krishnakrishnashtakamvishnushankaracharya

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍 (𑌭𑌜𑍇 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍈𑌕𑌮𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌨𑌮𑍍)

Krishnashtakam (Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Early morning or evening; especially on Janmashtami and Wednesdays·📜 Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (Stotra literature)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (Stotra literature) · Adi Shankaracharya · c. 8th century CE

Lord Krishna, the eighth avatara of Vishnu, spent his childhood in Vraja (Vrindavan) enchanting all with his beauty, his flute and his playful pastimes — lifting Mount Govardhana, humbling Indra's pride, and stealing the hearts of the gopas and gopis. This Krishnashtakam, traditionally credited to Adi Shankaracharya, gathers those very pastimes into eight flowing verses. It is one of two famous ashtakas to Krishna ascribed to the acharya, the other beginning 'Vasudeva-sutam devam'.

✦ As told in scripture

The closing verse itself is the promised fruit (phala): tradition holds that whoever sincerely studies and recites these eight verses is granted unshakable devotion to Krishna life after life — a boon dearer to devotees than any worldly gain.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌭𑌜𑍇 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍈𑌕𑌮𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌖𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑌦𑍈𑌵 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌮𑍍 । 𑌸𑍁𑌪𑌿𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌗𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌨𑌾𑌦𑌵𑍇𑌣𑍁𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌂 𑌅𑌨𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌸𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௧ ॥

Bhaje vrajaikamandanam samastapapakhandanam Svabhaktachittaranjanam sadaiva nandanandanam | Supicchagucchamastakam sunadavenuhastakam Anangarangasagaram namami krishnanagaram || 1 ||

Meaning:I worship the sole ornament of Vraja, the destroyer of all sins, the delight of his devotees' hearts, the ever-joyous son of Nanda; with a beautiful cluster of peacock-feathers on his head and the sweet-sounding flute in his hand — an ocean of love's delight — I bow to the charming Krishna.

Verse 2

𑌮𑌨𑍋𑌜𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌲𑌲𑍋𑌲𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌧𑍂𑌤𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌶𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌮𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌮𑍍 । 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌭𑍂𑌧𑌰𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌵𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௨ ॥

Manojagarvamochanam vishalalolalochanam Vidhutagopashochanam namami padmalochanam | Kararavindabhudharam smitavalokasundaram Mahendramanadaranam namami krishnavaranam || 2 ||

Meaning:He who shatters the pride of Cupid, with large restless eyes, who dispels the grief of the cowherds — I bow to the lotus-eyed one; who lifted the mountain (Govardhana) on his lotus-hand, lovely with his smiling glance, who humbled the pride of great Indra — I bow to Krishna, the protector.

Verse 3

𑌕𑌦𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌸𑍂𑌨𑌕𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌲𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌚𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌗𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌮𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌲𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌨𑍈𑌕𑌵𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌭𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌲𑌭𑌮𑍍 । 𑌯𑌶𑍋𑌦𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑌮𑍋𑌦𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌯𑌾 𑌯𑍁𑌤𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑍈𑌕𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௩ ॥

Kadambasunakundalam sucharugandamandalam Vrajanganaikavallabham namami krishnadurlabham | Yashodaya samodaya sagopaya sanandaya Yutam sukhaikadayakam namami gopanayakam || 3 ||

Meaning:With ear-rings of kadamba blossoms and most charming cheeks, the one beloved of the women of Vraja — I bow to Krishna, hard to attain; together with Yashoda, full of joy, with the cowherds and with Nanda, the sole giver of happiness — I bow to the leader of the cowherds.

Verse 4

𑌸𑌦𑍈𑌵 𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌂 𑌮𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌸𑍇 𑌨𑌿𑌜𑌂 𑌦𑌧𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌕𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌬𑌾𑌲𑌕𑌮𑍍 । 𑌸𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌦𑍋𑌷𑌶𑍋𑌷𑌣𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌪𑍋𑌷𑌣𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌸𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌲𑌾𑌲𑌸𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௪ ॥

Sadaiva padapankajam madiyamanase nijam Dadhanamuktamalakam namami nandabalakam | Samastadoshashoshanam samastalokaposhanam Samastagopamanasam namami nandalalasam || 4 ||

Meaning:May his lotus-feet ever dwell as my very own within my mind — he who wears loose curling locks, I bow to the child of Nanda; the dryer-up of all faults, the nourisher of all the worlds, dwelling in the hearts of all the cowherds — I bow to the darling of Nanda.

