What is Govindāṣṭakam and what does it mean?

Govindāṣṭakam is a Sanskrit stotra (devotional hymn), composed by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, addressed to Krishna, of 9 verses. On Avabodhak every verse is shown with its English meaning, so you can understand the text line by line as you read.

How do I pronounce Govindāṣṭakam correctly?

Avabodhak presents Govindāṣṭakam in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, Telugu, Tamil alongside IAST Roman transliteration that marks every long vowel (ā, ī, ū) and conjunct consonant. Reading the Devanagari text with the IAST line lets you follow the exact pronunciation syllable by syllable, and the guided practice mode replays it line by line.

What is the word-by-word meaning of Govindāṣṭakam?

Avabodhak pairs each verse of Govindāṣṭakam with its English meaning, and the practice view breaks lines into individual words — so you learn what each word means, not just the overall sense.

Who composed Govindāṣṭakam?

Govindāṣṭakam is attributed to Ādi Śaṅkarācārya.

In which scripts can I read Govindāṣṭakam?

Govindāṣṭakam is available in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, Telugu, Tamil on Avabodhak, each with English meaning and IAST transliteration.

Can I chant or practice Govindāṣṭakam online?

Yes — Avabodhak offers a free reading view plus guided practice and word-puzzle modes to help you chant and memorise Govindāṣṭakam.

Govindāṣṭakam — Satyam Jnanam Anantam in Kannada with Meaning

Kannada lyrics with meaning · composed by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya · stotra · 9 verses

ಗೋವಿಂದಾಷ್ಟಕಂ

govindāṣṭakam

Govindāṣṭakam — Ādi Śaṅkara’s eight-verse hymn to Govinda, the boundless bliss; every verse closes bidding the heart bow to Him.

Verse 1 — ಸತ್ಯಂ ಜ್ಞಾನಮನಂತಂ ನಿತ್ಯಮನಾಕಾಶಂ ಪರಮಾಕಾಶಂ…

ಸತ್ಯಂ ಜ್ಞಾನಮನಂತಂ ನಿತ್ಯಮನಾಕಾಶಂ ಪರಮಾಕಾಶಂ ಗೋಷ್ಠಪ್ರಾಂಗಣರಿಂಖಣಲೋಲಮನಾಯಾಸಂ ಪರಮಾಯಾಸಂ ।
ಮಾಯಾಕಲ್ಪಿತನಾನಾಕಾರಮನಾಕಾರಂ ಭುವನಾಕಾರಂ ಕ್ಷ್ಮಾಮಾನಾಥಮನಾಥಂ ಪ್ರಣಮತ ಗೋವಿಂದಂ ಪರಮಾನಂದಂ ॥

satyaṃ jñānamanantaṃ nityamanākāśaṃ paramākāśaṃ goṣṭhaprāṅgaṇariṅkhaṇalolamanāyāsaṃ paramāyāsam |
māyākalpitanānākāramanākāraṃ bhuvanākāraṃ kṣmāmānāthamanāthaṃ praṇamata govindaṃ paramānandam ||

Truth, wisdom, the infinite — eternal, spaceless, the supreme expanse; sporting fearlessly in the cowherd settlement’s courtyard, beyond all strain: bow to Govinda, the supreme bliss.

Verse 2 — ಮೃತ್ಸ್ನಾಮತ್ಸೀಹೇತಿ ಯಶೋದಾತಾಡನಶೈಶವ ಸಂತ್ರಾಸಂ…

ಮೃತ್ಸ್ನಾಮತ್ಸೀಹೇತಿ ಯಶೋದಾತಾಡನಶೈಶವ ಸಂತ್ರಾಸಂ ವ್ಯಾದಿತವಕ್ತ್ರಾಲೋಕಿತಲೋಕಾಲೋಕಚತುರ್ದಶಲೋಕಾಲಿಂ ।
ಲೋಕತ್ರಯಪುರಮೂಲಸ್ತಂಭಂ ಲೋಕಾಲೋಕಮನಾಲೋಕಂ ಲೋಕೇಶಂ ಪರಮೇಶಂ ಪ್ರಣಮತ ಗೋವಿಂದಂ ಪರಮಾನಂದಂ ॥

mṛtsnāmatsīheti yaśodātāḍanaśaiśava santrāsaṃ vyāditavaktrālokitalokālokacaturdaśalokālim |
lokatrayapuramūlastambhaṃ lokālokamanālokaṃ lokeśaṃ parameśaṃ praṇamata govindaṃ paramānandam ||

Smeared with mud, little Yaśodā feared to scold Him — yet in His gaping mouth she beheld the fourteen worlds; pillar-root of the three worlds, Lord of all: bow to Govinda, the supreme bliss.

