Damodarashtakam: Sanskrit, Tamil & English Lyrics with Meanings

The Lord who holds the universe, bound by a mother’s love—little Damodara and Mother Yashoda. 💙🙏

The Holy Month of Damodara – A Celebration of Love and Devotion

There is something deeply touching about little Krishna being caught by His mother after His playful mischief. The Lord who holds the entire universe allows Himself to be tied with a simple rope, not through force, but through love.

The sacred month of Kartik, also lovingly called Damodara month in the Vaishnava tradition, is a special time to remember Lord Krishna. 

Devotees offer lamps, sing His names and spend time in prayer. Even a simple offering, made with a sincere heart, becomes a beautiful expression of devotion.

The name Damodara comes from the Sanskrit words dāma, meaning rope, and udara, meaning belly. 

It recalls the story of Mother Yashoda tying little Krishna to a wooden mortar with a rope around His waist.

What Is Damodarashtakam, and Who Wrote It?

Damodarashtakam, also written as Damodar Ashtakam, is a Sanskrit prayer traditionally attributed to Satyavrata Muni. 

Ashtakam means a prayer of eight verses.

These verses describe Krishna’s childhood beauty, Mother Yashoda’s love and the power of true devotion. 

The devotee asks for no riches or grand rewards, only love for Krishna and the blessing of remembering Him always.

Traditionally sung while offering a lamp during Kartik, this prayer reminds us that the greatest offering we can make is a heart filled with love.

Sri Damodar Ashtakam – Shlokas in Sanskrit, Tamil and English with Simple Meanings
श्री दामोदराष्टकम्
ஸ்ரீ தாமோதராஷ்டகம்

The Damodar Ashtakam is a beautiful prayer of eight verses dedicated to Lord Krishna, traditionally attributed to Satyavrata Muni. 

It is often sung while offering a lamp during the sacred month of Kartik.

The prayer remembers little Krishna, whom Mother Yashoda tied to a wooden mortar with a rope around His waist. It reminds us that even the Lord of the universe allows Himself to be bound by a mother’s love.

1. Little Krishna Runs from Mother Yashoda

Sanskrit:

नमामीश्वरं सच्चिदानन्दरूपं
लसत्कुण्डलं गोकुले भ्राजमानम् ।
यशोदाभियोलूखलाद्धावमानं
परामृष्टमत्यन्ततो द्रुत्य गोप्या ॥१॥

Tamil:

நமாமீஶ்வரம் ஸச்-சித்-ஆனந்த-ரூபம்
லஸத்-குண்டலம் கோகுலே ப்ராஜமானம்
யஶோதா-பியோலூகலாத் தாவமானம்
பராம்ருஷ்டம் அத்யந்ததோ த்ருத்ய கோப்யா

English:

Namamishvaram Sach-Chid-Ananda-Rupam
Lasat-Kundalam Gokule Bhrajamanam
Yashoda-Bhiyolukhalad Dhavamanam
Paramrishtam Atyantato Drutya Gopya

Meaning:

I bow to Lord Krishna, who lives forever and is full of wisdom and joy. He looks beautiful in Gokula, with His earrings swinging as He runs. Afraid of Mother Yashoda, He runs away from the wooden mortar. But she runs faster and catches Him.

2. Bound by His Mother’s Love

Sanskrit:

रुदन्तं मुहुर्नेत्रयुग्मं मृजन्तं
कराम्भोजयुग्मेन सातङ्कनेत्रम् ।
मुहुः श्वासकम्पत्रिरेखाङ्ककण्ठ-
स्थितग्रैवं दामोदरं भक्तिबद्धम् ॥२॥

Tamil:

ருதந்தம் முஹுர் நேத்ர-யுக்மம் ம்ருஜந்தம்
கராம்போஜ-யுக்மேன ஸாதங்க-நேத்ரம்
முஹுஃ ஶ்வாஸ-கம்ப-த்ரிரேகாங்க-கண்ட-
ஸ்தித-க்ரைவம் தாமோதரம் பக்தி-பத்தம்

English:

Rudantam Muhur Netra-Yugmam Mrijantam
Karambhoja-Yugmena Satanka-Netram
Muhuh Shvasa-Kampa-Trirekhanka-Kantha-
Sthita-Graivam Damodaram Bhakti-Baddham

Meaning:

Little Krishna is crying and rubbing His frightened eyes with His soft hands. As He sobs, His breathing makes the necklace on His neck shake. I bow to Damodara, who is bound by His mother’s love and devotion.

