শ্রীকৃষ্ণাষ্টকং শ্রীকৃষ্ণতাণ্ডবস্তোত্রং চ
শ্রী কৃশ্ন জন্মাষ্টমী
নিত্যানন্দৈকরসং সচ্চিন্মাত্রং স্বয়ঞ্জ্যোতিঃ ।
পুরুষোত্তমমজমীশং বন্দে শ্রীয়াদবাধীশম্ ॥
I adore Krishna, the Supreme Person, the Unborn Lord, the Self-effulgent One, the Supreme Lord of the descendants of Yadu, Whose nature is that of existence and consciousness, and Whose essence is entirely that of eternal bliss.
From Prabodha sudhakara of shrI shankaracharya The birthday of shri Krishna is usually taken to be the Shravana Krishna Ashtami, but is sometimes assigned to the month Bhadrapada, especially in Northern India.
According to traditional sources, the Janmashtami is observed on the day when the ashtami tithi occurs at midnight . If the ashtami tithi AND the Rohini nakshatra occur on the same day, then the observance is considered to be doubly sacred; otherwise the observance is held on the day on which the ashtami prevails at midnight.
The vrata mainly consists of fasting, spending the whole night in the worship of Krishna, reciting hymns of praise and Krishna’s pastimes, reciting prayers from the Bhagavata, offering arghya to Krishna, and the parana or the ceremonial breaking of the fast . The next day is celebrated as Krishna Jayanti.
Celebrations are held on a grand scale in all Krishna temples, especially the ones in Vrindavan, Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Dvaraka (Gujarat), and other regionally famous temples. Although, the great Vedantin Adi shankara preached the path of knowledge (Jnana), fiercely criticizing and routing various schools of philosophy, he did not decry the path of devotion (Bhakti). On the contrary, one is able to discern from his writings that he had a soft-corner for Bhakti . shankara did not only believe in the efficacy of Bhakti in the realization of Brahman, but he also actually composed many stotras or hymns in praise of Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Ganapati, Skanda, etc.
One such hymn is the shri Krishna Ashtaka or eight verses in praise of shri Krishna . This stotra, like many of shankara’s stotras, has a musical effect and may be easily set to music . It is, therefore, recommended that the stotra be sung, not just recited . For Lord Vishnu has promised to be present wherever His devotees sing His glories.
য়ত্র গায়ন্তি মদ্ভক্তাঃ তত্র তিষ্ঠামি নারদ ।
শ্রী কৃষ্ণাষ্টকম্
ভজে ব্রজৈকমণ্ডনং সমস্তপাপখণ্ডনং
স্বভক্তচিত্তরংজনং সদৈব নন্দনন্দনম্ ।
সুপিচ্ছগুচ্ছমস্তকং সুনাদবেণুহস্তকং
অনংগরংগসাগরং নমামি কৃষ্ণনাগরম্ ॥ ১॥
I worship the naughty Krishna, the sole ornament of Vraja, Who destroys all the sins (of His devotees), Who delights the minds of His devotees, the joy of Nanda, Whose head is adorned with peacock feathers, Who holds a sweet-sounding flute in His hand, and Who is the ocean of the art of love.
মনোজগর্বমোচনং বিশাললোললোচনং
বিধূতগোপশোচনং নমামি পদ্মলোচনম্ ।
করারবিন্দভূধরং স্মিতাবলোকসুন্দরং
মহেন্দ্রমানদারণং নমামি কৃষ্ণাবারণম্ ॥ ২॥
I bow to Krishna Who rid Kama deva of his pride, Who has beautiful, large eyes, Who takes away the sorrows of the Gopas (cowherds), the lotus-eyed One . I bow to Krishna Who lifted the (Govardhana) hill with His hand, Whose smile and glance are extremely attractive, Who destroyed the pride of Indra, and Who is like the King of elephants.
কদম্বসূনকুণ্ডলং সুচারুগণ্ডমণ্ডলং
ব্রজাংগনৈকবল্লভং নমামি কৃষ্ণদুর্লভম্ ।
য়শোদয়া সমোদয়া সগোপয়া সনন্দয়া
য়ুতং সুখৈকদায়কং নমামি গোপনায়কম্ ॥ ৩॥
I bow to that Krishna Who wears earrings made of Kadamba flowers, Who has beautiful cheeks, Who is the only darling of the Gopikas of Vraja, and Who is very difficult to attain (by any means other than Bhakti). I bow to Krishna Who is accompanied by Gopas (cowherds), Nanda, and an overjoyed Yashoda,Who gives (His devotees) nothing but happiness, and Who is the Lord of the Gopas.
