SRI KRISHNASHTAKA (PALAYACHUTHA) - LYRICS AND MEANING

Palayachyutha Stotra (Prayer of protection addressed to Achyutha) By Srimath Vadhi raja Theertha Translated by P.R.Ramachander .Srimath Vadhi raja Theertha was a great saint cum poet of The Madhwa hierarchy. He is considered as one of the greatest saint after Madhwa in the Dwaitha system of philosophy. In this great prayer he appeals to the God Sri Krishna of Udupi (In Karnataka) to protect him. The Krishna idol in Udupi is believed to be the one which was being worshipped by Rukmani in Dwaraka. After Dwaraka was swallowed by the sea, this idol is supposed to have been brought to Udupi .In this prayer Udupi is referred as Raupya Peeta meaning silver place. (Please refer www.gururaghavendra.com for exhaustive commentary)

Palayachyutha palayajitha playa kamalalaya

Leelaya drutha bhoodharamburuhodhra swajanodhara

Madhwa manasa padma bhanu, samam smara prathimam(sam) smara.

Snighdha nirmala seethe kanthila, sanmukham karunonmukham.

Hrudhya kambhu samana kandharam, akshayam durithakshayam.

Snigdha samsthutha roupya peeta, kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 1 ll

Angadhadhi sushobhi pani yugena samkshubhithainasam, Thunga malya manindra hara sarorasam khala nerasam, Mangalapradha manda dhahama virajitham bhajathajitham, Tham grena vara roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 2 ll

Peena ramya thanudharam bhaja hey mana shubha hey mana, Svanubhava nidharsanaya disantha mardhisu santhamam, Aanathosmi nijarjuna priya sadhakam khalabhadhakam, Heenathojijjatharaoupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 3 ll

Haima kinkini malikarasha nachitham tamavanjitham

kamra kanchana vastrachitra katimghana prabhaya ghanam

Karma nagakaropa morumanamayam shubhadhimanayam

Nuamyaham vara roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 4 ll

Vrutha  janu manojna janga mamohadham paramohadham, Rathna kalpa nakhathvisha hrutha hruththamasthathimuthamam, Prathyaham rachitharchanam ramaya swayaagathaya swayam, Chitha chinthya roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 5 ll

Charu pada saroja yugma rucha amarochayachamaro, Dhara mordh a jabhara mandala ranchakam kali bhanchakam, Veerathothuchitha bhooshanam vara noopuam swathanupuram, Dharayaathmani roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 6 ll

Sushka vadhi mano aathidhoora tharagamothsava dagamam, Sath kavindra vacho vilasa mahodhaam maahithodhayam, Lakshyami yatheeswarai krutha poojanam guna bhajanam, Ddhikruthopama roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 7 ll

Narada priyamavishambhuruhekshanam nija lakshanam, Tharakopama charu dheepa chayanthare gatha chinthare, Dheera manasa poorna Chandra samanamachyuthamanama, Dhwarakopama roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 8 ll

Phala Sruthi

Roupyapeeta kruthalayasya hare priyam durithaapriyam, Thad padarchaka Vadhi raja yatiritham guna pooritham, Gopyamashtakam edathuchamudhe mamasthivaha nirmama, Prapya shudha phalaya thathra sukomalam hruthadheemalam.

MEANING 

Palayachyutha palayajitha playa kamalalaya

Leelaya drutha bhoodharamburuhodhra swajanodhara

Palaya – protect, guard, nourish, cherish, foster, maintain. (It is very appropriate that Vadhiraja has chosen such a potent verb with so many meanings, the reason for this will appear later).

Achyutha – Lord Achyutha

Ajitha – Undefeated

Kamalalaya – Home of Lakshmi

Leelaya – Playful

Drutha – Lifted

Bhoodhara- Mountain (Govardhan or Mandara)

Amburaha – Lotus (Ambu – water, ruha- grow)

Udara – navel

Amburuhodhra – one who has lotus in navel

Swajana -udhara – who holds his people in his stomach (during pralaya Lord Achyutha holds all released souls in his navel)

Please nurture me Achyutha, Please nurture me undefeated one, Please nurture me the abode of Lakshmi, Who playfully lifted the mountain, who keeps all the world within himself, and who makes his people his own.

Madhwa manasa padma bhanu, samam smara prathimam(sam) smara.

Snighdha nirmala seethe kanthila, sanmukham karunonmukham.

