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                        Mukunda Mala

           (Garland of Him who gives immortal bliss)

                                      By

                    Kulasekhara Azhwar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            Translated in to English verse

                                                    BY

                                         P.R.Ramachander

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                         Introduction

      These immortal verses were composed by  a prince of the Chera dynasty called Kulashekara Azhwar (Called Kula shekara perumal in Kerala)He was also called Mudaliyandan Nambi . He was one of the 12 sages of  the Bhakthi cult of Vaishnavism called Azhwars.These sages were the minstrels of God who traveled from place to place and sang the praise of Lord Vishnu.The devotion to God expressed in these verses is unparallel in any world literature..

                                                   Mukunda Mala

 

Vandhe mukunda maravindha dalayathaksham,

Kundhendu sankha dasanam Sishu gopa vesham,

Indradhi deva gana vandhitha pada peetham,

Vridhavanalaya maham Vasudeva soonum,                                                              *

 

Salutations to him who has,

Long lotus like eyes,

Teeth as white as moon, jasmine and conch,

Whose feet is for ever worshipped,

By Indra[1] and other Devas[2],

Who lives in Brindavana[3],

And who is the son of Vasudeva[4]

 

Sri Vallabhethi Varadhethi Dhaya Parethi,

Bhakthi priyethi Bhavaluntana kovidhethi,

Nathedhi, Naga sayanethi, Jagannivasa,

Thyalapinam prathi dinam kuru maam mukunda                                                         1

 

Oh my lord who can only give delivarance,

Please make me capable of chanting every day,

Thy names such as,

Lord of all beings, He who can give all boons,

He who is the store house of mercy,

He who loves all his devotees,

He who can kill all problems of this world,

He who is Lord of every thing,

He who sleeps on the serpent,

And He who lives every where in this universe.

 

Jayathu jayathu devo devaki nandhanoyam,

Jayathu jayathu krishno vrishni vamsa pradheepa,

Jayathu jayathu megha syamala  komalango,

Jayathu jayathu prithvi bhara naso mukunda                                                         2

 

Victory and victory to the son of Devaki[5],

Victory and victory to Krishna who belongs to family of Yadhu[6],

Victory and victory to him who is black as a cloud and who has pretty limbs,

Victory and victory to the Mukunda[7] who lightens the earth .

 

Mukunda, murdhna prani pathya yache,

Bhavantha mekantha miyantha martham,

Avismrithi swacharanaravinde,

Bhave bhave meastha bhavat prasadath.                                                              3

 

Hey Mukunda, With bowed head I beg of you,

A small favour  alone and in secret,

Never should I forget your lotus like feet,

Please, please be kind enough to grant.

 

Sri Govinda padhombhoja,

Madhuna Mahadbutham,

Yath Payino na munchanthi,

Munchanthi yadhpaina.                                                                              *

 

The honey  from the Lotus like feet of Govinda[8],

Is truly surprising,

People who get it never get released,

And people who do not get always get released                               ..

 

Naham vandhe thave charanayor dwndwamadwandha mahatho.

Kumbhi pakam guru mapi hare, narakam napanothum,

Ramya rama mrudhthu thanu  latha anandhanena  apirama

Bhave bhave hridaya bhavane bhaveyayam bhavantham.                                                 4

 

I do not bow before your two  great holy feet,

Oh God , to  protect us from Kumbhi paka[9] hell,

Nor do I for playing in the pretty graden,

Of sensuous tender bodies of  bewitching damsels,

But with a request to keep your memory,

In the palace of my heart for ever,

From birth to birth.

 

Nastha dharmenavasu nichaye naiva kamopabhoghe,

Yadyath bhavyam bhavathu bhagawan poorva karmanuroopam,

Ethath prarthyam mama bahumatham janma janamathoropi,

Twatpadambhoruha yuga gatha nischala bhakthirasthu.                                                5

 

No interest I have in Dharma,

Nor in collection of wealth and assets,

Nor in passion and making love,

For what has been decided by you,

Will come to me in the form of karmas of the past,

But I have one soulful prayer to thee, my Lord,

In this birth and what follows,

Let me have rock like faith,

In thine two holy  feet.

