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Mantra · 71 verses, from Draupadi's cry to the gopis' songs, on one refrain

Govinda Damodara Stotram

अग्रे कुरूणामथ पाण्डवानां दुःशासनेनाहृतवस्त्रकेशा । कृष्णा तदाक्रोशदनन्यनाथा गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Also known as Govinda Damodara Madhaveti

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

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What the Govinda Damodara Stotram is

The Govinda Damodara Stotram is a Sanskrit hymn of seventy-one verses in which every verse ends on the same three names of Krishna: govinda damodara madhaveti. Its printed closing line names the poet as Bilvamangalacharya, the devotee also called Lilashuka, to whom the Krishna Karnamrita is credited. The verses are short scenes rather than a list of titles. The hymn opens with Draupadi crying out as Duhshasana drags her before the Kurus and the Pandavas, then settles in Vraja: a cowherd girl forgets to call out her curd for sale, gopis pound rice to the refrain and teach parrots and caged mynahs the names, and Yashoda calls her son in from play. Later verses follow Krishna to the Kaliya lake and to Mathura, then widen to Rama's exile, Sita's capture, the elephant Gajendra and Draupadi before Durvasa. From verse 40 the poet turns to his own tongue, and verses 58 to 71 close on one line: jihve pibasvamritam etad eva, O tongue, drink only this nectar.

From Chintamani's Door to Vrindavan

Almost everything told about the author comes from devotional legend, and the legends do not agree. According to one widely told account, Bilvamangala was a learned Brahmin of the south so attached to a courtesan named Chintamani that, on the night of his father's shraddha rites, he crossed a flooded river clinging to a floating corpse and climbed her wall holding a cobra he took for a rope. Seeing him in that state, Chintamani told him to give such longing to Govinda instead, and he set out for Vrindavan. The same account says he blinded himself after a further lapse on the road, took initiation from Somagiri, who named him Lilashuka, and was fed in Vrindavan by Krishna appearing as a cowherd boy. Kerala tradition knows him as Vilwamangalam Swamiyar and ties him to many of its temples, while Bengal and Odisha each claim his birth; the Kerala scholar Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer held that at least three men bore the name. Dates proposed for the author of the Karnamrita run from the ninth to the fifteenth century. No account fixes when the Govinda Damodara Stotram itself was composed; its attribution rests on the closing line printed with it.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiअग्रे कुरूणामथ पाण्डवानां दुःशासनेनाहृतवस्त्रकेशा । कृष्णा तदाक्रोशदनन्यनाथा गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Tamilஅக்ரே குரூணாமத பாண்டவாநாம் துஃஶாஸநேநாஹ்ருதவஸ்த்ரகேஶா । க்ருஷ்ணா ததாக்ரோஶதநந்யநாதா கோவிந்த தாமோதர மாதவேதி ॥

Teluguఅగ్రే కురూణామథ పాణ్డవానాం దుఃశాసనేనాహృతవస్త్రకేశా । కృష్ణా తదాక్రోశదనన్యనాథా గోవిన్ద దామోదర మాధవేతి ॥

Kannadaಅಗ್ರೇ ಕುರೂಣಾಮಥ ಪಾಣ್ಡವಾನಾಂ ದುಃಶಾಸನೇನಾಹೃತವಸ್ತ್ರಕೇಶಾ । ಕೃಷ್ಣಾ ತದಾಕ್ರೋಶದನನ್ಯನಾಥಾ ಗೋವಿನ್ದ ದಾಮೋದರ ಮಾಧವೇತಿ ॥

Malayalamഅഗ്രേ കുരൂണാമഥ പാണ്ഡവാനാം ദുഃശാസനേനാഹൃതവസ്ത്രകേശാ । കൃഷ്ണാ തദാക്രോശദനന്യനാഥാ ഗോവിന്ദ ദാമോദര മാധവേതി ॥

EnglishRoman transliterationagre kurūṇāmatha pāṇḍavānāṃ duḥśāsanenāhṛtavastrakeśā | kṛṣṇā tadākrośadananyanāthā govinda dāmodara mādhaveti ||

