He Govind Rakho Sharan
By Surdas (traditionally attributed) · हिन्दी
Gajendra's desperate cry of surrender to Govinda.
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हे गोविन्द राखो शरण, अब तो जीवन हारे। नीर पिवन हेत गयो, सिन्धु के किनारे॥
सिन्धु बीच बसत ग्राह, चरण धरि पछारे। चार प्रहर युद्ध भयो, ले गयो मँझधारे॥
The cry of Gajendra the elephant-king, rendered by Surdas: 'O Govinda, give me refuge — my life is slipping away. I went to the water's edge to drink, and the crocodile of the deep seized my foot and dragged me into the current.' A timeless prayer of surrender in distress.
1. Achyutam Keshavam Rama-Narayanam Krishna-Damodaram Vasudevam Harim.
Traditional
Adharam madhuram vadanam madhuram nayanam madhuram hasitam madhuram. Hridayam madhuram gamanam madhuram madhuradhipater-akhilam madhuram.
Vallabhacharya
Krishna Govind Govind Gopal Nandlal, Krishna Govind Hare Murari, He Nath Narayan Vasudev.
Traditional
Paayo ji maine Ram-ratan dhan paayo, Vastu amolak di mere Satguru, kirpa kar apnaayo.
Mirabai
Karmanye-vadhikaraste, ma phaleshu kadachana. Ma karma-phala-hetur-bhur, ma te sango'stva-karmani.
Vyasa (Bhagavad Gita)
Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir-bhavati Bharata. Abhyutthanam-adharmasya tada'tmanam srijamy-aham. (4.7)
Vyasa (Bhagavad Gita)
Public domain — traditionally attributed to Surdas.