श्री राधा चालीसा — Word-by-Word Meaning

Shri Radha, daughter of Vrishabhanu, the very life-breath of the devotees; O wanderer in the groves of Vrindavan, I bow to you again and again. Such as I am, I am wholly yours, O beloved of Krishna, abode of bliss; grant me the refuge of your feet, O beautiful, joy-giving, lovely one. Victory to you, daughter of Vrishabhanu, Shri Shyama; daughter of Kirti, abode of all beauty. Eternal sporting one, the support of Shyam (Krishna); giver of boundless joy and auspiciousness. Delighting in the rasa-dance, spreader of its nectar (rasa); beloved of the fair company of your sakhis. Ever-youthful, fair Radha; the very treasure of Shyam's life, utterly innocent of heart. Ocean of compassion, your heart brimming with joy; companion of Lalita and the other sakhis. You who sport on the banks of the Yamuna, the Sun's daughter; dear as life to Krishna, you gladden his heart. Ever does Shyam sing your praises; saying 'Radha, Radha,' he rejoices. On his flute he ever sounds your name; for your sake he takes on his playful (leela) form. Embodiment of love, most delicate and tender; beloved of Shyam, darling daughter of Vrishabhanu. Ever-fresh young maiden, abode of supreme beauty; before your radiance the splendour of a million Ratis and Kamadevas seems small. Fair of limb, your face putting the moon to shame; with lovely, restless, sharp-cornered eyes. Your two lotus-feet reddened with lac; the sound of your anklets steals the heart of your beloved. Your companions serve you constantly, their hearts filled with great joy and auspiciousness. Life and breath-support of the rasikas (the lovers of devotion); the name of Radha is the essence of all happiness. Of eternal form, unreachable and beyond the senses; upon whom the king of Braj (Krishna) meditates day and night. From a mere fraction of whom, that mine of virtues, arise millions of Umas, Ramas (Lakshmis) and Brahmanis. Dweller in the eternal abode of Goloka; protector of your people, destroyer of sorrow and fault. Shiva, the unborn Brahma, the sages, Sanaka and his brothers, and Narada, neither Shesha nor Sharada can find your limit. Radha, radiant with auspicious virtue and beauty; beholding you, Banwari (Krishna) is filled with delight. Radha Rani, the life and treasure of Braj; your boundless glory cannot be told in full. Arm in arm with your beloved, you sport forever within Vrindavan. Radha says 'Krishna' and Krishna says 'Radha'; the two are one single form, their love unfathomable. Shri Radha, stealer of Mohan's (Krishna's) heart; giver of joy to your devotees, your face ever in bloom. The son of Nanda, the moon of Gokul, takes on a million forms just to gain the sight of you. He delights you with the play of the rasa-dance; and when you feign loving anger (maan), he is sorely grieved. He blossoms with joy when he gains your sight, and ever offers his pleas to you in many ways. O Shyama who sports in the forest of Vrinda; at the mere taking of your name, all desires are fulfilled. Though one perform a million sacrifices and penances, and hold in the heart all manner of vows and observances, even so, Shyam does not take the devotee as his own, so long as that devotee does not sing the name of Radha. Radha, mistress of the groves of Vrindavan; your playful form is boundless and unfathomable. Krishna himself cannot reach your far shore; who else, then, is able to know you? The love-rasa of Shri Radha and Krishna is one and indivisible; the Vedas ever sing of it with reverence. Those who forsake Radha and worship Krishna alone do not, even in a dream, cross the ocean of worldly existence. Radha, the cherished daughter of Kirti; remembering her, all the obstacles of worldly life are erased. Your name destroys the very root of all misfortune; remover of the three torments, beloved of Hari. Whoever takes the name of Radha, by that alone does Damodara (Krishna) come under their sway. The name of Radha is the giver of supreme joy; on those who chant it, the lord of the Yadus bestows his grace. The son of Yashoda (Krishna) follows behind whoever remembers the name of Radha. O Shyama, beloved one who sports in the rasa-dance; show your grace, O lady of Barsana. Vrindavan is your shelter, and in you I take shelter; victory, victory, victory, O darling daughter of Vrishabhanu! Shri Radha is the supreme goddess of all, and the cloud-dark Krishna the lord of the rasikas; may I dwell forever in the holy abode of Shri Vrindavan.