Text 1

namāmīśvaraḿ sac-cid-ānanda-rūpaḿ
lasat-kuṇḍalaḿ gokule bhrājamanam
yaśodā-bhiyolūkhalād dhāvamānaḿ
parāmṛṣṭam atyantato drutya gopyā

namāmi–I bow down; īśvaram–to the supreme controller; sat-cit-ānandarūpam–whose form is

composed of eternity, knowledge and bliss ; lasatkuṇḍalam–whose earrings play and swing;
gokule bhrājamānam–who is splendrously manifest in Gokula; yaśodā-bhiyā–in fear of
mother Yaśodā; ulūkalāt-dhāvamānam–who gets down from the wooden ricegrinding mortar
and runs away; para-āmr ̣sṭ am–catching
̣ Him by the back; atyam–very much; tatam drutya–
chasing after Him quickly; gopyā–by the gopī (Srī Yaśodā).

TRANSLATION

1) To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence,

knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is
beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who I (due to the offense of
breaking the pot of yogurt that His mother was churning into butter and then stealing
the butter that was kept hanging from a swing) is quickly running from the wooden
grinding mortar in fear of mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by
her who ran after Him with greater speed--to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I
offer my humble obeisances.

वह भगवान जिनका रूप सत, जित और आनं द से पररपूर्ण है , जिनके मकरो के आकार के कं डल इधर
उधर जहल रहे है , िो गोकल नामक अपने धाम में जनत्य शोभायमान है , िो (दू ध और दही से भरी
मटकी फोड़ दे ने के बाद) मैय्या यशोदा की डर से ओखल से कूदकर अत्यंत ते िीसे दौड़ रहे है और
जिन्हें यशोदा मैय्या ने उनसे भी तेि दौड़कर पीछे से पकड़ जलया है ऐसे श्री भगवान को मै नमन करता
हू ।

Text 2

rudantaḿ muhur netra-yugmaḿ mṛjantam

karāmbhoja-yugmena sātańka-netram
muhuḥ śvāsa-kampa-trirekhāńka-kaṇṭha-
sthita-graivaḿ dāmodaraḿ bhakti-baddham

rudantam–crying; muhuḥ–again and again ; netra-yugmam–His two eyes ; mṛjantam–rubbing;

kara-ambhoja-yugmena–with His two lotus-like hands; sa-ātańka-netram–with very fearful
eyes; muhuḥ–again and again; śvāsa–quick breathing and sighing; kampa–trembling; tri-
rekhaańka-kaṇṭha–neck marked with three lines (just like a conchshell); sthita–situated;
graiva–pearl necklaces and other neck-ornaments; dāma-udaram–unto He with a rope around
His belly; bhakti-baddham– who is bound by devotion. (2)

TRANSLATION
2) (Seeing the whipping stick in His mother's hand) He is crying and rubbing His eyes
again and again with His two lotus hands. His eyes are filled with fear, and the
necklace of pearls around His neck, which is marked with three lines like a conch
shell, is shaking because of His quick breathing due to crying. To this Supreme Lord,
Sri Damodara, whose belly is bound not with ropes but with His mother's pure love, I
offer my humble obeisances.

(अपने माता के हाथ में छड़ी दे खकर) वो रो रहे है और अपने कमल िै से कोमल हाथो से दोनों ने त्ों को
मसल रहे है , उनकी आँ खे भय से भरी हुयी है और उनके गले का मोजतयो का हार, िो शं ख के भाजत
जत्रे खा से यक्त है , रोते हुए िल्दी िल्दी श्वास लेने के कारर् इधर उधर जहल-डल रहा है , ऐसे उन श्री
भगवान् को िो रस्सी से नहीं बल्कि अपने माता के प्रे म से बंधे हुए है मै नमन करता हु ।
 Text 3

itīdṛk sva-līlābhir ānanda-kuṇḍe

sva-ghoṣaḿ nimajjantam ākhyāpayantam
tadīyeṣita-jñeṣu bhaktair jitatvaḿ
punaḥ prematas taḿ śatāvṛtti vande

iti īdr ̣k–displaying in this way (childhood pastimes such as the Dāmodara-līlā and so forth);
sva-līlābhih ̣–by His own pastimes ; ānandakun ̣d ̣e–in a pool of bliss ; sva-ghoṣam–His own
family and the other residents of Gokula; nimajjantam–immersing; ākhyāpayantam–makes
known; tadīya-īśita-jñesu–to ̣ those desirous of knowing His majesty (aiśvarya);
bhaktajitatvam–His quality of being conquered by His loving devotees (who are devoid of
aiśvarya- jñāna); punaḥ–again; premataḥ–with love and devotion; tam–unto that Lord
Dāmodara; śataāvr ̣tti–hundreds and hundreds of times; vande–I praise. (3)

TRANSLATION

3) By such childhood pastimes as this He is drowning the inhabitants of Gokula in

pools of ecstasy, and is revealing to those devotees who are absorbed in knowledge of
His supreme majesty and opulence that He is only conquered by devotees whose pure
love is imbues with intimacy and is free from all conceptions of awe and reverence.
With great love I again offer my obeisances to Lord Damodara hundreds and
hundreds of times.

