Jaya Radha Madhava
गोपीजनवल्लभ गिरिवरधारी
यशोदानन्दन ब्रजजनरञ्जन
यमुनातीर वनचारी
gōpī-jana-vallabha giri-vara-dhārī
yashōdā-nandana braja-jana-ranjana
yamunā-tīra vana-chārī
The beloved of the gopis, He who lifted Govardhana Hill.
The son of Yashoda, who delights the residents of Vraja.
He who roams in the forests along the banks of the Yamuna.
Audio Recordings
Performance version v1 — Performed by: Srila Prabhupada
Performance version v2 — Performed by: Srila Prabhupada
Explanation of Sanskrit Transliteration
- ā — a long “a” sound, pronounced like a stretched “aa.”
- ī — a long “i” sound, pronounced like a stretched “ee.”
- ō — a long “o” sound, pronounced like a stretched “oo.”
- ñ — a nasal “n,” conveying a soft sound, similar to “ny” in Russian (or Spanish “ñ”).
Names of the Lord in the “Jaya Radha Madhava” Bhajan
- Radha-Madhava — Radha (the beloved of the Lord) and Madhava (Krishna, the consort of the Goddess of fortune). This name emphasizes the eternal loving pastimes of Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan.
- Kundja-bihari — He who enjoys pastimes in the forest groves (kundjas) of Vrindavan.
- Gopi-jana-vallabha — The beloved of the gopis (cowherd maidens), who personify pure devotion.
- Giri-vara-dhari — He who lifted the great Govardhana Hill, protecting the residents of Vrindavan.
- Yashoda-nandana — The son of Mother Yashoda, who delights her with His childhood pastimes.
- Braja-jana-ranjana — He who brings joy to the inhabitants of Vraja (Vrindavan).
- Yamuna-tira-vana-chari — He who strolls through the forests along the banks of the sacred Yamuna River.
Mentions of the “Jaya Radha Madhava” Bhajan
Prabhupada-lilamrita, ch. 33 (February 1971)
One morning, Srila Prabhupada sang a new song, “Jaya Radha Madhava.”
“I will teach you this song,” he said.
Pronouncing the first line, he asked the devotees to repeat it several times. Thus, line by line, he recited the entire song.“Learn it by tomorrow morning,” he told his disciples. But only a few devotees remembered the song, so the next morning Prabhupada again recited it line by line. At the evening lecture, he explained the meaning of this verse:
“Jaya Radha-Madhava kunja-bihari. Krishna enjoys in Vrindavan. These words present the real image of the Lord — He simply enjoys.”“All the residents of Vrindavan — the gopis, the cowherd boys, Maharaja Nanda, Yashoda — all think of nothing but how to please Krishna. They have no other goal. The residents of Vrindavan have no other purpose than to make Krishna happy, and Krishna Himself has no other purpose either. Yashoda-nandana, braja-jana-ranjana, yamuna-tira-vana-chari. He becomes the little son of Yashoda, and His only goal is to please the inhabitants of Vrindavan.”
The next day, Prabhupada sang “Jaya Radha Madhava” again, and the devotees repeated it after him. Then he continued to explain the meaning of the song. Radha and Madhava, he said, are engaged in Their eternal loving pastimes in the groves of Vrindavan.
Commentary on Jaya Radha Madhava, February 14, 1971, Gorakhpur
This is the real depiction of Krishna, Radha-Madhava giri-vara-dhari. This is the original Krishna. Radha-Madhava giri-vara-dhari. Braja-jana-vallabha. His business is simply to please the residents of Vrindavan. That’s all. He has no other business. And the braja-jana too, they have no business other than giving pleasure to Krishna. That’s all. This is the original Krishna.
Prabhupada Lilamrita
On the third morning after introducing “Jaya Radha Madhava,” Prabhupada sang it again, and the devotees responded. Then he went on to explain further.
“Radha-Madhava,” he said, “are enjoying Their eternal loving pastimes in the groves of Vrindavan.”He stopped speaking. His closed eyes filled with tears, and he began gently rocking his head. His body trembled. Several minutes passed, and the entire room remained silent. Finally, he returned to external consciousness and said:
“Now just chant Hare Krishna.”After that, the Deities of Radha-Krishna in Gorakhpur became known as Sri Sri Radha-Madhava and eventually went to Mayapur.
Verse Analysis
Structure of the Verse:
-
Jaya rādhā-mādhava kuñja-bihārī — 12 syllables (including “jaya”).
