Brahma Samhita (Govindam Adi Purusham)
ब्रह्मसंहिता
What is the Brahma Samhita?
Brahma Samhita (Govindam Adi Purusham) The Brahma Samhita is a Sanskrit prayer in which Lord Brahma glorifies Krishna as Govinda, the original Supreme Person. Chapter 5 holds the celebrated 'Govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami' verses recited daily in Gaudiya Vaishnava temples.
The Brahma Samhita preserves the words Lord Brahma spoke at the dawn of creation, offering praise to Krishna as Govinda, the source of every cause. Its fifth chapter contains the beloved govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami refrain – a line repeated across many verses, each closing with the worshipper’s vow: I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord.This page gathers the widely recited devotional heart of the chapter: the opening declaration of Krishna’s supremacy (verse 5.1) and the Govindam prayer series. You will find each verse in Sanskrit and Roman transliteration, with a plain-language meaning written for readers who want to understand what they are singing.
Brahma Samhita Lyrics (Sanskrit & English)
Chapter 5 has 62 verses in full. Reproduced here is the universally-recited devotional core – verse 5.1 plus the famous Govindam Adi Purusham refrain verses (5.29-5.33, 5.37, 5.38, 5.40, 5.44). The verse numbers below follow the standard Brahma Samhita Chapter 5 numbering.
īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ
anādir ādir govindaḥ sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam
ईश्वरः परमः कृष्णः सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहः ।
अनादिरादिर्गोविन्दः सर्वकारणकारणम् ॥
Meaning
Krishna is the supreme controller. His very form is eternal being, full awareness, and unbroken joy. He has no beginning, yet he is the beginning of all; he is Govinda, the one cause standing behind every other cause.
cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa-
lakṣāvṛteṣu surabhīr abhipālayantam
lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama-sevyamānaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
चिन्तामणिप्रकरसद्मसु कल्पवृक्ष-
लक्षावृतेषु सुरभीरभिपालयन्तम् ।
लक्ष्मीसहस्रशतसम्भ्रमसेव्यमानं
गोविन्दमादिपुरुषं तमहं भजामि ॥
Meaning
In palaces built of wish-fulfilling gems, among groves of countless desire-trees, he lovingly tends the surabhi cows. Hundreds of thousands of goddesses of fortune attend him with eager devotion. I worship that Govinda, the primeval Lord.
veṇuṁ kvaṇantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣaṁ
barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgam
kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya-viśeṣa-śobhaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
वेणुं क्वणन्तमरविन्ददलायताक्षं
बर्हावतंसमसिताम्बुदसुन्दराङ्गम् ।
कन्दर्पकोटिकमनीयविशेषशोभं
गोविन्दमादिपुरुषं तमहं भजामि ॥
Meaning
He plays a singing flute, his eyes wide like the petals of a lotus. A peacock feather crowns his head, and his body glows dark and lovely like a rain-laden cloud. His unique charm surpasses the beauty of millions of cupids. I worship that Govinda, the primeval Lord.
ālola-candraka-lasad-vanamālya-vaṁśī-
ratnāṅgadaṁ praṇaya-keli-kalā-vilāsam
śyāmaṁ tri-bhaṅga-lalitaṁ niyata-prakāśaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
आलोलचन्द्रकलसद्वनमाल्यवंशी-
रत्नाङ्गदं प्रणयकेलिकलाविलासम् ।
श्यामं त्रिभङ्गललितं नियतप्रकाशं
गोविन्दमादिपुरुषं तमहं भजामि ॥
Meaning
A forest garland sways at his chest, bright with a swinging moon-shaped ornament; a flute and jewelled armlets adorn his hands. He revels in the artful play of loving pastimes. His dark form curves gracefully in three places and stands ever-visible to those who love him. I worship that Govinda, the primeval Lord.
