Yamunashtakam Meaning in Hindi | यमुनाष्टक पाठ का सरल अर्थ | Adi Shankaracharya

Verse 1 — The Lustre of Murāri's Dark Form

Original verse (Devanagari)

मुरारिकायकालिमाललामवारिधारिणी
तृणीकृतत्रिविष्टपा त्रिलोकशोकहारिणी।
मनोऽनुकूलकूलकुञ्जपुञ्जधूतदुर्मदा
धुनोतु मे मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा॥१॥

Transliteration

murāri-kāya-kālimā-lalāma-vāridhāriṇī
tṛṇīkṛta-triviṣṭapā triloka-śoka-hāriṇī।
mano'nukūla-kūla-kuñja-puñja-dhūta-durmadā
dhunotu me manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā॥

Word-by-word meanings

murāri — Lord Murāri (Śrī Kṛṣṇa); kāya — the body; kālimā — the darkness; lalāma — the ornament; vāridhāriṇī — bearing the water; tṛṇīkṛta — made worthless as a blade of grass; triviṣṭapā — heaven; triloka — the three worlds; śoka-hāriṇī — the remover of sorrows; mano'nukūla — pleasing to the mind; kūla — the banks; kuñja-puñja — clusters of groves; dhūta — shaking off; durmadā — pride; dhunotu — may she wash away; me — my; manomalam — the impurity of the mind; kalindanandinī — the daughter of Mount Kalinda; sadā — always.

Translation

The waters of Śrī Yamunā bear the beautiful lustre of Lord Murāri's dark body. Before her, even the splendour of heaven is as worthless as a blade of grass. She removes the sorrows of the three worlds. The lovely groves on her charming banks dispel the pride of living beings. O Śrī Yamunā, daughter of Mount Kalinda, may You always remove the impurity of my mind.

Explanation

The waters of Śrī Yamunā carry the very image of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's dark form — that is why even the joys of heaven seem worthless before her. Sitting in her groves, the pride of the mind melts away and the heart becomes pure.

Summary

The waters of Śrī Yamunā carry Murāri's lustre; her shelter removes the impurity of the mind.

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Verse 2 — Water Like Nectar

Original verse (Devanagari)

मलापहारिवारिपूरभूरिमण्डितामृता भृशं प्रपातकप्रवञ्चनातिपण्डितानिशम्।
सुनन्दनन्दनाङ्गसङ्गरागरञ्जिता हिता धुनोतु मे मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा॥२॥

Transliteration

malāpahāri-vāri-pūra-bhūri-maṇḍitāmṛtā bhṛśaṁ prapātaka-pravañcanāti-paṇḍitāniśam।
sunanda-nandanāṅga-saṅga-rāga-rañjitā hitā dhunotu me manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā॥

Word-by-word meanings

malāpahāri — removing impurities; vāri-pūra — the flood of water; bhūri — abundant; maṇḍitā — adorned; amṛtā — nectar; bhṛśam — exceedingly; prapātaka — great sins; pravañcanā — destroying; atipaṇḍitā — most skilled; aniśam — ceaselessly; sunanda-nandana — the son of Nanda; aṅga-saṅga — the touch of His limbs; rāga — the lustre; rañjitā — coloured; hitā — beneficent to all; dhunotu — may she wash away; me — my; manomalam — the impurity of the mind; kalindanandinī — the daughter of Mount Kalinda; sadā — always.

Translation

Śrī Yamunā is adorned with holy water like nectar, which removes the impurities of living beings. She is ever supremely able to destroy the effect of even the greatest sins. She is coloured by the touch of the limbs and the divine lustre of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of noble Nanda Bābā. O Śrī Yamunā, who works the welfare of all, may You always remove the impurity of my mind.

Explanation

The water of Śrī Yamunā is like nectar — it washes not the body but the impurities of the mind. Coloured by the touch of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, this water removes even the effect of the greatest sins.

Summary

Nectar-like Yamunā water removes the effect of sins and purifies the mind.