Verse 3 — ತ್ರೈವಿಷ್ಟಪರಿಪುವೀರಘ್ನಂ ಕ್ಷಿತಿಭಾರಘ್ನಂ ಭವರೋಗಘ್ನಂ…

ತ್ರೈವಿಷ್ಟಪರಿಪುವೀರಘ್ನಂ ಕ್ಷಿತಿಭಾರಘ್ನಂ ಭವರೋಗಘ್ನಂ ಕೈವಲ್ಯಂ ನವನೀತಾಹಾರಮನಾಹಾರಂ ಭುವನಾಹಾರಂ ।
ವೈಮಲ್ಯಸ್ಫುಟಚೇತೋವೃತ್ತಿವಿಶೇಷಾಭಾಸಮನಾಭಾಸಂ ಶೈವಂ ಕೇವಲಶಾಂತಂ ಪ್ರಣಮತ ಗೋವಿಂದಂ ಪರಮಾನಂದಂ ॥

traiviṣṭaparipuvīraghnaṃ kṣitibhāraghnaṃ bhavarogaghnaṃ kaivalyaṃ navanītāhāramanāhāraṃ bhuvanāhāram |
vaimalyasphuṭacetovṛttiviśeṣābhāsamanābhāsaṃ śaivaṃ kevalaśāntaṃ praṇamata govindaṃ paramānandam ||

Slayer of heaven’s foes, reliever of earth’s burden, curer of worldliness itself; butter-eating yet needing no food, the world’s sustenance: bow to Govinda, the supreme bliss.

Verse 4 — ಗೋಪಾಲಂ ಪ್ರಭುಲೀಲಾವಿಗ್ರಹಗೋಪಾಲಂ ಕುಲಗೋಪಾಲಂ…

ಗೋಪಾಲಂ ಪ್ರಭುಲೀಲಾವಿಗ್ರಹಗೋಪಾಲಂ ಕುಲಗೋಪಾಲಂ ಗೋಪೀಖೇಲನಗೋವರ್ಧನಧೃತಿಲೀಲಾಲಾಲಿತಗೋಪಾಲಂ ।
ಗೋಭಿರ್ನಿಗದಿತಗೋವಿಂದಸ್ಫುಟನಾಮಾನಂ ಬಹುನಾಮಾನಂ ಗೋಪೀಗೋಚರಪಥಿಕಂ ಪ್ರಣಮತ ಗೋವಿಂದಂ ಪರಮಾನಂದಂ ॥

gopālaṃ prabhulīlāvigrahagopālaṃ kulagopālaṃ gopīkhelanagovardhanadhṛtilīlālālitagopālam |
gobhirnigaditagovindasphuṭanāmānaṃ bahunāmānaṃ gopīgocarapathikaṃ praṇamata govindaṃ paramānandam ||

The cowherd — the Lord whose play takes the cowherd’s form, of the cowherd clan; whose childhood sport held up Govardhana in play: bow to Govinda, the supreme bliss.

Verse 5 — ಗೋಪೀಮಂಡಲಗೋಷ್ಠೀಭೇದಂ ಭೇದಾವಸ್ಥಮಭೇದಾಭಂ…

ಗೋಪೀಮಂಡಲಗೋಷ್ಠೀಭೇದಂ ಭೇದಾವಸ್ಥಮಭೇದಾಭಂ ಶಶ್ವದ್ಗೋಖುರನಿರ್ಧೂತೋದ್ಗತಧೂಲೀಧೂಸರಸೌಭಾಗ್ಯಂ ।
ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾಭಕ್ತಿಗೃಹೀತಾನಂದಮಚಿಂತ್ಯಂ ಚಿಂತಿತಸದ್ಭಾವಂ ಚಿಂತಾಮಣಿಮಹಿಮಾನಂ ಪ್ರಣಮತ ಗೋವಿಂದಂ ಪರಮಾನಂದಂ ॥

gopīmaṇḍalagoṣṭhībhedaṃ bhedāvasthamabhedābhaṃ śaśvadgokhuranirdhūtodgatadhūlīdhūsarasaubhāgyam |
śraddhābhaktigṛhītānandamacintyaṃ cintitasadbhāvaṃ cintāmaṇimahimānaṃ praṇamata govindaṃ paramānandam ||

Known in the cowherd women’s circle yet beyond all division, ever auspicious in the dust of cows’ hooves; grasped only by faith and devotion, beyond thought yet pondered by the good: bow to Govinda, the supreme bliss.

Verse 6 — ಸ್ನಾನವ್ಯಾಕುಲಯೋಶಿದ್ವಸ್ತ್ರಮುಪಾದಾಯಾಗಮುಪಾರೂಢಂ…

ಸ್ನಾನವ್ಯಾಕುಲಯೋಶಿದ್ವಸ್ತ್ರಮುಪಾದಾಯಾಗಮುಪಾರೂಢಂ ವ್ಯಾದಿತ್ಸಂತೀರಥ ದಿಗ್ವಸ್ತ್ರಾ ಹ್ಯುಪುದಾತುಮುಪಾಕರ್ಷಂತಂ ।
ನಿರ್ಧೂತದ್ವಯಶೋಕವಿಮೋಹಂ ಬುದ್ಧಂ ಬುದ್ಧೇರಂತಸ್ಥಂ ಸತ್ತಾಮಾತ್ರಶರೀರಂ ಪ್ರಣಮತ ಗೋವಿಂದಂ ಪರಮಾನಂದಂ ॥

snānavyākulayośidvastramupādāyāgamupārūḍhaṃ vyāditsantīratha digvastrā hyupudātumupākarṣantam |
nirdhūtadvayaśokavimohaṃ buddhaṃ buddherantasthaṃ sattāmātraśarīraṃ praṇamata govindaṃ paramānandam ||

He who stole the bathers’ garments and climbed the tree, drawing the unclad ones near; beyond grief and delusion, awake, dwelling within the intellect: bow to Govinda, the supreme bliss.

