Kanduka Stuti by Acharya Madhva

हरि सर्वोत्तम । वायु जीवोत्तम | श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः

अम्बर-गङ्गा-चुम्बित-पादः पद-तल-विदलित-गुरुतर-शकटः ।
काळिय-नाग-क्ष्वेल निहन्ता सरसिज-नवदल विकसित-नयनः ॥
काल-घनाली-कर्बुर-कायः शर-शत-शकलित सुर-रिपु-निवहः ।
सन्ततम्-अस्मान्-पातु मुरारिः सततग-समजव-खगपति-निरतः ॥

He:

Whose feet (पादः) were kissed (चुम्बित) by celestial Ganga (अम्बर-गङ्गा);
the sole of Whose feet (पद-तल) shattered (विदलित) the very heavy cart (गुरुतर-शकट );
Who is the destroyer (निहन्ता) of the poison of the serpent (नाग-क्ष्वेल) Kaliya (काळिय);
Whose eyes (नयनः) are blossomed (विकसित) like fresh petals (नवदल) of a lotus (सरसिज);
Whose body (कायः) is dark (काल) like a radiant (कर्बुर) cluster of dense storm clouds (घनाली) ;
Who annihilated (शकलित) the hosts (निवहः) of enemies of the gods (सुर-रिपु) with hundreds of arrows (शर-शत);
Who is mounted upon (निरतः) Garuda, the lord of birds (खगपति), who moves with the speed of (समजव) the always-moving wind (सततग),

may that slayer of the demon Mura (मुरारिः) always(सन्ततम्) protect (पातु) us (अस्मान्).

Notes:

As a little boy, Acharya Madhva composed this playful verse using rhythmic syllables like the bouncing of ball (कन्दुक).
Additionally, this verse is in praise of Lord Almighty who creates, regulates and withdraws the universe as acts of play, like bouncing a ball.
The words are tongue-twisting and like a puzzle have hidden meaning upon further inspection.
So this shloka is ideal for children to learn and chant since it is fun, just a bit challenging and very meaningful.
कम् means “bliss” and दुक refers to the “giver of” – signifying that chanting this shloka leads us towards Lord and our liberation.
[1] refers to Vaamana Avataara, where Lord’s 2nd step enveloped the heavens from where Ganga descends on to His feet.
[2] refers to Krishna as a child destroying Shakataasura, the demon in the form of a cart.
[3] refers to how Krishna removed the poison of Kaliya, destroying his evil nature but sparing him per the request of his wives.
[4] shows that these activities are mere play for the untiring Lord – so His eyes are always fresh and wide open.
[5] not only highlights Lord’s power of holding opposites (dark yet radiant like gold) but also that like water-laden dark clouds, He is the repository of infinite good qualities, ready to shower blessings on true devotees.
[6] refers to Krishna’s vanquishing Kamsa, Jarasandha and other evil demons while still a young lad.
All the above describe the Lord in a child-like form, consistent with the playful nature of the verse, and also Acharya’s age when he composed it.