Krishna Ashtakam
vasudēva-sutaṃ dēvaṃ kaṃsa-chāṇūra-mardanam ।
dēvakī-paramānandaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vandē jagadgurum ॥
-- vasudEva-sutam (son of vasudeva), dEvam (the Lord; self-effulgant), kamsa-chAnUra-mardanam (the killer of kamsa and chAnUra), dEvakI-paramAnandam (one who gives the greatest delight to dEvaki, His mother), Krshnam vande jagadgurum (I bow down to Sri Krishna, the universal teacher)
-- I bow down to Lord Sri Krishna, the Jagadguru (the universal teacher), who is the son of vAsudEva, the killer of kamsa and chAnUra, and one who gives the greatest pleasure to dEvaki (His mother).
- Krishna says in Gita that He comes down to protect His devotees and to destroy the miscreants. He gives pleasure to those who shower love to Him. "vasu"s imply the elements and He is the Lord of all elements, all elements emanate from Him alone. kamsa and chAnura represent the demonic forces, and dEvakI (prayed to have the Lord as her child) the motherly affection of a devotee. He gives pleasure to His devotees and is a peril to the demons.
atasī-puṣpa saṅkāśaṃ hāra nūpura śōbhitam ।
ratna kaṅkaṇa kēyūraṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vandē jagadgurum ॥
-- atasI-pushpa (special type of flower), samkArsham (appears like), shObhitam (adorned or looking splendid with), hAra-nUpura ratna-kankaNa-kEyura (garland, anklet, bangles and armlet that are made of precious stones)
-- I bow down to Lord Sri Krishna, the jagadguru, who is looking like the atasI pushpa that is adorned with the splending garland, anklet, bangles and armlet.
-- As humans, we have the fascination for beauty and that comes from Him. The Lord needs no hAra, nUpura or ratna kankana or kEyUra but He embellishes Himself for our pleasure just as a dutiful spouse gets ready for the pleasure of the spouse.
kuṭilālaka saṃyuktaṃ pūrṇachandra nibhānanam ।
vilasat kuṇḍaladharaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vandē jagadguram ॥
-- kuṭilālaka (one who's hair curls in front of the forehead that makes Him even more beautiful) saṃyuktaṃ (along with) pūrṇachandra (full moon) nibha (similar to) aananam (face), vilasat (shining) kuṇḍaladharaṃ (wearing the ear-rings) kṛṣṇaṃ vandē jagadguram ॥
-- I bow down to Sri Krishna, the universal teacher, who has beautiful hair curls on his forehead along with a face that resembles the bright and gorgeous full moon adorned by shining earrings.
mandāra gandha saṃyuktaṃ chāruhāsaṃ chaturbhujam ।
barhi piñChāva chūḍāṅgaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vandē jagadgurum ॥
-- mandāra (heavenly) gandha (sandalwood paste) saṃyuktaṃ (combined with) chāruhāsaṃ (a charming smile) chaturbhujam (four arms), barhi piñCha (peacock features) ava-chūḍāṅgaṃ (decorated pendant) kṛṣṇaṃ vandē jagadgurum ॥
-- I bow down to Sri Krishna, the Universal Teacher, who sports the heavenly sandalwood combined with a all conquering charming smile, four arms (that span the universes), and body adorned with peacock feathers and pendant.
utphulla padmapatrākṣaṃ nīla jīmūta sannibham ।
yādavānāṃ śirōratnaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vandē jagadgurum ॥
-- utphulla (completely open; blossomed) padmapatra (petals of the lotus) akṣaṃ (eyes) nīla-jīmūta (deep hued clouds) sannibham (resembling), yādavānāṃ śirōratnaṃ (the crest gem among the yAdavAs) kṛṣṇaṃ vandē jagadgurum ॥
-- -- I bow down to Sri Krishna, the Universal Teacher, who's eyes are like the petals of a full blossomed lotus flower, who resembles the deep hued clouds (that nourish the universe), and is the crest gem among the yAdavAs
rukmiṇī kēḻi saṃyuktaṃ pītāmbara suśōbhitam ।
avāpta tulasī gandhaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vandē jagadgurum ॥
-- rukmiṇī kēḻi saṃyuktaṃ (one who has pastimes with Rukmini) pītāmbara suśōbhitam (wearing yellow garments) avāpta tulasī gandhaṃ (sporting the scent of tuLasI) kṛṣṇaṃ vandē jagadgurum ॥
-- I bow down to Sri Krishna, the Universal Teacher, who enjoys His pastimes with His consort Rukmini, who wears the golden yellow garments sporting the scent of tuLasi
-- It is worth reflecting on the episode of Rukmini, her love for Krishna and Tulasi through the thulAbhAra upakatha. Sri Krishna is not impressed by the riches or the show offs people engage in. He just needs a simple Tulasi to be satisfied.
gōpikānāṃ kuchadvanda kuṅkumāṅkita vakṣasam ।
śrīnikētaṃ mahēṣvāsaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vandē jagadgurum ॥
-- gōpikānām (of the gopīs) kucha-dvanda (the pair of breasts) kuṅkuma-aṅkita (marked with saffron/kuṅkuma paste) vakṣasam (chest) śrī-nikētam (the abode of Śrī Lakṣmī), mahēṣvāsaṃ (wielder of the great bow), kṛṣṇam vandē jagad-gurum
-- I bow to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the universe teacher, the great archer, whose chest bears the mark of saffron left by the bosoms of the Gopīs, and is the abode of Lakṣmī
-- All the gOpikAs treated Krishna as their own child. They would take Him away and sometimes take the pleasure of feeding him from their breasts. They would apply saffron on their breast as it was probably believed to be a mark of health and prosperity. Krishna was a community child. He accepted the love of all the gOpikAs.
śrīvatsāṅkaṃ mahōraskaṃ vanamālā virājitam ।
śaṅkhachakra dharaṃ dēvaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vandē jagadgurum ॥
--- śrī-vatsa-aṅkam (bearing the srivatsa mark as sign of the goddess Lakṣmī’s presence), maha-uras-kam — having a majestic chest, vana-mālā-virājitam (adorned with a garland of forest flowers), śaṅkha-cakra-dharam dEvam (the Lord holding the śaṅkha and cakra), kṛṣṇam vandē jagad-gurum
-- I bow down to Sri Krishna, the Universal Teacher, who holds the shankha and chakra, who bears the srivatsa mark on His majestic chest that is adorned by the garland of forest flowers!
kṛṣṇāṣṭakam idaṃ puṇyaṃ prātarutthāya yaḥ paṭhēt ।
kōṭijanma kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ smaraṇēna vinaśyati ॥
-- for whoever chants this KrsnAshtakam upon waking up in the morning, the sins accumulated over millions of births are instantly erased upon the mere rememberance!
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