Damodarashtakam — Praise of Lord Damodara

            Srimathe ramanujaya namaha 

Damodarashtakam is an eight-verse prayer (ashtakam) dedicated to Lord Krishna. The name “Damodara” means “the one bound with a rope around the belly”, recalling the pastime of young Krishna being tied by Mother Yashodha. 

Reciting Damodarashtakam is believed to bring peace, devotion, and divine blessings, especially during Kartika month.

(1) 

namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam

lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam

yasoda-bhiyolukhalad dhavamanam

paramrstam atyantato drutya gopya

(2)

rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrjantam

karambhoja-yugmena satanka-netram

muhuh svasa-kampa-trirekhanka-kantha-

sthita-graivam damodaram bhakti-baddham

(3)

itidrk sva-lilabhir ananda-kunde

sva-ghosam nimajjantam akhyapayantam

tadiyesita-jnesu bhaktair jitatvam

punah prematas tam satavrtti vande

(4)

varam deva moksam na moksavadhim va

na canyam vrne ‘ham varesad apiha

idam te vapur natha gopala-balam

sada me manasy avirastam kim anyaih

(5)

idam te mukhambhojam atyanta-nilair

vrtam kuntalaih snigdha-raktais’ ca gopya

muhus cumbitam bimba-raktadharam me

manasy avirastam alam laksa-labhaih

(6)

namo deva damodarananta visno

prasida prabho duhkha-jalabdhi-magnam

krpa-drsti-vrstyati-dinam batanu-

grhanesa mam ajnam edhy aksi-drsyah

(7)

kuveratmajau baddha-murtyaiva yadvat

tvaya mocitau bhakti-bhajau krtau ca

tatha prema-bhaktim svakam me prayaccha

na mokse graho me ‘sti damodareha

(8)

namas te ‘stu damne sphurad-dipti-dhamne

tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne

namo radhikayai tvadiya-priyayai

namo ‘nanta-lilaya devaya tubhyam

1.

I bow down to the Supreme Lord whose divine form is the essence of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss.

His shark-shaped earrings sway as He shines resplendently in Gokula.

Out of fear of mother Yaśodā, He runs swiftly from the mother—

having broken her pot of curd and stolen the butter hung high.

Yet, though He is the Supreme, He is caught by her loving hands.

To that Lord Śrī Dāmodara, I offer my humble obeisances.

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2.

Seeing the stick in His mother’s hand, the little Lord weeps,

rubbing His eyes again and again with His lotus palms.

Tears roll down His cheeks, His eyes filled with fear.

The pearl necklace on His conch-like neck trembles

as His breath quickens through soft sobs.

To that Lord Dāmodara, bound not by rope but by His mother’s pure love,

I offer my humble obeisances.

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3.

Through such innocent childhood pastimes,

He drowns the hearts of Gokula’s residents in oceans of bliss.

He reveals to the learned that He is conquered not by knowledge or grandeur,

but only by the intimate, selfless love of His devotees.

To that Lord Dāmodara, I bow again and again, with boundless devotion.

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4.

O Lord, though You can grant every boon,

I seek not liberation, nor residence in Vaikuṇṭha, nor any other reward.

I only pray that this vision of You—Bāla Gopāla of Vṛndāvana,

may eternally dwell in my heart.

Of what value are any other blessings to me?

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5.

O Lord, may Your lotus face, framed by soft black curls tinged with red,

and kissed again and again by mother Yaśodā,

with lips as radiant as the bimba fruit—

may that sweet vision forever live within my heart.

For countless other benedictions mean nothing to me.

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6.

O Supreme Lord, O Dāmodara! O Ananta! O Viṣṇu!

O Master of all, I bow before You.

Be merciful unto me, a fool lost in the ocean of worldly grief.

Cast upon me Your compassionate glance

and appear before my eyes, O beloved Lord.

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7.

O Lord Dāmodara, as You delivered the sons of Kuvera—

Manigrīva and Nalakūvara—from the curse of Nārada,

making them Your pure devotees,

in the same way, bestow upon me Your divine prema-bhakti.

I seek nothing else—not even liberation—only Your love.

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8.

O Lord Dāmodara, I first bow to the radiant rope that binds Your belly.

Then to that sacred belly, the abode of the entire universe.

I bow again to Your most beloved Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī,

and finally to You, the Supreme Lord of infinite pastimes.

A special request😊.

Requesting all the devotees to pour out your divine experiences in the comment box.

Thanks for your valuable time in reading the blog.

Happy reading