The sacred Sri Damodarastakam prayer glorifies the childhood pastime of Lord Krishna when He was lovingly bound by Mother Yashoda. This beautiful prayer was composed by the great sage Satyavrata Muni and is traditionally sung during the holy month of Kartika, also known as the Damodara Month.
Verse 1
In the opening verse, Satyavrata Muni offers respectful obeisances to Lord Damodara. He glorifies the Lord’s eternal spiritual form and describes the sweet pastime where young Krishna runs in fear of Mother Yashoda after stealing butter in Gokula.
लसत्कुण्डलं गोकुले भ्राजमानम्।
यशोदाभियोलूखलाधावमानं
परामृष्टमत्यन्ततो द्रुत्य गोप्या॥१॥
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda-bhiyolukhalad dhavamanam
paramrstam atyantato drutya gopya
Translation
“I bow down to the Supreme Controller, Sri Damodara, whose form is eternal, full of knowledge and bliss. His shining earrings swing upon His cheeks as He plays in Gokula. After breaking the butter pots, He jumps down from the grinding mortar and runs away in fear of Mother Yashoda, who swiftly runs behind Him and finally catches Him from behind.”
Explanation
Satyavrata Muni begins this prayer by offering obeisances to the Supreme Lord. Although Krishna is the master of the universe, here He appears as a mischievous child in Gokula. His playful pastime of stealing butter and running from Mother Yashoda reveals the sweetness of His childhood form.
Verse 2
This verse beautifully describes Krishna’s emotional state when Mother Yashoda catches Him. The Supreme Lord cries in fear, rubbing His eyes with His tiny hands, showing how He becomes controlled by the pure love of His mother.
कराम्भोजयुग्मेन सातङ्कनेत्रम्।
मुहुःश्वासकम्प त्रिरेखाङ्ककण्ठ
स्थितग्रैव दामोदरं भक्तिबद्धम्॥२॥
karambhoja-yugmena satanka-netram
muhuh svasa-kampa tri-rekhanka-kantha
sthita-graivam damodaram bhakti-baddham
Translation
“He cries again and again, rubbing His eyes with His lotus hands. His eyes are filled with fear, and His breathing becomes heavy. As Mother Yashoda binds His belly with rope, His pearl necklace trembles upon His neck marked with three lines like a conch shell. To that Lord Damodara, who is bound not by rope but by His mother’s love, I offer my obeisances.”
Explanation
This verse shows the amazing contrast in Krishna’s nature. He is the Supreme Lord, yet He allows Himself to cry and feel fear before His mother. In reality, it is not the rope that binds Him, but the pure love of His devotee.
Verse 3
In this verse, the sage explains that Krishna’s childhood pastimes bring unlimited joy to the residents of Gokula. He also reveals that the Lord becomes conquered only by the love of His devotees.
स्वघोषं निमज्जन्तमाख्यापयन्तम्।
तदीयेशितज्ञेषु भक्तैर्जितत्वं
पुनः प्रेमतस्तं शतावृत्ति वन्दे॥३॥
sva-ghosam nimajjantam akhyapayantam
tadiyesita-jnesu bhaktair jitatvam
punah prematas tam satavrtti vande
Translation
“O Lord, by Your childhood pastimes You immerse the residents of Gokula in an ocean of bliss. You reveal to those who admire Your majestic opulence that You are conquered only by the love of Your devotees. With deep love, I again and again offer my obeisances unto You hundreds of times.”
Explanation
The Lord’s pastimes are not ordinary activities. They fill the hearts of His devotees with divine joy. This verse also reveals a deep spiritual truth — the Supreme Lord is conquered not by power or knowledge, but by pure devotion.
Verse 4
Here Satyavrata Muni expresses his deepest desire. He does not want liberation or heavenly pleasures; he only wants to remember the beautiful form of child Krishna.
न चान्यं वृणेऽहं वरेशादपीह।
इदं ते वपुर्नाथ गोपालबालं
सदा मे मनस्याविरास्तां किमन्यैः॥४॥
na canyam vrne ham varesad apiha
idam te vapur natha gopala-balam
sada me manasy avirastam kim anyaih
Translation
“O Lord Damodara, although You can grant all kinds of blessings, I do not ask for liberation or even eternal residence in Vaikuntha. My only desire is that Your form as Bala Gopal may always remain within my heart. I have no need for any other blessing.”
Explanation
This verse expresses the highest mood of devotion. A true devotee does not seek liberation or material rewards. The only desire is to constantly remember and serve the beautiful form of Lord Krishna.
Verse 5
Satyavrata Muni now meditates on the enchanting beauty of Krishna’s face and expresses his deep longing for that vision to remain forever in his heart.
