Achyutashtakam - Hymn in Praise of Lord Krishna

अच्युतं केशवं रामनारायणं कृष्णदामोदरं वासुदेवं हरिम् ।
श्रीधरं माधवं गोपिकावल्लभं जानकीनायकं रामचन्द्रं भजे ॥ १॥

acyutaṃ keśavaṃ rāmanārāyaṇaṃ kṛṣṇadāmodaraṃ vāsudevaṃ harim .
śrīdharaṃ mādhavaṃ gopikā vallabhaṃ jānakī nāyakaṃ rāmacandraṃ bhaje .. 1..

I sing in praise of Ramachandra, Who is known as Achyuta (infallible), Keshav, Rāma, Narayana, Krishna, Damodara, Vasudeva, Hari, Shridhara (possessing Lakshmi), Madhava, Gopikavallabha (Dearest of Gopika), and Janakinayaka (Lord of Janaki or Sita).

अच्युतं केशवं सत्यभामाधवं माधवं श्रीधरं राधिकाराधितम् ।
इन्दिरामन्दिरं चेतसा सुन्दरं देवकीनन्दनं नन्दनं सन्दधे ॥ २॥

acyutaṃ keśavaṃ satyabhāmādhavaṃ mādhavaṃ śrīdharaṃ rādhikārādhitam .
indirā mandiraṃ cetasā sundaraṃ devakī nandanaṃ nandanaṃ sandadhe .. 2..

I offer a salute with my hands together to Achyuta, who is known as Keshava, who is the consort of Satyabhama (Krishna), who is known as Madhava and Shridhar, who is longed-for by Radhika, who is like a temple of Lakshmi (Indira), who is beautiful at heart, who is the son of Devaki, and who is the dear-one of all.

विष्णवे जिष्णवे शङ्खिने चक्रिणे रुक्मिणिऱागिणे जानकीजानये ।
वल्लवीवल्लभायाऽर्चितायात्मने कंसविध्वंसिने वंशिने ते नमः ॥ ३॥

viṣṇave jiṣṇave śaṅkhine cakriṇe rukmiṇi ṟāgiṇe jānakījānaye .
vallavī vallabhāyā’rcitāyātmane kaṃsa vidhvaṃsine vaṃśine te namaḥ .. 3..

Salutations for Vishnu, who conquers everyone, Who holds a conch-shell and a discus, who is the affectionate of Rukmini (Krishna), who is the consort of only Janaki (Rāma), who is the dear-one of cowherdesses, who is offered [in sacrifices], who is the Atman, who is the destroyer of Kamsa, and who plays the flute (Krishna).

कृष्ण गोविन्द हे राम नारायण श्रीपते वासुदेवाजित श्रीनिधे ।
अच्युतानन्त हे माधवाधोक्षज द्वारकानायक द्रौपदीरक्षक ॥ ४॥

kṛṣṇa govinda he rāma nārāyaṇa śrīpate vāsudevājita śrīnidhe .
acyutānanta he mādhavādhokṣaja dvārakānāyaka draupadī rakṣaka .. 4..

O Krishna! O Govinda! O Rāma! O Narayana! O Shripati! O Vasudeva, who attained the Lakshmi! O Achyuta, who is immeasurable! O Madhava! O Adhokshaja! O Leader of Dvarika! O the protector of Draupadi!

राक्षसक्षोभितः सीतया शोभितो दण्डकारण्यभूपुण्यताकारणः ।
लक्ष्मणेनान्वितो वानरैः सेवितोऽगस्त्यसम्पूजितो राघवः पातु माम् ॥ ५॥

rākṣasakṣobhitaḥ sītayā śobhito daṇḍakāraṇya bhū puṇyatā kāraṇaḥ .
lakṣmaṇenānvito vānaraiḥ sevito’gastya sampūjito rāghavaḥ pātu mām .. 5..

Raghava, who upsetted the demons, who adorned Sita, who is the cause of purification of the forest called Dandaka, who was accompanied by Lakshman, who was served by monkeys, and who was revered by Agastya, save me.

धेनुकारिष्टकोऽनिष्टकृद्द्वेषिणां केशिहा कंसहृद्वण्शिकावादकः ।
पूतनाकोपकः सूरजाखेलनो बालगोपालकः पातु माम् सर्वदा ॥ ६॥

dhenukāriṣṭako’niṣṭa kṛddveṣiṇāṃ keśihā kaṃsa hṛdvaṇśikāvādakaḥ .
pūtanākopakaḥ sūrajākhelano bālagopālakaḥ pātu mām sarvadā .. 6..

Baby Gopala (Krishna), who destroyed the disguised Dhenuka and Arishtak demons, who slayed Keshi, who killed Kansa, who plays the flute, and who got angry on Putana, save me always.

