Chapter One Śrī Girirāja-pūjā-vidhi The Worship of Śrī Girirāja

32 verses

Content

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca kathaṁ dadhāra bhagavān giriṁ govardhanaṁ varam ucchilīndhraṁ yathā bālo hastenaikena līlayā śrī-bahulāśva uvāca—Śrī Bahulāśva said; katham—why?; dadhāra—lifted; bhagavān—the Lord; girim—Hill; govardhanam—Govardhana; varam—best; ucchilīndhram—a mushroom; yathā—as; bālaḥ—achild; hastenaikena—with one hand; līlayā—playfully. Śrī Bahulāśva said: Why did Lord Kṛṣṇa lift Govardhana Hill as a child playfully lifts a mushroom.

Verse text

paripūrṇatamasyāsya śrī-kṛṣṇasya mahātmanaḥ vadaitac caritaṁ divyaṁ adbhutaṁ muni-sattama

Synonyms

paripūrṇatamasya of the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; asya of Him ; śrī-kṛṣṇasya Śrī Kṛṣṇa ; mahātmanaḥ the Supreme ; vada please tell ; etat that ; caritam pastime ; divyam transcendental and glorious ; adbhutam wonderful ; muni-sattama O best of sages.

Translation

O best of sages, please tell that wonderful and glorious transcendental pastime of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Content

śrī-nārada uvāca varṣikaṁ hi karaṁ rājṣe yathā śakrāya vai tathā baliṁ dadu prāvṛd-ante gopāḥ sarve kṛṣīvalaḥ śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; varṣikam—annual; hi—indeed; karam—tribute; rājṣe—to the king; yathā—as; śakrāya—to Indra; vai—indeed; tathā—so; balim—offering; daduḥ—gave; prāvṛd-ante—at thne end of the monsoon season; gopāḥ—the gopas; sarve—all; kṛṣīvalaḥ—farmers. Śrī Nārada said: As citizens pay an annual tax to their king, so the gopas, farmers all, at the end of each monsoon season offered a tribute to Indra.

Verse text

mahendra-yāga-sambhāra- cayaṁ dṛṣṭvaikadā hariḥ nandaṁ papraccha sadasi ballavānāṁ ca śṛṇvatām

Synonyms

mahendra-yāga-sambhāra-cayam the arrangements for the indra-yajṣa ; dṛṣṭva seeing ; ekadā one day ; hariḥ Kṛṣṇa ; nandam to Nanda ; papraccha asked ; sadasi in the assmbly ; ballavānām of gopas ; ca and ; śṛṇvatām listening.

Translation

Noticing the arrangements for the indra-yajṣ, as the gopas listened, Kṛṣṇa asked a question of King Nanda.

Content

śrī-bhagavān uvāca śakrasya pūjanaṁ hy etat kiṁ phalaṁ cāsya vidyate laukikaṁ vā vadanty etad athavā para-laukikam śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; śakrasya—of Indra; pūjanam—worship; hy—indeed; etat—this; kim—what?; phalam—result; ca—and; asya—of this; vidyate—is; laukikam—of the material world; vā—or; vadanty—say; etat—this; athavā—or; para-laukikam—beyond the material world. The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: What is the result of this worship of Indra? Do they say it brings a material result or a spiritual result?

Content

śrī-nanda uvāca śakrasya pūjanaṁ hy etad bhukti-mukti-karaṁ param etad vinā naro bhūmau jāyate na sukhī kvacit śrī-nandaḥ uvāca—Śrī Nanda said; śakrasya—of Indra; pūjanam—worship; hy—indeed; etat—this; bhukti-mukti-karam—gives sense gratification and liberation; param—further; etat—this; vinā—without; naraḥ—a person; bhūmau—on the earth; jāyate—is born; na—not; sukhī—happi; kvacit—at all. Śrī Nanda said: Worship of Indra brings both sense gratification and liberation. Without it a person cannot be happy in this world.

