Achyutashtakam
अच्युताष्टकम्
Achyutashtakam is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn to Vishnu, attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, that begins "Achyutam Keshavam Rama Narayanam". It strings together his holy names and remembers him as Rama, the lord of Sita, and as Krishna, the beloved of the gopis. A ninth verse, the phalashruti, closes it, and the simple, swinging metre makes it easy for children to sing.
- 9 verses
- 4 min
- Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
- Best on Thursday
Achyutam Keshavam Rama Narayanamअच्युतं केशवं रामनारायणं
Krishna Damodaram Vasudevam Harimकृष्णदामोदरं वासुदेवं हरिम् ।
Sridharam Madhavam Gopika Vallabhamश्रीधरं माधवं गोपिकावल्लभं
Janaki Nayakam Ramachandram Bhajeजानकीनायकं रामचन्द्रं भजे ॥
I worship Achyuta, Keshava, Rama, Narayana, Krishna, Damodara, Vasudeva and Hari; Shridhara, Madhava, the beloved of the gopis, the lord of Janaki, Ramachandra.
- Achyutamthe one who never falls, the imperishable
- KeshavamKeshava, of beautiful hair
- Rama NarayanamRama, Narayana
- Krishna DamodaramKrishna, Damodara (tied with a rope at the waist)
- VasudevamVasudeva
- HarimHari, who takes away sorrow
- SridharamShridhara, who holds Lakshmi
- MadhavamMadhava, Lakshmi's lord
- Gopika Vallabhambeloved of the gopis
- Janaki Nayakamlord of Janaki (Sita)
- RamachandramRamachandra
- BhajeI worship
Achyutam Keshavam Satyabhama Dhavamअच्युतं केशवं सत्यभामाधवं
Madhavam Sridharam Radhikaradhitamमाधवं श्रीधरं राधिकाराधितम् ।
Indira Mandiram Chetasa Sundaramइन्दिरामन्दिरं चेतसा सुन्दरं
Devaki Nandanam Nandajam Sandadheदेवकीनन्दनं नन्दजं सन्दधे ॥
Achyuta, Keshava, husband of Satyabhama; Madhava, Shridhara, worshipped by Radha; the home of Lakshmi, beautiful to the heart; the son of Devaki, the son of Nanda: him I hold within my heart.
- Satyabhama Dhavamhusband of Satyabhama
- Radhikaradhitamworshipped by Radha
- Indira Mandiramthe home of Lakshmi
- Chetasa Sundarambeautiful to the heart
- Devaki Nandanamson of Devaki
- Nandajamthe son of Nanda
- SandadheI hold him in my heart
Vishnave Jishnave Shankhine Chakrineविष्णवे जिष्णवे शङ्खिने चक्रिणे
Rukmini Ragine Janaki Janayeरुक्मिणीरागिणे जानकीजानये ।
Vallavi Vallabhayarchitayatmaneवल्लवीवल्लभायार्चितायात्मने
Kamsa Vidhvamsine Vamshine Te Namahकंसविध्वंसिने वंशिने ते नमः ॥
Salutations to you: to Vishnu, the ever-victorious, bearer of the conch and discus; to the one who loves Rukmini, the husband of Janaki; to the beloved of the cowherd women, the worshipped one, the Self of all; to the destroyer of Kamsa, the player of the flute.
- Vishnaveto Vishnu, the all-pervading
- Jishnaveto the ever-victorious
- Shankhine Chakrineto the bearer of conch and discus
- Rukmini Ragineto the one who loves Rukmini
- Janaki Janayeto the husband of Janaki
- Vallavi Vallabhayato the beloved of the cowherd women
- Architayato the one who is worshipped
- Atmaneto the Self of all
- Kamsa Vidhvamsineto the destroyer of Kamsa
- Vamshineto the flute-player
- Te Namahsalutations to you
Krishna Govinda He Rama Narayanaकृष्ण गोविन्द हे राम नारायण
Sripate Vasudevajita Srinidheश्रीपते वासुदेवाजित श्रीनिधे ।
Achyutananta He Madhavadhokshajaअच्युतानन्त हे माधवाधोक्षज
Dvaraka Nayaka Draupadi Rakshakaद्वारकानायक द्रौपदीरक्षक ॥
O Krishna, Govinda, O Rama, Narayana; Lord of Lakshmi, Vasudeva, the unconquered, treasure of all good fortune; O Achyuta, Ananta, O Madhava, Adhokshaja who is beyond the senses; Lord of Dvaraka, protector of Draupadi!
