Sri Sri Damodarashtakam

The Damodarashtakam is a beautiful prayer composed by Satyavrata Muni and written by Vyasa Deva. It describes the Damodara Lila of Lord Krishna, in which Mother Yashoda chases little Krishna, who is crying like an ordinary child. However, in reality, he is the Supreme Almighty Lord, the source of all creation, whose very existence makes even fear itself tremble.

“In the month of Kartika one should worship Lord Damodara and daily recite the prayer known as Damodarashtaka, which has been spoken by the sage Satyavrata and which attracts Lord Damodara.” (Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa 2.16.198)

Damodarashtakam consists of eight verses praising Lord Krishna in His form as Damodara.

This is described in the Padma Purana of Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa, spoken by Satyavrata Muni in a conversation with Narada Muni and Saunaka Rishi.

Verse 1

In the opening verse, Satyavrata Muni offers his obeisances to Lord Damodara, praising His divine form and the sweet pastimes He performs in Gokula, especially His playful escape from Mother Yashoda's attempts to catch Him.

namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda-bhiyolukalad-dhavamanam
paramrstam atyantato drutya gopya

“I bow down to the supreme controller, Sri Damodara, whose form is the embodiment of eternity, knowledge, and bliss. His glistening earrings swing playfully to and fro upon His cheeks. He manifests super-excellent pastimes in Gokula, stealing fresh butter suspended from the rafters of the gopis’ storerooms. In fear of Mother Yashoda, He jumps down from a wooden grinding mortar and quickly runs away. She runs swiftly after Him and finally catches Him from behind.”

Satyavrata Muni begins with the offering of obeisances (namami) as an auspicious invocation, mangalacarana. He invokes the mercy of Lord Damodara to empower him to offer this prayer by the word Ishvara, the supreme controller.

 

Verse 2

This verse emphasizes the emotional display of Lord Krishna’s childhood, where He cries and shows fear as Mother Yashoda binds Him with ropes. This verse highlights the contrast between His divine nature and His display of vulnerability out of pure love for His mother.

rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrjantam
karambhoja-yugmena satanka-netram
muhuh svasa-kampa-tri-rekhanka-kantha-
sthita-graivam damodaram bhakti-baddham

“He cries and rubs His eyes again and again with His two lotus hands. His eyes are fearful and His breathing quick. As Mother Yashoda binds His belly with ropes, He shivers in fright and the pearl necklace shakes upon His neck, which is marked with three lines like a conch shell. To the Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, whose belly is bound by His mother’s pure love, not by rope, I offer my humble obeisances.”

 

Verse 3

This verse speaks of Lord Krishna's divine pastimes, which constantly immerse the residents of Gokula in bliss. Satyavrata Muni acknowledges that the Lord is only conquered by the pure love of His devotees, not by any other means.

itidrk-sva-lilabhir ananda-kunde
sva-ghosam nimajjantam akhyapayan
tamtadiyesita-jnesu bhaktair jitatvam
punah prematas tam satavrtti vande

“O my Lord, by Your own childhood pastimes, You continually immerse the residents of Gokula in pools of ecstasy. You reveal to those who are attracted to Your majesty and opulence, that You are only conquered by the love of Your pure devotees. Again I offer my obeisances with love and devotion hundreds and hundreds of times.”

 

Verse 4

In this verse, Satyavrata Muni expresses his unwavering desire to only experience the form of Lord Krishna as Bala Gopal in Vrindavana. He renounces all desires for liberation or other material blessings, seeking only to remain in the Lord's divine presence.

varam deva moksam na moksavadhim va 
na canyam vrne ’ham varesad apiha
idam te vapur natha gopala-balam
sada me manasy avirastam kim anyaih

“O Lord Damodara, although You are able to give all kinds of benedictions, I do not pray to You for liberation, nor the supreme goal of eternal life in Vaikuntha, nor for any other boon. My only desire, O Lord, is that Your form as Bala Gopal in Vrindavana may constantly remain in my heart. I have no use for any other boon besides this.”

 

Verse 5

This verse celebrates Lord Krishna's enchanting appearance, particularly His beautiful face and the divine sweetness He emanates. Satyavrata Muni expresses a deep longing for this vision to remain in his heart forever.

idam te mukhambhojam atyanta-nilair-
vrtam kuntalaih snigdha-raktais ca gopya
muhus cumbitam bimba-raktadharam me
manasy avirastam alam laksa-labhaih

“Your supremely enchanting face, encircled by shining locks of dark blue curling hair, resembles the fully blossomed lotus, tinged with a reddish luster, due to being kissed again and again by Mother Yashoda. May this vision of Your lotus face, with lips as red as bimba fruit, remain forever in my heart. Millions of other benedictions are of no benefit to me.”

 

Verse 6

Satyavrata Muni prays for the mercy of Lord Damodara, recognizing His unlimited beauty and compassion. He seeks relief from the ocean of suffering and desires to experience the Lord's presence through His divine glance.

namo deva damodarananta visno
prasida prabho duhkha-jalabdhi-magnam
krpa-drsti-vrstyati-dinam batanu-
grhanesa mam ajnam edhy aksi-drsyah

“O Damodara! O Lord of divine beauty and unlimited mercy! O all pervading Vishnu! I offer my obeisances unto You. May You be pleased with me. I am drowning in an ocean of sorrow and feeling almost dead. Shower Your nectar laden glances upon me, thereby uplifting me and enthusing me with life. Please accept me, O Lord, and become visible before my eyes.”

 

Verse 7

This verse refers to the Lord’s mercy on the sons of Kuvera, who were liberated by His grace. Satyavrata Muni prays for the same grace and devotion, asking for pure love for the Lord to be bestowed upon him.

kuveratmajau baddha-murtyaiva yad-vat
tvaya mocitau bhakti-bhajau krtau ca
tatha prema-bhaktim svakam me prayaccha
na mokse graho me ‘sti damodareha

“O Lord Damodara, although Mother Yashoda bound Your divine form to a wooden grinding mortar, You mercifully delivered the sons of Kuvera, Manigriva and Nalakuvara, who were cursed to stand as trees, and You gave them the gift of devotional service. Please bless me in this same way with Your most wonderful prema bhakti. I have no eagerness for any other type of liberation.”

 

Verse 8

The final verse praises Lord Damodara's divine belly, which holds the entire universe. Satyavrata Muni humbly offers his obeisances to the Lord and to His dearest consort, Srimati Radharani, who shares in His unlimited pastimes.

namas te ‘stu damne sphurad dipti-dhamne
tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne
namo radhikayai tvadiya priyayai
namo ‘nanta-lilaya devaya tubhyam

“O Lord, I offer respectful obeisances unto Your belly, the abode of the entire universe, which is bound by Mother Yashoda with a brilliantly effulgent rope. To this rope I offer my humble obeisances. I offer repeated obeisances to Your dearmost beloved Srimati Radharani, and I bow before You, who are performing unlimited super-excellent pastimes.”
 

Thus Damodarashtakam beautifully express the sweetness, power, and mercyful quality of Lord Krishna in His Damodara form. Through out the eight verses, Satyavrata Muni expresses his deep love, devotion, and longing for Lord Krishna, offering His divine pastimes as the ultimate source of bliss. The prayer emphasizes that the Lord is only conquered by the love of His devotees and that pure devotion is the highest form of worship. As one recites this prayer, they invite the divine presence of Lord Damodara into their hearts, seeking to live in His loving embrace, free from material desires.