“Before the Kurus and the Pandavas, when Duhshasana dragged her by her garment and her hair, Draupadi, who had no other protector, cried out "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"”

अग्रे: agre — before, in front of
कुरूणामथ: kurūṇām atha — the Kurus and also
पाण्डवानां: pāṇḍavānāṃ — the Pandavas
दुःशासनेनाहृतवस्त्रकेशा: duḥśāsanena āhṛta-vastra-keśā — her garment and hair seized by Duhshasana
कृष्णा: kṛṣṇā — Draupadi
तदाक्रोशदनन्यनाथा: tadā akrośat ananya-nāthā — then cried out, having no other protector
गोविन्द: govinda — O Govinda, finder of the cows
दामोदर: dāmodara — O Damodara, rope-bound at the waist
माधवेति: mādhava iti — O Madhava, thus

Govinda Damodara Stotram lyrics in full

All seventy-one verses in their traditional order, each closing on the refrain govinda damodara madhaveti. The printed closing line is given at the end.

All 72 verses, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Govinda Damodara Stotram PDFAll 72 verses with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.

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Verse 1

अग्रे कुरूणामथ पाण्डवानां दुःशासनेनाहृतवस्त्रकेशा ।
कृष्णा तदाक्रोशदनन्यनाथा गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Before the Kurus and the Pandavas, when Duhshasana dragged her by her garment and her hair, Draupadi, who had no other protector, cried out "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 2

श्रीकृष्ण विष्णो मधुकैटभारे भक्तानुकम्पिन् भगवन् मुरारे ।
त्रायस्व मां केशव लोकनाथ गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

"O Shri Krishna, Vishnu, slayer of Madhu and Kaitabha, compassionate to your devotees, O Lord, foe of Mura, O Keshava, master of the worlds, protect me: Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 3

विक्रेतुकामा किल गोपकन्या मुरारिपादार्पितचित्तवृत्तिः ।
दध्यादिकं मोहवशादवोचद् गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

A cowherd girl set out to sell curd and milk, but her mind was so given over to the feet of Murari that, lost in rapture, she called out instead of her wares "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 4

उलूखले सम्भृततण्डुलांश्च सङ्घट्टयन्त्यो मुसलैः प्रमुग्धाः ।
गायन्ति गोप्यो जनितानुरागा गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Pounding with pestles the rice heaped in their mortars, the gopis, absorbed and filled with love, sing "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 5

काचित्कराम्भोजपुटे निषण्णं क्रीडाशुकं किंशुकरक्ततुण्डम् ।
अध्यापयामास सरोरुहाक्षी गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

A lotus-eyed girl taught the pet parrot sitting in the cup of her lotus hands, its beak red as the kimshuka flower, to say "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 6

गृहे गृहे गोपवधूसमूहः प्रतिक्षणं पिञ्जरसारिकाणाम् ।
स्खलद्गिरं वाचयितुं प्रवृत्तो गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

In house after house the cowherd wives keep busy, moment after moment, making the caged mynah birds repeat in their faltering speech "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 7

पर्य्यङ्किकाभाजमलं कुमारं प्रस्वापयन्त्योऽखिलगोपकन्याः ।
जगुः प्रबन्धं स्वरतालबन्धं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Rocking to sleep the little boy lying in the cradle, all the cowherd maidens sang a song set to melody and rhythm: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 8

रामानुजं वीक्षणकेलिलोलं गोपी गृहीत्वा नवनीतगोलम् ।
आबालकं बालकमाजुहाव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Holding up a ball of fresh butter, a gopi called the little boy, the younger brother of Balarama, who was restless in the play of glances, saying "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 9

विचित्रवर्णाभरणाभिरामेऽभिधेहि वक्त्राम्बुजराजहंसि ।
सदा मदीये रसनेऽग्ररङ्गे गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O tongue, royal swan in the lotus of my mouth, lovely with the ornaments of many-colored syllables, always say upon your stage at the tip of my mouth "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 10