Content

śrī-bhagavān uvāca śakrādayo deva-gaṇāś ca sarvato bhuṣjanti ye svarga-sukhaṁ sva-karmabhiḥ viśanti te martya-padaṁ śubha-kṣaye tat-sevanaṁ viddhi na mukti-kāraṇam śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; śakrādayaḥ—of Indra; deva-gaṇāś—the demigods; ca—and; sarvataḥ—in all respewcts; bhuṣjanti—enjoy; ye—who; svarga-sukham—heavenly happiness; sva-karmabhiḥ—by their own karma; viśanti—enter; te—they; martya-padam—the world of human beings; śubha—of good karma; kṣaye—on the exhaustion; tat-sevanam—that service; viddhi—know; na—not; mukti-kāraṇam—the cause of liberation. The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Indra and the other demigods enjoy living in Svargaloka because of their past karma. When their good karma is exhausted they again enter the world of humans. Please understand that worshiping them does not bring liberation.

Verse text

bhayaṁ bhaved vai parameṣṭhino yato vārtā tu ka kau kila tat-kṛtātmanām tasmāt paraṁ kālam anantam eva hi sarvaṁ baliṣṭhaṁ su-budhā viduḥ pare

Synonyms

bhayam fear ; bhavet is ; vai indeed ; parameṣṭhinaḥ of Brahmā ; yataḥ because ; vārtā message ; tu indeed ; ka what? ; kau on the earth ; kila indeed ; tat-kṛtātmanām of they who have done that ; tasmāt from that ; param greater ; kālam time ; anantam endless ; eva indeed ; hi indeed ; sarvam all ; baliṣṭham strongest ; su-budhā very wise ; viduḥ know ; pare others.

Translation

Even the demigod Brahmā is afraid of that, so what may be said of fruitive workers on the earth? They are are actually wise say that endless time is the most powerful, the supreme.

Verse text

tatas tam āśritya su-karmabhiḥ paraṁ bhajed dhariṁ yajṣā-patiṁ sureśvaram viśrjya sarvaṁ manasā kṛteḥ phalaṁ vrajet paraṁ mokṣam asau na cānyathā

Synonyms

tataḥ then ; tam him ; āśritya taking shelter ; su-karmabhiḥ by karma ; param suopreme ; bhajet worship ; dharim Lord Hari ; yajṣā-patim the master of sacrifices ; sureśvaram the master of the demigods ; viśrjya abandoning ; sarvam all ; manasā by the mind ; kṛteḥ done ; phalam result ; vrajet obtains ; param ultimate ; mokṣam liberation ; asau he ; na not ; ca and ; anyathā otherwise.

Translation

With all their heart renouncing all material pious results, the wise take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and worship Him with the best of pious deeds. They, and not others, attain final liberation.

Verse text

go-vipra-sādhv-agni-surāḥ śrutis tathā dharmaś ca yajṣādhipater vibhūtayaḥ dhiṣṇyeṣu caiteṣu hariṁ bhajanti ye sa tv ihāmutra sukhaṁ vrajanti te

Synonyms

gaḥ cows ; vipra brāhmaṇas ; sādhu saintly persons ; agni fire-gods ; surāḥ demigods ; śrutiḥ Vedas ; tathā so ; dharmaś religion ; ca and ; yajṣādhipateḥ of the Lord of sacrifices ; vibhūtayaḥ potencies ; dhiṣṇyeṣu in places ; ca and ; eteṣu these ; harim the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; bhajanti worship ; ye who ; sa and ; tu indeed ; iha here ; amutra in the next life ; sukham happiness ; vrajanti attain ; te they.

Translation

The cows, saintly persons, fire-gods, demigods, Vedas, and principles of religion are all potencies of Lord Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They who, instead of worshiping the demigods, worship Lord Hari, attain happiness in this life and the next.