ऐसी बाल्यकाल की लीलाओ के कारर् वे गोकल के रजहवासीओ को आध्याल्किक प्रे म के आनंद कं ड में
डबो रहे है , और िो अपने ऐश्वयण सम्पूर्ण और ज्ञानी भक्तो को ये बतला रहे है की "मै अपने ऐश्वयण जहन
और प्रेमी भक्तो द्वारा िीत जलया गया हु", ऐसे उन दामोदर भगवान को मै शत शत नमन करता हु ।
Text 4

varaḿ deva mokṣaḿ na mokṣāvadhiḿ vā

na canyaḿ vṛṇe ‘haḿ vareṣād apīha
idaḿ te vapur nātha gopāla-bālaḿ
sadā me manasy āvirāstāḿ kim anyaiḥ
 varam–boons; deva–O Lord!; mokṣam–liberation; na–not; mokṣāavadhim–the highest
pinnacle of liberation (the realm of Srī Vaikun ̣thaloka
̣ ); vā–or; na–not; ca-anyam–or anything
else; vṛṇe aham–I pray for; vara-īśāt–from You Who can bestow any boon; api–also; iha–here
in Vr ̣ndāvana; idam–this; te–Your; vapuḥ–divine bodily form; nātha–O Lord!; gopāla-bālam–
a young cowherd boy; sadā–always; me manasi–in my heart; āvirāstām–may it be manifest;
kim anyaiḥ–what is the use of other things (mokṣā, and so forth.) (4)

TRANSLATION

4) O Lord, although You are able to give all kinds of benedictions, I do not pray to
You for the boon of impersonal liberation, nor the highest liberation of eternal life in
Vaikuntha, nor any other boon (which may be obtained by executing the nine
processes of bhakti). O Lord, I simply wish that this form of Yours as Bala Gopala in
Vrndavana may ever be manifest in my heart, for what is the use to me of any other
boon besides this?

हे भगवन, आप सभी प्रकार के वर दे ने में सक्षम होने पर भी मै आप से ना ही मोक्ष की कामना करता

हु, ना ही मोक्षका सवोत्तम स्वरुप श्री वै कं ठ की इच्छा रखता हु, और ना ही नौ प्रकार की भल्कक्त से प्राप्त
जकये िाने वाले कोई भी वरदान की कामना करता हु । मै तो आपसे बस यही प्राथण ना करता हु की
आपका ये बालस्वरूप मेरे हृदय में सवण दा ल्कथथत रहे , इससे अन्य और कोई वस्त का मझे क्या लाभ ?

Text 5

idaḿ te mukhāmbhojam atyanta-nīlair

vṛtaḿ kuntalaiḥ snigdha-raktaiś ca gopyā
muhuś cumbitaḿ bimba-raktādharaḿ me
manasy āvirāstām alaḿ lakṣa-lābhaiḥ

idam–this; te–Your; mukha-ambhojam–lotus-like face; avyakta-nīlaih ̣–by very dark blue;

vṛtam–surrounded; kuntalaiḥ–by curling locks of hair ; snigdha–soft and glossy ; raktaiḥ–by
reddish-tinted; ca–also; gopyā–by the gopī (Srī Yaśodā); muhuḥ–again and again; cumbitam–
kissed; bimbarakta-adharam–with lips red as the bimba fruit; me–my; manasi–in the heart;
āvirāstām–may it be manifest; alam–useless (there is no need for me); lakṣa-lābhaih ̣–by
millions of attainments of other boons. (5)

TRANSLATION

5) O Lord, Your lotus face, which is encircled by locks of soft black hair tinged with
red, is kissed again and again by mother Yasoda, and Your lips are reddish like the
bimba fruit. May this beautiful vision of Your lotus face be ever manifest in my heart.
Thousands and thousands of other benedictions are of no use to me.

हे प्रभ, आपका श्याम रं ग का मखकमल िो कछ घं घराले लाल बालो से आच्छाजदत है , मैय्या यशोदा द्वारा
बार बार िम्बन जकया िा रहा है , और आपके ओठ जबम्बफल िै से लाल है , आपका ये अत्यंत सन्दर
कमलरुपी मख मेरे हृदय में जवरािीत रहे । (इससे अन्य) सहस्त्रो वरदानो का मझे कोई उपयोग नहीं है ।
 Text 6

namo deva dāmodarānanta vis ̣ṇo

prasīda prabho duḥkha-jālābdhi-magnam
kṛpā-dṛṣṭi-vṛṣṭyāti-dīnaḿ batānu
gṛhāṇeṣa mām ajñam edhy akṣi-dṛśyaḥ

namaḥ–I bow down; deva–O divine Lord!; dāmodara–O Lord whose belly is bound with a
rope!; ananta–O limitless Lord !; viṣṇo–O allpervading Lord!; prasīda–be pleased; prabho–O
my Master !; duḥkhajāla–a network of material miseries; abdhi-magnam–immersed in the
ocean; kṛpā-dṛṣṭi-vṛṣṭyā–by the rain of merciful glances; āti-dīnam–very fallen; bata–alas!;
anugṛhāṇa–please accept; īśa–O supremely independent Lord!; mām–me; ajñam–ignorant;
edhi–please come; akṣidṛśyaḥ–perceptible to my eyes. (6)

TRANSLATION

6) O Supreme Godhead, I offer my obeisances unto You. O Damodara! O Ananta! O

Vishnu! O master! O my Lord, be pleased upon me. By showering Your glance of
mercy upon me, deliver this poor ignorant fool who is immersed in an ocean of
worldly sorrows, and become visible to my eyes.

