Yamunāṣṭakam
by Śrī Vallabācārya
translated by Zoë Slatoff
These are eight (plus one) verses to the river goddess Yamunā. I was recently asked to translate them by one of my students, whose 80-something-year old aunt recites this every day, but wanted a translation. I think they are so beautiful, I thought I would share them.
नमामि यमुनामहं सकलसिद्धिहेतुं मुदा
मुरारिपदपंकजस्फ़ुरदमन्दरेणूत्कटाम् ।
तटस्थनवकाननप्रकटमोदपुष्पाम्बुना
सुरासुरसुपूजितः स्मरपितुः श्रियं बिभ्रतीम् ॥१॥
I bow with joy to Yamunā, the cause of all divine powers,
Whose sands are bright and shining like the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.
Scented with the nectar of flowers, whose fragrance is manifest
in the young groves, that are situated on the banks.
Highly honored by gods and demigods,
she is filled with the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, the god of love.
❊
कलिन्दगिरिमस्तके पतदमन्दपूरोज्ज्वला
विलासगमनोल्लसत् प्रकटगण्डशैलोन्नता ।
सघोषगतिदन्तुरा समधिरूढदोलोत्तमा
मुकुन्दरतिवर्धिनी जयति पद्मबन्धोः सुता ॥२॥
She is luminous, with great streams which are descending at the
summit of the mountain Kalinda,
The lofty rocky mountain sides are glittering
with her graceful movements,
Her roaring waters, are rising above with her swinging,
Increasing devotion to Kṛṣṇa,
Yamunā, the daughter of the sun, the lotus-friend, is victorious.
❊
भुवं भुवनपावनीमधिगतामनेकस्वनैः
प्रियाभिरिव सेवितां शुकमयूरहंसादिभिः ।
तरंगभुजकंकणप्रकटमुक्तिका वालुका
नितम्बतटसुन्दरीं नमत कृष्णतुर्यप्रियाम् ॥३॥
She has come to the earth for the purification of the earth,
with many forests,
Served like Kṛṣṇa, by parrots, peacocks, swans, and others.
Her sands are pearly bracelets on her arms, which are waves,
Her beautiful banks are her hips.
May you all bow to Yamunā,
the fourth and most beloved of Kṛṣṇa.
❊
अनन्तगुणभूषिते शिवविरंचिदेवस्तुते
घनाघननिभे सदा ध्रुवपराशराभीष्टदे ।
विशुद्धमथुरातटे सकलगोपगोपीवृते
कृपाजलधिसंश्रिते मम मनः सुखं भावय ॥४॥
O Yamunā, decorated with infinite virtues,
praised by the gods such as Śiva and Brahmā,
Always resembling thick clouds, bestowing the desires of
Dhruva and Parāśara,
Whose banks hold the purified city of Mathurā, surrounded by
the cowherds and cowherdesses,
Supported by Kṛṣṇa, the ocean of compassion.
Bring happiness to my mind.
❊
यया चरणपद्मजा मुररिपोः प्रियं भावुका
समागमनतो भवत्सकलसिद्धिदा सेवताम् ।
तया सदृशतामियात्कमलजा सपत्नीव यत्
हरिप्रियकलिन्दया मनसि मे सदा स्थीयताम् ॥५॥
Gaṅgā, born from the lotus feet, became dear to Kṛṣṇa,
only from merging with Yamunā,
From the coming together with you, she bestows all divine powers to those who honor her.
Who can compare with her?
Like your co-wife, Lakṣmī, the lotus-born one,
Kalindī, beloved of Hari, may you always remain in my mind.
❊
नमोऽस्तु यमुने सदा तव चरित्रमत्यद्भुतं
न जातु यमयातना भवति ते पयः पानतः ।
यमोऽपि भगिनीसुतान् कथमुहन्ति दुष्टानपि
प्रियो भवति सेवनात्तव हरेर्यथा गोपिकाः ॥६॥
May there be homage to Yamunā forever.
Your actions are most wonderful.
Not ever are there the torments of Yama, god of death,
for those who drink your water.
For how could even Yama hurt the children of his sister,
even if they are bad?
From worship of you one is beloved to Hari, just like the gopīs.
❊
ममास्तु तव सन्निधौ तनुनवत्वमेतावता
न दुर्लभतमा रतिर्मुररिपौ मुकुन्दप्रिये ।
अतोऽस्तु तव लालना सुरधुनी परं संगमात्
तवैव भुविकीर्तिता न तु कदापि पुष्टिस्थितैः ॥७॥
May my body be greatly renewed in your presence.
Then it will not be very difficult to attain love for Kṛṣṇa,
O beloved of Kṛṣṇa.
From this, may you be cherished. Gaṅgā, the river of the gods,
Only after joining with you, is praised on earth and not before,
by those who are abiding in grace.
❊
स्तुति तव करोति कः कमलजासपत्नि प्रिये
हरेर्यदनुसेवया भवति सौख्यमामोक्षतः ।
इयं तव कथाधिका सकलगोपिकासंगमः
स्मरश्रमजलाणुभिः सकलगात्रजैः संगमः ॥८॥
Who can praise you O beloved Yamunā,
co-wife of the lotus-born Lakṣmī?
Who, by honouring with Hari, there is happiness,
culminating in liberation.
But your story is much greater than this.
During his union with all the gopīs,
By drops of sweat falling from Kṛṣṇa, and born from all of their limbs,
there is a confluence with your water.
❊
तवाष्टकमिदं मुदा पठति सूरसूते सदा
समस्तदुरितक्षयो भवति वै मुकुन्दे रतिः ।
तया सकलसिद्धयो मुररिपुश्च सन्तुष्यति
स्वभावविजयो भवेत् वदति वल्लभः श्रीहरेः ॥९॥
O Yamunā, daughter of the sun, for those who always
joyfully recite these eight verses to you,
There is the waning of all difficulties and indeed love for Kṛṣṇa.
Through her there are all divine powers and Kṛṣṇa is pleased.
There may be triumph over one’s own nature,
says Vallabha, the beloved of Hari.