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The KrishnAshtakam

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Shree • September 8, 1997 


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
----------------------------------------------------------
##

  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@usa.net						
website:    http://members.tripod.com/~satsang