aṅgāni yasya sakalendriya-vṛtti-manti
paśyanti pānti kalayanti ciraṁ jaganti
ānanda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
अङ्गानि यस्य सकलेन्द्रियवृत्तिमन्ति
पश्यन्ति पान्ति कलयन्ति चिरं जगन्ति ।
आनन्दचिन्मयसदुज्ज्वलविग्रहस्य
गोविन्दमादिपुरुषं तमहं भजामि ॥
Meaning
Each limb of his radiant form can carry out the work of every sense: any part of him can see, sustain, and uphold the countless worlds forever. His body is made of bliss, awareness, and eternal, dazzling light. I worship that Govinda, the primeval Lord.
advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam
ādyaṁ purāṇa-puruṣaṁ nava-yauvanaṁ ca
vedeṣu durlabham adurlabham ātma-bhaktau
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
अद्वैतमच्युतमनादिमनन्तरूपं
आद्यं पुराणपुरुषं नवयौवनं च ।
वेदेषु दुर्लभमदुर्लभमात्मभक्तौ
गोविन्दमादिपुरुषं तमहं भजामि ॥
Meaning
He is without a second, never falls, has no origin, and appears in limitless forms. He is the very first person, the most ancient, and yet forever fresh in youth. He is hard to grasp through Vedic study alone, but easily reached by the soul's sincere devotion. I worship that Govinda, the primeval Lord.
ānanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhāvitābhis
tābhir ya eva nija-rūpatayā kalābhiḥ
goloka eva nivasaty akhilātma-bhūto
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
आनन्दचिन्मयरसप्रतिभाविताभि-
स्ताभिर्य एव निजरूपतया कलाभिः ।
गोलोक एव निवसत्यखिलात्मभूतो
गोविन्दमादिपुरुषं तमहं भजामि ॥
Meaning
Surrounded by his own energies, expansions of his very self, all steeped in the essence of conscious joy, he dwells eternally in Goloka while also living as the inner soul of every being. I worship that Govinda, the primeval Lord.
premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
प्रेमाञ्जनच्छुरितभक्तिविलोचनेन
सन्तः सदैव हृदयेषु विलोकयन्ति ।
यं श्यामसुन्दरमचिन्त्यगुणस्वरूपं
गोविन्दमादिपुरुषं तमहं भजामि ॥
Meaning
With eyes of devotion anointed by the salve of pure love, the saints behold him always within their hearts as Shyamasundara, whose beautiful form and qualities lie beyond the reach of thought. I worship that Govinda, the primeval Lord.
yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi-
koṭiṣv aśeṣa-vasudhādi-vibhūti-bhinnam
tad brahma niṣkalam anantam aśeṣa-bhūtaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
यस्य प्रभा प्रभवतो जगदण्डकोटि-
कोटिष्वशेषवसुधादि विभूतिभिन्नम् ।
तद्ब्रह्म निष्कलमनन्तमशेषभूतं
गोविन्दमादिपुरुषं तमहं भजामि ॥
Meaning
The formless Brahman that scriptures describe is nothing other than the radiance of his body, spreading through millions upon millions of universes with all their worlds and powers. That undivided, endless, all-pervading light streams from him. I worship that Govinda, the primeval Lord.
sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śaktir ekā
chāyeva yasya bhuvanāni bibharti durgā
icchānurūpam api yasya ca ceṣṭate sā
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
सृष्टिस्थितिप्रलयसाधनशक्तिरेका
छायेव यस्य भुवनानि बिभर्ति दुर्गा ।
इच्छानुरूपमपि यस्य च चेष्टते सा
गोविन्दमादिपुरुषं तमहं भजामि ॥
Meaning
The single power that carries out creation, preservation, and dissolution, and that holds up all the worlds, is Durga, who moves like his shadow. She acts in exact accord with his will. I worship that Govinda, the primeval Lord.
Meaning & Significance
Read as a whole, these verses build one continuous portrait. Verse 5.1 states the thesis plainly: Krishna is the origin who himself has no origin, the cause behind all causes. The Govindam prayers that follow then show how that supreme reality appears – not as an abstract force, but as a cowherd of infinite beauty living in Goloka, playing his flute among wish-trees and loving companions.
