Read all eight verses of Sri Damodar Ashtakam in Devanagari and transliteration, with simple English meaning and adjustable reading size.
Eight prayers to Sri Dāmodara, Krishna bound by Mother Yaśodā’s love. Traditionally attributed to Satyavrata Muni, this hymn is recited during Kartik. Read slowly, one verse at a time.
Traditional Sanskrit text, cross-checked with ISKCON Jamnagar’s Damodarashtakam. The concise English meanings below are reading aids, not a word-for-word translation.
नमामीश्वरं सच्चिदानन्दरूपं लसत्कुण्डलं गोकुले भ्राजमानम् । यशोदाभियोलूखलाद्धावमानं परामृष्टमत्यन्ततो द्रुत्य गोप्या ॥१॥
I bow to the eternal, blissful Lord in Gokula, with His earrings swinging. Running from the mortar in fear of Yaśodā, He is caught by His loving mother.
रुदन्तं मुहुर्नेत्रयुग्मं मृजन्तं कराम्भोजयुग्मेन सातङ्कनेत्रम् । मुहुः श्वासकम्पत्रिरेखाङ्ककण्ठ- स्थितग्रैवं दामोदरं भक्तिबद्धम् ॥२॥
He cries and wipes His eyes with His lotus hands. His necklace trembles with His breathing. Dāmodara is bound by devotion.
इतीदृक्स्वलीलाभिरानन्दकुण्डे स्वघोषं निमज्जन्तमाख्यापयन्तम् । तदीयेषितज्ञेषु भक्तैर्जितत्वं पुनः प्रेमतस्तं शतावृत्ति वन्दे ॥३॥
His childhood pastimes fill Gokula with joy and reveal that love can conquer the Lord. I bow to Him again and again.
वरं देव मोक्षं न मोक्षावधिं वा न चान्यं वृणेऽहं वरेशादपीह । इदं ते वपुर्नाथ गोपालबालं सदा मे मनस्याविरास्तां किमन्यैः ॥४॥
I ask for neither liberation nor other blessings. May Your childhood form as Gopāla always appear within my heart.
इदं ते मुखाम्भोजमत्यन्तनीलै- र्वृतं कुन्तलैः स्निग्धरक्तैश्च गोप्या । मुहुश्चुम्बितं बिम्बरक्ताधरं मे मनस्याविरास्तामलं लक्षलाभैः ॥५॥
May Your lotus face, framed by dark curls and kissed by Yaśodā, remain in my mind. No other reward compares.
नमो देव दामोदरानन्त विष्णो प्रसीद प्रभो दुःखजालाब्धिमग्नम् । कृपादृष्टिवृष्ट्यातिदीनं बतानु- गृहाणेश मामज्ञमेध्यक्षिदृश्यः ॥६॥
O Dāmodara, Ananta, Viṣṇu, please be merciful. Lift me from sorrow with Your compassionate glance and reveal Yourself.
कुवेरात्मजौ बद्धमूर्त्यैव यद्वत् त्वया मोचितौ भक्तिभाजौ कृतौ च । तथा प्रेमभक्तिं स्वकां मे प्रयच्छ न मोक्षे ग्रहो मेऽस्ति दामोदरेह ॥७॥
As You freed Kuvera’s sons and blessed them with devotion, grant me loving service. Liberation is not my desire.
नमस्तेऽस्तु दाम्ने स्फुरद्दीप्तिधाम्ने त्वदीयोदरायाथ विश्वस्य धाम्ने । नमो राधिकायै त्वदीयप्रियायै नमोऽनन्तलीलाय देवाय तुभ्यम् ॥८॥
I bow to Your radiant binding rope, to Your belly that holds the universe, to Your beloved Rādhikā, and to Your endless pastimes.
Find a peaceful moment, read or sing the eight verses, and reflect on Krishna’s loving relationship with Yaśodā. If offering a diya, use a stable, fire-safe surface and follow the temple’s arrangements.
Join the evening aarti