Govinda Hari Govinda

Govinda Hari Govinda

(Composer: Shri Kanakadaasaru)

Translated by

Chakravarthi Madhusudana

Raaga: Brindavana Saaranga

Pallavi:

Govinda Hari Govinda Keshava Krishna Janaardana

CharaNas:

matsyaavataradoLaaDidnE mandaraacala bennoLu taaLidanE

accasookaranaagi baaLidanE madahecce hiraNyana seeLidanE || 1 ||

kumbhini daanava bEDidanE kshaatrarembuvaranu hata maaDidanE

ambudhigE  shara hooDidanE kamalaambaka gollaroLaaDidanE || 2 ||

vasudEvanudaradi puTTidanE palmaseva danujarodaguTTidanE

eseva kaaLingana meTTidanE bhaadisuvara yamapurakaTTidanE || 3 ||

pootaniya maiya sOkidane mahaa ghaatada moleyunDu tEgidanE

ghaatakiyanatta nookidane gOpa vraata gOgaLanella saakidanE || 4 ||

saadhisi tripurava gelidavanE mlEcchara bhEdisi hayavEri meredavanE

saadhisi sakalava tiLidavanE baaDadaadikeshaava bhaktigolidavanE || 5 ||

Note: 1.This song is one of several on Dashaavatara composed by Kanakadaasaru. The ending ‘E’ instead of the usual ‘u’ signifies awe rather than just a statement.

2. For an excellent rendering of this song listen to Raichur Seshagiridas (track #2) on the following link (control+click):

http://mio.to/artist/topsongs/99-Kannada_Devotional/3511-Raichur_Sheshgiri_Das/#/artist/topsongs/99-Kannada_Devotional/3511-Raichur_Sheshgiri_Das/

Translation

Pallavi: govinda hari govonda keshava krishna janaardana (Several names of Vishnu)

CharaNas: 1.   Frolic did he as the fish (and, in the next avatar) carried the Mandara mountain on his back; he lived as the great boar (and as the Man-Lion) cleaved the arrogant HiraNyakashipu.

2.         (As Vaamana) He begged for land (and as Parashuraama) he annihilated the Kshatriyas. (As Rama) he aimed the arrow at the ocean (to subdue the Ocean God and permit Rama and his army to cross the ocean. (In Krishnaavataara) the Lotus-eyed one played with the cowherds.

3.         He was born as the son of Vasudeva and destroyed the ogres who were gnashing their teeth (in anger); he trod on the shining Kalinga and sent the tormentors to the abode of Yama.

4.         He touched the body of the ogress Pootana; he sucked on her poisonous breast and pushed away the evil ogress; he looked after the cows and cowherds.

5.         He conquered Tripura by trickery*; He destroyed the Mlecchas and celbrated by riding a horse; He gained supreme knowledge by effort*. Adikeshava of BaaDa (birth place of Kanakadasa) showed grace and favour to devotion. (*In this verse, Kanakadasa seems to be acknowledging both the Puranic and the historic versions of Buddha).