Shri Hit Chaurasi, pad 65
Pad 65 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: “मूल-मदन मदन धन निकुंज खेलत हरि”.
The pad in full
मूल-मदन मदन धन निकुंज खेलत हरि,
राका रुचिर सरद रजनी।
यमुना पुलिन तट सुरतरु के निकट,
रचित रास चलि मिलि सजनी।।
वाजत मृदु मृदंग नाचत सबै सुधंग;
तैं न श्रवन सुन्यौ बैंनु बजनी।
(जै श्री) हित हरिवंश प्रभु राधिका रमन,
मोकौं भावै माई जगत भगत भजनी
In Roman letters
mool-madan madan dhan nikunj khelat hari,
raakaa ruchir sarad rajanee.
yamunaa pulin tat surataru ke nikat,
rachit raas chali mili sajanee.
vaajat mridu mridang naachat sabai sudhang;
tain n shravan sunyau bainnu bajanee.
(jai shree) hit harivansh prabhu raadhikaa raman,
mokaun bhaavai maaee jagat bhagat bhajanee
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 65
Who wrote pad 65 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 65 begin?
It opens “मूल-मदन मदन धन निकुंज खेलत हरि”, in Roman letters “mool-madan madan dhan nikunj khelat hari,”.
Is pad 65 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.