Sri Gopaladevastaka
[Eight Prayers Glorifying Sri Gopaladeva]

by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

madhura-mrdula-cittah prema-matraika-vittah
svajana-racita-vesah prapta-sobha-visesah
vividha-manimayalankaravan sarva-kalam
sphuratu hrdi sa eva srila-gopaladevah

May Srila Gopaladeva, whose heart is charming and gentle, for whom pure love is the only wealth, who wears garments made by His devotees, who is splendidly handsome, and who wears many kinds of jewel ornaments, eternally appear in my heart.

nirupama-guna-rupah sarva-madhurya-bhupah
srita-tanu-ruci-dasyah koti-candra-stutasyah
amrta-vijayi-hasyah procchalac-cilli-lasyah
sphuratu hrdi sa eva srila gopaladevah

May Srila Gopaladeva, whose virtues and handsomeness have no equal, who is the king of all sweetness, who is served by all bodily splendour, whose face is praised by millions of moons, whose smile defeats nectar, and whose eyebrows playfully dance, appear in my heart.

dhrta-nava-parabhagah svaya-hasta-sthitagah
prakatita-nija-kaksah prapta-lavanya-laksah
krta-nija-jana-raksah prema-vistara-daksah
sphuratu hrdi sa eva srila-gopaladevah

May Srila Gopaladeva, who is the abode of all ever-fresh opulence and auspiciousness, whose left hand rests on His waist, who possesses handsomeness multiplied millions of times, who protects His devotees, and who expertly increases their love for Him, appear in my heart.

krama-valad-anuraga-sva-priyapanga-bhaga-
dhvanita-rasa-vilasa-jnana-vijnapi-hasah
smrta-ratipati-yagah priti-hamsi-tadagah
sphuratu hrdi sa eva srila-gopaladevah

May Srila Gopaladeva, whose sidelong glances gradually increase His devotees’ love, whose knowing smile announces His nectar pastimes, who remembers the Kamadeva-yajna, and who is a lake where the swans of pure love play, appear in my heart.

madhurima-bhara-magne bhaty asavye’valagne
tribalir alasavattvad yasya pustanatatvat
itarata iha tasya mara-rekheva yasya
sphuratu hrdi sa eva srila-gopaladevah

May Srila Gopaladeva, the three lines on whose charming waist, created from looseness and slight chubbiness, are like the mark of Kamadeva, appear in my heart.

vahati valita-harsam vahayams canuvarsam
bhajati ca saganam svam bhajoyan yo ‘rpayan svam
giri-mukta-manim sridama-van-mitrata-srih
sphuratu hrdi sa eva srila-gopaladevah

May Srila Gopaladeva, who showers transcendental bliss, who shares lunch with His friends, who gives them Govardhana Hill, the crest-jewel of mountains, and who shines with friendship for Sridama, appear in my heart.

adhidharam anuragam madhavendrasya tanvams
tad-amala-hrdayottham prema-sevam vivrnvan
prakatita-nija-saktya vallabhacarya-bhaktya
sphuratu hrdi sa eva srila-gopaladevah

May Srila Gopaladeva, who with devotional potency placed loving devotional service in the pure heart of Madhavendra Puri, appear in my heart.

pratidinam adhunapi preksyate sarvadapi
pranaya-surasa-carya yasya varya saparya
ganayati kati bhogan kah krti tat-prayogan
sphuratu hrdi sa eva srila-gopaladevah

Even today sweet loving service to Srila Gopaladeva may be seen at every moment. What saintly devotee can count the many offerings made to Him? May Srila Gopaladeva appear in my heart.

giridhara-vara-devasyastakenemam eva
smarati nisi dine va yo grhe va vane va
akutila hrdayasya premadatvena tasya
sphuratu hrdi sa eva srila-gopaladevah

May Srila Gopaladeva appear in the heart of the pure-hearted devotee who, living either at home or in the forest, remembers Him by chanting, either in the day or night, these eight verses glorifying the Deity of Govardhana Hill.