krishnananda-kumaraashtakamgopala

𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍

Nanda Kumara Ashtakam 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:I worship the beautiful Gopala, who wears a garland of forest flowers upon His chest, whose eyes are wide like lotuses, the remover of all sorrow; the moon of Vrindavan, the very root of bliss, the supreme joy, the son of Nanda. Whoever recites this Nanda-Kumara Ashtakam, or hears it with faith — upon him the moon of Vrindavan, the son of Nanda, bestows His grace. Salutations again and again to Him.

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:He who subdued the serpent Kaliya, who sports in the hearts of the gopis; the flute-bearer whose moon-like face enchants all, who roams through the worlds, the lifter of the mountain — the moon of Vrindavan, the root of bliss, the supreme joy, the son of Nanda. Worship Him, worship Him, O mortals! Salutations again and again to the son of Nanda.

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:He who shattered the pride of Indra and the gods, who held up Mount Govardhana, who slew the demon Dhenuka and others, and who destroyed Kamsa — the moon of Vrindavan, the root of bliss, the supreme joy, the son of Nanda. Worship Him, worship Him, O mortals! Salutations again and again to the son of Nanda.

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:He who roams the forest playing with His friends Sridama, Sudama and Subala, tending the cows with the cowherd boys, sporting upon the banks by the Vamshi-vata — the moon of Vrindavan, the root of bliss, the supreme joy, the son of Nanda. Worship Him, worship Him, O mortals! Salutations again and again to the son of Nanda.

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:The darling boy of mother Yashoda, the butter-thief who is yet utterly serene, whose lotus eyes are enchanting like bees, whose face is lovely as the nectar-rayed moon — the moon of Vrindavan, the root of bliss, the supreme joy, the son of Nanda. Worship Him, worship Him, O mortals! Salutations again and again to the son of Nanda.

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 Nanda Kumara Ashtakam

✦

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 Nanda Kumara Ashtakam

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 Nanda Kumara Ashtakam 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.