Nanda Kumara Ashtakam

Nanda Kumara Ashtakam
[The octet on son of Nanda]
By Sri Vallabhacharya
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[Sri Vallabhacharya (1479-1531) was a devotional philosopher who founded the Pushti sect in India and the philosophy of Shuddha advaita (Pure Non-dualism). He gave a different interpretation of devotion. He made a distinction between the continuous flow of devotion and devotion falling in drops. When a devotee’s heart is completely filled with the love of God, he ceaselessly chants the name of God. This state of mind of the devotee was described thus, Sarvadaa Sarvakaaleshu Sarvatra Harichinthanam (Ceaselessly thinking of God at all times and at all places). Among the several stotras he wrote the Madurashtakam is very famous. This stotra extols the qualities of Krishna in a very mellifluous verse. So far, there is no translation of this stotra in English in the web.]

Sundara gopalam uravana malam, nayana visalam,dukha haram,
Vrundavana Chandra mananda kandam paramanandam dharani dharam,
Vallabha gana shyamam poorna kamamaathyabhiramam preethikaram,
Bhaja Nanda kumaram sarva sukha saram Thathwa vicharambrahmaparam. 1

Sing about that son of Nanda, who is essence of all pleasures,
Who is the inner meaning of religion and bridge to Brahman,
Who is the pretty cowherd, who wears garland of forest flowers,
Who has very broad eyes, who is killer of all sorrow,
Who is the moon of Brindavana, who is essence of happiness,
Who is the ultimate of happiness, who is the supporter of the world,
Who is black, who is loved by all, who is the complete pleasure,
Who is pretty every moment and who pleases every one.

Sundara varija vadanam nirjitha madanam aananda sadanam mukuta dharam,
Gunja kruthi haram vipina viharam paramodharam cheeraharam,
Vallabha pata pathim krutha upaveetham kara navanitham vibhudhavaram,
Bhaja Nanda kumaram sarva sukha saram Thathwa vicharambrahmaparam. 2

Sing about that son of Nanda, who is essence of all pleasures,
Who is the inner meaning of religion and bridge to Brahman,
Who has pretty lotus like face, who defeats god of love in beauty,
Who is store house of happiness, who wears the crown,
Who wears garland made of gunja*, who roams about in the garden,
Who is greatly benevolent, who steals the dresses of gopis,
Who likes the silk cloths, who wears the holy thread,
Who has butter in his hand and the lord who gives boons.
*A red and black berry use to weigh gold in India.

Shobitha muka dhoolam yamunakoolam, nipata athoolam sukadatharam,
Muka manditha renum chaaritha denum vaditha venum madhurasuram,
Vallabhamathi vimalam, shubhapada kamalam nakaruchi amalam thimiraharam,
Bhaja Nanda kumaram sarva sukha saram Thathwa vicharambrahmaparam. 3

Sing about that son of Nanda, who is essence of all pleasures,
Who is the inner meaning of religion and bridge to Brahman,
Who shines with dust of Yamuna on his face, whose voice is incomparable,
Who blesses people with pleasure, whose face is coated with pollen grains,
Who looks after cows, who plays flute with sweetest notes, who is very pure,
Who has feet as pretty as a lotus, who has shining nail and who removes darkness.

Shiramukuta sudesam kunchithakesam natavaravesamkamavaram,
Mayakruthamanujam haladhara anujamprathihathadanujam bharaharam,
Vallabha vraja palam subhaga suchalamhithamanukalam bhava varam,
Bhaja Nanda kumaram sarva sukha saram Thathwa vicharambrahmaparam. 4

Sing about that son of Nanda, who is essence of all pleasures,
Who is the inner meaning of religion and bridge to Brahman,
Who has crown on his pretty head, who has curly hair,
Who is dressed up like an actor, who is more pretty than god of love,
Who by illusion looks human, who is the brother of Balarama,
Who lightens earth by killing asuras, who takes care of the people of vruja,
Who is a dear, who walks prettily, Who wants good always and who is good.

Indhivarabhasam prakuta surasam kusuma vikasam vamsidharam,
Hrutha manmadhamanam roopa nidhanam krutha kala ganam chitha haram,
Vallabha mruduhasam kuncha nivasam vividha vilasam kelikaram,
Bhaja Nanda kumaram sarva sukha saram Thathwa vicharambrahmaparam. 5

Sing about that son of Nanda, who is essence of all pleasures,
Who is the inner meaning of religion and bridge to Brahman,
Who has shine like blue lotus flower, who by nature is divine,
Who looks like a opened lotus flower, who holds a flute,
Who destroys the pride of god of love, who has a pleasant calm look,
Who steals the mind by playing soulful music,
Who is witty but soft and who lives on Kuncha vine and plays various roles.

Athipara praveenam palitha deenam bhakthadeenam karmakaram,
Mohanamathi dheeram phanibala veeram hathapara veeram taralataram,
Vallabha vraja ramanam varija vadanam hala dara samanam sailadaram,
Bhaja Nanda kumaram sarva sukha saram Thathwa vicharambrahmaparam. 6

Sing about that son of Nanda, who is essence of all pleasures,
Who is the inner meaning of religion and bridge to Brahman,
Who is a great expert who takes care of oppressed people,
Who obeys his devotees, who is engaged in doing his duty,
Who is pretty and very brave, who is very heroic Adisesha,
Who kills all his enemies, who is extremely fickle,
Who entertains the Vraja, Who has a face like a lotus flower,
Who pacifies Bala Rama and who carried a mountain.

Jala dhara dyuthi angam lalithatribangam bahu krutha rangam rasikavaram,
Gokula parivaram madanakaram kuncha viharam goodatharam,
Vallabha vruja chandram subhaga suschandam krutha aanandam branthiharam,
Bhaja Nanda kumaram sarva sukha saram Thathwa vicharambrahmaparam. 7

Sing about that son of Nanda, who is essence of all pleasures,
Who is the inner meaning of religion and bridge to Brahman,
Whose limbs shine like a rich cloud, Who can be easily defeated by love,
Who lives in different places, who is a great connoisseur,
Whose family is in Gokula, Who looks like the god of love,
Who lives in kuncha, who is great in hiding himself,
Who is the moon of the vruja, who is like the pretty verse,
Who makes every one happy and who drives away illusion.

Vandithayuga charanam, pavanakaranam jagad udharanam vimaladaram,
Kaliya siragamanam krutha phani namanam gathithaya manam mrudula taram,
Vallabha dukha haranam nirmala charanam asarana saranam mukthikaram,
Bhaja Nanda kumaram sarva sukha saram Thathwa vicharambrahmaparam. 8

Sing about that son of Nanda, who is essence of all pleasures,
Who is the inner meaning of religion and bridge to Brahman,
Whose feet are fit to be saluted, who makes everything holy,
Who takes care of the world, who is carried in mind by pure people,
Who climbed up on the head of Kaliya, who is saluted by Adhi Sesha,
Who killed Kala yavana, who is extremely soft by nature,
Who steals away our sorrow, who has a very pure feet,
Who is the solace for the oppressed and who leads us to salvation.

Ithi Vallabacharya Virachitham,
Nanda kumarshtakam Sampoornam.

Thus ends the octet on the son of Nanda,
Composed by Sri Vallabacharya.