Verse text

samutthito 'sau hari-vakṣaso girir govardhano nāma girīndra-rāja-rāṭ samāgato hy atra pulastya-tejasā yad-darśanāj janma punar na vidyate

Synonyms

samutthitaḥ born ; asau it ; hari of Lord Kṛṣṇa's ; vakṣasaḥ chest ; girir govardhanaḥ Govardhana Hill ; nāma named ; girīndra the king of moutnains ; rāja-rāṭ the king of the king ; samāgataḥ came ; hy indeed ; atra here ; pulastya-tejasā by the power of Pulastya Muni ; yad-darśanāt by seeing it ; janma birth ; punaḥ again ; na not ; vidyate is.

Translation

The hill named Govardhana is the king of the kings of the kings of mountains. It was born from Lord Hari's own chest. It has come here by the power of Pulastya Muni. By seeing it one becomes free from having to take birth again in this world.

Verse text

sampūjya go-vipra-surān mahādraye dātavyam adyaiva paraṁ hy upāyanam eṣa priyo me makha-rāja eva hi na ced yathecchāsti tathā kuru vraja

Synonyms

sampūjya worshiping ; go-vipra-surān the cows, brāhmaṇas, and demigods ; mahādraye to the great hill ; dātavyam should be given ; adya now ; eva indeed ; param great ; hy indeed ; upāyanam method ; eṣa this ; priyaḥ dear ; me to Me ; makha-rāja the king of sacrifices ; eva indeed ; hi indeed ; na not ; cet if ; yathā as ; icchā desire ; asti is ; tathā so ; kuru do ; vraja go.

Translation

First worship the cows, brāhmaṇas, and demigods, and then make a great offering to Govardhana Hill. That offering is the king of yajṣas and it is very dear to Me. If you do not desire to make that offering, then do whatever you wish.

Content

śrī-nārada uvāca teṣāṁ madhye 'tha sannando gopo vṛddho 'ti-nīti-vit ati-prasannaḥ śrī-kṛṣṇaṁ aha nandasya śṛṇvataḥ śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; teṣām—of them; madhye—in the midst; atha—then; sannandaḥ—Sannanda; gopaḥ—gopa; vṛddhaḥ—elderly; ati-nīti-vit—learned in the principles of proper conduct; ati-prasannaḥ—very happy; śrī-kṛṣṇam—to Śrī Kṛṣṇa; aha—said; nandasya—of Nanda; śṛṇvataḥ—listening. Śrī Nārada said: Among them the elderly gopa Sannanda, who throughly knew the real principles of religion, became very pleased. As bewildered Nanda listened, Sannanda spoke to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Content

śrī-sannanda uvāca he nanda-sūno he tāta tvaṁ sākṣāj jṣāna-śevadhiḥ kartavyā kena vidhinā pūjādrer vada tattvataḥ śrī-sannanda uvāca—Śrī Sannanda said; he—O; nanda-sūnaḥ—son of Nanda; he—O; tāta—dear one; tvam—You; sākṣāj—directly; jṣāna—of knowledge; śevadhiḥ—the treasure; kartavyā—should be done; kena—by what?; vidhinā—method of worship; pūjā—the worship; adreḥ—of the hill; vada—please tell; tattvataḥ—in truth. Śrī Sannanda said: Dear son of Nanda, You are wealthy with a great treasury of transcendental knowledge. How should the hill be worshiped? Please truthfully tell.

Content

śrī-bhagavān uvāca ālipya go-mayenāpi giri-rāja-bhuvaṁ hy adhaḥ dhṛtvātha sarva-sambhāraṁ bhakti-yogo jitendriyaḥ śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; ālipya—anointing; go-mayena—with cow-dung; api—even; giri-rāja-bhuvam—the ground of the king of mountains; hy—indeed; adhaḥ—beneath; dhṛtvātha—accepting; sarva-sambhāram—all ingredients; bhakti-yogaḥ—devotional service; jita—conquered; indriyaḥ—the senses. The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: A person who controls his senses and engages in devotional service should collect the ingredients for the worship, anoint Govardhana Hill with cow-dung, . . .

