Krishnashtakam (Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam) by Adi Shankaracharya
Krishnashtakam (Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam) - Sanskrit Text
भजे व्रजैकमण्डनं समस्तपापखण्डनं
स्वभक्तचित्तरञ्जनं सदैव नन्दनन्दनम्।
सुपिञ्छगुच्छमस्तकं सुनादवेणुहस्तकं
अनङ्गरङ्गसागरं नमामि कृष्णनागरम्॥१॥
मनोजगर्वमोचनं विशाललोललोचनं
विधूतगोपशोचनं नमामि पद्मलोचनम्।
करारविन्दभूधरं स्मितावलोकसुन्दरं
महेन्द्रमानदारणं नमामि कृष्णवारणम्॥२॥
कदम्बसूनकुण्डलं सुचारुगण्डमण्डलं
व्रजाङ्गनैकवल्लभं नमामि कृष्णदुर्लभम्।
यशोदया समोदया सगोपया सनन्दया
युतं सुखैकदायकं नमामि गोपनायकम्॥३॥
सदैव पादपङ्कजं मदीयमानसे निजं
दधानमुत्तमालकं नमामि नन्दबालकम्।
समस्तदोषशोषणं समस्तलोकपोषणं
समस्तगोपमानसं नमामि नन्दलालसम्॥४॥
भुवो भरावतारकं भवाब्धिकर्णधारकं
यशोमतीकिशोरकं नमामि चित्तचोरकम्।
दृगन्तकान्तभङ्गिनं सदा सदालसङ्गिनं
दिने दिने नवं नवं नमामि नन्दसम्भवम्॥५॥
गुणाकरं सुखाकरं कृपाकरं कृपापरं
सुरद्विषन्निकन्दनं नमामि गोपनन्दनम्।
नवीनगोपनागरं नवीनकेलिलम्पटं
नमामि मेघसुन्दरं तडित्प्रभालसत्पटम्॥६॥
समस्तगोपनन्दनं हृदम्बुजैकमोदनं
नमामि कुञ्जमध्यगं प्रसन्नभानुशोभनम्।
निकामकामदायकं दृगन्तचारुसायकं
रसालवेणुगायकं नमामि कुञ्जनायकम्॥७॥
विदग्धगोपिकामनोमनोज्ञतल्पशायिनं
नमामि कुञ्जकानने प्रवृद्धवह्निपायिनम्।
किशोरकान्तिरञ्जितं दृगञ्जनं सुशोभितं
गजेन्द्रमोक्षकारिणं नमामि श्रीविहारिणम्॥८॥
यथा तथा यथा तथा तदैव कृष्णसत्कथा
मया सदैव गीयतां तथा कृपा विधीयताम्।
प्रमाणिकाष्टकद्वयं जपत्यधीत्य यः पुमान्
भवेत्स नन्दनन्दने भवे भवे सुभक्तिमान्॥९॥
॥ इति श्रीमच्छङ्कराचार्यविरचितं श्रीकृष्णाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
bhaje vrajaikamaṇḍanaṁ samastapāpakhaṇḍanaṁ · svabhaktacittarañjanaṁ sadaiva nandanandanam · supiñchagucchamastakaṁ sunādaveṇuhastakaṁ · anaṅgaraṅgasāgaraṁ namāmi kṛṣṇanāgaram (1)
(the eight verses describe Krishna of Vraja in cascading rhyme, closing with the phalashruti) ... bhavetsa nandanandane bhave bhave subhaktimān (9).
Meaning
I worship the sole ornament of Vraja, the destroyer of all sins, who delights the hearts of his devotees, the ever-charming son of Nanda - crowned with a cluster of peacock feathers, holding the sweet-sounding flute, an ocean of the play of love; I bow to Krishna the gallant. Verse by verse the hymn paints him: lotus-eyed, breaker of pride, lifter of the mountain on his lotus hand, beloved of the maidens of Vraja, dark-beautiful as a rain-cloud lit by lightning, the cowherd-prince at play in the bowers, liberator of Gajendra. The closing verse promises that whoever recites these two times-four authoritative verses becomes, life after life, a true devotee of the son of Nanda.