Hrudhya kambhu samana kandharam, akshayam durithakshayam.

Snigdha samsthutha roupya peeta, kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 1 ll

Madhwa – Srimad Madhwacharya

Manasa - Mind

Padma - Lotus

Bhanu - Sun

Samam – equal

Smara – rememberance

Prathi – icon / statue

Snighdha – affectionate/ soft

Nirmala – clear without impurities

Seethe – cool / pleasant

Kanthila – bright

Seethekanthila – the moon

Sanmukham – shining face

Karunonmukham – symbol of mercy

Hrudhya kambhu – an attractive conch

Samana – equal

Kandharam - neck

Akshayam – eternal / undecaying

Durith akshayam – destroys all sins

Snigdha – loving

Samsthutha – worshipped

Roupya peeta - Udupi

Kruth – made

Alayam – Home

Hari – Lord Krishna

Alayam – until extinction

Meditate till the end on that Hari, Who is the sun which opens The lotus mind of Madhwacharya, Who is the most pretty one, Who has bright moon like face, Which is soft and blemishless, Who is personification of mercy, Whose neck is like a pretty conch, Who never ever decays, Who cures all sufferings, And who has made Udupi his home.

Angadhadhi sushobhi pani yugena samkshubhithainasam, Thunga malya manindra hara sarorasam khala nerasam, Mangalapradha manda dhahama virajitham bhajathajitham, Tham grena vara roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 2 ll

Angadh - an armlet or bracelet worn on the upper arm

Adhi – and others

Sushobhi - dazzling

Pani - hand

Yugena - pair

Sam – thoroughly

Shubhitha – destroy

Inasam – sins (of devotees)

Thunga – long or tall

Malya - garlands

Manindra – the highest quality gems and precious stones

Hara - garland

Sara – necklace

Urasam – chest

Khala – wicked people

Nerasam – lifeless/ powerless

Mangala pradha – provider of auspiciousness

Manda - churning

Dhahama - rope

Virajitham - decorated

Bhajathajitham – worship or serve ajitha

Ajitha – undefeated

Tham (aham) – I

Grena – worship or pray

Vara – eminent/outstanding

Roupya peeta - Udupi

Krutha- made

Alayam – house or temple

Hari – Lord Krishna

Amalayam – untl extinction

Meditate till the end on that Hari, Whose hands make his amulets shine, And the churn and the rope which do good, Whose chest is adorned with long garlands, Garlands made of gems and necklaces, Who is the total destroyer of sins, Who makes wicked people inactive, Who can be won over by devotion, And who has made the great Udupi as his home.

Udupi Krishna

Peena ramya thanudharam bhaja hey mana shubha hey mana, Svanubhava nidharsanaya disantha mardhisu santhamam, Aanathosmi nijarjuna priya sadhakam khalabhadhakam, Heenathojijjatharaoupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 3 ll

Peena – round

Ramya - attractive

Thanu – fine / delicate

Udharam - stomach

Bhaja – Serve

Hey ma – O! Mind

Nah – to us 

Shubha – auspicious

Hema – gold or something precious 

Svanubhava – personal rupa/form

Nidharsanaya – to show or demonstrate

Disantha – one who grands or allots

Santhamam – highest form of happiness

Aanatha – surrender or bow

Asmi - I

Nija – one’s own

Arjuna – Arjuna

Priya – dear or beloved

Sadhakam – one who full fills or accomplishes

Khala – wiked people

Bhadhakam – one who destroys

Heenatha- defects

Ujjhitha- abandoned or devoid

Raoupya Peeta - udupi

Krutha – made

Alayam – temple or home

Harim – Lord Krishna

Alayam – upto extinction

Meditate till the end on that Hari, Whose pretty slender golden belly is bewitching, Who in order to give personal experience of himself, Grants salvation and wealth to his devotees, Who is a great lover of Arjuna, And who destroyer of wicked people, And lives in the blemish less Udupi. Hema malika kinkini malikarasanchitham thamavanchitham, Rathna kanchana chithra vasthrakateem Ghana prabhaya ghanam, Kamra naga karopa moru mana mayam shubhadhee mayam, Naumyaham vara roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. 4 Meditate till the end on that Hari, Who is graced by waist belt, In which small golden bells are strung, Who cannot be cheated by bad ones, Who wears a golden cloth inlaid with pearls, Tied around his pretty waist, Whose body shines like the black clouds, Who has pretty thighs similar to elephant’s trunk, Who is free of all blemishes, Who is full of bliss and knowledge, And who has made the great Udupi as his home.

