Message of Rukmini

O the infallible and the most handsome One! Having heard Your qualities, which enter through the path of ears and absolve away the pains of life, and having heard about Your handsome appearance, which is the only asset of the eyes of living beings with eyes, my heart is accepting You as a consort leaving behind shyness.||1|| O Mukunda, the lion (best) among men! Given a chance, which composed girl from a good lineage will not wish for You as a consort; You, Who is the happiness of the minds of people, Who is the happiness of the world, and Who is incomparable from any viewpoint be it lineage, nature, beauty, knowledge, energy, wealth, or abode.|| 2|| Therefore, O Lord! I have indeed accepted You as a consort and I have submitted myself to You. O lotus-eyed Krishna! Please arrive here [and accept me]; so that the prince of Cedi (Sisupala) does not takes away the property of brave You just like a jackal should not take away the prey of a lion.||3|| If I have revered the all pervading Paramatman by social welfares (digging wells), oblations, obeying rules, penance, and serving demigods, saints, and preceptor, then O Gadagraja (Krishna)! You accept me after holding my hand instead of anyone else like the son of Damaghosa (Sisupala).||4|| O Lord, Who is unconquered! Arrive secretly in Vidarbha one day before my marriage. Then after defeating all the army-commanders from the regions of Cedi and Magadha (Sisupala and Jarasandha), marry me with the ways of demons by showing Your valor and conquering power.||5|| If You are wondering that how will you conquer me without killing the women and relatives inside my palace, then I am telling You a way out. As per an old tradition, there is a grand fair before the marriage, during which the bride goes out to the temple of Girija for prayers.||6|| O lotus-eyed Krishna! If I dont achieve the dust of Your feet, which is sought after by incomparable Ones like Umapati (Siva), then I will destroy my life. If the service of Your feet is not achieved in this life, then I will take hundreds of birth and do penance; I am sure I will achieve Your lotus feet some day.||7||

Notes: This letter was sent to Krishna by Rukmini. It is a beautiful eulogy in which love for the divine is evident. The letter was carried by a Brahman, who was a trustee of Rukmini. The eulogy appears in tenthbook and fifty-second chapter of the Bhagavat Purana. Poet: Rukmini Source:Bhagavat Purana

Six Pada on Nirvana

I am not mind, wisdom, pride, and heart. Neither I am ear and tongue nor I am nose and eyes. Neither I am sky or earth nor I am power or wind. I am the eternal happiness or bliss state, I am Shiv, I am Shiv.|| 1|| I am not the state of being alive or the five type of Vayu. Neither I am the seven elements constituting the body (Dhatu) nor I am the five sheaths which invest the soul. Neither I am voice, hand, or leg nor I am the portion at the bottom of waist (anus or Linga). I am the eternal happiness or bliss state, I am Shiv, I am Shiv.||2|| I am not the state of envy and passion or the emotions of greed and attachment. Neither I am intoxication nor I am the emotion of jealousy. And I am not even the four Purushartha Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. I am the eternal happiness or bliss state, I am Shiv, I am Shiv.||3|| I am not Punya (good deed), Paap (Sin), Saukhya (friendship), or Dukha (Grief). Neither I am chants (Mantra) or Shrine (Teertha) nor I am the Veda or the sacrifice and oblation. Also, I am not the food, or the one that should be eaten, or the eater. I am eternal happiness or bliss state, I am Shiv, I am Shiv.||4|| Neither I am the fear of death nor I am the difference between races. Neither I am [any relation like] father, mother, nor I am born. Also, I am not a relative, a friend, a teacher (Guru), or a student (Shisya). I am the eternal happiness or bliss state, I am Shiv, I am Shiv.||5|| I am free from changes, and lack all the qualities and form. I envelope all forms from all sides and am beyond the sense-organs. I am always in the state of equality there is no liberation (Mukti) or captivity

(Bandha). I am the eternal happiness or bliss state, I am Shiv, I am Shiv.||6|| Poet: Adi Shankaracharya Source: Kamakoti