 

Divi va bhuvi va mamastu vaso

Narake va narakantaka prakamam

Avadhirita-sarada  aravindau

Charanau the marane api chintayami                                                                 6

 

Lord, who is the killer of Narakasura[10].

Let me be in this world,

Or the ether world or nether world,

But make me remember even at my death,

Only your pretty  lotus like feet

 

Chintayami harim eva santatam

Manda-hasa-muditananambujam

Nanda-gopa-tanayam parat param

Naradadi-muni-vrinda-vanditam                                                                      7

 

Always I think of Hari[11].

Whose smile adorns his lotus like face,

Who is the truth of truths,

Who is the son of Nanda Gopa[12],

And who is worshipped by sage Narada[13],

And crowds of sages like him.

 

Kara-charana-saroje kantiman-netra-mine

Srama-mushi bhuja-vichi-vyakule agadha-marge

Hari-sarasi vigahyapiya tejo-jalaugham

Bhava-maru-parichinnah klesam adya tyajami                                                         8

 

 

Exhasted by the difficult path of  life so far,

I will drink  the water from the pond of Hari,

Where his hands and arms are the lotus flowers,

And his shining  eyes are the pretty fish,

And  leave the pains  and aches of this earth forever.

     

Sarasija-nayane sa-sankha-chakre

Mura-bhidi ma viramasva chitta rantum

Sukha-taram aparam na jathu jane

Hari-charana-smarana amrithena tulyam                                                              9

 

Oh mind, never stop thinking for ever.

Of  he who has lotus like eyes.

Of he who has the conch and the holy wheel,

And of he who has killed the asura[14] called Mura,

For I do not know any other pleasure as equal or great

Than the memory of the nectar like feet of Hari.

 

     

Mabhir manda-mano vichintya bahudha yamis chiram yatana

Naivami prabhavanti papa-ripavah svami nanu sridharah

Alasyam vyapaniya bhakti-sulabham dhyayasva narayanam

Lokasya vyasanapanodana-karo dasasya kim na kshamah                                                10

 

Oh my foolish idiotic mind,

Do not fret and think,

Of the pains that God of death will give.

How can your foes and sin  touch you ever,

Is not your master the great Lord Sridhraa[15]?

Leave out this indifference ,

And  pray Lord Narayana,

Who is easy to approach.

Will not  that master.

Remove the sorrows of his slaves in a jiffy?

 

Bhava-jaladhi-gathanam dvandva-vata hatanam

Suta-duhitru-kalatra-thrana-bhararditanam

Vishama-vishaya-thoye majjatam aplavanam

Bhavati saranam eko vishnu-poto naranam.                                                           11

 

Travelling in this sea of birth and death,

Being tossed hither and thither ,

By the cyclone of  love and hate,

Carrying the heavy care,

Of  son , daughter and wife ,

And being drowned ,

In this troublesome sea of attachments,

The only boat to save us  is our Lord Vishnu

 

Bhava-jaladhim agadham dustharam nisthareyam

Katham aham ithi cheto ma sma gah katharathvam

Sarasija-drisi deve tharaki bhaktir eka

Naraka-bhidi nishanna tarayishyaty avasyam                                                         12

 

Do not fret and worry,

As to how you can  cross ,

This deep sea  of life ,

Which can never be crossed,

For the single minded devotion,

To the God who killed the Naraka,

Will certainly take you across,

Without fail.

 

Trishna-toye madana-pavanoddhuta-mohormi-male

Daravarte tanaya-sahaja-graha-sanghakule cha

Samsarakhye mahati jaladhau majjatam nas tri-dhaman

Padambhoje vara-da bhavato bhakti-navam prayaccha                                                  13

 

Drowning I am in this sea,

Of birth , death and life,

Because Of the wind of passion,

Started by the God of love,

And because of the burden of attachment,

To the son I love,

To the wealth that I earned and keep,

To  the wife for  whom I yearn,

And so giver of blessings,

Please be kind to give me a place,

In the boat of devotion ,

To thine lotus like feet  and save.

