About this stotra
The Achyutashtakam is an eight-verse hymn attributed to Ādi Śaṅkarācārya that celebrates Lord Vishnu through a cascade of his sacred names. Each verse weaves together divine epithets—Achyuta, Keshava, Narayana, Krishna, Damodara, Madhava—creating a flowing garland of names that encompass the Lord's many forms and incarnations. The hymn moves seamlessly between Vishnu as the cosmic preserver, Krishna as the beloved of the gopis and Radha, and Rama as the lord of Sita.
What distinguishes this stotram is its devotional intensity achieved through nama-smarana, the remembrance of divine names. The verses honor the Lord as Indira-mandiram (the abode of Lakshmi), Devaki-nandanam (son of Devaki), and Kamsa-vidhvamsine (destroyer of Kamsa), painting a complete picture of the divine through name alone. The rhythmic repetition makes it particularly suited for meditative chanting.
The concluding verse promises that one who recites this ashtakam daily with love and devotion will quickly find Lord Hari drawn to them and favorable to their wishes.
Achyutashtakam lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
अच्युतं केशवं रामनारायणं कृष्णदामोदरं वासुदेवं हरिम् ।
श्रीधरं माधवं गोपिकावल्लभं जानकीनायकं रामचन्द्रं भजे ॥ १॥
acyutaṃ keśavaṃ rāmanārāyaṇaṃ kṛṣṇadāmodaraṃ vāsudevaṃ harim .
śrīdharaṃ mādhavaṃ gopikā vallabhaṃ jānakī nāyakaṃ rāmacandraṃ bhaje .. 1..
I sing in praise of Ramachandra, Who is known as Achyuta (infallible), Keshav, Rāma, Narayana, Krishna, Damodara, Vasudeva, Hari, Shridhara (possessing Lakshmi), Madhava, Gopikavallabha (Dearest of Gopika), and Janakinayaka (Lord of Janaki or Sita).
Word by word
- अच्युतं (acyutaṃ)
- Achyuta (infallible)
- केशवं (keśavaṃ)
- Keshav
- रामनारायणं (rāmanārāyaṇaṃ)
- Rama and Narayana (rāma:Rama | nārāyaṇaṃ:Narayana)
- कृष्णदामोदरं (kṛṣṇadāmodaraṃ)
- Krishna and Damodara (kṛṣṇa:Krishna | dāmodaraṃ:Damodara)
- वासुदेवं (vāsudevaṃ)
- Vasudeva
- हरिम् (harim)
- Hari
- श्रीधरं (śrīdharaṃ)
- Shridhara
- माधवं (mādhavaṃ)
- Madhava
- गोपिकावल्लभं (gopikāvallabhaṃ)
- Dearest of Gopika (gopikā:Gopika | vallabhaṃ:Dearest)
- जानकीनायकं (jānakīnāyakaṃ)
- Lord of Janaki (jānakī:Janaki | nāyakaṃ:Lord)
- रामचन्द्रं (rāmacandraṃ)
- Ramachandra
- भजे (bhaje)
- I sing in praise
॥ २ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 2
अच्युतं केशवं सत्यभामाधवं माधवं श्रीधरं राधिकाराधितम् ।
इन्दिरामन्दिरं चेतसा सुन्दरं देवकीनन्दनं नन्दनं सन्दधे ॥ २॥
acyutaṃ keśavaṃ satyabhāmādhavaṃ mādhavaṃ śrīdharaṃ rādhikārādhitam .
indirā mandiraṃ cetasā sundaraṃ devakī nandanaṃ nandanaṃ sandadhe .. 2..
I offer a salute with my hands together to Achyuta, who is known as Keshava, who is the consort of Satyabhama (Krishna), who is known as Madhava and Shridhar, who is longed-for by Radhika, who is like a temple of Lakshmi (Indira), who is beautiful at heart, who is the son of Devaki, and who is the dear-one of all.