अङ्काधिरूढं शिशुगोपगूढं स्तनं धयन्तं कमलैककान्तम् ।
सम्बोधयामास मुदा यशोदा गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Yashoda joyfully called to the child seated on her lap and held close, drinking at her breast, the one beloved of Lakshmi: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 11

क्रीडन्तमन्तर्व्रजमात्मजं स्वं समं वयस्यैः पशुपालबालैः ।
प्रेम्णा यशोदा प्रजुहाव कृष्णं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Yashoda lovingly called her own son Krishna, who was playing inside the cowherd village with the herders' boys of his own age: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 12

यशोदया गाढमुलूखलेन गोकण्ठपाशेन निबध्यमानः ।
रुरोद मन्दं नवनीतभोजी गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

As Yashoda tied him tight to the mortar with a cow's neck rope, the eater of butter wept softly: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 13

निजाङ्गणे कङ्कणकेलिलोलं गोपी गृहीत्वा नवनीतगोलम् ।
आमर्दयत्पाणितलेन नेत्रे गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

In her own courtyard a gopi took the ball of butter from the boy who was busy playing with her bangles, and rubbed his eyes with her palm, saying "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 14

गृहे गृहे गोपवधूकदम्बाः सर्वे मिलित्वा समवाययोगे ।
पुण्यानि नामानि पठन्ति नित्यं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

In every house the companies of cowherd wives gather together and daily recite the holy names "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 15

मन्दारमूले वदनाभिरामं बिम्बाधरे पूरितवेणुनादम् ।
गोगोपगोपीजनमध्यसंस्थं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

At the foot of the mandara tree, lovely of face, filling the flute at his bimba-red lips with music, standing among the cows, cowherds and gopis, is the one called "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 16

उत्थाय गोप्योऽपररात्रभागे स्मृत्वा यशोदासुतबालकेलिम् ।
गायन्ति प्रोच्चैर्दधि मन्थयन्त्यो गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Rising in the last part of the night, the gopis remember the childhood play of Yashoda's son and, churning the curd, sing aloud "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 17

जग्धोऽथ दत्तो नवनीतपिण्डो गृहे यशोदा विचिकित्सयन्ती ।
उवाच सत्यं वद हे मुरारे गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

A lump of butter had been eaten or given away, and Yashoda at home, in doubt, said, "Tell the truth, O Murari, Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 18

अभ्यर्च्य गेहं युवतिः प्रवृद्धप्रेमप्रवाहा दधि निर्ममन्थ ।
गायन्ति गोप्योऽथ सखीसमेता गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Having done worship in the house, a young woman whose love had swelled into a flood churned the curd, and the gopis with their friends sang "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 19

क्वचित् प्रभाते दधिपूर्णपात्रे निक्षिप्य मन्थं युवती मुकुन्दम् ।
आलोक्य गानं विविधं करोति गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Once at dawn a young woman, setting the churning stick in a pot full of curd and gazing at Mukunda, sang many kinds of songs: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 20

क्रीडापरं भोजनमज्जनार्थं हितैषिणी स्त्री तनुजं यशोदा ।
आजूहवत् प्रेमपरिप्लुताक्षी गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Yashoda, the loving mother, her eyes brimming with love, called her son, who was absorbed in play, to come for his meal and bath: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 21

सुखं शयानं निलये च विष्णुं देवर्षिमुख्या मुनयः प्रपन्नाः ।
तेनाच्युते तन्मयतां व्रजन्ति गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

The chief divine seers and sages took refuge in Vishnu as he rested at ease in his abode, and through the names "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava" they become one with Achyuta.

