Jaya Radha Madhava Meaning — Line by Line

जय राधा माधव

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Jaya Radha Madhava with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Verse 1#

(जय) राधा-माधव (जय) कुञ्ज-बिहारी । (जय) गोपी-जन-वल्लभ (जय) गिरि-वर-धारी ॥

(jaya) rādhā-mādhava (jaya) kuñja-bihārī (jaya) gopī-jana-vallabha (jaya) giri-vara-dhārī

MeaningAll glories to Radha-Madhava (Krishna, the lover of Radha)! All glories to Him who sports in the groves of Vrindavan! All glories to the beloved of the gopis! All glories to the lifter of Govardhana Hill!

Verse 2#

(जय) यशोदा-नन्दन (जय) ब्रज-जन-रञ्जन । (जय) यमुना-तीर-वन-चारी ॥

(jaya) yaśodā-nandana (jaya) braja-jana-rañjana (jaya) yamunā-tīra-vana-cārī

MeaningAll glories to the darling son of Yashoda! All glories to the delighter of the people of Vraja! All glories to Him who wanders in the forests along the banks of the river Yamuna!

Word-by-Word Breakdown

जय

jaya

All glories! Victory!

राधा-माधव

rādhā-mādhava

Madhava (Krishna), the beloved (lover) of Radha

कुञ्ज-बिहारी

kuñja-bihārī

He who sports/wanders in the groves (kunjas) of Vrindavan

गोपी-जन-वल्लभ

gopī-jana-vallabha

The beloved of the gopis (cowherd maidens of Vraja)

गिरि-वर-धारी

giri-vara-dhārī

The lifter of the great hill (Govardhana)

यशोदा-नन्दन

yaśodā-nandana

The beloved son of mother Yashoda

ब्रज-जन-रञ्जन

braja-jana-rañjana

The delighter of the people of Vraja (Braj)

यमुना-तीर-वन-चारी

yamunā-tīra-vana-cārī

He who wanders in the forests along the banks of the Yamuna

ब्रज

braja

Vraja / Braj, the land of Krishna's childhood pastimes

वन

vana

Forest, woodland

गिरि-वर

giri-vara

The best of hills (Govardhana)

तीर

tīra

Bank, shore (of the river)

Origin & History

Source: Gitavali by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Author: Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Period: Late 19th century CE

Jaya Radha-Madhava was composed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the pioneering Gaudiya Vaishnava saint, and is part of his celebrated songbook Gitavali. Though only two short verses long, it captures the entire essence and landscape of Vrindavan: Krishna as the lover of Radha, the playful Lord of the groves, the darling of the gopis, the lifter of Govardhana, the son of Yashoda, the joy of all Vraja and the wanderer along the Yamuna. It became one of the most popular Vaishnava bhajans worldwide, especially after Srila Prabhupada made it a regular prelude to his discourses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Jaya Radha-Madhava?▼

Jaya Radha-Madhava is a short, deeply loved Vaishnava bhajan in praise of Sri Krishna as the lover of Radha and the charming Lord of Vrindavan. In just two verses it glorifies Him as Kunja-bihari, Gopi-jana-vallabha, Giri-vara-dhari, Yashoda-nandana, Braja-jana-ranjana and the wanderer of the Yamuna's banks.

Who wrote Jaya Radha-Madhava?▼

It was composed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (1838–1914), a great Gaudiya Vaishnava saint and reformer, and appears in his songbook Gitavali.

Why was this bhajan so dear to Srila Prabhupada?▼

Srila Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON, frequently sang Jaya Radha-Madhava before his lectures. He explained that it is 'a picture of Vrindavan' — everything is there: Radharani, the gopis, Govardhana, Yashoda and the cowherd boys — and he is said to have entered a devotional trance while singing it.

What does 'Radha-Madhava' mean?▼

'Madhava' is a name of Krishna meaning 'the sweet Lord' or 'Lord of fortune', and 'Radha-Madhava' means Krishna as the beloved of Srimati Radharani — emphasising that Krishna is approached together with His eternal consort Radha.

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