Adi Shankaracharya
भजे व्रजैकमण्डनं समस्तपापखण्डनं
स्वभक्तचित्तरंजनं सदैव नन्दनन्दनम् |
सुपिच्छगुच्छमस्तकं सुनादवेणुहस्तकं
अनंगरंगसागरं नमामि कृष्णनागरम् || १ ||
Bhaje vrajaika-mandanam samasta-papa-khandanam
sva-bhakta-citta-ranjanam sadaiva nanda-nandanam
su-piccha-guccha-mastakam su-nada-venu-hastakam
ananga-ranga-sagaram namami krishna-nagaram
I bow down to Sri Krishna who is Nanda’s son,
who is Vraja’s sole ornament, who breaks all sins into pieces,
and who delights the devotees’ hearts.
I bow down to Sri Krishna whose head is decorated with peacock feathers,
whose hand holds a melodious flute,
and who is ocean of all the art of pleasures.
[1]
मनोजगर्वमोचनं विशाललोललोचनं
विधूतगोपशोचनं नमामि पद्मलोचनम् |
करारविन्दभूधरं स्मितावलोकसुन्दरं
महेन्द्रमानदारणं नमामि कृष्णावारणम् || २ ||
Manoja-garva-mocanam visala-lola-locanam
vidhuta-gopa-socanam namami padma-locanam
kararavinda-bhudharam smitavaloka-sundaram
mahendra-mana-daranam namami krishna-varanam
I bow down to Sri Krishna, who frees Kamadeva of his pride,
whose large eyes are very restless,
and who shakes away the gopas sadness
I bow down to Sri Krishna, Whose lotus hand lifted Govardhana Hill,
whose smiling glance is charming,
and who destryoed Indra's pride.
[2]
कदम्बसूनकुण्डलं सुचारुगण्डमण्डलं
व्रजांगनैकवल्लभं नमामि कृष्णदुर्लभम् |
यशोदया समोदया सगोपया सनन्दया
युतं सुखैकदायकं नमामि गोपनायकम् || ३ ||
kadamba-suna-kundalam su-charu-ganda-mandalam
vrajanganaika-vallabham namāmi krishna-durlabham
yasodaya sa-modaya sa-gopaya sa-nandaya
yutam sukhaika-nayakam namami gopa-nayakam
I bow down to Sri Krishna, who is difficult to attain,
who wears a kadamba-flower earring,
the circle of whose cheeks is very charming, and who is the only beloved of Vraja's girls
I bow down to Sri Krishna, Who is a playful cowherd boy,
and who in the company of Yasoda, Nanda,
and the gopa is source of bliss to people
[3]
सदैव पादपंकजं मदीय मानसे निजं
दधानमुक्तमालकं नमामि नन्दबालकम् |
समस्तदोषशोषणं समस्तलोकपोषणं
समस्तगोपमानसं नमामि नन्दलालसम् || ४ ||
sadaiva pada-pankajam madiya-manase nijam
dadhanam uttamalakam namami nanda-balakam
samasta-doṣa-śoṣaṇaḿ samasta-loka-poṣaṇaḿ
samasta-gopa-manasam namami krishna-lalasam
I bow down to Sri Krishna, who is Nanda's small boy,
and who eternally places his kunkuma-anointed lotus-feet in my heart.
I bow down to Sri Krishna, who dries up all faults,
makes all words prosper, and stays in the thoughts of all the gopa people.
[4]
भुवो भरावतारकं भवाब्धिकर्णधारकं
यशोमतीकिशोरकं नमामि चित्तचोरकम् |
दृगन्तकान्तभंगिनं सदा सदालिसंगिनं
दिने दिने नवं नवं नमामि नन्दसम्भवम् || ५ ||
bhuvo bharavatarakam bhavabdhi-karnadharakam
yasomatī-kisorakam namami dugdha-chorakam
drg-anta-kranta-bhanginam sada-sadali-sanginam
dine dine navam navam namami nanda-sambhavam
I bow down to Sri Krishna who is stealer of the heart,
who removes the earth’s burden,
who makes devotee cross the ocean of birth and death,
and who is Yasoda’s teenage son.
I bow down to Sri Krishna who is Nanda’s son,
who casts crooked glances from the corners of His eyes,
who always stays with the gopis, and who day after day enjoys newer and newer pastimes.
