Radha Ashtakam is a sacred melody to glorify the eternal consort of Lord Krishna. Radha also named Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and a chief consort of the god Krishna. It is believed that just by reading the holy eight rhymes, the seeker attunes himself to the divine true love and obtains a permanent dwelling in Vrindavan.
She is idolized as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. She is the avatar of Lakshmi and is also depicted as the chief of the Gopis (milkmaids).
During Krishna's youth, she emerges as his lover and companion, though he is not married to her. In contrast, some traditions and scriptures accord Radha the status of the eternal consort and wife of Krishna.
Radha, as a supreme goddess, is considered the female counterpart and the internal potency of Krishna, who resides in Goloka, the celestial abode of Radha Krishna. Radha is said to accompany Krishna in all his incarnations.
Today Radha is the most important element in the Krishna worship. Now, Krishna’s name is always paired with Radha. There is no Krishna temple without Radha in it. And in Vaishnava literature, Radha has even a greater significance than Sri Krishna himself.
Radha Ashtakam Meaning
राधाष्टकम्
नमस्ते श्रियै राधिकायै परायै
नमस्ते नमस्ते मुकुन्दप्रियायै ।
सदानन्दरूपे प्रसीद त्वमन्तः-
प्रकाशे स्फुरन्ती मुकुन्देन सार्धम् ॥ १॥
namaste shriyai raadhikaayai paraayai
namaste namaste mukundapriyaayai .
sadaanandaroope praseeda tvamantah'-
prakaashe sphurantee mukundena saardham .. 1..
Salutations to Radha who is Lakshmi and who is divine,
Salutations and salutations to the darling of Mukunda,
Oh Radha who has the form of everlasting joy, be pleased with me.
Please light up my mind in the form of Mukunda.
स्ववासोपहारं यशोदासुतं वा
स्वदध्यादिचौरं समाराधयन्तीम् ।
स्वदाम्नोदरे या बबन्धाशु नीव्या
प्रपद्ये नु दामोदरप्रेयसीं ताम् ॥ २॥
svavaasopahaaram yashodaasutam vaa
svadadhyaadichauram samaaraadhayanteem .
svadaamnodare yaa babandhaashu neevyaa
prapadye nu daamodarapreyaseem taam .. 2..
She worships the stealer of her own clothes,
Who is the son of Yasodha and who stole milk, curd, and butter from her,
And she used to speedily lock his lips by hers,
And I salute her who is the darling of that Dhamodhara.
दुराराध्यमाराध्य कृष्णं वशे तं
महाप्रेमपूरेण राधाभिधाभूः ।
स्वयं नामकीर्त्या हरौ प्रेम यच्छत्
प्रपन्नाय मे कृष्णरूपे समक्षम् ॥ ३॥
duraaraadhyamaaraadhya kri'shnam vashe tam
mahaapremapoorena raadhaabhidhaabhooh' .
svayam naamakeertyaa harau prema yachchhat
prapannaaya me kri'shnaroope samaksham .. 3.
Oh, Radha you worshipped the difficult to worship Krishna,
And made him under your control by your great love,
And you have got this name due to your love for Hari,
And you are known by all by your surrender to the form of Hari.
मुकुन्दस्त्वया प्रेमडोरेण बद्धः
पतङ्गो यथा त्वामनुभ्राम्यमाणः ।
उपक्रीडयन् हार्दमेवानुगच्छन्
कृपावर्तते कारयातो मयीष्टिम् ॥ ४॥
mukundastvayaa premad'orena baddhah'
patango yathaa tvaamanubhraamyamaanah' .
upakreed'ayan haardamevaanugachchhan
kri'paavartate kaarayaato mayeesht'im .. 4..
Lord Krishna caught in the web of your love
Is wandering around you like an insect,
And is playing with you, hardly living you alone,
And since your mercy is on all, help me to worship you in person.
व्रजन्तीं स्ववृन्दावने नित्यकालं
मुकुन्देन साकं विधायाङ्कमालाम् ।
समामोक्ष्यमाणानुकम्पाकटाक्षैः
श्रियं चिन्तये सच्चिदानन्दरूपाम् ॥ ५॥
vrajanteem svavri'ndaavane nityakaalam
mukundena saakam vidhaayaankamaalaam .
samaamokshyamaanaanukampaakat'aakshaih'
shriyam chintaye sachchidaanandaroopaam .. 5..
.You who after making lord Krishna wear your own necklace,
Are taking him to Vrundavana which is your arena of play,
And let Goddess Lakshmi who has a look of compassion.
which always takes one to salvation think about that form of divine joy,
मुकुन्दानुरागेण रोमाञ्चिताङ्गै-
रहं वेप्यमानां तनुस्वेदबिन्दुम् ।
महाहार्दवृष्ट्या कृपापाङ्गदृष्ट्या
समालोकयन्तीं कदा मां विचक्षे ॥ ६॥
mukundaanuraagena romaanchitaangai-
raham vepyamaanaam tanusvedabindum .
mahaahaardavri'sht'yaa kri'paapaangadri'sht'yaa
samaalokayanteem kadaa maam vichakshe .. 6..
Oh Radha, due to the love towards Krishna, your body hair u are standing erect
And every inch of your body is covered with drops of your sweat,
And you just by your glance which is like a rain of love garland him,
Are looking elsewhere and when would I be able to see you.
यद् अङ्कावलोके महालालसौघं
मुकुन्दः करोति स्वयं ध्येयपादः ।
पदं राधिके ते सदा दर्शयान्तर्-
हृदिस्थं नमन्तं किरद्रोचिषं माम् ॥ ७॥
yad ankaavaloke mahaalaalasaugham
mukundah' karoti svayam dhyeyapaadah' .
padam raadhike te sadaa darshayaantar-
hri'distham namantam kiradrochisham maam .. 7..
Oh, Radha you are staring at the feet of Lord Krishna,
While he with great love is meditating,
And staring at your feet with love always,
And I with all my heart salute you,
And when will you show your holy feet to me.
सदा राधिकानाम जिह्वाग्रतः स्यात्
सदा राधिकारूपमक्ष्यग्र आस्ताम् ।
श्रुतौ राधिकाकीर्तिरन्तःस्वभावे
गुणा राधिकायाः श्रिया एतद् ईहे ॥ ८॥
sadaa raadhikaanaama jihvaagratah' syaat
sadaa raadhikaaroopamakshyagra aastaam .
shrutau raadhikaakeertirantah'svabhaave
gunaa raadhikaayaah' shriyaa etad eehe .. 8..
At the tip of my tongue, the name Radha is always there
Before my eyes, the pretty form of Radha is always there,
My ears are always hearing the sweet praises of Radha,
And there is no limit to the good qualities of Radha who is Lakshmi.
इदं त्वष्टकं राधिकायाः प्रियायाः
पठेयुः सदैवं हि दामोदरस्य ।
सुतिष्ठन्ति वृन्दावने कृष्णधाम्नि
सखीमूर्तयो युग्मसेवानुकूलाः ॥ ९॥
इति श्रीनिम्बार्काचार्यविरचितम् राधाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ।
idam tvasht'akam raadhikaayaah' priyaayaah'
pat'heyuh' sadaivam hi daamodarasya .
sutisht'hanti vri'ndaavane kri'shnadhaamni
sakheemoortayo yugmasevaanukoolaah' .. 9..
If these octet of verses about Radha,
Who is the darling of Damodara is always read,
They would live in the Brindavan,
And in the home of Lord Krishna as his friends.
Must Watch : Ganesh Stotra - Radha Krit | राधाकृतं गणेश स्तोत्रम्
