Shloka 18

Acyuta/Vāsudeva Stotra: Avatāra-Salutations, Ritual Totality, Forgiveness Prayer, and Phalaśruti

Devanagari script

जय गोपवपुः कृष्ण जय गोपीजनप्रिय / जय गोवर्धनाधार जय गोकुलवर्धन

Transliteration

jaya gopavapuḥ kṛṣṇa jaya gopījanapriya / jaya govardhanādhāra jaya gokulavardhana

Translation

ജയം ഗോപവപുഃ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണനു; ജയം ഗോപീജനപ്രിയനു. ജയം ഗോവർധനാധാരനു; ജയം ഗോകുലവർധനനു.

Word by Word

• जय: hail!
• जय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जय (अव्यय/निपात; जय-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्गार/आशीर्वादार्थक) ‘जय’ = victory/hail

• गोपवपुः: O one with a cowherd form
• गोपवपुः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; ‘गोपस्य वपुः’/‘गोपवपुः’ (cowherd-form)

• कृष्ण: O Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्ण: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• जय: hail!
• जय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जय (अव्यय/निपात; जय-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्गार/आशीर्वादार्थक)

• गोपīजनप्रिय: dear to the gopīs
• गोपīजनप्रिय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपī + जन + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; ‘गोपीनां जनः’ इति + ‘प्रियः’ (dear to the gopīs/people of gopīs)

• जय: hail!
• जय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जय (अव्यय/निपात; जय-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्गार/आशीर्वादार्थक)

• गोवर्धनाधार: support of Govardhana
• गोवर्धनाधार: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोवर्धन + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; ‘गोवर्धनस्य आधारः’ (support/lifter of Govardhana)

• जय: hail!
• जय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जय (अव्यय/निपात; जय-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्गार/आशीर्वादार्थक)

• गोकुलवर्धन: increaser of Gokula
• गोकुलवर्धन: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोकुल + वर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; ‘गोकुलं वर्धयति’/‘गोकुलस्य वर्धनः’

Speaker

Sūta/Paṭhakā (narratorial recitation as a devotional stuti within the text)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Taking refuge in the Lord as the true support (ādhāra) who protects devotees and sustains their world.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the ground of being and protector; surrender (śaraṇāgati) over ritual pride; grace supersedes fear.

Application: In crises, practice ‘Govardhana-bhāva’: turn from anxiety to refuge—prayer, community care, and steady remembrance; see protection as a call to humility and gratitude.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: hill and pastoral settlement

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.234.15–19 (jaya-stuti segment)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopis
• Govardhana
• Gokula

FAQs

What is the importance of this Krishna-stuti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a concise praise-mantra: it centers the mind on Krishna’s protective and nurturing aspects (Govardhana-bearer, Gokula-prosperer), supporting devotion (bhakti) as a purifying practice.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana themes like protection and spiritual merit?

By invoking Krishna’s epithets associated with shelter and upliftment, the verse aligns with the Purana’s broader emphasis that remembrance and devotion aid inner purification and generate puṇya (spiritual merit).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a short daily chant—especially in the morning or before rituals—reflecting on ‘support’ (ādhāra) and ‘upliftment’ (vardhana) as ideals: protect others, nourish community, and cultivate steady devotion.