krishnastotraashtakamkrishnashtakam

𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍

कृष्णाष्टकम् in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 At dawn on rising (as the hymn itself enjoins); especially on Krishna Janmashtami, Wednesdays and Ekadashi·📜 A traditional hymn to Sri Krishna

Read in your language / script

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

Origin & Story

A traditional hymn to Sri Krishna · Traditional

The Krishnashtakam beginning 'Vasudeva-sutam devam' is among the most widely recited of all hymns to Lord Krishna. In eight simple, melodious verses it adores Krishna feature by feature — the dark-cloud hue of his body, his lotus eyes and full-moon face, the peacock feather on his crest, the yellow silk and forest-flower garland, the conch and discus in his hands — each verse bowing to him as 'jagadguru', the Guru of the entire world. Its closing verse promises that to recite it at dawn dissolves the sins of countless births. Traditional in origin and beloved across India, it is sung above all on Krishna Janmashtami.

0all time

Complete Text with Meaning

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

Verse 1

𑌵𑌸𑍁𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌂 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌂𑌸𑌚𑌾𑌣𑍂𑌰𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌮𑍍 । 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌕𑍀𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௧॥

vasudevasutaṃ devaṃ kaṃsacāṇūramardanam | devakīparamānandaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 1||

Meaning:वसुदेव के पुत्र, देवस्वरूप, कंस और (पहलवान) चाणूर का मर्दन करने वाले, देवकी के परम आनन्द — उन कृष्ण की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ, जो जगद्गुरु हैं।

Verse 2

𑌅𑌤𑌸𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌪𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌮𑍍 𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌨𑍂𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍 । 𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌕𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌣𑌕𑍇𑌯𑍂𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௨॥

atasīpuṣpasaṅkāśam hāranūpuraśobhitam | ratnakaṅkaṇakeyūraṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 2||

Meaning:अतसी (सन) के नीले पुष्प के समान कान्ति वाले, हार और नूपुरों से सुशोभित, रत्नजड़ित कंगन और बाजूबन्द धारण किए हुए — उन कृष्ण की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ, जो जगद्गुरु हैं।

Verse 3

𑌕𑍁𑌟𑌿𑌲𑌾𑌲𑌕𑌸𑌂𑌯𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌨𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌨𑌨𑌮𑍍 । 𑌵𑌿𑌲𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌲𑌧𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௩॥

kuṭilālakasaṃyuktaṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanam | vilasatkuṇḍaladharaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 3||

Meaning:घुँघराले केशों वाले, पूर्ण चन्द्रमा के समान मुख वाले, चमकते हुए कुण्डल धारण किए हुए — उन कृष्ण की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ, जो जगद्गुरु हैं।

Verse 4

𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌸𑌂𑌯𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌚𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌹𑌾𑌸𑌂 𑌚𑌤𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌭𑍁𑌜𑌮𑍍 । 𑌬𑌰𑍍𑌹𑌿𑌪𑌿𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌾𑌵𑌚𑍂𑌡𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௪॥

mandāragandhasaṃyuktaṃ cāruhāsaṃ caturbhujam | barhipicchāvacūḍāṅgaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 4||

Meaning:मन्दार पुष्प की सुगन्ध से युक्त, सुन्दर मुस्कान वाले, चतुर्भुज, जिनके मस्तक पर मोरपंख सुशोभित है — उन कृष्ण की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ, जो जगद्गुरु हैं।

Verse 5

𑌉𑌤𑍍𑌫𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌮𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌂 𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌜𑍀𑌮𑍂𑌤𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌭𑌮𑍍 । 𑌯𑌾𑌦𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑍋𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௫॥

utphullapadmapatrākṣaṃ nīlajīmūtasannibham | yādavānāṃ śiroratnaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 5||

Meaning:खिले हुए कमल की पंखुड़ियों के समान नेत्रों वाले, नील मेघ के समान वर्ण वाले, यादवों के शिरोमणि — उन कृष्ण की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ, जो जगद्गुरु हैं।

Verse 6

𑌰𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌣𑍀𑌕𑍇𑌳𑌿𑌸𑌂𑌯𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑍀𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌸𑍁𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍 । 𑌅𑌵𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌤𑍁𑌲𑌸𑍀𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௬॥

rukmiṇīkeḷisaṃyuktaṃ pītāmbarasuśobhitam | avāptatulasīgandhaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 6||

Meaning:रुक्मिणी के साथ क्रीड़ा में रत, पीताम्बर से सुशोभित, तुलसी की सुगन्ध से युक्त — उन कृष्ण की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ, जो जगद्गुरु हैं।

Verse 7

𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌚𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌵 𑌕𑍁𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌤𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌸𑌮𑍍 । 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌨𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௭॥

gopikānāṃ kucadvandva kuṅkumāṅkitavakṣasam | śrī niketaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 7||

Meaning:जिनका वक्षस्थल गोपियों के आलिंगन के कुंकुम से अंकित है, जो श्री (लक्ष्मी) के निवास हैं और महान् धनुर्धर हैं — उन कृष्ण की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ, जो जगद्गुरु हैं।