Seeking Mercy from Goddess

Oh! I don't know the Mantra, the Yantra, or the Eulogies. I don't even know how to invoke You, how to meditate on You, and even the speech behind Your eulogies. I don't know the postures [in which to say eulogies], and I don't know how to wail. [But] O Mother! I know that following You absolves the biggest distresses.||1|| The offerings which were due to the lack of knowledge of methodology, by the lack of resources, by indolence, or due to the lack of strength for submission fallen [by me] on Your dual-feet, forgive all those mistakes, O Mother! O Shiva, Who absolves everyone! Because a son can become bad or ignorant about his duties as an offspring, but the Mother always remains a Mother.||2|| O Mother! There are many sons of Yours on this earth and they are gentle. Amidst them, I am Your son, who is extremely libidinous. I have the feelings of possession, and I have no compassion within me. But I am Yours, O Shiva! A son can become bad or ignorant about his duties as an offspring, but the Mother always remains a Mother.||3|| O Mother! O Mother of the world! Your feet has not been engaged upon [by me] and, even more so, Your feet has not been submitted with offerings by me. Even then, You shower immaculate benevolence on me. Because a son can become bad or ignorant about his duties as an offspring, but the Mother always remains a Mother.||4|| At an age of more than eighty-five years, by me, who lacks the prowess to perform various rituals, the Devas have been left along. O Mother of Lambodar (Parvati)! Now, in this situation, if Your benevolence does not happens on me, then, I, the unsupported one, will take whose refuge?||5|| O Aparna! A dog-eater (Chandala) becomes a talkative person with honey-like sweet words coming out from the tongue; and a poor man roams fearlessly for long time in golden riches, when the chants of Your name fall [seat] inside the ear of anyone. O Mother! Then, in that

case, who can know the achievements due to continuous chants of Your name based on the appropriate rules?||6|| Kapali, Who has ashes from the burnt corpses on body, Who has the directions as clothes (cloth-less), Who has thick tress-locks, Who has a garland of king of snake in neck, Who is known as Pashupati, and Who is the ruler of ghosts, attains the position of poison-destroyer and Lord of the world. O Bhavani! This is just a result of addition of You as His consort.||7|| I don't have the desire to attain Moksha, neither I have the desire to attain luxuries and resplendence in the world. I don't have expectations of sciences, and O the Moon-faced Goddess! I don't even desire for luxuries and comfort. O Mother! Thus, I beg You, that whenever I am born, give me the chanting of these names to me Mridani, Rudrani, Shiv, Bhavani.||8|| O Shyama! You are not revered by me, using methods or various prescriptions. I didn't do anything beyond the rough-thinking and speech. But even then, if You keep me, the destitute and orphan, in benevolence, then it suits You; since You indeed are beyond everything, O Mother!.||9|| O Durga, Who is the abode of ocean of mercy! When I remember You in troublesome situations, don't think it is stupidity. It is because when a child is hungry, the child only remembers the Mother.||10|| O Mother of the world! You are full of benevolence for me; [but] what is the surprise in this? [Because] Even when a son is full of faults, the Mother does not ignores or disowns the child.||11|| O Mahadevi! There is no fallen one like me, and there is indeed no absolver of sins like You. Knowing this, You do what You think as appropriate.||12|| Notes: Because of the age of the poet, we believe that this poem is not by Adi Shankaracharya. Poet: Shankaracharya Source: Stotra Ratnavali Gitapress

Eight Pada on Krishna

Sing salutations to The only ornation of Vraj, Who destroys every sin (among us), Who is continuous bliss for His devotees, and Who is the dear one of Nanda. I bow to naughty Krishna, Who has beautiful bunch of peacock feathers on head, Who has a sweet sounding flute in hands, and Who is inseparable from God and is full of colorful actions.||1|| I bow to The lotus-eyed One, Whose beauty slays the pride of Kamdev (Manoj), Who has fulsome lips and beautiful big eyes, Who removed the thoughts of obstacles from cow-rearers (gopa). I bow to headelephant-like-carefree Krishna, Who lifted a mountain in His lotus like hands, Whose smile and gaze is enticing, and Who slayed the pride of Indra.||2|| I bow to Krishna, Who is hard to get, Who has beautiful earrings made of flowers of kadamba-tree, Who has two beautiful cheeks, Who is the only dear One of land of Vraj. I bow to Krishna as cow-rearing-leader, Who is supreme bliss when viewed with Yashoda, Cow-rearers, and Nand.||3|| I bow to the son of Nanda, Whose lotus-feet is always immersed in the maan-sarovar like lake of my mind, Who has beautiful curls falling upon his face. I bow to the delight of Nand, Who is absolver of all defects (in us), Who looks after everyone in this world, and Who is the heart of every Gopa or cow-rearer.||4|| I bow to the heart-stealer, Who relieved earth of heavy weight (of humans), Who is the support for us to cross the ocean of life and death, and Who is the young son of Yashoda. I bow to the son of Nand, Who has beautiful glancing eyes, Who is always accompanied by bumble-bees, and Who appears new to His devotee, everytime, and leaves them mesmerized.||5|| I bow to the dear one of Gopas, Who is the abode of qualities, mercy, and happiness, and does not needs any mercy from anyone, and Who relieved the problems of demi-gods. I bow to cloud-colored beautiful one, Who is a new cowherd rearer and playful, Who is always thinking of new ways to mesmerize the mortals, and Who is wearing yellow lightening like robes.||6||