Word by word
- अच्युतं (acyutaṃ)
- Achyuta
- केशवं (keśavaṃ)
- Keshava
- सत्यभामाधवं (satyabhāmādhavaṃ)
- consort of Satyabhama (satyabhāmā:Satyabhama | dhavaṃ:consort)
- माधवं (mādhavaṃ)
- Madhava
- श्रीधरं (śrīdharaṃ)
- Shridhar
- राधिकाराधितम् (rādhikārādhitam)
- longed-for by Radhika (rādhikā:Radhika | ārādhitam:longed-for)
- इन्दिरामन्दिरं (indirāmandiraṃ)
- temple of Lakshmi (indirā:Lakshmi | mandiraṃ:temple)
- चेतसा (cetasā)
- at heart
- सुन्दरं (sundaraṃ)
- beautiful
- देवकीनन्दनं (devakīnandanaṃ)
- son of Devaki (devakī:Devaki | nandanaṃ:son)
- नन्दनं (nandanaṃ)
- dear-one
- सन्दधे (sandadhe)
- I offer a salute
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
विष्णवे जिष्णवे शङ्खिने चक्रिणे रुक्मिणिऱागिणे जानकीजानये ।
वल्लवीवल्लभायाऽर्चितायात्मने कंसविध्वंसिने वंशिने ते नमः ॥ ३॥
viṣṇave jiṣṇave śaṅkhine cakriṇe rukmiṇi ṟāgiṇe jānakījānaye .
vallavī vallabhāyā'rcitāyātmane kaṃsa vidhvaṃsine vaṃśine te namaḥ .. 3..
Salutations for Vishnu, who conquers everyone, Who holds a conch-shell and a discus, who is the affectionate of Rukmini (Krishna), who is the consort of only Janaki (Rāma), who is the dear-one of cowherdesses, who is offered [in sacrifices], who is the Atman, who is the destroyer of Kamsa, and who plays the flute (Krishna).
Word by word
- विष्णवे (viṣṇave)
- to Vishnu
- जिष्णवे (jiṣṇave)
- to the conqueror
- शङ्खिने (śaṅkhine)
- to the one with conch
- चक्रिणे (cakriṇe)
- to the one with discus
- रुक्मिणिऱागिणे (rukmiṇi-rāgiṇe)
- affectionate to Rukmini (rukmiṇi:Rukmini | rāgiṇe:affectionate to)
- जानकीजानये (jānakī-jānaye)
- consort of Janaki (jānakī:Janaki | jānaye:consort of)
- वल्लवीवल्लभायाऽर्चितायात्मने (vallavī-vallabhāyā-arcitāyātmane)
- dear to cowherdesses, offered to Atman (vallavī:cowherdesses | vallabhāya:dear to | arcitāya:offered to | ātmane:to Atman)
- कंसविध्वंसिने (kaṃsa-vidhvaṃsine)
- destroyer of Kamsa (kaṃsa:Kamsa | vidhvaṃsine:destroyer of)
- वंशिने (vaṃśine)
- to the flute player
- ते (te)
- to you
- नमः (namaḥ)
- salutations
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
कृष्ण गोविन्द हे राम नारायण श्रीपते वासुदेवाजित श्रीनिधे ।
अच्युतानन्त हे माधवाधोक्षज द्वारकानायक द्रौपदीरक्षक ॥ ४॥
kṛṣṇa govinda he rāma nārāyaṇa śrīpate vāsudevājita śrīnidhe .
acyutānanta he mādhavādhokṣaja dvārakānāyaka draupadī rakṣaka .. 4..
O Krishna! O Govinda! O Rāma! O Narayana! O Shripati! O Vasudeva, who attained the Lakshmi! O Achyuta, who is immeasurable! O Madhava! O Adhokshaja! O Leader of Dvarika! O the protector of Draupadi!