Verse 22

विहाय निद्रामरुणोदये च विधाय कृत्यानि च विप्रमुख्याः ।
वेदावसाने प्रपठन्ति नित्यं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Leaving sleep at daybreak and finishing their duties, the foremost of the learned recite daily at the close of the Veda "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 23

वृन्दावने गोपगणाश्च गोप्यो विलोक्य गोविन्दवियोगखिन्नाम् ।
राधां जगुः साश्रुविलोचनाभ्यां गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

In Vrindavan the cowherds and gopis, seeing Radha worn by separation from Govinda, sang with tear-filled eyes "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 24

प्रभातसञ्चारगता नु गावस्तद्रक्षणार्थं तनयं यशोदा ।
प्राबोधयत् पाणितलेन मन्दं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

The cows had gone out to graze at dawn, so that he might guard them Yashoda gently woke her son with the palm of her hand, saying "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 25

प्रवालशोभा इव दीर्घकेशा वाताम्बुपर्णाशनपूतदेहाः ।
मूले तरूणां मुनयः पठन्ति गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Sages whose long hair shines like coral, their bodies purified by living on air, water and leaves, recite at the roots of the trees "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 26

एवं ब्रुवाणा विरहातुरा भृशं व्रजस्त्रियः कृष्णविषक्तमानसाः ।
विसृज्य लज्जां रुरुदुः स्म सुस्वरं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Speaking thus, the women of Vraja, sorely tormented by separation and with their minds fixed on Krishna, cast off all shyness and wept aloud in sweet voices "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 27

गोपी कदाचिन्मणिपिञ्जरस्थं शुकं वचो वाचयितुं प्रवृत्ता ।
आनन्दकन्द व्रजचन्द्र कृष्ण गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Once a gopi set about teaching the parrot in its jeweled cage to speak: "O root of bliss, moon of Vraja, Krishna, Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 28

गोवत्सबालैः शिशुकाकपक्षं बध्नन्तमम्भोजदलायताक्षम् ।
उवाच माता चिबुकं गृहीत्वा गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Holding by the chin the lotus-eyed boy, who was tying up his childish side-locks among the young calf-herds, his mother said "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 29

प्रभातकाले वरवल्लवौघा गोरक्षणार्थं धृतवेत्रदण्डाः ।
आकारयामासुरनन्तमाद्यं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

At dawn the bands of cowherds, carrying staffs of cane to guard the cows, called to the endless, primeval Lord: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 30

जलाशये कालियमर्दनाय यदा कदम्बादपतन्मुरारिः ।
गोपाङ्गनाश्चुक्रुशुरेत्य गोपा गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

When Murari leapt from the kadamba tree into the lake to subdue Kaliya, the cowherd women and the cowherds ran there and cried out "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 31

अक्रूरमासाद्य यदा मुकुन्दश्चापोत्सवार्थं मथुरां प्रविष्टः ।
तदा स पौरैर्जयतीत्यभाषि गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

When Mukunda, having met Akrura, entered Mathura for the festival of the bow, the citizens hailed him, "He is victorious!", and called "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 32

कंसस्य दूतेन यदैव नीतौ वृन्दावनान्ताद् वसुदेवसूनू ।
रुरोद गोपी भवनस्य मध्ये गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

When the two sons of Vasudeva were led away from Vrindavan by Kamsa's messenger, a gopi wept in the middle of her house: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 33

सरोवरे कालियनागबद्धं शिशुं यशोदातनयं निशम्य ।
चक्रुर्लुठन्त्यः पथि गोपबाला गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Hearing that Yashoda's little son was caught by the serpent Kaliya in the lake, the cowherd girls rolled on the path, crying "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 34

अक्रूरयाने यदुवंशनाथं सङ्गच्छमानं मथुरां निरीक्ष्य ।
ऊचुर्वियोगात् किल गोपबाला गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Seeing the lord of the Yadu line leaving for Mathura in Akrura's chariot, the cowherd girls, in the pain of parting, said "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 35

चक्रन्द गोपी नलिनीवनान्ते कृष्णेन हीना कुसुमे शयाना ।
प्रफुल्लनीलोत्पललोचनाभ्यां गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

At the edge of the lotus grove, lying on a bed of flowers and bereft of Krishna, a gopi wept with eyes like full-blown blue lotuses: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 36

मातापितृभ्यां परिवार्यमाणा गेहं प्रविष्टा विललाप गोपी ।
आगत्य मां पालय विश्वनाथ गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Hemmed in by her mother and father, a gopi went into the house and lamented, "Come and protect me, O Lord of the universe, Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 37

