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युगलाष्टकम् Meaning — Line by Line

युगलाष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of युगलाष्टकम् with its Hindi meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. kṛṣṇa-prema-mayī rādhā rādhā-prema-mayo hariḥ |
  2. Verse 2. kṛṣṇasya draviṇaṁ rādhā rādhāyā draviṇaṁ hariḥ |
  3. Verse 3. kṛṣṇa-prāṇa-mayī rādhā rādhā-prāṇa-mayo hariḥ |
  4. Verse 4. kṛṣṇa-drava-mayī rādhā rādhā-drava-mayo hariḥ |
  5. Verse 5. kṛṣṇa-gehe sthitā rādhā rādhā-gehe sthito hariḥ |
  6. Verse 6. kṛṣṇa-citta-sthitā rādhā rādhā-citta-sthito hariḥ |
  7. Verse 7. nīlāmbara-dharā rādhā pītāmbara-dharo hariḥ |
  8. Verse 8. vṛndāvaneśvarī rādhā kṛṣṇo vṛndāvaneśvaraḥ |
Verse 1#

kṛṣṇa-prema-mayī rādhā rādhā-prema-mayo hariḥ |

कृष्णप्रेममयी राधा राधाप्रेममयो हरिः जीवने निधने नित्यं राधाकृष्णौ गतिर्मम १॥

kṛṣṇa-prema-mayī rādhā rādhā-prema-mayo hariḥ | jīvane nidhane nityaṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇau gatir mama || 1||

Meaningराधा कृष्ण के प्रेम से ओतप्रोत हैं और हरि (कृष्ण) राधा के प्रेम से ओतप्रोत हैं। जीवन में और मृत्यु में, सदा-सर्वदा, राधा-कृष्ण ही मेरी एकमात्र गति (शरण) हैं।

Verse 2#

kṛṣṇasya draviṇaṁ rādhā rādhāyā draviṇaṁ hariḥ |

कृष्णस्य द्रविणं राधा राधाया द्रविणं हरिः जीवने निधने नित्यं राधाकृष्णौ गतिर्मम २॥

kṛṣṇasya draviṇaṁ rādhā rādhāyā draviṇaṁ hariḥ | jīvane nidhane nityaṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇau gatir mama || 2||

Meaningराधा कृष्ण का धन हैं और हरि राधा का धन हैं। जीवन में और मृत्यु में, सदा, राधा-कृष्ण ही मेरी गति हैं।

Verse 3#

kṛṣṇa-prāṇa-mayī rādhā rādhā-prāṇa-mayo hariḥ |

कृष्णप्राणमयी राधा राधाप्राणमयो हरिः जीवने निधने नित्यं राधाकृष्णौ गतिर्मम ३॥

kṛṣṇa-prāṇa-mayī rādhā rādhā-prāṇa-mayo hariḥ | jīvane nidhane nityaṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇau gatir mama || 3||

Meaningराधा कृष्ण के प्राणस्वरूप हैं और हरि राधा के प्राणस्वरूप हैं। जीवन में और मृत्यु में, सदा, राधा-कृष्ण ही मेरी गति हैं।

Verse 4#

kṛṣṇa-drava-mayī rādhā rādhā-drava-mayo hariḥ |

कृष्णद्रवमयी राधा राधाद्रवमयो हरिः जीवने निधने नित्यं राधाकृष्णौ गतिर्मम ४॥

kṛṣṇa-drava-mayī rādhā rādhā-drava-mayo hariḥ | jīvane nidhane nityaṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇau gatir mama || 4||

Meaningराधा कृष्ण के प्रेम में पूर्णतः द्रवीभूत हैं और हरि राधा के प्रेम में द्रवीभूत हैं। जीवन में और मृत्यु में, सदा, राधा-कृष्ण ही मेरी गति हैं।

Verse 5#

kṛṣṇa-gehe sthitā rādhā rādhā-gehe sthito hariḥ |

कृष्णगेहे स्थिता राधा राधागेहे स्थितो हरिः जीवने निधने नित्यं राधाकृष्णौ गतिर्मम ५॥

kṛṣṇa-gehe sthitā rādhā rādhā-gehe sthito hariḥ | jīvane nidhane nityaṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇau gatir mama || 5||

Meaningराधा कृष्ण के गृह में विराजती हैं और हरि राधा के गृह में विराजते हैं। जीवन में और मृत्यु में, सदा, राधा-कृष्ण ही मेरी गति हैं।

Verse 6#

kṛṣṇa-citta-sthitā rādhā rādhā-citta-sthito hariḥ |

कृष्णचित्तस्थिता राधा राधाचित्तस्थितो हरिः जीवने निधने नित्यं राधाकृष्णौ गतिर्मम ६॥

kṛṣṇa-citta-sthitā rādhā rādhā-citta-sthito hariḥ | jīvane nidhane nityaṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇau gatir mama || 6||

