Govindashtakam
गोविन्दाष्टकम्
Origin & Story
Ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · Classical
The Govindashtakam is traditionally ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya. Eight verses to Govinda (Krishna) by Adi Shankaracharya — adoring the Lord as Truth, Knowledge, the Infinite and Eternal (satyam jnanam anantam nityam), the all-pervading reality beyond the senses.
✦ As told in scripture
It is said that to recite the Govindashtakam with a sincere and devoted heart is to draw near to the grace of the Lord, who never forsakes those who lovingly call upon Him.
The Mantra
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श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥ चिदानन्दाकारं श्रुतिसरससारं समरसं निराधाराधारं भवजलधिपारं परगुणम् । रमाग्रीवाहारं व्रजवनविहारं हरनुतं सदा तं गोविन्दं परमसुखकन्दं भजत रे ॥ १॥ महाम्भोदिस्थानं स्थिरचरनिदानं दिविजपं सुधाधारापानं विहगपतियानं यमरतम् । मनोज्ञं सुज्ञानं मुनिजननिधानं ध्रुवपदम् सदा तं गोविन्दं परमसुखकन्दं भजत रे ॥ २॥ धिया धीरैर्ध्येयं श्रवणपुटपेयं यतिवरैः महावाक्यैज्ञेयं त्रिभुवनविधेयं विधिपरम् । मनोमानामेयं सपदि हृदि नेयं नवतनुं सदा तं गोविन्दं परमसुखकन्दं भजत रे ॥ ३॥ महामायाजालं विमलवनमालं मलहरं सुबालं गोपालं निहतशिशुपालं शशिमुखम् । कलातीतं कालं गतिहतमरालं मुररिपुं सदा तं गोविन्दं परमसुखकन्दं भजत रे ॥ ४॥ नभोबिम्बस्फीतं निगमगणगीतं समगतिं सुरौघे सम्प्रीतं दितिजविपरीतं पुरिशयम् । गिरां पन्थातीतं स्वदितनवनीतं नयकरं सदा तं गोविन्दं परमसुखकन्दं भजत रे ॥ ५॥ परेशं पद्मेशं शिवकमलजेशम् शिवकरं द्विजेशं देवेशं तनुकुटिलकेशं कलिहरम् । खगेशं नागेशं निखिलभुवनेशं नगधरं सदा तं गोविन्दं परमसुखकन्दं भजत रे ॥ ६॥ रमाकान्तं कान्तं भवभयलयान्तं भवसुखं दुराशान्तं शान्तं निखिलहृदि भान्तं भुवनपम् । विवादान्तं दान्तं दनुजनिचयान्तं सुचरितं सदा तं गोविन्दं परमसुखकन्दं भजत रे ॥ ७॥ जगज्ज्येष्ठं श्रेष्ठं सुरपतिकनिष्ठं क्रतुपतिं बलिष्ठं भूयिष्ठं त्रिभुवनवरिष्ठं वरवहम् । स्वनिष्ठं धार्मिष्ठं गुरुगुणगरिष्ठं गुरुवरं सदा तं गोविन्दं परमसुखकन्दं भजत रे ॥ ८॥ गदापाणेरेतद्दुरितदलनं दुःखशमनं विशुद्धात्मा स्तोत्रं पठति मनुजो यस्तु सततम् । स भुक्त्वा भोगौघं चिरमिह ततोऽपास्तवृजिनो वरं विष्णोः स्थानं व्रजति खलु वैकुण्ठभुवनम् ॥ ॥ इति श्री परमहंस स्वामि ब्रह्मानन्द विरचितं श्री गोविन्दाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
