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Mucukunda Stuti Meaning — Line by Line

मुचुकुन्द स्तुति

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. labdhvā jano durlabham atra mānuṣaṃ
  2. Verse 2. mamaiṣa kālo 'jita niṣphalo gato
  3. Verse 3. kalevare 'smin ghaṭa-kuḍya-sannibhe
  4. Verse 4. pramattam uccair iti-kṛtya-cintayā
  5. Verse 5. purā rathair hema-pariṣkṛtaiś caran
  6. Verse 6. nirjitya dik-cakram abhūta-vigraho
  7. Verse 7. karoti karmāṇi tapaḥ-suniṣṭhito
  8. Verse 8. bhavāpavargo bhramato yadā bhavej
  9. Verse 9. manye mamānugraha īśa te kṛto
  10. Verse 10. na kāmaye 'nyaṃ tava pāda-sevanād
  11. Verse 11. tasmād visṛjyāśiṣa īśa sarvato
  12. Verse 12. ciram iha vṛjinārtas tapyamāno 'nutāpair
Verse 1#

labdhvā jano durlabham atra mānuṣaṃ

लब्ध्वा जनो दुर्लभमत्र मानुषं कथञ्चिदव्यङ्गमयत्नतोऽनघ पादारविन्दं भजत्यसन्मति- र्गृहान्धकूपे पतितो यथा पशुः ४६

labdhvā jano durlabham atra mānuṣaṃ kathañcid avyaṅgam ayatnato 'nagha | pādāravindaṃ na bhajaty asan-matir gṛhāndha-kūpe patito yathā paśuḥ || 46 ||

MeaningO sinless Lord, having obtained this rare and complete human form without any effort, the foolish person who does not worship Your lotus feet is like a beast fallen into the blind well of household life.

Verse 2#

mamaiṣa kālo 'jita niṣphalo gato

ममैष कालोऽजित निष्फलो गतो राज्यश्रियोन्नद्धमदस्य भूपतेः मर्त्यात्मबुद्धेः सुतदारकोशभूष्व् आसज्जमानस्य दुरन्तचिन्तया ४७

mamaiṣa kālo 'jita niṣphalo gato rājya-śriyonnaddha-madasya bhū-pateḥ | martyātma-buddheḥ suta-dāra-kośa-bhūṣv āsajjamānasya duranta-cintayā || 47 ||

MeaningO unconquerable one, this lifetime of mine has been wasted; for as a king puffed up with the pride of royal fortune, identifying this mortal body as the self, ever attached to sons, wife, treasury and lands, I was consumed by endless anxiety.

Verse 3#

kalevare 'smin ghaṭa-kuḍya-sannibhe

कलेवरेऽस्मिन्घटकुड्यसन्निभे निरूढमानो नरदेव इत्यहम् वृतो रथेभाश्वपदात्यनीकपै- र्गां पर्यटंस्त्वागणयन्सुदुर्मदः ४८

kalevare 'smin ghaṭa-kuḍya-sannibhe nirūḍha-māno nara-deva ity aham | vṛto rathebhāśva-padāty-anīkapair gāṃ paryaṭaṃs tvāgaṇayan su-durmadaḥ || 48 ||

MeaningThinking 'I am a king, a god among men,' falsely proud of this body which is no better than a clay pot or a mud wall, surrounded by chariots, elephants, horses and infantry and their commanders, I roamed the earth in arrogant folly, taking no account of You.

Verse 4#

pramattam uccair iti-kṛtya-cintayā

प्रमत्तमुच्चैरितिकृत्यचिन्तया प्रवृद्धलोभं विषयेषु लालसम् त्वमप्रमत्तः सहसाभिपद्यसे क्षुल्लेलिहानोऽहिरिवाखुमन्तकः ४९

pramattam uccair iti-kṛtya-cintayā pravṛddha-lobhaṃ viṣayeṣu lālasam | tvam apramattaḥ sahasābhipadyase kṣul-lelihāno 'hir ivākhum antakaḥ || 49 ||

MeaningWhile a man is thus heedless, intent on his schemes, swollen with greed and hankering after sense objects, You, ever vigilant, suddenly fall upon him — just as a hungry serpent, licking its fangs, seizes a mouse, so does death seize him.