Haima kinkini malikarasha nachitham tamavanjitham

kamra kanchana vastrachitra katimghana prabhaya ghanam

Karma nagakaropa morumanamayam shubhadhimanayam

Nuamyaham vara roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 4 ll

Haima - gold

Kinkini - bells

Malika – garland

Rashan – an ornament worn around waist (girdle)

Achitham - decorated

Avanjitham – always perfect, powerful

kamra - beautiful

Kanchana - gold

Vastra- garment

Chitra- extraordinary

Katim – hip

Ghanaprabhaya – lusture of dark, black clouds

Ghanam – dense

namra – curved dense

Nagakara – elephant trunk

Upama – comparable to

Urum – thighs

Anamayam - free from all diseses

Shubha – auspicious

Dhi – knowledge

Manayam – full of

Nuamyaham - I prostate or salute

Vara - worthy

Roupya peeta - Udupi

Krutha – made

Alayam - home

Hari – Lord Krishna

Amalayam – until extinction

Meditate till the end on that Hari, Who is graced by waist belt, In which small golden bells are strung, Who cannot be cheated by bad ones, Who wears a golden cloth inlaid with pearls, Tied around his pretty waist, Whose body shines like the black clouds, Who has pretty thighs similar to elephant’s trunk, Who is free of all blemishes, Who is full of bliss and knowledge, And who has made the great Udupi as his home.

Vrutha  janu manojna janga mamohadham paramohadham, Rathna kalpa nakhathvisha hrutha hruththamasthathimuthamam, Prathyaham rachitharchanam ramaya swayaagathaya swayam, Chitha chinthya roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 5 ll

Vrutha - round

Janu - knee

Manojna – charm

Janga – shank (a person’s leg from knee to thigh)

Moha – ignorance and wrong knowledge

Mamohadham – one who does not give moha to his devotees

Paramohadham – one who gives highest form of moha (samsara bandha)

Rathna - pearl

Kalpa – equivalent

Nakha – nails

Thvisha – brilliance or splendour

Hrutham – destroy

Hruththamathathim - greatness that engulfs the heart

Uthamam – Sarvottama

Prathyaham – everyday

Rachitharchanam – committed worship

Ramaya – Lord Lakshmi

Swayaagathaya – coming in person

Swayam – by his own

Chitha – O! Mind

Chinthya – constantly meditate on

Roupya peeta - Udupi

Krutha – made

Alayam - home

Hari – Lord Krishna

Amalayam – until extinction

 Meditate till the end on that Hari, Who has bewitching knees and shanks, Who does not give illusion to his devotees, Who gives illusion to the wicked, Who by the luster of his pearl like nails, Destroys the darkness of the mind, Who is the storehouse of all that is good, Who is daily being worshipped , By his consort goddess Lakshmi herself, And Oh mind meditate constantly on him, Who has made Udupi his home.

Charu pada saroja yugma rucha amarochayachamaro, Dhara mordh a jabhara mandala ranchakam kali bhanchakam, Veerathothuchitha bhooshanam vara noopuam swathanupuram, Dharayaathmani roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 6 ll

Charu – beautiful

Pada - feet

Saroja - lotus

Yugma - dual

Rucha – lusture or brightness

Amara – gods or devas

Uchaya - gathering

Chamara – fan used in the service of royalty or great people (chowrie)      

UDhara – gracious, long

Mordhaja - hair

Bhara – dense

Mandala – group

Mordhajabhara mandala- tufts of hair (burden of head)

Ranchakam – one who brightens

Kali bhanchakam – destroyer of kali, chief of demons

Veeratha – valour

Uthuchitha - appropriate

Bhooshanam - ornaments

Vara - well-known

Noopuram – feet ornaments

Swathanu – own body

Puram – home

Swathanupuram - one who resides inside the bodies of all jivas

Dharaya – hold or carry

Athmani – in your heart

Roupya peeta - Udupi

Krutha – made

Alayam - home

Hari – Lord Krishna

Amalayam – until extinction

 Meditate till the end on that Hari, Who by the brightness of his two, Lotus like feet brightens even , The fan like long thick and dense, Tuft of the prostrating group of devas, Who destroys the evil of kali age, Who wears ornaments suitable to a hero, Who wears exquisite anklets, And who resides within our bodies, And carry within our mind , Him who has Udupi his home.

