Lyrics and Meanings (Ashtapadi)

Aṣhṭapadhi - It is lyrical poetry in 12 chapters, which is further sub-divided into 24 divisions called Prabandhha. Each Prabandhha is again sub-divided into two, comprising eight couplets called Aṣhṭapadhis.

Each song of the Aṣhṭapadhiis set in a special rāga and thāḷa. It is a rhyme of eternal love and supreme devotion. The literal meaning of "Aṣhṭapadhi" is "eight steps".

Gītha Govindha composed in the 12th century by Indian poet Jayadheva in Sanskrit language is a lyrical poetry in twelve chapters, sub-divided into twenty four divisions called Prabandhha. The songs in Gītha Govindha symbolize the eternal love of Lord Kriṣhṇa and his beloved Rādhhā and the sublimation of love in God through complete surrender.

Chapter one and chapter two, four, five and twelve contain two Aṣhṭapadhis each; chapters three, six, eight, nine and ten contain only one Aṣhṭapadhi each. Thus there are twenty-four Aṣhṭapadhi. These Aṣhṭapadhis can be set to music in different melodious ragas, which were appreciated and followed by the poets later period. On which more than hundred commentaries has been written in Sanskrit and over fifty more than hundred commentaries have been written in Sanskrit and over fifty in regional languages in India also in many foreign languages.

Since the Gīthagovindha was composed specifically for dance performance during the night worship of Lord Jagannātha, the composition is so deftly made as to be sung to the beats of a dancer's foot movements. The author himself at the end of the Kāvya again states this fact, where he again emphasizes that the poem was intended to be a prop for meditation on Viṣhṇu and it is clothed in Śhrungāra rasa by the kavi Jayadheva panḍitha immersed in the contemplation of Krishna. The poem became so popular that within a century or so, it spread to all corners of the country from east to south, west and north and was adapted to dance, music, painting and temple worship.

In short, these songs describe the celestial love between Rādhhikā and Kriṣhṇa, The egoistic nature of Rādhhikā, Her anger towards Kriṣhṇa, Her viraha thāpam (sorrow in separation), reunion and their Sallāpam.

Chapter One

Daśhāvathāra Varṇanam – Description of the ten incarnations

Aṣhṭapadhī – 1: Daśhāvathāra

Composer: Jayadheva

Language: Sanskrit

Meanings-Word by word & Overall:www.sanskritdocuments.org/sites/giirvaani/

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

Pralaya-Payodhhi-Jale Dhhṛuthavān Asi Vedhaḿ
Vihitha-Vahithra-Charithram Akhedam
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Mīna-Śharīra Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Kṣhithir Iha Vipulathare Thiṣṭhati Thava Pṛṣṭhe
Dhharaṇi-Dhharaṇa-Kiṇa-Chakra-Gariṣṭhe
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Kūrma -Śharīra Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Vasathi Daśhana-Śhikhare Dhharaṇī Thava Lagnā
Śhaśhini Kalańka-Kaleva Nimaghnā
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Śūkara-Rūpa Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Thava Kara-Kamala-Vare Nakham Adbhutha-Śhruṅgam
Dhalitha-Hiraṇyakaśhipu-Thanu-Bhruṅgam
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Narahari-Rūpa Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Chalayasi Vikramaṇe Balim Adbhutha-Vāmana
Padha-Nakha-Nīraja nithajana-Pāvana
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Vāmana-Rūpa Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Kṣhathriya-Rudhira-Maye Jagadh-Apagatha-Pāpam
Snapayasi Payasi Śhamitha-Bhava-Thāpam
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Bhṛgupathi-Rūpa Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Vitharasi Dikṣhu Raṇe Dik-Pathi-Kamanīyaḿ
Dhaśha-Mukha-Mauli-Balim Ramaṇīyam
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Rāma-Śharīra Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Vahasi Vapuṣhi Viśhadhe Vasanaḿ Jaladābhaḿ
Hala-Hathi-Bhīthi-Militha-Yamunābham
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Haladhhara-Rūpa Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Nindhasi Yagnya-Vidher Ahaha Śhruthi-Jāthaḿ
Sadhaya-Hṛdhaya Darśhitha-Paśhu-Ghātham
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Buddha-Śharīra Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Mleccha-Nivaha-Nidhhane Kalayasi Karavālaḿ
Dhhūmakethum Iva Kim Api Karālam
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Kalki-Śharīra Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Śhrī-Jayedheva-Kaver Idham h Udhāraḿ
Śhṛuṇu Sukha-Dhaḿ Śhubhadhaḿ Bhava-Sāram
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Dhaśha-Vidha-Rūpa Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Vedhān Uddhharathe Jagannivahathe Bhū-Golam Udbhibhrathe
Dhaithyān Āddhārayathe Baliḿ Chalayathe Kṣhathra-Kṣhayaḿ Kurvathe
Paulasthyaḿ Jayathe Halaḿ Kalayathe Kāruṇyam Āthanvathe
Mlecchān Mūrchayathe Daśhakrruthi-Krruthe Krriṣhṇāya Thubhyaḿ Namaḥ

