Krishnashtakam: Devanagari Text, Meaning and How It Is Recited

Verse 1

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

Shriyashlishto vishnuh sthiracharagururvedavishayo
Dhiyam sakshi shuddho harirasurahantabjanayanah
Gadi shankhi chakri vimalavanamali sthiraruchih
Sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah

MeaningVishnu, embraced by Shri, teacher of all that moves and stands still, the subject of the Veda, the witness of our minds, pure, Hari, slayer of demons, lotus-eyed, bearing mace, conch and discus, wearing a spotless forest garland, steady in radiance. May Krishna, the refuge and lord of the world, be before my eyes.

Verse 2

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

Yatah sarvam jatam viyadanilamukhyam jagadidam
Sthitau nihshesham yo'vati nijasukhamshena madhuha
Laye sarvam svasminharati kalaya yastu sa vibhuh
Sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah

MeaningFrom him this whole world, with space and air first among its elements, was born. In its keeping he protects everything with a portion of his own bliss, and at its dissolution the all-pervading one draws everything back into himself by his power. May that Krishna, the refuge and lord of the world, be before my eyes.

Verse 3

असूनायम्यादौ यमनियममुख्यैः सुकरणै-
र्निरुद्ध्येदं चित्तं हृदि विलयमानीय सकलम् ।
यमीड्यं पश्यन्ति प्रवरमतयो मायिनमसौ
शरण्यो लोकेशो मम भवतु कृष्णोऽक्षिविषयः ॥

Asunayamyadau yamaniyamamukhyaih sukaranai-
Rniruddhyedam chittam hridi vilayamaniya sakalam
Yamidyam pashyanti pravaramatayo mayinamasau
Sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah

MeaningThose of the keenest minds first control the breath, then through restraint, observance and the other disciplines rein in the senses, gather the whole mind and dissolve it in the heart, and so see the one worthy of praise, the master of maya. May that Krishna, the refuge and lord of the world, be before my eyes.

Verse 4

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

Prithivyam tishthanyo yamayati mahim veda na dhara
Yamityadau vedo vadati jagatamishamamalam
Niyantaram dhyeyam munisuranrinam mokshadamasau
Sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah

MeaningDwelling within the earth he steers it, yet the earth does not know him; so the Veda speaks of the spotless lord of the worlds, the controller, to be meditated on by sages, gods and humans, the giver of liberation. May that Krishna, the refuge and lord of the world, be before my eyes.

Verse 5

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

Mahendradirdevo jayati ditijanyasya balato
Na kasya svatantryam kvachidapi kritau yatkritimrite
Balaratergarvam pariharati yo'sau vijayinah
Sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah

MeaningBy whose strength Indra and the other gods overcome the sons of Diti, and without whose doing no one has freedom in any act, who humbles the pride of even the victorious Indra. May that Krishna, the refuge and lord of the world, be before my eyes.

Verse 6

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

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

MeaningWithout meditation on him a person sinks to an animal state, with the face of a boar; without knowledge of him people remain in fear of birth and death; without remembering him one drifts into hundreds of low births. May that all-pervading Krishna, the refuge and lord of the world, be before my eyes.

Verse 7

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

Naratankottankah sharanasharano bhrantiharano
Ghanashyamo vamo vrajashishuvayasyo'rjunasakhah
Svayambhurbhutanam janaka uchitacharasukhadah
Sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah

MeaningThe remover of people's terror, the refuge of refuges, the dispeller of confusion, dark as a rain cloud, handsome, friend of the cowherd children and of Arjuna, self-born, father of beings, giver of the happiness of right conduct. May that Krishna, the refuge and lord of the world, be before my eyes.

Verse 8

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

Yada dharmaglanirbhavati jagatam kshobhakarani
Tada lokasvami prakatitavapuh setudhridajah
Satam dhata svachchho nigamaganagito vrajapatih
Sharanyo lokesho mama bhavatu krishno'kshivishayah

MeaningWhenever the decline of dharma troubles the worlds, the lord of the world then takes visible form: the unborn upholder of the bridge, supporter of the good, clear and pure, sung by the many Vedic voices, the lord of Vraja. May that Krishna, the refuge and lord of the world, be before my eyes.