Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki

Refrain, sung again after each stanza

आरती कुंजबिहारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥

Aartee kunjbihaaree kee shree giridhar Krishna muraaree kee

The aarti of Kunj Bihari, of Shri Giridhar, Krishna, Murari.

Stanza 1

गले में बैजंती माला, बजावे मुरली मधुर बाला।
श्रवण में कुण्डल झलकाला, नंद के आनंद नंदलाला।
गगन सम अंग कांति काली, राधिका चमक रही आली।
लतन में ठाढ़े बनमाली,
भ्रमर सी अलक, कस्तूरी तिलक, चंद्र सी झलक,
ललित छवि श्यामा प्यारी की॥

Gale men baijantee maalaa bajaave muralee madhur baalaa
Shravan men kundal jhalakaalaa Nand ke aanand nandalaalaa
Gagan sam ang kaanti kaalee Raadhikaa chamak rahee aalee
Latan men thaarhe banamaalee
Bhramar see alak kastooree tilak chandra see jhalak
Lalit chhavi shyaamaa pyaaree kee

A Vaijayanti garland at his neck, the young one plays his sweet flute. Earrings shine at his ears; he is Nanda's joy, the darling of Nanda. His body is dark as the sky, and Radha shines beside him, friend. Among the vines stands the wearer of forest garlands, with locks like bees, a musk tilak and a moon-like glow: lovely is the beauty of beloved Shyama.

Stanza 2

कनकमय मोर मुकुट बिलसे, देवता दरसन को तरसे।
गगन सों सुमन रासि बरसे,
बजे मुरचंग, मधुर मिरदंग, ग्वालिन संग,
अतुल रति गोप कुमारी की॥

Kanakamay mor mukut bilase devataa darasan ko tarse
Gagan son suman raasi barse
Baje murachang madhur miradang gvaalin sang
Atul rati gop kumaaree kee

A golden peacock crown shines on him, and the devas long for the sight. Flowers rain from the sky. The murchang and sweet mridanga sound, with the gopis around him, and matchless is the love of the cowherd maidens.

Stanza 3

जहां ते प्रकट भई गंगा, सकल मन हारिणि श्री गंगा।
स्मरन ते होत मोह भंगा,
बसी शिव सीस, जटा के बीच, हरे अघ कीच,
चरन छवि श्रीबनवारी की॥

Jahaan te prakat bhaee Gangaa sakal man haarini shree Gangaa
Smaran te hot moh bhangaa
Basee Shiv sees jataa ke beech hare agh keech
Charan chhavi shreebanavaaree kee

From there the Ganga rose, beautiful Ganga who takes every heart. The verse says that remembering her ends delusion, and that she dwells on Shiva's head, within his matted hair, and washes off the mire of sin. The beauty is of Shri Banwari's feet.

Stanza 4

चमकती उज्ज्वल तट रेनू, बज रही वृंदावन बेनू।
चहुं दिसि गोपि ग्वाल धेनू,
हंसत मृदु मंद, चांदनी चंद, कटत भव फंद,
टेर सुन दीन दुखारी की॥

Chamakatee ujjval tat renoo baj rahee vrindaavan benoo
Chahun disi gopi gvaal dhenoo
Hansat mridu mand chaandanee chand katat bhav phand
Ter sun deen dukhaaree kee

The bright sand of the bank shines, and the flute plays in Vrindavan. Gopis, cowherds and cows are all around. He laughs softly and the moon shines; the verse says the bonds of worldly life are cut. He hears the cry of the poor in sorrow.