Yamunashtakam by Sri Vallabhacharya

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!! Sri Rama Jayam !!

 

Shri Yamushtakam is the first among the sixteen works known as shodashgranth.

This particular granth is composed by Shri Vallabh in v.s.1549(1491 A.D.) on the

Shraavan Shukla 3 during the prithvi parikrama Shri Vallabh was in Gokul and he

was undecided about the exact place of Thakurani Ghat. At that time Shri

Yamunaji herself appeared and guided Shri Vallabh and pointed out the exact

place. Shri Vallabh then and there composed Shri Yamunashtakam,the beautiful

stotra,in the praise of Shri Yamunaji. It consists 9 verses,eight of them are

written in praise of Yamunaji and in 9th Shri Vallabh describes for daily paath-

doers the fruits of Shri Yamunashtakam.

 

The fourth beloved (turyapriya)of Shri Krishna,Shri Yamunaji is epitome of

selfless devotion towards Krishna,and only through her or her Kripa(grace) a

jeeva(soul) can experience the param phal i.e. leela-pravesh. She purifies souls

and removes all obstacles which are in the way between jeev and prabhu and gives

the exalted jeeva a new body fit to experience the leela-phal- " tanu-navtva " ! For

ordinary bhakta of to-day the recital of Yamunashtakam daily will enhance his

love towards Shri Krishna,abolish his paap-bad deeds and above all the bhakta

will be able conquer his svabhava-basic instincts.

 

 

Shloka 1

 

 

 

Namami Yamunamaham sakal-siddhi-hetum-muda

Murari-pad-pankaj-sfurad-amand-renutkatam I

Tatastha-nav-kanan-prakat-mod-pushpambuna

Sur-asur-supujit smarpitu shriyam bibhratim II1II

 

 

I (Shri Vallabh)bow joyfully to Shri Yamunaji,the giver of divine super

natural powers for experiencing the bhagvadleela. Shri Yamunaji is loaded with

the glistening sands emanating from the lotus feet of Murari Shri Krishna. The

water of Shri Yamuna is scented with the perfumes of blossomed flowers from the

forests located on the banks of Shri Yamuna,such Shri Yamuna is worshipped by

gods and demons equally. II1II

 

 

 

 

 

Shloka 2

 

 

 

Kalindagirimastake patadamanda poorojvalaa

Vilasagamanollasat Prakataganda shailonnata I

Saghoshagati danturaa samadhiroodha dolottamma

Mukundarativardhini jayati padmabandhosuta II2II

 

 

 

" Falling forcefully on Mount Kalinda Shri Yamunaji appears to be crystal

white and looks beautiful with her luxurious flow through cheek like rocks of

mountain. Shri Yamunaji follows a zig-zag path noisily and while she flows up

and down she looks as if sitting on a beautiful swing. Shri Yamunaji is superior

as she enhances our love towards lotus-feet of Lord Mukund. II2II

 

 

 

 

Shloka 3

 

 

 

Bhuvam bhuvanapaavaneem adhigatamanekasvanai

Priyabhirivasevitaam Shuka-Mayur-Hansadibhee I

Tarangabhujakankana prakatamuktikavaluka

Nitambatatasundareem namata Krishnaturya-priyaam II3II

 

 

Bow down to Shri Yamunaji the fourth beloved of Lord Shri Krishna,who has

come down to earth to sanctify it and on earth she is served by

parrots,peacocks,swans etc. with melodious noises as if served by loving

friends. Shri Yamunaji wears bangles in the form of waves and sand on them looks

like pearls. Shri Yamunaji looks beautiful with hips in the form of her two

banks. II3II

 

 

 

 

Shloka 4

 

 

 

Anant-gun-bhushite Shiv-viranchi-devstute

Ghanaghannibhe sada Dhruv-Parasharabhistade

Vishuddha-Mathura-tate sakal-gop-gopivrite

Kripajaladhi-sanshrite mam manah sukham bhavay II4II

 

