Jagannathashtakam

जगन्नाथाष्टकम्

Jagannāthāṣṭakam

All 8 verses

Verse 1

कदाचित्कालिन्दीतटविपिनसङ्गीतकरवो मुदा गोपीनारीवदनकमलास्वादमधुपः । रमाशम्भुब्रह्मामरपतिगणेशार्चितपदो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥१॥

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कदाचित्कालिन्दीतटविपिनसङ्गीतकरवो मुदा गोपीनारीवदनकमलास्वादमधुपः ।: Once, delighting like a bee sipping the honey of the lotus faces of the gopis, making music in the forest on the bank of the Yamuna.
रमाशम्भुब्रह्मामरपतिगणेशार्चितपदो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥१॥: Whose feet are worshipped by Rama, Shambhu, Brahma, Indra, and Ganesha: may Jagannatha, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

The Lord who once sang in Vrindavan's groves is the same whose feet the gods adore. When he enters the devotee's vision, the mind beholds the one Self that was always present behind every sacred name.

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Verse 2

भुजे सव्ये वेणुं शिरसि शिखिपिंछं कटितटे दुकूलं नेत्रान्ते सहचरकटाक्षं विदधते । सदा श्रीमद्वृन्दावनवसतिलीलापरिचयो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥२॥

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भुजे सव्ये वेणुं शिरसि शिखिपिंछं कटितटे दुकूलं नेत्रान्ते सहचरकटाक्षं विदधते ।: Flute in the right hand, peacock feather on the head, yellow garment at the waist, and sidelong glances of companions at the corners of the eyes.
सदा श्रीमद्वृन्दावनवसतिलीलापरिचयो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥२॥: Ever familiar with the sport of dwelling in glorious Vrindavan: may Jagannatha, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

The familiar form of Vrindavan's Lord is a meditation image that gathers the restless senses. Each ornament points the mind toward the beauty of consciousness itself, which alone is the true object of inner sight.

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Verse 3

महाम्भोधेस्तीरे कनकरुचिरे नीलशिखरे वसन् प्रासादान्तस्सहजबलभद्रेण बलिना । सुभद्रामध्यस्थस्सकलसुरसेवावसरदो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥३॥

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महाम्भोधेस्तीरे कनकरुचिरे नीलशिखरे वसन् प्रासादान्तस्सहजबलभद्रेण बलिना ।: Dwelling at the end of the temple on golden-shining Nilachala by the shore of the great ocean, with his own brother Balabhadra, the mighty one.
सुभद्रामध्यस्थस्सकलसुरसेवावसरदो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥३॥: Seated with Subhadra in the middle, granting the gods opportunity for service: may Jagannatha, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

Jagannatha on Nilachala with Balabhadra and Subhadra shows the one reality appearing in relation yet remaining supreme. The Lord who grants the gods audience is the inner ruler to whom even the highest powers bow.

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Verse 4

कृपापारावारास्सजलजलदश्रेणिरुचिरो रमावाणीसौमस्सुरदमलपद्मोद्भवमुखैः । सुरेन्द्रैराराध्यः श्रुतिगणशिखागीतचरितो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥४॥

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कृपापारावारास्सजलजलदश्रेणिरुचिरो रमावाणीसौमस्सुरदमलपद्मोद्भवमुखैः ।: Ocean of the flood of compassion, lovely as a row of rain-bearing clouds, gentle as Rama and Sarasvati, worshipped by the pure lotus-born faces of the gods.
सुरेन्द्रैराराध्यः श्रुतिगणशिखागीतचरितो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥४॥: Adored by the chief of gods, whose deeds are sung at the summit of the Vedas: may Jagannatha, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

Compassion without limit is the nature of Brahman, praised by scripture and adored by the wise. To long for his sight is to turn from the dry letter of the text toward the living truth the Vedas proclaim at their crown.

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Verse 5

रथारूढो गच्छन् पथि मिलितभूदेवपटलैः स्तुतिप्रादुर्भावं प्रतिपद मुपाकर्ण्य सदयः । दयासिन्धुर्बन्धुस्सकलजगता सिन्धुसुतया जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥५॥

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रथारूढो गच्छन् पथि मिलितभूदेवपटलैः स्तुतिप्रादुर्भावं प्रतिपद मुपाकर्ण्य सदयः ।: Mounted on the chariot and going along the path, hearing with compassion the outpouring of praise from the assembled hosts of earthly devotees at every step.
दयासिन्धुर्बन्धुस्सकलजगता सिन्धुसुतया जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥५॥: Ocean of mercy, friend of all the world, with the daughter of the ocean: may Jagannatha, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

The Lord who hears the devotee's praise on the chariot road is the Self that responds to sincere surrender. His bond with Lakshmi shows that grace and the world are not opposed but united in the one Lord of all.

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Verse 6

परब्रह्मापीडः कुवलयदलोत्फुल्लनयनो निवासी नीलाद्रौ निहितचरणोऽनन्तशिरसि । रसानन्दो राधासरसवपुरालिङ्गनसखो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥६॥

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परब्रह्मापीडः कुवलयदलोत्फुल्लनयनो निवासी नीलाद्रौ निहितचरणोऽनन्तशिरसि ।: Wearer of supreme Brahman as a crown, lotus-blossom eyes, dweller on Nilachala, feet placed on the head of Ananta.
रसानन्दो राधासरसवपुरालिङ्गनसखो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥६॥: Delight of the rasa dance, friend who embraces Radha's essence-form: may Jagannatha, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

He who wears Brahman as crown and rests on Ananta is the supreme reality appearing in divine form. The bliss of Radha's embrace is the bliss of the Self recognizing its own radiance in devotion.

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Verse 7

न वै प्रार्थ्यं राज्यं न च कनकतां भोगविभवं न याचेऽहं रम्यां निखिलजनकाम्यां वरवधूम् । सदा काले काले प्रमथपतिना गीतचरितो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥७॥

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न वै प्रार्थ्यं राज्यं न च कनकतां भोगविभवं न याचेऽहं रम्यां निखिलजनकाम्यां वरवधूम् ।: I do not ask for kingdom, nor for gold, nor for the abundance of pleasures, nor do I beg for a lovely bride desired by all people.
सदा काले काले प्रमथपतिना गीतचरितो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥७॥: Whose glories Shiva ever sings again and again: may Jagannatha, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

Renouncing kingdom and pleasure, the devotee asks only for the Lord's sight. True dispassion is not hatred of the world but the clear preference for the one joy that Shiva himself sings in every age.

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Verse 8

हर त्वं संसारं द्रुततरमसारं सुरपते हर त्वं पापानां विततिमपरां यादवपते । अहो दीनानाथं निहितमचलं निश्चितपदं जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥८॥

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हर त्वं संसारं द्रुततरमसारं सुरपते हर त्वं पापानां विततिमपरां यादवपते ।: Remove samsara, swiftly and worthless, O lord of the gods; remove the boundless expanse of sins, O lord of the Yadavas.
अहो दीनानाथं निहितमचलं निश्चितपदं जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे ॥८॥: Ah, refuge of the helpless, firm and immovable, sure footing: may Jagannatha, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

The prayer to remove samsara and sin is the prayer to see the immovable Lord who is the only secure ground. Jagannatha as refuge of the helpless is the Self that never wavers when the world dissolves.

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