Śrī Govardhanarāya Lālā: With Your wide, unsteady eyes

Śrī Govardhanarāya lālā

Excerpt from Krishna’s Inner Circle:

One evening in the spring season of Vasant, after Shri Gusainji had removed the evening food offerings and was giving Shri Nathji some betel nut to enjoy, Govindadas stood singing Dhamar kirtans. He sang,

Shri Govardhana Lal!
With Your wide, unsteady eyes
and the forest garland adorning Your chest,
You enchant all the women of Vraj.

Frolicking playfully,
Krishna reaches the path the Gopis walk
on their way to fetch water.
He tips the jugs off the Gopis’ heads
and won’t let them draw water from the well.
Krishna, the darling Son of Nanda, plays in this way.
The Vraj Gopis’ hearts are filled with joy
when they behold His face.

Beloved Krishna has covered His hands
with red vermillion powder.
He stealthily sneaks up behind the Gopis,
smears their cheeks, and dashes away.

After completing those three lines, Govindadas suddenly stopped singing. Shri Gusainji questioned, “Govindadas! Why have you stopped singing?”
“Maharaj,” Govindadas replied, “Dhamar (Krishna) just dashed away, and my heart and mind went with Him. I just sang ‘He stealthily sneaks up behind the Gopis, smears their cheeks, and dashes away.’ He dashed away, and now that is all I can think about. Since He ran away, how can there be any more play?”
Shri Gusainji was enthralled to hear the poet’s reply. That evening, after completing Shri Nathji’s seva, Shri Gusainji descended the Govardhan Hill and completed Govindadas’ poem with one final verse:

In this way, Krishna plays the spring sport of Holi
with the Gopis.
Govinda’s people rejoice
over Shri Nathji’s form.

Holi Dhamar. Rāga Kalyāṇ
Śrī Govardhana rāya lālā
pyāre lāla tihāre cancala nayana viśālā
tihare ura sohe banamālā yātẽ mohi rahī brajabālā
khelata khelata tahā̃ gaye jahā̃ panihārina kī vāṭa
gāgara ḍhorẽ sīsa te koū bharana na pāve ghāṭa ।।१।।
Nandarāya ke lāḍile eso khela nivāra
mana mẽ ānanda bhara rahyau mukha jovata sakala braja nāra ।।२।।
aragajā kumkuma ghora kẽ pyārī līnõ kara lapaṭāya
acakā̃ acakā̃ āya kẽ bhājī Giridhara gāla lagāya ।।३।।
yaha vidha horī khelahī brajavāsina saṅga lagāya
Govardhanadhara rūpa para jana Govinda balabala jāya ।।४।।

राग कल्याण
श्रीगोवर्धनराय लाला ।।
प्यारे लाल तिहारे चंचल नयन विशाला ।

तिहारे उर सोहे वनमाला यातें मोहि रही व्रजबाला ।।

खेलत खेलत तहां गये जहां पनिहारिन की वाट ।

गागर ढोरें सीसते कोऊ भरन न पावे घाट ।।१।।

नंदराय के लाडिले एसो खेल निवार ।

मनमें आनंद भर रह्यौ मुख जोवत सकल व्रजनार ।।२।।
अरगजा कुंकुम घोरकें प्यारी लीनों कर लपटाय ।
अचकां अचकां आयकें भाजी गिरिधर गाल लगाय ।।३।।
यह विध होरी खेलही व्रज वासिन संग लगाय ।।
गोवर्धन धर रूप पर जन गोविंद बलबल जाय ।।४।।