- Krishna GovindaO Krishna, O Govinda
- He Rama NarayanaO Rama, O Narayana
- SripateO lord of Lakshmi
- VasudevaO Vasudeva
- AjitaO unconquered one
- SrinidheO treasure of all good fortune
- Achyuta AnantaO imperishable, O endless one
- He Madhava AdhokshajaO Madhava, O Adhokshaja, beyond the senses
- Dvaraka NayakaO lord of Dvaraka
- Draupadi RakshakaO protector of Draupadi
Rakshasa Kshobhitah Sitaya Shobhitoराक्षसक्षोभितः सीतया शोभितो
Dandakaranya Bhu Punyata Karanamदण्डकारण्यभूपुण्यताकारणम् ।
Lakshmanenanvito Vanaraih Sevitoलक्ष्मणेनान्वितो वानरैः सेवितो-
Agastya Sampujito Raghavah Patu Mamऽगस्त्यसम्पूजितो राघवः पातु माम् ॥
May Raghava protect me: he who shook the rakshasas, radiant with Sita at his side, whose presence made the Dandaka forest holy; accompanied by Lakshmana, served by the vanaras, and honoured by the sage Agastya.
- Rakshasa Kshobhitahwho shook the rakshasas (or was troubled by them)
- Sitaya Shobhitahradiant with Sita beside him
- Dandakaranya Bhu Punyata Karanamthe cause of the holiness of the Dandaka forest
- Lakshmanenanvitahaccompanied by Lakshmana
- Vanaraih Sevitahserved by the vanaras
- Agastya Sampujitahhonoured by the sage Agastya
- Raghavah Patu Mammay Raghava protect me
Dhenukarishtahanishta Krid Dveshinamधेनुकारिष्टहाऽनिष्टकृद्द्वेषिणां
Keshiha Kamsahrid Vamshika Vadakahकेशिहा कंसहृद्वंशिकावादकः ।
Putana Kopakah Suraja Khelanoपूतनाकोपकः सूरजाखेलनो
Bala Gopalakah Patu Mam Sarvadaबालगोपालकः पातु मां सर्वदा ॥
May the child cowherd, Bala Gopala, protect me always: he who slew Dhenuka and Arishta and brings ruin to the hostile, who killed Keshi and destroyed Kamsa, who plays the flute, who overcame Putana, and who played along the banks of the Yamuna, daughter of the Sun.
- Dhenukarishtahaslayer of the demons Dhenuka and Arishta
- Anishta Krid Dveshinamwho brings ruin to the hostile
- Keshihaslayer of Keshi
- Kamsahritdestroyer of Kamsa
- Vamshika Vadakahplayer of the flute
- Putana Kopakahthe foe of Putana
- Suraja Khelanahwho played by the Yamuna, daughter of the Sun
- Bala Gopalakahthe child cowherd
- Patu Mam Sarvadamay he protect me always
Vidyududyotavat Prasphurad Vasasamविद्युदुद्योतवत्प्रस्फुरद्वाससं
Pravrid Ambhodavat Prollasad Vigrahamप्रावृडम्भोदवत्प्रोल्लसद्विग्रहम् ।
Vanyaya Malaya Shobhitorahsthalamवन्यया मालया शोभितोरःस्थलं
Lohitanghri Dvayam Varijaksham Bhajeलोहिताङ्घ्रिद्वयं वारिजाक्षं भजे ॥
I worship the lotus-eyed Lord whose garment gleams like a flash of lightning, whose dark form glows like a monsoon cloud, whose chest is adorned with a garland of forest flowers, and whose two feet are rosy-red.
- Vidyududyotavatlike a flash of lightning
- Prasphurad Vasasamwhose garment gleams (the yellow pitambara)
- Pravrid Ambhodavatlike a monsoon rain-cloud
- Prollasad Vigrahamwhose form glows
- Vanyaya Malayawith a garland of forest flowers (vanamala)
- Shobhitorahsthalamwhose chest is adorned
- Lohitanghri Dvayamwhose two feet are rosy-red
- Varijakshamthe lotus-eyed one
- BhajeI worship
Kunchitaih Kuntalair Bhrajamananamकुञ्चितैः कुन्तलैर्भ्राजमानाननं
Ratna Maulim Lasat Kundalam Gandayohरत्नमौलिं लसत्कुण्डलं गण्डयोः ।
Hara Keyurakam Kankana Projjvalamहारकेयूरकं कङ्कणप्रोज्ज्वलं
Kinkini Manjulam Shyamalam Tam Bhajeकिङ्किणीमञ्जुलं श्यामलं तं भजे ॥
I worship that dark-hued Lord whose face shines framed by curling locks, who wears a jewelled crown and earrings glinting on his cheeks, who is adorned with necklaces and armlets, radiant with bracelets, and charming with tinkling bells.
