Srimad Bhagavatam - Sri Krishna, Tuesday, 8 August 2023 - I give below the Sri Krishnashtakam attributed to Adi Shankaracharya and my free-verse translation.
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वसुदेवसुतं देवं कंसचाणूरमर्दनं देवकीपरमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरम् ।
अतसीपुष्पसङ्काशं हारनूपुरशोभितं रत्नकङ्कणकेयूरं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरम् ।
कुटिलालकसंयुक्तं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननं विलसत्कुण्डलधरं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरम् ।
मन्दारगन्धसंयुक्तं चारुहासं चतुर्भुजं बर्हिपिञ्छावचूडाङ्गं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरम् ।
उत्फुल्लपद्मपत्राक्षं नीलजीमूतसन्निभं यादवानां शिरोरत्नं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरम् ।
रुक्मिणीकेलिसंयुक्तं पीताम्बरसुशोभितं अवाप्ततुलसीगन्धं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरम् ।
गोपिकानां कुचद्वन्द्वकुङ्कुमाङ्कितवक्षसं श्रीनिकेतं महेष्वासं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरम् ।
श्रीवत्साङ्कं महोरस्कं वनमालाविराजितं शङ्खचक्रधरं देवं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरम् ।
कृष्णाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत् कोटिजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति ॥
You were born as Vasudeva's son in jail, as a child in Gokula showed your divinity,
Destroyed the evil Kamsa and Chanura,
Oh, the darling son of Devaki!
Hail Sri Krishna, the preceptor of the world, my obeisance!
Of a radiant dark colour like the Atasi flower,
Fond of wearing garlands, and anklets,
Yashoda put on you gold bracelets,
Hail Sri Krishna, the preceptor of the world, my obeisance!
Your dark curls are lovely,
You glow like the full moon,
Your ear-drops dangle so enticingly,
Hail Sri Krishna, the preceptor of the world, my obeisance!
You are fragrant like Mandara flowers,
Your smile is bewitching,
You are the four-armed Vishnu,
But now sporting your trademark peacock feather!
Hail Sri Krishna, the preceptor of the world, my obeisance!
Your eyes are like full-bloomed lotus petals,
Your form reminds me of the dark rain cloud,
You are the crest jewel of the mighty Yadavas,
Hail Sri Krishna, the preceptor of the world, my obeisance!
You sported with Rukmini in her garden,
Wearing royal golden raiment,
Wearing the divine-smelling Tulasi garland,
Hail Sri Krishna, the preceptor of the world, my obeisance!
Your chest is smeared with the vermilion of the Gopis' breasts,
You are the abode of Devi Lakshmi herself,
You wield the mighty Sharnga bow,
Hail Sri Krishna, the preceptor of the world, my obeisance!
The golden streak of Lakshmi adorns your mighty chest,
You love to wear garlands of wildflowers,
You hold the divine Shankha and Chakra in your arms,
(Playing the flute with the other two!)
Hail Sri Krishna, the preceptor of the world, my obeisance!
Anyone who recites this holy Krishnashtakam
First thing every morning
Shall be absolved of the sins of many lives,
Remembering you always, Sri Krishna!
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