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Madhurashtakam – Each verse explained in detail

Madhurashtakam, a beautiful hymn composed by Sri Vallabhacharya, where every verse sings the enchanting glories of Lord Krishna, the embodiment of sweetness (Madhura). Each verse is a poetic offering, describing how every aspect of Krishna — His form, actions, and essence—is drenched in divine sweetness. I will explain one verse at a time, starting with the first, weaving a vivid and devotional picture that celebrates Krishna’s divine charm.

The flow of the post – Sanskrit lyrics, English lyrics and then explanation of each verse.

Sanskrit Lyrics

॥ मधुराष्टकम् ॥
अधरं मधुरं वदनं मधुरंनयनं मधुरं हसितं मधुरम्।
हृदयं मधुरं गमनं मधुरंमधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥1॥

वचनं मधुरं चरितं मधुरंवसनं मधुरं वलितं मधुरम्।
चलितं मधुरं भ्रमितं मधुरंमधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥2॥

वेणुर्मधुरो रेणुर्मधुरःपाणिर्मधुरः पादौ मधुरौ।
नृत्यं मधुरं सख्यं मधुरंमधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥3॥

गीतं मधुरं पीतं मधुरंभुक्तं मधुरं सुप्तं मधुरम्।
रूपं मधुरं तिलकं मधुरंमधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥4॥

करणं मधुरं तरणं मधुरंहरणं मधुरं रमणं मधुरम्।
वमितं मधुरं शमितं मधुरंमधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥5॥

गुञ्जा मधुरा माला मधुरायमुना मधुरा वीची मधुरा।
सलिलं मधुरं कमलं मधुरंमधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥6॥

गोपी मधुरा लीला मधुरायुक्तं मधुरं मुक्तं मधुरम्।
दृष्टं मधुरं शिष्टं मधुरंमधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥7॥

गोपा मधुरा गावो मधुरायष्टिर्मधुरा सृष्टिर्मधुरा।
दलितं मधुरं फलितं मधुरंमधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥8॥

॥ इति श्रीमद्वल्लभाचार्यकृतं मधुराष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

English LyricsAdharam Madhuram, Vadanam Madhram,
Nayanam Madhuram, Hasitham Maduram,
Hrudhayam Madhuram, Gamanam Maduram,
Madhuradhipather Akhilam Madhuram.Vachanam Madhuram, Charitham Madhuram,
Vasanam Madhuram, Valitham Madhuram,
Chalitham Madhuram, Bhramitham Maduram,
Madhurathipather Akhilam Madhuram.Venur Madhura, Renur Madhura,
Panir Madhura, Padhou Madhura,
Nrithyam Madhuram, Sakhyam MadhuraM,
Madurathipather Akhilam Maduram.Geetham Madhuram, Peetham Madhuram,
Bhuktham Madhuram,Suptham Madhuram,
Roopam Madhuram, Thilakam Madhuram
Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram.Karanam Madhram, Tharanam Madhuram,
Haranam Madhuram, Ramanam Madhuram,
Vamitham Madhuram, Samitham Maduram,
Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram.Gunja Madhura, Mala Madhura,
Yamuna Madhura, Veechi Madhura,
Salilam Madhuram, Kamalam Madhuram,
Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram.Gopi Madhura, Leela Madhura,
Yuktham Madhuram, Muktham Madhuram,
Drishtam Madhuram, Sishtam Madhram,
Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram.Gopa Madhura, Gavo Madhura,
Yashtir Madhura, Srushtir Madhra,
Dhalitham Madhram, Phalitham Madhuram,
Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram.Explanation of Each Verse

Verse 1

अधरं मधुरं वदनं मधुरं नयनं मधुरं हसितं मधुरम्।
हृदयं मधुरं गमनं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥

Translation:
Oh Krishna! Your lips are sweet, Your face is sweet, Your eyes are sweet, Your smile is sweet.
Your heart is sweet, Your walk is sweet, everything about You, the King of Sweetness, is sweet.

Explanation:
Oh Krishna, Your lips bloom like lotuses, dripping with divine nectar. Your face glows like the moon, spreading serenity. Your eyes, twinkling with mischief and love, captivate every soul. Your smile is a cascade of joy, dissolving all sorrow. Your heart brims with compassion, embracing devotees. Your walk, a graceful sway, enchants the universe. Everything about You, Bhagwan Krishna, the King of Sweetness, is pure, divine bliss.

Devotional Essence:
This verse invites us to drown in Krishna’s every feature, each radiating sweetness that soothes the heart.

Verse 2

वचनं मधुरं चरितं मधुरं वसनं मधुरं वलितं मधुरम्।
चलितं मधुरं भ्रमितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥

Translation:
Oh Krishna! Your words are sweet, Your deeds are sweet, Your clothes are sweet, Your movements are sweet.
Your roaming is sweet, Your wandering is sweet, everything about You, the King of Sweetness, is sweet.

Explanation:
Oh Krishna, Your words flow like honey, guiding souls with love. Your deeds, from playful antics to divine acts, weave eternal charm. Your clothes, that silken yellow robe, shimmer with grace. Your movements are a dance of joy, captivating all. As You roam and wander Vrindavan’s groves, every step sprinkles sweetness. Everything about You, Bhagwan Krishna, the King of Sweetness, is a melody of divine love.

