Nandakumar Ashtakam was written by Sri Vallabhacharya, this enchanting octet delves into the captivating persona of the heart-stealer, Shree Krishna, who captures the affections of both men and women alike. With his tall, dark, and handsome appearance and his mesmerizing flute melodies, Sri Krishna is the dream lover of all. In this octet, Shree Vallabhacharya narrates the remarkable exploits of Nanda’s cherished son, hence referring to Shree Krishna as “Nanda Kumara,” signifying his status as Nanda’s son. Shree Krishna’s extraordinary journey began in his early teenage years when he embarked on a mission to Mathura to vanquish the malevolent Kamsa and reunite with his biological parents.
Nandakumar Astakam in English:
śrīnandakumārāṣṭakam
sundaragopalam uravanamalam nayanavisalam duhkhaharam
vrndavanacandramanandakandam paramanandam dharanidharam ।
vallabhaghanasyamam purnakamam atyabhiramam pritikaram
bhaja nandakumaram sarvasukhasaram tattvavicaram brahmaparam ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
who is the beautiful Gopala of Vrindavana, with Vanamala (garland of forest flowers) hanging on his chest and with large eyes captivating everyone; whose very form removes the sufferings of his devotees,
who is the bright moon of Vrindavana, and a source of immense joy; who is the embodiment of supreme bliss himself and bears the earth within him,
who is the most beloved Ghanashyama (literally dark-colored), who is self-satisfied by being absorbed within his own divine nature, and extremely pleasing, inspiring love and affection from all,
worship that Nandakumara, the essence of all joy, by reflecting on his divine essence (which is) of the nature of supreme Brahman.
sundaravarijavadanam nirjitamadanam anandasadanam mukutadharam
gunjakrtiharam vipinaviharam paramodaram ciraharam ।
vallabhapatapitam krtaupavitam karanavanitam vibudhavaram
bhaja nandakumaram sarvasukhasaram tattvavicaram brahmaparam ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
who has a beautiful face like the lotus flower which subdues the pride of even madana (god of love) in beauty, who is an abode of joy, and who wears a crown on his head,
who wears a garland made of gunja berries and wanders in the groves with the gopis; who is extremely generous and also extremely playful, stealing the clothes of the gopis,
who is beloved of all and loves to wear yellow garments; who wears the sacred thread; who stole butter during childhood and held it in his hand and who is the supreme god,
worship that Nandakumara, the essence of all joy, by reflecting on his divine essence (which is) of the nature of supreme Brahman.
sobhitamukhadhulam yamunakulam nipataatulam sukhadataram
mukhamanḍitarenum caritadhenum vaditavenum madhurasuram ।
vallabhamativimalam subhapadakamalam nakharuci amalam timiraharam
bhaja nandakumaram sarvasukhasaram tattvavicaram brahmaparam ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
whose face is adorned with the dust of the shore of Yamuna River in Vrindavana; such a matchless adornment (of dust) gives great joy to the devotees,
who, with the adornment of dust on his face, wanders about with the cows in Vrindavana playing melodious tunes in his flute,
who is the beloved of the devotees and stainless pure divinity, whose lotus feet are a source of auspicious blessings, and the splendor of whose pure toenails remove the darkness within (the heart of devotees).
worship that Nandakumara, the essence of all joy, by reflecting on his divine essence (which is) of the nature of supreme Brahman.
siramukutasudesam kuncitakesam natavaravesam kamavaram
mayakrtamanujam haladharaanujam pratihatadanujam bharaharam ।
vallabhavrajapalam subhagasucalam hitamanukalam bhavavaram
bhaja nandakumaram sarvasukhasaram tattvavicaram brahmaparam ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
who has a crown well-decorating his head, from which curly locks flow down; who has assumed the dress of a dancing actor and the beauty of that form excels the god of love,
who has assumed a human form through his power of Maya, and became the younger brother of Haladhara (Balaram); who checked the demons and removed the weight of sins from the earth,
who is the beloved protector of Vraja, bringing good fortune to the people and guiding them well; who is always a benefactor of everyone and feels deeply for his devotees.
