Shri Hit Chaurasi, pad 12
Pad 12 of the 84 pads of the Shri Hit Chaurasi, composed in Braj Bhasha by Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu, founder of the Radhavallabh Sampradaya. It opens: “चलहि राधिके सुजान, तेरे हित सुख निधान”.
The pad in full
चलहि राधिके सुजान, तेरे हित सुख निधान,
रास रच्यौ श्याम तट कलिंद-नन्दिनी ।
निर्तत युवती समूह, राग रंग अति कुतूह,
बाजत रसमूल मुरलिका अनन्दिनी ।
वंशीवट निकट जहाँ, परम रमणि भूमि तहाँ,
सकल सुखद मलय बहै वायु मन्दिनी ।
जाती ईषद विकास, कानन अतिसय सुवास,
राका निशि शरद मास, विमल चन्दिनी ।।
नरवाहन प्रभु निहारि, लोचन भरि घोष-नारि,
नख-सिख सोन्दर्य काम-दुख-निकन्दिनी ।
विलसहु भुज ग्रीव मेलि, भामिनि सुख-सिन्धु झेलि,
नव निकुंज श्याम केलि जगत वन्दिनी
In Roman letters
chalahi raadhike sujaan, tere hit sukh nidhaan,
raas rachyau shyaam tat kalind-nandinee .
nirtat yuvatee samooh, raag rang ati kutooh,
baajat rasamool muralikaa anandinee .
vansheevat nikat jahaan, param ramani bhoomi tahaan,
sakal sukhad malay bahai vaayu mandinee .
jaatee eeshad vikaas, kaanan atisay suvaas,
raakaa nishi sharad maas, vimal chandinee .
naravaahan prabhu nihaari, lochan bhari ghosh-naari,
nakh-sikh sondary kaam-dukh-nikandinee .
vilasahu bhuj greev meli, bhaamini sukh-sindhu jheli,
nav nikunj shyaam keli jagat vandinee
The pads of the Chaurasi are left here without a translation, as on the full Chaurasi page: sixteenth century Braj Bhasha does not survive a one-line English gloss, and a wrong meaning of a devotional text is worse than none. Each pad closes with the chhap, the signature line naming Shri Hit Harivansh, which is how a pad is known to be his.
Questions about pad 12
Who wrote pad 12 of the Shri Hit Chaurasi?
Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu, founder of the Radhavallabh Sampradaya, in the sixteenth century. The closing line carries his name, the traditional signature of authorship in Braj poetry.
How does pad 12 begin?
It opens “चलहि राधिके सुजान, तेरे हित सुख निधान”, in Roman letters “chalahi raadhike sujaan, tere hit sukh nidhaan,”.
Is pad 12 sung or recited?
Sung. The pads of the Chaurasi are set to classical ragas, and rasik sants in the kunjs of Vrindavan still sing them.
Why is there no English meaning for this pad?
Braj Bhasha of this period carries layers that a short English gloss flattens, and a wrong paraphrase of a devotional text is worse than none. The text is given as it is recited.
Can I download the Shri Hit Chaurasi?
Yes. All 84 pads are in a free PDF on the downloads page, with no account or email needed.