Verse text

sahasra-śīrṣa-mantreṇā- draye snānaṁ ca kārayet gaṅgā-jalena yamunā- jalenāpi dvijaiḥ saha

Synonyms

sahasra-śīrṣa-mantreṇa with the mantra for the thousand-headed Puruṣa ; adraye the hill ; snānam bathing ; ca and ; kārayet should do ; gaṅgā Gaṅgā ; jalena with water ; yamunā Yamunā ; jalenāpi with water ; dvijaiḥ brāhmaṇas ; saha with.

Translation

. . . and, as he chants the mantras for the thousand-headed Puruṣa, with other brāhmaṇas bathe the hill with Gaṅgā water and Yamunā water.

Verse text

śukla-go-dugdha-dhārābhis tataḥ paṣcāmṛtair girim snāpayitvā gandha-puṣpaiḥ punaḥ kṛṣṇā-jalena vai

Synonyms

śukla white ; gaḥ cows' ; dugdha milk ; dhārābhiḥ with streams ; tataḥ then ; paṣcāmṛtaiḥ with pancamrta ; girim the hill ; snāpayitvā bathing ; gandha-puṣpaiḥ wioth fragrant flowers ; punaḥ again ; kṛṣṇā-jalena with Yamunā water ; vai indeed.

Translation

Then he should bathe the hill with streams of white milk, paṣāmṛta, fragrant flowers, and then Yamunā water again.

Verse text

vastraṁ divyaṁ ca naivedyaṁ āsanaṁ sarvato 'dhikam mālālaṅkāra-nicayaṁ dattvā dīpāvaliṁ parām

Synonyms

vastram garments ; divyam splendid ; ca and ; naivedyam food ; āsanam a seat ; sarvataḥ than all ; adhikam better ; mālā garlands ; alaṅkāra ornaments ; nicayam many ; dattvā giving ; dīpāvalim a series of lamps ; parām great.

Translation

Then he should offer splendid garments, food, a great throne, many garlands and ornaments, and many lamps.

Verse text

tataḥ pradakṣiṇāṁ kuryān namaskuryāt tataḥ param kṛtāṣjali-puṭo bhūtvā tv idam evam udīrayet

Synonyms

tataḥ then ; pradakṣiṇām circumambulation ; kuryān should do ; namaskuryāt offer obeisances ; tataḥ then ; param then ; kṛtāṣjali-puṭaḥ with folded hands ; bhūtvā becoming ; tv indeed ; idam this ; evam thus ; udīrayet should recite.

Translation

Then he should circumambulate the hill, offer obeisances, and with folded hands recite this mantra:

Verse text

namo vṛndāvanāṅkāya tubhyaṁ goloka-mauline pūrṇa-brahmātapatrāya namo govardhanāya ca

Synonyms

namaḥ obeisances ; vṛndāvanaṅkāya to the lap of Vṛndāvana ; tubhyam to You ; goloka-mauline the crowen of Goloka ; pūrṇa-brahma of the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; atapatrāya the umbrella ; namaḥ obeisances ; govardhanāya to Govardhana Hill ; ca and.

Translation

Obeisances to you, who are Goloka's crown and the lap where Vṛndāvana forest grows! Obeisances to Govardhana Hill, the Supreme Personality of Godhead's parasol!

Verse text

puṣpāṣjaliṁ tataḥ kuryān nīrājanam ataḥ param ghaṇṭā-kaṁsya-mṛdaṅgādyair vāditrair madhura-svanaiḥ

Synonyms

puṣpa of flowers ; aṣjalim handful ; tataḥ then ; kuryān should do ; nīrājanam arati ; ataḥ param then ; ghaṇṭā-kaṁsya karatals ; mṛdaṅga mrdangas ; ādyaiḥ beginning with ; vāditraiḥ with musical instruments ; madhura-svanaiḥ with sweet sounds.

Translation

Then he should offer a handful of flowers and then, as mṛdaṅgas, karatālas and other musical instruments make sweet sounds, he should offer ārati to Govardhana Hill.