Word by word
- कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa)
- Krishna
- गोविन्द (govinda)
- Govinda
- हे (he)
- O
- राम (rāma)
- Rama
- नारायण (nārāyaṇa)
- Narayana
- श्रीपते (śrīpate)
- O Lord of Lakshmi (śrī:Lakshmi | pate:Lord of)
- वासुदेवाजित (vāsudevājita)
- O Vasudeva, who attained (vāsudeva:Vasudeva | ajita:who attained)
- श्रीनिधे (śrīnidhe)
- O treasure of Lakshmi (śrī:Lakshmi | nidhe:treasure of)
- अच्युतानन्त (acyutānanta)
- O Achyuta, who is immeasurable (acyuta:Achyuta | ananta:immeasurable)
- हे (he)
- O
- माधव (mādhava)
- Madhava
- अधोक्षज (adhokṣaja)
- Adhokshaja
- द्वारकानायक (dvārakānāyaka)
- Leader of Dvarika (dvārakā:Dvarika | nāyaka:Leader)
- द्रौपदीरक्षक (draupadīrakṣaka)
- Protector of Draupadi (draupadī:Draupadi | rakṣaka:Protector)
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
राक्षसक्षोभितः सीतया शोभितो दण्डकारण्यभूपुण्यताकारणः ।
लक्ष्मणेनान्वितो वानरैः सेवितोऽगस्त्यसम्पूजितो राघवः पातु माम् ॥ ५॥
rākṣasakṣobhitaḥ sītayā śobhito daṇḍakāraṇya bhū puṇyatā kāraṇaḥ .
lakṣmaṇenānvito vānaraiḥ sevito'gastya sampūjito rāghavaḥ pātu mām .. 5..
Raghava, who upsetted the demons, who adorned Sita, who is the cause of purification of the forest called Dandaka, who was accompanied by Lakshman, who was served by monkeys, and who was revered by Agastya, save me.
Word by word
- राक्षसक्षोभितः (rākṣasakṣobhitaḥ)
- upsetted the demons (rākṣasa:demons | kṣobhitaḥ:upsetted)
- सीतया (sītayā)
- with Sita
- शोभितः (śobhitaḥ)
- adorned
- दण्डकारण्यभूपुण्यताकारणः (daṇḍakāraṇyabhūpuṇyatākāraṇaḥ)
- cause of forest purification (daṇḍakāraṇya:Dandaka forest | bhū:earth | puṇyatā:purification | kāraṇaḥ:cause)
- लक्ष्मणेन (lakṣmaṇena)
- with Lakshman
- अन्वितः (anvitaḥ)
- accompanied
- वानरैः (vānaraiḥ)
- by monkeys
- सेवितः (sevito)
- served
- अगस्त्यसम्पूजितः (agastyasampūjitaḥ)
- revered by Agastya (agastya:Agastya | sampūjitaḥ:revered)
- राघवः (rāghavaḥ)
- Raghava
- पातु (pātu)
- save
- माम् (mām)
- me
॥ ६ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 6
धेनुकारिष्टकोऽनिष्टकृद्द्वेषिणां केशिहा कंसहृद्वण्शिकावादकः ।
पूतनाकोपकः सूरजाखेलनो बालगोपालकः पातु माम् सर्वदा ॥ ६॥
dhenukāriṣṭako'niṣṭa kṛddveṣiṇāṃ keśihā kaṃsa hṛdvaṇśikāvādakaḥ .
pūtanākopakaḥ sūrajākhelano bālagopālakaḥ pātu mām sarvadā .. 6..
Baby Gopala (Krishna), who destroyed the disguised Dhenuka and Arishtak demons, who slayed Keshi, who killed Kansa, who plays the flute, and who got angry on Putana, save me always.