Meaning:

Pralaya-Payodhhi-Jale Dhhṛuthavān Asi Vedhaḿ
Vihitha-Vahithra-Charithram Akhedam
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Mīna-Śharīra Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Keśhava - oh, Keśhava;

Jagadhīśha - The almighty of the world;

Hare - oh, Hari;

Pralaya - completely, commingled (deluged);

Payodhi - oceans' ;

Jale - in waters;

Dhhrutha-Mīna-Śharīra - on donning, fish's, body;

Vihitha - make do (improvising);

Vahithra - (like a) ship;

Charithram - legendary;

Akhedam - not, with weariness (indefatigably);

Dhhṛuthavān Asi - upheld, you are;

Oh, Keśhava, oh, Hari, the almighty of worlds, when worlds were under the deluge of all the waters of all seven seas, you on donning the body of a fish, and improvising yourself as a legendary ship, you indefatigably upheld all the four Vedha-s, thus hail to thee.

Kṣhithir Iha Vipulathare Thiṣṭhati Thava Pṛṣṭhe
Dhharaṇi-Dhharaṇa-Kiṇa-Chakra-Gariṣṭhe
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Kūrma -Śharīra Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Keśhava - oh, Keśhava;

Jagadhīśha - the almighty of the world;

Hare - O Hari;

Kṣhitir Iha Vipulathare - very, wide, much in degree (widest);

Dhharaṇi-Dhharaṇa - earth, by bearing

Kina - tumid, puffed up;

chakra+ thava - circular shell of tortoise, of yours;

garishṭhe + prishṭhe - on its heightened, back;

Kṣihthir Thiṣṭhati - earth, is abiding;

Oh, Keśhava, Oh, Hari, the almighty of worlds, on assuming the form of a tortoise and by bearing the weight of very wide earth, and Mt. Manthara as well, on the heightened back of circular shell of tortoise, that is puffed up and tumid, the earth is abiding on your back, even today. Thus, hail to thee.

Vasathi Daśhana-Śhikhare Dhharaṇī Thava Lagnā
Śhaśhini Kalańka-Kaleva Nimaghnā
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Śūkara-Rūpa Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Keśhava - oh, Keśhava;

Jagadhīśha - worlds, The almighty of;

Hare - oh, hari;

Dhhrutha-Śūkara-Rūpa - on assuming, wild boar's, form;

Vasathi Daśhana-Śhikhare - your, fang's, top;

Lagnā+Dhharaṇi - became stuck, earth;

Śhaśhini Nimagnā - in moon, embedded;

Kalańka-Kaleva - blemish's, streak, like;

Vasati - is lodged;

Oh, Keśhava, Oh, Hari, the almighty of worlds, on your assuming the form of a wild boar, only to uplift the earth from its sinking to netherworlds and while uplifting with your snout, the earth is stuck in your crescent fang, and it is lodged there on that fang, like a streak of blemish in the moon. Hail to thee.