Verse 5

𑌭𑍁𑌵𑍋 𑌭𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌂 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌂 𑌯𑌶𑍋𑌮𑌤𑍀𑌕𑌿𑌶𑍋𑌰𑌕𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌚𑍋𑌰𑌕𑌮𑍍 । 𑌦𑍃𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌭𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌿𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑌦𑌾 𑌸𑌦𑌾𑌲𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌿𑌨𑌂 𑌦𑌿𑌨𑍇 𑌦𑌿𑌨𑍇 𑌨𑌵𑌂 𑌨𑌵𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௫ ॥

Bhuvo bharavatarakam bhavabdhikarnadharakam Yashomatikishorakam namami chittachorakam | Drigantakantabhanginam sada sadalasanginam Dine dine navam navam namami nandasambhavam || 5 ||

Meaning:He who descended to lift the burden of the Earth, the helmsman across the ocean of existence, the youthful son of Yashoda — I bow to the stealer of hearts; with the lovely play of his sidelong glances, ever in the company of the virtuous, growing newer and newer day by day — I bow to him born in Nanda's house.

Verse 6

𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌰𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌮𑍍 । 𑌨𑌵𑍀𑌨𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌂 𑌨𑌵𑍀𑌨𑌕𑍇𑌲𑌿𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌪𑌟𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌮𑍇𑌘𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑌂 𑌤𑌡𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑌾𑌲𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌟𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௬ ॥

Gunakaram sukhakaram kripakaram kripaparam Suradvishannikandanam namami gopanandanam | Navinagopanagaram navinakelilampatam Namami meghasundaram taditprabhalasatpatam || 6 ||

Meaning:The mine of virtues, the source of joy, the abode of compassion, supremely merciful, the destroyer of the enemies of the gods — I bow to the son of the cowherds; the ever-fresh gallant of the gopas, ever fond of new play, beautiful as a cloud, his garment flashing like lightning — I bow to him.

Verse 7

𑌸𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌂 𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜𑍈𑌕𑌮𑍋𑌦𑌨𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌕𑍁𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌗𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌭𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌨𑌮𑍍 । 𑌨𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌦𑍃𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌚𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌸𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌰𑌸𑌾𑌲𑌵𑍇𑌣𑍁𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌕𑍁𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௭ ॥

Samastagopanandanam hridambujaikamodanam Namami kunjamadhyagam prasannabhanushobhanam | Nikamakamadayakam drigantacharusayakam Rasalavenugayakam namami kunjanayakam || 7 ||

Meaning:The joy of all the cowherds, the one delight of the lotus of the heart — I bow to him who stands amid the bower, radiant as the bright sun; the bestower of every desire, with the lovely arrows of his sidelong glance, the sweet player of the flute — I bow to the lord of the bower.

Verse 8

𑌵𑌿𑌦𑌗𑍍𑌧𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌨𑍋𑌮𑌨𑍋𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌤𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌶𑌾𑌯𑌿𑌨𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌕𑍁𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌕𑌾𑌨𑌨𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌰𑌾𑌸𑌮𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌨𑌮𑍍 । 𑌯𑌦𑌾 𑌤𑌦𑌾 𑌯𑌥𑌾 𑌤𑌥𑌾 𑌤𑌥𑍈𑌵 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌥𑌾 𑌮𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑌦𑍈𑌵 𑌗𑍀𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌤𑌥𑌾 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌾 𑌵𑌿𑌧𑍀𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௮ ॥

Vidagdhagopikamanomanojnatalpashayinam Namami kunjakananam pravishtarasamandanam | Yada tada yatha tatha tathaiva krishnasatkatha Maya sadaiva giyatam tatha kripa vidhiyatam || 8 ||

Meaning:Reclining on the charming, mind-captivating couch (of the heart) of the clever gopis — I bow to him who entered the forest-bower as the ornament of the Rasa dance; whenever, however and in whatever way, may I ever sing the holy story of Krishna — bestow upon me such grace.

Verse 9

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌂 𑌜𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌧𑍀𑌤𑍍𑌯 𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌭𑌵𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌸 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑍇 𑌭𑌵𑍇 𑌭𑌵𑍇 𑌸𑍁𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍍 ॥

Pramanikashtakadvayam japatyadhitya yah puman Bhavetsa nandanandane bhave bhave subhaktiman ||

Meaning:Whatever man, having studied, recites this pair of authentic ashtakas, becomes endowed with pure devotion to the son of Nanda in birth after birth.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌭𑌜𑍇🔊BhajeI worship / I adore

𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍈𑌕𑌮𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊Vraja-eka-mandanamThe sole ornament (mandana) of Vraja (Vrindavan)