हे प्रभ, मेरा आपको नमन है । हे दामोदर, हे अनं त, हे जवष्ण, आप मझपर प्रसन्न होवे (क्यूंजक) मै
संसाररूपी दुः ख के समन्दर में डूबा िा रहा हु । मझ जदन जहन पर आप अपनी अमृतमय कृपा की वृ जि
कीजिये और कृपया मझे दशण न दीजिये ।

Text 7

kuverātmajau baddha-mūrtyaiva yadvat

tvayā mocitau bhakti-bhājau kṛtau ca
tathā prema-bhaktiḿ svakāḿ me prayaccha
na mokṣe graho me ‘sti dāmodareha

kuvera-ātmajau–the two sons of Kuvera (named Nalakūvara and Man ̣igrīva ); baddha-mūrtyā-
eva–by He whose divine form was bound with ropes to the grinding mortar; yat-vat–since
they were like that (cursed by Nārada to take birth as twin arjuna trees); tvayā–by You;
mocitau–they who were liberated ; bhakti-bhājau–the recipients of devotional service ; kṛtau–
You made them; ca–also; tathā–then; premabhaktim–loving devotion; svakām–Your own;
me–unto me ; prayaccha– please give; na mokse–not
̣ for liberation ; grahaḥ–enthusiasm; me–
my; asti–is; dāmodara–O Lord Dāmodara!; iha–this. (7)

TRANSLATION

7) O Lord Damodara, just as the two sons of Kuvera--Manigriva and Nalakuvara--

were delivered from the curse of Narada and made into great devotees by You in Your
form as a baby tied with rope to a wooden grinding mortar, in the same way, please
give to me Your own prema-bhakti. I only long for this and have no desire for any
kind of liberation.

हे दामोदर (जिनके पेट से रस्सी बंधी हुयी है वो), आपने माता यशोदा द्वारा ओखल में बंधे होने के बाद
भी कबेर के पत्ो (मजर्जिव तथा नलकबेर) िो नारदिी के श्राप के कारर् वृक्ष के रूप में मूजतण की
तरह ल्कथथत थे , उनका उद्धार जकया और उनको भल्कक्त का वरदान जदया, आप उसी प्रकार से मझे भी
प्रेमभल्कक्त प्रदान कीजिये , यही मेरा एकमात् आिह है , जकसी और प्रकार की कोई भी मोक्ष के जलए मेरी
कोई कामना नहीं है ।

Text 8

namas te ‘stu dāmne sphurad-dīpti-dhāmne

tvadīyodarāyātha viśvasya dhāmne
namo rādhikāyai tvadīya-priyāyai
namo ‘nanta-līlāya devāya tubhyam

namaḥ–obeisances; te–to You; astu–may there be; dāmne–unto the rope around Your waist;
sphurat–splendrous; dīpti-dhāmne–unto the effulgent abode; tvadīya-udarāya–unto Your
belly; atha–thus; viśvasya–of the entire universe; dhāmne–unto the shelter; namaḥ–
obeisances; rādhikāyai–unto Rādhikā; tvadīya priyāyai–unto Your Beloved; namaḥ–
obeisances; ananta-līlāya–unto Your limitless sportive pastimes; devāya– unto Your
transcendental nature; tubhyam–unto You. (8)

TRANSLATION

8) O Lord Damodara, I first of all offer my obeisances to the brilliantly effulgent rope
which binds Your belly. I then offer my obeisances to Your belly, which is the abode
of the entire universe. I humbly bow down to Your most beloved Srimati Radharani,
and I offer all obeisances to You, the Supreme Lord, who displays unlimited pastimes.

हे दामोदर, आपके उदर से बंधी हुयी महान रज्जू (रस्सी) को प्रर्ाम है , और आपके उदर, िो
जनल्कखल ब्रह्म तेि का आश्रय है , और िो सम्पूर्ण ब्रह्माण्ड का धाम है , को भी प्रर्ाम है । श्रीमती
राजधका िो आपको अत्यंत जप्रय है उन्हें भी प्रर्ाम है , और हे अनंत लीलाऐ करने वाले भगवन,
आपको प्रर्ाम है ।
This song is sung during the Month of Kartik, also known as the month of Damodara.
As quoted in the Sri Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa, "In the month of Kartika one should worship
Lord Damodara and daily recite the prayer known as Damodarastaka, which has been
spoken by the sage Satyavrata and which attracts Lord Damodara. (Sri Hari-bhakti-
vilasa 2.16.198).”