The repeated closing line, govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami, turns each description into an act of worship. Where philosophy would describe God, this hymn addresses him. Verses 5.40 and 5.44 fold the vast impersonal Brahman and the cosmic energy Durga back into Govinda: his bodily light is the Brahman sages seek, and the power running the universe works only at his wish. The message is that the personal Krishna is not a lesser aspect of the Absolute but its very foundation.
How to Chant
- Sit and settle – Face east if you can, sit with a straight spine, and bring the mind to Krishna before you begin.
- Start with verse 5.1 – Recite the opening declaration slowly – it sets the intention that you are worshipping the supreme cause.
- Sing the Govindam refrain – Move through the refrain verses, letting the closing line 'govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami' ring out fully each time.
- Follow the traditional melody – Many recite these to the well-known temple tune sung at morning darshan; matching the rhythm keeps the pronunciation even.
- Reflect on the meaning – Pause after each verse to picture what it describes – the flute, the peacock feather, the light filling the universes.
- Close with devotion – End with a moment of stillness or a bow, offering the recitation to Govinda.
What Are the Benefits of Chanting?
Regular recitation of these verses is valued in the Gaudiya tradition for both its devotional focus and its clear, elevating imagery.
- Fixes the mind on Krishna: Each verse gives the mind a concrete image of Govinda to rest on, steadying wandering attention.
- Deepens devotion (bhakti): The refrain is a direct vow of worship, cultivating a personal, loving relationship rather than mere study.
- Grounds understanding of the Absolute: The verses reconcile the personal and impersonal views of God, clarifying who Govinda is.
- Suits daily morning practice: Short enough to recite at Brahma Muhurta, it is a traditional part of Mangala Aarti in many temples.
- Calms and uplifts: The measured Sanskrit meter and devotional mood bring a settled, positive frame of mind.
- Connects to a living tradition: Reciting the same verses sung daily worldwide links the practitioner to a continuous devotional community.
Who Composed This Stotram?
The Brahma Samhita is counted among the Pancharatra literature and is traditionally held to be spoken by Lord Brahma, the first created being, in adoration of Krishna as Govinda. Of its original chapters, only the fifth survives in wide circulation.
Gaudiya Vaishnavas hold the text in special regard because Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is said to have discovered a manuscript of the fifth chapter at the Adi Keshava temple in South India and brought it north, treasuring it as a confirmation of Krishna’s supremacy. From that chapter, the Govindam Adi Purusham prayers entered daily temple worship, and in the twentieth century they became known worldwide through their morning recitation in the Hare Krishna movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'Govindam Adi Purusham Tam Aham Bhajami' mean?
It means 'I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the original person.' The line closes each verse of the Govindam prayers, turning every description of Krishna into a personal act of worship.
How many verses does the Brahma Samhita have?
The surviving fifth chapter has 62 verses. This page presents the widely recited devotional core – verse 5.1 and the famous Govindam refrain verses (5.29 to 5.33, plus 5.37, 5.38, 5.40, and 5.44).
Who spoke the Brahma Samhita?
It is traditionally attributed to Lord Brahma, who is said to have offered these prayers to Krishna as Govinda at the beginning of creation.
Why is the Brahma Samhita important to Gaudiya Vaishnavas?
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is said to have recovered the fifth chapter in South India and cherished it as scriptural proof of Krishna's position as the Supreme Person. Its Govindam prayers are sung in daily temple worship.
When is the best time to recite the Govindam prayers?
They are traditionally sung during Brahma Muhurta at the pre-dawn Mangala Aarti, and are also recited on Janmashtami. They can be chanted at any time as a daily practice.
Is Govinda the same as Krishna?
Yes. Govinda is a name of Krishna meaning 'one who gives pleasure to the cows and the senses.' The Brahma Samhita presents Govinda as Krishna in his original, supreme identity.
॥ ॐ ॥