𑌸𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌖𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊Samasta-papa-khandanamThe destroyer of all sins

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊Svabhakta-chitta-ranjanamOne who delights the hearts of his own devotees

𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊Nanda-nandanamThe (joy-giving) son of Nanda

𑌸𑍁𑌪𑌿𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌗𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊Su-piccha-guccha-mastakamOne whose head bears a lovely cluster of peacock feathers

𑌸𑍁𑌨𑌾𑌦𑌵𑍇𑌣𑍁𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊Sunada-venu-hastakamOne holding in his hand the sweet-sounding flute

𑌅𑌨𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌸𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊Ananga-ranga-sagaramAn ocean of the play (delight) of love / beauty

𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊Namami krishna-nagaramI bow to Krishna, the charming, gallant one

𑌮𑌨𑍋𑌜𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊Manoja-garva-mochanamOne who shatters the pride of Cupid (Manmatha)

𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌲𑌲𑍋𑌲𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊Vishala-lola-lochanamOne with large, restlessly moving (lotus) eyes

𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌮𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊Padma-lochanamThe lotus-eyed one

𑌕𑌦𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌸𑍂𑌨𑌕𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌲𑌮𑍍🔊Kadamba-suna-kundalamOne wearing ear-ornaments of kadamba blossoms

𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌨𑍈𑌕𑌵𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌭𑌮𑍍🔊Vrajangana-eka-vallabhamThe one beloved of the women (gopis) of Vraja

𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌲𑌭𑌮𑍍🔊Namami krishna-durlabhamI bow to Krishna, who is (otherwise) hard to attain

𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊Gopa-nayakamThe leader of the cowherds

𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌬𑌾𑌲𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊Nanda-balakamThe little child of Nanda

𑌭𑍁𑌵𑍋 𑌭𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊Bhuvo bhara-avatarakamOne who descended to remove the burden of the Earth

𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊Bhava-abdhi-karnadharakamThe helmsman who steers (devotees) across the ocean of worldly existence

𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌚𑍋𑌰𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊Chitta-chorakamThe stealer of (devotees') hearts

𑌮𑍇𑌘𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊Megha-sundaramBeautiful as a (dark rain-) cloud

𑌰𑌸𑌾𑌲𑌵𑍇𑌣𑍁𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊Rasala-venu-gayakamOne who sings sweetly upon the flute

𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌾 𑌵𑌿𑌧𑍀𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Kripa vidhiyatamMay (your) grace be bestowed (upon me)

Benefits of Chanting Krishnashtakam (Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam)

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Kindles loving devotion (madhurya bhakti) toward Lord Krishna as the charmer of Vraja

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Beautifully describes Krishna's form, pastimes and grace, ideal for meditation and singing

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The closing verse promises steadfast devotion to Krishna in birth after birth to those who recite it

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Believed to destroy all sins, as declared in the very first verse ('samasta-papa-khandanam')

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Brings peace, joy and sweetness to the heart through its flowing, musical metre

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Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, it carries the grace of the great acharya

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Excellent for daily recitation, Janmashtami and Krishna worship

How to Chant Krishnashtakam (Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam)

Repetitions8times

Best TimeEarly morning or evening; especially on Janmashtami and Wednesdays

Sit before an image of Lord Krishna, light a lamp and recite the eight verses melodiously, letting the internal rhyme carry the devotion. Visualise Krishna as each verse describes him — peacock-feathered, flute in hand, lifting Govardhana, dancing in the bower. It is especially sung on Krishna Janmashtami. Conclude with the final verse seeking devotion to Krishna in every birth.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Krishnashtakam (Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam) written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn in praise of Lord Krishna, beginning 'Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam samasta-papa-khandanam'. It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya and is distinct from the other well-known Krishnashtakam that begins 'Vasudeva-sutam devam'.

It is traditionally ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE). The hymn's flowing, internally-rhyming metre and rich descriptions of Krishna's Vraja-lila have made it a favourite for devotional singing.

Every verse is built on internal rhymes and ends with the word 'namami' — 'I bow' — addressing a different aspect of Krishna, such as Krishna-nagaram (the charming one), Krishna-varanam (the protector), gopa-nayakam (leader of cowherds) and chitta-chorakam (the stealer of hearts).

The concluding verse states that one who studies and recites this 'pair of authentic ashtakas' becomes endowed with pure devotion to the son of Nanda (Krishna) in birth after birth. It is also said to destroy all sins and fill the heart with Krishna's sweetness.