Śrī Nandanandana Aṣṭakam

The Nandanandanāṣṭakam is a devotional hymn of glorifying Lord Krishna as the beloved son of Nanda Mahārāja. Each verse beautifully describes Krishna's enchanting form, divine qualities, and playful pastimes in Vrindavan. Regular recitation with faith is said to purify the heart, deepen devotion to Krishna, and ultimately help one cross the ocean of material existence to attain His lotus feet. The author of this aṣṭakam is unknown.

VERSE 1

सुचारुवक्त्रमण्डलं सुकर्णरत्नकुण्डलम्
सुचर्चिताङ्गचन्दनं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम्

sucāruvaktramaṇḍalaṃ sukarṇaratnakuṇḍalam
sucarcitāṅgacandanaṃ namāmi nandanandanam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

I offer my obeisances to the son of Nanda, whose round face is extremely beautiful, who wears jeweled earrings in His beautiful ears, and whose body is decorated with sandalwood paste.

VERSE 2

सुदीर्घनेत्रपङ्कजं शिखीशिखण्डमूर्धजम्
अनन्तकोटिमोहनं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम्

sudīrghanetrapaṅkajaṃ śikhīśikhaṇḍamūrdhajam
anantakoṭimohanaṃ namāmi nandanandanam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

I offer my obeisances to the son of Nanda, whose lotus eyes are very large, who wears a peacock feather on His head, and who enchants infinite millions of universes.

VERSE 3

सुनासिकाग्रमौक्तिकं स्वच्छदन्तपङ्क्तिकम्
नवाम्बुदाङ्गचिक्कणं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम्

sunāsikāgramauktikaṃ svacchadantapaṅktikam
navāmbudāṅgacikkaṇaṃ namāmi nandanandanam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

I offer my obeisances to the son of Nanda, who has a pearl on the tip of His beautiful nose, whose row of teeth is shining white, and whose body glistens like a fresh rain cloud.

VERSE 4

करेणवेणुरञ्जितं गतिः करीन्द्रगञ्जितम्
दुकूलपीतशोभनं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम्

kareṇaveṇurañjitaṃ gatiḥ karīndragañjitam
dukūlapītaśobhanaṃ namāmi nandanandanam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

I offer my obeisances to the son of Nanda, whose hand is adorned with a flute, whose gait mocks the king of elephants, and who looks beautiful in yellow silk garments.

VERSE 5

त्रिभङ्गदेहसुन्दरं नखद्युतिः सुधाकरम्
अमूल्यरत्नभूषणं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम्

tribhaṅgadehasundaraṃ nakhadyutiḥ sudhākaram
amūlyaratnabhūṣaṇaṃ namāmi nandanandanam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

I offer my obeisances to the son of Nanda, whose body is beautiful in His three-fold bending form, the splendor of whose nails resembles the moon, and who is adorned with priceless gem-studded ornaments.

VERSE 6

सुगन्ध अङ्गसौरभं उरो विराजि कौस्तुभम्
स्फुरत् श्रीवत्सलाञ्छनं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम्

sugandha aṅgasaurabhaṃ uro virāji kaustubham
sphurat śrīvatsalāñchanaṃ namāmi nandanandanam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

I offer my obeisances to the son of Nanda, whose body is naturally fragrant, whose chest shines with the Kaustubha gem, and who bears the glowing mark of Srivatsa.

VERSE 7

वृन्दावनसुनागरं विलासानुगवाससम्
सुरेन्द्रगर्वमोचनं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम्

vṛndāvanasunāgaraṃ vilāsānugavāsasam
surendragarvamocanaṃ namāmi nandanandanam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

I offer my obeisances to the son of Nanda, the excellent hero of Vrindavan, who dresses to suit His specific pastimes, and who removed the pride of Indra.

VERSE 8

व्रजाङ्गनासुनायकं सदा सुखप्रदायकम्
जगन्मनःप्रलोभनं नमामि नन्दनन्दनम्

vrajāṅganāsunāyakaṃ sadā sukhapradāyakam
jaganmanaḥpralobhanaṃ namāmi nandanandanam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

I offer my obeisances to the son of Nanda, the excellent lover of the women of Vraja, who always bestows happiness, and who captivates the minds of the entire universe.

VERSE 9

श्रीनन्दनन्दनाष्टकं पठेद्यः श्रद्धयान्वितः
तरेद्भवाब्धिदुस्तरं लभेत्तदङ्घ्रियुक्तकम्।

śrīnandanandanāṣṭakaṃ paṭhedyaḥ śraddhayānvitaḥ
taredbhavābdhidustaraṃ labhettadaṅghriyuktakam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Whoever recites this Śrī Nandanandana Aṣṭakam with faith will cross the insurmountable ocean of material existence and attain His lotus feet.