Krishnaashtakam

हरि सर्वोत्तम । वायु जीवोत्तम | श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः

॥ श्री कृष्णाष्टकम् ॥ /

(श्री वादिराज तीर्थ कृत)

(अनुपद)

पालय अच्युत पालय अजित पालय कमल-आलय ।
लीलया धृत-भूधर अम्बुरुह-उदर स्वजन-उदर ॥

Protect and nurture me (पालय), O Lord who:
is the Unchangeable/Flawless (अच्युत);
is the Unconquered (अजित);
is the Abode of Lakshmi (कमल-आलय);
bears (धृत) the [Govardhana] mountain (भूधर) playfully (लीलया);
has the whole universe as a lotus (अम्बुरुह) in His abdomen/navel (उदर);
bears all His devotees (स्वजन) [and their problems and sins] in His stomach (उदर).

• अ = All + जित = Conquered => He Who has conquered all

मध्व-मानस-पद्म-भानु-समं स्मर-प्रतिमं स्मर
स्निग्ध-निर्मल-शीत-कान्ति-लसत्-मुखं करुण-उन्मुखम् ।
हृद्य-कम्बु-समान-कन्धरम् अक्षयं दुरित-क्षयं
सिद्ध-संस्तुत रूप्य-पीठ-कृत-आलयं हरिम् आलयम् ॥ १ ॥

Remember (स्मर) the Lord Hari (हरिम्), our refuge and destination (आलयम्), who:
has a lovely form (प्रतिमं) like Kaama (स्मर) ;
is like the Sun (भानु-समं) that blooms the Acharya’s lotus-like mind (मध्व-मानस-पद्म);
has a much loved (स्निग्ध) radiant beautiful face (लसत्-मुखं) emanating flawless cool rays (निर्मल-शीत-कान्ति);
is the eager embodiment (उन्मुख) of compassion (करुण);
has a pleasing (हृद्य) conch-like (कम्बु-समान) neck (कन्धरम्);
is without decay (अक्षयं) ;
is the Destroyer of sins (दुरित-क्षय);
is devoutly praised (संस्तुत) by realized seekers (सिद्ध);
and has made His abode (कृत-आलयं) in Udupi (रूप्य-पीठ) = abode of silver.

• Lord is Kaama’s father = साक्षात् मन्मथ-मन्मथ
• अक्षयं also means without body

अंगद-आदि-सुशोभि-पाणि-युगेन संक्षुभित-एनसं
तुंग-माल्य-मणीन्द्र-हार-सर-उरसं खल-नीरसम् ।
मंगल-प्रद-मन्थ-दाम-विराजितं भजत अजितं
तं गृणे वर-रूप्य-पीठ-कृत-आलयं हरिम् आलयम् ॥ २ ॥

Pray to (भजत) and praise Him (तं गृणे), the Lord Hari (हरिम्), our refuge and destination (आलयम्), who:
has pair of hands (पाणि-युगेन) beautifully adorned (सुशोभि) with armlets etc. (अंगद-आदि) that fully destroy (संक्षुभित) sins (एनसं);
has broad and elevated chest (उरसं) adorned by long (तुंग) garlands (माल्य), necklaces (हार) and chains (सर) with the best of gems (मणीन्द्र = कौस्तुभ);
makes the wicked (खल) powerless (नीरसम्);
is the Giver of auspiciousness (मंगल-प्रद);
majestically bearing (विराजितं) a churning rod and rope (मन्थ-दाम) ;
is the Unconquered (अजित);
and has made His abode (कृत-आलयं) in the excellent (वर) Udupi (रूप्य-पीठ) = abode of silver.

• Lord’s churning rod and rope gives delicious food for devotees = नवनीत

पीन-रम्य-तनु-उदरं भज हे मनः शुभ-हेम-नः
स्व-अनुभाव-निदर्शनाय दिशन्तम् अर्थि-सुशन्तमम् ।
आनतः अस्मि निज-अर्जुन-प्रिय-साधकं खल-बाधकं
हीनता-उज्झित रूप्य-पीठ-कृत-आलयं हरिम् आलयम् ॥ ३ ॥

O mind (हे मनः), pray to (भज) the Lord Hari (हरिम्), our refuge and destination (आलयम्), to whom I fully prostrate (आनतः अस्मि), who:
has slender and supple (पीन) and pleasant (रम्य) body (तनु) and stomach (उदरं);
[उदरं = elevated and flawless one so think with high elevated thoughts about Him];
has beautiful golden form (शुभ-हेम);
shows us (निदर्शनाय) our true nature/experience (स्व-अनुभाव);
gives us direction (दिशन्तम्) to realize our goal (अर्थि) of reaching ultimate inner happiness (सु-शन्तमम्);
who guided His dear Arjuna (अर्जुन-प्रिय) to do his duty (निज-साधकं);
destroys (बाधकं) haughty wicked people (खल);
takes away (उज्झित) our flaws (हीनता),;
and has made His abode (कृत-आलयं) in Udupi (रूप्य-पीठ) = abode of silver.