Thava Kara-Kamala-Vare Nakham Adbhutha-Śhruṅgam
Dhalitha-Hiraṇyakaśhipu-Thanu-Bhruṅgam
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Narahari-Rūpa Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Keśhava - oh, Keśhava;

Jagadhīśha - worlds, The almighty of;

Hare - oh, hari;

Dhhrutha-Narahari-Rūpa - on assuming, man, lion, form of;

Thava Kara-Kamala-Vare - in your, hand, (called) lotus, the best;

Dalitha-Hiraṇyakaśhipu - lacerated, Hiraṇyakaśhipu's;

Thanu - body;

Bhruṅgam - (which is like a) honeybee;

Nakham Adbhutha-Śhruṅgam - wondrous, tip, of nail (thus those nails shine forth);

Oh, Keśhava, oh, Hari, the almighty of worlds, on your assuming the form of man-lion, lacerated is the honeybee like body of demon Hiraṇyakaśhipu just with the tips of fingernails of your hands, that are like best lotuses. Those fingernails shine forth for their elimination of vice on earth, thus hail to thee.

Chalayasi Vikramaṇe Balim Adbhutha-Vāmana
Padha-Nakha-Nīraja nithajana-Pāvana
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Vāmana-Rūpa Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Dhhrutha-Vāmana-Rūpa - assuming, dwarf's, mien;

Adbhutha-Vāmana - astounding dwarf;

Padha-Nakha-Nīraja nitha - from foot's toenail; water, emerged;

Jana Pāvana - people, santifier;

Vikramaṇe Balim Chalayasi - by treading (three worlds, ) emperor bali, is being deluded;

Oh, Keśhava, oh, Hari, the almighty of worlds, on your assuming the mien of a dwarfish boy to tread all the three worlds in three steps, you became an astounding dwarf, and then emerged from the water from your foot's toenail, namely river Gangā, which became the sanctifier of people on earth, and you always delude people of anti-establishment like emperor Bali with such an astounding treading of yours, hence hail to thee.

Kṣhathriya-Rudhhira-Maye Jagadh-Apagatha-Pāpam
Snapayasi Payasi Śhamitha-Bhava-Thāpam
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Bhṛgupathi-Rūpa Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Dhhrutha-Bhṛgupathi-Rūpa - on assuming, sage saver, saviour's, mien;

Kshathriya+ rudhhira+ maye - blood of, filled with;

Payasi - in waters (pools of blood waters);

Jagadh - world (people);

Śhamitha-Bhava-Thāpam - ceased, worldly, torridity;

Apagatha-Pāpam - swerved off, sin is;

Snapayasi - you make them to bathe (in blood pools of kings);

Oh, Keśhava, Oh, Hari, the almighty of worlds, on your assuming the mien of Paraśhu Rāma, the saviour of the world, you have filled five pools with the blood of the atrocious Kṣhathriya kings. Thus ceased is the torridity of the worlds and swerved are the sins of people, as you make them to bathe in those five pools of blood waters, called Śhamantha Panchaka. Hail to thee!

Vitharasi Dhikṣhu Raṇe Dhik-Pathi-Kamanīyaḿ
Dhaśha-Mukha-Mauli-Balim Ramaṇīyam
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Rāma-Śharīra Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Dhhrutha-Rāma-Śharīra - on assuming, Ramā's, body;

Dhikṣhu - in all directions, ten of them;

Dhik-Pathi - direction, presiding deity of;

Kamanīyaḿ - desired by (those deities);

Ramanīyaḿ - heart-pleasing (act of);

Daśha-Mukha - ten, faced demon, octahedron ravana's; mauli = heads;

Balim - sacrifice;

Raṇe - in war;

Vitharasi - generously giving;

Oh, Keśhava, oh, Hari, the almighty of the worlds, on your assuming the body of Rāma, an act desired by each of the ten presiding deities of each direction, namely the sacrifice of ten heads of octahedron Rāvaṇa in war, and that heart-pleasing sacrifice you are offering in war ever and thus hail to thee!

Vahasi Vapuṣhi Viśhadhe Vasanaḿ Jaladābhaḿ
Hala-Hathi-Bhīthi-Militha-Yamunābham
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Haladhhara-Rūpa Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Dhhrutha-Haladhhara-Rūpa - on assuming plough, wielder, form of;

Vapuṣhi Viśhadhe - on whitish, body;

Jaladābhaḿ - water, giver (cloud,) in shine with;

Hala-Hathi-Bhīthi-Militha - by plough, hit, fear, blent with; Yamunābham - river yamuna, in shine; Vasanaḿ Vahasi - raiment, you bear (you are clad in);

Oh, Keśhava, oh, Hari, the almighty of worlds, on your assuming the body of Balarāma, the wielder of plough, you are clad in blackish cloudlike raiment on your whitish body, and it is rippling like the ripples of river Yamunā, for she is hit by your plough and that fear is blest in her ripples, thus hail to thee!

