Śrī Rādhākuṇḍa-aṣṭakam
Eight prayers glorifying Śrī Rādhākuṇḍa
by Śrīla Raghunath Das Goswami

Text 1
vṛṣabha-danuja-nāśān narma-dharmokti-raṅgair
nikhila-nija-sakhībhir yat sva-hastena pūrṇam
prakaṭitam api vṛndāraṇya-rājñā pramodais
tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

"After the killig of Ariṣṭāsura, Śrīmatī Rādhikā and Her sakhīs exchanged many joking words with Śrī Kṛṣṇa concerning the necessary atonement for one who has committed the offence of killing a bull. As a result, the Queen of Vṛndāvana, Śrīmatī Rādhikā, and Her sakhīs joyfully excavated and filled Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa with their own hands. May that immensely fragrant Rādhā-kuṇḍa be my shelter."

Text 2
vraja-bhuvi mura-śatroḥ preyasīnāṁ nikāmair
asulabham api tūrṇaṁ prema-kalpa-drumaṁ tam
janayati hṛdi bhūmau snātur uccair priyaṁ yat
tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

In the land of the hearts of those who bathe in Rādhā-kuṇḍa, a desire tree of the superlative prema, which is not attainable even for Kṛṣṇa’s principal queens in Dvārakā, will arise. May that supremely charming Rādhā-kuṇḍa be my shelter.

Text 3
agha-ripur api yatnād atra devyāḥ prasāda-
prasara-kṛta-katākṣa-prāpti-kāmaḥ prakāmam
anusarati yad ucaaiḥ snāna-sevānubandhais
tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

For the pleasure of Śrīmatī Rādhikā, even Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself, yearning to attain Her merciful sidelong glance, regularly bathes in Rādhā-kuṇḍa, carefully observing all the appropriate rituals. May that supremely enchanting Rādhā-kuṇḍa be my shelter.

Text 4
vraja-bhuvana-sudhāṁśoḥ prema-bhūmir nikāmaṁ
vraja-madhura-kiśorī-mauli-ratna-priyeva
paricitam api nāmnā yac ca tenaiva tasyās
tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

May that supremely enchanting Rādhā-kuṇḍa, which the moon of Vraja, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, loves as much as He loves the crown-jewel amongst the sweet girls of Vraja, Śrīmatī Rādhikā, and which He has made known by the name of Rādhikā Herself, be my shelter.

Text 5
api jana iha kaścid yasya sevā-prasādaiḥ
praṇaya-sura-latā syāt tasya goṣṭhendra-sūnoḥ
sapadi kila mad-īśā-dāsya-puṣpa-praśasyā
tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

The mercy obtained by serving Rādhā-kuṇḍa makes the desire-creeper of prema for the prince of Vraja sprout and is celebrated for bearing the flower of service to my svāmini Śrīmatī Rādhikā. May that supremely charming Rādhā-kuṇḍa be my shelter.

Text 6
taṭa-madhura-nikuñjaḥ klpta-nāmāna uccair
nija-parijana-vargaiḥ samvibhajyāśritas taiḥ
madhukara-ruta-ramyā yasya rājanti kāmyās
tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

Gloriously manifest on the banks of Rādhā-kuṇḍa are eight kuñjas named after Rādhikā’s principal sakhīs.* Acting as stimuli for the amorous pastimes of the Divine Couple, these kuñjas are filled with the sweet humming of bumblebees. The lotus feet of that Rādhikā, who sends Kṛṣṇa to enjoy in all the different kuñjas, are desired by everyone. May that supremely enchanting Rādhā-kuṇḍa be the shelter of my life.

*On the eastern bank is the kuñja known as Citrā-sukhada, on the southeastern side is Indulekhā-sukhada, on the southern bank is Campakalatā-sukhada, on the southwestern side is Rangadevī- sukhada, on the western bank is Tuṅgāvidyā-sukhada, on the northwestern side is Sudevī-sukhada, on the northern bank is Lalitā-sukhada, and on the northeastern side is the kuñja known as Viśākhā-sukhada.

