ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣାଷ୍ଟକଂ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣତାଣ୍ଡଵସ୍ତୋତ୍ରଂ ଚ
ଶ୍ରୀ କୃଶ୍ନ ଜନ୍ମାଷ୍ଟମୀ
ନିତ୍ୟାନନ୍ଦୈକରସଂ ସଚ୍ଚିନ୍ମାତ୍ରଂ ସ୍ଵୟଞ୍ଜ୍ୟୋତିଃ ।
ପୁରୁଷୋତ୍ତମମଜମୀଶଂ ଵନ୍ଦେ ଶ୍ରୀୟାଦଵାଧୀଶମ୍ ॥
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.
ୟତ୍ର ଗାୟନ୍ତି ମଦ୍ଭକ୍ତାଃ ତତ୍ର ତିଷ୍ଠାମି ନାରଦ ।
ଶ୍ରୀ କୃଷ୍ଣାଷ୍ଟକମ୍
ଭଜେ ଵ୍ରଜୈକମଣ୍ଡନଂ ସମସ୍ତପାପଖଣ୍ଡନଂ
ସ୍ଵଭକ୍ତଚିତ୍ତରଂଜନଂ ସଦୈଵ ନନ୍ଦନନ୍ଦନମ୍ ।
ସୁପିଚ୍ଛଗୁଚ୍ଛମସ୍ତକଂ ସୁନାଦଵେଣୁହସ୍ତକଂ
ଅନଂଗରଂଗସାଗରଂ ନମାମି କୃଷ୍ଣନାଗରମ୍ ॥ ୧॥
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.
ମନୋଜଗର୍ଵମୋଚନଂ ଵିଶାଲଲୋଲଲୋଚନଂ
ଵିଧୂତଗୋପଶୋଚନଂ ନମାମି ପଦ୍ମଲୋଚନମ୍ ।
କରାରଵିନ୍ଦଭୂଧରଂ ସ୍ମିତାଵଲୋକସୁନ୍ଦରଂ
ମହେନ୍ଦ୍ରମାନଦାରଣଂ ନମାମି କୃଷ୍ଣାଵାରଣମ୍ ॥ ୨॥
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.
କଦମ୍ବସୂନକୁଣ୍ଡଲଂ ସୁଚାରୁଗଣ୍ଡମଣ୍ଡଲଂ
ଵ୍ରଜାଂଗନୈକଵଲ୍ଲଭଂ ନମାମି କୃଷ୍ଣଦୁର୍ଲଭମ୍ ।
ୟଶୋଦୟା ସମୋଦୟା ସଗୋପୟା ସନନ୍ଦୟା
ୟୁତଂ ସୁଖୈକଦାୟକଂ ନମାମି ଗୋପନାୟକମ୍ ॥ ୩॥
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.
ସଦୈଵ ପାଦପଂକଜଂ ମଦୀୟ ମାନସେ ନିଜଂ
ଦଧାନମୁକ୍ତମାଲକଂ ନମାମି ନନ୍ଦବାଲକମ୍ ।
ସମସ୍ତଦୋଷଶୋଷଣଂ ସମସ୍ତଲୋକପୋଷଣଂ
ସମସ୍ତଗୋପମାନସଂ ନମାମି ନନ୍ଦଲାଲସମ୍ ॥ ୪॥
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.
ଭୁଵୋ ଭରାଵତାରକଂ ଭଵାବ୍ଧିକର୍ଣଧାରକଂ
ୟଶୋମତୀକିଶୋରକଂ ନମାମି ଚିତ୍ତଚୋରକମ୍ ।
ଦୃଗନ୍ତକାନ୍ତଭଂଗିନଂ ସଦା ସଦାଲିସଂଗିନଂ
ଦିନେ ଦିନେ ନଵଂ ନଵଂ ନମାମି ନନ୍ଦସମ୍ଭଵମ୍ ॥ ୫॥
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.
ଗୁଣାକରଂ ସୁଖାକରଂ କୃପାକରଂ କୃପାପରଂ
ସୁରଦ୍ଵିଷନ୍ନିକନ୍ଦନଂ ନମାମି ଗୋପନନ୍ଦନମ୍ ।
ନଵୀନଗୋପନାଗରଂ ନଵୀନକେଲିଲମ୍ପଟଂ
ନମାମି ମେଘସୁନ୍ଦରଂ ତଡିତ୍ପ୍ରଭାଲସତ୍ପଟମ୍ ॥ ୬॥
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.
ସମସ୍ତଗୋପନନ୍ଦନଂ ହୃଦମ୍ବୁଜୈକମୋଦନଂ
ନମାମି କୁଂଜମଧ୍ୟଗଂ ପ୍ରସନ୍ନଭାନୁଶୋଭନମ୍ ।
ନିକାମକାମଦାୟକଂ ଦୃଗନ୍ତଚାରୁସାୟକଂ
ରସାଲଵେଣୁଗାୟକଂ ନମାମି କୁଂଜନାୟକମ୍ ॥ ୭॥
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.
ଵିଦଗ୍ଧଗୋପିକାମନୋମନୋଜ୍ଞତଲ୍ପଶାୟିନଂ
ନମାମି କୁଂଜକାନନେ ପ୍ରଵ୍ରଦ୍ଧଵନ୍ହିପାୟିନମ୍ ।
କିଶୋରକାନ୍ତିରଂଜିତଂ ଦୃଅଗଂଜନଂ ସୁଶୋଭିତଂ
ଗଜେନ୍ଦ୍ରମୋକ୍ଷକାରିଣଂ ନମାମି ଶ୍ରୀଵିହାରିଣମ୍ ॥ ୮॥
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).
ୟଦା ତଦା ୟଥା ତଥା ତଥୈଵ କୃଷ୍ଣସତ୍କଥା
ମୟା ସଦୈଵ ଗୀୟତାଂ ତଥା କୃପା ଵିଧୀୟତାମ୍ ।
ପ୍ରମାଣିକାଷ୍ଟକଦ୍ଵୟଂ ଜପତ୍ୟଧୀତ୍ୟ ୟଃ ପୁମାନ
ଭଵେତ୍ସ ନନ୍ଦନନ୍ଦନେ ଭଵେ ଭଵେ ସୁଭକ୍ତିମାନ ॥ ୯॥
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.
ଇତି ଶ୍ରୀମଚ୍ଛଂକରାଚାର୍ୟକୃତଂ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣାଷ୍ଟକଂ
କୃଷ୍ଣକୃପାକଟାକ୍ଷସ୍ତୋତ୍ରଂ ଚ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣମ୍ ॥
ଶ୍ରୀ କୃଷ୍ଣାର୍ପଣମସ୍ତୁ ॥