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...