Sri Krishnashtakam
Translated by P.R.Ramachander
The octet in praise of Lord Krishna
Sri Krishnashtakam by Adi Sankara Bhagawat Pada[edit]
Bhaje vrajaika mandanam, samastha papa khandanam, Swabhaktha chitha ranjanam, sadaiva nanda nandanam, Supincha gucha masthakam, sunada venu hasthakam, Ananga raga sagaram, Namami Krishna sagaram., 1
I pray Him, who is the ornament to the land of Vraja,
Who cuts off entire sins,
Who pleases the mind of his devotees,
And who is the godly son of Nanda Gopa.
Salutations to the sea like Lord Krishna,
Who decorates his head with peacock feathers,
Who has the sweet sounding flute in his hand,
And who is the music of the ocean of love.
Manoja garva mochanam vishala lola lochanam, Vidhootha gopa sochanam namami padma lochanam, Kararavindha bhoodaram smithavaloka sundraram, Mahendra mana daranam, Namami Krishna varanam., 2
Salutations to Him who has lotus like eyes,
Who wins over the pride of the god of love,
Who has broad and ever shifting eyes,
And who consoled the gopas of the worry over the emissary.
Salutations to the elephant like Lord Krishna,
Who lifted the mountain by his lotus soft hands,
Who has a pretty gaze and smile,
And who killed the pride of the great Indra.
Kadhambha soonu kundalam sucharu ganda mandalam, Vrajanganaika vallabham namami Krishna durlabham. Yasodhata samodhaya sagopaya sananandaya, Yutham sukhaika dayakam namami gopa nayakam., 3
Salutations to the Lord Krishna,
Who is not easy to get,
Who wears the ear rings of Kadambha flowers,
Who has very pretty smooth cheeks,
And who is the lord of the women of Vrija.
Salutations to the chief of Gopas,
Who grants supreme bliss,
To Yasodha, gopas and Nanda,
And who is the giver of pleasures.
Sadhaiva pada pankajam madheeya manase nijam, Dadanamuthamalakam , namami Nanda balakam, Samastha dosha soshanam, samastha loka poshanam, Samastha gopa manasam, Namami nanda lalasam., 4
Salutations to the Nanda lad,
Whose lotus like feet is drowned,
Ever truly in my mind,
And who has curls of hair falling on his face.
Salutations to Him who enthralls Nanda,
Who diminishes bad effects of all sins,
Who takes care of the entire world.,
And who is in the mind of every cow herd.
Bhoovo bharavatharakam bhavabdi karma dharakam, Yasomathee kisorakam, namami chitha chorakam. Drugantha kantha banginam, sada sadala sanginam, Dine dine navam navam namami nanda sambhavam., 5
I bow to him who is the stealer of hearts,
Who incarnated to reduce the weight of the world,
Who helps us cross the miserable ocean of life,
And who is young baby of mother Yasoda.
I bow to the son of King Nanda,
Who has a pair of pretty shining eyes,
Who is followed by bees wherever he goes,
And who is new and newer to his devotees,
Today and everyday.
Gunakaram sukhakaram krupakaram krupaparam, Suradwihannikarthanam, namami gopa nandanam. Naveenagopa naagaram naveena keli lampatam, Namami megha sundram thathith prabhalasathpatam., 6
I salute the kid of all gopas, who is the treasure house,
Of good qualities, pleasure and mercy,
Who is above the needs of mercy,
And who removed all the problems of devas.
I salute the handsome one who is the colour of the cloud,
Who wears yellow coloured silk resembling lightning,
Who appears as a new Gopa every time he is seen,
And who is interested in new antics every time.
Samastha gopa nandanam, hrudambujaika modhanam, Namami kunja madhyagam, prasanna bhanu shobhanam. Nikamakamadhayakam drugantha charu sayakam, Rasalavenu gayakam, namami kunja nayakam., 7
I salute Krishna, the lad amidst the vrija land,
Who is pleased and shines like the good sun,
Who is the son of all gopas,
And who is the pleasure of all their hearts.
I salute Krishna, who is the leader of lads of vrija,
Who plays soulful music using his flute,
Who grants pleasures even though he does not want them,
And whose glances are like defenseless arrows.
Vidagdha gopikaa mano manogna thalpasayinam, Namami kunja kanane pravrudha vahni payinam. Kisorakanthi ranchitham, druganjanam sushobitham, Gajendra moksa karinam,Namami sri viharinam., 8
I salute Him who swallowed the fire,
In the gardens and forests of Vraja land,
Who was sleeping in the dreams of the very able gopis.
