krishnastotraashtakamkrishnashtakam

କୃଷ୍ଣାଷ୍ଟକମ୍

कृष्णाष्टकम्

🕉️ 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

Also known as: vasudevasutam devam kamsacanuramardanam · krishnashtakam lyrics

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

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.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

वसुदेवसुतं देवं कंसचाणूरमर्दनम् । देवकीपरमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ १॥

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

Meaning:ବସୁଦେବଙ୍କ ପୁତ୍ର, ଦିବ୍ୟସ୍ୱରୂପ, କଂସ ଓ (ମଲ୍ଲ) ଚାଣୂରଙ୍କ ମର୍ଦନକାରୀ, ଦେବକୀ ମାତାଙ୍କ ପରମାନନ୍ଦ — ଜଗଦ୍‌ଗୁରୁ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ବନ୍ଦନା କରେ।

Verse 2

अतसीपुष्पसङ्काशम् हारनूपुरशोभितम् । रत्नकङ्कणकेयूरं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ २॥

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

Meaning:ନୀଳ ଅତସୀ (ତିଶି) ପୁଷ୍ପ ସଦୃଶ କାନ୍ତିଯୁକ୍ତ, ହାର ଓ ନୂପୁରରେ ଶୋଭିତ, ରତ୍ନଖଚିତ କଙ୍କଣ ଓ କେୟୂର ଧାରଣକାରୀ — ଜଗଦ୍‌ଗୁରୁ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ବନ୍ଦନା କରେ।

Verse 3

कुटिलालकसंयुक्तं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननम् । विलसत्कुण्डलधरं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ३॥

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

Meaning:କୁଞ୍ଚିତ କେଶଯୁକ୍ତ, ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ସଦୃଶ ମୁଖମଣ୍ଡଳଯୁକ୍ତ, ଝଲମଲ କୁଣ୍ଡଳ ଧାରଣକାରୀ — ଜଗଦ୍‌ଗୁରୁ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ବନ୍ଦନା କରେ।

Verse 4

मन्दारगन्धसंयुक्तं चारुहासं चतुर्भुजम् । बर्हिपिच्छावचूडाङ्गं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ४॥

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

Meaning:ମନ୍ଦାର ପୁଷ୍ପର ସୁଗନ୍ଧଯୁକ୍ତ, ମନୋହର ହାସ୍ୟଯୁକ୍ତ, ଚତୁର୍ଭୁଜ, ମସ୍ତକରେ ମୟୂରପୁଚ୍ଛରେ ଶୋଭିତ — ଜଗଦ୍‌ଗୁରୁ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ବନ୍ଦନା କରେ।

Verse 5

उत्फुल्लपद्मपत्राक्षं नीलजीमूतसन्निभम् । यादवानां शिरोरत्नं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ५॥

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

Meaning:ପ୍ରସ୍ଫୁଟିତ ପଦ୍ମ ପାଖୁଡ଼ା ସଦୃଶ ନୟନଯୁକ୍ତ, ନୀଳ ମେଘ ସଦୃଶ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣଯୁକ୍ତ, ଯାଦବମାନଙ୍କ ଶିରୋରତ୍ନ — ଜଗଦ୍‌ଗୁରୁ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ବନ୍ଦନା କରେ।

Verse 6

रुक्मिणीकेळिसंयुक्तं पीताम्बरसुशोभितम् । अवाप्ततुलसीगन्धं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ६॥

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

Meaning:ରୁକ୍ମିଣୀଙ୍କ ସହ କ୍ରୀଡ଼ାରେ ରତ, ପୀତାମ୍ବରରେ ସୁନ୍ଦର ଭାବେ ଶୋଭିତ, ତୁଳସୀର ସୁଗନ୍ଧଯୁକ୍ତ — ଜଗଦ୍‌ଗୁରୁ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ବନ୍ଦନା କରେ।

Verse 7

गोपिकानां कुचद्वन्द्व कुङ्कुमाङ्कितवक्षसम् । श्री निकेतं महेष्वासं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ७॥

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

Meaning:ଗୋପୀମାନଙ୍କ ଆଲିଙ୍ଗନରୁ କୁଙ୍କୁମ ଚିହ୍ନଯୁକ୍ତ ବକ୍ଷସ୍ଥଳଯୁକ୍ତ, ଶ୍ରୀ (ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମୀ)ଙ୍କ ନିବାସ, ମହାନ ଧନୁର୍ଧର — ଜଗଦ୍‌ଗୁରୁ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ବନ୍ଦନା କରେ।

Verse 8

श्रीवत्साङ्कं महोरस्कं वनमालाविराजितम् । शङ्खचक्रधरं देवं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ८॥

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

Meaning:ବିଶାଳ ବକ୍ଷରେ ଶ୍ରୀବତ୍ସ ଚିହ୍ନଯୁକ୍ତ, ବନମାଳାରେ ଶୋଭିତ, ଶଙ୍ଖ ଓ ଚକ୍ର ଧାରଣକାରୀ ଦିବ୍ୟସ୍ୱରୂପ — ଜଗଦ୍‌ଗୁରୁ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ବନ୍ଦନା କରେ।

Verse 9

कृष्णाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत् । कोटिजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति ॥

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

Meaning:ଯେ କେହି ପ୍ରାତଃକାଳରେ ଉଠି ଏହି ପବିତ୍ର କୃଷ୍ଣାଷ୍ଟକ ପାଠ କରନ୍ତି, ଏହି ସ୍ମରଣ ମାତ୍ରେ ତାଙ୍କ କୋଟି ଜନ୍ମରେ କୃତ ପାପ ନାଶ ହୁଏ।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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वसुदेवसुतं🔊Vasudeva-sutaṃthe son of Vasudeva

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

देवकीपरमानन्दं🔊Devakī-paramānandaṃthe supreme joy of mother Devaki

कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम्🔊Kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagad-gurumI bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world — the refrain of every verse

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

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

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

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

यादवानां शिरोरत्नं🔊Yādavānāṃ śiroratnaṃthe crest-jewel of the Yadava clan

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

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

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

Benefits of Chanting କୃଷ୍ଣାଷ୍ଟକମ୍

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

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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'

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

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

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

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

How to Chant କୃଷ୍ଣାଷ୍ଟକମ୍

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

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.