 

Prithvi-renur anuh payamsi kanikah phalguh sphulingo laghus

Tejo nihsvasanam marut tanu-taram randhram su-sukshmam nabhah

Kshudra rudra-pitamaha-prabhritayah kinah samastah sura

Drishte yatra sa tarako vijayate sri-pada-dhuli-kanah                                              14

 

This earth becomes a particle of dust,

This water of the sea becomes but a single  drop,

The raging fire becomes a tiny spark,

The blowing winds become a tiny movement,

The sky surrounding us  becomes a small hole,

The lords Shiva[16] and Brahma[17] become insignificant,

And all the devas become like  tiny insects,

If our Lord Mukunda is seen,

For the dust from his feet enslaves them all.

 

He! lokah srinutha prasuthi-marana-vyadhes chikitsam imam

Yoga-jnah samudaharanti munayo yam yajnavalkyadayah

Antar-jyothir ameyam ekam amritham krishnakhyam apiyatam

Tat pitam paramaushadham vitanute nirvanam atyantikam                                              15

 

Hey , people of the world,

Hear the panacea for birth, death and disease,

That has been told by sages great.

Steeped  in ancient wisdom,

Like  the Yagnavalkya[18],

It is the  inner light alone,

Which like nectar ,

And  is the name “Krishna”

For when drunk this great necter,

Grants the final liberation,

Which is complete and forever.

 

He! martyah paramam hitham srinutha vo vakshyami sankshepatah

Samsararnavam apad-urmi-bahulam samyak pravisya sthitah

Nana-jnanam apasya chetasi namo narayanayety amum

Mantram sa-pranavam pranama-sahitam pravartayadhvam muhuh                                  16           

 

Hey men, hear what is really good for you,

In briefest possible words,

Drowned you have in the sea of existence,

Which has big waves of misfortune.

Which toss you hither and thither.

So leave out this futile search for jnana[19],

And oft chant “Om Narayana”

And bow before your lord.

     

Nathe nah purushottame tri-jagatam ekadhipe chetasa

Sevye svasya padasya dathari pare narayane thishthati

Yam kinchit purushadhamam kathipaya-gramesam alpartha-dam

Sevayai mrigayamahe naram aho mudha varaka vayam                                                   17

 

Our Lord Narayana , the greatest among  men,

Who rules alone  the three worlds ,

Who can be served by mere control of breath,

Has come to share  his all with us,

And come personally before us,

Yet we beg some lowly men,

Who rules a few villages,

For petty rewards and service.

What foolish wretches we are , alas.?

 

 

Baddhenanjalina nathena sirasa gatraih sa-romodgamaih

Kanthena svara-gadgadena nayanenodgirna-bashpambuna

Nityam tvachranaravinda-yugala-dhyanamritasvadinam

Asmakam sarasiruhaksha satatam sampadyatam jivitam                                                 18

 

With bowed head  and joined hands,

We pray our Lord,

With hairs standing erect ,

And with tottering voice we repeat his names,

With swelling tears we request  the Lord Narayana,

“Please allow us to drink the nectar,

From your two lotus like feet,

And carry on our lives for us,

Oh, Lord who is lotus eyed”

 

Yat krishna-pranipatha-dhuli-dhavalam thath varshma thad vai siras

Thea nethre tamasojjhite su-ruchire yabhyam harir drisyathe

Sa buddhir vimalendu-sankha-dhavala ya madhava-dhyayini

Sa jihvamrita-varshiti prati-padam ya stauti narayanam                                             19

 

The head with white dust is loftiest,

Where the dust is collected by bowing to our Lord,

Those eyes which  have left ignorance,

After seeing Lord Hari are the prettiest,

That brain which meditates on Lord Madhava[20],

Has the white glow of the moon and the conch,

And that tongue always showers nectar,

Which praises and glorifies lord Narayana.

