Sri Govinda Ashtakam by Sri Adishankaracharya – Lyrics & meanings

|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||

|| Govinda ||

I shall prostrate before  Lord Govinda, who is the cause of perpetual bliss; he is the personification of eternal wisdom, truth, persistent and boundless in nature.   I shall prostrate before Lord Govinda, who effortlessly crawl in the cowsheds, he is the solution to the troubles and he is beyond any tribulation,  My salutation to Lord Govinda who is the consort of Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi,  Lord of the Universe appears in numerous forms or formless due to illusion.  I shall prostrate before Lord Govinda, who is the cause of perpetual bliss, mischievous child of Yasodha who consumed mud and besieged with the punishment of Mother Yasodha, exposed visible and invisible part of fourteen worlds in his mouth, he is the pinnacle of the three worlds, exists in visible and invisible form and he is the Lord of the Earth, I shall prostrate before Lord Govinda, who is the cause of eternal bliss, killed several mighty demons, who were the enemies of Suras, in order to reduce the burden of Earth.  He alleviates the sorrows and illnesses in daily life, remains always detached, consumes butter in abundance, eats nothing other than the Universe,  shines in the crystal clear mind of devotees but cannot be exposed, he is the personification of peace. I shall prostrate before Lord Govinda, who is the cause of eternal bliss, protects all the living beings in the form of a mischievous cowherd, he protects whoever takes good care of the cows. He good-naturedly lifted the Mount Govardhana and made the Gopis dance and Gopas delightful.  Oh!  Lord Govinda, you are unapproachable for the ignorant, oh! Lord Govinda you are the protector of cows and have many names. I shall prostrate before Lord Govinda, who is the cause of eternal bliss, present in every bunch of Gopis, appears in various forms, and impossible to tell apart.  Oh! Lord Govinda, your magnificent form is completely covered by the dust raised by the hooves of cows.  You are approachable through sincere devotion and dedication of mind of the devotees, you are unreachable and your supremacy can be conceived only by the virtuous individuals in their thoughts. I shall prostrate before Lord Govinda, who is the cause of perpetual bliss, carried away the clothes of beautiful young maidens of Vraja while they were having a bath in the river, and settled on the tree, shortly commanded them to come forward and collect their clothes without any clothes on their body.  Oh! Lord Govinda, who has perfect control over senses, you are the destroyer of sorrows and passion, you are intellect, and you symbolize wisdom. I shall prostrate before Lord Govinda, who is the cause of perpetual bliss, you are gorgeous, you are the cause for all the causes, you are primordial with no beginning and no end, you have marvelously danced on the hoods of serpent Kaliya in the river Yamuna.  Oh! Lord Govinda, who is dark-complexioned, omnipresent, and destroyer of evil effects of the Kali era, and he is the cause of passage of time from past to future. I shall prostrate before Lord Govinda who is the cause of perpetual bliss, dwells in the sacred land of Brindavan is being worshiped by the deities, his nectar-like smile has the resemblance of jasmine flower, and he is the provider of happiness to his associates.  Oh! Lord Govinda, whose two little feet are worshiped by great Sages and righteous people, Oh! Lord Govinda, you are the ocean of virtues which is venerated by all. Whoever reads or recites this splendid verses of  Sri Govinda Ashtakam and pronounce the various glorious names such as Govinda !  Achyutha !  Madhava ! Vishnu ! Gokulanayaka ! Krishna would be drenched in the nectar-like devotion to Lord Govinda, all his/her sins will be washed off and eventually attain the abode of Lord Govinda which is the supreme abode of eternal bliss.

Sathyam Gnanam Anantham  Nithyam Anakasham Paramakasham |Goshta Prangana Ringana  Lolam Anayasam Paramayasam |Maya Kalpitham Nanakaram Anakaram Bhuvanakaram |

Kshama Manadhamanadham Pranamatha Govindam Paramanandham ||

Mruthsna Mathsihethi Yasodha Thadana Shaishava  Santhrasham |Vyadhitha Vakthra  Lokitha Lokaloka Chathurdhasha Lokalam |Lokathraya Pura  Moolasthambham Lokaloka Manalokam |

Lokesham Paramesham Pranamatha  Govindam Paramanandham ||

Thraivishta  Paripu Veeragnam Kshithi Bharagnam Bhava Rogagnam |Kaivalyam Navaneetha Haramanaharam Bhuvanaharam |Vaimalya  Spuda Chethovruththi Visheshabasam Anabasam |

Shaivam Kevalashantham Pranamatha Govindam Paramanandham ||

Gopalam Bhoo Leelavigraha  Gopalam Kula Gopalam |Gopikhelana Govardhana Dhruthi Leelalalitha  Gopalam |Gopirnni Gadhitha Govinda Spuda Namanam Bahunamanam |

Gopigochara  Dhooram Pranamatha  Govindam Paramanandham ||

Gopi Mandala  Goshti Bhedham  Bhedhavasdha Mabedhabam |Shashvath Goghura Nirdhoothoth Kritha  Dhooli Dhoosura Soubhagyam |Shraddha Bhakthi Griheethanandham Achinthyam Chinthitha Sadbhavam |Chinthamani Mahimanam Pranamatha Govidam Paramanandham ||

Snana Vyakula Yoshidhvasthra Mupadhayaga Muparoodam |Vyadhissantheeradha  Dhigvasthra Hyupadhathu Mupakarshantham |Nirdhootha Dhvaya Shoka Vimoham Buddham Buddheranthastham |Saththa Mathra Shareeram Pranamatha Govindam Paramanandham ||

Kantham Karana Karanam Adi Anadhim Kalamanabhasam |Kalindi Gatha Kaliya Shirasi Muhur  Nruthyantham Su Nruthyantham |Kalam  Kala Kalatheetham Kalithashesham Kali Dhoshagnam |

Kalathraya  Gathi HethumPranamatha Govindam Paramanandham ||

Vrudhavana Bhuvi  Vrindharaka Gana Vrundharadhyam Vandheham |Kundhabha Mala Mandhasmera Sudhanandham Suhrudhanandham |Vandhya Shesham Mahamunimanasa Vandhya  Nandha Padhadhvandham |Vandhya Shesha  Gunabdhim Pranamatha Govindam Paramanandham ||

Govindashtakam Yetha Dhatheethe Govindharppitha Chetha Yo |Govinda Achyutha  Madhava Vishno Gokulanayaka Krishnethi |Govindhanghri Saroja Dhyana  Sudha Jala Dhoutha Samasthagho |Govindam Paramanandham Amrutha  Manthastham Sa  Samabhyethi ||

|| Ithi Govindashtakam Sampoornam ||