How does the Supreme Lord, who maintains the entire universe, become bound by His mother? Sri Damodarashtakam brings us into this tender childhood pastime of Lord Krishna, revealing the extraordinary place of love in His relationship with His devotees.
This eight-verse prayer describes Mother Yashoda’s affection, Krishna’s childhood beauty and a devotee’s longing for His mercy. Below are the complete Damodarashtakam lyrics in Sanskrit and English transliteration, followed by simple English meanings. Devotees especially sing this prayer during Kartik while offering lamps to Lord Damodara.
What Is Damodarashtakam?
Damodarashtakam, also written as Damodarastakam or Damodara Ashtakam, is an eight-verse Sanskrit prayer attributed to Satyavrata Muni and traditionally identified with the Padma Purana.
The prayer glorifies Lord Krishna as Damodara, the Lord whose belly was bound with a rope by Mother Yashoda. Its verses move from descriptions of His childhood pastime to heartfelt prayers for remembrance, mercy and loving devotional service.
Damodarashtakam Lyrics with English Meaning
The Sanskrit verses below are accompanied by Roman transliteration for recitation. The English meanings are simple explanatory renderings.
Verse 1: Mother Yashoda Catches Krishna
Sanskrit
नमामीश्वरं सच्चिदानन्दरूपं
लसत्कुण्डलं गोकुले भ्राजमानम् ।
यशोदाभियोलूखलाद् धावमानं
परामृष्टमत्यन्ततो द्रुत्य गोप्या ॥१॥
English transliteration
namāmīśvaraṁ sac-cid-ānanda-rūpaṁ
lasat-kuṇḍalaṁ gokule bhrājamānam
yaśodā-bhiyolūkhalād dhāvamānaṁ
parāmṛṣṭam atyantato drutya gopyā
Simple English meaning
I bow to the Supreme Lord, whose form is eternal, full of knowledge and bliss. His earrings shine as He appears in Gokula. Fleeing the grinding mortar in fear of Mother Yashoda, He is caught by her as she swiftly follows Him.
Verse 2: Krishna Is Bound by Devotion
Sanskrit
रुदन्तं मुहुर्नेत्रयुग्मं मृजन्तं
कराम्भोजयुग्मेन सातङ्कनेत्रम् ।
मुहुः श्वासकम्पत्रिरेखाङ्ककण्ठ-
स्थितग्रैवं दामोदरं भक्तिबद्धम् ॥२॥
English transliteration
rudantaṁ muhur netra-yugmaṁ mṛjantaṁ
karāmbhoja-yugmena sātaṅka-netram
muhuḥ śvāsa-kampa-trirekhāṅka-kaṇṭha-
sthita-graivaṁ dāmodaraṁ bhakti-baddham
Simple English meaning
Krishna cries, repeatedly rubbing His eyes with His lotus hands. His frightened eyes and trembling breath move the necklace upon His neck, marked with three lines. I bow to Lord Damodara, who is bound by devotion.
Verse 3: The Lord Is Conquered by Love
Sanskrit
इतीदृक् स्वलीलाभिरानन्दकुण्डे
स्वघोषं निमज्जन्तमाख्यापयन्तम् ।
तदीयेशितज्ञेषु भक्तैर्जितत्वं
पुनः प्रेमतस्तं शतावृत्ति वन्दे ॥३॥
English transliteration
itīdṛk sva-līlābhir ānanda-kuṇḍe
sva-ghoṣaṁ nimajjantam ākhyāpayantam
tadīyeśita-jñeṣu bhaktair jitatvaṁ
punaḥ prematas taṁ śatāvṛtti vande
Simple English meaning
Through these pastimes, Krishna immerses the people of Gokula in an ocean of happiness. He reveals to those who know His supreme power that His devotees can conquer Him through love. With affection, I bow to Him hundreds of times.
Verse 4: A Prayer to Remember Bala Gopala
Sanskrit
वरं देव मोक्षं न मोक्षावधिं वा
न चान्यं वृणेऽहं वरेशादपीह ।
इदं ते वपुर्नाथ गोपालबालं
सदा मे मनस्याविरास्तां किमन्यैः ॥४॥
English transliteration
varaṁ deva mokṣaṁ na mokṣāvadhiṁ vā
na cānyaṁ vṛṇe ’haṁ vareśād apīha
idaṁ te vapur nātha gopāla-bālaṁ
sadā me manasy āvirāstāṁ kim anyaiḥ
Simple English meaning
O Lord, although You can grant every blessing, I seek neither liberation nor its highest destination, nor any other gift. May Your childhood form as Gopala always appear within my mind. What need have I for anything else?