Syllables: ja-ya | rā-dhā | mā-dha-va | kuñ-ja | bi-hā-rī -
Gōpī-jana-vallabha giri-vara-dhārī — 13 syllables.
Syllables: gō-pī | ja-na | val-la-bha | gi-ri | va-ra | dhā-rī -
Yashōdā-nandana braja-jana-ranjana — 13 syllables.
Syllables: ya-shō-dā | nan-da-na | bra-ja | ja-na | ran-ja-na -
Yamunā-tīra-vana-chārī — 9 syllables.
Syllables: ya-mu-nā | tī-ra | va-na | chā-rī
Metrical Form:
The bhajan “Jaya Rādhā-Mādha va” does not conform to classical Sanskrit meters such as Anushtubh (अनुष्टुभ्). It is written in a free lyrical style focused on melody.
Analysis of the “Jaya Radha Madhava” Bhajan
Bhajan Text:
(jaya) rādhā-mādhava kuñja-bihārī
gōpī-jana-vallabha giri-vara-dhārī
yashōdā-nandana braja-jana-ranjana
yamunā-tīra-vana-chārī
Text Breakdown:
1. Jaya rādhā-mādhava kuñja-bihārī
- Jaya (जय): Meaning: “Glory,” “Victory.” Form: Imperative word, a call to glorify.
- Radha-Madhava (राधा-माधव):
- Radha (राधा): The name of Srimati Radharani, the beloved of Lord Krishna. Root: “Radh” — “success,” “achievement,” highlighting her status as the topmost devotee. The ending “ā” indicates feminine gender (f., sg., nominative).
- Madhava (माधव): A name of Krishna, meaning: “He who belongs to the Goddess of fortune (Madhavi/Lakshmi).” “He who is sweet like honey (madhu).” The ending “a” indicates masculine gender (m., sg., nominative).
- Kuñja-bihari (कुञ्ज-बिहारी):
- Kuñja (कुञ्ज): A forest grove, a garden-like thicket.
- Bihari (बिहारी): One who plays or roams. Root: “vihr” — “to play,” “to wander.” The ending “ī” indicates the active agent.
2. Gōpī-jana-vallabha giri-vara-dhārī
- Gōpī-jana-vallabha (गोपि-जन-वल्लभ):
- Gōpī (गोपि): The cowherd girls, devotees of Krishna. Derived from: “go” (cow) + a feminine suffix.
- Jana (जन): People, folk.
- Vallabha (वल्लभ): Beloved, dear. Root: “val” — “to attract,” “to love.”
- Giri-vara-dhārī (गिरि-वर-धारी):
- Giri (गिरि): Mountain.
- Vara (वर): Great, best.
- Dhārī (धारी): One who holds. Root: “dhar” — “to hold,” “to support.”
3. Yashoda-nandana braja-jana-ranjana
- Yashoda-nandana (यशोदा-नन्दन):
- Yashoda (यशोदा): The name of Krishna’s mother. Formed from: “yashas” (fame) + suffix “-da” — “giver.” Meaning: “She who bestows fame.”
- Nandana (नन्दन): Son, one who brings joy. Meaning: “The son of Yashoda.”
- Braja-jana-ranjana (व्रज-जन-रञ्जन):
- Braja (व्रज): Vraja, the cowherd village, Krishna’s homeland.
- Jana (जन): People, residents.
- Ranjana (रञ्जन): One who delights. Root: “ranj” — “to color,” “to please.”
4. Yamuna-tīra-vana-chārī
- Yamuna-tīra (यमुना-तीर):
- Yamuna (यमुना): The Yamuna River, a sacred river associated with Krishna’s pastimes, flowing in Vrindavan.
- Tīra (तीर): Bank, shore.
- Vana-chārī (वन-चारी):
- Vana (वन): Forest.
- Chārī (चारी): Wanderer, one who roams. Root: “char” — “to move,” “to wander.”
Complete Translation:
Glory to Radha-Madhava, who plays in the groves of Vrindavan.
The beloved of the gopis, He who lifted Govardhana Hill.
The son of Yashoda, who delights the residents of Vraja.
He who roams in the forests along the banks of the Yamuna.
Commentary
The bhajan “Jaya Radha Madhava” is sung before the lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam. Srimad-Bhagavatam glorifies Krishna and Srimati Radharani. Therefore, this bhajan sets the appropriate mood. While singing, one should meditate on the fact that when Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Srila Prabhupada, and other exalted devotees chanted this bhajan, they were truly describing what they saw before their eyes.