nava-nīradafresh raincloud;ninditadefeating;kānti-dharamholder of the effulgence;rasa-sāgaraocean of mellows;nāgaraparamour;bhūpa-varamthe superexcellent king;śubhaauspicious;vaṅkimacrooked;cārulovely;śikhaṇḍa-śikhampeacock feather;bhajajust worship;kṛṣṇa-nidhimthe dark jewel;vraja-rāja-sutamthe son of the king of Vraja
Translation
He Whose complexion conquers that of a fresh new raincloud Who is the best King of Paramours, the ocean of ecstatic mellows Whose crown is adorned with a lovely peacock feather and is auspiciously tilted to one side-Just worship Kṛṣṇa, the Dark Jewel, the son of the King of Vraja
bhrueyebrows;viśaṅkitamade frightened;vaṅkimacrooked;śakru-dhanumthe bow of Indra (a rainbow);mukha-candramoon face;vininditainsulted;koṭi-vidhummillions of moons;mṛdu-mandasoft and gentle;su-hāsyanice smile;su-bhāṣyanice words;yutamendowed
Translation
He Whose broadly-bending eyebrows appear like arched rainbows Whose pure moonlike face belittles millions of ordinary moons Who is endowed with sweet gentle smiles and pleasant speech-Just worship Kṛṣṇa, the Dark Jewel, the son of the King of Vraja
su-vikampatprofuse trembling;anaṅgacupid;sad-aṅgadivine limbs;dharamwho bears;vraja-vāsīresidents of Vraja;manohara-veśaenchanting dress;karamwho wears;bhṛśaexceedingly;lāñchitadecorated;nīla-sarojablue lotus;dṛśameyes
Translation
He Whose divine bodily limbs tremble profusely with Cupid's agitations Who dresses enchantingly just to fascinate the Vraja-vāsīs Who is decorated with extraordinary eyes like blue lotus blossoms-Just worship Kṛṣṇa, the Dark Jewel, the son of the King of Vraja
alaka-āvalifolds of hair;maṇḍitasurrounded;bhāla-taṭamforehead;śrutifrom the ears;dolitaswinging;mākara-kuṇḍalakam-makarashaped earrings;kaṭihips;veṣṭitagirdling;pīta-paṭamyellow cloth;su-dhaṭamnice dhoṭī
Translation
He Whose forehead is surrounded by a fringe of wavy locks Whose earlobes are embellished with swaying shark-shaped earrings Who is adorned with yellow silk embracing His charming hips-Just worship Kṛṣṇa, the Dark Jewel, the son of the King of Vraja
kalasoft sound;nūpuraanklets;rājitadecorated;cāru-padamlovely feet;maṇi-rañjitacolored with gems;gañjitaresounding;bhṛṅga-madammaddening the bees;dhvajaflag;vajrathunderbolt;jhaṣafish;aṅkitamarked;pāda-yugampair of feet
Translation
He Whose beautiful feet resound with softly tinkling ankle bells that madden all the bees with their vibration of swinging gemstones Whose soles are marked with the flag, thunderbolt, fish, and more-Just worship Kṛṣṇa, the Dark Jewel, the son of the King of Vraja
bhṛśaprofuse;candanasandalwood;carcitabesmeared;cāru-tanumgraceful body;maṇi-kaustubhaby the Kaustubha gem;garhitaeclipsing;bhānuthe sun;tanumbody;vrāja-bālayouths of Vraja;śiromaṇi-rūparepresenting the crest jewel;dhṛtambearing
Translation
He Whose graceful form is smeared with profuse sandalwood paste Whose body glows with the Kaustubha gem, eclipsing the sun Whose personal beauty represents the topmost zenith of Vraja-youths-Just worship Kṛṣṇa, the Dark Jewel, the son of the King of Vraja
sura-vṛndaassembly of the godly ones;su-vandyavery fit for adoring;mukunda-harimLord Mukunda Hari;sura-nātha-śiromaṇithe crest jewel of the masters of saintly persons;sarva-gurumthe spiritual master of all;giridhārithe holder of the hill;murārithe enemy of Mura;purāri-paramgreater than Lord Śiva
Translation
He Who is Mukunda and Hari, worshipable for all the demigods and sages Who is the guru of all created beings, the crest jewel of all Lords Who is known as Giridhāri and Murāri, more exalted even than Lord Śiva-Just worship Kṛṣṇa, the Dark Jewel, the son of the King of Vraja
vṛṣabhānu-sutāthe daughter of Vrishabhānu;vara-keli paramfond of the best amorous games;rasa-rāja-śiromaṇithe pinnacle of mellow kings;veśa-dharamwearing the garments;jagat-īśvaram-īśvaramof the lords of the lords of the universe;īḍya-varamthe absolutely most worshipable
Translation
He Who is most fond of sporting with the Daughter of Vrishabhānu Who dresses impeccably as the Crown Prince of Mellow-Relishers Who is the most praiseworthy Lord of Lords in the entire universe-Just worship Kṛṣṇa, the Dark Jewel, the son of the King of Vraja
About Nava Nirada Nindita
A Sri Vraja-Raja-Sutashtakam, eight Sanskrit verses praising Krishna as 'son of the King of Vraja' (Nanda Maharaja); the opening 'nava-nirada-nindita' — 'shaming the fresh raincloud' — is a classical way of describing Krishna's dark complexion.
Frequently asked
What is the meaning of Nava Nirada Nindita?
He Whose complexion conquers that of a fresh new raincloud Who is the best King of Paramours, the ocean of ecstatic mellows Whose crown is adorned with a lovely peacock feather and is auspiciously tilted to one side-Just worship Kṛṣṇa, the Dark Jewel, the son of the King of Vraja
Where can I listen to Nava Nirada Nindita?
You can listen to 2 recordings of Nava Nirada Nindita on this page, including versions sung by ISKCON Devotees (1), ISKCON Devotees (2).
How many verses does Nava Nirada Nindita have?
Nava Nirada Nindita has 8 verses.
Can I download Nava Nirada Nindita as a PPT or PDF?
Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Nava Nirada Nindita — verse and translation on each slide — is available to download in both PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF formats from this page, for use in kirtan or temple programs.
Audio courtesy of ISKCON Devotees. All glories to the devotee singers.