Verse text

vedāham etaṁ mantreṇa varṣa-lājaiḥ samācaret tat-samīpe cānna-kūṭaṁ kuryāc chraddhā-samanvitaḥ

Synonyms

veda know ; aham I ; etam this ; mantreṇa with mantra ; varṣa-lājaiḥ with a shower of grains ; samācaret should worship ; tat-samīpe near it ; ca and ; anna of food ; kūṭam a hill ; kuryāc should do ; chraddhā-samanvitaḥ with faith.

Translation

Then he should chant the mantra that begins with vedāham", and then he should throw a shower of grains. In this way he should worship the hill. Then with great faith he should place a hill of food near Govardhana Hill. Note: The mantra here is Śrī Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 3.8: vedāham etaṁ puruṣaṁ mahantam āditya-varṇaṁ tamasaḥ purastāt tam eva viditvāti-mṛtyum eti nānyaḥ panthā vidyate 'yanāya "I know that Supreme Personality of Godhead who is transcendental to all material conceptions of darkness. Only he who knows Him can transcend the bonds of birth and death. There is no way for liberation other than this knowledge of the Supreme Person."*

Verse text

kacolānāṁ catuḥ-śaṣṭi- paṣca-paṅkti-samanvitam tulasī-dala-misraiś ca śrī-gaṅgā-yamunā-jalaiḥ

Synonyms

kacolānām of cups ; catuḥ-śaṣṭi-paṣca-paṅkti-samanvitam with rows of four, six and five ; tulasī-dala-misraiś mixed with tulasī leaves ; ca and ; śrī-gaṅgā-yamunā-jalaiḥ with Gaṅgā and Yamunā water.

Translation

Then he should offer four, six, and five cups of Gaṅgā and Yamunā water mixed with tulasī leaves.

Verse text

ṣaṭ-paṣcāśattamair bhāgair kuryāt sevāṁ samāhitaḥ tato 'gnīn brāhmaṇān pūjya gāḥ surān gandha-puṣpakaiḥ

Synonyms

ṣaṭ-paṣcāśattamaiḥ with fifty-six ; bhāgaiḥ kinds ; kuryāt should do ; sevām service ; samāhitaḥ with a peaceful heart ; tataḥ then ; agnīn the fire-gods ; brāhmaṇān the brāhmaṇas ; pūjya worshipinf ; gāḥ the cows ; surān the demigods ; gandha-puṣpakaiḥ with fragrant flowers.

Translation

Then, with a peaceful heart, he should serve Govardhana Hill by offering it a feast of fifty-six kinds of food. Then with fragrant flowers he should worship the fire-gods, brāhmaṇas, cows, and demigods.

Verse text

bhojayitvā dvija-varān saugandhair miṣṭa-bhojanaiḥ anyebhyaś cāśvapākebhyo dadyād bhojanam uttamam

Synonyms

bhojayitvā after feeding ; dvija-varān the brāhmaṇa ; saugandhaiḥ with fragrant ; miṣṭa-bhojanaiḥ delicious food ; anyebhyaś others ; ca and ; ā-śvapākebhyaḥ down to the dogeaters ; dadyāt should give ; bhojanam food ; uttamam the best.

Translation

After feeding the exalted brāhmaṇas with fragrant and delicious foods, he should also give excellent foods to the others, even down to the dogeaters.

Verse text

gopī-gopāla-vṛndaiś ca gavāṁ nṛtyaṁ ca kārayet maṅgalair jaya-śabdaiś ca kuryād govardhanotsavam

Synonyms

gopī-gopāla-vṛndaiḥ by the gopas and gopīs ; ca and ; gavām of the cows ; nṛtyam dancing ; ca and ; kārayet should make ; maṅgalaiḥ auspicious ; jaya victory ; śabdaiḥ with sounds ; ca and ; kuryāt should do ; govardhana for Govardhana Hill ; utsavam a festival.

Translation

Then he should have the gopas and gopīs dance among the cows and call out "Victory!" In this way he should perform a festival to worship Govardhana Hill.

