Krishnashtakam (Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam)
श्री कृष्णाष्टकम् (भजे व्रजैकमण्डनम्)
Also known as: bhaje vrajaika mandanam · krishnashtakam bhaje vrajaika mandanam · shri krishnashtakam · krishnashtaka · vrajaika mandanam
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✦ Meaning
The Krishnashtakam beginning 'Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam' is a melodious eight-verse hymn to Lord Krishna, traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. Set to a flowing internally-rhyming metre, each verse ends with 'namami…' (I bow), adoring Krishna as the ornament of Vraja, the lotus-eyed lifter of Govardhana, the beloved of the gopis, and the stealer of hearts. The closing verse promises pure devotion to Krishna in every birth to those who recite it.
Origin & Story
Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (Stotra literature) · Adi Shankaracharya · c. 8th century CE
Lord Krishna, the eighth avatara of Vishnu, spent his childhood in Vraja (Vrindavan) enchanting all with his beauty, his flute and his playful pastimes — lifting Mount Govardhana, humbling Indra's pride, and stealing the hearts of the gopas and gopis. This Krishnashtakam, traditionally credited to Adi Shankaracharya, gathers those very pastimes into eight flowing verses. It is one of two famous ashtakas to Krishna ascribed to the acharya, the other beginning 'Vasudeva-sutam devam'.
✦ As told in scripture
The closing verse itself is the promised fruit (phala): tradition holds that whoever sincerely studies and recites these eight verses is granted unshakable devotion to Krishna life after life — a boon dearer to devotees than any worldly gain.
Complete Text with Meaning
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भजे व्रजैकमण्डनं समस्तपापखण्डनं स्वभक्तचित्तरञ्जनं सदैव नन्दनन्दनम् । सुपिच्छगुच्छमस्तकं सुनादवेणुहस्तकं अनङ्गरङ्गसागरं नमामि कृष्णनागरम् ॥ १ ॥
Bhaje vrajaikamandanam samastapapakhandanam Svabhaktachittaranjanam sadaiva nandanandanam | Supicchagucchamastakam sunadavenuhastakam Anangarangasagaram namami krishnanagaram || 1 ||
Meaning:I worship the sole ornament of Vraja, the destroyer of all sins, the delight of his devotees' hearts, the ever-joyous son of Nanda; with a beautiful cluster of peacock-feathers on his head and the sweet-sounding flute in his hand — an ocean of love's delight — I bow to the charming Krishna.
मनोजगर्वमोचनं विशाललोललोचनं विधूतगोपशोचनं नमामि पद्मलोचनम् । करारविन्दभूधरं स्मितावलोकसुन्दरं महेन्द्रमानदारणं नमामि कृष्णवारणम् ॥ २ ॥
Manojagarvamochanam vishalalolalochanam Vidhutagopashochanam namami padmalochanam | Kararavindabhudharam smitavalokasundaram Mahendramanadaranam namami krishnavaranam || 2 ||
Meaning:He who shatters the pride of Cupid, with large restless eyes, who dispels the grief of the cowherds — I bow to the lotus-eyed one; who lifted the mountain (Govardhana) on his lotus-hand, lovely with his smiling glance, who humbled the pride of great Indra — I bow to Krishna, the protector.
कदम्बसूनकुण्डलं सुचारुगण्डमण्डलं व्रजाङ्गनैकवल्लभं नमामि कृष्णदुर्लभम् । यशोदया समोदया सगोपया सनन्दया युतं सुखैकदायकं नमामि गोपनायकम् ॥ ३ ॥
Kadambasunakundalam sucharugandamandalam Vrajanganaikavallabham namami krishnadurlabham | Yashodaya samodaya sagopaya sanandaya Yutam sukhaikadayakam namami gopanayakam || 3 ||
Meaning:With ear-rings of kadamba blossoms and most charming cheeks, the one beloved of the women of Vraja — I bow to Krishna, hard to attain; together with Yashoda, full of joy, with the cowherds and with Nanda, the sole giver of happiness — I bow to the leader of the cowherds.
सदैव पादपङ्कजं मदीयमानसे निजं दधानमुक्तमालकं नमामि नन्दबालकम् । समस्तदोषशोषणं समस्तलोकपोषणं समस्तगोपमानसं नमामि नन्दलालसम् ॥ ४ ॥
Sadaiva padapankajam madiyamanase nijam Dadhanamuktamalakam namami nandabalakam | Samastadoshashoshanam samastalokaposhanam Samastagopamanasam namami nandalalasam || 4 ||
Meaning:May his lotus-feet ever dwell as my very own within my mind — he who wears loose curling locks, I bow to the child of Nanda; the dryer-up of all faults, the nourisher of all the worlds, dwelling in the hearts of all the cowherds — I bow to the darling of Nanda.