3. Love Can Win Over the Lord

Sanskrit:

इतीदृक्स्वलीलाभिरानन्दकुण्डे
स्वघोषं निमज्जन्तमाख्यापयन्तम् ।
तदीयेशितज्ञेषु भक्तैर्जितत्वं
पुनः प्रेमतस्तं शतावृत्ति वन्दे ॥३॥

Tamil:

இதீத்ருக் ஸ்வ-லீலாபிர் ஆனந்த-குண்டே
ஸ்வ-கோஷம் நிமஜ்ஜந்தம் ஆக்யாபயந்தம்
ததீயேஶித-ஜ்ஞேஷு பக்தைர் ஜிதத்வம்
புனஃ ப்ரேமதஸ் தம் ஶதாவ்ருத்தி வந்தே

English:

Itidrik Sva-Lilabhir Ananda-Kunde
Sva-Ghosham Nimajjantam Akhyapayantam
Tadiyeshita-Jneshu Bhaktair Jitatvam
Punah Prematas Tam Shatavritti Vande

Meaning:

Through His playful childhood acts, Krishna fills all of Gokula with happiness. He shows that even the all-powerful Lord can be won over by His devotees’ sincere love. I bow to Him with love, again and again.

4. Stay in My Heart as Little Krishna

Sanskrit:

वरं देव मोक्षं न मोक्षावधिं वा
न चान्यं वृणेऽहं वरेशादपीह ।
इदं ते वपुर्नाथ गोपालबालं
सदा मे मनस्याविरास्तां किमन्यैः ॥४॥

Tamil:

வரம் தேவ மோக்ஷம் ந மோக்ஷாவதிம் வா
ந சான்யம் வ்ருணேஹம் வரேஶாத் அபீஹ
இதம் தே வபுர் நாத கோபால-பாலம்
ஸதா மே மனஸ்யாவிராஸ்தாம் கிமன்யைஃ

English:

Varam Deva Moksham Na Mokshavadhim Va
Na Chanyam Vrine’ham Vareshad Apiha
Idam Te Vapur Natha Gopala-Balam
Sada Me Manasy Avirastam Kim Anyaih

Meaning:

O Lord, You can grant every blessing. But I do not ask for freedom from birth and death, or for any other gift. I only want Your beautiful form as little Gopala to remain in my heart always. What more could I need?

5. Your Sweet Face Is All I Want

Sanskrit:

इदं ते मुखाम्भोजमत्यन्तनीलैः
वृतं कुन्तलैः स्निग्धरक्तैश्च गोप्या ।
मुहुश्चुम्बितं बिम्बरक्ताधरं मे
मनस्याविरास्तामलं लक्षलाभैः ॥५॥

Tamil:

இதம் தே முகாம்போஜம் அத்யந்த-நீலைர்
வ்ருதம் குந்தலைஃ ஸ்நிக்த-ரக்தைஶ் ச கோப்யா
முஹுஶ் சும்பிதம் பிம்ப-ரக்தாதரம் மே
மனஸ்யாவிராஸ்தாம் அலம் லக்ஷ-லாபைஃ

English:

Idam Te Mukhambhojam Atyanta-Nilair
Vritam Kuntalaih Snigdha-Raktaish Cha Gopya
Muhush Chumbitam Bimba-Raktadharam Me
Manasy Avirastam Alam Laksha-Labhaih

Meaning:

O Krishna, dark curls frame Your beautiful face, and Your lips are red like the bimba fruit. Mother Yashoda kisses Your face again and again. May this sweet face remain in my heart always. It means more to me than countless other gifts.