 

Jihve kirthaya kesavam mura-ripum cheto bhaja sridharam

Pani-dvandva samarchayachyuta-kathah srotra-dvaya thvam srunu

Krishnam lokaya lochana-dvaya harer gacchanghri-yugamalayam

Jighra ghrana mukunda-pada-tulasim murdhan namadhokshajam                                    20              

 

Oh tongue, sing the praises of Kesava[21],

Oh mind, praise the Lord who killed Mura[22],

Oh hands, serve the Lord Sridhara,

Of ears , hear the stories extolling Achyutha[23]

Oh eyes , see always lord Krishna,

Oh feet, Go to the temples of Hari,

Oh nose , smell the Thulasi [24],

From the two holy feet of Lord Mukunda,

And Oh head, bow before Lord Adhokshaja[25].

 

Amnayabhyasanany aranya-ruditham veda-vrathany anv-aham

Medas-cheda-phalani purtha-vidhayah sarvam hutam bhasmani

Tirthanam avagahanani cha gaja-snanam vina yat-pada-

Dvandvambhoruha-samsmritim vijayate devah sa narayanah                                           21

 

Recitation of holy words is but a cry in the forest,

Observation of penance of  the Vedas is but a slimming exercise,

Holy sacrifices observed are but pouring ghee in to ashes.

Bathing in holy rivers is but a bath of an elephant,

If done without the memory of his lotus feet,

And so victory to the lord Narayana.

 

 

Madana parihara sthitim madhiye

Manasi mukunda-padaravinda-dhamni

Hara-nayana-krisanuna kriso 'si

Smarasi na chakra-parakramam murarer.                                                              22

 

Oh God of love, change your place of residence from my mind,

For my mind is occupied by the lotus feet of Mukunda,

Ere long ago  have you not been burnt by the fiery look of Hara[26],

And still you forget the holy wheel of Lord Murari.[27]

 

Nathe dhathari bhogi-bhoga-sayane narayane madhave

Deve devaki-nandane sura-vare chakrayudhe sarangini

Lilasesha-jagat-prapancha-jathare visvesvare sridhare

Govinde kuru chitta-vrittim achalam anyais tu kim vartanai                                         23

 

Never forget the Hari who sleeps on the serpent,

And who is also called Narayana and Madhava,

Who is the darling son  of Devaki,

Who is venerated by Devas,

Who has the holy wheel and  the bow Saranga[28] as weapon,

Who holds the world as if it is a play,

Who is the Lord of the universe,

Who is the Lord Sridhara.

Who takes care of cows,

And make your mind  unwaveringly firm on him,

For what else can you gain by any other way?

 

Ma draksham kshina-punyan kshanam api bhavato bhakti-hinan padabje

Ma srausham sravya-bandham tava charitam apasyanyad akhyana-jatam

Ma smarsham madhava tvam api bhuvana-pathe chetasapahnuvanan

Ma bhuvam tvat-saparya-vyatikara-rahito janma-janmantare  api                                   24

 

Let not my glances fall on those,

Who do not have devotion to your feet,

Let  not me hear any other thing,

Except  the stories of your exploits,

Let not me think of those,

Who do not think of thee, Madhava,

And let not me become unable,

To serve you even in a menial way,

Birth after birth.

 

 

Maj-janmanah phalam idam madhu-kaitabhare

Math-prarthaniya-mad-anugraha esha eva

Tvad-bhrithya-bhrithya-paricharaka-bhrithya-bhrithya-

Bhrithyasya bhrithya iti mam smara loka-natha                                                      25

 

 

The result of my life,

Oh god who killed Madhu and Kaitabha[29],

And the prayer  and also my blessing

Would be oh, Lord of  the earth,

If you can make me ,

To be thy servant’s, servant’s,

Assistant’s servant’s servant’s,

Servant’s servant.