Verse 5#

purā rathair hema-pariṣkṛtaiś caran

पुरा रथैर्हेमपरिष्कृतैश्चरन् मतंगजैर्वा नरदेवसंज्ञितः एव कालेन दुरत्ययेन ते कलेवरो विट्कृमिभस्मसंज्ञितः ५०

purā rathair hema-pariṣkṛtaiś caran mataṃ-gajair vā nara-deva-saṃjñitaḥ | sa eva kālena duratyayena te kalevaro viṭ-kṛmi-bhasma-saṃjñitaḥ || 50 ||

MeaningThe very body that once moved about in gold-bedecked chariots and on mighty elephants, bearing the title of 'king', is by Your insurmountable time reduced to that which is called stool, worms, or ashes.

Verse 6#

nirjitya dik-cakram abhūta-vigraho

निर्जित्य दिक्चक्रमभूतविग्रहो वरासनस्थः समराजवन्दितः गृहेषु मैथुन्यसुखेषु योषितां क्रीडामृगः पूरुष ईश नीयते ५१

nirjitya dik-cakram abhūta-vigraho varāsana-sthaḥ sama-rāja-vanditaḥ | gṛheṣu maithunya-sukheṣu yoṣitāṃ krīḍā-mṛgaḥ pūruṣa īśa nīyate || 51 ||

MeaningHaving conquered all directions and freed himself of foes, seated on a royal throne and praised by equal kings, a man is yet led about like a pet animal for the pleasures of women in the privacy of his home, O Lord.

Verse 7#

karoti karmāṇi tapaḥ-suniṣṭhito

करोति कर्माणि तपःसुनिष्ठितो निवृत्तभोगस्तदपेक्षयाददत् पुनश्च भूयासमहं स्वराडिति प्रवृद्धतर्षो सुखाय कल्पते ५२

karoti karmāṇi tapaḥ-suniṣṭhito nivṛtta-bhogas tad-apekṣayādadat | punaś ca bhūyāsam ahaṃ sva-rāḍ iti pravṛddha-tarṣo na sukhāya kalpate || 52 ||

MeaningStriving in fruitive work, firmly fixed in austerity, renouncing enjoyment for the sake of future gain, thinking 'may I become a self-ruler again and again' — with ever-swelling thirst, he never attains happiness.

Verse 8#

bhavāpavargo bhramato yadā bhavej

भवापवर्गो भ्रमतो यदा भवे- ज्जनस्य तर्ह्यच्युत सत्समागमः सत्सङ्गमो यर्हि तदैव सद्गतौ परावरेशे त्वयि जायते मतिः ५३

bhavāpavargo bhramato yadā bhavej janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samāgamaḥ | sat-saṅgamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau parāvareśe tvayi jāyate matiḥ || 53 ||

MeaningWhen a wandering soul is at last destined for release from material existence, O Acyuta, he gains the company of saintly devotees; and the very moment such association comes, his mind turns toward You, the goal of the saints, the Lord of all higher and lower beings.

Verse 9#

manye mamānugraha īśa te kṛto

मन्ये ममानुग्रह ईश ते कृतो राज्यानुबन्धापगमो यदृच्छया यः प्रार्थ्यते साधुभिरेकचर्यया वनं विविक्षद्भिरखण्डभूमिपैः ५४

manye mamānugraha īśa te kṛto rājyānubandhāpagamo yadṛcchayā | yaḥ prārthyate sādhubhir eka-caryayā vanaṃ vivikṣadbhir akhaṇḍa-bhūmi-paiḥ || 54 ||

MeaningI consider, O Lord, that You have shown me Your grace, for by Your own will my entanglement with kingdom has been removed — that very freedom which saintly kings of unbroken sovereignty pray for when they wish to retire alone to the forest.

