ಗೀತಗೋವಿನ್ದಮ್, ನವಮಃ ಸರ್ಗಃ

GITA GOVINDAM (ಗೀತಗೋವಿನ್ದಮ್)
Gita Govindam, lyrical poetry in Sanskrit celebrating the love between Krishna and the gopis,  specifically Radha, is authored by Jayadeva, the ೧೨th century devotee-poet from Orissa.  The basis for this work is the ೫ chapters ೨೯ to ೩೩ of Srimadbhagavatam  (known as Rasapanchadhyaayi) which describe the events  leading to the  rasaleela, the great dance on the banks of the Yamuna where each gopi thinks that Krishna is with her.  Srimadbhagavatam, however, does not specifically talk about a gopi named Radha though Radha is described as the very heart of Krishna in some of the other Puranas.   

The  above theme has been developed in Gita Govindam to such an extent that it  is known as ‘Sringara Mahakavya’ wherein  the predominant sentiment is sringara (erotic sentiment) in all its various moods in relation to the divine love between Radha and Krishna. The ecstasy of union,  the agony of separation, the anxious moments of wait for the loved one are all treated with sensitivity and poetic excellence.  The whole work is divided into twelve chapters ( sargas), each chapter containing one or more prabandhas. There are ೨೪ prabandhas each containing couplets grouped into eights called  Ashtapadis, songs with a refrain specific to that  Ashatapadi.  There are in all ೨೪ Ashtapadis in Gita Govindam. Each Chapter may have one or more slokas in  different metres of Sanskrit poetry interspersed with the Ashtapadis.  It is said that the Poet-devotee Jayadeva would sing the Ashtapadis and his wife Padmavati would dance to the music.  There have been many choreographic works  to enact and present the Ashtapadis  as  a dance drama. 
Given below is the text of   the Ninth Chapter (ನವಮಃ ಸರ್ಗಃ) with a prosaic translation in English for those who cannot follow the Sanskrit of the original. The translation in no way can do justice to the poetic excellence or the beauty of expression of the original.
CHAPTER-೯
Prabandha-೧೮

ಅಥ ತಾಂ ಮನ್ಮಥಖಿನ್ನಾಂ ರತಿರಸಭಿನ್ನಾಂ ವಿಷಾದಸಮ್ಪನ್ನಾಮ್| 
ಅನುಚಿನ್ತಿತಹರಿಚರಿತಾಂ ಕಲಹಾನ್ತರಿತಾಮುವಾಚ ರಹಃಸಖೀ || ೧|| 

Now the friend spoke to Radha who was pining in separation, was deprived of love, full of grief, thinking of the conduct of Hari and regretting her spurning of him.

ಅಷ್ಟಪದೀ-೧೮
ಹರಿರಭಿಸರತಿ ವಹತಿ ಮಧುಪವನೇ| 
ಕಿಮಪರಮಧಿಕಸುಖಂ ಸಖಿ ಭವನೇ
ಮಾಧವೇ ಮಾ ಕುರು ಮಾನಿನಿ ಮಾನಮಯೇ || ೧|| 

While the spring breeze blows Hari is waiting for you at the rendezvou. What is more joyful than this. O friend! It is OK, your self-respect, but do not be vain where Madhava is concerned.  

ತಾಲಫಲಾದಪಿ ಗುರುಮತಿಸರಸಮ್| 
ಕಿಂ ವಿಫಲೀಕುರುಷೇ ಕುಚಕಲಶಮ್ || ೨||  (ಮಾಧವೇ ಮಾ ಕುರು ….)

Why would you waste those pot-shaped breasts of yours, heavier and juicy than the fruit of the palmyra tree?  O friend! ….  


ಕತಿ ನ ಕಥಿತಮಿದಮನುಪದಮಚಿರಮ್| 
ಮಾ ಪರಿಹರ ಹರಿಮತಿಶಯರುಚಿರಮ್ || ೩||  (ಮಾಧವೇ ಮಾ ಕುರು ….)

How many times I have told you this ‘do not avoid Hari who is extremely handsome and captivating’. O Friend! …..

ಕಿಮಿತಿ ವಿಷೀದಸಿ ರೋದಿಷಿ ವಿಕಲಾ| 
ವಿಹಸತಿ ಯುವತಿಸಭಾ ತವ ಸಕಲಾ || ೪||  (ಮಾಧವೇ ಮಾ ಕುರು ….)

