Commentary On The Mahā-Mantra by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī

Commentary on the mahā-mantra
by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī
sarva-ceto-haraḥ kṛṣṇas
tasya cittaṁ hartay asau
vaidagdhī-sāra-vistārair
ato rādhā harā mṛta (1)
Hare – Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra’s transcendental beauty captivates the minds of all,

but Śrīmatī Rādhikā captivates even the mind of Śrī Kṛṣṇa by exercising Her
unrivalled cleverness. Therefore, She is known as Harā. Harā in the singular
vocative case is Hare.2
karṣati svīya-lāvaṇya-
muralī-kala-niḥsvanaiḥ
śrī-rādhāṁ mohana-guṇā
’laṅkṛtaḥ kṛṣṇa īryate (2)
Kṛṣṇa – Śrī Hari, who is adorned with qualities that bewilder the three worlds,
constantly attracts Śrīmatī Rādhikā by His youthful beauty and the sweet
sound of His flute. Therefore, He is called Kṛṣṇa [the all-attractive one].
śrūyate nīyate rāse

hariṇā hariṇekṣṇā
ekākinī rahaḥ-kuñje
hareyaṁ tena kathyate (3)
Hare – Śrī Kṛṣṇa kidnapped the doe-eyed Śrīmatī Rādhikā, taking Her alone
to a secluded forest bower, away from the rāsa-maṇḍala. This has been
learned from the words of the most exalted saintly personalities. Therefore,
Rādhikā is known as Harā. Harā in its vocative case becomes Hare.
aṅga-śyāmalima-stomaiḥ
śyāmalī-kata-kāñcanaḥ
ramate rādhayā sārdhaṁ
ataḥ kṛṣṇo nigadyate (4)
Kṛṣṇa – The magnificent effulgence emanating from His dark limbs can
convert Śrī Rādhikā’s golden complexion to the lustre of a dark sapphire
(śyāma-varṇa). That Rādhā-ramaṇa Śyāmasundara is called Kṛṣṇa.
kṛtvāraṇye saraḥ-śreṣṭhaṁ
kāntayānumatas tayā
ākṛṣya sarva-tīrthāni
taj-jñānāt kṛṣṇa īryate (5)
Kṛṣṇa – Śrī Hari manifested Śyāma-kuṇḍa, the topmost of all beautiful lakes,
in the forest of Vraja near Govardhana. He did this in accordance with the
desire of His beloved Śrī Rādhikā, and He attracted all holy places to it.
Therefore, learned people who understand this deep secret call Him Kṛṣṇa.
kṛṣyate rādhayā premṇā

yamunā-taṭa-kānanam
līlayā lalitaś cāpi
dhīraiḥ kṛṣṇa udāhṛtaḥ (6)
Kṛṣṇa – Although His pastimes in the kuñjas on the banks of the Yamunā in
Vṛndāvana bewilder the world, the all-attractive dhīra-lalita-nāyaka3 Śrī Hari is
attracted by the transcendental prema of Śrī Rādhikā, which is celebrated by
the name mahābhāva. That is why intelligent people call Him Kṛṣṇa.
hṛtavān gokule tiṣṭhann

ariṣṭaṁ puṣṭa-puṅgavam
śrī-haris taṁ rasād uccai
rāyatīti harā mṛta (7)
Hare – Whilst living in Vraja, Śrī Kṛṣṇa stole away the life force of the strong
bull-like demon, Ariṣṭāsura. At that very moment Śrīmatī Rādhikā, in great
jubilation, loudly chanted “Hari, Hari!” For this reason, Śrī Rādhā is known as
Harā. In the vocative case, Harā is addressed as Hare.
hy aspuṭaṁ rāyati prīti-

