashupaanaaM maNDale daNDyamaane |

kupita hari kR^itaanna: paahi paahiiti teShaaM

vachanam ajita shR^iNvan maa bibhiita ityabhaaNii: || 2 ||

कुल इह खलु गोत्रो दैवतं गोत्रशत्रो:

विहितम् इह स रुन्ध्यात् को नु व: संशयोऽस्मिन् ।

इति सहसितवादी देव गोवर्द्धनाद्रिं

त्वरितम् उदमुमूलो मूलतो बाल दोर्भ्याम् ॥३॥

kula iha khalu gOtrO daivataM gOtrashatrO:

vihatim iha sa rundhyaat kO nu va: samshayO(a)smin |

iti sahasita vaadii deva gOvardhanaadriM

tvaritam udamumuulO muulatO baala dOrbhyaam || 3 ||

तदनु गिरिवरस्य प्रोद्धृतस्यास्य तावत्

सिकतिल मृदु देशे दूरतो वारितापे ।

परिकर परिमिश्रान् धेनुगोपान् अधस्तात्

उपनिदधत् अधत्था: हस्तपद्मेन शैलम् ॥४॥

tadanu girivarasya prOddhR^itasyaasya taavat

sikatila mR^idu deshe duuratO vaaritaape |

parikara parimishraan dhenugOpaan adhastaat

upanidadhat adhatthaa hastapadmena shailam || 4 ||

भवति विधृत शैले बालिकाभि: वयस्यै:

अपि विहित विलासं केलि लापादिलोले ।

सविध मिलित धेनू: एकहस्तेन कण्डू-

यति सति पशुपाला: तोषमैषन्त सर्वे ॥५॥

bhavathi vidhR^ita shaile baalikaabhi: vayasyai:

api vihita vilaasaM keli laapaadi-lOle |

savidha milita dhenuu: ekahastena kaNDuu -

yati sati pashupaalaa: tOShamaiShanta sarve || 5 ||

अतिमहान् गिरिरेष तु वामके

कर सरोरुहि तं धरते चिरम् ।

किमिदम् अद्भुतम् अद्रिबलं नु-इति

त्वदवलोकिभि: आकथि गोपकै: ॥६॥

ati mahaan girireSha tu vaamake

kara sarOruhi taM dharate chiram |

kimidam adbhutam adribalaM nu-iti 

tvadavalOkibhi: aakathi gOpakai: || 6 ||

अहह धार्ष्ट्यम् अमुष्य वटोर्गिरिं

व्यथित बाहुरसौ अवरोपयेत् ।

इति हरि: त्वयि बद्ध विगर्हणो

दिवस सप्तकम् उग्रम् अवर्षयत् ॥७॥

ahaha dhaarShTyam amuShya vaTOrgiri

vyathita baahurasov avarOpayet |

iti hari: tvayi baddha vigarhaNO 

divasa saptakam ugram avarShayat || 7 ||

अचलति त्वयि देव पदात् पदं

गलित सर्व जले च घनोत्करे ।

अपहृते मरुता मरुतां पति:

त्वदयि शङ्कितधी: समुपाद्रवत् ॥८॥

achalati tvayi deva padaat padaM 

galita sarva jale cha ghanOtkare |

apahR^ite marutaa marutaaM pati:

tvadayhi shankitadhii: samupaadravat || 8 ||

शमम् उपेयुषि वर्षभरे तदा

पशुप धेनुकुले च विनिर्गते ।

भुवि विभो समुपाहित भूधर:

प्रमुदितै: पशुपै: परिरेभिषे ॥९॥

shamam upeyuShi varShabhare tadaa 

pashupa dhenukule cha vinirgate |

bhuvi vibhO samupaahita bhuudhara: 

pramuditai: pashupai: parirebhiShe || 9 ||

धरणिमेव पुरा धृतवानसि

क्षितिधरोद्धरणे तव क: श्रम: ।

इति नुत: त्रिदशै: कमलापते

गुरुपुरालय पालय मां गदात् ॥१०॥

dharaNimeva puraa dhR^itavaanasi 

kshitidharOddharaNe tava ka: shrama: |

iti nuta: tridashai: kamalaapate 

gurupuraalaya paalaya maaM gadaat || 10 ||

---------Sri Krishnarpanam--------