वृन्दावनस्थं हरिमाशु बुद्ध्वा गोपी गता कापि वनं निशायाम् ।
तत्राप्यदृष्ट्वाऽतिभयादवोचद् गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Learning that Hari was in Vrindavan, a gopi hurried to the forest at night; not finding him even there, she cried out in great fear "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 38

सुखं शयाना निलये निजेऽपि नामानि विष्णोः प्रवदन्ति मर्त्याः ।
ते निश्चितं तन्मयतां व्रजन्ति गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

The verse says that mortals who, even lying at ease in their own homes, speak the names of Vishnu, "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava", surely become one with him.

Verse 39

सा नीरजाक्षीमवलोक्य राधां रुरोद गोविन्दवियोगखिन्नाम् ।
सखी प्रफुल्लोत्पललोचनाभ्यां गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Seeing lotus-eyed Radha worn by separation from Govinda, her friend wept with eyes like blossoming lotuses: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 40

जिह्वे रसज्ञे मधुरप्रिया त्वं सत्यं हितं त्वां परमं वदामि ।
आवर्णयेथा मधुराक्षराणि गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O tongue, knower of tastes, lover of sweetness, I tell you what is true, good for you and highest: recite these sweet syllables, "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 41

आत्यन्तिकव्याधिहरं जनानां चिकित्सकं वेदविदो वदन्ति ।
संसारतापत्रयनाशबीजं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Knowers of the Veda say that the physician who cures the final disease of all people, the seed that destroys the threefold suffering of worldly life, is "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava."

Verse 42

ताताज्ञया गच्छति रामचन्द्रे सलक्ष्मणेऽरण्यचये ससीते ।
चक्रन्द रामस्य निजा जनित्री गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

When Ramachandra, at his father's command, went to the forest with Lakshmana and Sita, Rama's own mother cried out "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 43

एकाकिनी दण्डककाननान्तात् सा नीयमाना दशकन्धरेण ।
सीता तदाक्रन्ददनन्यनाथा गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Carried off alone from the depths of the Dandaka forest by ten-headed Ravana, Sita, who had no other protector, cried out "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 44

रामाद्वियुक्ता जनकात्मजा सा विचिन्तयन्ती हृदि रामरूपम् ।
रुरोद सीता रघुनाथ पाहि गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Separated from Rama, Sita, the daughter of Janaka, holding Rama's form in her heart, wept: "O Lord of the Raghus, protect me, Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 45

प्रसीद विष्णो रघुवंशनाथ सुरासुराणां सुखदुःखहेतो ।
रुरोद सीता तु समुद्रमध्ये गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

"Be gracious, O Vishnu, lord of the Raghu line, cause of the joy and sorrow of gods and demons", so Sita wept in the midst of the ocean: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 46

अन्तर्जले ग्राहगृहीतपादो विसृष्टविक्लिष्टसमस्तबन्धुः ।
तदा गजेन्द्रो नितरां जगाद गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

His foot seized by the crocodile under the water, and all his kin having abandoned him, Gajendra the king of elephants cried out with all his strength "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 47

हंसध्वजः शङ्खयुतो ददर्श पुत्रं कटाहे प्रपतन्तमेनम् ।
पुण्यानि नामानि हरेर्जपन्तं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

King Hamsadhvaja, with Shankha, saw his son falling into the cauldron, chanting the holy names of Hari: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 48

दुर्वाससो वाक्यमुपेत्य कृष्णा सा चाब्रवीत् काननवासिनीशम् ।
अन्तः प्रविष्टं मनसा जुहाव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Hearing the words of Durvasa, Draupadi, then living in the forest, turned to the Lord; and in her mind she called on him who dwells within: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 49

ध्येयः सदा योगिभिरप्रमेयः चिन्ताहरश्चिन्तितपारिजातः ।
कस्तूरिकाकल्पितनीलवर्णो गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

He who is always meditated on by yogis, the immeasurable one, remover of care, the wish-granting parijata tree for those who think of him, dark blue as if made of musk, is "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava."