Meaningराधा कृष्ण के चित्त में स्थित हैं और हरि राधा के चित्त में स्थित हैं। जीवन में और मृत्यु में, सदा, राधा-कृष्ण ही मेरी गति हैं।

Verse 7#

nīlāmbara-dharā rādhā pītāmbara-dharo hariḥ |

नीलाम्बरधरा राधा पीताम्बरधरो हरिः जीवने निधने नित्यं राधाकृष्णौ गतिर्मम ७॥

nīlāmbara-dharā rādhā pītāmbara-dharo hariḥ | jīvane nidhane nityaṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇau gatir mama || 7||

Meaningराधा नील वस्त्र धारण करती हैं और हरि पीत वस्त्र धारण करते हैं। जीवन में और मृत्यु में, सदा, राधा-कृष्ण ही मेरी गति हैं।

Verse 8#

vṛndāvaneśvarī rādhā kṛṣṇo vṛndāvaneśvaraḥ |

वृन्दावनेश्वरी राधा कृष्णो वृन्दावनेश्वरः जीवने निधने नित्यं राधाकृष्णौ गतिर्मम ८॥

vṛndāvaneśvarī rādhā kṛṣṇo vṛndāvaneśvaraḥ | jīvane nidhane nityaṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇau gatir mama || 8||

Meaningराधा वृन्दावन की ईश्वरी हैं और कृष्ण वृन्दावन के ईश्वर हैं। जीवन में और मृत्यु में, सदा, राधा-कृष्ण ही मेरी एकमात्र गति हैं।

Word-by-Word Breakdown

कृष्णप्रेममयी
kṛṣṇa-prema-mayī
She (Radha) who is wholly made of love for Krishna
राधा
rādhā
Shri Radha, the supreme beloved of Krishna
राधाप्रेममयः
rādhā-prema-mayo
He who is wholly made of love for Radha
हरिः
hariḥ
Hari, Lord Krishna
जीवने
jīvane
In life
निधने
nidhane
In death
नित्यं
nityaṁ
Always, eternally
राधाकृष्णौ
rādhā-kṛṣṇau
Radha and Krishna (the Divine Couple)
गतिर्मम
gatir mama
are my (only) goal, shelter and refuge — the refrain of every verse
द्रविणं
draviṇaṁ
Treasure, wealth
प्राणमयी
prāṇa-mayī
Made of the very life-breath (prana)
द्रवमयी
drava-mayī
Wholly melted (in love), liquefied with feeling
गेहे स्थिता
gehe sthitā
Dwells in the home (of the other)
चित्तस्थिता
citta-sthitā
Resides within the heart/mind
नीलाम्बरधरा
nīlāmbara-dharā
She who wears blue garments
पीताम्बरधरः
pītāmbara-dharo
He who wears yellow garments
वृन्दावनेश्वरी
vṛndāvaneśvarī
The Queen-Goddess of Vrindavan
वृन्दावनेश्वरः
vṛndāvaneśvaraḥ
The Lord-Master of Vrindavan

Origin & History

Source: Gaudiya Vaishnava devotional literature (traditionally attributed to Srila Jiva Goswami)

Author: Srila Jiva Goswami

Period: c. 16th century CE

The Yugalashtakam arose from the Gaudiya Vaishnava theology of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, for whom the highest truth is not Krishna alone but Radha and Krishna together as one Divine Couple (Yugala). In eight crystalline couplets the hymn declares that Radha is made of love for Krishna and Krishna of love for Radha, that each is the other's treasure, life-breath, heart and home — and that, accordingly, the devotee takes the Divine Couple alone as refuge in life and in death. It became a treasured daily prayer expressing exclusive devotion to Sri Sri Radha-Krishna of Vrindavan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Yugalashtakam?
The Yugalashtakam ('eight verses to the Divine Couple') is a Sanskrit hymn of eight couplets praising Sri Radha and Sri Krishna as one inseparable unity (Yugala). Each verse shows how Radha and Krishna are made of one another and ends with the refrain 'jivane nidhane nityam radha-krishnau gatir mama' — 'in life and death, Radha-Krishna are forever my only refuge.'
Who composed the Yugalashtakam?
It is traditionally attributed to Srila Jiva Goswami, one of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan and a foremost theologian of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. (A few sources connect it with other Vaishnava acharyas, but it is most widely known as Jiva Goswami's prayer.)
What does the refrain mean?
'Jivane nidhane nityam radha-krishnau gatir mama' means 'In life and in death, eternally, Radha and Krishna are my only goal, shelter and refuge.' It is a vow of complete and exclusive surrender to the Divine Couple.
When is the Yugalashtakam chanted?
It is sung daily by devotees of Radha-Krishna and with special devotion on Radhashtami, Janmashtami, Ekadashi and throughout the month of Kartik, both as solitary recitation and in group kirtan.

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