वृतं कुन्तलैः स्निग्धरक्तैश्च गोप्या।
मुहुश्चुम्बितं बिम्बरक्ताधरं मे
मनस्याविरास्तामलं लक्षलाभैः॥५॥
vrtam kuntalaih snigdha-raktais ca gopya
muhus cumbitam bimba-raktadharam me
manasy avirastam alam laksa-labhaih
Translation
“Your beautiful lotus face, surrounded by dark curly hair, shines with a reddish glow because Mother Yashoda repeatedly kisses it. Your lips are red like the bimba fruit. May this charming vision always appear in my heart. Millions of other blessings are useless to me.”
Explanation
The beauty of Krishna is described in a deeply affectionate way. The devotee longs not for wealth or liberation, but only for the eternal remembrance of Krishna’s sweet form.
Verse 6
In this verse, the sage humbly prays for the Lord’s mercy and asks to be delivered from the ocean of material suffering.
प्रसीद प्रभो दुःखजालाब्धिमग्नम्।
कृपादृष्टिवृष्ट्यातिदीनं बतानु
गृहाणेश मामज्ञमेध्यक्षिदृश्यः॥६॥
prasida prabho duhkha-jalabdhi-magnam
krpa-drsti-vrsty ati-dinam batanu
grhanesa mam ajnam edhy aksi-drsyah
Translation
“O Lord Damodara, O unlimited Vishnu! Please be merciful to me. I am drowning in an ocean of suffering. Kindly shower Your compassionate glances upon this fallen soul and grant me Your divine vision.”
Explanation
The devotee acknowledges his helpless condition in the material world and seeks the Lord’s compassionate glance. Only Krishna’s mercy can lift the soul from the ocean of suffering.
Verse 7
Here Satyavrata Muni remembers how Krishna delivered the sons of Kuvera and asks for the same blessing of pure devotion.
त्वया मोचितौ भक्तिभाजौ कृतौ च।
तथा प्रेमभक्तिं स्वकां मे प्रयच्छ
न मोक्षे ग्रहो मेऽस्ति दामोदरेह॥७॥
tvaya mocitau bhakti-bhajau krtau ca
tatha prema-bhaktim svakam me prayaccha
na mokse graho me sti damodareha
Translation
“O Lord Damodara, just as You delivered the sons of Kuvera, who were cursed to become trees, and blessed them with devotion, please grant me pure love for You. I have no desire for any other type of liberation.”
Explanation
The devotee remembers the Lord’s past mercy and prays to receive the same blessing — pure devotional love.
Verse 8
In the final verse, Satyavrata Muni offers obeisances to the rope that bound Krishna and to Srimati Radharani, the Lord’s most beloved devotee.
त्वदीयोदरायाथ विश्वस्य धाम्ने।
नमो राधिकायै त्वदीयप्रियायै
नमोऽनन्तलीलाय देवाय तुभ्यम्॥८॥
tvadiyodaraya tha visvasya dhamne
namo radhikayai tvadiya priyayai
namo ananta lilaya devaya tubhyam
Translation
“O Lord, I offer my obeisances to the rope that binds Your belly, which is the abode of the entire universe. I also offer my respectful obeisances to Srimati Radharani, Your most beloved consort. Again and again I bow before You, who perform unlimited divine pastimes.”
Explanation
The prayer concludes with humble obeisances to Lord Damodara and His beloved Srimati Radharani. It glorifies the Lord’s unlimited pastimes and the power of divine love.
Importance of Damodarastakam in Kartika Month
The month of Kartika is considered one of the most sacred months in the Vaishnava tradition. During this month, devotees offer lamps to Lord Damodara and sing the Damodarastakam prayer daily. This practice is described in the scriptures as extremely auspicious and spiritually purifying.
By singing this prayer with devotion, devotees remember the sweet pastime of Mother Yashoda binding Lord Krishna with ropes of love. This pastime teaches that pure devotion is greater than power, knowledge, or mystic achievements.
Benefits of Chanting Damodarastakam
- Awakens devotion and remembrance of Lord Krishna.
- Purifies the heart and removes material attachments.
- Brings spiritual peace and divine blessings.
- Strengthens one’s connection with the loving pastimes of Krishna.
- Grants the mercy of Lord Damodara during the Kartika month.
About the Author – Satyavrata Muni
Satyavrata Muni is a great sage mentioned in the Padma Purana as the composer of the Damodarastakam prayer. His heartfelt glorification of Lord Damodara reveals deep devotion and spiritual realization.
Through this prayer, he demonstrates the highest mood of devotion — seeking nothing from the Lord except the opportunity to remember and serve His beautiful form. Because of its profound devotion and poetic beauty, Damodarastakam has become one of the most cherished prayers in the Vaishnava tradition.