Verse 50

संसारकूपे पतितोऽत्यगाधे मोहान्धपूर्णे विषयाभितप्ते ।
करावलम्बं मम देहि विष्णो गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

I have fallen into the bottomless well of worldly life, full of the blindness of delusion and scorched by the objects of the senses; O Vishnu, give me the support of your hand: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 51

त्वामेव याचे मम देहि जिह्वे समागते दण्डधरे कृतान्ते ।
वक्तव्यमेवं मधुरं सुभक्त्या गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O tongue, of you alone I ask this: when Death, the bearer of the rod, arrives, you must say sweetly and with true devotion "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 52

भजस्व मन्त्रं भवबन्धमुक्त्यै जिह्वे रसज्ञे सुलभं मनोज्ञम् ।
द्वैपायनाद्यैर्मुनिभिः प्रजप्तं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O tongue, knower of tastes, for release from the bonds of worldly life, take up this easy and delightful mantra chanted by Vyasa and the other sages: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 53

गोपाल वंशीधर रूपसिन्धो लोकेश नारायण दीनबन्धो ।
उच्चस्वरैस्त्वं वद सर्वदैव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

"O Gopala, bearer of the flute, ocean of beauty, Lord of the worlds, Narayana, friend of the lowly", always say aloud "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 54

जिह्वे सदैवं भज सुन्दराणि नामानि कृष्णस्य मनोहराणि ।
समस्तभक्तार्तिविनाशनानि गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O tongue, always worship in this way the beautiful, heart-stealing names of Krishna, which destroy the distress of every devotee: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 55

गोविन्द गोविन्द हरे मुरारे गोविन्द गोविन्द मुकुन्द कृष्ण ।
गोविन्द गोविन्द रथाङ्गपाणे गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Govinda, Govinda, Hari, Murari; Govinda, Govinda, Mukunda, Krishna; Govinda, Govinda, bearer of the discus; Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!

Verse 56

सुखावसाने त्विदमेव सारं दुःखावसाने त्विदमेव गेयम् ।
देहावसाने त्विदमेव जाप्यं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

When happiness ends, this alone is the essence; when sorrow ends, this alone is to be sung; when the body ends, this alone is to be repeated: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 57

दुर्वारवाक्यं परिगृह्य कृष्णा मृगीव भीता तु कथं कथञ्चित् ।
सभां प्रविष्टा मनसा जुहाव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Receiving the harsh summons that could not be refused, Draupadi, frightened like a doe, somehow entered the assembly and called in her mind "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 58

श्रीकृष्ण राधावर गोकुलेश गोपाल गोवर्धन नाथ विष्णो ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O Shri Krishna, beloved of Radha, lord of Gokula, Gopala, lord of Govardhana, Vishnu! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 59

श्रीनाथ विश्वेश्वर विश्वमूर्ते श्रीदेवकीनन्दन दैत्यशत्रो ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O Lord of Shri, Lord of the universe, whose form is the universe, son of Devaki, enemy of the demons! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 60

गोपीपते कंसरिपो मुकुन्द लक्ष्मीपते केशव वासुदेव ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O Lord of the gopis, enemy of Kamsa, Mukunda, husband of Lakshmi, Keshava, Vasudeva! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 61

गोपीजनाह्लादकर व्रजेश गोचारणारण्यकृतप्रवेश ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O delight of the gopis, lord of Vraja, who entered the forest to graze the cows! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 62

प्राणेश विश्वम्भर कैटभारे वैकुण्ठ नारायण चक्रपाणे ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O Lord of life, sustainer of the universe, enemy of Kaitabha, Vaikuntha, Narayana, bearer of the discus! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 63

हरे मुरारे मधुसूदनाद्य श्रीराम सीतावर रावणारे ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O Hari, Murari, Madhusudana, primal one, Shri Rama, husband of Sita, enemy of Ravana! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 64

श्रीयादवेन्द्राद्रिधराम्बुजाक्ष गोगोपगोपीसुखदानदक्ष ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O lord of the Yadavas, lifter of the mountain, lotus-eyed one, skilled in giving joy to cows, cowherds and gopis! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 65