 

 

 

Shri Yamunaji is adorned with countless virtues and is worshipped by

Shiv,Brahma and other gods. She has a lustre of rain filled clouds and fulfilles

the desires of sages like Dhruv and Parasher. Pious city Mathura is situated on

her banks and she is surrounded by gop and gopees whose only refuge is

kripasagar Shri Krishna.O Shri Yamuna! please bless me with the happiness of

mind II4II

 

 

 

 

Shloka 5

 

 

 

Yaya charan-padmaja Mur-ripoh priyam-bhavuka

Samagamanato-bhavat sakal-siddhida sevtam I

Taya sadrashtamiyat Kamalja-sapatniv yat

Hari-priya-kalindaya mansi me sada sthiytam II5II

 

 

Shri Gangaji who has emerged from the lotus feet of God could become beloved

of Krishna and fulfilled every wish of her followers only after her merger with

Shri Yamunaji. Shri Yamunaji can be compared with lotus born Shri Laxmiji only,

who is also Shri Krishna's beloved. Shri Yamunaji who destroys all the ills of

Shri Krishna's devotees may live in my (Shri Vallabh's)heart forever. II5II

 

 

 

 

Shloka 6

 

 

 

Namostu Yamune sada tav charitrmatyadbhutam

Na jatu yama-yatana bhavati te payah-panatah I

Yamopi bhagini-sutan kathamu hanti dushtanapi

Priyo bhavati sevanat tav harer-yatha gopikah II6II

 

 

O Shri Yamuna! Your character is wonderful!! A person who partakes your

water has no fear of pain inflicted by Yama-the god of death-as how could he

hurt his sister's sons(devotees)however wicked they may be because they become

beloved of Shri Krishna like Gopikas by serving you! O Shri Yamuna! Let us pay

obeisance to you incessantly.II6II

 

 

 

 

Shloka 7

 

 

 

Mamastu tav sannidhau tanu-navatvam-etavata

Na durlabhtama ratih Mur-ripau Mukund-priye I

Atostu tav lalana surdhuni param sangamat

Tavaiv bhuvi kirtita na tu kadapi pushti-sthitaih II7II

 

 

O beloved of Mukund Shri Yamuna! By your nearness let my body become new(worthy)

so to gain the love of Shri Krishna-the enemy of demon Mura- is not difficult.

So let us shower you with love(by prayers) as Ganga became famous only after

merging with you and was not worshipped by Pushti-Jivas before that.II7II

 

 

 

 

Shloka 8

 

 

 

Stutim tav karoti kah Kamalaja-sapatni priye

Harer-yadanu sevaya bhavati saukhya-mamokshatah I

Iyam tav kathadhika sakalgopika-sangam-

smar-shram-jalanubhi sakal-gatrajaih sangamah II8II

 

 

oh! Shri Yamunaji! the co-wife of Laxmiji! The beloved of Krishna!! no one is

competent enough to praise you. By worshipping Laxmi with Shri Hari one gets the

bliss of salvation only while you give much more- as your water is mixed with

sweat generated by the bodies of Shri Krishna and Gopikas while having exotic

sports and by worshipping you the devotee gets the bliss of this too.II8II

 

 

 

 

Shloka 9

 

 

 

Tavashtakamidam muda pathati soor-sute sada

Samast-durita-kshyo bhavati vai Mukunde ratih I

Taya sakal-siddhayo Mur-ripushcha santushyati

Svabhav-vijayo bhavet vadati Vallabh Shri-Hareh II9II

 

 

O Shri Yamuna! Daughter of Sun!! A person who always recites these eight stanzas

with joy gets freedom from all of his sins and he surely gets affection of Lord

Shri Krishna by which he attains all the super natural powers. Shri Krishna-the

enemy of demon Mura-becomes satisfied and devotee conquers his nature so says

Shri Vallabh.II9II

 

Hare Krishna ..

 

Hare Rama ....