Verse 10#

na kāmaye 'nyaṃ tava pāda-sevanād

कामयेऽन्यं तव पादसेवना- दकिञ्चनप्रार्थ्यतमाद्वरं विभो आराध्य कस्त्वां ह्यपवर्गदं हरे वृणीत आर्यो वरमात्मबन्धनम् ५५

na kāmaye 'nyaṃ tava pāda-sevanād akiñcana-prārthyatamād varaṃ vibho | ārādhya kas tvāṃ hy apavarga-daṃ hare vṛṇīta āryo varam ātma-bandhanam || 55 ||

MeaningI desire no benediction other than the service of Your feet, O almighty Lord — the boon most prized by those who are free of all material desire. What noble soul, having worshipped You, the giver of liberation, O Hari, would ask of You a boon that only binds him further to material life?

Verse 11#

tasmād visṛjyāśiṣa īśa sarvato

तस्माद्विसृज्याशिष ईश सर्वतो रजस्तमःसत्त्वगुणानुबन्धनाः निरञ्जनं निर्गुणमद्वयं परं त्वां ज्ञाप्तिमात्रं पुरुषं व्रजाम्यहम् ५६

tasmād visṛjyāśiṣa īśa sarvato rajas-tamaḥ-sattva-guṇānubandhanāḥ | nirañjanaṃ nirguṇam advayaṃ paraṃ tvāṃ jñāpti-mātraṃ puruṣaṃ vrajāmy aham || 56 ||

MeaningTherefore, O Lord, casting aside all blessings that are bound up with the modes of passion, ignorance and goodness, I come to You — the unblemished, attributeless, non-dual, supreme Person, who are pure consciousness alone.

Verse 12#

ciram iha vṛjinārtas tapyamāno 'nutāpair

चिरमिह वृजिनार्तस्तप्यमानोऽनुतापै- रवितृषषडमित्रोऽलब्धशान्तिः कथञ्चित् शरणद समुपेतस्त्वत्पदाब्जं परात्मन् अभयमृतमशोकं पाहि मापन्नमीश ५७

ciram iha vṛjinārtas tapyamāno 'nutāpair avitṛṣa-ṣaḍ-amitro 'labdha-śāntiḥ kathañcit | śaraṇa-da samupetas tvat-padābjaṃ parātman abhayam ṛtam aśokaṃ pāhi māpannam īśa || 57 ||

MeaningLong have I suffered in this world, scorched by remorse and afflicted by my six unconquered enemies, never anywhere finding peace. O shelter-giving Supreme Soul, I have now come to Your lotus feet — fearless, true and free of sorrow. O Lord, protect me, who has taken refuge in You.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

