Shri Hit Chaurasi, pad 23
Pad 23 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: “राधा प्यारी तेरे नैंन सलोल”.
The pad in full
राधा प्यारी तेरे नैंन सलोल ।
तौं निजु भजन कनक तन जोवन,
लियौ मनोहर मोल ।।
अधर निरंग अलक लट छूटी,
रंजित पीक कपोल ।
तूँ रस मगन भई नहिं जानत,
ऊपर पीत निचोल ।।
कुच जुग पर नख रेख प्रकट मानौं,
संकर सिर ससि टोल ।
(जै श्री) हित हरिवंश कहत कछू भामिनि,
अति आलस सौं बोल
In Roman letters
raadhaa pyaaree tere nainn salol .
taun niju bhajan kanak tan jovan,
liyau manohar mol .
adhar nirang alak lat chhootee,
ranjit peek kapol .
toon ras magan bhaee nahin jaanat,
oopar peet nichol .
kuch jug par nakh rekh prakat maanaun,
sankar sir sasi tol .
(jai shree) hit harivansh kahat kachhoo bhaamini,
ati aalas saun bol
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 23
Who wrote pad 23 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 23 begin?
It opens “राधा प्यारी तेरे नैंन सलोल”, in Roman letters “raadhaa pyaaree tere nainn salol .”.
Is pad 23 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.