॥ Sri Krishnashtakam English Lyrics & Meaning ॥
srikrsnastakam srikrsnatandavastotram ca
sri krsna janmastami
nityanandaikarasam saccinmatram svayanjyotih ।
purusottamamajamisam vande sriyadavadhisam ॥
I adore Krishna, the Supreme Person, the Unborn Lord, the Self-effulgent One, the Supreme Lord of the descendants of Yadu, Whose nature is that of existence and consciousness, and Whose essence is entirely that of eternal bliss.
From Prabodha sudhakara of shankaracharya The birthday of Krishna is usually taken to be the Shravana Krishna Ashtami, but is sometimes assigned to the month Bhadrapada, especially in Northern India.
According to traditional sources, the Janmashtami is observed on the day when the ashtami tithi occurs at midnight . If the ashtami tithi AND the Rohini nakshatra occur on the same day, then the observance is considered to be doubly sacred; otherwise the observance is held on the day on which the ashtami prevails at midnight.
The vrata mainly consists of fasting, spending the whole night in the worship of Krishna, reciting hymns of praise and Krishna’s pastimes, reciting prayers from the Bhagavata, offering arghya to Krishna, and the parana or the ceremonial breaking of the fast . The next day is celebrated as Krishna Jayanti.
Celebrations are held on a grand scale in all Krishna temples, especially the ones in Vrindavan, Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Dvaraka (Gujarat), and other regionally famous temples. Although, the great Vedantin Adi shankara preached the path of knowledge (Jnana), fiercely criticizing and routing various schools of philosophy, he did not decry the path of devotion (Bhakti). On the contrary, one is able to discern from his writings that he had a soft-corner for Bhakti . shankara did not only believe in the efficacy of Bhakti in the realization of Brahman, but he also actually composed many stotras or hymns in praise of Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Ganapati, Skanda, etc.
One such hymn is the Krishna Ashtaka or eight verses in praise of Krishna . This stotra, like many of shankara’s stotras, has a musical effect and may be easily set to music . It is, therefore, recommended that the stotra be sung, not just recited . For Lord Vishnu has promised to be present wherever His devotees sing His glories.
yatra gayanti madbhaktah tatra tisthami narada ।
sri krsnastakam
bhaje vrajaikamandanam samastapapakhandanam
svabhaktacittaramjanam sadaiva nandanandanam ।
supicchagucchamastakam sunadavenuhastakam
anamgaramgasagaram namami krsnanagaram ॥ 1 ॥
I worship the naughty Krishna, the sole ornament of Vraja, Who destroys all the sins (of His devotees), Who delights the minds of His devotees, the joy of Nanda, Whose head is adorned with peacock feathers, Who holds a sweet-sounding flute in His hand, and Who is the ocean of the art of love.
manojagarvamocanam visalalolalocanam
vidhutagopasocanam namami padmalocanam ।
kararavindabhudharam smitavalokasundaram
mahendramanadaranam namami krsnavaranam ॥ 2 ॥
I bow to Krishna Who rid Kama deva of his pride, Who has beautiful, large eyes, Who takes away the sorrows of the Gopas (cowherds), the lotus-eyed One . I bow to Krishna Who lifted the (Govardhana) hill with His hand, Whose smile and glance are extremely attractive, Who destroyed the pride of Indra, and Who is like the King of elephants.
kadambasunakundalam sucarugandamandalam
vrajamganaikavallabham namami krsnadurlabham ।
yasodaya samodaya sagopaya sanandaya
yutam sukhaikadayakam namami gopanayakam ॥ 3 ॥
I bow to that Krishna Who wears earrings made of Kadamba flowers, Who has beautiful cheeks, Who is the only darling of the Gopikas of Vraja, and Who is very difficult to attain (by any means other than Bhakti). I bow to Krishna Who is accompanied by Gopas (cowherds), Nanda, and an overjoyed Yashoda,Who gives (His devotees) nothing but happiness, and Who is the Lord of the Gopas.
sadaiva padapamkajam madiya manase nijam
dadhanamuktamalakam namami nandabalakam ।
samastadosasosanam samastalokaposanam
samastagopamanasam namami nandalalasam ॥ 4 ॥
I bow to the son of Nanda, Who has placed His lotus feet in my mind and Who has beautiful curls of hair . I adore Krishna Who removes all defects, Who nourishes all the worlds and Who is desired by all the Gopas and Nanda.
bhuvo bharavatarakam bhavabdhikarnadharakam
yasomatikisorakam namami cittacorakam ।
drgantakantabhamginam sada sadalisamginam
dine dine navam navam namami nandasambhavam ॥ 5 ॥
I bow to Krishna Who relieves the burden of the earth (by vanquishing innumerable demons and other evil forces), Who helps us cross the ocean of miseries, Who is the son of Yasoda, and Who steals the hearts of everyone . I bow to Nanda’s son Who has extremely attractive eyes, Who is always accompanied by saintly devotees, and Whose (pastimes and form) appear newer and newer, day by day.
gunakaram sukhakaram krpakaram krpaparam
suradvisannikandanam namami gopanandanam ।
navinagopanagaram navinakelilampatam
namami meghasundaram taditprabhalasatpatam ॥ 6 ॥
Krishna is the repository of all good qualities, all happiness, and grace . He destroys the enemies of the gods and delights the Gopas . I bow to the mischievous cowherd Krishna, Who is attached to His exploits, which (appear) new (every day), Who has the handsome complexion of a dark cloud, and Who wears a yellow garment (pitambara) that shines likes lightning.
samastagopanandanam hrdambujaikamodanam
namami kumjamadhyagam prasannabhanusobhanam ।
nikamakamadayakam drgantacarusayakam
rasalavenugayakam namami kumjanayakam ॥ 7 ॥
Krishna delights all the Gopas and (plays with them) in the center of the grove (kunja). He is appears as
resplendent and pleasing as the sun and causes the lotus that is the heart (of the devotee) to blossom
with joy . I bow to that Lord of the grove of creepers Who completely fulfills the desires (of the devotees), Whose beautiful glances are like arrows, and Who plays melodious tunes on the flute.
vidagdhagopikamanomanojnatalpasayinam
namami kumjakanane pravraddhavanhipayinam ।
kisorakantiramjitam dragamjanam susobhitam
gajendramoksakarinam namami sriviharinam ॥ 8 ॥
Krishna lies down on the bed that is the minds of the intelligent Gopis who always think of Him . I adore Him Who drank the spreading forest-fire (in order to protect the cowherd community). I bow to Krishna Who has eyes which are made attractive by His boyhood charm and a black unguent (anjan), Who liberated the elephant Gajendra (from the jaws of the crocodile), and Who is the consort of Lakshmi (shri).
yada tada yatha tatha tathaiva krsnasatkatha
maya sadaiva giyatam tatha krpa vidhiyatam ।
pramanikastakadvayam japatyadhitya yah pumana
bhavetsa nandanandane bhave bhave subhaktimana ॥ 9 ॥
O Lord Krishna! Please bless me so that I may sing your glories and pastimes, regardless of the position I am in. Anyone who studies or recites these two authoritative ashtakas will be blessed with devotion to Krishna in every rebirth.
Note: The two ashtakas referred to above are the Krishna Ashtaka and the Krishna Ashtaka.
iti srimacchamkaracaryakrtam srikrsnastakam
krsnakrpakataksastotram ca sampurnam ॥
sri krsnarpanamastu ॥
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