Sushka vadhi mano aathidhoora tharagamothsava dagamam, Sath kavindra vacho vilasa mahodhaam maahithodhayam, Lakshyami yatheeswarai krutha poojanam guna bhajanam, Ddhikruthopama roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 7 ll

Sushka - useless

Vadhi – arguer

Mano - mind

Aathidhoora – totally beyond reach

Tha – giving

Agama – understanding well

Uthsava - happiness

Da – giving

Agamam - vedas

Sath – good, great, real

Kavi – omniscient, knowing everything

Kavindra – great gyanis

Vachah – word or speech

Vilasa - splendour

Mahodhaam - origin

Maahithodhayam – one whose incarnation are worshipped by all

Lakshyami – meditate or visualize

Yathi – saint

Eswarai – Lord or kings (great saint like Madhvacharya)

Krutha - made

Poojanam - worship

Guna -good qualities

Bhajanam – repository (good qualities found in significant quatities)

Ddhikrita - rejecting

Upama- comparing

Roupya peeta - Udupi

Krutha – made

Alayam - home

Hari – Lord Krishna

Amalayam – until extinction

Meditate till the end on that Hari, Who is far beyond the reach of the feeble debators, Basing their arguments not on our holy books, Who gives great happiness to them, who, Are the king of poets who understand such books, Who bestows on his devotees eternal happiness, Who is worshipped by god like sages, Who is the storehouse of all that is good, And who lives in Udupi which is beyond comparison.

Udupi Shri Krishna

 Narada priyamavishambhuruhekshanam nija lakshanam, Tharakopama charu dheepa chayanthare gatha chinthare, Dheera manasa poorna Chandra samanamachyuthamanama, Dhwarakopama roupya peeta kruthalayam harimalayam. ll 8 ll

Narada - Narada

Priya – dear to

Avish – enter

Ambhuruha – lotus

Hekshanam -

Nija – his own

Lakshanam - characteristics

Tharaka – stars

Upama - comparable

Charu – beautiful

 Dheepa – lights

 Chaya – collection

Anthare – within

Gatha – rid of

Chintha – anxieties

re – hey

Dheera – gyani, intellegent

Manasa - mind

Poorna - full

Chandra – moon

Samanam - equivalent to

Achyutha - who is not subject to any destruction

Anama - salute

Dhwaraka- capital of yadavas

Upama – compared to

Roupya peeta - Udupi

Krutha – made

Alayam - home

Hari – Lord Krishna

Amalayam – until extinction

Oh brave man, get rid of all worries, By meditating on the full moon like Achyutha, And meditate till the end on that Hari, Who is dear to sage Narada, Who has eyes like the lotus, Whose reality is himself alone, Who really protects his devotees, Who is like the moon among , The lamps which are like stars, And who has made Dwaraka like Udupi his home.

 Phala Sruthi

Roupyapeeta kruthalayasya hare priyam durithaapriyam, Thad padarchaka Vadhi raja yatiritham guna pooritham, Gopyamashtakam edathuchamudhe mamasthivaha nirmama, Prapya shudha phalaya thathra sukomalam hruthadheemalam.

Roupyapeeta - Udupi

Kruthalayasya – one who has made his home

Hare – to Lord Hari

Priyam - beloved

Duritha apriyam – destroys sins

Thad Pada – whose feet

Archakara- worshipper

Vadhi raja - vadhiraja

Yati – saint

Iritham  - composed by

Guna  pooritham - full of good qualities

Gopyam – cowherd or to be preserved as secret

Ashtakam – set of eigth slokas or verses

Edat – this

Uhucha – good

Mudhe - happiness

Mamasthivaha

Nirmama,

Prapya

Shudha

Phalaya

Thathra - there

Sukomalam – deep significance

Hrutha - destroys

Dheemalam – impurities of mind

This octet, which pertains to the cowherd who, Who has made the temple of Udupi as his home, And which is dear to Lord Hari Which removes all sorrows, Which is full of good qualities and is pretty, Which destroys the impurities of the mind Which is composed by the great Sage, Vadhiraja submitting his mind at the feet of the lord, Would provide great happiness in this world And later make one devoid of ignorance And provide blemish less well being in the other world.

                **Krishnarpanamastu**