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Nanda Nandanashtakam Meaning — Line by Line

नन्दनन्दनाष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. sucāru-vaktra-maṇḍalaṁ sukarṇa-ratna-kuṇḍalam |
  2. Verse 2. sudīrgha-netra-paṅkajaṁ śikhi-śikhaṇḍa-mūrdhajam |
  3. Verse 3. sunāsikāgra-mauktikaṁ svacchanda-danta-paṅktikam |
  4. Verse 4. kareṇa veṇu-rañjitaṁ gatir karīndra-gañjitam |
  5. Verse 5. tri-bhaṅga-deha-sundaraṁ nakha-dyuti-sudhākaram |
  6. Verse 6. sugandhāṅga-saurabhaṁ uro-virāji-kaustubham |
  7. Verse 7. vṛndāvana-sunāgaraṁ vilāsānuga-vāsasam |
  8. Verse 8. vrajāṅganā-sunāyakaṁ sadā sukha-pradāyakam |
Verse 1#

sucāru-vaktra-maṇḍalaṁ sukarṇa-ratna-kuṇḍalam |

सुचारुवक्त्रमण्डलं सुकर्णरत्नकुण्डलम् सुचर्चिताङ्गचन्दनं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम् १॥

sucāru-vaktra-maṇḍalaṁ sukarṇa-ratna-kuṇḍalam | sucarcitāṅga-candanaṁ namāmi nanda-nandanam || 1||

MeaningI bow to the son of Nanda, whose face is most beautiful and round, whose ears are adorned with jewelled earrings, and whose limbs are gracefully anointed with sandalwood paste.

Verse 2#

sudīrgha-netra-paṅkajaṁ śikhi-śikhaṇḍa-mūrdhajam |

सुदीर्घनेत्रपङ्कजं शिखिशिखण्डमूर्धजम् अनङ्गकोटिमोहनं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम् २॥

sudīrgha-netra-paṅkajaṁ śikhi-śikhaṇḍa-mūrdhajam | ananga-koṭi-mohanaṁ namāmi nanda-nandanam || 2||

MeaningI bow to the son of Nanda, with long lotus eyes, His hair crowned with a peacock plume, more enchanting than millions of Kamadevas.

Verse 3#

sunāsikāgra-mauktikaṁ svacchanda-danta-paṅktikam |

सुनासिकाग्रमौक्तिकं स्वच्छन्ददन्तपङ्क्तिकम् नवाम्बुदाङ्गचिक्कणं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम् ३॥

sunāsikāgra-mauktikaṁ svacchanda-danta-paṅktikam | navāmbudāṅga-cikkaṇaṁ namāmi nanda-nandanam || 3||

MeaningI bow to the son of Nanda, with a pearl at the tip of His lovely nose, a row of perfect teeth, His body glossy and dark as a fresh rain-cloud.

Verse 4#

kareṇa veṇu-rañjitaṁ gatir karīndra-gañjitam |

करेण वेणुरञ्जितं गतिर्करीन्द्रगञ्जितम् दुकूलपीतशोभनं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम् ४॥

kareṇa veṇu-rañjitaṁ gatir karīndra-gañjitam | dukūla-pīta-śobhanaṁ namāmi nanda-nandanam || 4||

MeaningI bow to the son of Nanda, who delights all with the flute in His hand, whose gait surpasses the king of elephants, resplendent in fine yellow silk.

Verse 5#

tri-bhaṅga-deha-sundaraṁ nakha-dyuti-sudhākaram |

त्रिभङ्गदेहसुन्दरं नखद्युतिसुधाकरम् अमूल्यरत्नभूषणं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम् ५॥

tri-bhaṅga-deha-sundaraṁ nakha-dyuti-sudhākaram | amūlya-ratna-bhūṣaṇaṁ namāmi nanda-nandanam || 5||

MeaningI bow to the son of Nanda, beautiful in His threefold-bending pose, the lustre of His nails like the nectar-moon, adorned with priceless jewels.

Verse 6#

sugandhāṅga-saurabhaṁ uro-virāji-kaustubham |

सुगन्धाङ्गसौरभं उरोविराजिकौस्तुभम् स्फुरच्छ्रीवत्सलाञ्छनं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम् ६॥

sugandhāṅga-saurabhaṁ uro-virāji-kaustubham | sphurac-chrīvatsa-lāñchanaṁ namāmi nanda-nandanam || 6||

MeaningI bow to the son of Nanda, His limbs fragrant and sweet-scented, the Kaustubha jewel shining on His chest, bearing the brilliant Shrivatsa mark.

Verse 7#

vṛndāvana-sunāgaraṁ vilāsānuga-vāsasam |

वृन्दावनसुनागरं विलासानुगवाससम् सुरेन्द्रगर्वमोचनं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम् ७॥

vṛndāvana-sunāgaraṁ vilāsānuga-vāsasam | surendra-garva-mocanaṁ namāmi nanda-nandanam || 7||

MeaningI bow to the son of Nanda, the charming gallant of Vrindavan, dressed for His playful pastimes, who shatters the pride of even Indra, the king of gods.