Verse 7 — ಕಾಂತಂ ಕಾರಣಕಾರಣಮಾದಿಮನಾದಿಂ ಕಾಲಮನಾಭಾಸಂ…

ಕಾಂತಂ ಕಾರಣಕಾರಣಮಾದಿಮನಾದಿಂ ಕಾಲಮನಾಭಾಸಂ ಕಾಲಿಂದೀಗತಕಾಲಿಯಶಿರಸಿ ಮುಹುರ್ನೃತ್ಯಂತಂ ನೃತ್ಯಂತಂ ।
ಕಾಲಂ ಕಾಲಕಲಾತೀತಂ ಕಲಿತಾಶೇಷಂ ಕಲಿದೋಷಘ್ನಂ ಕಾಲತ್ರಯಗತಿಹೇತುಂ ಪ್ರಣಮತ ಗೋವಿಂದಂ ಪರಮಾನಂದಂ ॥

kāntaṃ kāraṇakāraṇamādimanādiṃ kālamanābhāsaṃ kālindīgatakāliyaśirasi muhurnṛtyantaṃ nṛtyantam |
kālaṃ kālakalātītaṃ kalitāśeṣaṃ kalidoṣaghnaṃ kālatrayagatihetuṃ praṇamata govindaṃ paramānandam ||

Beloved, cause of causes, beginningless beginning, beyond time’s glare; dancing again and again on Kāliya’s head in the Yamuna: bow to Govinda, the supreme bliss.

Verse 8 — ವೃಂದಾವನಭುವಿ ವೃಂದಾರಕಗಣವೃಂದಾರಾಧ್ಯಂ ವಂದೇಽಹಂ…

ವೃಂದಾವನಭುವಿ ವೃಂದಾರಕಗಣವೃಂದಾರಾಧ್ಯಂ ವಂದೇಽಹಂ ಕುಂದಾಭಾಮಲಮಂದಸ್ಮೇರಸುಧಾನಂದಂ ಸುಹೃದಾನಂದಂ ।
ವಂದ್ಯಾಶೇಷಮಹಾಮುನಿಮಾನಸವಂದ್ಯಾನಂದಪದದ್ವಂದ್ವಂ ವಂದ್ಯಾಶೇಷಗುಣಾಬ್ಧಿಂ ಪ್ರಣಮತ ಗೋವಿಂದಂ ಪರಮಾನಂದಂ ॥

vṛndāvanabhuvi vṛndārakagaṇavṛndārādhyaṃ vande'haṃ kundābhāmalamandasmerasudhānandaṃ suhṛdānandam |
vandyāśeṣamahāmunimānasavandyānandapadadvandvaṃ vandyāśeṣaguṇābdhiṃ praṇamata govindaṃ paramānandam ||

On Vṛndāvana’s soil I salute Him, worshipped by hosts of heaven-seekers — pure as jasmine, gently smiling, nectar-bliss, the friend’s delight; His twin feet adored by all great sages’ minds: bow to Govinda, the supreme bliss.

Verse 9 — ಗೋವಿಂದಾಷ್ಟಕಮೇತದಧೀತೇ ಗೋವಿಂದಾರ್ಪಿತಚೇತಾ ಯೋ…

ಗೋವಿಂದಾಷ್ಟಕಮೇತದಧೀತೇ ಗೋವಿಂದಾರ್ಪಿತಚೇತಾ ಯೋ ಗೋವಿಂದಾಚ್ಯುತ ಮಾಧವ ವಿಷ್ಣೋ ಗೋಕುಲನಾಯಕ ಕೃಷ್ಣೇತಿ ।
ಗೋವಿಂದಾಂಘ್ರಿಸರೋಜಧ್ಯಾನಸುಧಾಜಲಧೌತಸಮಸ್ತಾಘೋ ಗೋವಿಂದಂ ಪರಮಾನಂದಾಮೃತಮಂತಃಸ್ಥಂ ಸ ತಮಭ್ಯೇತಿ ॥

govindāṣṭakametadadhīte govindārpitacetā yo govindācyuta mādhava viṣṇo gokulanāyaka kṛṣṇeti |
govindāṅghrisarojadhyānasudhājaladhautasamastāgho govindaṃ paramānandāmṛtamantaḥsthaṃ sa tamabhyeti ||

Whoever studies this Govindashtakam with mind offered to Govinda — chanting Govinda, Acyuta, Mādhava, Viṣṇu, lord of Gokula, Kṛṣṇa — washed of all taint in the nectar of meditation on His lotus feet, reaches Govinda within, the immortal bliss.

Govindāṣṭakam