সদৈব পাদপংকজং মদীয় মানসে নিজং
দধানমুক্তমালকং নমামি নন্দবালকম্ ।
সমস্তদোষশোষণং সমস্তলোকপোষণং
সমস্তগোপমানসং নমামি নন্দলালসম্ ॥ ৪॥
I bow to the son of Nanda, Who has placed His lotus feet in my mind and Who has beautiful curls of hair . I adore Krishna Who removes all defects, Who nourishes all the worlds and Who is desired by all the Gopas and Nanda.
ভুবো ভরাবতারকং ভবাব্ধিকর্ণধারকং
য়শোমতীকিশোরকং নমামি চিত্তচোরকম্ ।
দৃগন্তকান্তভংগিনং সদা সদালিসংগিনং
দিনে দিনে নবং নবং নমামি নন্দসম্ভবম্ ॥ ৫॥
I bow to Krishna Who relieves the burden of the earth (by vanquishing innumerable demons and other evil forces), Who helps us cross the ocean of miseries, Who is the son of Yasoda, and Who steals the hearts of everyone . I bow to Nanda’s son Who has extremely attractive eyes, Who is always accompanied by saintly devotees, and Whose (pastimes and form) appear newer and newer, day by day.
গুণাকরং সুখাকরং কৃপাকরং কৃপাপরং
সুরদ্বিষন্নিকন্দনং নমামি গোপনন্দনম্ ।
নবীনগোপনাগরং নবীনকেলিলম্পটং
নমামি মেঘসুন্দরং তডিত্প্রভালসত্পটম্ ॥ ৬॥
Krishna is the repository of all good qualities, all happiness, and grace . He destroys the enemies of the gods and delights the Gopas . I bow to the mischievous cowherd Krishna, Who is attached to His exploits, which (appear) new (every day), Who has the handsome complexion of a dark cloud, and Who wears a yellow garment (pitambara) that shines likes lightning.
সমস্তগোপনন্দনং হৃদম্বুজৈকমোদনং
নমামি কুংজমধ্যগং প্রসন্নভানুশোভনম্ ।
নিকামকামদায়কং দৃগন্তচারুসায়কং
রসালবেণুগায়কং নমামি কুংজনায়কম্ ॥ ৭॥
Krishna delights all the Gopas and (plays with them) in the center of the grove (kunja). He is appears as
resplendent and pleasing as the sun and causes the lotus that is the heart (of the devotee) to blossom
with joy . I bow to that Lord of the grove of creepers Who completely fulfills the desires (of the devotees), Whose beautiful glances are like arrows, and Who plays melodious tunes on the flute.
বিদগ্ধগোপিকামনোমনোজ্ঞতল্পশায়িনং
নমামি কুংজকাননে প্রব্রদ্ধবন্হিপায়িনম্ ।
কিশোরকান্তিরংজিতং দৃঅগংজনং সুশোভিতং
গজেন্দ্রমোক্ষকারিণং নমামি শ্রীবিহারিণম্ ॥ ৮॥
Krishna lies down on the bed that is the minds of the intelligent Gopis who always think of Him . I adore Him Who drank the spreading forest-fire (in order to protect the cowherd community). I bow to Krishna Who has eyes which are made attractive by His boyhood charm and a black unguent (anjan), Who liberated the elephant Gajendra (from the jaws of the crocodile), and Who is the consort of Lakshmi (shri).
য়দা তদা য়থা তথা তথৈব কৃষ্ণসত্কথা
ময়া সদৈব গীয়তাং তথা কৃপা বিধীয়তাম্ ।
প্রমাণিকাষ্টকদ্বয়ং জপত্যধীত্য য়ঃ পুমান
ভবেত্স নন্দনন্দনে ভবে ভবে সুভক্তিমান ॥ ৯॥
O Lord Krishna! Please bless me so that I may sing your glories and pastimes, regardless of the position I am in. Anyone who studies or recites these two authoritative ashtakas will be blessed with devotion to Krishna in every rebirth.
Note: The two ashtakas referred to above are the shri Krishna Ashtaka and the Krishna Ashtaka.
ইতি শ্রীমচ্ছংকরাচার্যকৃতং শ্রীকৃষ্ণাষ্টকং
কৃষ্ণকৃপাকটাক্ষস্তোত্রং চ সম্পূর্ণম্ ॥
শ্রী কৃষ্ণার্পণমস্তু ॥