- Kunchitaih Kuntalaihwith curling locks of hair
- Bhrajamananamwhose face shines
- Ratna Maulimwearing a jewelled crown
- Lasat Kundalam Gandayohwith earrings glinting on his cheeks
- Hara Keyurakamwith necklaces and armlets
- Kankana Projjvalamshining with bracelets
- Kinkini Manjulamcharming with tinkling bells
- Shyamalam Tam BhajeI worship that dark-hued Lord
Achyutasyashtakam Yah Pathed Ishtadamअच्युतस्याष्टकं यः पठेदिष्टदं
Prematah Pratyaham Purushah Sasprihamप्रेमतः प्रत्यहं पूरुषः सस्पृहम् ।
Vrittatah Sundaram Vedya Vishvambharamवृत्ततः सुन्दरं वेद्यविश्वम्भरं
Tasya Vashyo Harir Jayate Satvaramतस्य वश्यो हरिर्जायते सत्वरम् ॥
Whoever recites this Achyutashtakam every day with love and longing, a hymn beautiful in its metre that grants what the heart desires and makes known the Lord who sustains the universe, finds, tradition holds, that Hari swiftly comes to him, bound by that love.
- Achyutasyashtakamthis ashtakam of Achyuta
- Yah Pathetwhoever recites
- Ishtadamwhich grants what one longs for
- Prematahwith love
- Pratyahamevery day
- Purushaha person
- Sasprihamwith eager longing
- Vrittatah Sundarambeautiful in its metre
- Vedya Vishvambharamwhich makes known the sustainer of the universe
- Tasyato him
- Vashyo Harir JayateHari becomes lovingly bound
- Satvaramswiftly
The ninth verse is the phalashruti, the verse on the fruit of reciting.
Complete
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Questions
Who wrote Achyutashtakam?
Tradition attributes it to Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century teacher of Advaita Vedanta, and the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, the math he founded, includes it among his hymns. As with many stotras linked to him, scholars debate the attribution, but it has long been recited as his.
Is "Achyutam Keshavam Krishna Damodaram" the same as Achyutashtakam?
No. The popular bhajan "Achyutam Keshavam Krishna Damodaram, Rama Narayanam Janaki Vallabham" is a separate, later song. Shankaracharya's hymn begins "Achyutam Keshavam Rama Narayanam, Krishna Damodaram Vasudevam Harim" and has eight verses plus a phalashruti. The two share only their opening words.
How many verses are in Achyutashtakam?
Nine: eight verses, as the name ashtakam says, and a phalashruti. All nine take about four minutes at an easy pace.
What are the benefits of reciting Achyutashtakam?
Its own phalashruti says that Hari soon comes to whoever recites it daily with love, bound by that devotion, and that it grants what the heart longs for. These are devotional beliefs, not promises. Tradition values it mainly for building steady love for the Lord.
When should I recite Achyutashtakam?
Any time you pray. The morning after a bath and the evening lamp are both traditional, and Thursdays and Ekadashi are special days for Vishnu. The metre is simple and musical, so it is a good first Sanskrit stotra to teach children.
Source and review
Source: Achyutashtakam of Adi Shankaracharya as given by Sringeri Sharada Peetham (sringeri.net, Vishnu stotras) and stotranidhi.com (Prabhata Stotranidhi, Devanagari); cross-checked against sanskritdocuments.org (achyuta8) and sa.wikisource.org (अच्युताष्टकम्)
We follow the Sringeri Sharada Peetham reading, which stotranidhi matches word for word. sanskritdocuments.org and wikisource differ in four places: 2 नन्दनं for नन्दजं; 5 दण्डकारण्यभूपुण्यताकारणः for ...कारणम्; 6 धेनुकारिष्टकोऽनिष्टकृद् for धेनुकारिष्टहाऽनिष्टकृद्; 9 कर्तृ विश्वम्भरं/विश्वम्भरः for वेद्यविश्वम्भरं. Meanings are Nitya's own.
We checked the text line by line against the sources named here. The meanings are an AI-assisted draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet.
The meanings are our own first draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet. If you spot a mistake, please tell us.