Achyutashtakam

अच्युताष्टकम्

Acyutāṣṭakam

All 8 verses

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Verse 1

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

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अच्युतं केशवं रामनारायणं कृष्णदामोदरं वासुदेवं हरिम् । श्रीधरं माधवं गोपिकावल्लभं जानकीनायकं रामचन्द्रं भजे ॥१॥: I worship Achyuta, Kesava, Rama-Narayana, Krishna-Damodara, Vasudeva, Hari, Sridhara, Madhava, beloved of the gopis, lord of Janaki, and Ramachandra.

The many names of the Lord are not many realities but one undivided consciousness appearing through devotion. When the mind gathers them in worship, it turns from the scattered world toward the single Self that wears every sacred name.

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Verse 2

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

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अच्युतं केशवं सत्यभामाधवं माधवं श्रीधरं राधिकाराधितम् । इन्दिरामन्दिरं चेतसा सुन्दरं देवकीनन्दनं नन्दजं सन्दधे ॥२॥: I fix my mind on Achyuta, Kesava, lord of Satyabhama, Madhava, Sridhara, worshipped by Radha, abode of Indira, beautiful to the mind, delight of Devaki, and son of Nanda.

To fix the mind on the Lord adored by Radha and abiding as Lakshmi's home is to steady attention on the bliss that underlies every form. The one consciousness shines as Krishna, as Rama, and as the joy of every heart that turns inward.

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Verse 3

विष्णवे जिष्णवे शङ्खिने चक्रिणे रुक्मिणीरागिणे जानकीजानये । वल्लवीवल्लभायार्चितायात्मने कंसविध्वंसिने वंशिने ते नमः ॥३॥

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विष्णवे जिष्णवे शङ्खिने चक्रिणे रुक्मिणीरागिणे जानकीजानये । वल्लवीवल्लभायार्चितायात्मने कंसविध्वंसिने वंशिने ते नमः ॥३॥: Salutations to you, Vishnu, conqueror, bearer of the conch, wielder of the discus, lover of Rukmini, husband of Janaki, Self worshipped by the gopis, destroyer of Kamsa, and player of the flute.

Salutation to the Self within is salutation to the power that conquers inner foes and stills the restless mind. The flute-bearer is the silent witness whose music is the vibration of pure awareness behind every act.

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Verse 4

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

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कृष्ण गोविन्द हे राम नारायण श्रीपते वासुदेवाजित श्रीनिधे । अच्युतानन्त हे माधवाधोक्षज द्वारकानायक द्रौपदीरक्षक ॥४॥: O Krishna, Govinda, Rama, Narayana, lord of Sri, Vasudeva, Ajita, treasure of Sri, Achyuta, Ananta, Madhava, Adhokshaja, lord of Dvaraka, protector of Draupadi.

Each name addressed is a doorway to the same limitless Lord who protects the surrendered soul. In Advaita, calling upon Krishna as protector of Draupadi affirms that the Self alone is refuge when the world offers no shelter.

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Verse 5

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

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राक्षसक्षोभितः सीतया शोभितो दण्डकारण्यभूपुण्यताकारणम् । लक्ष्मणेनान्वितो वानरैः सेवितोऽगस्त्यसम्पूजितो राघवः पातु माम् ॥५॥: May Raghava protect me: he who was troubled by rakshasas, adorned by Sita, cause of the earth's holiness in Dandakaranya, accompanied by Lakshmana, served by monkeys, and worshipped by Agastya.

Rama wandering the forest with Sita is the Self moving through the wilderness of samsara yet never separated from its own purity. Protection is sought not from an outer hero alone but from the inner Lord who makes even exile holy.

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Verse 6

धेनुकारिष्टहाऽनिष्टकृद्द्वेषिणां केशिहा कंसहृद्वंशिकावादकः । पूतनाकोपकः सूरजाखेलनो बालगोपालकः पातु मां सर्वदा ॥६॥

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धेनुकारिष्टहाऽनिष्टकृद्द्वेषिणां केशिहा कंसहृद्वंशिकावादकः । पूतनाकोपकः सूरजाखेलनो बालगोपालकः पातु मां सर्वदा ॥६॥: May the child Gopala ever protect me: slayer of Dhenuka and Arista, destroyer of the enemies who do harm, slayer of Keshi, player of the flute at Kamsa's heart, punisher of Putana, and sportive child of the sun.

The child who destroys demons is the awakened consciousness that slays ignorance in its cradle. What appears as a playful cowherd boy is the ever-present Self that guards the devotee through every danger of birth and death.

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Verse 7

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

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विद्युदुद्योतवत्प्रस्फुरद्वाससं प्रावृडम्भोदवत्प्रोल्लसद्विग्रहम् । वन्यया मालया शोभितोरःस्थलं लोहिताङ्घ्रिद्वयं वारिजाक्षं भजे ॥७॥: I worship the lotus-eyed one whose garment flashes like lightning, whose form blooms like a raincloud in the monsoon, whose breast is adorned with a wild-flower garland, and whose two feet are red.

The Lord whose form flashes like lightning and swells like a raincloud is the luminous awareness that illumines the dark sky of the mind. Worship of lotus eyes and reddened feet turns the senses from outer show toward the beauty of the Self.

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Verse 8

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

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कुञ्चितैः कुन्तलैर्भ्राजमानाननं रत्नमौलिं लसत्कुण्डलं गण्डयोः । हारकेयूरकं कङ्कणप्रोज्ज्वलं किङ्किणीमञ्जुलं श्यामलं तं भजे ॥८॥: I worship that dark one whose face shines with curling locks, who wears a jewelled crown, resplendent earrings on his cheeks, a necklace and armlets, blazing bracelets, and sweetly tinkling anklets.

The dark Lord adorned with jewels is the inner radiance that needs no outer ornament yet appears clothed in beauty for the devotee's sake. The hymn closes by resting the mind on the one reality whose charm outshines every worldly treasure.

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