 

 

Tattvam bruvanani param paras tan

Madhu ksharantiva mudavahani

Pravartaya pranjalir asmi jihve

Namani narayana-gocharani                                                                          26

 

His names indicating the supreme truth,

Would give you as much pleasure,

As constant dripping of honey,

And so  I pray with folded hands, Oh my tongue,

Repeat endlessly the various names of Lord Narayana.

 

Namami Narayana-pada-pankajam

Karomi narayana-pujanam sada

Vadami narayana-nama nirmalam

Smarami narayana-tattvam avyayam                                                                  27

 

I prostrate on the lotus feet of Narayana,

I always do worship of Narayana,

I  recite the pure names of Narayana,

And I  meditate on the truth behind Narayana.

 

Sri-natha narayana vasudeva

Sri-krishna bhakta-priya chakra-pane

Sri-padmanabhachyuta kaitabhare

Sri-rama padmaksha hare murare                                                                     28

 

Ananta vaikuntha mukunda krishna

Govinda damodara madhaveti

Vaktum samartho api na vakthi kaschid

Aho jananam vyasanabhimukhyam                                                                      29

 

Lord of Lakshmi, Narayana, Vasudeva[30],

Sri Krishna, Darling of devotes, Wielder of the holy wheel,

Sri Padmanabha[31], Achyutha, Kaita bhare[32],

Sri Rama, Lotus eyed Lord, Hari, He who killed Mura,

 

Oh endless one, Vaikuntha[33], Mukunda, Krishna,

Govinda, He who was tied by a rope in his belly, Madhava,

All of  us  are able to call you any of these,

But we never call you these,

See how eager all of us are,

To see our own peril.

 

 

Bhaktapaya-bhujanga-garuda-manis trailokya-raksha-manir

Gopi-lochana-chatakambuda-manih saundarya-mudra-manih

Yah kanta-mani-rukmini-ghana-kucha-dvandvaika-bhusha-manih

Sreyo deva-sikha-manir disathu no gopala-chuda-manih                                               30

 

Hey jewel riding on the back of Garuda[34],

Hey jewel taking care of all the three worlds,

Hey jewel attracting the eyes of Gopis[35] like the Chataka[36] bird,

Hey jewel which is the signal of beauty,

The only jewel on the breasts of  Rukhmani[37],

Who herself is a jewel among your consorts,

Hey crown jewel of all gods,

Hey Gopala[38] who is the supreme jewel,

Please show us the way.

 

Satru-cchedaika-mantram sakalam upanishad-vakya-sampujya-mantram

Samsaroccheda-mantram samuchita-tamasah sangha-niryana-mantram

Sarvaisvaryaika-mantram vyasana-bhujaga-sandashta-santhrana-mantram

Jihve sri-krishna-mantram japa japa sathatham janma-saphalya-mantram                       31                  

 

Mantra which kills all enemies,

Mantra which is worshipped,

By each and every word of Upanishads.

Mantra which cuts the bonds of the world,

Mantra which drives away.

The darkness of ignorance ,

Mantra which helps in attaining all riches,

Mantra which cures the snake bite,

Of  worldly worries,

Is the name of Sri Krishna,

And so tongue  always chant it,

And get deliverance from life.

 

Vyamoha-prasam aushadham muni-mano-vritti-pravritty-aushadham

Daityendrarti-karaushadham tri-bhuvane sanjivanaikaushadham

Bhaktatyanta-hitaushadham bhava-bhaya-pradhvamsanaikaushadham

Sreyah-prapti-karaushadham piba manah sri-krishna-divyaushadham                             32

 

Medicine that cures  improper desires,

Medicine in the minds of sages,

Which makes them to meditate,

Medicine for  controlling  king among Rakshasas,

Medicine which gives life to the three worlds,

Medicine which cures the travails of devotees,

Medicine that cures fear of existence,

Medicine that can bring all glory,

Is the holy medicine of  Sri Krishna.

And so ,devotees  drink it to your fill..

