Krishnashtakam
कृष्णाष्टकम्
Origin & Story
A traditional hymn to Sri Krishna · Traditional
The Krishnashtakam beginning 'Vasudeva-sutam devam' is among the most widely recited of all hymns to Lord Krishna. In eight simple, melodious verses it adores Krishna feature by feature — the dark-cloud hue of his body, his lotus eyes and full-moon face, the peacock feather on his crest, the yellow silk and forest-flower garland, the conch and discus in his hands — each verse bowing to him as 'jagadguru', the Guru of the entire world. Its closing verse promises that to recite it at dawn dissolves the sins of countless births. Traditional in origin and beloved across India, it is sung above all on Krishna Janmashtami.
Complete Text with Meaning
वसुदेवसुतं देवं कंसचाणूरमर्दनम् । देवकीपरमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ १॥
vasudevasutaṃ devaṃ kaṃsacāṇūramardanam | devakīparamānandaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 1||
Meaning:The divine son of Vasudeva, the destroyer of Kamsa and (the wrestler) Chanura, the supreme joy of mother Devaki — I bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world.
अतसीपुष्पसङ्काशम् हारनूपुरशोभितम् । रत्नकङ्कणकेयूरं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ २॥
atasīpuṣpasaṅkāśam hāranūpuraśobhitam | ratnakaṅkaṇakeyūraṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 2||
Meaning:Of a hue like the blue atasi (flax) blossom, adorned with necklaces and anklets, wearing jewelled bracelets and armlets — I bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world.
कुटिलालकसंयुक्तं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननम् । विलसत्कुण्डलधरं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ३॥
kuṭilālakasaṃyuktaṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanam | vilasatkuṇḍaladharaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 3||
Meaning:With curling locks of hair, his face like the full moon, wearing glittering earrings — I bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world.
मन्दारगन्धसंयुक्तं चारुहासं चतुर्भुजम् । बर्हिपिच्छावचूडाङ्गं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ४॥
mandāragandhasaṃyuktaṃ cāruhāsaṃ caturbhujam | barhipicchāvacūḍāṅgaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 4||
Meaning:Fragrant with the scent of the mandara flower, of charming smile, four-armed, his crest adorned with a peacock feather — I bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world.
उत्फुल्लपद्मपत्राक्षं नीलजीमूतसन्निभम् । यादवानां शिरोरत्नं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ५॥
utphullapadmapatrākṣaṃ nīlajīmūtasannibham | yādavānāṃ śiroratnaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 5||
Meaning:With eyes like the petals of a full-blown lotus, dark as a rain-laden cloud, the crest-jewel of the Yadavas — I bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world.
रुक्मिणीकेळिसंयुक्तं पीताम्बरसुशोभितम् । अवाप्ततुलसीगन्धं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ६॥
rukmiṇīkeḷisaṃyuktaṃ pītāmbarasuśobhitam | avāptatulasīgandhaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 6||
Meaning:Joined in playful sport with Rukmini, beautifully adorned in yellow silk, bearing the fragrance of tulasi — I bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world.
गोपिकानां कुचद्वन्द्व कुङ्कुमाङ्कितवक्षसम् । श्री निकेतं महेष्वासं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ७॥
gopikānāṃ kucadvandva kuṅkumāṅkitavakṣasam | śrī niketaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 7||
Meaning:His chest bearing the kumkuma marks from the embrace of the gopis, the abode of Shri (Lakshmi), the great archer — I bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world.
श्रीवत्साङ्कं महोरस्कं वनमालाविराजितम् । शङ्खचक्रधरं देवं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ८॥
śrīvatsāṅkaṃ mahoraskaṃ vanamālāvirājitam | śaṅkhacakradharaṃ devaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum || 8||
Meaning:Marked with the Shrivatsa upon his broad chest, resplendent with the garland of forest flowers (vanamala), the divine bearer of the conch and discus — I bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world.
कृष्णाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत् । कोटिजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति ॥
kṛṣṇāṣṭakamidaṃ puṇyaṃ prātarutthāya yaḥ paṭhet | koṭijanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ smaraṇena vinaśyati ||
Meaning:Whoever rises at dawn and recites this holy Krishnashtakam — by this very remembrance, the sins committed across ten million births are destroyed.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Krishnashtakam
A beloved eight-verse hymn to Sri Krishna, beginning 'Vasudeva-sutam devam', recited the world over
Each verse adores a different aspect of Krishna's beauty and glory and ends with the refrain 'Krishnam vande jagadgurum' — 'I bow to Krishna, the Guru of the world'
Its closing verse promises that reciting it at dawn destroys the sins of ten million births (koti janma)
Especially recited on Krishna Janmashtami, on Wednesdays and Ekadashi, and as a simple daily morning prayer
One of the first Sanskrit stotras taught to children for its simple, melodious metre
Bestows devotion, purity, protection and the grace of Lord Krishna
How to Chant Krishnashtakam
As the closing verse directs, recite it on rising at dawn, after a bath, before an image of Sri Krishna. Chant all eight verses with the refrain 'Krishnam vande jagadgurum', then the closing phala-shruti. Its short, even metre makes it easy to memorise and to sing daily, and it is a favourite for Janmashtami worship.
Frequently Asked Questions
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