Word by word
- धेनुकारिष्टकः (dhenukāriṣṭakaḥ)
- destroyer of Dhenuka and Arishta (dhenuka:Dhenuka | ariṣṭaka:Arishta)
- अनिष्टकृत् (aniṣṭakṛt)
- destroyer of enemies (aniṣṭa:enemies | kṛt:destroyer)
- द्वेषिणाम् (dveṣiṇām)
- of the haters
- केशिहा (keśihā)
- slayer of Keshi (keśi:Keshi | hā:slayer)
- कंसहृत् (kaṃsahṛt)
- killer of Kansa (kaṃsa:Kansa | hṛt:killer)
- वण्शिकावादकः (vaṇśikāvādakaḥ)
- flute player (vaṇśikā:flute | vādakaḥ:player)
- पूतनाकोपकः (pūtanākopakaḥ)
- angry at Putana (pūtanā:Putana | kopakaḥ:angry)
- सूरजाखेलनः (sūrajākhelanaḥ)
- playing with Suraja (sūrajā:Suraja | khelanaḥ:playing)
- बालगोपालकः (bālagopālakaḥ)
- Baby Gopala (bāla:baby | gopālakaḥ:Gopala)
- पातु (pātu)
- protect
- माम् (mām)
- me
- सर्वदा (sarvadā)
- always
॥ ७ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 7
विद्युदुद्योतवत्प्रस्फुरद्वाससं प्रावृडम्भोदवत्प्रोल्लसद्विग्रहम् ।
वन्यया मालया शोभितोरःस्थलं लोहिताङ्घ्रिद्वयं वारिजाक्षं भजे ॥ ७॥
vidyududyotavatprasphuradvāsasaṃ prāvṛḍambhodavatprollasadvigraham .
vanyayā mālayā śobhitoraḥsthalaṃ lohitāṅghridvayaṃ vārijākṣaṃ bhaje .. 7..
I sing praise of the lotus-eyed lord, who is adorned by a shiny lightening like yellow robe, whose body is resplending like a cloud of the rainy-season, who is adorned by a forest-garland at his chest, and who has two feet of copper-red color.
Word by word
- विद्युदुद्योतवत् (vidyududyotavat)
- like a lightning flash (vidyut:lightning | udyotavat:like a flash)
- प्रस्फुरद्वाससं (prasphuradvāsasaṃ)
- wearing a shining garment (prasphurat:shining | vāsasaṃ:garment)
- प्रावृडम्भोदवत् (prāvṛḍambhodavat)
- like a rainy cloud (prāvṛṭ:rainy season | ambhodavat:like a cloud)
- प्रोल्लसद्विग्रहम् (prollasadvigraham)
- with a resplendent form (prollasad:resplendent | vigraham:form)
- वन्यया (vanyayā)
- with a forest
- मालया (mālayā)
- with a garland
- शोभित (śobhita)
- adorned
- उरःस्थलम् (uraḥsthalam)
- chest
- लोहिताङ्घ्रिद्वयम् (lohitāṅghridvayam)
- two copper-red feet (lohita:copper-red | aṅghri:feet | dvayam:two)
- वारिजाक्षम् (vārijākṣam)
- lotus-eyed (vārija:lotus | akṣam:eye)
- भजे (bhaje)
- I sing praise
॥ ८ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 8
कुञ्चितैः कुन्तलैर्भ्राजमानाननं रत्नमौलिं लसत्कुण्डलं गण्डयोः ।
हारकेयूरकं कङ्कणप्रोज्ज्वलं किङ्किणीमञ्जुलं श्यामलं तं भजे ॥ ८॥
kuñcitaiḥ kuntalairbhrājamānānanaṃ ratnamauliṃ lasatkuṇḍalaṃ gaṇḍayoḥ .
hārakeyūrakaṃ kaṅkaṇaprojjvalaṃ kiṅkiṇīmañjulaṃ śyāmalaṃ taṃ bhaje .. 8..
I sing praise of that Shyam, whose face is adorned by falling locks of curly tresses, who has jewels are forehead, who has shiny earrings on the cheeks, who is adorned with a garland of the Keyur flower, who has a shiny bracelet, and who has a melodious anklet.