Why are you grieving, crying and out of sorts?  The whole assembly of young girls is laughing at you . O Friend!.....

ಮೃದುನಲಿನೀದಲಶೀತಲಶಯನೇ| 
ಹರಿಮವಲೋಕಯ ಸಫಲಯ ನಯನೇ || ೫||  (ಮಾಧವೇ ಮಾ ಕುರು ….)

See Hari on the soft and cool bed made of lotus petals and make your eyes fulfilled. O Friend!  ….


ಜನಯಸಿ ಮನಸಿ ಕಿಮಿತಿ ಗುರುಖೇದಮ್| 
ಶೃಣು ಮಮ ವಚನಮನೀಹಿತಭೇದಮ್ || ೬||  (ಮಾಧವೇ ಮಾ ಕುರು ….)

Why does your heart grieve so much? Listen to my words which are only for your good. O Friend!

ಹರಿರುಪಯಾತು ವದತು ಬಹು ಮಧುರಮ್| 
ಕಿಮಿತಿ ಕರೋಷಿ ಹೃದಯಮತಿವಿಧುರಮ್|| ೭|| (ಮಾಧವೇ ಮಾ ಕುರು ….)

Let Krishna come and speak to you sweet words. Why do you make your heart so sad?. O Friend!.

ಶ್ರೀಜಯದೇವಭಣಿತಮತಿಲಲಿತಮ್| 
ಸುಖಯತು ರಸಿಕಜನಂ ಹರಿಚರಿತಮ್|| ೮||  (ಮಾಧವೇ ಮಾ ಕುರು ….)

May this sweet and beautiful song on the leela of Hari delight the hearts of lovers of poetry and song.   

ಸ್ನಿಗ್ಧೇ ಯತ್ಪರುಷಾಸಿ ಯತ್ಪ್ರಣಮತಿ ಸ್ತಬ್ಧಾಸಿ ಯದ್ರಾಗಿಣಿ
ದ್ವೇಷಸ್ಥಾಸಿ ಯದುನ್ಮುಖೇ ವಿಮುಖತಾಂ ಯಾತಾಸಿ ತಸ್ಮಿನ್ಪ್ರಿಯೇ| 
ತದ್ಯುಕ್ತಂ ವಿಪರೀತಕಾರಿಣಿ ತವ ಶ್ರೀಖಣ್ಡಚರ್ಚಾವಿಷಂ
ಶೀತಾಂಶುಸ್ತಪನೋ ಹಿಮಂ ಹುತವಹಃ ಕ್ರೀಡಾಮುದೋ ಯಾತನಾಃ || ೧|| 

The friend says to Radha:

When Krishna, your darling, is soft you are harsh; when he bows you are stiff; when he loves you hate; when he is face-to-face you turn way. It is antithesis all along;  therefore it is but proper that you should see sandal paste as poison, moon as sun, ice as fire and pleasures of sporting as torture.

ಅನ್ತರ್ಮೋಹನಮೌಲಿಘೂರ್ಣನಚಲನ್ಮನ್ದಾರವಿಸ್ರಂಸನ-
ಸ್ತಬ್ಧಾಕರ್ಷಣದೃಷ್ಟಿಹರ್ಷಣಮಹಾಮನ್ತ್ರಃ ಕುರಙ್ಗೀದೃಶಾಮ್| 
ದೃಪ್ಯದ್ದಾನವದೂಯಮಾನದಿವಿಷದ್ದುರ್ವಾರದುಃಖಾಪದಾಂ
ಭ್ರಂಶಃ ಕಂಸರಿಪೋರ್ಸಮರ್ಪಯತು ವಃ ಶ್ರೇಯಾಂಸಿ ವಂಶೀರವಃ || ೨|| 


When Krishna, enemy of Kamsa,  plays the flute,  the mandara flowers adorning his head are  loosened. The melody of the music attracts even inanimate objects. It delights those  who see him.  It is like a powerful mantra for the doe-eyed gopis. It is the end of those arrogant asuras who cause untold suffering and difficulties for the devas.  May those melodies from the flute of Krishna bring you all things auspicious.


ಇತಿ ಶ್ರೀಗೀತಗೋವಿನ್ದೇ ಶೃಙ್ಗಾರಮಹಾಕಾವ್ಯೇ ಖಣ್ಡಿತಾವರ್ಣನೇ
ಮುಗ್ಧಮುಕುನ್ದೋ ನಾಮ ನವಮಃ ಸರ್ಗಃ