Verse text

yatra govardhanābhāvas tatra pūjā-vidhiṁ śṛṇu go-mayair vardhanaṁ kuryāt tad-ākāraṁ paronnatam

Synonyms

yatra where ; govardhana Govardhana Hill ; abhāvaḥ is not ; tatra there ; pūjā-vidhim the method of worship ; śṛṇu hear ; go-mayaiḥ with cow-dung ; vardhanam increased ; kuryāt should do ; tad-ākāram the form of Govardhana Hill ; para-unnatam lofty.

Translation

Now please hear how this worship should be performed when one is not near Govardhana Hill. One should make from cow-dung a model of Govardhana Hill.

Verse text

puṣpa-vyūhair latā-jālair īṣikābhiḥ samanvitaḥ pūjanīyaḥ sadā martyair girir govardhano bhuvi

Synonyms

puṣpa-vyūhaiḥ with many flowers ; latā-jālaiḥ with a network of vines ; īṣikābhiḥ with grass ; samanvitaḥ with ; pūjanīyaḥ the object of worship ; sadā always ; martyaiḥ by human beings ; giriḥ govardhanaḥ Govardhana Hill ; bhuvi on the earth.

Translation

Human beings on this earth should decorate thet model with many flowers, blades of grass, and a network of vines, and regularly offer worship to it.

Verse text

śilā-samānaṁ puraṭaṁ kṣiptvādrau tac-chilāṁ nayet gṛhṇīyād yo vinā svarṇaṁ sa mahā-rauravaṁ vrajet

Synonyms

śilā-samānam nuggets ; puraṭam gold ; kṣiptvā ignoring ; adrau on the hill ; tac-chilām the stone ; nayet takes ; gṛhṇīyāt may take ; yaḥ who ; vinā without ; svarṇam gold ; sa he ; mahā-rauravam to a great hell ; vrajet goes.

Translation

A person who has a mountain of gold but does not use it to worship a stone he has taken from Govardhana Hill, goes to a terrible hell.

Verse text

śālagrāmasya devasya sevanaṁ kārayet sadā pātakaṁ na spṛśet taṁ vai padma-patraṁ yathā jalam

Synonyms

śālagrāmasya of Śālagrāma ; devasya of the Lord ; sevanam service ; kārayet should do ; sadā regularly ; pātakam to hell ; na not ; spṛśet may touch ; tam him ; vai indeed ; padma lotus ; patram leaf ; yathā as ; jalam water.

Translation

A person who regularly worships the Lord's form as Śālagrāma-śilā is not touched by hell as a lotus leaf is not touched by water.

Verse text

giri-rāja-śilā-sevāṁ yaḥ karoti dvijottamaḥ sapta-dvīpa-mahi-tīrthā- vagāha-phalam eti saḥ

Synonyms

giri-rāja of Govardhana Hill ; śilā stone ; sevām service ; yaḥ one who ; karoti does ; dvijottamaḥ the best of brāhmaṇas ; sapta-dvīpa of the seven continents ; mahi-tīrtha in the great holy places ; avagāha of bathing ; phalam the result ; eti attains ; saḥ he.

Translation

An exalted brāhmaṇa who reularly serves a stone from Govardhana Hill attains the result of having bathed in all the holy rivers and lakes in the seven worlds.

Verse text

giri-rāja-mahā-pūjāṁ varṣe varṣe karoti yaḥ iha sarva-sukhaṁ bhuktvā- mutra mokṣaṁ prayāti saḥ

Synonyms

giri-rāja of Govardhana Hill ; mahā great ; pūjām worship ; varṣe year ; varṣe after year ; karoti does ; yaḥ who ; iha here ; sarva-sukham all happiness ; bhuktvā- enjoying ; amutra in the next life ; mokṣam liberation ; prayāti attains ; saḥ he.

Translation

A person who year after year elaborately worships Govardhana Hill attains all happiness in this life and liberation in the next. .pa