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Krishnashtakam

The Krishnashtakam - eight verses in praise of Lord Shri Krishna, his divine form, deeds and supreme nature.

श्रियाश्लिष्टो विष्णुः स्थिरचरगुरुर्वेदविषयो
धियां साक्षी शुद्धो हरिरसुरहन्ताब्जनयनः।
गदी शङ्खी चक्री विमलवनमाली स्थिररुचिः
शरण्यो लोकेशो मम भवतु कृष्णोऽक्षिविषयः॥१॥

यतः सर्वं जातं वियदनिलमुख्यं जगदिदं
स्थितौ निःशेषं योऽवति निजसुखांशेन मधुहा।
लये सर्वं स्वस्मिन्हरति कलया यस्तु स विभुः
शरण्यो लोकेशो मम भवतु कृष्णोऽक्षिविषयः॥२॥

असूनायम्यादौ यमनियममुख्यैः सुकरणैर्
निरुध्येदं चित्तं हृदि विलयमानीय सकलम्।
यमीड्यं पश्यन्ति प्रवरमतयो मायिनमसौ
शरण्यो लोकेशो मम भवतु कृष्णोऽक्षिविषयः॥३॥

पृथिव्यां तिष्ठन्यो यमयति महीं वेद न धरा
यमित्यादौ वेदो वदति जगतामीशममलम्।
नियन्तारं ध्येयं मुनिसुरनृणां मोक्षदमसौ
शरण्यो लोकेशो मम भवतु कृष्णोऽक्षिविषयः॥४॥

महेन्द्रादिर्देवो जयति दितिजान्यस्य बलतो
न कस्य स्वातन्त्र्यं क्वचिदपि कृतौ यत्कृतिमृते।
बलारातेर्गर्वं परिहरति योऽसौ विजयिनः
शरण्यो लोकेशो मम भवतु कृष्णोऽक्षिविषयः॥५॥

विना यस्य ध्यानं व्रजति पशुतां सूकरमुखां
विना यस्य ज्ञानं जनिमृतिभयं याति जनता।
विना यस्य स्मृत्या कृमिशतजनिं याति स विभुः
शरण्यो लोकेशो मम भवतु कृष्णोऽक्षिविषयः॥६॥

नरातङ्कोट्टङ्कः शरणशरणो भ्रान्तिहरणो
घनश्यामो वामो व्रजशिशुवयस्योऽर्जुनसखः।
स्वयम्भूर्भूतानां जनक उचिताचारसुखदः
शरण्यो लोकेशो मम भवतु कृष्णोऽक्षिविषयः॥७॥

यदा धर्मग्लानिर्भवति जगतां क्षोभकरणी
तदा लोकस्वामी प्रकटितवपुः सेतुधृदजः।
सतां धाता स्वच्छो निगमगणगीतो व्रजपतिः
शरण्यो लोकेशो मम भवतु कृष्णोऽक्षिविषयः॥८॥

shriyashlishto vishnuh sthiracharagururvedavishayo
dhiyam sakshi shuddho harirasurahantabjanayanah।
gadi shankhi chakri vimalavanamali sthiraruchih
sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah॥1॥

yatah sarvam jatam viyadanilamukhyam jagadidam
sthitau nihshesham yo'vati nijasukhamshena madhuha।
laye sarvam svasminharati kalaya yastu sa vibhuh
sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah॥2॥

asunayamyadau yamaniyamamukhyaih sukaranair
nirudhyedam chittam hridi vilayamaniya sakalam।
yamidyam pashyanti pravaramatayo mayinamasau
sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah॥3॥

prithivyam tishthanyo yamayati mahim veda na dhara
yamityadau vedo vadati jagatamishamamalam।
niyantaram dhyeyam munisuranrinam mokshadamasau
sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah॥4॥

mahendradirdevo jayati ditijanyasya balato
na kasya svatantryam kvachidapi kritau yatkritimrite।
balaratergarvam pariharati yo'sau vijayinah
sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah॥5॥

vina yasya dhyanam vrajati pashutam sukaramukham
vina yasya jnanam janimritibhayam yati janata।
vina yasya smritya krimishatajanim yati sa vibhuh
sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah॥6॥

naratankottankah sharanasharano bhrantiharano
ghanashyamo vamo vrajashishuvayasyo'rjunasakhah।
svayambhurbhutanam janaka uchitacharasukhadah
sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah॥7॥

yada dharmaglanirbhavati jagatam kshobhakarani
tada lokasvami prakatitavapuh setudhridajah।
satam dhata svachchho nigamaganagito vrajapatih
sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah॥8॥

Frequently asked questions about Krishnashtakam

What does this hymn praise?

Krishna's form and nature in eight verses - bearer of the mace, conch and discus, wearer of the forest garland, lotus-eyed, destroyer of the asuras, teacher of the moving and unmoving worlds. Description turning into salutation.

When is it recited?

Janmashtami above all, at the midnight hour, and on Wednesdays and Ekadashis. Households with a Krishna altar recite it at the evening seva with the bhog.

What is offered with it?

Makhan-mishri, dhaniya panjiri and kheer with tulsi on the bhog, flowers and a ghee lamp - see the Krishna puja samagri page.

Should the Radha hymns be recited first?

In the Braj tradition, yes - Radha before Krishna. Households outside that lineage recite this hymn alone without any lack; the Radha Chalisa is there for those who keep the order.

Is it suitable for a beginner?

Yes. Eight verses, regular metre, and no long philosophical compounds - a good first Krishna recitation, with the Madhurashtakam as the other easy entry.

About the Krishnashtakam

The Krishnashtakam - eight verses in praise of Lord Shri Krishna, his divine form, deeds and supreme nature.

Meaning

Each verse adores Krishna - son of Vasudeva, slayer of Kamsa and Chanura, the joy of Devaki and the world's teacher - bowing again and again to the Lord.

Benefits

Recited for devotion and Krishna's grace; reciting these eight verses is said to bring the fruit of devotion, remove sins and bestow joy.

The Krishnashtakam above is given in both Devanagari (Sanskrit) and Roman transliteration so you can read it in whichever script you are comfortable with - switch between the two using the buttons above, share the link, or download a PDF.

A stotram is a longer Sanskrit hymn of praise, not a forty-verse chalisa and not the lamp-song of an aarti. Browse every stotra on the Stotram index. For japa of a short formula use a mantra. The steps of worship around the recitation are in Puja Vidhi.