• Lord’s child-like abdomen may look small but still holds whole universe (उदरं चिन्त्यं ईशस्य … तनुत्वे अपि अखिलं भरं Dvaadasha Stotra 1.4)

हैम-किंकिणि-मालिका-रशन-अञ्चितं तम् अवञ्चितं
कम्र-काञ्चन-वस्त्र-चित्र-कटिं घन-प्रभया घनम् ।
नम्र-नाग-कर-उपम-ऊरुम् अनामयं शुभ-धीमयं
नौमि अहं वर-रूप्य-पीठ-कृत-आलयं हरिम् आलयम् ॥ ४ ॥

I pray (अहं नौमि) to the Lord Hari (हरिम्), our refuge and destination (आलयम्), who:
is adorned (अञ्चितं) with golden (हैम) bells (किंकिणि) on a chain-like waist-thread (मालिका-रशन);
cannot be cheated by anyone (अवञ्चितं);
has a picturesque (चित्र) waist (कटिं) covered with lovely (कम्र) golden (काञ्चन) cloth (वस्त्र);
is of the color of a dense (घन) cloud (घनम्) shining with radiance (प्रभया);
has thighs (ऊरुम्) like (उपम) the soft (नम्र) trunk (कर) of an elephant (नाग);
is the remover of all afflictions (अनामयं);
is full of auspicious (शुभ) bliss and knowledge (धीमयं);
and has made His abode (कृत-आलयं) in the excellent (वर) Udupi (रूप्य-पीठ) = abode of silver.

• अ + वञ्चितं also means He Who cheats ALL wicked people

वृत्त-जानु-मनोज्ञ-जङ्घम् अमोहदं पर-मोहदं
रत्न-कल्प-नख-त्विषा हृत-हृत्-तमः-ततिम् उत्तमम् ।
प्रत्यहं रचित-अर्चनं रमया स्वया आगतया स्वयं
चित्त चिन्तय रूप्य-पीठ-कृत-आलयं हरिम् आलयम् ॥ ५ ॥

O Mind (चित्त), do contemplate on (चिन्तय) [esp. His independence and our dependence on Him] the Lord who:
has round (वृत्त) knees (जानु) and shins (जङ्घम्) that memorably captivate the mind (मनोज्ञ);
frees His devotees from delusions (अमोहदं) ;
gives delusion to others non-devotees (पर-मोहदं);
dispels (हृत) the collection (ततिम्) of darkness in the heart (हृत्-तमः) by the luster (त्विषा) from His gem-like (रत्न-कल्प) toe nails (नख);
gets worship performed (रचित-अर्चनं) every day (प्रत्यहं) by Lakshmi (रमया);
came to Udupi of His own will (स्वया आगतया);
and has made His abode (कृत-आलयं) in the excellent (वर) Udupi (रूप्य-पीठ) = abode of silver.

• अमोहदं = never deluded Himself
• Lord gets अर्चनं of His own will, not by others desire

चारु-पाद-सरोज-युग्म-रुचा अमर-उच्चय-चामर-
उदार-मूर्धज-भानु-मण्डल-रञ्जकं कलि-भञ्जकम् ।
वीरत-उचित-भूषणं वर-नूपुरं स्व-तनू-पुरं
धारय आत्मनि रूप्य-पीठ-कृत-आलयं हरिम् आलयम् ॥ ६ ॥

Hold in (धारय) your mind (आत्मनि) the Lord who:
by the brightness (रुचा) of His beautiful lotus-like feet (चारु-पाद-सरोज-युग्म) emanating light, makes the assemblage (उच्चय) of devatas (अमर), with fan-like (चामर) long and beautiful hair (उदार-मूर्धज), shine like the solar orb (भानु-मण्डल) in a pleasing manner (रञ्जकं) [lights up our mind];
destroys (भञ्जकम्) wickedness (कलि) [inside our mind];
has all the ornaments (भूषणं) befitting (उचित) a warrior (वीरत);
has exquisite (वर) anklets (नूपुरं);
came to Udupi (पुरं) on His own (स्व-तनू) [स्वयम् व्यक्त] [to bless Madhvacharya];
and has made His abode (कृत-आलयं) in the excellent (वर) Udupi (रूप्य-पीठ) = abode of silver.

