Shri Hit Chaurasi, pad 81
Pad 81 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: “वृषभानु नंदिनी मधुर कल गावै”.
The pad in full
वृषभानु नंदिनी मधुर कल गावै।
विकट औंघर तान चर्चरी ताल सौं,
नंदनंदन मनसि मोद उपजावै।।
प्रथम मज्जन चारु चीर कज्जल तिलक,
श्रवण कुंडल वदन चंदनि लजावै।
सुभग नकबेसरी रतन हाटक जरी,
अधर बंधूक दसन कुंद चमकावै।।
वलय कंकन चारु उरसि राजत हारु,
कटिव किंकिनी चरन नूपुर बजावै।
हंस कल गामिनी मथति मद कामिनी,
नखनि मदयंतिका रंग रुचि द्यावे ।।
निर्त्त सागर रभसि रहसि नागरि नवल,
चंद चाली विविध भेदनि जनावै।
कोक विद्या विदित भाइ अभिनय निपुन,
भू विलासनि मकर केतनि नचावै।।
निविड़ कानन भवन बाहु रंजित रवन,
सरस आलाप सुख पुंज बरसावै।
उभै संगम सिंधु सुरत पूषन बधु,
द्रवत मकरंद हरिवंश अली पावै
In Roman letters
vrishabhaanu nandinee madhur kal gaavai.
vikat aunghar taan charcharee taal saun,
nandanandan manasi mod upajaavai.
pratham majjan chaaru cheer kajjal tilak,
shravan kundal vadan chandani lajaavai.
subhag nakabesaree ratan haatak jaree,
adhar bandhook dasan kund chamakaavai.
valay kankan chaaru urasi raajat haaru,
kativ kinkinee charan noopur bajaavai.
hans kal gaaminee mathati mad kaaminee,
nakhani madayantikaa rang ruchi dyaave .
nirtt saagar rabhasi rahasi naagari naval,
chand chaalee vividh bhedani janaavai.
kok vidyaa vidit bhaai abhinay nipun,
bhoo vilaasani makar ketani nachaavai.
nivir kaanan bhavan baahu ranjit ravan,
saras aalaap sukh punj barasaavai.
ubhai sangam sindhu surat pooshan badhu,
dravat makarand harivansh alee paavai
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 81
Who wrote pad 81 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 81 begin?
It opens “वृषभानु नंदिनी मधुर कल गावै”, in Roman letters “vrishabhaanu nandinee madhur kal gaavai.”.
Is pad 81 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.