Sri Gita Govinda - English

Written by  Sri Jayadeva Gosvami

"Sri Gita-Govinda is a "jewel book" brought by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. We all know that Sri Jayadeva Gosvami has written this beautiful Gita Govinda, but without Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu it would have remained locked like a pearl in the oyster shell or a jewel in a locked case. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu manifested the glories of Sri Gita Govinda. Just as without Srila Rupa Gosvami no one would have known the inner moods of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, similarly, by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu relishing the moods of Sri Gita Govinda its glories became manifest for the whole world. I have explained this very high-class philosophy, but only rare devotees in this world can understand it. I have called you here only to give you this."

Sri Gita-govinda is the zenith of all literatures; the poet himself confidently tells his audience this fact at the beginning as well as at the end of his divine masterpiece. This great classic is an immaculate presentation of sacred amorous love, manifested in this world by a genuine Vrajavasi, a resident of the topmost spiritual realm. It was by the desire of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that this intimate vision of madhurarasa was revealed in this world, providing a means for Him to relish the moods of Sri Radha. It furthermore affords a view of the unimaginable, confidential reality of Goloka Vraja for the conditioned souls of Kali-yuga. This Gita-govinda and other Gosvami literatures, with their pristine descriptions of the erotic mellow, are indeed the very medicine to alleviate our hrd-roga, the disease of lust contaminating our hearts. Sri Jayadeva himself confirms this in the eighth verse of many of the astapadis of this epic masterpiece, assuring us that his words are just the remedy to counteract the foulness of Kali.

The present edition is the fruit of over ten year’s devoted service. Those of us who worked on the current volume have strived to present the delicate subject matter tactfully. We hope that persons who feel that Gita-govinda is beyond their level of qualification, will find this edition approachable. The beauty of the poetry and the inconceivable genius of Jayadeva Gosvami are perfectly capable to captivate and melt the heart. All of us who helped with this production are grateful to have been given this opportunity. It has been a thrilling experience, and we relished many hours of joy as we repeatedly chewed the words of Sri Jayadeva Gosvami’s sweet, astonishing poem. 

Contents: Preface, Introduction, The Substance of Sri Gita-govinda, A Review of the Literary Principles of Sri Gita-govinda, The Method for Entering into Sri Gita-govinda, The Life History of the Poet Sri Jayadeva, Commentaries on Sri Gita-govinda, Foreword, On Sri Gita-govinda, On Eroticism — Sacred & Profane, Acts: Damodara Delighted, Carefree KeSava, Madhusudana Mesmerized, Affectionate Madhusudana Pundarikaksa Pining Away, Capricious Krsna, The Supreme Transcendental hero, The Unlucky Lord of Fortune, The Innocent Lord of Liberation, Clever Krsna: the Four-Armed Flatterer, Govinda Gladdened, Pitambara Perfectly Pleased, Verse Index.

TITLE: Sri Gita Govinda
AUTHOR: Sri Jayadeva Gosvami
Translated from the Hindi edition of Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaj - Revised edition.
PUBLISHER: Gaudiya Vedanta Publications
ISBNs: 9781633161634 978-1-63316-163-4
LCCN:  2017952708
EDITION: Second, 2017
BINDING: HardBound
PAGES: 314, Illustrated
SHIPPING WEIGHT: 490  grams