6. Please Show Me Your Kindness

Sanskrit:

नमो देव दामोदरानन्त विष्णो
प्रसीद प्रभो दुःखजालाब्धिमग्नम् ।
कृपादृष्टिवृष्ट्यातिदीनं बतानु-
गृहाणेश मामज्ञमेध्यक्षिदृश्यः ॥६॥

Tamil:

நமோ தேவ தாமோதரானந்த விஷ்ணோ
ப்ரஸீத ப்ரபோ துஃக-ஜாலாப்தி-மக்னம்
க்ருபா-த்ருஷ்டி-வ்ருஷ்ட்யாதி-தீனம் பதாநு-
க்ருஹாணேஶ மாமஜ்ஞமேத்யக்ஷி-த்ருஶ்யஃ

English:

Namo Deva Damodarananta Vishno
Prasida Prabho Duhkha-Jalabdhi-Magnam
Kripa-Drishti-Vrishtyati-Dinam Batanu-
Grihanesha Mam Ajnam Edhy Akshi-Drishyah

Meaning:

O Damodara, Ananta and Vishnu, I bow to You. I am troubled by sorrow and do not know how to find my way out. Please look upon me with kindness, help me and let me see You.

7. Give Me Love and Devotion

Sanskrit:

कुबेरात्मजौ बद्धमूर्त्यैव यद्वत्
त्वया मोचितौ भक्तिभाजौ कृतौ च ।
तथा प्रेमभक्तिं स्वकां मे प्रयच्छ
न मोक्षे ग्रहो मेऽस्ति दामोदरेह ॥७॥

Tamil:

குபேராத்மஜௌ பத்த-மூர்த்யைவ யத்வத்
த்வயா மோசிதௌ பக்தி-பாஜௌ க்ருதௌ ச
ததா ப்ரேம-பக்திம் ஸ்வகாம் மே ப்ரயச்ச
ந மோக்ஷே க்ரஹோ மேஸ்தி தாமோதரேஹ

English:

Kuberatmajau Baddha-Murtyaiva Yadvat
Tvaya Mochitau Bhakti-Bhajau Kritau Cha
Tatha Prema-Bhaktim Svakam Me Prayachchha
Na Mokshe Graho Me’sti Damodareha

Meaning:

O Damodara, even while You were tied to the wooden mortar, You freed Kubera’s two sons and made them Your devotees. Please bless me too with true love and devotion for You. I do not ask for liberation; I simply want to love You.

8. My Prayers to You and Sri Radha

Sanskrit:

नमस्तेऽस्तु दाम्ने स्फुरद्दीप्तिधाम्ने
त्वदीयोदरायाथ विश्वस्य धाम्ने ।
नमो राधिकायै त्वदीयप्रियायै
नमोऽनन्तलीलाय देवाय तुभ्यम् ॥८॥

Tamil:

நமஸ்தேஸ்து தாம்னே ஸ்புரத்-தீப்தி-தாம்னே
த்வதீயோதராயாத விஶ்வஸ்ய தாம்னே
நமோ ராதிகாயை த்வதீய-ப்ரியாயை
நமோனந்த-லீலாய தேவாய துப்யம்

English:

Namas Te’stu Damne Sphurad-Dipti-Dhamne
Tvadiyodarayatha Vishvasya Dhamne
Namo Radhikayai Tvadiya-Priyayai
Namo’nanta-Lilaya Devaya Tubhyam

Meaning:

I bow to the shining rope tied around Your waist. I bow to Your belly, which holds the whole universe. I bow to Your beloved Sri Radha. O Krishna, Your wonderful pastimes never end. I offer my prayers to You.

To know more about Deep daan and how to offer a ghee lamp to Lord Damodara during Kartik. read the companion post 👇🏻

Kartik Deep Daan: How to Offer a Ghee Lamp to Lord Damodara

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