 

 

Krishna tvadiya-pada-pankaja-panjarantam

Adyaiva me visatu manasa-raja-hamsah

Prana-prayana-samaye kapha-vata-pittaih

Kanthavarodhana-vidhau smaranam kutas te                                                           33

 

Krishna, within your feet which are like lotus stems,

How can my mind which is like a royal swan enter?

When the soul is ready to depart,

And when bile air and phlegm,

Choke my throat,

How will I ever remember your holy name?

 

Chetas chintaya kirthayasva rasane namri-bhava thvam siro

Hastav anjali-samputam rachayatam vandasva dirgham vapuh

Atman samsraya pundarika-nayanam nagachalendra-sthitam

Dhanyam punya-tamam thad eva paramam daivam hi sat-siddhaye                                 34

 

 

Oh mind, Sing of our Lord,

Oh head, bow before him,

Oh hands join your hands in supplication,

Oh body , do obeisance to him,

Oh soul, Make him your refuge,

Him who reclines on mountain of snake,

Him who is auspicious,

Him who is holy of holies,

Him who is the greatest God ,

And Him who leads to  the only truth.

 

Srunvan janardana-katha-guna-kirtanani

Dehe na yasya pulakodgama-roma-rajih

Nothpadyathe nayanayor vimalambu-mala

Dhik tasya jivitam aho purushadhamasya                                                             35

 

Hearing  the stories and nature of Lord Janardhana[39],

In whose body the hairs do not stand erect,

And in whose eyes the pure garland of tears does not form,

See for yourself, the man  who is basest of humans.

 

Andhasya me hritha-viveka-maha-dhanasya

Chauraih prabho balibhir indriya-namadheyaih

Mohandha-kupa-kuhare vinipatitasya

Devesa dehi kripanasya karavalambam                                                                36

 

Blind I have become of the great riches of discrimination,

For the thieves of senses  have stolen them from me ,

And thrown me in the blind well of passion,

And so Lord, please extend your hands of support to this wretch.

 

Idam sariram parinama-pesalam

Pathaty avasyam satha-sandhi-jarjaram

Kim aushadham pricchasi mudha durmate

Niramayam krishna-rasayanam piba                                                                   37

 

This body which will change over time,

Would one day fall after its hundred joints stiffen,

Why are you in search of other medicines,You fool,

Only drink deep, the elixir of Lord Krishna.

 

Ascharyam ethad dhi manushya-loke

Sudham parityajya visham pibanti

Namani narayana-gocharani

Tyaktvanya-vacah kuhakah pathanti                                                                  38

 

Wonderful is this world of men,

Leaving out nectar they drink poison,

Not repeating  the names of Narayana,

The ignorant go on telling all other words.

 

Tyajantu bandhavah sarve

Nindantu guravo janah

Tathapi paramanando

Govindo mama jivanam                                                                               39

 

Relatives and friends have abandoned me,

All the elders scold me always,

But in spite of it , the supreme bliss,

Of Govinda is my life.

 

Sathyam brovami manujah svayam urdhva-bahur

Yo yo mukunda narasimha janardaneti

Jivo japaty anu-dinam marane rane va

Pashana-kashtha-sadrisaya dadaty abhishtam                                                         40

 

Hey man,I shout  the truth with raised hands,

All of whom ,who meditate in death and war,

Of Mukunda, Narasimha[40] and  Janardhana,

Would think of his own desires as worthless,

Worse than  stone and  dead wood for ever.

 

Narayanaya nama ity amum eva mantram

Samsara-ghora-visha-nirharanaya nityam

Srinvanthu bhavya-matayo yatayo anuragad

Ucchais taram upadisamy aham urdhva-bahuh                                                          41

 

The hearing of the mantra  “Om Namo Narayana”

Is the panacea for the every day dark poisonous material life,

With compassion  I utter this to the  sages who have renounced the world,

And shout this at the top of my voice and with raised hands.