Verse 8

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑍋𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍 । 𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌖𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌧𑌰𑌂 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௮॥

śrīvatsāṅkaṃ mahoraskaṃ vanamālāvirājitam | śaṅkhacakradharaṃ devaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 8||

Meaning:जिनके विशाल वक्ष पर श्रीवत्स का चिह्न है, जो वनमाला से सुशोभित हैं, जो शंख और चक्र धारण करने वाले देव हैं — उन कृष्ण की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ, जो जगद्गुरु हैं।

Verse 9

𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌤𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌯 𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌠𑍇𑌤𑍍 । 𑌕𑍋𑌟𑌿𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌰𑌣𑍇𑌨 𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿 ॥

kṛṣṇāṣṭakamidaṃ puṇyaṃ prātarutthāya yaḥ paṭhet | koṭijanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ smaraṇena vinaśyati ||

Meaning:जो कोई प्रातःकाल उठकर इस पवित्र कृष्णाष्टक का पाठ करता है, उसके करोड़ों जन्मों में किए गए पाप इस स्मरण मात्र से नष्ट हो जाते हैं।

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

𑌵𑌸𑍁𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌂🔊Vasudeva-sutaṃthe son of Vasudeva

𑌕𑌂𑌸𑌚𑌾𑌣𑍂𑌰𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊Kaṃsa-chāṇūra-mardanamdestroyer of Kamsa and the wrestler Chanura

𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌕𑍀𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂🔊Devakī-paramānandaṃthe supreme joy of mother Devaki

𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍🔊Kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagad-gurumI bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world — the refrain of every verse

𑌅𑌤𑌸𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌪𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌮𑍍🔊Atasī-puṣpa-saṅkāśamof a hue like the blue atasi (flax) flower

𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌨𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌨𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊Pūrṇa-chandra-nibhānanamwith a face radiant like the full moon

𑌬𑌰𑍍𑌹𑌿𑌪𑌿𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌾𑌵𑌚𑍂𑌡𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌂🔊Barhi-pichchhāva-chūḍāṅgaṃhis crest adorned with a peacock feather

𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌜𑍀𑌮𑍂𑌤𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌭𑌮𑍍🔊Nīla-jīmūta-sannibhamresembling a dark rain-laden cloud

𑌯𑌾𑌦𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑍋𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌂🔊Yādavānāṃ śiroratnaṃthe crest-jewel of the Yadava clan

𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌖𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌧𑌰𑌂🔊Śaṅkha-chakra-dharaṃthe bearer of the conch (shankha) and the discus (chakra)

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌂🔊Śrīvatsāṅkaṃmarked with the Shrivatsa, the auspicious curl on Vishnu's chest

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌤𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌯🔊Prātar-utthāyarising at dawn (the time prescribed for its recitation)

Benefits of Chanting कृष्णाष्टकम्

✦

A beloved eight-verse hymn to Sri Krishna, beginning 'Vasudeva-sutam devam', recited the world over

✦

Each verse adores a different aspect of Krishna's beauty and glory and ends with the refrain 'Krishnam vande jagadgurum' — 'I bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world'

✦

Its closing verse promises that reciting it at dawn destroys the sins of ten million births (koti janma)

✦

Especially recited on Krishna Janmashtami, on Wednesdays and Ekadashi, and as a simple daily morning prayer

✦

One of the first Sanskrit stotras taught to children for its simple, melodious metre

✦

Bestows devotion, purity, protection and the grace of Lord Krishna

How to Chant कृष्णाष्टकम्

Repetitions1times

Best TimeAt dawn on rising (as the hymn itself enjoins); especially on Krishna Janmashtami, Wednesdays and Ekadashi

As the closing verse directs, recite it on rising at dawn, after a bath, before an image of Sri Krishna. Chant all eight verses with the refrain 'Krishnam vande jagadgurum', then the closing phala-shruti. Its short, even metre makes it easy to memorise and to sing daily, and it is a favourite for Janmashtami worship.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete कृष्णाष्टकम् 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.

The Krishnashtakam is a hymn of eight verses (ashtakam) in praise of Lord Krishna, most famous in the version beginning 'Vasudeva-sutam devam'. Each verse lovingly describes a feature of Krishna's form and ends with the refrain 'Krishnam vande jagadgurum' — 'I bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world'.

It means 'the divine son of Vasudeva'. The opening verse salutes Krishna as the son of Vasudeva and the supreme joy of Devaki, who destroyed the tyrant Kamsa and the wrestler Chanura — and bows to him as the Guru of the whole world (jagadguru).

Its final verse promises that whoever recites this holy hymn on rising at dawn has the sins of ten million births destroyed by that remembrance. It is cherished for bringing devotion, purity and the protective grace of Lord Krishna.

The hymn itself prescribes recitation at dawn (pratar-utthaya, 'on rising in the morning'). It is especially recited on Krishna Janmashtami, on Wednesdays and Ekadashi, and is well-suited as a short daily morning prayer.