About this Stotra
The Krishnashtakam beginning "Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam" is attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, the great 8th-century philosopher-saint. It is a jewel of Sanskrit devotional poetry, celebrated for its intricate internal rhyme and lilting metre that imitate the music of Krishna's flute. Across eight verses it evokes the beauty, sweetness, and pastimes of Krishna in Vrindavan - the Nanda-nandana adored by the gopis - and concludes with a phalashruti assuring lasting devotion to its reciter. Being an ancient, public-domain composition of the Shankara tradition, the full text is reproduced here.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
This ashtakam is treasured as a hymn of madhurya-bhakti, the sweet devotion that delights in Krishna's loveliness and play. Reciting it is said to destroy all sins (samasta-papa-khandana), fill the heart with love and joy, and secure unbroken devotion to Krishna across many lifetimes. Its musical beauty makes it a favourite for daily chanting, especially by those drawn to the path of loving remembrance of the Lord of Vraja.
Astrological Relevance
Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, is connected in Vedic astrology with Chandra (the Moon), for he was born on the eighth lunar day of the dark fortnight and embodies the cooling, enchanting, mind-delighting qualities the Moon governs; his flute-music and amorous play align with Shukra (Venus), karaka of love, beauty, and the arts. Chanting this hymn soothes an afflicted Moon, settles emotional unrest, and nurtures the heart's devotion. As a Vishnu stotra it also strengthens Guru (Jupiter), and is a fitting remedy for those seeking grace, joy, and relief from the burden of past karma.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Sit before an image of Krishna with a lit lamp and offer tulsi leaves, flowers, and a sweet such as butter or makhan. Recite the eight verses with feeling, ideally to their natural melody, completing with the ninth phalashruti verse. Daily recitation, especially with the heart attuned to Krishna's beauty, deepens devotion.
Best Day & Time
Wednesday (often associated with Krishna) and the Ashtami tithi are auspicious, with Janmashtami (Krishna's birth, the eighth day of dark Bhadrapada) being the supreme occasion. The predawn and evening hours of worship are especially favoured.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Krishnashtakam "Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam"?
It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century philosopher-saint, and is celebrated for its musical Sanskrit rhyme.
What is the benefit of reciting it?
Its phalashruti promises that the reciter becomes a true devotee of Krishna life after life; it is held to destroy sins and fill the heart with devotion and joy.
When is the best time to chant it?
Ashtami days and especially Janmashtami are ideal, along with daily morning or evening worship of Krishna.
Shankara's lyrical homage to the Lord of Vraja
Among the many Sanskrit hymns attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, the Krishnashtakam beginning Bhaje Vrajaika Mandanam stands apart for its sheer musicality and the intensity of its devotional longing. Though Shankaracharya is revered chiefly as the architect of Advaita Vedanta - a philosophy that ultimately resolves all forms into the formless - his bhakti compositions reveal a heart deeply moved by the beauty of the personal God. In this hymn, Krishna is celebrated through the imagery of Vraja: the forests, the flute, the cowherd companions, the playful divine pastimes that have captivated devotees for millennia. The rasa here is primarily madhura, the sweet and intimate love between the devotee and the Lord, carrying undertones of vatsalya, the tender parental affection felt by Vraja's inhabitants.
Devotees traditionally recite the Krishnashtakam on Janmashtami and on Rohini Nakshatra days, as well as on Wednesdays and during the month of Shravan, when Krishna's presence is felt most keenly in the bhakti calendar. In the Jyotish tradition, the Moon - ruler of Rohini, Krishna's birth nakshatra - and the planet Mercury, governing eloquence and verse, are both considered to benefit from the sincere recitation of this hymn. What makes this stotra particularly cherished is the way each verse carries its own complete image, building cumulatively to a vision of Krishna that is utterly vivid and utterly transcendent at once - a balance that is, perhaps, the hallmark of Shankara's unique spiritual genius.