The KrishnAshtakam

[Guest guest]

namaskaar,

> Srikanth hemmige wrote

>

> Can any of the BhAgavatAls post a vyaKhyAna for

> "The KrishnAshtakam"?

 

I am enclosing the text and meanings for

shriimachchha.nkarAchAryakR^itaM shriikR^ishhNAshhTakaM

from the sanskrit documents site at

ftp://jaguar.cs.utah.edu/private/sanskrit/sanskrit.html

 

I hope this is the one that Srikanth hemmige was referring to.

> Sri Sadagopan (if i recall correctly)

> had provided an excellent explanation to

> "vasudeva sutam devam.....".

> I request for it to be completed.

 

What I have enclosed has only the verse meanings.

I would request the knowledgeable members of the Bhakti-List to provide

the detailed explanation.

 

Shree

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##

 

nityAnandaikarasaM sachchinmAtraM svayaMjyotiH |

purushhottamamajamIshaM vande shriiyAdavAdhIsham.h ||

 

##

 

I adore Krishna, the Supreme Person, the Unborn

Lord, the Self-effulgent One, the Supreme Lord of

the descendents of Yadu, Whose nature is that of

existence and consciousness, and Whose essence is

entirely that of eternal bliss.

 

 

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 shrii Krishna Ashtaka or eight verses in

praise of shrii 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 mad.hbhaktAH tatra tishhThAmi nArada |

 

-----------------------

 

shrii kR^ishhNaashhTaka

sha.nkara bhaagavatapaada

 

 

bhaje vrajaikamaNDanaM samastapApakhaNDanaM

svabhaktachittara.njanaM sadaiva nandanandanam.h |

supichchhaguchchhamastakaM sunAdaveNuhastakaM

ana.ngara.ngasAgaraM namAmi kR^ishhNanAgaram.h || 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.

 

##

 

manojagarvamochanaM vishaalalolalochanaM

vidhUtagopashochanaM namAmi padmalochanam.h |

karAravindabhUdharaM smitAvalokasundaraM

mahendramAnadAraNaM namAmi kR^ishhNAvAraNam.h || 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 suchArugaNDamaNDalaM

vrajA.nganaikavallabhaM namAmi kR^ishhNadurlabham.h |

yashodayA samodayA sagopayA sanandayA

yutaM sukhaikadAyakaM namAmi gopanAyakam.h || 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 pAdapa.nkajaM madIya mAnase nijaM

dadhAnamuktamAlakaM namAmi nandabAlakam.h |

samastadoshhashoshhaNaM samastalokaposhhaNaM

samastagopamAnasaM namAmi nandalAlasam.h || 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

yashomatIkishorakaM namAmi chittachorakam.h |

dR^igantakAntabha.nginaM sadA sadAlisa.nginaM

dine dine navaM navaM namAmi nandasambhavam.h || 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 kR^ipAkaraM kR^ipAparaM

suradvishhannikandanaM namAmi gopanandanam.h |

navInagopanAgaraM navInakelilampaTaM

namAmi meghasundaraM taDitprabhAlasatpaTam.h || 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 hR^idambujaikamodanaM

namAmi ku.njamadhyagaM prasannabhAnushobhanam.h |

nikAmakAmadAyakaM dR^igantachArusAyakaM

rasAlaveNugAyakaM namAmi ku.njanAyakam.h || 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.

 

##

 

vidagdhagopikAmanomanoGYatalpashaayinaM

namAmi ku.njakAnane pravraddhavanhipAyinam.h |

kishorakAntira.njitaM dR^iaga.njanaM sushobhitaM

gajendramokshakAriNaM namAmi shriivihAriNam.h || 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 (shrii).

 

##

 

yadA tadA yathA tathA tathaiva kR^ishhNasatkathA

mayA sadaiva gIyatAM tathA kR^ipA vidhIyatAm.h |

pramANikAshhTakadvayaM 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 shrii Krishna

Ashtaka and the Krishna Ashtaka.

##

 

iti shriimachchha.nkarAchAryakR^itaM shriikR^ishhNAshhTakaM

sampUrNam.h ||

 

shrii kR^ishhNArpaNamastu ||

--

email: shree

website: http://members.tripod.com/~satsang