Achyutashtakam

Achyutashtakam: Mantra with Meaning

Achyutashtakam is an eight-fold sloka or stotra, addressed to Lord Krishna (Vishnu), considered one of the most beautiful compositions of Adi Shankaracharya. The glories of Lord Krishna can only be understand by soulful recitation of his names and deeds as described by the knower of Him, like Great Guru Shankaracharya.

Composed By: Adi Shankaracharya

Shree Krishna and His brother Balarama

Play the music, and sing the stotra along with it

॥ अच्युताष्टकम् ॥

अच्युतं केशवं रामनारायणं कृष्णदामोदरं वासुदेवं हरिम् ।
श्रीधरं माधवं गोपिका-वल्लभं जानकी-नायकं रामचन्द्रं भजे ।।१।।

Achyutam Keshavam Rāma-nārāyanam Krishna-dāmodaram Vāsudevam Harim |
Shrī-dharam Mādhavam Gopikā-vallabham Jānakī-nāyakam Rāmachandram Bhaje ||1||

Salutations to You O the infallible/perfect One (Achyuta), Whose rays illumine the Cosmos (Keshava), Who is of delightful form (Rama), Who resides in all things that He creates (Narayana); salutations to You O the dark-complexioned lord (Krishna), Who was tied by Yashoda in the stomach (Damodara), Who is the son of Vasudeva, and Who is the destroyer of the cycle of birth (Hari),
Salutations to You Who bears Shri on His chest (Shridhara), Who was born in the family of Madhu (Madhava), and Who is the most beloved of the Gopikas; salutations to You O Ramachandra, the Lord of Janaki (Mother Sita).

अच्युतं केशवं सत्यभामाधवं माधवं श्रीधरं राधिकाराधितम् ।
इन्दिरा-मन्दिरं चेतसा सुन्दरं देवकी-नन्दनं नन्दजं सन्दधे ।।२।।

Achyutam Keshavam Satyabhāmā-dhavam Mādhavam Shrī-dharam Rādhikā-ārādhitam |
Indirā-mandiram Chetasā Sundaram Devakī-nandanam Nanda-jam San-dadhe ||2||

Salutations to You O the infallible/perfect One, Whose rays illumine the Cosmos, Who is the Lord of Satyabhama (the second wife of Krishna, believed to be an avatar of Bhudevi, 'the Earth Goddess'); salutations to You Who was born in the family of Madhu, Who bears Shri on His chest, and Who is worshipped by Radhika,
Salutations to You Who is the temple of Indira (the sacred abiding place of Goddess Mahalakshmi in His heart), Who has a beautiful complexion; salutations to You Who is the son of Devaki, and Who became the son of Nanda by being given to him.

विष्णवे जिष्णवे शङ्खिने चक्रिणे रुक्मिणी-रागीणे जानकी-जानये ।
वल्लवी-वल्लभायार्चितायात्मने कंस-विध्वंसिने वंशिने ते नमः ।।३।।

Vishnave Jishnave Shankhine Chakrine Rukminī-rāgine Jānakī-jānaye |
Ballavī-vallabhāya-architāya-ātmane Kamsa-vidhvamsine Vamshine Te Namah ||3||

Salutations to You Who pervades everywhere (Vishnu), Who is the ever victorious One (Jishnu), Who holds Shankha (conch) and chakra (discus) in His hands, Who is extremely dear to Rukmini, and Who has Janaki as His wife,
Who is worshipped by the beloved cowherd girls in their hearts, Who destroyed Kamsa, and Who plays the flute, salutations to You.

कृष्ण गोविन्द हे राम नारायण श्रीपते वासुदेवाजित श्रीनिधे ।
अच्युतानन्त हे माधवाधोक्षज द्वारका-नायक द्रौपदी-रक्षक ।।४।।

Krishna Govinda He Rāma Nārāyana Shrī-pate Vāsudeva-ajita Shrī-nidhe |
Achyuta-ananta He Mādhava-adhokshaja Dvārakā-nāyaka Draupadī-rakshaka ||4||

O the dark-complexioned Lord (Krishna), the protector of the cows (Govinda), Who is of delightful form (Rama), and Who resides in all things that He creates (Narayana); O the husband of Shri Lakshmi, son of Vasudeva, and the treasure of Shri,
O Achyuta, the endless one, Who was born in the family of Madhu, and the lord Whose vitality never flows downwards (Adhokshaja); O lord of Dwaraka, and the One who saved draupadi, salutations to You.

