Yamunashtak

 

 

Due to it's length and complexity, Vaishnavs have requested translation of each half verse of the Yamunastak. 

To make it easy to understand the meaning of all the names in the hymn, I have listed them at the end.

 

Namami Yamuna maham, sakal siddhi haytum muda,
Murari padapankaja sfuradamand, renutkatam,

I bow down to the great Yamunaji, who is capable of granting amazing boons!
Your banks are full of soft sand, touched by the lotus feet of Murari.

 

Tatastha nav kanana, prakata mauda pushpambuna,
SuraAsursu pujita, Smara pitu shriyam-bebhrateem.  1

 

Flowers from forests and groves on its banks fall in Shri Yamunaji’s waters and make them fragrant.  Even gods and demons worship you.  You are as wonderful as Shri Krushna, father of the God-of-Love.  1

 

Kalind girimastake, pata damanda purojjwala,
Vilas gamanollasat, prakatgand shailonnata,

Headwaters of Shri Yamunaji seem to enjoy their journey across the mount Kalind as they rush, swirl and cascade from its summit (in the Himalayas).  


Sagoshagantidantura, samadhirudha dolottama,
Mukund rati vardhinee, jayati Padma-bandho suta.  2

Noisome and fast, waters of the young river seem to ‘swing’ between the boulders of the mountain.  Oh daughter of the Sun, (Shri Yamnunaji), bless us with ever increasing love for Lord Mukund.   2

 

Bhuvam Bhuvana Pawaneem, Adhigatamane Kashwanaihi,
Priyabhiriva Sevateam, Shuka Mayur Hansadibhihi, 

Serenaded by parrots, peacocks and swans, Shri Yamunaji sanctifies all the regions she passes through.

 

Tarang Bhuj Kankana, Prakat muktikavaluka,
Nitambtat Sundareem, Namat Krushna Turya Priyam.

 

I bow to the fourth wife of Shri Krushna whose beautiful waves sparkle like bangle studded with pearls.  The curvaceous banks of the river look like Shri Yamunaji’s hips.    3

 

Anant gunabhushete, Shiv Viranchi devastute,
Ghanaghan nibhe sada, Dhruva Parasharaa bhishtade,

Endowed with countless virtues, Shri Yamunaji is praised by Shiva, Brahma and other divine beings.  Shri Yamunaji’s hue is as dark as clouds laden with rain and her blessings are sought by sages such as Druva and Parashara. 


Vishuddha Mathura tate, sakala gopagopi vrute,
Krupa jaladhi sanshrite, mama manha sukham bhavayah.  4

 

Your banks are studded with sacred pilgrimage sites, such as Mathura, and are populated by gopas and gopies.  As you are the beloved of the ever gracious Shri Krushna, please bless me with joy and peace.    4     

 

Yaya charan Padmajaa, Muraripo priyam bhavuka,
Samaagamanto bhavet, sakala siddhida sevatam,

Only by merging with you has the sacred river Gangaji become the beloved of Murari and is able to grant the wishes of her devotees.

 

Taya ssadrushtamiyat, Kamalajas-patnee vayat,
Hari priya Kalindaya, mansi me sada stheyatam.  5

 

By virtue of her marriage with Shri Krushna, only Shri Lakshmiji is as fortunate as you.  Oh Kalindi, beloved of Shri Hari, please reside in my heart and mind forever.   5

 

Namostu Yamune sada, tav charitra madyadbhutam,

Yamunaji, due to your wonderful character, I will always bow down to you.  Yama, the god of death, does not harass those who have drunk your waters.

 

Yamopi bhaginee sutan, kathamuhanti dushtanpi,
Priyobhavati sevanaat, tav Hareryatha gopika.  6

 

By virtue of drinking your water, we have become your children and as you are the younger sister of Yama, we are now his nephews and nieces !  As we all know, out of love for their sister, no brother ever hurts his nephews and nieces, no matter how wicked they may be !  To win the love of Shri Hari, we also worship you like the gopies of yore.   6

 

Mamastu tav sannidhau, tanu navatva metavata,
Na durlabhatama rati, Muraripau Mukundapriye,

Shri Yamunaji, beloved of Shri Mukunda, only through close association with you will I get a divine body worthy of seva and love of Shri Krushna. 

Atostu tav lalna, Suradhune param sangamaat,
Tavaiv bhuvi kirtita, na tu kadapi pushti sthitai.  7

We sing your praises, because only by merging with you, and through your grace, has Shri Gangaji become praise worthy in the world.    7

Stutim tava karoti kha, Kmalajasepatni priyae,
Hareryadanusevaya, bhavati sokhyamamokshatah, /strong>

Who is capable of praising you of Shri Yamunaji, beloved co-wife of Shri Lakshmiji!  Doing the seva of Shri Hari is more desirable than Moksha (liberation from cycle of birth and death). 

 



Your sacredness is enhanced by the fact that after the Rasalila, Shri Krushna and the gopies bathed in your waters to cool themselves down.  The sweat of their divine lila mingled with your waters, enhancing your holy powers for all time to come.   8

 

Tav-ashtakam-midam muda, pathati Surasute sada,
Samasta duritakshayo, bhavati vai Mukunde rati,

Those who happily sing this hymn of eight stanzas of the daughter of the Sun God (Shri Yamunaji) will be blessed with love for Shri Mukund and have all their sins removed.


Taya sakala siddhayo, Muraripushya santushyati,
Svabhava vijayo bhavet, vadati Vallabha ShriHareh.  9

 

They will also be blessed with success in all matters (spiritual and material) and Shri Murari will fulfil all their wishes.  Shri Vallabh, says the devotees of Shri Hari also conquer one’s own true nature.   9

 

 

 

Meaning of names

CharanPadmaja – Shri Ganga, She who sprang from the lotus feet of Shri Hari

Hari – God Vishnu from the Hindu Trinity

Kalind – Mountain in the Himalayas.  Yamunotri glacier is above this mountain.

Kalindaya –She is born of Kalind (the mountain)

Kamalja –Shri Lakshmiji who is born of the Lotus

Krushna – He who attracts

Mukund – One who is capable of granting moksha

Murari – Shri Krushna as the enemy of the demon Mura.

Padmabandho – Friend of the lotuses (Sun)

Shiva – God Shiva from the Hindu trinity

Shri – unisex honorific title, Goddess Lakshmi

Viranchi – God Brahma from the Hindu trinity    

Yama – God of death, brother of Shri Yamunaji, son of the Sun god

Yamuna – Goddess who introduced Shri Vallabh to Shri Krushna, younger sister of Yama, daughter of the Sun god, beloved of Shri Krushna, the sacred river that flows past Delhi & Mathura and merges with Ganges at Prayag to form the Ganga Yamuna daub in North India

 

BBBhagwat Shah © 

 

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