Sri Damodarashthaka

(from the Padma Purâna)

(1)

namâmîs'varam sac-cid-ânanda-rûpam
To the Lord whose form is ever to know glee,

lasat-kundalam gokule bhrâjamânam
His earrings swinging, the brilliance of Gokul,

yas'odâ-bhiyolûkhalâd dhâvamânam
Yasodha's yogurt-pot he broke stealing the butter,

parâmrishtham atyantato drutya-gopyâ
running she seized Him, my respect unto Him.

(2)

rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrijantam
Seeing the stick He cries rubbing His eyes,

karâmbhoja-yugmena sâtanka-netram
looking afraid with the pearl string on his neck.

muhuh s'vâsa-kampa-trirekhânka-kanthha-
No rope can bind Him, only love can,

sthita-graivam dâmodaram bhakti-baddham
To this Lord Dâmodar' all my respect,

(3)

itîdrik sva-lîlâbhir ânanda-kunde
This childplay submerges Vrindavana in happiness,

sva-ghosham nimajjantam âkhyâpayantam
and shows devotees how to know Him with wisdom.

tadîyeshita-jneshu bhaktair jitatvam
The full of Him intimate knows free and devoted,

punah prematas tam s'atâvritti vande
full of admiration and full of awe.

(4)

varam deva moksham na mokshâvadhim vâ
O Lord you grant freedom but impersonal no,

na cânyam vrine 'ham vares'âd apîha
I long for no heaven or for another boon,

idam te vapur nâtha gopâla-bâlam
Your form Bala-Aopal ever in my heart,

sadâ me manasy âvirâstâm kim anyaih
no other favor has any meaning to me.

(5)

idam te mukhâmbhojam atyanta-nîlair
O Lord Your face, with black hair glowing red,

vritam kuntalaih snigdha-raktais' ca gopyâ
is kissed by Yasodha, Your Bimba-lips red as the fruit,

muhus' cubitam bimba-raktâdharam me
May your sweet face be forever in My heart,

manasy âvirâstâm alam laksha-lâbhaih
Thousands of other favors are of no avail.

(6)

namo deva dâmodarânanta vishno
I honor You Dâmodhar, Ananta Vishnu

prasîda prabho duhkha-jâlâbdhi-magnam
O master, my Lord be pleased with me.

kripâ-drishthi-vrishthyâti-dînam batânu-
Merciful casting Your glance frees this fool,

grihânes'a mâm ajñam edhy akshi-dris'yah
who thus may see You in his worldy grief.

(7)

kuverâtmajau baddha-mûrtyaiva yadvat
The way You set Kuvera's sons free from the curse,

tvayâ mocitau bhakti-bhâjau kritau ca
planting devotion as a baby to the block,

tathâ prema-bhaktim svakâm me prayaccha
Please grant me too Your loving devotion,

na mokshe graho me 'sti dâmodareha
that's all I desire, no other freedom.

(8)

namas te 'stu dâmne sphurad-dîpti-dhâmne
First of all o lord I honor your bellies cord,

tvadîyodarâyâtha vis'vasya-dhâmne
than the belly itself that carries the universe,

namo râdhikâyai tvadîya-priyâyai
Humly I bow for your sweetheart Râdhâ,

namo 'nanta-lîlâya devâya tubhyam
next then to You O lord of infinite joy.