I salute Him who is with the goddess of wealth,
Who was the cause of salvation of Gajendra,
Who is surrounded by divine glow of youth,
And who shines in all directions.
Yadha thadha yadha thadha thadiva krushna sathkadha, Maya sadaiva geeyathaam thadha krupa vidheeyathaam. Pramanikashtakadwayam japathyadheethya ya pumaan, Bhaveth sa nanda nandane bhave bhave subhakthiman., 9
Where I live, wherever I exist,
Let me be immersed in your stories,
For always without break,
So that I am blessed with your grace.
That great man who sings this double octet.
Would be born with devotion to Krishna,
In all his births.
Popular variant of Sri Krishnashtakam by an unknown composer[edit]
Vasudeva sutham devam, Kamsa Chanoora Mardhanam, Devaki Paramanandam, Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum., 1
Salutations to the teacher of the world, Krishna,
Who is the God who is the son of Vasudeva,
Who killed Kamsa and Chanoora,
And who gave immense joy to Devaki.
Athasee pushpa sangasam, Hara noopura Shobitham, Rathna kankana keyuram, Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum., 2
Salutations to the teacher of the world, Krishna,
Who decorates himself with flowers of Athasee.
Who shines in garlands and anklets that he wears.
And who has a bangle made of jewels in his right hand.
Kutilalaka samyuktham, Poorna chandra nibhananam, Vilasath kundala dharam, Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum., 3
Salutations to the teacher of the world, Krishna,
Who is blessed with black curly hair,
Who is very similar to the full moon,
And who shines in his ear drops.
Mandhara gandha samyuktham, Charuhasam chathurbhujam, Barhi pinjava choodangam, Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum., 4
Salutations to the teacher of the world, Krishna.
Who has the sweet scent of mandara flowers,
Who has pretty smile and four arms,
And who decorates is hair with peacock feathers.
Uthfulla padma pathraksham, Neela jeemutha sannibham, Yadavaanaam siro rathnam, Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum., 5
Salutations to the teacher of the world, Krishna,
Who has eyes resembling the fully open lotus flowers,
Who has the blue colour of rich clouds,
And who is the chief gem of the clan of Yadavas.
Rukmani keli samyuktham, Peethambara shobitham, Avaptha thulasi gandham, Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum., 6
Salutations to the teacher of the world, Krishna,
Who is engaged in playing with Rukmani,
Who shines in yellow silks,
And who is attracted by scent of ocimum.
Gopikaanaam kucha dwandwam, Kunkumankitha vakshasam, Sriniketham maheshwasam, Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum., 7
Salutations to the teacher of the world, Krishna.
Who is embraced by the two busts of Gopis,
Whose chest has the marks of saffron,
Who lives with Lakshmi and has a big bow.
Sree vathsam mahoraskam, Vanamala virajitham, Sanka chakra dharam devam, Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum., 8
Salutations to the teacher of the world, Krishna,
Who has the mole Sri Vathsa on his chest and greatly enjoys,
Who is decorated by garlands of forest flowers,
And who holds the conch and the holy wheel.
Phala Sruti
Krishnashtakamidham punyam, Prathar uthaya ya padeth, Koti Janma krutham papam, Smaranath thasya nasyathi.
If one reads this as soon as he awakes in the morning,
This divine octet of Lord Krishna without fail,
Sins committed in billions of lives,
Would be destroyed, if one thinks about him.
Second Sri Krishnashtakam by Adi Sankara Bhagawat Pada[edit]
By Adhi Shankara
In my translations earlier I had included two Krishnashtakams. But on referring the complete works of Shankara, I find that this is the only one composed by Adhi Shankara. The last stanza clearly indicates that it was composed so that his mother would get salvation.
Sriyaslishto Vishnu sthira chara gurur veda vishayo, Dhiyaam sakshee shudho harira sura hanthabja nayana, Gadhee Shankhee Chakreevimala vana mali sthira ruchi, Saranyo lokeso mama bhavathu krushnokshi vishaya., 1
Let my eye be able to see that Krishna, who is the protector and Lord of the world,
Who is embraced by Lakshmi, Who is Vishnu, who is the teacher to all,
Who is the subject of the Vedas, who is the witness to wisdom,
Who is pure, Who is Hari, who is killer of Asuras, who has lotus like eyes,
Who carries mace, conch and the wheel, who has stable taste and wears forest garlands.
