Shri Hit Chaurasi, pad 44
Pad 44 of the 84 pads of the Shri Hit Chaurasi, composed in Braj Bhasha by Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu, founder of the Radhavallabh Sampradaya, and set by the text itself to raag जैश्री. It opens: “चलि सुंदरि बोली वृंदावन”.
The pad in full
चलि सुंदरि बोली वृंदावन ।
कामिनि कंठ लागि किन राजहि,
तूँ दामिनि मोहन नौतन घन ।।
कंचुकी सुरंग विविध रँग सारी,
नख जुग ऊन बने तरे तन ।।
ये सब उचित नवल मोहन कौं,
श्रीफल कुच जोवन आगम धन ।।
अतिसै प्रीति हुती अंतरगत,
(जैश्री) हित हरिवंश चली मुकुलित मन ।
निविड़ निकुंज मिले रस सागर,
जीते सत रति राज सुरत रन
In Roman letters
chali sundari bolee vrindaavan .
kaamini kanth laagi kin raajahi,
toon daamini mohan nautan ghan .
kanchukee surang vividh rang saaree,
nakh jug oon bane tare tan .
ye sab uchit naval mohan kaun,
shreephal kuch jovan aagam dhan .
atisai preeti hutee antaragat,
(jaishree) hit harivansh chalee mukulit man .
nivir nikunj mile ras saagar,
jeete sat rati raaj surat ran
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 44
Who wrote pad 44 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 44 begin?
It opens “चलि सुंदरि बोली वृंदावन”, in Roman letters “chali sundari bolee vrindaavan .”.
In which raag is pad 44 sung?
The text itself names raag जैश्री. The pads of the Chaurasi were written to be sung, and rasik sants in 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.