krishnananda-kumaraashtakamgopala

𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍

नन्दकुमाराष्टकम् in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Morning or evening; especially on Janmashtami and Ekadashi·📜 Traditional Sanskrit hymn (Vaishnava / Krishna-bhakti tradition)

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

Origin & Story

Traditional Sanskrit hymn (Vaishnava / Krishna-bhakti tradition) · Unknown (traditional) · Medieval / traditional

The Nanda Kumara Ashtakam is a much-loved hymn from the devotional tradition centred on Krishna's childhood pastimes in Vrindavan. Its verses gather together the most beloved lilas of the Lord — the dancing upon the hood of Kaliya, the lifting of Govardhana to shelter the cowherds from Indra's wrath, the destruction of demons and of Kamsa, and the tender butter-thieving in Yashoda's courtyard — and offer them at the feet of 'Nanda-Kumara', the son of Nanda. It is sung as a bhajan throughout the Vaishnava world.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees hold that this hymn carries the very sweetness of Vrindavan: the final phala-verse promises that whoever recites the Nanda-Kumara Ashtakam, or even hears it with faith, receives the loving grace of Vrindavana-chandra, the son of Nanda, who removes sorrow and draws the heart irresistibly into His blissful presence.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌵𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌨𑌯𑌨𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑌹𑌰𑌮𑍍 । 𑌵𑍃𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌮𑍍 ॥ 𑌇𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌰𑌮𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌂 𑌪𑌠𑌤𑌿 𑌯𑌃 𑌶𑍃𑌣𑍁𑌯𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌮𑍍 । 𑌵𑍃𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌃 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌯𑌤𑌿 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍈 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 ॥

Sundara-gopālam ura-vana-mālaṃ nayana-viśālaṃ duḥkha-haram | Vṛndāvana-candram ānanda-kandaṃ paramānandaṃ nanda-sutam || Iti śrī-nanda-kumāram aṣṭakaṃ paṭhati yaḥ śṛṇuyād viśvāsam | Vṛndāvana-candraḥ kṛpayati tasmai nanda-sutāya namo namaḥ ||

Meaning:मैं उस सुन्दर गोपाल का भजन करता हूँ, जिनके वक्षस्थल पर वनमाला सुशोभित है, जिनके नेत्र कमल के समान विशाल हैं, जो समस्त दुःखों के हर्ता हैं; जो वृन्दावन के चन्द्रमा हैं, आनन्द के मूल हैं, परमानन्दस्वरूप हैं, नन्द के पुत्र हैं। जो भी इस नन्दकुमार अष्टक का पाठ करता है अथवा श्रद्धापूर्वक सुनता है, उस पर वृन्दावनचन्द्र नन्दसुत कृपा करते हैं। उन्हें बार-बार नमस्कार है।

Verse 2

𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌯𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌵𑌿𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍀 𑌗𑍋𑌪𑍀𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍀 । 𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌲𑍀𑌧𑌰𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌨𑍋𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍀 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍀 𑌗𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌧𑌾𑌰𑍀 ॥ 𑌵𑍃𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌮𑍍 । 𑌭𑌜𑌰𑍇 𑌭𑌜𑌰𑍇 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌜𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 ॥

Kāliya-nāga-vimardana-kārī gopī-citta-vihārī | Muralī-dhara-mukha-candra-manohārī viśva-vihārī giridhārī || Vṛndāvana-candram ānanda-kandaṃ paramānandaṃ nanda-sutam | Bhajare bhajare manuja-manuṣyaṃ nanda-sutāya namo namaḥ ||

Meaning:जिन्होंने कालिय नाग का दमन किया, जो गोपियों के चित्त में विहार करते हैं; जो मुरलीधर हैं और जिनका चन्द्रमुख सबको मोहित करता है, जो विश्व में विचरते हैं, जो गिरिधारी हैं — वे वृन्दावनचन्द्र, आनन्दकन्द, परमानन्द, नन्दसुत हैं। हे मनुष्यो! उनका भजन करो, भजन करो! नन्दसुत को बार-बार नमस्कार है।

Verse 3

𑌇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌕𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍀 𑌗𑍋𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌨𑌧𑌾𑌰𑍀 । 𑌧𑍇𑌨𑍁𑌕𑌮𑍁𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍀 𑌕𑌂𑌸𑌨𑌿𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍀 ॥ 𑌵𑍃𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌮𑍍 । 𑌭𑌜𑌰𑍇 𑌭𑌜𑌰𑍇 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌜𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 ॥