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Verse 3 — The Touch of the Waves and Love Like the Cātaka Bird

Original verse (Devanagari)

लसत्तरङ्गसङ्गधूतभूतजातपातका नवीनमाधुरीधुरीणभक्तिजातचातका।
तटान्तवासदासहंससंसृता हि कामदा धुनोतु मे मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा॥३॥

Transliteration

lasat-taraṅga-saṅga-dhūta-bhūta-jāta-pātakā navīna-mādhurī-dhurīṇa-bhakti-jāta-cātakā।
taṭānta-vāsa-dāsa-haṁsa-saṁsṛtā hi kāmadā dhunotu me manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā॥

Word-by-word meanings

lasat — shining; taraṅga-saṅga — the touch of the waves; dhūta — shaken off; bhūta-jāta — all beings; pātakā — sins; navīna — ever-new; mādhurī — sweetness; dhurīṇa — foremost; bhakti-jāta — born of devotion; cātakā — the cātaka bird; taṭānta — the edges of the banks; vāsa — dwelling; dāsa — servants; haṁsa — swans; saṁsṛtā — those who have taken shelter; hi — for; kāmadā — the fulfiller of desires; dhunotu — may she wash away; me — my; manomalam — the impurity of the mind; kalindanandinī — the daughter of Mount Kalinda; sadā — always.

Translation

The touch of Śrī Yamunā's shining waves washes away the sins of living beings. To attain her ever-fresh sweetness, devotees long lovingly like the cātaka bird. Saints and servants, pure like the swans dwelling on her banks, always take her shelter. O Śrī Yamunā, who fulfils the holy desires of devotees, may You always remove the impurity of my mind.

Explanation

Just as the cātaka longs for a single drop of Svāti rain, the devotee longs for the ever-fresh sweetness of Yamunā. Her waves wash away sins, and saints pure like swans take shelter on her banks.

Summary

The waves of Yamunā wash away sins; for her sweetness the devotee longs like the cātaka.

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Verse 4 — The Cool Breeze and Beauty Beyond Words

Original verse (Devanagari)

विहाररासखेदभेदधीरतीरमारुता गता गिरामगोचरे यदीयनीरचारुता।
प्रवाहसाहचर्यपूतमेदिनीनदीनदा धुनोतु मे मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा॥४॥

Transliteration

vihāra-rāsa-kheda-bheda-dhīra-tīra-mārutā gatā girām-agocare yadīya-nīra-cārutā।
pravāha-sāhacarya-pūta-medinī-nadī-nadā dhunotu me manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā॥

Word-by-word meanings

vihāra — pastime; rāsa — the rāsa dance; kheda — fatigue; bheda — dispelling; dhīra — gentle; tīra — the bank; mārutā — the breeze; gatā — gone; girām — of speech; agocare — beyond the reach; yadīya — whose; nīra — the water; cārutā — the beauty; pravāha — the flow; sāhacarya — companionship; pūta — purified; medinī — the earth; nadī — rivers; nadā — streams; dhunotu — may she wash away; me — my; manomalam — the impurity of the mind; kalindanandinī — the daughter of Mount Kalinda; sadā — always.

Translation

The cool breeze of Śrī Yamunā's quiet banks removes the fatigue of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa's pastimes and rāsa dance. The beauty of her waters is so wonderful that speech cannot fully describe it. By contact with her holy flow, the earth, rivers and other streams also become pure. O Śrī Yamunā, may You always remove the impurity of my mind.

Explanation

Even the fatigue of the rāsa dance is removed by the cool breeze of Yamunā's banks. Her beauty is beyond words, and by her contact the earth and rivers themselves become pure.

Summary

The banks of Yamunā remove fatigue; her contact purifies everything.

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Verse 5 — Sandy Banks and the Autumn Moonlight

Original verse (Devanagari)

तरङ्गसङ्गसैकताञ्चितान्तरा सदासिता शरन्निशाकरांशुमञ्जुमञ्जरीसभाजिता।
भवार्चनाय चारुणाम्बुनाधुना विशारदा धुनोतु मे मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा॥५॥

Transliteration

taraṅga-saṅga-saikatāñcitāntarā sadāsitā śaran-niśākarāṁśu-mañju-mañjarī-sabhājitā।
bhavārcanāya cāruṇāmbunādhunā viśāradā dhunotu me manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā॥

Word-by-word meanings

taraṅga-saṅga — amid the waves; saikata — the sand; añcitā — adorned; antarā — within; sadāsitā — ever present; śarat — autumn; niśākara — the moon; aṁśu — the rays; mañju — lovely; mañjarī — clusters; sabhājitā — worshipped; bhavārcanāya — for the worship of the world; cāru — beautiful; ambunā — by the water; adhunā — now; viśāradā — expert; dhunotu — may she wash away; me — my; manomalam — the impurity of the mind; kalindanandinī — the daughter of Mount Kalinda; sadā — always.

