Shri Gopal Sahasranama Stotram: 1000 Names of Krishna - Text, Meaning & Benefits
Shri Gopal Sahasranama Stotram - Sanskrit Text (Opening)
॥ श्री गोपाल सहस्रनाम स्तोत्रम् ॥
॥ ध्यानम् ॥
कस्तूरीतिलकं ललाटपटले वक्षःस्थले कौस्तुभं
नासाग्रे वरमौक्तिकं करतले वेणुं करे कङ्कणम् ।
सर्वाङ्गे हरिचन्दनं सुललितं कण्ठे च मुक्तावली
गोपस्त्रीपरिवेष्टितो विजयते गोपालचूडामणिः ॥१॥
फुल्लेन्दीवरकान्तिमिन्दुवदनं बर्हावतंसप्रियं
श्रीवत्साङ्कमुदारकौस्तुभधरं पीताम्बरं सुन्दरम् ।
गोपीनां नयनोत्पलार्चिततनुं गोगोपसङ्घावृतं
गोविन्दं कलवेणुवादनपरं दिव्याङ्गभूषं भजे ॥२॥
॥ इति ध्यानम् ॥
॥ अथ सहस्रनामस्तोत्रम् ॥
ॐ क्लीं देवः कामदेवः कामबीजशिरोमणिः ।
श्रीगोपालको महीपालः सर्ववेदान्तपारगः ॥१॥
धरणीपालको धन्यः पुण्डरीकः सनातनः ।
गोपतिर्भूपतिः शास्ता प्रहर्ता विश्वतोमुखः ॥२॥
आदिकर्ता महाकर्ता महाकालः प्रतापवान् ।
जगज्जीवो जगद्धाता जगद्भर्ता जगद्वसुः ॥३॥
मत्स्यो भीमः कुहूभर्ता हर्ता वाराहमूर्तिमान् ।
नारायणो हृषीकेशो गोविन्दो गरुडध्वजः ॥४॥
गोकुलेन्द्रो महाचन्द्रः शर्वरीप्रियकारकः ।
कमलामुखलोलाक्षः पुण्डरीकः शुभावहः ॥५॥
दुर्वासाः कपिलो भौमः सिन्धुसागरसङ्गमः ।
गोविन्दो गोपतिर्गोत्रः कालिन्दीप्रेमपूरकः ॥६॥
(… the stotram continues for 168 verses, enumerating the one thousand names of Gopala-Krishna. The verified opening — the dhyana and the first six name-verses — is reproduced above; the full sahasranama is too long to set out in entirety here.)
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
Dhyana: Kasturi-tilakam lalata-patale vakshah-sthale kaustubham, nasagre vara-mauktikam karatale venum kare kankanam | sarvange hari-chandanam sulalitam kanthe cha muktavali, gopa-stri-pariveshtito vijayate Gopala-chudamanih || 1 ||
Om Klim Devah Kamadevah Kama-bija-shiromanih | Shri-Gopalako Mahipalah Sarva-vedanta-paragah || 1 ||
Meaning
The opening dhyana paints a vision of Gopala-Krishna: musk-tilak on his brow, the Kaustubha gem on his chest, a fine pearl at the tip of his nose, the flute in his hand and a bangle on his wrist, sandal-paste over all his limbs and a pearl-necklace at his throat — surrounded by the cowherd women, the crest-jewel of cowherds shines in victory. The sahasranama then unfolds a thousand names, beginning with the seed Klim — “the God, Kamadeva, crest-jewel of the kama-bija; the protector Gopala, lord of the earth, master of all Vedanta” — praising Krishna as creator, sustainer and indweller of the worlds, the cosmic Narayana who delights the gopis of Vrindavana.
About this Stotra
The Gopal Sahasranama is a thousand-name hymn to Lord Krishna in his enchanting Gopala (cowherd) form, traditionally drawn from the Pancharatra/Agama and Tantra literature and dear to the Vaishnava devotional traditions. It is structured as a ध्यान (meditation) followed by 168 verses of names and a concluding phalashruti. Because it begins with the Krishna-bija Klim, it is counted among the most powerful Krishna stotras for love, grace and fulfilment of desires.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
Reciting the sahasranama is believed to bestow Krishna’s grace, prosperity, progeny, harmony in relationships and protection from misfortune, and to purify the mind through constant remembrance of the Lord’s names. The Klim-bija opening makes it especially associated with attraction, love and the fulfilment of righteous desires, while its deeper fruit is pure bhakti and nearness to Gopala.
Astrological Relevance
As a Krishna hymn it strengthens Chandra (the Moon) — Krishna is of the lunar (Chandra-vamsha) lineage and rules the emotional, devotional mind — and, through the Klim bija of love and charm, Shukra (Venus), karaka of love, beauty, marriage and relationships. It is a fine remedy for an afflicted Moon (mental unrest), a weak Venus (problems in love and marriage), and for the 5th house of progeny and devotion. Recitation on Wednesday (Krishna’s favoured day) and during Ashtami strengthens these significations.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Bathe and sit before an image of Bala-Gopala or Radha-Krishna. Light a ghee lamp, offer tulsi, butter or makhan, and yellow flowers. Begin with the dhyana verse, then recite the names with devotion. The complete sahasranama is ideally read on Janmashtami, Ekadashi or daily through a sankalpa; even the dhyana and opening verses recited with love invoke Gopala’s grace.
Best Day & Time
Wednesday and the Ashtami tithi, Ekadashi, and above all Janmashtami are most auspicious. The early morning or the midnight hour of Krishna’s birth (Nishita) are especially sacred for this recitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is only the opening reproduced here?
The Gopal Sahasranama contains one thousand names across 168 verses; the verified dhyana and the opening name-verses are given in full, while the complete text is too long to reproduce in its entirety in a single article.
What is the significance of the ‘Klim’ bija at the start?
Klim is the Krishna/Kamadeva seed-mantra of attraction and love, which is why this sahasranama is prized for grace, harmony and the fulfilment of righteous desires.
When is the best time to recite it?
On Janmashtami, Ekadashi, Ashtami tithis and Wednesdays, ideally in the early morning or at the midnight hour sacred to Krishna’s birth.
A thousand names as a map of Gopala's infinite nature
The Sahasranama - the hymn of a thousand names - is understood in the devotional tradition not as a list but as a comprehensive portrait: to know every name of the Divine is to know every dimension of its grace. In the case of Gopala-Krishna, this portrait is particularly rich and emotionally varied, ranging from the playful cowherd of Vrindavan to the cosmic Vishnu whose single breath exhales and absorbs all universes. The Shri Gopal Sahasranama Stotram opens with the Klim bija, the seed-syllable of Kameshvara-Krishna, which concentrates within a single syllable the magnetic, all-attracting love that is Krishna's most characteristic quality. To chant the thousand names in sequence is therefore to journey through the full emotional geography of Vaishnava devotion - from affectionate intimacy to cosmic awe and back again.
In the Jyotish tradition, Krishna as Gopala is associated with the Moon (Chandra), the planet of mind, feeling, and the nurturing maternal force, while his beauty and his power to attract devotion also link him to Venus (Shukra); devotees facing afflictions in these planetary placements are traditionally guided toward Gopal worship and the recitation of this Sahasranama. The stotram is most auspiciously recited on Janmashtami, on Ekadashi tithis, and on Monday evenings when the Moon's energy is at its most receptive. Devotees who commit to this practice believe that the sheer immensity of the thousand names - experienced slowly, reverently, over time - gradually opens the heart to the kind of unconditional love that Krishna himself is said to offer each soul without exception.