He Krishna Karuna Sindho — Word-by-Word Meaning
हे कृष्ण करुणासिन्धो
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
हे कृष्ण
He Krishna
O Krishna (the all-attractive Lord)
करुणासिन्धो
Karuna-sindho
O ocean of compassion
दीनबन्धो
Dina-bandho
O friend of the lowly and the distressed
जगत्पते
Jagat-pate
O Lord and master of the universe
गोपेश
Gopesha
O Lord of the cowherds (Gopas)
गोपिकाकान्त
Gopika-kanta
O beloved of the gopis (cowherd maidens)
राधाकान्त
Radha-kanta
O beloved of Radha
नमः
Namah
Salutations, I bow
अस्तु
Astu
Let there be, may it be
ते
Te
Unto You
Complete Translation
O Krishna, ocean of compassion! O friend of the fallen and distressed! O Lord of the universe! O master of the cowherds, beloved of the gopis, beloved of Radha — I offer my humble salutations unto You.
Origin & History
Source: Traditional Vaishnava prayer verse (sharanagati shloka)
Author: Unknown (traditional)
Period: Classical / medieval Vaishnava tradition
This verse belongs to the rich tradition of sharanagati (surrender) prayers offered to Sri Krishna. By naming Him as the ocean of compassion, the friend of the distressed and the beloved of Radha and the gopis, the devotee approaches Krishna not as a distant deity but as the most intimate refuge. It is recited daily by Vaishnavas across India as a humble offering of the self at Krishna's feet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'He Krishna Karuna Sindho' mean?▼
It means 'O Krishna, ocean of compassion.' The verse goes on to call Him friend of the distressed (dina-bandho), Lord of the universe (jagat-pate), Lord of the cowherds (gopesha), beloved of the gopis (gopika-kanta) and beloved of Radha (radha-kanta), ending with loving surrender.
When is this verse chanted?▼
It is a popular prayer of surrender chanted in the morning or evening, before Krishna worship, aarti, japa, or before reading the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. It is also recited whenever one seeks Krishna's shelter and grace.
Why is Krishna called 'Dina-bandhu' here?▼
Dina-bandhu means 'friend of the lowly and helpless.' It expresses the devotee's trust that Krishna's mercy especially embraces those who feel fallen, weak or distressed, and who turn to Him in surrender.
Is this verse part of a larger prayer?▼
It is widely cited as an independent prayer of sharanagati and is included in many traditional Krishna prayer collections and sandhya recitations. Its six names and final salutation make it a complete, self-contained invocation.
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