Text 7
taṭa-bhuvi vara-vedyāṁ yasya narmāti-hṛdyāṁ
madhura-madhura-vārtāṁ goṣṭha-candrasya bhaṅgyā
praṭhayati mitha īśā prāṇa-sakhyālibhiḥ sā
tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

Situated on an exquisite dais on the bank of Rādhā-kuṇḍa and accompanied by Her beloved sakhīs, our svāmini Śrīmatī Rādhikā charmingly engages in sweet, joking words with Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the moon of Vraja. These playful verbal exchanges are enhanced by the suggestion of so many innuendoes. May that Rādhā-kuṇḍa be the shelter of my life.

Text 8
anudinam ati-raṅgaiḥ prema-mattāli-saṅghair
vara-sarasija-gandhair hāri-vāri-prapūrṇe
viharata iha yasmin dam-patī tau pramattau
tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

May that very charming and especially fragrant Rādhā-kuṇḍa, where intoxicated with love the Divine Couple and the sakhīs daily sport with great joy in the water so fragrant with exquisite lotus flowers, be the sole shelter of my life.

- phala-śruti -
the result of hearing / reading this Stotra

Text 9
avikalam ati devyāś cāru kuṇḍāṣṭakaṁ yaḥ
paripaṭhati tadīyollāsi-dāsyārpitātmā
aciram iha śarīre darśayaty eva tasmai
madhu-ripur ati-modaiḥ śliṣyamāṇāṁ priyāṁ tām

To that devotee who, in a resolute mood of aspiring to serve Śrīmatī Rādhikā, reads this charming prayer describing Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa, even in their present body Śrī Kṛṣṇa will quickly grant them darśana of not only His beloved Rādhikā, but also of Their many variegated amorous pastimes. Witnessing these pastimes and envisioning himself serving Yugala-kisora in various ways, such a devotee will feel immense jubilation. 

(This astaka is recited in the poetic meter known as "Malini.")

 

DIFFERENT ENGLISH TRANSLATION

May very fragrant Rādhā-kuṇḍa, which, prodded by the gopīs' many joking words after Vṛṣabhāsura's death, the king of Vṛndāvana forest happily built and filled with His own hand, be my shelter. (1)

May very dear and fragrant Rādhā-kuṇḍa, which, for one who bathes in it immediately creates in the land of the heart a desire tree of pure love rare even among the gopī beloveds of Lord Kṛṣṇa in Vraja, be my shelter. (2)

May very dear and fragrant Rādhā-kuṇḍa, where, yearning to attain the merciful sidelong glance of His queen, Lord Kṛṣṇa diligently follows Her bathing attendants, be my shelter. (3)

May very fragrant Rādhā-kuṇḍa, which is named after a girl who is a realm of love for He who is the moon of Vraja, a girl who is like the most precious jewel in the crown of the sweet girls of Vraja, be my shelter. (4)

The mercy obtained by serving Rādhā-kuṇḍa makes the celestial vine of pure love for the prince of Vraja, which is famous for bearing the flowers of service to my queen, sprout. May that very fragrant Rādhā-kuṇḍa be my shelter. (5)

May very fragrant Rādhā-kuṇḍa, on the shores of which are many splendid and charming forest groves filled with the sweet sounds of bumblebees and each named after one of Śrī Rādhā's friends, be my shelter. (6)

May very fragrant Rādhā-kuṇḍa, on the shore of which, in a pleasant courtyard Queen Rādhā and Her friends sweetly joke with Lord Kṛṣṇa, the moon of Vraja, be my shelter. (7)

May very fragrant Rādhā-kuṇḍa, where the passionate divine couple daily plays with Their passionate friends in the charming lotus-scented water, be my shelter. (8)

To one who is completely dedicated to Queen Rādhā's service and who happily reads these eight beautiful verses describing Her lake, even in this present body Lord Kṛṣṇa shows His beloved as he happily embraces Her. (9)

Download PDF
radhakunda-astakam.pdf