[5]
गुणाकरं सुखाकरं कृपाकरं कृपापरं
सुरद्विषन्निकन्दनं नमामि गोपनन्दनम् |
नवीनगोपनागरं नवीनकेलिलम्पटं
नमामि मेघसुन्दरं तडित्प्रभालसत्पटम् || ६ ||
gunakaram sukhakaram kripakaram kripavaram
sura-dvisan-nikandanam namami gopa-nandanam
navina-gopa-nagaram navīna-keli-lampatam
namami megha-sundaram tadit-prabha-lasat-patam
I bow down to Sri Krishna, who is a jewel-mine of transcendental qualities,
a jewel-mine of transcendental bliss, a jewel-mine of mercy,
who defeats the demigods' enemies, and who delights the cowherd people.
I bow down to Sri Krishna, who is a young hero of the cowherd people,
who is a playful young rake, who is handsome and dark like a monsoon cloud,
and whose yellow garments glisten like lightning.
[6]
समस्तगोपनन्दनं हृदम्बुजैकमोदनं
नमामि कुंजमध्यगं प्रसन्नभानुशोभनम् |
निकामकामदायकं दृगन्तचारुसायकं
रसालवेणुगायकं नमामि कुंजनायकम् || ७ ||
samasta-gopa-nandanam hrd-ambujaika-mohanam
namami kunja-madhya-gam prasanna-bhanu-sobhanam
nikama-kama-dayakam drg-anta-charu-sayakam
rasla-venu-gayakam namami kunja-nayakam
I bow down to Sri Krishna, who delights all the cowherd people,
who charms the devotees’ lotus-hearts, who stays in forest groves,
and who is splendid like a glistening sun.
I bow down to Sri Krishna, who fulfills all desires,
whose sidelong glances are charming arrows, whose flute music is nectar,
and who is the amorous hero of the forest groves.
[7]
विदग्धगोपिकामनोमनोज्ञतल्पशायिनं
नमामि कुंजकानने प्रव्रद्धवन्हिपायिनम् |
किशोरकान्तिरंजितं दृअगंजनं सुशोभितं
गजेन्द्रमोक्षकारिणं नमामि श्रीविहारिणम् || ८ ||
vidagdha-gopika-mano-manojna-talpa-sayinam
namami munja-kanane pravrddha-vahni-payinam
kishor-kanti-ranjitam-drg-anjanam-susho-bhitam
gajendra-moksha-karinam namami sri-viharinam
I bow down to Sri Krishna, who reclines on the charming couch of the wise gopis’ hearts,
and who drank up a forest fire in Munjatavi forest.
I bow down to Sri Krishna who resides with Sri Ji,
who is youthful, who has beautiful eyes, who saved Gajendra from crocodile .
[8]
यदा तदा यथा तथा तथैव कृष्णसत्कथा
मया सदैव गीयतां तथा कृपा विधीयताम् |
प्रमाणिकाष्टकद्वयं जपत्यधीत्य यः पुमान
भवेत्स नन्दनन्दने भवे भवे सुभक्तिमान || ९ ||
yada tada yatha tatha tathaiva krishna-sat-katha
maya sadaiva giyatam tatha kripa vidhiyatam
pramanikastaka-dvayam japaty adhitya yah puman
bhavet sa nanda-nandane bhave bhave su-bhaktiman
I pray that whenever and however I sing His glories, Sri Krishnna will be merciful to me,
whoever reads or recites these eight prayers will be fervently devoted to Nanda’s son, devoted birth after birth.
[9]
|| इति श्रीमद शंकराचार्यकृतं श्रीकृष्णाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ||
Here ends the Eight Versed Sri Krishnna Ashtakam by Srimad Adi Shankaracharya
The Krishnashtakam, composed by the great philosopher and theologian Adi Shankaracharya, is a profound and deeply devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Krishna. This sacred composition, comprising eight main verses and one concluding verse, vividly portrays the divine attributes, enchanting beauty, and playful nature of Sri Krishna, the beloved deity of Hindu tradition. The Krishnashtakam not only encapsulates the essence of Krishna’s divine play (leela) but also serves as a powerful tool for devotees to connect with the Supreme Being on a personal and emotional level.
The first verse of the Krishnashtakam pays homage to Sri Krishna, the son of Nanda, the chieftain of Vraja. Krishna is described as the "sole ornament of Vraja," signifying His unparalleled beauty and charm that adorn the entire region. This verse highlights Krishna’s role as the destroyer of sins and the source of immense joy for His devotees. The imagery of Krishna with peacock feathers adorning His head and a melodious flute in His hand captures the quintessential form of the divine cowherd, who is not only an embodiment of beauty but also the ocean of all pleasures. The peacock feather, a symbol of divine love and artistic expression, combined with the flute, represents the call of the divine that resonates in the hearts of His devotees, drawing them closer to Him.
