krishnabala-mukundadhyanababy-krishna

𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇𑌨 (𑌬𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦 𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨)

कराविन्देन (बालमुकुन्द ध्यान) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Early morning, before sleep, during Krishna puja, and on Janmashtami·📜 Opening dhyana verse of the Bala-Mukundashtakam (traditional Vaishnava hymn to the child Krishna)

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

Origin & Story

Opening dhyana verse of the Bala-Mukundashtakam (traditional Vaishnava hymn to the child Krishna) · Traditional (anonymous) · Classical / medieval devotional period

The Bala-Mukundashtakam meditates on Krishna in his infant form, and this opening verse fixes in the mind the celebrated image of the Lord as a child floating on a banyan leaf during cosmic dissolution, sucking his toe. The verse draws on the Puranic vision in which the sage Markandeya beheld the divine child Markandeya-darshana resting on the waters, and it became a treasured dhyana for those who love Krishna as Bala Gopala.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition recounts that sage Markandeya, surviving the cosmic deluge, wandered the endless waters until he beheld a radiant baby resting on a banyan leaf, who drew him within and revealed the whole universe inside his tiny body — the very vision this verse invites every devotee to hold in the heart.

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The Mantra

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇𑌨 𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌾𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌶𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍। 𑌵𑌟𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌪𑍁𑌟𑍇 𑌶𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌬𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑌸𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌿॥

Kararavindena padaravindam, Mukharavinde vinivesayantam, Vatasya patrasya pute sayanam, Balam mukundam manasa smarami.

Meaning:मैं अपने मन में उस बाल-मुकुन्द का स्मरण करता हूँ, जो वट के पत्ते के दोने पर लेटे हुए, अपने कमल-जैसे हाथ से अपने कमल-जैसे चरण (अँगूठे) को अपने कमल-मुख में रख रहे हैं।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇𑌨🔊kararavindenawith his lotus-like little hand

𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂🔊padaravindamhis lotus-like foot (toe)

𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌾𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇🔊mukharavindeinto his lotus-like mouth

𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌶𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍🔊vinivesayantamplacing, putting (drawing the toe to his mouth)

𑌵𑌟𑌸𑍍𑌯🔊vatasyaof the banyan tree

𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌯🔊patrasyaof the leaf

𑌪𑍁𑌟𑍇🔊putein the cup/hollow (of the leaf)

𑌶𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌂🔊sayanamreclining, lying down

𑌬𑌾𑌲𑌂🔊balamthe child, the infant

𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂🔊mukundamMukunda, the giver of liberation (a name of Krishna/Vishnu)

𑌮𑌨𑌸𑌾🔊manasawith the mind, in the heart

𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌿🔊smaramiI remember, I meditate upon, I call to mind

Benefits of Chanting कराविन्देन (बालमुकुन्द ध्यान)

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Evokes the sweet vatsalya bhava — loving the Lord as one's own child

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Calms and soothes the mind with a single tender image of baby Krishna

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A perfect meditation (dhyana) verse to begin Krishna worship or japa

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Reminds the devotee that the infinite Lord is also intimately near and approachable

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Short and easy to memorise, ideal for daily remembrance and for children

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Recalling Mukunda, the giver of liberation, plants the seed of moksha in the heart

How to Chant कराविन्देन (बालमुकुन्द ध्यान)

Repetitions11times

Best TimeEarly morning, before sleep, during Krishna puja, and on Janmashtami

Close the eyes and picture the tiny Lord reclining on a banyan leaf upon the cosmic waters, his little toe at his lotus mouth. Chant the verse softly, letting the image fill the mind with tenderness. Recite three or eleven times as a dhyana before worship or meditation; many parents also sing it to children, and it can be repeated as gentle japa to quiet the mind before sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete कराविन्देन (बालमुकुन्द ध्यान) 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 describes baby Krishna (Bala Mukunda) lying on a banyan leaf and, with his lotus-like hand, drawing his lotus-like little toe into his lotus mouth — a famous tender image meditated upon in the heart.

The image refers to the pralaya (cosmic dissolution), when the entire universe is withdrawn into the Lord and he floats as a divine child on a single banyan (vata) leaf upon the cosmic ocean — showing that all creation rests within him even in his infant form.

Mukunda is a name of Krishna/Vishnu meaning 'the giver of mukti (liberation).' Calling the child 'Bala Mukunda' affirms that this playful infant is the same Supreme Lord who bestows liberation.

It is the opening dhyana of the Bala-Mukundashtakam and is recited on its own as a meditation verse before Krishna worship, as a daily remembrance, and as a soothing prayer for peace of mind.