लब्ध्वा जनो दुर्लभमत्र मानुषम्
labdhvā jano durlabham atra mānuṣam
having obtained this rare human birth
अव्यङ्गमयत्नतः
avyaṅgam ayatnataḥ
complete and unimpaired, without effort
अनघ
anagha
O sinless one
पादारविन्दं न भजति
pādāravindaṃ na bhajati
does not worship Your lotus feet
गृहान्धकूपे पतितो यथा पशुः
gṛhāndha-kūpe patito yathā paśuḥ
like an animal fallen into the dark well of household (material) life
ममैष कालोऽजित निष्फलो गतः
mamaiṣa kālo 'jita niṣphalo gataḥ
this time of mine, O unconquerable one, has passed fruitlessly
राज्यश्रियोन्नद्धमदस्य
rājya-śriyonnaddha-madasya
of one puffed up with pride in royal opulence
कलेवरेऽस्मिन्घटकुड्यसन्निभे
kalevare 'smin ghaṭa-kuḍya-sannibhe
in this body, comparable to a clay pot or a wall (of earth)
नरदेव इत्यहम्
nara-deva ity aham
(thinking) 'I am a king (god among men)'
क्षुल्लेलिहानोऽहिरिवाखुमन्तकः
kṣul-lelihāno 'hir ivākhum antakaḥ
as a hungry, tongue-flicking serpent seizes a mouse, so death seizes (the heedless)
कलेवरो विट्कृमिभस्मसंज्ञितः
kalevaro viṭ-kṛmi-bhasma-saṃjñitaḥ
the body (finally) named stool, worms, or ashes
क्रीडामृगः पूरुष ईश नीयते
krīḍā-mṛgaḥ pūruṣa īśa nīyate
the man is led about, O Lord, like a pet animal (toy)
भवापवर्गः
bhavāpavargaḥ
the end (cessation) of material existence
अच्युत सत्समागमः
acyuta sat-samāgamaḥ
O infallible one, (then comes) the association of saintly devotees
सद्गतौ परावरेशे त्वयि
sad-gatau parāvareśe tvayi
in You, the goal of the saints, the Lord of higher and lower beings
जायते मतिः
jāyate matiḥ
the mind (devotional attraction) arises
मन्ये ममानुग्रह ईश ते कृतः
manye mamānugraha īśa te kṛtaḥ
I consider that You have shown me Your grace, O Lord
राज्यानुबन्धापगमः
rājyānubandhāpagamaḥ
the removal of my entanglement with kingdom
न कामयेऽन्यं तव पादसेवनात्
na kāmaye 'nyaṃ tava pāda-sevanāt
I desire nothing other than the service of Your feet
अकिञ्चनप्रार्थ्यतमात्
akiñcana-prārthyatamāt
most sought after by those free of material desire
अपवर्गदं हरे
apavarga-daṃ hare
O Hari, the bestower of liberation
निरञ्जनं निर्गुणमद्वयं परम्
nirañjanaṃ nirguṇam advayaṃ param
the unblemished, qualityless, non-dual, supreme (Lord)
ज्ञाप्तिमात्रं पुरुषं व्रजाम्यहम्
jñāpti-mātraṃ puruṣaṃ vrajāmy aham
I take refuge in You, the Person who is pure consciousness alone
शरणद
śaraṇa-da
O bestower of shelter
अभयमृतमशोकं पाहि मापन्नम्
abhayam ṛtam aśokaṃ pāhi māpannam
O fearless, true and sorrowless one, protect me who has surrendered

Origin & History

Source: Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Canto 10, Chapter 51, verses 46–57 (Mucukunda-stuti)

Author: Sage Veda-Vyasa (as spoken by King Mucukunda)

Period: Classical Puranic era

When the barbarian king Kalayavana attacked Mathura, Lord Krishna lured him into a dark mountain cave where the ancient king Mucukunda lay sleeping. Long ago Mucukunda had aided the demigods in war and, exhausted, was granted the boon of undisturbed sleep, with the power to reduce to ashes anyone who woke him. Kalayavana, mistaking the sleeping king for Krishna, kicked him; Mucukunda awoke, and his angry glance burned the demon to ashes. Then the king beheld the effulgent form of Lord Krishna and, recognizing Him as the Supreme Lord, offered this heartfelt prayer of detachment and surrender. The Lord blessed him to perform austerity and attain Him in his next life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mucukunda Stuti?
The Mucukunda Stuti is the prayer offered by King Mucukunda to Lord Krishna when he met the Lord in a cave after awakening from an age-long sleep. It is found in the Srimad Bhagavata Purana (Canto 10, Chapter 51, verses 46 to 57) and is renowned as a great hymn of detachment and surrender.
Who was Mucukunda?
Mucukunda was an ancient, righteous king of the Ikshvaku dynasty who fought on behalf of the demigods against the demons. Granted a boon to sleep undisturbed, he slept for ages in a mountain cave. He awoke to burn the fleeing demon Kalayavana to ashes by a glance, and then beheld Lord Krishna, to whom he offered this prayer.
What is the main teaching of the Mucukunda Stuti?
Its central message is detachment (vairagya): royal power, wealth and bodily identity are ultimately worthless, and death overtakes the heedless like a serpent seizing a mouse. True fortune is the association of saints and pure devotion to the Lord, and even the loss of a kingdom can be the Lord's grace in disguise.
What does Mucukunda finally pray for?
Rejecting all blessings bound to the material modes, Mucukunda asks for nothing but the service of Krishna's lotus feet and shelter at them. His closing verse begs the Lord — the fearless, sorrowless Supreme Soul — to protect him, the surrendered soul who has at last found peace.

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