धराभरोत्तारणगोपवेष विहारलीलाकृतबन्धुशेष ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O you who took a cowherd's guise to lift the burden of the earth, and in your play made Shesha your brother! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 66

बकीबकाघासुरधेनुकारे केशीतृणावर्तविघातदक्ष ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O slayer of Baki, Baka, Aghasura and Dhenuka, skilled in destroying Keshi and Trinavarta! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 67

श्रीजानकीजीवन रामचन्द्र निशाचरारे भरताग्रजेश ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O life of Shri Janaki, Ramachandra, enemy of the night-roaming demons, elder brother of Bharata! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 68

नारायणानन्त हरे नृसिंह प्रह्लादबाधाहर हे कृपालो ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O Narayana, Ananta, Hari, Narasimha, remover of Prahlada's affliction, O merciful one! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 69

लीलामनुष्याकृतिरामरूप प्रतापदासीकृतसर्वभूप ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O you who in play took the human form of Rama, and by your valor made all kings your servants! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 70

श्रीकृष्ण गोविन्द हरे मुरारे हे नाथ नारायण वासुदेव ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

O Shri Krishna, Govinda, Hari, Murari, O Lord Narayana, Vasudeva! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Verse 71

वक्तुं समर्थोऽपि न वक्ति कश्चिदहो जनानां व्यसनाभिमुख्यम् ।
जिह्वे पिबस्वामृतमेतदेव गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥

Though able to speak, no one speaks these names; alas, how bent people are on their own ruin! O tongue, drink only this nectar: "Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Closing

इति श्रीबिल्वमङ्गलाचार्यविरचितं श्रीगोविन्ददामोदरस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

Thus ends the Shri Govinda Damodara Stotram composed by Shri Bilvamangalacharya.

The syllable people get wrong

In verse 1 the name is kṛṣṇā, with a long final ā: it is the feminine name of Draupadi, not Krishna himself. Say the ṛ as a short 'ri' and hold the last vowel for two beats (KRISH-naa), so the line is not heard as Krishna crying out to himself.

When the Govinda Damodara Stotram is chanted

Weekday. Thursday

Questions

The closing line printed with the hymn calls it the work of Shri Bilvamangalacharya, the poet better known as Lilashuka and credited with the Krishna Karnamrita, the verses on Krishna in Vrindavan that Chaitanya came upon during his journey through the south. Kerala, Bengal and Odisha each claim the poet, and the list of works ascribed to the Kerala saint Vilwamangalam does not include this stotram, so the attribution is traditional rather than proven.

Verses 42 to 45 step out of Vraja into the Ramayana: Rama's mother cries out as he leaves for the forest with Lakshmana and Sita, and Sita calls out as Ravana carries her off, in her separation, and in the midst of the ocean. The hymn treats Rama and Krishna as one Vishnu, so the same names serve both. One printed edition notes that in these four verses the refrain may instead be read he rama raghunandana raghaveti; the common refrain is printed here.

Verse 47 gives only a single scene: King Hamsadhvaja, with Shankha beside him, sees his son falling into a cauldron, and the son is chanting the holy names of Hari, Govinda, Damodara, Madhava, as he falls. The verse does not say how the boy came to be there or what followed. Like the Gajendra verse just before it, it shows a devotee in danger at the moment the three names are said.

No. They are selections from this text. Some printings give only the first twenty verses, which belong almost wholly to Draupadi and the gopis of Vraja. One widely sung nine-verse form begins with verse 70, sri krishna govinda hare murare, and then gathers verses 3, 14, 38, 54, 56, 40, 51 and 58 from across the hymn. The full form printed here keeps all seventy-one verses in their traditional order.

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Govinda Damodara Stotram

What the Govinda Damodara Stotram is

From Chintamani's Door to Vrindavan

The mantra, in six scripts

Govinda Damodara Stotram lyrics in full

The syllable people get wrong

When the Govinda Damodara Stotram is chanted

Questions

Have your chart read before you decide

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