 

Chittam naiva nivarthate kshanam api sri-krishna-padambujat

Nindantu priya-bandhava guru-jana grihnanthu munchantu va

Durvadam parighoshayantu manuja vamse kalanke astu va

Tadrik prema-dharanuraga-madhuna mattaya manam tu me                                           42

 

Mind of mine never for a moment

Not think of the lotus feet of Krishna,

Let my dear relations and friends,

Elders  and the ordinary ones,

Scold and berate me,

Let the evil ones spread with gusto,

Gossips about bad things of my family,

For an intoxicated mad mind of mine,

It is sufficient to have only His nectar of love.

 

Krishno rakshatu no jagat-traya-guruh krishnam namadhvam sada

Krishnenakhila-satravo vinihatah krishnaya tasmai namah

Krishnad eva samutthitam jagad idam krishnasya daso asmy aham

Krishne tishthati visvam etad akhilam he krishna rakshasva mam                                    43

 

Krishna is  the teacher of the three worlds and protects us,

And so without stop bow before Lord Krishna,

Krishna  has killed all our enemies in this universe,

Salutations to Krishna,

All the world has come from Krishna,

I am the humble  slave of Krishna,

All the world is within Krishna,

Oh Krishna ,protect me for ever.

 

Hey gopalaka ,Hey kripa-jalanidHe  ,Hey sindhu-kanya-pate

Hey kamsantaka ,Hey gajendra-karuna-parina, Hey madhava

Hey ramanuja ,Hey jagat-traya-guro ,Hey pundarikaksha mam

Hey gopijana-natha palaya param janami na tvam vina                                                44

 

Hey ,cow heard boy, Hey , ocean of mercy,

Hey, darling of the daughter of the sea,

Hey , slayer of Kamsa[41],

Hey, Lord who showered mercy on the king of elephants,

Hey, Madahava, Hey brother of Balarama[42],

Hey ,master of the three worlds,

Hey, my lord with lotus eyes,

Hey ,Lord of all gopis,

Know I  none greater than you,

And so protect me.

 

Dara varakara-vara-sutha the tanujo virincih

Stotra vedas tava sura-gana bhritya-vargah prasadah

Mukthir maya jagad avikalam tavaki devaki thwa

Mata mithram bala-ripu-sutas tat tvad anyam na jane                                                45

 

Your wife is the daughter of the sea,

Your son is Brahma who creates the world,

Chants about you are the holy Vedas,

Devas  are your servant force,

Liberation from this world is your sport,

Devaki is your mother,

Arjuna the invincible enemy is your friend,

And so I do not know any  one else but you.

 

Pranamam isasya sirah-phalam vidhus

Tad-archanam prani-phalam divaukasah

Manah-phalam tad-guna-tattva-chintanam

Vacah-phalam tad-guna-kirtanam budhah                                                              46

 

Prostration  to God is supreme duty of the head,

Worship with flowers the duty of  the life breath,

Thought of his goodness is the duty of the mind,

And singing of  his praise is the duty of the speech,

So say  the divine ones living in the sky.

 

Sriman-nama prochya narayanakhyam

Ke na prabhur vanchitam papino  api

Ha nah purvam vak-pravritta na tasmims

Tena praptam garbha-vasadi-duhkham                                                                 47

 

By calling aloud the name of Lord Narayana,

Even the sinner is blessed with his desires,

Possibly we had not used the power of speech in last earlier life,

Which resulted in the sorrow of  us living in the womb                                         

 

 Dhyayanti ye vishnum anantam avyayam

 Hrit-padma-madhye satatam vyavasthitam

 Samahitanam satatabhaya-pradam

 Te yanti siddhim paramam tu vaishnavim                                                            48

 

He who meditates on Vishnu, the limitless and folly less,

Who is present on a lotus in the middle of the heart,

And who grants the one who meditates, fearlessness,

Will get for sure the perfection great of a Vaishnava[43].