राक्षस-क्षोभितः सीतया शोभितो दण्डकारण्य-भू-पुण्यता-कारणः ।
लक्ष्मणे-नान्वितो वानरैः सेवितोऽगस्त्य-सम्पुजितो राघवः पातु माम् ।।५।।

Rākshasa-kshobhitah Siitayā Shobhito Dandakāranya-bhū-punyatā-kāranah |
Lakshmanen-anvito Vānaraih Sevito-agastya-sampūjito Rāghava Pātu Mām ||5||

One Who agitated the demons (as Shri Rama), Who is adorned by Devi Sita on His side, and Who is the cause of purification of the land of Dandakaranya,
One Who is attended by Lakshmana, Who is served by the Vanaras (monkeys), and Who is worshipped by sage Agastya, O Raghava (One Who belongs to Raghu clan), please protect me.

धेनुकारिष्टकाऽनिष्टकृद्द्वेषिहा केशिहा कंसहृद्वंशिका-वादकः ।
पूतना-कोपकः सूरजा-खेलनो बाल-गोपालकः पातु मां सर्वदा ।।६।।

Dhenuka-arishtaka-anishta-krid-dveshihā Keshihā Kamsa-hrid-vamshikā-vādakah |
Puutanā-kopakah-sūra-jā-khelano Bāla-gopālakah Pātu Mām Sarvadā ||6||

One Who killed the demons Dhenuka and Arishtaka (sent by Kamsa), One Who killed Kesi and Kamsa, and the One Who plays soulful tunes on His flute,
One Who killed the demon Putana, and One Who likes to play in the river; Salutations to You O young cowherd (Bala-Gopala), please protect me always.

विद्युदुद्योतवत्–प्रस्फुरद्वाससं प्रावृडम्भोदवत्–प्रोल्लसद्विग्रहम् ।
वन्यया मालया शोभितोरःस्थलं लोहितांघ्रिद्वयं वारिजाक्षं भजे ।।७।।

Vidyud-udyota-vat-prasphurad-vāsasam Prāvrid-ambhoda-vat-prollasad-vigraham |
Vanyayā Mālayā Shobhita-urahsthalam Lohita-angghri-dvayam Vārija-aksham Bhaje ||7||

One Whose garments shine like the rise of lightnings in the sky, Whose handsome form moves like the clouds of the rainy season,
Whose chest is adorned with Vanamala (garland of wild flowers), Whose pair of feet is reddish-hued, and Whose eyes are like lotus, let us sing a hymn on His praise.

कुञ्चितैः कुन्तलैर्भ्राजमानाननं रत्नमौलिं लसत्कुण्डलं गण्डयोः ।
हारकेयूरकं कङ्कण-प्रोज्ज्वलं किङ्किणी-मञ्जुलं श्यामलं तं भजे ।।८।।

Kunchitaih Kuntalair-bhrājamāna-ananam Ratna-maulim Lasat-kundalam Gandayoh |
Hāra-keyūrakam Kankana-projjvalam Kinkinī-manjulam Shyāmalam Tam Bhaje ||8||

One Who has beautiful locks of curly hairs over His shining face, Whose face is adorned with gem on the head and shining ear-rings on the ears,
Whose arms and waist are adorned with shining bracelets, and Who wears tiny bells over His dark body making pleasing sounds, let us sing a hymn on His praise.

अच्युतस्याष्टकं यः पठेदिष्टदं प्रेमतः प्रत्यहं पूरुषः सस्पृहम् ।
वृत्ततः सुन्दरं कर्तृविश्वम्भरस्तस्य वश्यो हरिर्जायते सत्वरम् ।।

Acyuta-asya-ashtakam Yah Pathed-ishta-dam Prematah Pratyaham Pūrushah Saspriham |
Vrittatah Sundaram Kartri-vishvambharas-Tasya Vashyo Harirjāyate Satvaram ||9||

This octet which is dedicated to Lord Achyuta (Krishna), whoever recites this with devotion (love), every day, and with longing for the Purusha (the Supreme Being),
Such a person who recites this beautifully praised hymn which encircles the all-sustaining being, will quickly reach the abode of Hari, without fail.

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NOTE:
You may find that some texts do not match the words from the song. Know that, the texts written here is the correct and complete one. For easy reading, dash sign (-) is placed in the middle of texts, leaving space as it is. If you want the original format, just remove dash sign from all the verses.