Nindhasi Yagnya-Vidher Ahaha Śhruthi-Jāthaḿ
Sadhaya-Hṛdhaya Dharśhitha-Paśhu-Ghātham
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Buddha-Śharīra Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Dhhrutha-Buddha-Śharīra - on assuming, Buddha's, body;

Sadhaya-Hṛdhaya - with, kindness, in heart;

Dharśhitha - shown (taught by scriptures);

Paśhu-Ghātam - animal, killing;

Yagnya-Vidher - in Vedhic-rituals, methods of;

Śhruthi-Jāthaḿ - scriptural words, collection of;

Nindhasi - fault-finding;

Ahaha - aha, aha, aha (expression of surprise);

Oh, Keśhava, oh, Hari, the almighty of worlds, on your assuming the body of kind-hearted Buddhā, you are finding fault with the animal sacrifices in the methods of vedhic-rituals, taught by scriptures, and even with the collection of those scriptural words themselves, what a revamp in religious methods. Aha ha ha! Hail to thee!

Mleccha-Nivaha-Nidhhane Kalayasi Karavālaḿ
Dhhūmakethum Iva Kim Api Karālam
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Kalki-Śharīra Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Dhhrutha-Kalki-Śharīra - on assuming, Kalki, body of;

Mleccha-Nivaha-Nidhhane - fractious, groups of race, in eliminating;

Dhhūmakethum Iva - as with a comet as with

Kalayasi Karavālaḿ - sword, you are brandishing;

Kim Api Karālam - dreadful (deeds of yours);why, even (tell about them, unimaginable to detail them);

Oh, Keśhava, oh, Hari, the almighty of worlds, on your assuming the body of Kalki at the end of kali-yuga, you are brandishing a sword like a comet to eliminate the groups of fractious races, and unimaginable are your horrendous deeds to detail, thus hail to thee!

Śhrī-Jayedheva-Kaver Idham h Udhāraḿ
Śhṛuṇu Sukha-Dhaḿ Śhubhadhaḿ Bhava-Sāram
Keśhava Dhhrutha-Dhaśha-Vidha-Rūpa Jaya Jagadhīśha Hare

Śhrī - deferential prefix to god, or, one who is with her, goddess lakshmi;

Dhhrutha-Dhaśha-Vidha-Rūpa - one who can assume, ten, kinds, of forms;

Udhāraḿ - excellent one;

Bhava-Sāram - wordly life, having pith (to get release from it);

Śhubhadhaḿ - wellbeing, giver (blissful);

Sukha-Dhaḿ - comfort, giver (blithesome);

Idham - this;

Jayedheva-Kaver - Jayadheva, by poet;

Śhṛuṇu - listen;

Oh, Śhrī Keśhava, the almighty of worlds, as you can assume ten kinds of forms for the sake of humanity, pray, listen to this articulation of poet Jayadheva, which has an excellent pith and kernel of worldly living, and will be blissful and blithesome in getting a release from it, hail to thee!

Śhloka

Meaning:

Vedhān Uddhharathe Jagannivahathe Bhū-Golam Udbhibhrathe
Dhaithyān Āddhārayathe Baliḿ Chalayathe Kṣhathra-Kṣhayaḿ Kurvathe
Paulasthyaḿ Jayathe Halaḿ Kalayathe Kāruṇyam Āthanvathe
Mlecchān Mūrchayathe Daśhakrruthi-Krruthe Krriṣhṇāya Thubhyaḿ Namaḥ

For upholding the Vedhas,
for supporting the earth,
for raising the world,
for tearing the demon asunder,
for cheating Bali,
for destroying the warrior class,
for conquering Rāvaṇa,
for wielding the plow,
for spreading compassion,
for routing the barbarians,
homage to you, Kriṣhṇa,
in your ten incarnate forms