I bow to Krishna, Who roamed amidst the gardens of Vraj, Who is dear to every cow-rearer in Vraj, Who is the only happiness for heart, and Who has a sun like resplendent face. I bow to Krishna, Who is the leader of everyone in gardens of Vraj, Who is desireless but fulfils desire of everyone, Whose glances are like beautiful enticing arrows, and Who sings mesmerizing tunes over flute.||7|| I bow to The consort of Lakshmi, Who slept in the bed-like-dreams of young gopikas in Vraj, Who swallowed the forest and garden fire inside Vraj to save His fellows, Who is surrounded by the divine glow, Who is decorated in every way, and Who gave moksha to Gajendra, the elephant king.||8|| O Lord! Whenever or wherever I am born, may I be immersed in Your beautiful ornate stories. Whomsoever sings the two Krishnashtaka (this one and one more by Shankaracharya), and meditates on it shall be born with Krishna bhakti in every life.||9|| Notes: Indra sent clouds to flood and damage whole of Vraj and Krishna saved Vraj by lifting the mountain Govardhan. In yet another incident, Indra with army fought with Krishna when Krishna and Satyabhama wanted to take it away from heaven. Seeing the first pada, I presume, the last sentence refers to Govardhan incident. Earth gets crowded with time and Lord appears to slay off and provide salvation to numerous humans. This is called as relieving weight of earth. Krishna appears with divine ornation during His incarnation. Of them, Lakshmi-mark on chest, Kaustubh-jewel in neck, Tulsi-garland in neck, blue cloud likebody, etc., are cited many times. Due to nondecaying Tulsi-garland in neck, bumble-bees always flock around it to sip on the divine nectar. Gajendra, an elephant, was cursed by Sage Agastya in his human body for neglecting the kingdom for seeking moksha. He was trapped by a crocodile in a river and then Vishnu (Krishna) freed him from the crocodile trap. Poet: Adi Shankaracharya.

Eight Pada on Madhura

His lips are a delight, His body is a delight, His eye is a delight, His smile is a delight, His chest is a delight, His walking style is a delight; everything about the ruler of delight is delightful.||1|| His speech is a delight, His acts are a delight, His clothes are a delight, His curves are a delight, His moving is a delight, His roaming is a delight; Everything about the ruler of delight is delightful.||2|| His flute is a delight, His flowers (that He wears on ears or as garlands) are a delight, His palms are a delight, His feet are a delight, His dance is a delight, His friendship is a delight; Everything about the ruler of delight is delightful.||3|| His songs are a delight, His yellow robes are a delight, His eating is a delight, His sleeping is a delight, His beauty is a delight, His mark-offorehead is a delight; Everything about the ruler of delight is delightful.||4|| His deeds are a delight, His floating (in water) is a delight, His taking away is a delight; His romantic charms are a delight, His words are a delight, His peaceful state is a delight; Everything about the ruler of delight is delightful.||5|| His humming is a delight, His garland is a delight, His accompaniment Yamuna is a delight, His waves (generated by Him when entering the river) is a delight, His water (clinging on His body) is a delight, His lotus is a delight; Everything about the ruler of delight is delightful.||6|| His cow-herd girls are a delight, His sport is a delight, His togetherness is a delight, His free nature is a delight, His glance is a delight, His obedience is a delight; Everything about the ruler of delight is delightful.||7|| His friends (Gopaa) are a delight, His cows are a delight, His cowguiding-stick is a delight, His created universe is a delight, His exploits over demons are a delight, the fruit thence obtained are a delight; Everything about the ruler of delight is delightful.||8|| Poet: Vallabhacharya Source: Madhurashtakam, Stotra Ratnavali Gitapress

