Gopala Ashtakam
Gopalashtakam
[Octet on Gopala]
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
Yasmad viswam jathamidham chithramatharkyam,
Yasmin anandathmani nithyam ramathe vai,
Yathranthe samyathi layanchaida sesham,
Tham Gopalam santhathakalam prathivande. 1
My salutations for all times to that Gopala,
From whom this pretty universe was born without doubt,
And in whom this happy soul plays daily with glee,
And also in whom this entire world will dissolve at the time’s end.
Yasya gnana jjanma jara roga kadambam,
Jnathe yasminasyathi thatsarvamihasu,
Gathwayathraayathi punarno bhava bhoomim,
Tham Gopalam santhathakalam prathivande. 2
My salutations for all times to that Gopala,
Ignorance of whom, leads to the mixture of birth, aging and disease,
Knowledge of whom, leads to the destruction of all of them,
And attainment to whom prevents rebirth in this earth.
Thishtannanthar yoyamayethyathadajasram,
Yam kaschinnoveda janopyathmani santham,
Sarvam yasyedancha vase tishtathi viswam,
Tham Gopalam santhathakalam prathivande. 3
My salutations for all times to that Gopala,
Who lives inside everything and makes it function,
Who is in every soul without many not realizing him,
And in whose custody all this universe exists.
Dharmo dharmenaiha thiraskara mupaithi,
Kale yasmin mathsya mukhai charu chithrai,
Nana roopai paathithada yevani bimbam,
Tham Gopalam santhathakalam prathivande. 4
My salutations for all times to that Gopala,
Who is born as fish and other forms,
When unjust action drives away the just action,
And saves and preserves this world.
Pranayamair dwastha samsthendriya dosha,
Rudhwa chitham yam hrudhi pasyanthi samadhou,
Jyothee roopa yogi jana modha nimagna,
Tham Gopalam santhathakalam prathivande. 5
My salutations for all times to that Gopala,
Who is seen by yogis in their heart,
As the resplendent form, when they,
Drown themselves in happiness, do pranayama,
Get rid of faults of all senses and enter in to Samadhi.
Bhanuschandra schoduganaschaiva huthaso,
Yasminnaivabhathithadischapi kadapi,
Yadbhasa chaabhathi samastham jagathedal,
Tham Gopalam santhathakalam prathivande. 6
My salutations for all times to that Gopala,
Who is the one in whom sun, moon, stars,
And rarely occurring lightning exist,
And whose light makes this entire world exist.
Sathya jnanam modhamavochoorniga mayam,
Yo brahmendradhithya gireesarchithapada,
Saythenathonandana navambu nidhou yas-
Tham Gopalam santhathakalam prathivande. 7
My salutations for all times to that Gopala,
Who is called as sachidananda by the Vedas,
Whose feet is worshipped by Brhama, Indra,
Adhithya and Shiva and who is the endless one,
Who sleeps on Adhisesha floating on the ocean.
Saiva prahuryam shivamanya gana nadham,
Shakthinchikerkancha thadanye matha bedhath,
Nana karairbhathi ya ekokhila shakthi,
Stham Gopalam santhathakalam prathivande. 8
My salutations for all times to that Gopala,
Who inspite of being called as Shiva by Shaivas,
Gana natha by Ganapthyas,
Shakthi by Shaaktheyas and Surya by Souras,
And others as their god as per their opinion,
Is the same universal power,
Even when addressed by all these names.
Srimad gopalashtakam medath samadheethe,
Bhakthya nithyam yo manuja vai sthira chetha,
Hithwa thoornam papa kalapam sa samethi,
Punyam vishnerdhama yatho naiva nipatha. 9
The man who reads daily with unified attention,
This holy octet on Gopala and meditates on him,
Would get all his sins destroyed and at the end,
Reach that place of Lord Vishnu for ever.