Yatha sarvam jatham viyadhanila mukhyam jagadhidham, Sthithou nissesham yovathi nija sukhamsena madhuhaa, Laye sarvam swasmin harathi kalayaa yasthu savibhu, Saranyo lokeso mama bhavathu krushnokshi vishaya., 2
Let my eye be able to see that Krishna, who is the protector and Lord of the world,
Who was the source of birth of Ether, air, fire, earth and water,
Who is the killer of Madhu who looks after the world by his pleasure,
And Who is the one who merges everything in himself at deluge by his power.
Asoonayamyadhou yani Niyama mukhyai sookaranai, Nirudhyedham chitham hrudi vilaya maneeya sakalam, Yameedyam pasyanthi pravaramathayo mayi namasou, Saranyo lokeso mama bhavathu krushnokshi vishaya., 3
Let my eye be able to see that Krishna, who is the protector and Lord of the world,
Who is the one seen by the wise sages, who follow the prescribed rituals.,
Control their souls completely, turn off their minds from ordinary things,
And completely stabilize all the activities of their mind.
Prithvyam thishtan yo yamayathi maheem Vedanadharam, Yamithyadhou Vedo vadathi jagathameesamamalam, Niyantharam dhyeyam muni sura nrunaam moksha damasou, Saranyo lokeso mama bhavathu krushnokshi vishaya., 4
Let my eye be able to see that Krishna, who is the protector and Lord of the world,
Who controls the world, being very much a part of it, who carries our pain,
Who is the lord of the world as told in the Vedas, Who is pure and the law giver,
And who is the subject of meditation of devas, sages and men and giver of salvation.
Mahendradhi devo jayathi dithi janyasya balatho, Na kasya swathanthryam kwachidhapi kruthow yath kruthi mruthe, Kavithwa derggavam pariharathi yosou vijayina, Saranyo lokeso mama bhavathu krushnokshi vishaya., 5
Let my eye be able to see that Krishna, who is the protector and Lord of the world,
Who is the won by whose strength Indra and other devas win battle against asuras,
Who is the one without whose encouragement no one has independence of action,
And who is the one who cures the pride of the ability to write poems of the poets.
Vinaa yasya dhyaanam vrajathi pasuthaam sookhara mukhaam, Vinaa yasya jnanam jani mruthi bhayam yathi janathaa, Vinaa yasya smruthya krumi satha janim yathi sa vibhu, Saranyo lokeso mama bhavathu krushnokshi vishaya., 6
Let my eye be able to see that Krishna, who is the protector and Lord of the world,
Without whose meditation people happen to be born as animals like pig,
Who causes people to get fear of birth or death by not knowing him,
And who causes people to be born as insects due to one not remembering him.
Narraa thangothanga sarani sarano branthi harano, Ghana shyamo vaamo Vruja sisu vayasyo, Arjuna sakha, Swayambur bhoothaanam janaka uchithachara sukhadha, Saranyo lokeso mama bhavathu krushnokshi vishaya., 7
Let my eye be able to see that Krishna, who is the protector and Lord of the world,
Who destroys sorrow of humans, who helps those who surrender, who cures confusion,
Who is dark black, who is a pretty child of Vruja with friends there,
who is friend of Arjuna,
Who was created by himself, who creates all beings and gives proper reward and punishment.
Yadha dharma glanirbhavathi jagathaam kshobha karana, Thadhaa loka swami prakatitha vapu sethu drugaja, Sathaam dathaa swacho nisamsa guna geetho vrujapathi, Saranyo lokeso mama bhavathu krushnokshi vishaya., 8
Let my eye be able to see that Krishna, who is the protector and Lord of the world,
For whenever the world becomes tumultuous, when dharma suffers in execution,
Then the Lord of Gokula who follows Dharma, who does not have birth,
Who looks after good people and who is independently praised by Vedas,
Appears as the Lord of the world to reform it.
Ithi harir akhilaathma aaradhitha sankarena, Sruthi visadha gunosou mathru mokashartha madhya, Yathi vara nikate Sri yuktha Aavirbhabhoova, Swagunavrutha udhaara sankha chakrabhja hastha., 9
Lord Vishnu with all properties as revealed by the Vedas,
Who is primeval and the soul of all beings of the world,
Prayed like this by Sankara for the salvation of his mother,
Appeared before that great sage along with Goddess Lakshmi,
With a merciful mien holding Whel mace and the lotus.
Ithi Shankaracharya virachitham Krishnashtakam samaptham.