worship that Nandakumara, the essence of all joy, by reflecting on his divine essence (which is) of the nature of supreme Brahman.
indivarabhasam prakatasurasam kusumavikasam vamsidharam
hrtmanmathamanam rupanidhanam krtakalaganam cittaharam ।
vallabhamrduhasam kunjanivasam vividhavilasam kelikaram
bhaja nandakumaram sarvasukhasaram tattvavicaram brahmaparam ॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
who shines like the blossom of a blue lotus and manifests his divine plays like the blossom of the flowers, holding the divine flute in his hand,
who takes away the pride of Manmatha through his repository of beauty, and playing melodious music with his flute, steals the heart of all,
who is extremely dear to all and has a gentle smile; who dwells in the grooves of Vrindavana and plays various divine plays with the gopis.
worship that Nandakumara, the essence of all joy, by reflecting on his divine essence (which is) of the nature of supreme Brahman.
atiparamapravinam palitadinam bhaktadhinam karmakaram
mohanamatidhiram phanibalaviram hataparaviram taralataram ।
vallabhavrajaramanam varijavadanam haladharasamanam sailadharam
bhaja nandakumaram sarvasukhasaram tattvavicaram brahmaparam ॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
who is very skillful and wise, and protects the distressed; who is under the control of his devotees and performs his duties in a steady manner,
who is very captivating as well as composed, and who with his elder brother Balavira (i.e. Balarama), the incarnation of serpent Shesha, killed mighty enemies; who is also extremely playful,
who is very dear to the gopis of Vraja and delights them with his lotus-like face; who pacifies the anger of Haladhara (i.e. Balarama) and lifts the Govardhana mountain.
worship that Nandakumara, the essence of all joy, by reflecting on his divine essence (which is) of the nature of supreme Brahman.
jaladharadyutiaṅgam lalitatribhaṅgam bahukrtaraṅgam rasikavaram
gokulaparivaram madanakaram kunjaviharam guḍhataram ।
vallabhavrajacandram subhagasuchandam krtaanandam bhrantiharam
bhaja nandakumaram sarvasukhasaram tattvavicaram brahmaparam ॥ 7 ॥
Meaning:
whose body has the splendor of rain clouds and bends in three parts in a playful attitude, who performed many plays and is a great rasika (one who delights in rasa or love plays),
who treats the entire Gokul as a great family, and with his beautiful form which is like Madana (god of love), moves about in the grooves of Vraja performing his divine plays; who is also very mysterious,
who is the beloved moon of Vraja, bringing good fortune to all, and with his alluring form he gives great joy to all, taking away the delusion and monotony from life,
worship that Nandakumara, the essence of all joy, by reflecting on his divine essence (which is) of the nature of supreme Brahman.
vanditayugacaranam pavanakaranam jagaduddharanam vimaladharam
kaliyasiragamanam krtaphaninamanam ghatitayamanam mrdulataram ।
vallabhaduhkhaharanam nirmalacaranam asaranasaranam muktikaram
bhaja nandakumaram sarvasukhasaram tattvavicaram brahmaparam ॥ 8 ॥
Meaning:
whose pair of feet is extolled by the devotees; that pair of feet which make everything pure and uplift the world; that pair of feet which has embodied purity itself,
who moving about over the head of the serpent Kaliya bent its hood and danced over them, after destroying its deadly bind with his soft and tender body,
who is the beloved of the devotees and takes away their sorrows, and his pure holy feet give refuge to those who are without refuge, and finally grant them liberation,
worship that Nandakumara, the essence of all joy, by reflecting on his divine essence (which is) of the nature of supreme Brahman.
॥ iti srimahaprabhuvallabhacaryaviracitam srinandakumarastakam sampurnam ॥
Also Read:
Hymn to Krishna as Nandakumar – Nandakumar Astakam in Hindi | English | Bengali | Gujarati | Punjabi | Kannada | Malayalam | Oriya | Telugu | Tamil
