अच्युताष्टकम्
A devotional stotra celebrating the names and glories of Lord Vishnu through His forms as Rama and Krishna.
Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, Achyutashtakam is an eight-verse hymn celebrating Lord Vishnu through His many sacred names and through His forms as Rama and Krishna.
The verses move from an invocation of names such as Achyuta, Keshava, Narayana, Krishna and Rama to descriptions of the Lord’s divine form, qualities and deeds. A concluding ninth verse describes the traditionally associated fruit of reciting the hymn with love and earnest longing.
acyutaṃ keśavaṃ rāmanārāyaṇaṃ kṛṣṇadāmodaraṃ vāsudevaṃ harim |
śrīdharaṃ mādhavaṃ gopikāvallabhaṃ jānakīnāyakaṃ rāmacandraṃ bhaje || 1 ||
I bow to the Lord who is called Acyuta (never-failing), Keśava (beautiful-haired), Rāma-Nārāyaṇa; and also Kṛṣṇa, Dāmodara (the one bound by Yaśodā's rope), Vāsudeva, and Hari.
I sing the glory of Śrīdhara (who bears Lakṣmī on his chest), Mādhava (husband of Lakṣmī), the beloved of the gopīs, and Rāmacandra, the dear Lord of Sītā.
acyutaṃ keśavaṃ satyabhāmādhavaṃ mādhavaṃ śrīdharaṃ rādhikārādhitam |
indirāmandiraṃ cetasā sundaraṃ devakīnandanaṃ nandajaṃ sandhadhe || 2 ||
I adore You — the ever-infallible Keśava, the husband of Satyabhāmā, the one cherished by Mādhava, Śrīdhara, and deeply loved by Rādhā.
I meditate on You who are the dwelling-place of Lakṣmī, beautiful at heart, born of Devakī, and raised as the dear son of Nanda.
viṣṇave jiṣṇave śaṅkhine cakriṇe rukmiṇīrāgiṇe jānakījānaye |
vallavīvallabhāyā'rcitāyātmane kaṃsavidhvaṃsine vaṃśine te namaḥ || 3 ||
Salutations to Viṣṇu (all-pervading), the ever-victorious, holder of conch and discus, deeply loving to Rukmiṇī, and devoted husband of Jānakī (Sītā).
I bow to You, adored by the cowherd women in their hearts, the Inner Self of all, the slayer of Kaṃsa, and the enchanting flute-player.
kṛṣṇa govinda he rāma nārāyaṇa śrīpate vāsudevājita śrīnidhe |
acyutānanta he mādhavādhokṣaja dvārakānāyaka draupadīrakṣaka || 4 ||
O Kṛṣṇa-Govinda, O Rāma-Nārāyaṇa, O Lord of Śrī (Lakṣmī), O unvanquished Vāsudeva, O treasure-house of all wealth and glory —
O infallible and infinite Lord, O Mādhava-Adhokṣaja (beyond the senses), O ruler of Dvārakā, O the one who protected Draupadī!
rākṣasakṣobhitaḥ sītayā śobhito daṇḍakāraṇyabhūpuṇyatākāraṇaḥ |
lakṣmaṇenānvito vānaraiḥ sevito 'gastyasampūjito rāghavaḥ pātu mām || 5 ||
The destroyer of demons, graced by Sītā at His side, whose very presence sanctified the Daṇḍaka forest —
— attended by Lakṣmaṇa, served by the monkeys, honoured by sage Agastya — may that Rāghava (Śrī Rāma) protect me always.
dhenukāriṣṭako'niṣṭakṛddveṣiṇāṃ keśihā kaṃsahṛdvaṃśikāvādakaḥ |
pūtanākopakaḥ sūrajākhelano bālagopālakaḥ pātu māṃ sarvadā || 6 ||
He who slew Dhenuka (the ass-demon) and Ariṣṭaka (the bull-demon), bringer of doom to foes; slayer of the horse-demon Keśī, destroyer of Kaṃsa, and enchanting flute-player —
— who punished Pūtanā with righteous wrath, who played joyfully on the Yamunā's banks — may that Bālagopāla (child Kṛṣṇa) protect me at all times.
vidyududyotavatprasphuradvāsasaṃ prāvṛḍambhodavatprollasadvigraham |
vanyayā mālayā śobhitoraḥ sthalaṃ lohitāṅghridvayaṃ vārijākṣaṃ bhaje || 7 ||
I adore the Lord whose bright yellow garment flashes like lightning, and whose dark body radiates like a monsoon rain-cloud —
— whose chest blooms with a wild-flower garland (Vanamālā), whose feet glow in reddish splendour, and whose eyes are as lovely as lotuses. I worship Him.
kuñcitaiḥ kuntalairbhrājamānānanaṃ ratnamauliṃ lasatkuṇḍalaṃ gaṇḍayoḥ |
hārakeyūrakaṃ kaṅkaṇaprojjvalaṃ kiṅkiṇīmañjulaṃ śyāmalaṃ taṃ bhaje || 8 ||
I adore the Lord whose radiant face is framed by curly locks, whose head bears a jewelled crown, and whose cheeks shine with glistening ear-rings —
— adorned with gleaming necklaces, armlets and bracelets, and ankle-bells that tinkle sweetly. I worship that dark (Śyāmala) Lord Kṛṣṇa.
acyutasyāṣṭakaṃ yaḥ paṭhediṣṭadaṃ premataḥ pratyahaṃ pūruṣaḥ saspṛham |
vṛttataḥ sundaraṃ kartṛviśvambharaḥ tasya vaśyo harirjāyate satvaram || 9 ||
Whoever reads this Acyutāṣṭakam (the fulfiller of wishes) each day, with love and an earnest longing for the Lord —
— this hymn that beautifully encircles the Sustainer of the Universe — for such a devotee, Lord Hari swiftly comes under their loving reach.