॥ Krishna Ashtakam ॥
Eight Devotional Verses in Praise of Lord Krishna
Verse 1
Vasudevasutaṃ devaṃ kaṃsacāṇūramarḍanam
Devakīparamānandaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum
Meaning: I bow to Lord Krishna — son of Vasudeva, destroyer of the demons Kamsa and Chanura, supreme joy of his mother Devaki, the guru (teacher) of the entire universe!
Verse 2
Atasīpuṣpasaṃkāśaṃ hāranūpuraśobhitam
Ratnakaṃkaṇakeyūraṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum
Meaning: I bow to Lord Krishna — whose complexion is like the atasi (flax) flower (dark blue), who is adorned with garlands and anklets, decorated with gemmed bracelets and armlets — the guru of the universe!
Verse 3
Kuṭilālakasaṃyuktaṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanam
Vilāsadvanamaālāḍhyaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum
Meaning: I bow to Lord Krishna — whose face is like a full moon, framed by curling locks of hair, adorned with the divine forest garland (Vanamala) that plays delightfully — the guru of the universe!
Verse 4
Mandāragandhasaṃyuktaṃ cāruhāsaṃ caturbhujam
Barhipiñchāvacūḍāṃgaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum
Meaning: I bow to Lord Krishna — fragrant with the scent of the mandara flower, with a charming smile, four-armed in his cosmic form, crowned with peacock feathers — the guru of the universe!
Verse 5
Utpullapadmapatrākṣaṃ nīlajīmūtasannibham
Yādavānāṃ śiroratnaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum
Meaning: I bow to Lord Krishna — whose eyes are like fully bloomed lotus petals, whose complexion resembles a dark rain cloud, the crown jewel of the Yadava clan — the guru of the universe!
Verse 6
Rukmiṇīkelisaṃyuktaṃ pītāmbarasuśobhitam
Avāptatulasīgandhaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum
Meaning: I bow to Lord Krishna — united with his beloved Rukmini in divine play, adorned in yellow silk garments (Pitambara), wearing the fragrance of the sacred tulsi plant — the guru of the universe!
Verse 7
Gopikānāṃ kucadvandva kuṃkumāṃkitavaksasam
Śrīniketanamekaṃtaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum
Meaning: I bow to Lord Krishna — on whose chest rests the vermillion (kumkuma) from the bosoms of the gopis (devotee maidens), who is the sole abode of Goddess Shri (Lakshmi) — the guru of the universe!
Verse 8 (Concluding)
Kastūrītilakam lalāṭapaṭale vakṣaḥsthale kaustubbham
Nāsāgre varamuktikam karatale veṇuṃ kare kaṃkaṇam
Sarvāṃge haricanadanaṃ ca kalayan kaṇṭhe ca muktāvalim
Gopas-trīparivesṭito vijayate gopāla cūḍāmaṇiḥ
Meaning: With a musk tilak on his forehead, the Kaustubha gem on his chest, a pearl on his nose-tip, a flute in his hand, a bracelet on his wrist, sandalwood paste on every limb, a pearl necklace around his throat — surrounded by the gopas and gopis — victorious is Gopala, the crown jewel of all!
Lord Krishna: The Complete Avatar
Lord Krishna’s role in Hindu dharma is unique. Unlike other avatars who come for a specific purpose, Krishna embodies the totality of the divine:
- As a child — the infinite divine in the most vulnerable, innocent form
- As a friend — Sudama’s equal, Arjuna’s charioteer
- As a lover — the Rasa Leela of Vrindavan, the model of divine love
- As a king — Dwaraka’s ruler, just and wise
- As a teacher — the Bhagavad Gita, the most complete spiritual teaching
He is thus Purna Avatar — the complete descent of the divine.
When to Recite
- Krishna Janmashtami — Lord Krishna’s birthday
- Ekadashi — especially Putrada and Deva Shayani Ekadashi
- Gokul Ashtami — anniversary of his birth celebration in Gokul
- Daily puja — any time, as Krishna is always accessible to sincere devotees
Phala Shruti
Kṛṣṇāṣṭakamidaṃ puṇyaṃ prātarutthāya yaḥ paṭhet
Koṭijanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ smaraṇena vināśyati
“Whoever reads this sacred Krishna Ashtakam upon waking in the morning — the sins of a crore (ten million) lifetimes are destroyed by this remembrance of the Lord.”