Verse 5: Krishna’s Lotus Face
Sanskrit
इदं ते मुखाम्भोजमत्यन्तनीलैर्-
वृतं कुन्तलैः स्निग्धरक्तैश्च गोप्या ।
मुहुश्चुम्बितं बिम्बरक्ताधरं मे
मनस्याविरास्तामलं लक्षलाभैः ॥५॥
English transliteration
idaṁ te mukhāmbhojam atyanta-nīlair-
vṛtaṁ kuntalaiḥ snigdha-raktaiś ca gopyā
muhuś cumbitaṁ bimba-raktādharaṁ me
manasy āvirāstām alaṁ lakṣa-lābhaiḥ
Simple English meaning
May Your lotus face, framed by dark, soft locks of hair and repeatedly kissed by Mother Yashoda, always appear in my mind. Your lips are red like bimba fruit. Countless other gains hold no value beside this vision.
Verse 6: A Prayer for Mercy
Sanskrit
नमो देव दामोदरानन्त विष्णो
प्रसीद प्रभो दुःखजालाब्धिमग्नम् ।
कृपादृष्टिवृष्ट्यातिदीनं बतानु-
गृहाणेश मामज्ञमेध्यक्षिदृश्यः ॥६॥
English transliteration
namo deva dāmodarānanta viṣṇo
prasīda prabho duḥkha-jālābdhi-magnam
kṛpā-dṛṣṭi-vṛṣṭyāti-dīnaṁ batānu-
gṛhāṇeśa mām ajñam edhy akṣi-dṛśyaḥ
Simple English meaning
O divine Damodara, unlimited Lord Vishnu, I bow to You. Please be merciful to me as I struggle in an ocean of suffering. Shower Your compassionate glance upon this helpless, ignorant soul, bless me and become visible to my eyes.
Verse 7: A Prayer for Loving Devotion
Sanskrit
कुवेरात्मजौ बद्धमूर्त्यैव यद्वत्
त्वया मोचितौ भक्तिभाजौ कृतौ च ।
तथा प्रेमभक्तिं स्वकां मे प्रयच्छ
न मोक्षे ग्रहो मेऽस्ति दामोदरेह ॥७॥
English transliteration
kuverātmajau baddha-mūrtyaiva yadvat
tvayā mocitau bhakti-bhājau kṛtau ca
tathā prema-bhaktiṁ svakāṁ me prayaccha
na mokṣe graho me ’sti dāmodareha
Simple English meaning
Although Your own form was bound, You freed Kuvera’s two sons and blessed them with devotion. O Damodara, please grant me loving devotion to You in the same way. Liberation alone is not what I seek.
Verse 8: Obeisances to Sri Radha-Damodara
Sanskrit
नमस्तेऽस्तु दाम्ने स्फुरद्दीप्तिधाम्ने
त्वदीयोदरायाथ विश्वस्य धाम्ने ।
नमो राधिकायै त्वदीयप्रियायै
नमोऽनन्तलीलाय देवाय तुभ्यम् ॥८॥
English transliteration
namas te ’stu dāmne sphurad-dīpti-dhāmne
tvadīyodarāyātha viśvasya dhāmne
namo rādhikāyai tvadīya-priyāyai
namo ’nanta-līlāya devāya tubhyam
Simple English meaning
I bow to the radiant rope that binds You and to Your belly, the shelter of the universe. I offer my respects to Your beloved Srimati Radharani and to You, the divine Lord whose pastimes have no end.
Spiritual Significance of Damodarashtakam
The heart of Damodarashtakam is Krishna’s willingness to respond to His devotee’s love. Mother Yashoda cares for Him with the affection of a mother, and the Supreme Lord allows Himself to be caught and bound by her.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.9.18 describes how Krishna, seeing His mother’s effort and exhaustion, mercifully agreed to be bound. This gives the Damodara Lila its special tenderness: the unlimited Lord freely accepts the loving care of His devotee.
The prayer also guides the devotee’s own desires. Its fourth and seventh verses place remembrance of Krishna and loving service above other blessings. Reciting these words invites us to consider what we seek from our spiritual practice and how we can serve with greater sincerity.
Why Is Damodarashtakam Sung During Kartik?
Damodarashtakam is closely associated with Kartik Maas, when devotees worship Lord Damodara and remember His childhood pastimes.
