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Kartik Special

Damodarāshtakam

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Pronunciation Guide for special lettersā - like a in father.e - like a in pale. î – like ea in peak ū - like u in rule.ñ - like n in singn - as n in narayanaś – like sh in

shallow . ş - like sh in shine c – ch as in chart

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Sri Damodarashtakam – Verse- 1

1. Namāmîśvaram sac-cid-ānanda-rūpam, Lasat kundalam gokule bhrājamānam, Yośodā bhiyolūkhalād dhāvamānam, Parāmrştam atyam tato drutya gopyā

O Damodar! Your earrings swing and play on your cheeksWhen You flee from mother after breaking yogurt pot.You are all blissful, all knowing Supreme LordBut You are controlled by your mother and caught!

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Sri Damodarashtakam – Verse - 2

2. Rudantam muhur netra yugmam mrjantam Karāmbhoja yugmena sātanka netram Muhuh svāsa kampa tri rekhānka kantha- Sthita graiva dāmodaram bhakti baddham

She shows You the stick and binds Your belly!As You cry, tears roll on your cheeks.Your sobbing makes Your pearl necklace shake.Ropes of your mother's love bind You in embrace.

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Sri Damodarashtakam – Verse - 3

3. Itidrk sva leelābhir ānanda kunde Sva ghoşam nimajjantam ākhyāpayantam Tadeeyeśita jneşu bhaktair jitatvam Punah premats tam śatāvritti vande

Relishing Your childhood leelas like this,You plunge Your bhaktas in deep oceans of bliss.You are subdued only by love, not by opulence.Again and again, Lord, I bow down to you.

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Sri Damodarashtakam – Verse - 4

4. Varam deva! moksham na mokshavadhim vā Na cānyam vrne 'ham varesād apihā Idam te vapur nātha! gopāla-bālam Sadā me manasy avirastam kim anyaih

Although You give moksha, I don’t ask for moksha,Nor do I want anything You could bestow.I only request that Your sweet childhood playEver be enacted in my heart to stay.

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Sri Damodarashtakam – Verse - 5

5. Idam te mukhāmbhojam avyakta-nilair Vrtam kuntalaih nigdha-raktais ca gopyā Muhus cumbitam bimba-raktadharam me Manasy avirāstam alam laksa-labhaih

Curly hair encircles Your blackish-blue face.Kisses make Your cheeks like red bimba fruit.May this vision be all that I can see.Any other treasure has no value to me.

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Sri Damodarashtakam – Verse - 6

6. Namo deva! damodarānanta! visno! Prasida prabho! duhkha-jālābdhi-magnam Krpa-drsti-vrstyāti-dinam batānu- Grhanesa! mam ajnam edhy aksi-drsyah

O Damodar! O Vishnu! O Lord beyond imagination,Glance me and grace with your kind visionPitiful soul is sunken in worldly tieShower Your mercy like rainfall from the sky.

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Sri Damodarashtakam – Verse - 7

7. Kuverātmajau baddha-murtyaiva yad-vat Tvaya mocitau bhakti-bhājau krtau ca Tathā prema-bhaktim svakām me prayaccha

Na mokshe graho me 'sti damodareha

Two sons of Kuvera cursed to be the trees;You gave them the chance to be Your own dears.My Lord, will You offer me same realization?Dont cheat me by giving moksha or liberation!

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Sri Damodarashtakam – Verse - 8

8. Namas te 'stu dāmne sphurad dipti-dhāmne Tvadiyodarāyatha vishvasya dhāmne Namo rādhikāyai tvadiya priyāyai Namo 'nanta-lilaya devāya tubhyam

Although in Your belly the universe is found,Your mother’s rope of love has Your belly bound.I bow to that rope and Sri Radhika, Your most dear,And all the sublime pastimes in which You appear.

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Namāmîśvaram sac-cid-ānanda-rūpam, Lasat kundalam gokule bhrājamānam, Yośodā bhiyolūkhalād dhāvamānam, Parāmrştam atyam tato drutya gopyā

Hare Krsna Hare KrsnaKrsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare RamaRama Rama Hare Hare

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What to do for this Damodara Month? (4 weeks)

• Please collect Damodarashtakam sheet• Have a picture (or molded statue) of Damodara (Yashoda binding Krishna) on your house altar• Every night, sing Damodarashtakam at night