Sreeh

Srimate Ramanujaya Namaha

Krishna Ashtakam
This is a small but popular stotra in praise of Lord Krishna with eight verses.
Sloka: 1.
Vasudeva sutham devam kamsa chaanoora mardanam |
Devaki paramaanandam Krishnam vande Jagadgurum || One||
We salute to that great Guru of the world Sri Krishna, who is the son of Vasudeva and who
smashed the demons like Kamsa, Chanoora etc., who gave extreme pleasure to his mother
Devaki.
Devaki and Vasudeva were kept in prison by Kamsa. Krishna fought with Kamsa and killed
him and relieved his parents from prison.
Sloka: 2.
Atasee pushpasankaasham haaranoopura shobitam |
Ratna kankana keyooram Krishnam vande Jagadgurum || Two||
Krishna is adorned with beautiful flower garland, and shines with ankle ornaments, diamond
bracelet and beautiful ear rings. Salutations to that Lord who is Jagadacharya.
The ornaments which Krishna is wearing are being described here.
Sloka: 3.
Kutilaalaka samyuktam poornachandra nibhaananam |
Vilasatkundala dharam Krishnam vande Jagadgurum || Three||
Salutations to Sri Krishna, the preceptor of the world whose face is lovely, like full moon,
who wears beautiful ear rings and who is having bent alakas.
Here again, Krishnas beauty is praised. He gives pleasure like full moon to all those who see
Him.
Sloka: 4.
Mandaara gandha samyuktam chaaruhaasam chaturbhujam |
Barhi pinchaava choodaangam Krishnam vande Jagadgurum || Four||
We bow our head to Sri Krishna the great teacher who emanates fragrance of Mandaara flower,
who is having four hands and always smiling and whose forehead hair is like the peacock
feather. Krishnas physical beauty is praised here. His extraordinary figure with four hands is
described here.
Sloka: 5.
Utpullapadma patraaksham neejilemoota sannibham |
Yaadavaanaam siro ratnam Krishnam vande Jagadgurum || Five||
Salutations to that Jagadguru Sri Krishna whose eyes are like just blossomed lotus flower and
who looks like blue mountain. He is the head of the Yadava dynasty.

Krishnas eyes and divine body are praised here. The comparisons are only symbolic. No
one can describe His features.
Sloka: 6.
Rukmini keli samyuktam peetaambhara sushobitam |
Avaapta tulasi gandham Krishnam vande Jagadgurum || Six||
Krishna always sports with Rukmini who is His dear wife. He wears the yellow
garment called Peetaambhara which always shines and decorated with the garland of
Tulasi which emanates sacred smell. We salute this Lord, who is the preceptor of the entire
world.
Sloka: 7.
Gopikaanaam kuchadwandwa kunkumaankita vakshasam |
Sriniketam maheshwaasam Krishnam vande Jagadgurum || Seven||
Salutations to Lord Krishna, the Acharya for the world. His chest is smeared with the
Kunkuma of the Gopis breasts, as he hugs them often. He is the resting place for Mahalakshmi,
who resides in His chest. He is all great.
Krishnas sport with Gopikas and Mahalakshmi is remembered in this verse.
Sloka: 8.
Srivatsaankam mahoraskam vanamaalaa viraajitam |
Shankha chakra dharam devam Krishnam vande Jagadgurum || Eight||
Salutations to Sri Krishna who is having Srivatsa mark on his chest, and wearing the
garland of Vanamaalaa, holding Sudarshana chakra and the conch Panchajanya in his two hands.
These are the permanent ornaments of Lord Krishna. He always holds Shanka and Chakra in his
hands and wears Vanamaalaa Garland.
Sloka: 9.
Krishnaashtaka midam punyam praataruttaaya yah pateth |
Kotijanma kritam paapam smaranena vinashyati || Nine||
One who recites these sacred eight verses on Sri Krishna every day morning will get rid of
all sins committed in hundreds of previous births.
This is the phala sruti for reciting the stotra every day.
Sri Krishnaashtakam Samaaptam