śrī gaṇeśāya namaḥ || cidānandākāraṃ śrutisarasasāraṃ samarasaṃ nirādhārādhāraṃ bhavajaladhipāraṃ paraguṇam | ramāgrīvāhāraṃ vrajavanavihāraṃ haranutaṃ sadā taṃ govindaṃ paramasukhakandaṃ bhajata re || 1|| mahāmbhodisthānaṃ sthiracaranidānaṃ divijapaṃ sudhādhārāpānaṃ vihagapatiyānaṃ yamaratam | manojñaṃ sujñānaṃ munijananidhānaṃ dhruvapadam sadā taṃ govindaṃ paramasukhakandaṃ bhajata re || 2|| dhiyā dhīrairdhyeyaṃ śravaṇapuṭapeyaṃ yativaraiḥ mahāvākyaijñeyaṃ tribhuvanavidheyaṃ vidhiparam | manomānāmeyaṃ sapadi hṛdi neyaṃ navatanuṃ sadā taṃ govindaṃ paramasukhakandaṃ bhajata re || 3|| mahāmāyājālaṃ vimalavanamālaṃ malaharaṃ subālaṃ gopālaṃ nihataśiśupālaṃ śaśimukham | kalātītaṃ kālaṃ gatihatamarālaṃ muraripuṃ sadā taṃ govindaṃ paramasukhakandaṃ bhajata re || 4|| nabhobimbasphītaṃ nigamagaṇagītaṃ samagatiṃ suraughe samprītaṃ ditijaviparītaṃ puriśayam | girāṃ panthātītaṃ svaditanavanītaṃ nayakaraṃ sadā taṃ govindaṃ paramasukhakandaṃ bhajata re || 5|| pareśaṃ padmeśaṃ śivakamalajeśam śivakaraṃ dvijeśaṃ deveśaṃ tanukuṭilakeśaṃ kaliharam | khageśaṃ nāgeśaṃ nikhilabhuvaneśaṃ nagadharaṃ sadā taṃ govindaṃ paramasukhakandaṃ bhajata re || 6|| ramākāntaṃ kāntaṃ bhavabhayalayāntaṃ bhavasukhaṃ durāśāntaṃ śāntaṃ nikhilahṛdi bhāntaṃ bhuvanapam | vivādāntaṃ dāntaṃ danujanicayāntaṃ sucaritaṃ sadā taṃ govindaṃ paramasukhakandaṃ bhajata re || 7|| jagajjyeṣṭhaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ surapatikaniṣṭhaṃ kratupatiṃ baliṣṭhaṃ bhūyiṣṭhaṃ tribhuvanavariṣṭhaṃ varavaham | svaniṣṭhaṃ dhārmiṣṭhaṃ guruguṇagariṣṭhaṃ guruvaraṃ sadā taṃ govindaṃ paramasukhakandaṃ bhajata re || 8|| gadāpāṇeretadduritadalanaṃ duḥkhaśamanaṃ viśuddhātmā stotraṃ paṭhati manujo yastu satatam | sa bhuktvā bhogaughaṃ ciramiha tato'pāstavṛjino varaṃ viṣṇoḥ sthānaṃ vrajati khalu vaikuṇṭhabhuvanam || || iti śrī paramahaṃsa svāmi brahmānanda viracitaṃ śrī govindāṣṭakaṃ sampūrṇam ||
Meaning:Eight verses to Govinda (Krishna) by Adi Shankaracharya — adoring the Lord as Truth, Knowledge, the Infinite and Eternal (satyam jnanam anantam nityam), the all-pervading reality beyond the senses.
Benefits of Chanting Govindashtakam
Recitation of the Govindashtakam is held to bring the grace, blessings and protection of the Lord.
Cultivates devotion, calms the mind and steadies the heart in the Lord’s remembrance.
Most auspicious on Wednesdays and Ekadashi, and during Janmashtami and Ekadashi.
A short, melodious hymn that anyone can learn and recite daily with faith.
How to Chant Govindashtakam
Bathe and sit facing east before an image of the deity. Light a lamp and recite the Govindashtakam slowly and with devotion. It may be chanted daily, or especially during Janmashtami and Ekadashi. Conclude with a prayer for grace and protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
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