krishnagopalavishnudhyana-shloka

Kasturi Tilakam (Gopala Dhyana Shloka)

कस्तूरीतिलकम् (गोपाल ध्यान श्लोक)

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Early morning before worship; daily; especially on Janmashtami and Wednesdays·📜 Sri Krishna Karnamritam (verse)

Also known as: kasturi tilakam · kasturi tilakam lalata patale · gopala dhyana shloka · kasturee tilakam · vijayate gopala chudamani

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

Kasturi Tilakam is one of the most beloved dhyana (meditation) shlokas of Lord Krishna as Gopala, drawn from the Sri Krishna Karnamritam of the saint-poet Bilvamangala (Leela Shuka). In a single flowing verse it paints Krishna head to foot — the musk-tilaka, the Kaustubha gem, the pearl on his nose, the flute in his hand, sandal-anointed limbs and pearl necklace — standing radiant amid the gopis as 'Gopala, the crest-jewel of cowherds'. It is widely recited to visualise the Lord before worship.

Origin & Story

Sri Krishna Karnamritam (verse) · Bilvamangala (Leela Shuka) · c. 12th–13th century CE

The Sri Krishna Karnamritam ('Nectar for the ears, about Krishna') is an ecstatic Sanskrit poem of devotion to the boy Krishna, composed by the South Indian saint-poet Bilvamangala, also revered as Leela Shuka. From this stream of verses comes the beloved Kasturi Tilakam, a single dhyana shloka that lovingly describes Gopala's form in full — his ornaments, his flute and his sandal-anointed limbs — as he stands amid the gopis, the crest-jewel of all cowherds.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition tells that Bilvamangala, once lost in worldly attachment, was turned wholly to God and granted visions of the boy Krishna himself; the verses of his Krishna Karnamritam, including this one, are cherished as having flowed from that direct vision, so that to recite them is to behold the very form they describe.

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The Mantra

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कस्तूरीतिलकं ललाटपटले वक्षःस्थले कौस्तुभं नासाग्रे नवमौक्तिकं करतले वेणुं करे कङ्कणम् । सर्वाङ्गे हरिचन्दनं सुललितं कण्ठे च मुक्तावलिं गोपस्त्रीपरिवेष्टितो विजयते गोपालचूडामणिः ॥

Kasturi-tilakam lalata-patale vakshah-sthale kaustubham Nasagre nava-mauktikam karatale venum kare kankanam | Sarvange harichandanam sulalitam kanthe cha muktavalim Gopastri-pariveshtito vijayate gopala-chudamanih ||

Meaning:With a tilaka of musk upon his forehead, the Kaustubha gem upon his chest, a fresh pearl on the tip of his nose, the flute resting in his palm and a bracelet upon his wrist; his whole body gracefully anointed with divine sandal-paste, and a string of pearls about his neck — surrounded by the cowherd women, Gopala, the crest-jewel of all cowherds, shines forth in supreme glory and triumph.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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कस्तूरीतिलकम्🔊Kasturi-tilakamA tilaka (mark) of musk (kasturi)

ललाटपटले🔊Lalata-pataleUpon the surface of the forehead

वक्षःस्थले🔊Vakshah-sthaleOn the chest / bosom

कौस्तुभम्🔊KaustubhamThe Kaustubha gem (the celebrated jewel of Vishnu)

नासाग्रे🔊NasagreOn the tip of the nose

नवमौक्तिकम्🔊Nava-mauktikamA fresh, lustrous pearl

करतले वेणुम्🔊Karatale venumThe flute (venu) in the palm of the hand

करे कङ्कणम्🔊Kare kankanamA bracelet (kankana) on the wrist/hand

सर्वाङ्गे🔊SarvangeOver all the limbs / the whole body

हरिचन्दनम्🔊HarichandanamSandal-paste (of the harichandana / divine sandal)

सुललितम्🔊SulalitamGracefully, charmingly (applied)

कण्ठे च मुक्तावलिम्🔊Kanthe cha muktavalimAnd on the neck a string (necklace) of pearls

गोपस्त्रीपरिवेष्टितः🔊Gopastri-pariveshtitahSurrounded by the cowherd women (gopis)

विजयते🔊VijayateShines in triumph / is supremely glorious

गोपालचूडामणिः🔊Gopala-chudamanihGopala, the crest-jewel (chudamani) of all cowherds

Benefits of Chanting Kasturi Tilakam (Gopala Dhyana Shloka)

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A complete dhyana shloka to visualise Lord Krishna (Gopala) before worship or japa

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Brings the beautiful form of Venugopala vividly to the mind, deepening devotion

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Recited daily and before Krishna puja, bhajan and the Bhagavata recitation

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Cultivates peace and sweetness (madhurya) as one dwells on the Lord's enchanting form

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Drawn from the Krishna Karnamritam, a revered nectar-stream of Krishna devotion

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Auspicious to chant on Janmashtami and during Krishna's worship in any form

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Suitable for children and beginners as an easy yet profound Krishna verse

How to Chant Kasturi Tilakam (Gopala Dhyana Shloka)

Repetitions3times

Best TimeEarly morning before worship; daily; especially on Janmashtami and Wednesdays

Sit calmly before an image of Lord Krishna / Gopala, light a lamp, and recite the verse slowly while visualising each ornament in turn — the musk tilaka on the forehead, the Kaustubha gem, the pearl on the nose, the flute in the hand, the sandal-anointed body and the pearl necklace — picturing Krishna radiant amid the gopis. It is the traditional dhyana verse chanted to bring the Lord's form to mind before Krishna worship or bhajan.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a single, very famous dhyana (meditation) verse describing Lord Krishna as Gopala from head to foot — with a musk tilaka, the Kaustubha gem, a pearl on his nose, the flute in his hand and sandal-anointed limbs — standing amid the gopis. It is recited to visualise the Lord before worship.

It is from the Sri Krishna Karnamritam, a celebrated devotional poem in praise of Krishna composed by the saint-poet Bilvamangala, also known as Leela Shuka (around the 12th–13th century CE).

'Gopala-chudamani' means 'Gopala, the crest-jewel (chudamani) of all the cowherds' — Krishna shining as the most resplendent and beloved among the gopas and gopis of Vraja.

It is recited daily, particularly as a dhyana verse before Krishna puja, bhajan or Bhagavata recitation, and especially on Janmashtami and Wednesdays which are associated with Lord Krishna.