विद्युदुद्योतवत्प्रस्फुरद्वाससं प्रावृडम्भोदवत्प्रोल्लसद्विग्रहम् ।
वन्यया मालया शोभितोरःस्थलं लोहिताङ्घ्रिद्वयं वारिजाक्षं भजे ॥ ७॥

vidyududyotavatprasphuradvāsasaṃ prāvṛḍambhodavatprollasadvigraham .
vanyayā mālayā śobhitoraḥsthalaṃ lohitāṅghridvayaṃ vārijākṣaṃ bhaje .. 7..

I sing praise of the lotus-eyed lord, who is adorned by a shiny lightening like yellow robe, whose body is resplending like a cloud of the rainy-season, who is adorned by a forest-garland at his chest, and who has two feet of copper-red color.

कुञ्चितैः कुन्तलैर्भ्राजमानाननं रत्नमौलिं लसत्कुण्डलं गण्डयोः ।
हारकेयूरकं कङ्कणप्रोज्ज्वलं किङ्किणीमञ्जुलं श्यामलं तं भजे ॥ ८॥

kuñcitaiḥ kuntalairbhrājamānānanaṃ ratnamauliṃ lasatkuṇḍalaṃ gaṇḍayoḥ .
hārakeyūrakaṃ kaṅkaṇaprojjvalaṃ kiṅkiṇīmañjulaṃ śyāmalaṃ taṃ bhaje .. 8..

I sing praise of that Shyam, whose face is adorned by falling locks of curly tresses, who has jewels are forehead, who has shiny earrings on the cheeks, who is adorned with a garland of the Keyur flower, who has a shiny bracelet, and who has a melodious anklet.

अच्युतस्याष्टकं यः पठेदिष्टदं प्रेमतः प्रत्यहं पूरुषः सस्पृहम् ।
वृत्ततः सुन्दरं कर्तृ विश्वम्भरस्तस्य वश्यो हरिर्जायते सत्वरम् ॥ ९॥

acyutasyāṣṭakaṃ yaḥ paṭhediṣṭadaṃ premataḥ pratyahaṃ pūruṣaḥ saspṛham .
vṛttataḥ sundaraṃ kartṛ viśvambharastasya vaśyo harirjāyate satvaram .. 9..

He who reads this octet, which is dear to god Achyutha, which is written with love and devotion, which is beautiful because of its poetic skill, with love and devotion, would reach the lord fast and without fail.

॥ इति श्रीशङ्कराचार्यविरचितमच्युताष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

.. iti śrī śaṅkarācārya viracitamacyutāṣṭakaṃ sampūrṇam ..

Description

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna declares, “Among the Adityas, I am Vishnu” (10.21), emphasizing His supreme position. Achyutashtakam is a sacred hymn dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the immutable and imperishable One.

In verse 1 – Achyuta meaning:

Adi Shankara states, “I take refuge in Achyuta, the infallible One, whose eyes resemble lotuses”. This verse highlights Lord Vishnu’s unwavering nature and His compassionate gaze upon devotees.

Verse 2 – Achyuta’s role in creation:

“I bow to Achyuta, who is the cause of creation, sustenance, and dissolution”. Just as an engineer designs, maintains, and optimizes systems, Lord Vishnu is responsible for the cosmic processes of creation, preservation, and destruction.

Verse 3 – Achyuta as the supreme destination:

The Taittiriya Upanishad proclaims, “From Him, indeed, are born these beings; by Him, indeed, they live; into Him they enter at their death” (3.1.1). This mirrors verse 3 of Achyutashtakam, which states, “I take refuge in Achyuta, the supreme abode, into whom all beings merge at the time of cosmic dissolution”.

Verse 4 – Achyuta’s stabilising power:

Lord Vishnu’s role as the preserver, comparing Him to an anchor that provides stability. Just as an builder ensures the stability and reliability of structures, Lord Vishnu maintains the cosmic order.

Verse 5 -Achyuta’s universal lordship:

The Svetasvatara Upanishad affirms, “He is the ruler of all, the lord of all, the protector of all” (6.7). Verse 5 of Achyutashtakam echoes this sentiment, describing Lord Vishnu as the controller and protector of all beings.

Verse 6 – Achyuta’s omnipresence:

Lord Vishnu’s omnipresence, stating, “He pervades the entire universe, both internally and externally”. An engineer understands the importance of a well-integrated system, and Lord Vishnu is the unifying force that permeates all existence.

Verse 7 -Achyuta’s eternal nature:

The Katha Upanishad declares, “He is the eternal among the transient, the consciousness of the conscious” (2.2.13). Verse 7 of Achyutashtakam reflects this truth, describing Lord Vishnu as the eternal, unchanging reality amidst the transient world.

Verse 8 – Achyuta’s lotus feet as a means of liberation:

This verse culminates with a prayer for liberation, seeking refuge in Lord Vishnu’s lotus feet. Just as an builder strives for perfection in design, a devotee aspires for spiritual perfection through surrendering to the Divine.

Achyutashtakam – Hymn in Praise of Lord Krishna