Translation

Śrī Yamunā is ever adorned with beautiful sandy banks touched by her waves. On autumn nights, the soft rays of the moon enhance her beauty like clusters of flowers. Because of her beautiful and holy waters, she is most auspicious for the worship of the Lord. O Śrī Yamunā, may You always remove the impurity of my mind.

Explanation

In the autumn moonlight, the banks of Yamunā look adorned with flowers. Her holy water itself makes her the most auspicious place for the worship of the Lord.

Summary

In autumn moonlight, the banks of Yamunā look flower-adorned; her waters make worship auspicious.

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Verse 6 — The Fragrance of Śrī Rādhā's Aṅgarāga

Original verse (Devanagari)

जलान्तकेलिकारिचारुराधिकाङ्गरागिणी स्वभर्तुरन्यदुर्लभाङ्गसङ्गतांशभागिनी।
स्वदत्तसुप्तसप्तसिन्धुभेदनातिकोविदा धुनोतु मे मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा॥६॥

Transliteration

jalāntakeli-kāri-cāru-rādhikāṅga-rāgiṇī svabhartur-anyadurlabhāṅga-saṅgatāṁśa-bhāginī।
svadatta-supta-sapta-sindhu-bhedanātikovidā dhunotu me manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā॥

Word-by-word meanings

jalānta — within the water; keli-kāri — sporting; cāru — lovely; rādhikā — Śrī Rādhā; aṅga-rāgiṇī — coloured with Her aṅgarāga; svabhartuḥ — of Her own husband; anyadurlabha — unattainable by others; aṅga-saṅgatā — closeness of limbs; aṁśa-bhāginī — sharing a part; svadatta — self-given; supta — sleeping; sapta — seven; sindhu — oceans; bhedanā — in piercing; atikovidā — most expert; dhunotu — may she wash away; me — my; manomalam — the impurity of the mind; kalindanandinī — the daughter of Mount Kalinda; sadā — always.

Translation

The fragrance and lustre of the aṅgarāga of beautiful Śrī Rādhā, who plays in the waters of Śrī Yamunā, are held within her waters. She has received a share of the rare bodily closeness of her beloved Śrī Kṛṣṇa, which is not easily available to others. With the stream she offers, she is supremely skilled at piercing and awakening the seven sleeping oceans. O Śrī Yamunā, may You always remove the impurity of my mind.

Explanation

The fragrance of Śrī Rādhā's aṅgarāga lives in the waters of Yamunā, and she holds a share of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's rare closeness. Her stream can pierce and awaken even the seven sleeping oceans — such is her power.

Summary

The fragrance of Rādhā's aṅgarāga and a share of Kṛṣṇa's closeness live in Yamunā's waters.

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Verse 7 — The Group of Sakhīs and Nārada's Bath

Original verse (Devanagari)

जलच्युताच्युताङ्गरागलम्पटालिशालिनी विलोलराधिकाकचान्तचम्पकालिमालिनी।
सदावगाहनावतीर्णभर्तृभृत्यनारदा धुनोतु मे मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा॥७॥

Transliteration

jalacyutācyutāṅga-rāga-lampaṭāli-śālinī vilola-rādhikā-kacānta-campakāli-mālinī।
sadāvagāhanāvatīrṇa-bhartṛ-bhṛtya-nāradā dhunotu me manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā॥

Word-by-word meanings

jalacyuta — fallen from the water; acyuta — Acyuta (Śrī Kṛṣṇa); aṅga-rāga — the lustre of His limbs; lampaṭa — attached; āli-śālinī — graced with companions; vilola — restless; rādhikā — Śrī Rādhā; kaca — the hair; anta — the ends; campaka — campaka flowers; āli-mālinī — garlanded with rows; sadāvagāhana — ever bathing; avatīrṇa — descended; bhartṛ-bhṛtya — the servant of Her Lord; nāradā — Nārada; dhunotu — may she wash away; me — my; manomalam — the impurity of the mind; kalindanandinī — the daughter of Mount Kalinda; sadā — always.

