Krishna Ashtakam

Krishna Ashtakam: Mantra with Meaning

Sri Krishna Ashtakam is a stotram or hymn, addressed to Lord Krishna, consisting of 8 fold sloka, composed by Adi Shankaracharya.

In this stotram, Lord Krishna is being saluted again and again describing his beauty and glory. Being surrounded by hemp flowers and shining in various garlands, having curly hair and full-blown lotus eye, Lord Krishna is praised as the world teacher. This eightfold sloka, if recited every morning, destroys the sins done in millions of births, so says the great Guru Adi Shankara.

Composed By: Adi Shankaracharya

Lord Krishna with Radha

Play the music, and sing the stotra along with it

॥ कृष्णाष्टकम् ॥

वसुदॆवसुतं दॆवं कंस-चाणूर-मर्दनम् ।
दॆवकी-परमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दॆ जगद्गुरुम् ॥१॥

Salutations to the world teacher Krishna, Who is the son of Vasudeva and God Himself, Who killed Kamsa and Chanura, and Who is the source of great joy to Devaki.

अतसी-पुष्प-संकाशं हार-नूपुर-शॊभितम् ।
रत्न-कङ्कण-कॆयूरं कृष्णं वन्दॆ जगद्गुरुम् ॥२॥

Salutations to the world teacher Krishna, Who is surrounded by hemp flowers, Who shines in garlands and anklets, and Who wears gem-studded necklace and armlets.

कुटिलालक-संयुक्तं पूर्णचन्द्र-निभाननम् ।
विलसत्-कुण्डलधरं कृष्णं वन्दॆ जगद्गुरुम् ॥३॥

Salutations to the world teacher Krishna, Who is adorned with curly locks of hair, Who has a face resplendent like full-moon, and Who wears shining earrings.

मन्दार-गन्ध-संयुक्तं चारुहासं चतुर्भुजम् ।
बर्हि-पिंछाव-चूडाङ्गं कृष्णं वन्दॆ जगद्गुरुम् ॥४॥

Salutations to the world teacher Krishna, Who has the sweet fragrance of Mandara flowers, Who has beautiful smile and four hands, and Who decorates His hair with peacock feathers.

उत्फुल्ल-पद्मपत्राक्षं नील-जीमूत-सन्निभम् ।
यादवानां शिरॊरत्नं कृष्णं वन्दॆ जगद्गुरुम् ॥५॥

Salutations to the world teacher Krishna, Who has eyes like petals of full-blown lotus, Who resembles the rich blue clouds, and Who is the greatest gem among Yadavas.

रुक्मिणी-कॆलि-संयुक्तं पीताम्बर-सुशॊभितम् ।
अवाप्त-तुलसी-गन्धं कृष्णं वन्दॆ जगद्गुरुम् ॥६॥

Salutations to the world teacher Krishna, Who is with the playful Rukmini, Who shines in yellow silks, and Who has the fragrance of holy basil (Tulsi).

गॊपिकानां कुचद्वन्द्व-कुङ्कुमाङ्कित-वक्षसम् ।
श्रीनिकॆतं महॆष्वासं कृष्णं वन्दॆ जगद्गुरुम् ॥७॥

Salutations to the world teacher Krishna, Who is embraced by the two busts of Gopis, Whose chest has the marks of saffron, and Who lives with Lakshmi and has mighty arrows.

श्रीवत्साङ्कं महॊरस्कं वनमाला-विराजितम् ।
शङ्खचक्रधरं दॆवं कृष्णं वन्दॆ जगद्गुरुम् ॥८॥

Salutations to the world teacher Krishna, Who has Sri Vathsa (mark of Sri Lakshmi) on His chest and greatly enjoys, Who is decorated by garland of forest flowers, and the God Who holds conch-shell and discus.

कृष्णाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठॆत् ।
कॊटिजन्म-कृतं पापं स्मरणॆन विनश्यति ॥

If this divine octet of Lord Krishna is sung as soon as one wakes up in the morning, the sins done in millions of birth will truly be destroyed.

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NOTE:
This is the original version of Krishna Ashtakam. 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.