Verse 8#

vrajāṅganā-sunāyakaṁ sadā sukha-pradāyakam |

व्रजाङ्गनासुनायकं सदा सुखप्रदायकम् जगन्मनःप्रलोभनं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम् ८॥

vrajāṅganā-sunāyakaṁ sadā sukha-pradāyakam | jagan-manaḥ-pralobhanaṁ namāmi nanda-nandanam || 8||

MeaningI bow to the son of Nanda, the beloved hero of the maidens of Vraja, the ever-giver of joy, who captivates the hearts of the entire world.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

सुचारुवक्त्रमण्डलं
sucāru-vaktra-maṇḍalaṁ
having a most beautiful round face
सुकर्णरत्नकुण्डलम्
sukarṇa-ratna-kuṇḍalam
with lovely jewelled earrings adorning His ears
सुचर्चिताङ्गचन्दनं
sucarcitāṅga-candanaṁ
whose limbs are gracefully anointed with sandalwood paste
नमामि नन्दनन्दनम्
namāmi nanda-nandanam
I bow to the son of Nanda (Krishna) — the refrain of every verse
सुदीर्घनेत्रपङ्कजं
sudīrgha-netra-paṅkajaṁ
with long lotus-like eyes
शिखिशिखण्डमूर्धजम्
śikhi-śikhaṇḍa-mūrdhajam
whose hair is crowned with a peacock's plume
अनङ्गकोटिमोहनं
ananga-koṭi-mohanaṁ
more enchanting than millions of Kamadevas (gods of love)
सुनासिकाग्रमौक्तिकं
sunāsikāgra-mauktikaṁ
with a pearl ornament at the tip of His beautiful nose
स्वच्छन्ददन्तपङ्क्तिकम्
svacchanda-danta-paṅktikam
with a row of perfect, gleaming teeth
नवाम्बुदाङ्गचिक्कणं
navāmbudāṅga-cikkaṇaṁ
whose body is glossy and dark like a fresh rain-cloud
करेण वेणुरञ्जितं
kareṇa veṇu-rañjitaṁ
who delights with the flute (venu) held in His hand
गतिर्करीन्द्रगञ्जितम्
gatir karīndra-gañjitam
whose gait surpasses (puts to shame) that of the king of elephants
दुकूलपीतशोभनं
dukūla-pīta-śobhanaṁ
resplendent in fine yellow silk garments
त्रिभङ्गदेहसुन्दरं
tri-bhaṅga-deha-sundaraṁ
beautiful in His threefold-bending (tribhanga) pose
नखद्युतिसुधाकरम्
nakha-dyuti-sudhākaram
the radiance of whose nails is like the nectarean moon
उरोविराजिकौस्तुभम्
uro-virāji-kaustubham
on whose chest the Kaustubha jewel shines
स्फुरच्छ्रीवत्सलाञ्छनं
sphurac-chrīvatsa-lāñchanaṁ
bearing the brilliant Shrivatsa mark (on His chest)
वृन्दावनसुनागरं
vṛndāvana-sunāgaraṁ
the charming hero (gallant) of Vrindavan
व्रजाङ्गनासुनायकं
vrajāṅganā-sunāyakaṁ
the beloved hero of the maidens of Vraja (the gopis)
जगन्मनःप्रलोभनं
jagan-manaḥ-pralobhanaṁ
who captivates the hearts of the whole world

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Vaishnava hymn (Pushtimarg / Vallabha tradition)

Author: Attributed to Shri Vallabhacharya

Period: c. 15th–16th century CE

The Nanda Nandanashtakam, beginning 'Sucharu Vaktra Mandalam', is a jewel-like hymn of eight verses devoted entirely to the loveliness of Lord Krishna, the darling son of Nanda Maharaja of Vraja. It is traditionally ascribed to Shri Vallabhacharya, the great teacher of the Pushtimarg ('path of grace'), whose tradition centres on adoring Krishna's sweet, accessible form as Shri Nathji. Rather than reciting His deeds, the hymn simply dwells on His beauty — His face and earrings, His lotus eyes and peacock crown, His sandal-scented limbs, His flute, His yellow silk and graceful threefold-bending stance — each verse melting into the refrain 'namami nanda-nandanam', 'I bow to the son of Nanda'. It remains a favourite for Krishna darshan and daily worship.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Nanda Nandanashtakam?
It is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn (ashtakam) praising the beauty of Lord Krishna as Nanda-Nandana, the son of Nanda. It is widely known by its opening words 'Sucharu Vaktra Mandalam', and each verse ends with the refrain 'namami nanda-nandanam' — 'I bow to the son of Nanda'.
Who composed the Nanda Nandanashtakam?
It is traditionally attributed to Shri Vallabhacharya, the great founder of the Pushtimarg tradition (and by some to Adi Shankaracharya). It is especially cherished and sung in Vallabha-sampradaya temples of Krishna.
What does the hymn describe?
Each verse lovingly describes a feature of Krishna's form — His beautiful face and earrings, lotus eyes and peacock plume, pearl-tipped nose, flute, yellow silk garment, tribhanga (thrice-bent) pose, the Kaustubha jewel and Shrivatsa mark — culminating in bowing to Him as the captivator of all hearts.
When should it be recited?
It is recited during Krishna darshan and bhajan, in the morning or evening, and with special devotion on Janmashtami, Ekadashi and Wednesdays. Its short, melodious verses make it ideal for daily contemplation of Krishna's beauty.

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