Translation

Śrī Yamunā is adorned by the group of sakhīs drawn towards the fragrant aṅgarāga that flowed from Śrī Kṛṣṇa's limbs into the water. Rows of campā buds fallen from the tips of Śrī Rādhā's flowing hair shine in her waters like a garland. Devarṣi Nārada, the servant of her Lord, also always descends to bathe in her holy waters. O Śrī Yamunā, may You always remove the impurity of my mind.

Explanation

The group of sakhīs, the garland of campā buds fallen from Rādhā's hair, and the bath of Devarṣi Nārada himself — all of this speaks of Yamunā's glory, that even the greatest saints take shelter in her waters.

Summary

The sakhīs, the garland of campā buds and Nārada's bath — all speak of Yamunā's glory.

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Verse 8 — Divine Pastimes and Crossing the Ocean of the World

Original verse (Devanagari)

सदैव नन्दनन्दकेलिशालिकुञ्जमञ्जुला तटोत्थफुल्लमल्लिकाकदम्बरेणुसूज्ज्वला।
जलावगाहिनां नृणां भवाब्धिसिन्धुपारदा धुनोतु मे मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा॥८॥

Transliteration

sadaiva nanda-nanda-keli-śāli-kuñja-mañjulā taṭottha-phulla-mallikā-kadamba-reṇu-sūjjvalā।
jalāvagāhināṁ nṛṇāṁ bhavābdhi-sindhu-pāradā dhunotu me manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā॥

Word-by-word meanings

sadaiva — always; nanda-nanda — the son of Nanda; keli-śāli — abounding in pastimes; kuñja — the groves; mañjulā — delightful; taṭottha — grown on the banks; phulla — blooming; mallikā — mallikā flowers; kadamba — kadamba; reṇu — pollen; sūjjvalā — most radiant; jalāvagāhinām — of those who bathe in the water; nṛṇām — of men; bhavābdhi — the ocean of worldly existence; sindhu — the sea; pāradā — carrying across; dhunotu — may she wash away; me — my; manomalam — the impurity of the mind; kalindanandinī — the daughter of Mount Kalinda; sadā — always.

Translation

In the beautiful groves of Śrī Yamunā, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Bābā, always performs divine pastimes. Her banks are adorned with the radiant pollen of blossoming mallikā and kadamba flowers. Those who bathe and immerse themselves in her waters with faith — Śrī Yamunā carries them across the bottomless ocean of the world. O Śrī Yamunā, daughter of Mount Kalinda, may You always remove the impurity of my mind.

Explanation

In the groves where Śrī Kṛṣṇa always plays, the water purifies not only the body but life itself. One who bathes with faith crosses the bottomless ocean of the world.

Summary

One who bathes in Yamunā with faith crosses the ocean of the world.

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Greatness of the hymn

This holy recitation of Śrī Yamunāṣṭakam is not merely a description of Śrī Yamunā's beauty. It is a humble prayer to purify one's own mind. At the end of every verse, Ādi Śaṅkarācārya prays to Śrī Yamunā — O daughter of Kalinda, always remove the impurity of my mind. The waters of Śrī Yamunā carry the lustre of Śrī Murāri's dark limbs. Her waves hold the purity that washes away sins. Her quiet banks and lovely groves hold the sweetness that removes the pride of the mind. This is the same holy stream on whose banks Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa performed their divine pastimes, whose waters hold the fragrance of Śrī Rādhā's aṅgarāga and the holy touch of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. That is why, in this aṣṭaka, even the joys of heaven are described as worthless as a blade of grass before devotion to Śrī Yamunā. Her flow purifies the earth and the streams. Her shelter awakens humility and devotion within the devotee, and one who takes shelter in her waters with faith, she carries across the bottomless ocean of the world. The most beautiful teaching of this aṣṭaka is this — may we not be pure only on the outside; may our minds also be free of pride, sin and impure thoughts.

How to recite

Do not merely utter the words while reciting this. With every verse, pray from the heart — O Śrī Yamunā Mahārānī, purify my heart, remove my pride, and grant me the guileless devotion of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

Prayer

O Śrī Yamunā Mahārānī, purify my heart. Remove my pride and grant me the guileless devotion of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. O daughter of Kalinda, always remove the impurity of my mind.

Source: Śrī Yamunāṣṭakam by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya (traditional text).

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