Eight Cantos on Krishna

I sing praise of Krishna, the Preceptor of the universe, Who is the son of Vasudev, Who is the Lord, Who slayed Kans and Chanur, and Who is the bliss of Devaki.||1|| I sing praise of Krishna, the Preceptor of the universe, Who is surrounded by flowers, Who is adorned with a garland and anklets, and Who has gem-studded necklace and arm-bracelet.||2|| I sing praise of Krishna, the Preceptor of the universe, Who is adorned with curly tresses, Who has a face resplendent like full-moon, and Who has shining earrings.||3|| I sing praise of Krishna, the Preceptor of the universe, Who is with the perfume of Mandara (a coral tree flower), Who has beautiful smile, Who has four hands (as Vishnu), and Who has peacock feather at the forehead.||4|| I sing praise of Krishna, the Preceptor of the universe, Who has eyes like blooming lotus flower, Who resembles a new blue cloud, and Who is the best in the dynasty of Yadu.||5|| I sing praise of Krishna, the Preceptor of the universe, Who plays with Rukmini (Lakshmi), Who is adorned with yellow-robes, and Who has attained the perfume of Tulsi.||6|| I sing praise of Krishna, the Preceptor of the universe, Who has the marks of saffron from the dual-breasts of the cowgirls, Who is the abode of Lakshmi (Sri), and Who has mighty arrows.||7|| I sing praise of Krishna, the Preceptor of the universe, Who has the sign of Srivatsa at His broad-chest, Who has a flower-garland, and Who holds the conch-shell and discus (shankha and chakra).||8|| Having awaken in the morning, those who study these blissful Cantos on Krishna, destroy their sins of millions of birth.||9|| Poet: Adi Sankara

Eight cantos on Achyuta

I sing praise of Ramachandra, Who is known as Achyuta (infallible), Keshav, Raam, Narayan, Krishna, Damodara, Vasudeva, Hari, Shridhara (possessing Lakshmi), Madhava, Gopikavallabha (Dearest of Gopika), and Janakinayaka (Lord of Janaki or Sita).||1|| I offer a salute with my hands together to Achyuta, Who is known as Keshav, Who is the consort of Satyabhama (Krishna), Who is known as Madhav and Shridhar, Who is longed-for by Radhika, Who is like a temple of Lakshmi (Indira), Who is beautiful at heart, Who is the son of Devaki, and Who is the Dear-One of all.||2|| Salutations for Vishnu, Who conquers everyone, Who holds a conchshell and a discus, Who is the affectionate of Rukmini (Krishna), Who is the consort of only Janaki (Raam), Who is the Dear-One of cowherdesses, Who is offered [in sacrifices], Who is the Atman, Who is the destroyer of Kansa, and Who plays the flute (Krishna).||3|| O Krishna! O Govinda! O Raam! O Narayan! O Shripati! O Vasudeva, Who attained the Lakshmi! O Achyuta, Who is immeasurable! O Madhav! O Adhokshaja! O Leader of Dvarika! O the protector of Draupadi!||4|| Raghav, Who upsetted the demons, Who adorned Sita, Who is the cause of purification of the forest called Dandaka, Who was accompanied by Lakshman, Who was served by monkeys, and Who was revered by Agastya, save me.||5|| Baby Gopal (Krishna), Who destroyed the disguised Dhenuka and Arishtak demons, Who slayed Keshi, Who killed Kansa, Who plays the flute, and Who got angry on Putana, save me always.||6|| I sing praise of the Lotus-Eyed Lord, Who is adorned by a shiny lightening like yellow robe, Whose body is resplending like a cloud of the rainy-season, Who is adorned by a forest-garland at His chest, and Who has two feet of copper-red color.||7|| I sing praise of that Shyam, Whose face is adorned by falling locks of curly tresses, Who has jewels are forehead, Who has shiny earrings on the cheeks, Who is adorned with a garland of the Keyur flower, Who has a shiny bracelet, and Who has a melodious anklet.||8||

Notes: Grammatically, the verb is missing. This is just an invocation made from the names of Lord. The meaning of suurajaa khelano is unclear. Poet: Adi Shankara