Śrī Bāla Gopālāshṭakam
Octet to Lord Kṛishṇa as our Child Protector of Cattle
(1) Grant strength, I pray, Gopāla, superhuman powered Tot
Who raised the hill, pulled down two trees, & kicked apart the cart!
And as Thou pilfered from the sleeping cowherd’s yogurt pot,
So please steal sweet devotion from my simple dormant heart.
(2) All poison draughts from Pūtanā Thy cursèd nurse Thou suckled:
Thus, Hari, drain away all evils sickening my breast!
As Gopi wives seduced by flute for Thee made cowherds cuckold,
So may I brashly love Thee, Lord, forsaking all the rest!
(3) Thou stole the clothes of bathing girls, yet they should not Thee blame:
Divest all worldly coverings that hide me from Thee, Hari!
O Lord Who did protect dear Draupadī from naked shame,
Pray lengthen my attention on Thee as Thou stretched her sārī.
(4) Thou trod on python Agha & on Kāliya black snake,
Hurled Vatsa, demon calf, & fist-choked Keśī, demon horse,
Yanked out Ariṣṭa’s bull horn & broke off stork Baka’s beak—
Pray, Keśava, destroy my beastly traits with Godly force!
(5) Thou strangled sorcerer Vyoma, Māyā’s son shape-shifting,
And choked dust devil Trinavartha—stifle my false ranting!
With hand that raised Govardhan Hill, my heavy heart be lifting!
With mouth that swallowed Muñjā’s fire, squelch my lust through chanting!
(6) O Kṛishṇa, crush the demons of my hate & fearful worry,
Just as Thou killed Thy persecutor apprehensive Kaṁsa.
With lotus feet come dance upon my tongue in chants of ‘Hari!’
And coo with flute upon my breath synched silently in ‘Haṁsa.’
(7) Thou showed Yaśodā, foster mother, looking for clay clods
Inside Thy mouth the three worlds claimed by Thy three strides;
Thou showed Thy cousin bold Arjuna countless heads of gods;
And multiplied Thy form as paramours for Gopi brides,
(8) So grant Thy darśana to me although I am unworthy,
Come, Mādhava, Whose beauty drove the milkmaid gopis mad!
Please, Śyāma, though my heart is black as Thine own skin is swarthy,
It will be lightened by Thy look, Lad in gold dhoti clad.
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