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Madhurashtakam Meaning — Line by Line

मधुराष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Madhurashtakam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Adharam madhuram vadanam madhuram nayanam madhuram hasitam madhuram
  2. Verse 2. Vachanam madhuram charitam madhuram vasanam madhuram valitam madhuram
  3. Verse 3. Venurmadhuro renurmadhurah panirmadhurah padau madhurau
  4. Verse 4. Gitam madhuram pitam madhuram bhuktam madhuram suptam madhuram
  5. Verse 5. Karanam madhuram taranam madhuram haranam madhuram ramanam madhuram
  6. Verse 6. Gunja madhura mala madhura yamuna madhura vichi madhura
  7. Verse 7. Gopi madhura lila madhura yuktam madhuram muktam madhuram
  8. Verse 8. Gopa madhura gavo madhura yashtirmadhura srishtirmadhura
Verse 1#

Adharam madhuram vadanam madhuram nayanam madhuram hasitam madhuram

अधरं मधुरं वदनं मधुरं नयनं मधुरं हसितं मधुरम् हृदयं मधुरं गमनं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् १॥

Adharam madhuram vadanam madhuram nayanam madhuram hasitam madhuram Hridayam madhuram gamanam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram

MeaningSweet are His lips, sweet His face, sweet His eyes, sweet His smile; sweet His heart, sweet His gait — everything about the Lord of Madhura (Krishna) is sweet.

Verse 2#

Vachanam madhuram charitam madhuram vasanam madhuram valitam madhuram

वचनं मधुरं चरितं मधुरं वसनं मधुरं वलितं मधुरम् चलितं मधुरं भ्रमितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् २॥

Vachanam madhuram charitam madhuram vasanam madhuram valitam madhuram Chalitam madhuram bhramitam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram

MeaningSweet His words, sweet His deeds, sweet His garment, sweet His grace; sweet His movement, sweet His wandering — everything about the Lord of Madhura is utterly sweet.

Verse 3#

Venurmadhuro renurmadhurah panirmadhurah padau madhurau

वेणुर्मधुरो रेणुर्मधुरः पाणिर्मधुरः पादौ मधुरौ नृत्यं मधुरं सख्यं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ३॥

Venurmadhuro renurmadhurah panirmadhurah padau madhurau Nrityam madhuram sakhyam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram

MeaningSweet His flute, sweet the dust of His feet, sweet His hands, sweet His feet; sweet His dance, sweet His friendship — everything about the Lord of Madhura is sweet.

Verse 4#

Gitam madhuram pitam madhuram bhuktam madhuram suptam madhuram

गीतं मधुरं पीतं मधुरं भुक्तं मधुरं सुप्तं मधुरम् रूपं मधुरं तिलकं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ४॥

Gitam madhuram pitam madhuram bhuktam madhuram suptam madhuram Rupam madhuram tilakam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram

MeaningSweet His song, sweet His drinking, sweet His eating, sweet His sleeping; sweet His form, sweet His tilak — everything about the Lord of Madhura is sweet.

Verse 5#

Karanam madhuram taranam madhuram haranam madhuram ramanam madhuram

करणं मधुरं तरणं मधुरं हरणं मधुरं रमणं मधुरम् वमितं मधुरं शमितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ५॥

Karanam madhuram taranam madhuram haranam madhuram ramanam madhuram Vamitam madhuram shamitam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram

MeaningSweet His doing, sweet His crossing, sweet His stealing, sweet His sporting; sweet His resting, sweet His calming — everything about the Lord of Madhura is sweet.

Verse 6#

Gunja madhura mala madhura yamuna madhura vichi madhura

गुञ्जा मधुरा माला मधुरा यमुना मधुरा वीची मधुरा सलिलं मधुरं कमलं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ६॥

Gunja madhura mala madhura yamuna madhura vichi madhura Salilam madhuram kamalam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram

MeaningSweet the gunja-berries, sweet the garland, sweet the Yamuna, sweet her waves; sweet her waters, sweet the lotus — everything about the Lord of Madhura is sweet.

Verse 7#

Gopi madhura lila madhura yuktam madhuram muktam madhuram

गोपी मधुरा लीला मधुरा युक्तं मधुरं मुक्तं मधुरम् दृष्टं मधुरं शिष्टं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ७॥

Gopi madhura lila madhura yuktam madhuram muktam madhuram Drishtam madhuram shishtam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram

MeaningSweet the gopis, sweet His play, sweet His union, sweet His release; sweet His glance, sweet His courtesy — everything about the Lord of Madhura is sweet.

Verse 8#

Gopa madhura gavo madhura yashtirmadhura srishtirmadhura

गोपा मधुरा गावो मधुरा यष्टिर्मधुरा सृष्टिर्मधुरा दलितं मधुरं फलितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ८॥

Gopa madhura gavo madhura yashtirmadhura srishtirmadhura Dalitam madhuram phalitam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram

MeaningSweet the cowherds, sweet the cows, sweet His staff, sweet His creation; sweet His trampling, sweet His fruit-bearing — everything about the Lord of Madhura is sweet.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

मधुर
Madhura
Sweet, honeyed, enchanting
मधुराधिपतेः
Madhuradhipateh
Of the Lord of Madhura (Mathura) — Krishna
अखिलं मधुरम्
Akhilam Madhuram
Everything (about Him) is sweet
अधरं
Adharam
The lips
वदनं
Vadanam
The face
वेणुः
Venuh
The flute
नृत्यं
Nrityam
The dance
यमुना
Yamuna
The river Yamuna

Origin & History

Source: Composed by Sri Vallabhacharya

Author: Sri Vallabhacharya

Period: c. 15th–16th century CE

Sri Vallabhacharya, the great teacher of Krishna-bhakti and founder of the Pushtimarg, composed the Madhurashtakam as a spontaneous outpouring of love. Overwhelmed by the beauty of Sri Krishna at Gokul, he sang of how every single thing about the Lord of Madhura — His form, His flute, His play, even the dust of His feet and the waves of the Yamuna — is nothing but sweetness itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Madhurashtakam?
Madhurashtakam is an eight-verse hymn composed by Sri Vallabhacharya (1479–1531 CE) in which every aspect of Lord Krishna — His lips, face, eyes, flute, dance, even the Yamuna and the cows — is praised as 'madhuram' (sweet). It is one of the most beloved devotional songs of Krishna.
Who wrote Madhurashtakam?
It was composed by Sri Vallabhacharya, the founder of the Pushtimarg (Shuddhadvaita) tradition of Krishna devotion.
What does 'Madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram' mean?
It means 'everything about the Lord of Madhura (Krishna) is sweet.' This refrain ends every verse, declaring that each quality and possession of Krishna is supremely enchanting.
When is Madhurashtakam chanted?
It is sung daily by devotees and especially on Janmashtami, during Srimad Bhagavata recitations, and in Pushtimarg seva. Its sweetness makes it a favourite at any time.

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