In the second verse, the Krishnashtakam presents Krishna as the one who frees Kamadeva, the god of love, from his pride. This reflects Krishna’s ability to transcend and control even the most potent forces of the universe. The verse also describes Krishna’s large, restless eyes, which are a symbol of His ever-present vigilance and His playful, yet profound, interaction with the world. His act of lifting the Govardhana Hill to protect the residents of Vraja from the wrath of Indra, the king of gods, is a testament to His boundless strength and compassion. The verse beautifully conveys Krishna's ability to bring joy and relief to His devotees while simultaneously humbling the arrogant through His divine pastimes.
The third verse delves into the enchanting persona of Krishna, who is adorned with kadamba-flower earrings, adding to His irresistible charm. Krishna, the beloved of the girls of Vraja, is portrayed as being difficult to attain, symbolizing the deep yearning and devotion required to connect with the divine. This verse also celebrates Krishna as the playful cowherd boy, whose presence brings boundless bliss to Nanda, Yasoda, and the entire community of gopas. The verse captures the duality of Krishna’s nature as both the elusive divine being and the accessible, loving friend of the cowherd people, underscoring His unique ability to bridge the gap between the mortal and the divine.
In the fourth verse, Krishna is depicted as the small child of Nanda, whose lotus feet, anointed with kunkuma (vermilion), are eternally placed in the heart of the devotee. This imagery represents the deep, personal devotion that Krishna inspires in His followers, where His divine presence is cherished in the innermost recesses of the heart. Krishna is also described as the one who dries up all faults and makes all words prosper, emphasizing His role as the purifier of sins and the bestower of divine grace. His presence in the thoughts of all the gopa people illustrates the all-encompassing influence of His divine leela, which permeates every aspect of life in Vraja.
The fifth verse of the Krishnashtakam introduces Krishna as the "stealer of hearts," a title that speaks to His irresistible charm and the deep emotional bond He shares with His devotees. Krishna is also acknowledged as the one who removes the earth’s burden and helps devotees cross the ocean of birth and death, highlighting His role as the ultimate savior. This verse portrays Krishna as the teenage son of Yasoda, who, with His crooked glances and ever-new pastimes, captivates the hearts of the gopis day after day. The imagery of Krishna enjoying newer and newer pastimes underscores the dynamic and ever-fresh nature of His divine leela, which continues to inspire and enchant His devotees.
The sixth verse exalts Krishna as a "jewel-mine of transcendental qualities," encompassing bliss, mercy, and divine virtues. His role as the vanquisher of the demigods’ enemies and the delight of the cowherd people further emphasizes His protective and nurturing nature. Krishna’s youthful, handsome form, dark as a monsoon cloud and adorned with yellow garments that glisten like lightning, presents a vivid and captivating image of the divine. This verse beautifully balances Krishna’s transcendental attributes with His playful, human-like qualities, making Him accessible to devotees who seek a personal relationship with the divine.
In the seventh verse, Krishna is depicted as the one who delights all the cowherd people and charms the lotus-hearts of His devotees. His presence in the forest groves, where He engages in playful pastimes, is likened to the glistening sun, radiating divine brilliance. Krishna’s sidelong glances, described as charming arrows, and His flute music, which is akin to nectar, encapsulate His role as the amorous hero of the forest groves. This verse celebrates Krishna’s ability to fulfill all desires, drawing devotees into the enchanting world of His divine play, where love and devotion reign supreme.
The eighth verse of the Krishnashtakam portrays Krishna as reclining on the charming couch of the wise gopis’ hearts, a symbol of His deep, spiritual connection with those who possess true wisdom and devotion. Krishna’s act of drinking up the forest fire in Munjatavi forest and saving Gajendra, the elephant, from a crocodile further highlights His role as the ultimate protector. The verse also emphasizes Krishna’s youthful beauty and His loving relationship with Sri Ji, His divine consort, underscoring His position as the beloved deity of all who seek divine grace and protection.
The concluding verse of the Krishnashtakam is a heartfelt prayer, where the devotee seeks Krishna’s mercy whenever and however they sing His glories. This verse also offers a benediction to those who read or recite these eight prayers, promising fervent devotion to Nanda’s son, Sri Krishna, birth after birth. This final verse encapsulates the essence of the Krishnashtakam, encouraging devotees to immerse themselves in the divine love and grace of Krishna, ensuring a lifetime of devotion and spiritual fulfillment.
The Krishnashtakam, with its vivid descriptions and deep devotional sentiments, serves as a powerful tool for devotees to connect with the divine essence of Sri Krishna. Each verse not only captures the multifaceted nature of Krishna but also invites the devotee to partake in the divine leela, experiencing the boundless joy and love that flows from the Supreme Being. Through the recitation and contemplation of these verses, one can cultivate a deep, personal relationship with Krishna, basking in the eternal bliss and grace that He so generously bestows upon His devotees.