Sri Radha Kunda-Vrndavana
Photo from cover of Cyavana swamis book-Catch the Rising Moon
ShriRadhakundashtakam by Raghunath Das Goswami Bhavanuvad based on Shri Anant Das Babaji’s Stavamrita Kana Vyakhya
vṛṣabha-danuja-nāśān narma-dharmokti-raṅgair nikhila-nija-sakhībhir yat sva-hastena pūrṇam prakaṭitam api vṛndāraṇya-rājñā pramodais tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me
After Krishn killed the demon Vrishabhasur, a wonderful lila took place, which started with a playful conversation between Radha and Krishn. [Radha teased Krishn that killing the demon was a sin, because it had come in the shape of a bull, and that he needed to atone by bathing in all the holy waters of the world before he could touch her. Krishn then used his divine powers to call all the holy waters and create his own lake, Shyam Kund. After bathing in it, he challenged his Beloved to make her own lake.] Then a divine lake was formed by Radha and her sakhis, who personally filled it with water. In the end, the work was completed by reluctantly accepting some help from Krishn. May this place of supreme beauty, Radha Kund, be my shelter. (For the full lila of Radha Kund’s appearance, see the April 2018 issue of Sandarshan.)
(1) vraja-bhuvi mura-śatroḥ preyasīnāṁ nikāmair asulabham api tūrṇaṁ prema-kalpa-drumaṁ tam janayati hṛdi bhūmau snātur uccair priyaṁ yat tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me
If anyone bathes in this divine lake, the tree of sacred love grows in the earth of their hearts. The form of love they receive is rarely attained, even amongst the gopis themselves. May this place of supreme beauty, Radha Kund, be my shelter.
(2) agha-ripur api yatnād atra devyāḥ prasādaprasara-kṛta-katākṣa-prāpti-kāmaḥ prakāmam anusarati yad ucchaiḥ snāna-sevānubandhais tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me
Although Krishna is worshipped by the whole universe, he himself worships Radha Kund. When Radha shows her sweet sulking (maan), he bathes here and offers seva to the kund, hoping to gain her kripa kataksh – a merciful glance from the corner of her eyes. May this place of supreme beauty, Radha Kund, be my shelter.
(3) vraja-bhuvana-sudhāṁśoḥ prema-bhūmir nikāmaṁ vraja-madhura-kiśorī-mauli-ratna-priyeva paricitam api nāmnā yā ca tenaiva tasyās tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me
But Krishna does not only serve this place to attain his desires; he serves because he loves this lake like he loves Radha, and he is the one who named it after her. May this place of supreme beauty, Radha Kund, be my shelter.
(4) api jana iha kaścid yasya sevā-prasādaiḥ praṇaya-sura-latā syāt tasya goṣṭhendra-sūnoḥ sapadi kila mad-īśā-dāsya-puṣpa-praśasyā tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me
The one who serves Radha Kund receives the greatest blessing; the vine of sacred love for Krishn grows in his heart. As the vine flourishes, tender buds of seva begin to appear, and when they burst into full bloom, the devotee becomes the maidservant of my beloved queen, Radha. May this place of supreme beauty, Radha Kund, be my shelter.
(5)taṭa-madhura-nikuñjaḥ klpta-nāmāna uccair nija-parijana-vargaiḥ samvibhajyāśritas taiḥ madhukara-ruta-ramyā yasya rājanti kāmyās tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me
On the banks of this lake there are many beautiful groves, filled with the sweet songs of bees. Each one belongs to one of Radha’s sakhis, and they bear their names as well. May this place of supreme beauty, Radha Kund, be my shelter.
(6) taṭa-bhuvi vara-vedyāṁ yasya narmāti-hṛdyāṁ madhura-madhura-vārtāṁ goṣṭha-candrasya bhaṅgyā praṭhayatimitha īśā prāṇa-sakhyālibhiḥ sā tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me
On the bank of this lake, Radha and her sakhis tease each other and joke so sweetly about her Beloved, Krishna. May this place of supreme beauty, Radha Kund, be my shelter.
(7) anudinam ati-raṅgaiḥ prema-mattāli-saṅghair vara-sarasija-gandhair hāri-vāri-prapūrṇe viharata iha yasmin dam-patī tau pramattau tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me
In this water, filled with fragrant lotuses, the Divine Couple play every day. Their sakhis play with them, and all of them are madly in love. May this place of supreme beauty, Radha Kund, be my shelter.
(8) avikala mati devyāś cāru kuṇḍāṣṭakaṁ yaḥ paripaṭhati tadīyollāsi-dāsyārpitātmā aciram iha śarīre darśayaty eva tasmai madhu-ripur ati-modaiḥ śliṣyamāṇāṁ priyāṁ tām
If one chants this prayer to Radha Kund with complete faith and dedication, offering themselves as Radha’s maidservant, that person will soon have darshan of Krishn blissfully bound in her embrace, even in this very lifetime.