भुवो भरावतारकं भवाब्धिकर्णधारकं यशोमतीकिशोरकं नमामि चित्तचोरकम् । दृगन्तकान्तभङ्गिनं सदा सदालसङ्गिनं दिने दिने नवं नवं नमामि नन्दसम्भवम् ॥ ५ ॥
Bhuvo bharavatarakam bhavabdhikarnadharakam Yashomatikishorakam namami chittachorakam | Drigantakantabhanginam sada sadalasanginam Dine dine navam navam namami nandasambhavam || 5 ||
Meaning:He who descended to lift the burden of the Earth, the helmsman across the ocean of existence, the youthful son of Yashoda — I bow to the stealer of hearts; with the lovely play of his sidelong glances, ever in the company of the virtuous, growing newer and newer day by day — I bow to him born in Nanda's house.
गुणाकरं सुखाकरं कृपाकरं कृपापरं सुरद्विषन्निकन्दनं नमामि गोपनन्दनम् । नवीनगोपनागरं नवीनकेलिलम्पटं नमामि मेघसुन्दरं तडित्प्रभालसत्पटम् ॥ ६ ॥
Gunakaram sukhakaram kripakaram kripaparam Suradvishannikandanam namami gopanandanam | Navinagopanagaram navinakelilampatam Namami meghasundaram taditprabhalasatpatam || 6 ||
Meaning:The mine of virtues, the source of joy, the abode of compassion, supremely merciful, the destroyer of the enemies of the gods — I bow to the son of the cowherds; the ever-fresh gallant of the gopas, ever fond of new play, beautiful as a cloud, his garment flashing like lightning — I bow to him.
समस्तगोपनन्दनं हृदम्बुजैकमोदनं नमामि कुञ्जमध्यगं प्रसन्नभानुशोभनम् । निकामकामदायकं दृगन्तचारुसायकं रसालवेणुगायकं नमामि कुञ्जनायकम् ॥ ७ ॥
Samastagopanandanam hridambujaikamodanam Namami kunjamadhyagam prasannabhanushobhanam | Nikamakamadayakam drigantacharusayakam Rasalavenugayakam namami kunjanayakam || 7 ||
Meaning:The joy of all the cowherds, the one delight of the lotus of the heart — I bow to him who stands amid the bower, radiant as the bright sun; the bestower of every desire, with the lovely arrows of his sidelong glance, the sweet player of the flute — I bow to the lord of the bower.
विदग्धगोपिकामनोमनोज्ञतल्पशायिनं नमामि कुञ्जकाननं प्रविष्टरासमण्डनम् । यदा तदा यथा तथा तथैव कृष्णसत्कथा मया सदैव गीयतां तथा कृपा विधीयताम् ॥ ८ ॥
Vidagdhagopikamanomanojnatalpashayinam Namami kunjakananam pravishtarasamandanam | Yada tada yatha tatha tathaiva krishnasatkatha Maya sadaiva giyatam tatha kripa vidhiyatam || 8 ||
Meaning:Reclining on the charming, mind-captivating couch (of the heart) of the clever gopis — I bow to him who entered the forest-bower as the ornament of the Rasa dance; whenever, however and in whatever way, may I ever sing the holy story of Krishna — bestow upon me such grace.
प्रमाणिकाष्टकद्वयं जपत्यधीत्य यः पुमान् भवेत्स नन्दनन्दने भवे भवे सुभक्तिमान् ॥
Pramanikashtakadvayam japatyadhitya yah puman Bhavetsa nandanandane bhave bhave subhaktiman ||
Meaning:Whatever man, having studied, recites this pair of authentic ashtakas, becomes endowed with pure devotion to the son of Nanda in birth after birth.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Krishnashtakam (Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam)
Kindles loving devotion (madhurya bhakti) toward Lord Krishna as the charmer of Vraja
Beautifully describes Krishna's form, pastimes and grace, ideal for meditation and singing
The closing verse promises steadfast devotion to Krishna in birth after birth to those who recite it
Believed to destroy all sins, as declared in the very first verse ('samasta-papa-khandanam')
Brings peace, joy and sweetness to the heart through its flowing, musical metre
Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, it carries the grace of the great acharya
Excellent for daily recitation, Janmashtami and Krishna worship
How to Chant Krishnashtakam (Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam)
Sit before an image of Lord Krishna, light a lamp and recite the eight verses melodiously, letting the internal rhyme carry the devotion. Visualise Krishna as each verse describes him — peacock-feathered, flute in hand, lifting Govardhana, dancing in the bower. It is especially sung on Krishna Janmashtami. Conclude with the final verse seeking devotion to Krishna in every birth.
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