Word by word
- कुञ्चितैः (kuñcitaiḥ)
- curly
- कुन्तलैः (kuntalaiḥ)
- with locks of hair
- भ्राजमानाननं (bhrājamānānanaṃ)
- shining face (bhrājamāna:shining | ānanaṃ:face)
- रत्नमौलिं (ratnamauliṃ)
- jeweled crown (ratna:jewel | mauliṃ:crown)
- लसत्कुण्डलं (lasatkuṇḍalaṃ)
- shining earrings (lasat:shining | kuṇḍalaṃ:earrings)
- गण्डयोः (gaṇḍayoḥ)
- on the cheeks
- हारकेयूरकं (hārakeyūrakaṃ)
- garland and armlet (hāra:garland | keyūrakaṃ:armlet)
- कङ्कणप्रोज्ज्वलं (kaṅkaṇaprojjvalaṃ)
- shining bracelet (kaṅkaṇa:bracelet | projjvalaṃ:shining)
- किङ्किणीमञ्जुलं (kiṅkiṇīmañjulaṃ)
- melodious anklet (kiṅkiṇī:anklet | mañjulaṃ:melodious)
- श्यामलं (śyāmalaṃ)
- dark-complexioned
- तं (taṃ)
- that
- भजे (bhaje)
- I praise
॥ ९ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 9
अच्युतस्याष्टकं यः पठेदिष्टदं प्रेमतः प्रत्यहं पूरुषः सस्पृहम् ।
वृत्ततः सुन्दरं कर्तृ विश्वम्भरस्तस्य वश्यो हरिर्जायते सत्वरम् ॥ ९॥
acyutasyāṣṭakaṃ yaḥ paṭhediṣṭadaṃ premataḥ pratyahaṃ pūruṣaḥ saspṛham .
vṛttataḥ sundaraṃ kartṛ viśvambharastasya vaśyo harirjāyate satvaram .. 9..
He who reads this octet, which is dear to god Achyutha, which is written with love and devotion, which is beautiful because of its poetic skill, with love and devotion, would reach the lord fast and without fail.
Word by word
- अच्युतस्याष्टकम् (acyutasyāṣṭakam)
- octet of Achyuta (acyuta:Achyuta | aṣṭakam:octet)
- यः (yaḥ)
- who
- पठेत् (paṭhet)
- reads
- इष्टदम् (iṣṭadam)
- giver of desires (iṣṭa:desires | dam:giver)
- प्रेमतः (premataḥ)
- with love
- प्रत्यहम् (pratyaham)
- every day
- पूरुषः (pūruṣaḥ)
- person
- सस्पृहम् (saspṛham)
- with longing
- वृत्ततः (vṛttataḥ)
- in poetic form
- सुन्दरम् (sundaram)
- beautiful
- कर्तृ (kartṛ)
- creator
- विश्वम्भरः (viśvambharaḥ)
- sustainer of the world
- तस्य (tasya)
- his
- वश्यः (vaśyaḥ)
- under control
- हरिः (hariḥ)
- Hari
- जायते (jāyate)
- becomes
- सत्वरम् (satvaram)
- quickly
॥ १० ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 10
इति श्रीशङ्कराचार्यविरचितमच्युताष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
iti śrī śaṅkarācārya viracitamacyutāṣṭakaṃ sampūrṇam ..
iti shrii shankara aachaarya virachitam achyuta ashtakam sampuurnam ..
Word by word
- इति (iti)
- thus
- श्रीशङ्कराचार्यविरचितमच्युताष्टकं (śrīśaṅkarācāryaviracitamacyutāṣṭakaṁ)
- Acyutāṣṭakam by Śrī Śaṅkarācārya (श्री:auspicious | शङ्कराचार्य:Śaṅkarācārya | विरचितम्:composed | अच्युताष्टकं:Acyutāṣṭakam)
- सम्पूर्णम् (sampūrṇam)
- complete
ॐ
