Shri Krishna-Candrashtakam
Shrila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami
ambudanjanendra-nila-nindi-kanti-dambarah
kunkumodyad-arka-vidyud-amshu-divyad-ambarah
shrimad-anga-carcitendu-pitanakta-candanah
svanghri-dasyado ’stu me sa ballavendra-nandanah (1)
Shri Krishna’s effulgent bodily complexion defeats the luster of a fresh monsoon cloud,
anjana (collyrium used to line the eyes), and blue sapphire; His yellow cloth is more
effulgent than kunkuma, the rising sun, and a flash of lightning; and His entire form
is anointed with candana mixed with camphor and saffron. May that Shri Krishna, son
of the king of the cowherd men, bestow upon me the service of His lotus feet.
ganda-tandavati-panditandajesha-kundalash
candra-padma-shanda-garva-khandanasya-mandalah
ballavishu vardhitatma-gudha-bhava-bandhanah
svanghri-dasyado ’stu me sa ballavendra-nandanah (2)
On Shri Krishna’s cheeks dangle makara-shaped earrings that are most expert in dancing,
His face shatters the pride of the full moon and all varieties of lotuses, and He forever
tightens the shackle of His secret moods of love upon the vraja-gopis. May that Shri
Krishna, son of the king of the cowherd men, bestow upon me the service of His lotus
feet.
nitya-navya-rupa-vesha-harda-keli-ceshtitah
keli-narma-sharma-dayi-mitra-vrinda-veshtitah
sviya-keli-kananamshu-nirjitendra-nandanah
svanghri-dasyado ’stu me sa ballavendra-nandanah (3)
Shri Krishna’s beauty, attire, ornaments and love-laden jolly pastimes are all forever fresh
and new. When playing, He is always surrounded by His friends who give Him
happiness with their joking words. The rays of light emanating from His play-garden,
Shri Vrindavana, defeat Indra’s heavenly Nandana garden. May that Shri Krishna, son of
the king of the cowherd men, bestow upon me the service of His lotus feet.
prema-hema-manditatma-bandhutabhinanditah
kshauni-lagna-bhala-lokapala-pali-vanditah
nitya-kala-shrishta-vipra-gauravali-vandanah
svanghri-dasyado ’stu me sa ballavendra-nandanah (4)
Shri Krishna is perpetually delighted by His friends whose hearts are decorated with the
gold of prema. He praises those virtuous friends, is worshiped daily with obeisances
by the lords of the various planets, and, although He Himself is the hero of unlimited
universes, He daily worships the brahmanas and His elders at the appropriate times.
May that Shri Krishna, son of the king of the cowherd men, bestow upon me the service
of His lotus feet.
lilayendra-kaliyoshna-kamsa-vatsa-ghatakas
tat-tad-atma-keli-vrishti-pushta-bhakta-catakah
virya-shila-lilayatma-ghosha-vasi-nandanah
svanghri-dasyado ’stu me sa ballavendra-nandanah (5)
Shri Krishna effortlessly cooled the heat of Indra and Kaliya-naga, He easily killed
Kamsa and Vatsasura, the raindrops of His playful pastimes such as smashing the pride
of Indra nourishes His cataka-bird devotees, and He delights the Vrajavasis with His
valour, His pure nature and His unalloyed pastimes. May that Shri Krishna, son of the
king of the cowherd men, bestow upon me the service of His lotus feet.
kunja-rasa-keli-sidhu-radhikadi-toshanas
tat-tad-atma-keli-narma-tat-tad-ali-poshanah
prema-shila-keli-kirti-vishva-citta-candanah
svanghri-dasyado ’stu me sa ballavendra-nandanah (6)
Shri Krishna pleases Shrimati Radhika and the gopis with the nectar of His pastimes in
the kunjas and with the rasa-lila, He nourishes them with His jokes and tricks, and
He delights the hearts of everyone with His supernatural prema, character, playfulness,
and fame. May that Shri Krishna, son of the king of the cowherd men, bestow upon me
the service of His lotus feet.
rasa-keli-darshitatma-shuddha-bhakti-sat-pathah
sviya-citra-rupa-vesha-manmathali-manmathah
gopikasu netra-kona-bhava-vrinda-gandhanah
svanghri-dasyado ’stu me sa ballavendra-nandanah (7)
Shri Krishna, through the performance of the rasa-lila, which is completely devoid of even
a scent of mundane lust, showed the true path of pure bhakti for Him; His variegated
beauty and attire agitates the hearts of all classes of lovers; and from the corners of His
eyes He informs the gopis of all His inner desires. May that Shri Krishna, son of the king
of the cowherd men, bestow upon me the service of His lotus feet.
pushpa-cayi-radhikabhimarsha-labdhi-tarshitah
prema-vamya-ramya-radhikasya-drishti-harshitah
radhikorasiha lepa esha hari-candanah
svanghri-dasyado ’stu me sa ballavendra-nandanah (8)
Shri Krishna is always greedy to obtain the touch of Shrimati Radhika as She goes to pick
flowers; because Radhika is so attractive due to Her loving crookedness, He is always
jubilant upon obtaining Her darshana; He is like enchanting sandal paste which
adorns Radhika’s breast. May that Shri Krishna, son of the king of the cowherd men,
bestow upon me the service of His lotus feet.
ashtakena yas tv anena radhika-suvallabham
samstaviti darshane ’pi sindhujadi-durlabham
tam yunakti tushta-citta esha ghosha-kanane
radhikanga-sanga-nanditatma-pada-sevane (9)
By singing this ashtaka, whoever prays to Shri Krishna, who is the love of Radhika’s heart
and whose darshana is not possible even for the celestial goddesses headed by Lakshmi,
will please not only Him, but also Radhika and Her companions, and Krishna will
engage such a devotee in the service of His lotus feet in Shri Vrindavana. (This ashtaka
is sung in the poetic meter known as “Tunaka”.)
Comments