 

 Tat tvam prasida bhagavan kuru mayy anathe

 Vishno kripam parama-karunikah khalu tvam

 Samsara-sagara-nimagnam ananta dinam

 Uddhartum arhasi hare purushottamo asi                                                            49

 

Shower your mercy on me my Lord,

You are the Vishnu who is the most merciful,

For this sinner is drowned  in this endless sea of  material life,

And  merits your help Hey  Hari , Hey Purushottama[44]

 

. Kshira-sagara-tarangarasikara-

 Sara-tarakita-charu-murtaye

 Bhogi-bhoga-sayaniya-saayine

 Madhavaya madhu-vidvishe namah                                                                    50

 

To the one  sprayed with drops from  the waves of the ocean of milk,

Who has the pretty form of stars in the sky,

Who Reclines  on the bed of the serpent,

Who is Madhava and the killer of Madhu,

Are my heart felt salutations.

 

Alam alam alam eka praninam patakanam

Nirasana-vishaye ya krishna krishneti vani

Yadi bhavati mukunde bhaktir ananda-sandra

Karatala-kalina sa moksha-samrajya lakshmih                                                        51

 

Suffice, suffice and suffice it is for all sins of  a being,

To be driven away for ever,

By the repetition of  “Krishna” and “Krishna”

But if one has the ecstasy of devotion to Mukunda,

He will have always  in his hand liberation , influence and riches.

.

 

Yasya priyau sruti-dharau kavi-loka-virau

Mitrau dvi-janma-vara-padma-sarav abhutam

Tenambujaksha-charanambuja-shat-padena

Rajna krita kritir iyam kulasekharena                                                              52

 

Friends of mine, intellects great,

Who were heroes in the world of poets,

Belonging to the twice born caste,

Are the lotus stems pretty,

And these poems dedicated to the lotus feet of the lotus eyed,

Were composed  by king called Kulashekara.

 

 Mukunda-malam pathatam naranam

 Asesha-saukhyam labhate na kah svit

 Samasta-papa-kshayam etya dehi

 Prayati vishnoh paramam padam tat                                                                 53

 

All  men who read the verses of Mukunda Mala,

Will achieve all happiness in life,

And their sins would be pardoned,

And will travel to the supreme abode of Vishnu.

 

     

 



* Not found in most of the texts of Mukunda mala

[1] King of Devas

[2] Demi Gods in Hindu heaven

[3] Place where Sri Krishna grew up , literally  forest of  ocimum

[4] King of Vrishnis, father of Lord Krishna

[5] Mother of Lord Krishna

[6] The family of Lord Krishnas foster father, Nanda Gopa

[7] He who gives immortal bliss

* No there in most of the texts of Mukunda Mala

[8] He who is attained by Vedas

[9] One of the sections of hell where the sinner is tortured

[10] One of the Rahshsas who is son of Vishnu and Bhoodevi

[11] He who removes births and deaths

[12] Foset father of Lord Krishna

[13] One of the sages who is the singing minstrel of God

[14] Ogre

[15] He who carries Goddess Lakshmi

[16] Lord of destruction

[17] Lord of creation

[18] One of the great sages of the Vedas

[19] Knowledge of the ultimate truth

[20] He who is born in the family of Madhu

[21] He who has a beautiful hair

[22] An ogre or Rakshasa

[23] He who does not allow his devotees to slip

[24] The sacred basi plant

[25] He who never gets tired of his devotees

[26] Lord Shiva who burnt the God of LOve

[27] He who killed the Rakshasa called Mura

[28] The bow of Lord Vishnu

[29] Two ogres who were produced by Vishnu and killed by him

[30] Son of  King Vasudeva

[31] He who has a lotus growing in his belly

[32] He who killed Kaitabha

[33] Heaven in which Lord Vishnu lives

[34] The bird on Which Lord Vishnu rides

[35] The cow maidens who were friends and devotees of Lord Krishna

[36] A mythical ever thirsty bird

[37] One of the consorts of Lord Krishna

[38] He who takes care of cows or souls

[39] He who troubles bad people

[40] Incarnation of Lord Vishnu as half human and half lion

[41] Uncle of Krishna who wanted to eliminate him

[42] Elder brother of Lord Krishna

[43] Devotee of  Vishnu also means a great soul

[44] The greatest among males