bhareṇa hari-ceṣṭitam
gāyatīti matā dhīrair
harā rasa-vicakṣanaiḥ (8)
Hare – Śrī Rādhikā sings the pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa in indistinct tones, and
sometimes, out of intense affection, She sings loudly. Therefore, learned
scholars who are expert in discerning rasa-tattva refer to Her as Harā. Harā is
addressed as Hare.
rasāveśa-paristratāṁ
jahāra muralīṁ hareḥ
hareti kīrtitā devī
vipine keli-lampaṭā (9)
Hare – In Vṛndāvana, Śrī Rādhikā playfully stole away the flute as it fell from
the hands of Śrī Kṛṣṇa while He was immersed in rasa. Because She stole
away (jahāra), Rādhikā-devī is known as Harā. The form of address for Harā
is Hare.
govardhana-darī-kuñje
pariraṁbha-vicakṣaṇaḥ
śrī-rādhāṁ ramayāmāsa
rāmas tena mato hariḥ (10)
Rāma – Śrī Kṛṣṇa is most clever in the art of embracing. He is thus known as
Rāma because He wandered with Śrī Rādhikā, playing and enjoying with Her
in the cave-like arbours of Govardhana.
hanti duḥkhāni bhaktānāṁ

rāti saukhyāni cānvahaṁ
harā devī nigaditā
mahā-kāruṇya-śālinī (11)
Hare – Śrī Rādhikā is most merciful. She steals away all the miseries of the
devotees and daily bestows happiness upon them. Thus She is known as
Harā and is addressed as Hare.
ramate bhajate cetaḥ

paramānanda-vāridhau
atreti kathito rāmaḥ
śyāma-sundara-vigrahaḥ (12)
Rāma – The minds of the devotees who perform bhajana delight in the
topmost ocean of bliss, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. For this reason the dark complexioned Śrī
Kṛṣṇa is known as Rāma.
ramayaty acyutaṁ premṇā

nikuñja-vana-mandire
rāmā nigaditā rādhā
rāmo yuktas tayā punaḥ (13)
Rāma – In the arbours, Śrīmatī Rādhikā gives joy to Śrī Hari with Her prema.
Therefore, according to the etymological origin of ramayati ānandayati or ‘She
who gives happiness and bliss’, She is called Rāmā. Śrī Kṛṣṇa is known as
Rāma because He unites with Śrī Rādhā, or Rāmā.
rodaniar gokule dāva-

analam āśayati hy asau
viśoṣayati tenokto
rāmo bhakta-sukhāvaḥ (14)
Rāma – When Śrī Kṛṣṇa, saw all the Vrajavāsīs weeping in Vraja, He
swallowed the forest fire, thus giving them great pleasure. Therefore, Śrī
Kṛṣṇa, who gives happiness to His bhaktas, is called Rāma.
nihantum asurān yāto

mathurā-puram ity asau
tadāgam adrahaḥ kāmo
yasyāḥ sāsau hareti ca (15)
Hare – Śrī Kṛṣṇa went to Mathurā-purī to kill Kaṁsa and other demons.
Afterwards, He returned to Vraja with the desire to meet with Śrī Rādhikā in a
solitary place. She attracts Śrī Kṛṣṇa from dhāmas like Mathurā and brings
Him to Vraja. For this reason She is called Harā (one who steals). The form of
address for Harā is Hare.
āgatya duḥkha-hartā yo
sarveṣāṁ vrajavāsinām
śrī rādhā-hāri-carito
hariḥ śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ (16)
Hare – Śrī Nanda-nandana came from Mathurā and Dvārakā to steal away all
the miseries of the Vrajavāsīs. That Nanda-nandana, who is endowed with
pastimes that captivate the mind of Śrī Rādhikā, is called Hari. The word Hari
becomes Hare in the vocative case.
Thus ends the commentary on the mahā-mantra by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī

Commentary On The Mahā-Mantra by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Commentary On The Mahā-Mantra by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Commentary On The Mahā-Mantra by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Commentary on the mahā-mantra

by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī

Hare – Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra’s transcendental beauty captivates the minds of all,

śrūyate nīyate rāse

kṛṣyate rādhayā premṇā

hṛtavān gokule tiṣṭhann

hy aspuṭaṁ rāyati prīti-

hanti duḥkhāni bhaktānāṁ

ramate bhajate cetaḥ

ramayaty acyutaṁ premṇā

rodaniar gokule dāva-

nihantum asurān yāto

Thus ends the commentary on the mahā-mantra by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī

You might also like