• Lord also came to Udupi of His own volition (स्व) and resides in our body (तनू-पुरं);

शुष्क-वादि-मनः-अति-दूरतर आगम-उत्सवद-आगमं
सत्-कवि-इन्द्र-वचो-विलास-महा-उदयं महित-उदयम् ।
लक्षयामि यतीश्वरैः कृत-पूजनं गुण-भाजनं
धिक्-कृत-उपम रूप्य-पीठ-कृत-आलयं हरिम् आलयम् ॥ ७ ॥

I seek as my goal (लक्षयामि) the Lord who:
is far beyond (अति-दूरतर) the mind (मनः) of those who speak (वादि) dry empty words (शुष्क) [i.e. hypocrites who practice rituals merely for show];
comes eagerly (आगमं) and gives festive blessings (उत्सवद) to those who approach Him through the proper scriptures and tradition (आगम);
is the great inspiration (महा-उदयं) and illumination (विलास) to the words (वचो) of great scholars, poets and sages (सत्-कवि-इन्द्र);
is the source (उदयम्) of all greatness (महित);
is always worshipped (कृत-पूजनं) by the foremost of sages (यतीश्वरैः);
is the reservoir (भाजनं) of all auspicious qualities (गुण);
has no equal (उपम) – fie upon even such a thought! (धिक्-कृत);
and has made His abode (कृत-आलयं) in the excellent (वर) Udupi (रूप्य-पीठ) = abode of silver.

• यतीश्वरैः कृत-पूजनं refers literally to Pooja offered by Shrimad Acharya through Paryaaya Swamiji

नारद-प्रियम् आविश अम्बुरुह-ईक्षणं निज-लक्षणं
तारक-उपम-चारु-दीप-चय-अन्तरे गत-चिन्त रे ।
धीर-मानस-पूर्ण-चन्द्र-समानम् अच्युतम् आनम
द्वारका-उपम रूप्य-पीठ-कृत-आलयं हरिम् आलयम् ॥ ८ ॥

O brave (धीर) mind (मानस), meditate on (चिन्त रे), and surrender completely (आनम) to the Lord who:
is dear to Narada (नारद-प्रियम्) [who always chants NaaraayaNa];
has beautiful lotus-eyes (अम्बुरुह-ईक्षणं);
has the only true (निज) goal (लक्षणं) of protecting His devotees;
is flawless (अच्युतम्);
is like (समानम्) the full moon (पूर्ण-चन्द्र) entering amidst (अन्तरे गत) the assemblage (चय) of stars (तारक), beautiful like lamps (चारु-दीप);
and has made His abode (कृत-आलयं) in the excellent (वर) Udupi (रूप्य-पीठ) = abode of silver,
to protect us like He did the people of Dwaraka (द्वारका-उपम).

• समान does not indicate equality, but similarity in quality, i.e. illustrative comparison
• Braveness requires conviction and faith to truly follow Varnaashrama Dharma in life as Seva to Lord, not just as mechanical rituals or for show

(फल-श्रुतिः)

रूप्य-पीठ-कृत-आलयस्य हरेः प्रियम् दुरित-अप्रियं
तत्-पद-अर्चक-वादिराज-यति-ईरितं गुण-पूरितम् ।
गोप्यम् अष्टकम् एतत् उच्च-मुदे मम अस्तु इह निर्मम
प्राप्य-शुद्ध-फलाय तत्र सुकोमलं हृत-धी-मलम् ॥ ९ ॥

To Hari (हरेः), who has made His abode (कृत-आलयस्य) in His own dear (प्रियम्) Udupi (रूप्य-पीठ), who removes (अप्रियं) sorrows and difficulties (दुरित) of His devotees, the Saint Vaadiraaja (वादिराज-यति), who is His servant and worshipper of His feet (तत्-पद-अर्चक), has composed and submitted (ईरितं) this octet (अष्टकम् एतत्) that:
is filled with His qualities (गुण-पूरितम्);
gives elevated joy (उच्च-मुदे);
is to be sung with meaning captured in the heart (गोप्यम्), with the intent that “may I also (मम अस्तु) attain here itself (इह प्राप्य) my ultimate goal (शुद्ध-फलाय)”;
is soft and tender (सुकोमलं),
and removes blemishes in the mind (हृत-धी-मलम्).

(इति श्रीवादिराजतीर्थ-विरचिता श्री कृष्णाष्टकम्)

॥ श्री कृष्णार्पणमस्तु ॥

Reference: Pravachana of Vidwan Krishna Raja Kuthpadi

/Raghunath Rao/ “Do your Best … and leave the Rest … “

(All mistakes mine – all credit to Gurus and Acharyas )

|| sarvaṁ śrī kṛṣṇārpanamastu ||