Śrī Mukundāṣṭakam
Balabhid-upala-kānti — Eight Prayers to Śrī Mukunda
His beautiful form outshines the lustre of the sapphire, and on it the saffron kuṅkuma left by Gāndharvikā's loving play adds still more splendour to Love, the king who reigns over the kingdom of His body. May that Mukunda fulfil the desire of my eyes.
His face surpasses the radiance of countless rising moons. He is utterly charming, the last traces of boyhood still glowing in the first bloom of youth. In the gathering of friends, His swinging earrings set the hearts of Lalitā and her companions swaying. May that Mukunda fulfil the desire of my eyes.
Around His hips He wears a yellow cloth that puts a heap of gold to shame, and over it a fresh red cloth. Dressed this way, He seems to wear the very colour dear to His beloved: her golden complexion, tinged with the red of rāga, her love. May that Mukunda fulfil the desire of my eyes.
On a summer evening, in Rādhā-kuṇḍa, the lake dear to Him, whose waters are rich with the scent of many fragrant flowers, He plays with Rādhā as her friends gather around, splashing her with water that awakens love. May that Mukunda fulfil the desire of my eyes.
Ah! Catching the fragrance of Gāndharvikā here, His body thrills with joy and at once He becomes wild with longing, breathing in every part of the forest that her fragrance has perfumed. May that Mukunda fulfil the desire of my eyes.
Resting His strong arm on the shoulder of Kīrtidā's lovely daughter, He kisses her cheek, which blossoms with a smile, and so spreads the joy of love. May that Mukunda fulfil the desire of my eyes.
For the arrogant hosts of demons He is a wondrous fire of universal dissolution. In the land of Vraja He is His parents' love in visible form. And for Rādhikā He is the dark-hued great king of the first and foremost rasa, mādhurya. May that Mukunda fulfil the desire of my eyes.
To break the māna, the loving pique, of Rādhā, who is pained by love, He wins over gentle Viśākhā by telling her of His own distress, and with sweet, coaxing words He pleads with Lalitā, whose nature is bold. May that Mukunda fulfil the desire of my eyes.
Whoever holds the senses back from all attachment to sense objects and recites this aṣṭaka of Mukunda with heartfelt pleading, to that person the youthful prince of Vraja reveals Himself together with Rādhā, and He counts that person among His beloved's own companions.
About Śrī Mukundāṣṭakam
Eight verses from Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī's Stava-mālā, each ending with the same prayer: "may Mukunda fulfil the desire of my eyes", that is, to see Him. They show Kṛṣṇa only in His dealings with Śrī Rādhā and her friends: outshining sapphires, swaying Lalitā and the sakhīs with His earrings, playing in Rādhā-kuṇḍa on summer evenings, and finally pleading with Viśākhā and Lalitā to soften Rādhā's pique. kksongs notes that Rūpa and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī composed it together.
- Composer
- Rupa Goswami · Read biography
- Mood
- Verses
- 9
Frequently asked
Who wrote Śrī Mukundāṣṭakam?
Śrī Mukundāṣṭakam was composed by Rupa Goswami.
What is the meaning of Śrī Mukundāṣṭakam?
His beautiful form outshines the lustre of the sapphire, and on it the saffron kuṅkuma left by Gāndharvikā's loving play adds still more splendour to Love, the king who reigns over the kingdom of His body. May that Mukunda fulfil the desire of my eyes.
How many verses does Śrī Mukundāṣṭakam have?
Śrī Mukundāṣṭakam has 9 verses.
Can I download Śrī Mukundāṣṭakam as a PPT or PDF?
Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Śrī Mukundāṣṭakam — 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.