Indrādika-garva-vināśana-kārī govardhana-dhārī | Dhenuka-mukhyāsura-mardana-kārī kaṃsa-nikandana-kārī || Vṛndāvana-candram ānanda-kandaṃ paramānandaṃ nanda-sutam | Bhajare bhajare manuja-manuṣyaṃ nanda-sutāya namo namaḥ ||

Meaning:जिन्होंने इन्द्र आदि देवों के गर्व का नाश किया, गोवर्धन पर्वत को धारण किया, धेनुक आदि असुरों का मर्दन किया और कंस का संहार किया — वे वृन्दावनचन्द्र, आनन्दकन्द, परमानन्द, नन्दसुत हैं। हे मनुष्यो! उनका भजन करो, भजन करो! नन्दसुत को बार-बार नमस्कार है।

Verse 4

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌦𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌦𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌬𑌲𑌸𑌖𑍇𑌨 𑌸𑌹 𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌪𑌿𑌨𑍇𑌨 । 𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌗𑌣𑍈𑌃 𑌸𑌹 𑌗𑍋𑌧𑌨𑌚𑌾𑌰𑍀 𑌵𑌂𑌶𑍀𑌵𑌟𑌤𑌟𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍀 ॥ 𑌵𑍃𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌮𑍍 । 𑌭𑌜𑌰𑍇 𑌭𑌜𑌰𑍇 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌜𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 ॥

Śrīdāma-sudāma-subala-sakhena saha viharantaṃ vipinena | Gopa-gaṇaiḥ saha go-dhana-cārī vaṃśī-vaṭa-taṭa-vihārī || Vṛndāvana-candram ānanda-kandaṃ paramānandaṃ nanda-sutam | Bhajare bhajare manuja-manuṣyaṃ nanda-sutāya namo namaḥ ||

Meaning:जो श्रीदामा, सुदामा और सुबल आदि सखाओं के साथ वन में विहार करते हैं, ग्वालबालों के संग गोधन चराते हैं, वंशीवट के तट पर विहार करते हैं — वे वृन्दावनचन्द्र, आनन्दकन्द, परमानन्द, नन्दसुत हैं। हे मनुष्यो! उनका भजन करो, भजन करो! नन्दसुत को बार-बार नमस्कार है।

Verse 5

𑌯𑌶𑍋𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑌿𑌶𑍋𑌰𑌂 𑌨𑌵𑌨𑍀𑌤𑌚𑍋𑌰𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌮𑍍 । 𑌨𑌯𑌨𑌸𑌰𑍋𑌰𑍁𑌹𑌭𑍃𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌮𑌨𑍋𑌹𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑌦𑌨𑌸𑍁𑌧𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑌮𑍍 ॥ 𑌵𑍃𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌮𑍍 । 𑌭𑌜𑌰𑍇 𑌭𑌜𑌰𑍇 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌜𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 ॥

Yaśomati-nandana-nanda-kiśoraṃ navanīta-coram ati-dhīram | Nayana-saroruha-bhṛṅga-manoharaṃ vadana-sudhākara-sundaram || Vṛndāvana-candram ānanda-kandaṃ paramānandaṃ nanda-sutam | Bhajare bhajare manuja-manuṣyaṃ nanda-sutāya namo namaḥ ||

Meaning:जो माता यशोदा के लाडले नन्दकिशोर हैं, नवनीत चुराने वाले परम धीर हैं, जिनके कमलनयन भ्रमर के समान मनोहर हैं, जिनका मुख अमृतमय चन्द्रमा के समान सुन्दर है — वे वृन्दावनचन्द्र, आनन्दकन्द, परमानन्द, नन्दसुत हैं। हे मनुष्यो! उनका भजन करो, भजन करो! नन्दसुत को बार-बार नमस्कार है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑌗𑍋𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍍🔊Sundara-gopālamThe beautiful Gopala (cowherd Lord)

𑌉𑌰𑌵𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍍🔊Ura-vana-mālamWearing a forest garland (vana-mala) upon His chest

𑌨𑌯𑌨𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍍🔊Nayana-viśālamWith large, wide lotus-like eyes

𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑌹𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊Duḥkha-haramThe remover of all sorrow

𑌵𑍃𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊Vṛndāvana-candramThe moon of Vrindavan

𑌆𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌮𑍍🔊Ānanda-kandamThe very root (source) of bliss

𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌮𑍍🔊ParamānandamThe supreme bliss

𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌮𑍍🔊Nanda-sutamThe son of Nanda (Krishna)

𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌯𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌵𑌿𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍀🔊Kāliya-nāga-vimardana-kārīThe subduer of the serpent Kaliya

𑌗𑍋𑌪𑍀𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍀🔊Gopī-citta-vihārīHe who sports in the hearts of the gopis

𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌲𑍀𑌧𑌰🔊Muralī-dharaThe holder of the flute (murali)

𑌗𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌧𑌾𑌰𑍀🔊GiridhārīThe lifter of the mountain (Govardhana)

𑌗𑍋𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌨𑌧𑌾𑌰𑍀🔊Govardhana-dhārīHe who held up Mount Govardhana

𑌕𑌂𑌸𑌨𑌿𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍀🔊Kaṃsa-nikandana-kārīThe slayer (destroyer) of Kamsa

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌦𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌦𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌬𑌲𑌸𑌖𑍇𑌨🔊Śrīdāma-sudāma-subala-sakhenaWith His friends Sridama, Sudama and Subala

𑌗𑍋𑌧𑌨𑌚𑌾𑌰𑍀🔊Go-dhana-cārīHe who tends the herds of cows

𑌯𑌶𑍋𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨🔊Yaśomati-nandanaThe delight (son) of mother Yashoda

𑌨𑌵𑌨𑍀𑌤𑌚𑍋𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊Navanīta-coramThe stealer of fresh butter

𑌵𑌦𑌨𑌸𑍁𑌧𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊Vadana-sudhākara-sundaramWhose face is as beautiful as the nectar-rayed moon

𑌭𑌜𑌰𑍇 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌜𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊Bhajare manuja-manuṣyamO human beings, worship Him!

𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃🔊Namo namaḥSalutations again and again

Benefits of Chanting नन्दकुमाराष्टकम्

✦

Kindles deep love (bhakti-rasa) for the sweet, child-like form of Sri Krishna of Vrindavan.

✦

Each verse meditates on a divine pastime — Kaliya, Govardhana, Kamsa, the butter-theft — making it a complete remembrance of Krishna's lila.

✦

The refrain 'Nanda-sutaya namo namah' fills the heart with surrender and the joy of His name.

✦

Said to remove sorrow (duhkha-haram) and bestow Krishna's grace upon the one who recites or hears it with faith.

✦

Melodious and easy to sing, making it ideal for daily bhajan, kirtan and for children.

✦

Especially cherished on Janmashtami and during Vrindavan-centred Krishna worship.

How to Chant नन्दकुमाराष्टकम्

Repetitions8times

Best TimeMorning or evening; especially on Janmashtami and Ekadashi

Sit before an image of Bala-Krishna or Gopala and sing the verses melodiously, picturing each pastime — the lifting of Govardhana, the dance upon Kaliya, the stealing of butter in Yashoda's home. Let the heart melt at the refrain 'Nanda-sutaya namo namah'. It may be sung as a bhajan in kirtan with others, or recited quietly as daily remembrance of the Lord of Vrindavan.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete नन्दकुमाराष्टकम् 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 devotional hymn (ashtakam) praising Sri Krishna as 'Nanda-Kumara', the beloved son of Nanda Maharaja and the moon of Vrindavan. Beginning 'Sundara-gopalam ura-vana-malam', it lovingly describes His beautiful form and famous childhood pastimes.

It means 'Salutations again and again to the son of Nanda.' This loving refrain ends each verse, expressing surrender and adoration to Krishna in His sweet role as the cowherd boy of Vrindavan.

The verses recall the subduing of the serpent Kaliya, the lifting of Mount Govardhana, the humbling of Indra's pride, the slaying of the demon Dhenuka and of Kamsa, His play with friends like Sridama and Subala, and His butter-stealing in Yashoda's home.

It may be sung at any time as a bhajan, but it is especially beloved on Janmashtami, Ekadashi, and during Krishna worship, sung melodiously before an image of Bala-Krishna or Gopala.