Devotional Essence:
This verse celebrates Krishna’s every action as a fountain of sweetness, drawing us into His divine play.

Verse 3

वेणुर्मधुरो रेणुर्मधुरः पाणिर्मधुरः पादौ मधुरौ।
नृत्यं मधुरं सख्यं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥

Translation:
Oh Krishna! Your flute is sweet, Your dust is sweet, Your hands are sweet, Your feet are sweet.
Your dance is sweet, Your friendship is sweet, everything about You, the King of Sweetness, is sweet.

Explanation:
Oh Krishna, when You play Your flute, its melody weaves magic, stealing hearts and calming the universe. The dust of Vrindavan, touched by Your feet, becomes sacred, carrying divine sweetness. Your hands, gentle yet powerful, shower blessings and wield the flute with love. Your feet, lotus-like, grace the earth with every step, a treasure for devotees. Your dance, the Raas, is a whirl of joy, enchanting all creation. Your friendship wraps souls in warmth, making every heart Your own. Everything about You, Bhagwan Krishna, the King of Sweetness, is a divine stream of bliss.

Devotional Essence:
This verse invites us to cherish Krishna’s divine play—His music, touch, dance, and friendship—each radiating sweetness that captivates the soul.

Verse 4

गीतं मधुरं पीतं मधुरं भुक्तं मधुरं सुप्तं मधुरम्।
रूपं मधुरं तिलकं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥

Translation:
Oh Krishna! Your songs are sweet, Your drinking is sweet, Your eating is sweet, Your sleeping is sweet.
Your form is sweet, Your tilak is sweet, everything about You, the King of Sweetness, is sweet.

Explanation:
Oh Krishna, Your songs are divine melodies, enchanting hearts with celestial notes. When You drink, sipping butter or milk, it’s a playful act of pure charm. Your eating, relishing offerings with a smile, fills devotees with joy. Even Your sleeping, resting in Vrindavan’s shade, is a vision of serene beauty. Your form, radiant and divine, captivates the universe. The tilak on Your forehead glows with grace, a mark of divinity. Everything about You, Bhagwan Krishna, the King of Sweetness, is an ocean of divine delight.

Devotional Essence:
This verse paints Krishna’s every act—singing, eating, sleeping, and His radiant form—as a sweet offering to the heart.

Verse 5

करणं मधुरं तरणं मधुरं हरणं मधुरं रमणं मधुरम्।
वमितं मधुरं शमितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥

Translation:
Oh Krishna! Your actions are sweet, Your protection is sweet, Your stealing is sweet, Your love is sweet.
Your speech is sweet, Your calming is sweet, everything about You, the King of Sweetness, is sweet.

Explanation:
Oh Krishna, Your actions are divine, each move a dance of grace. Your protection, lifting Govardhan or shielding devotees, is a sweet embrace of safety. Your stealing, sneaking butter with a mischievous grin, delights every heart. Your love, shared with all, is a tender bond of joy. Your speech, soothing or playful, flows like nectar. Your calming, taming demons or restless minds, spreads peace. Everything about You, Bhagwan Krishna, the King of Sweetness, is a divine cascade of love.

Devotional Essence:
This verse celebrates Krishna’s every act—protective, playful, or loving—as a sweet gift to the soul.

Verse 6

गुञ्जा मधुरा माला मधुरा यमुना मधुरा वीची मधुरा।
सलिलं मधुरं कमलं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥

Translation:
Oh Krishna! Your garland is sweet, Your necklace is sweet, the Yamuna is sweet, its waves are sweet.
Its waters are sweet, its lotus is sweet, everything about You, the King of Sweetness, is sweet.

Explanation:
Oh Krishna, the garland of wildflowers around Your neck blooms with divine fragrance, enchanting all. Your necklace, sparkling with love, adorns Your divine form. The Yamuna, flowing through Vrindavan, carries Your sweetness in its current. Its waves dance joyfully, touched by Your play. The waters of the Yamuna, purified by Your presence, are nectar-like. The lotus blooming there reflects Your beauty. Everything about You, Bhagwan Krishna, the King of Sweetness, transforms the world into divine bliss.

Devotional Essence:
This verse weaves Krishna’s presence into nature, making even the Yamuna and its lotuses sweet with His divine touch.

Verse 7

गोपी मधुरा लीला मधुरा युक्तं मधुरं मुक्तं मधुरम्।
दृष्टं मधुरं शिष्टं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥

Translation:
Oh Krishna! Your gopis are sweet, Your play is sweet, Your union is sweet, Your liberation is sweet.
Your glance is sweet, Your virtues are sweet, everything about You, the King of Sweetness, is sweet.

Explanation:
Oh Krishna, the gopis, Your beloved companions, radiate sweetness in their devotion to You. Your play, the divine Raas, is a dance of love that enchants hearts. Your union with devotees, binding them in love, is pure bliss. Your liberation, granting freedom to souls, is a sweet gift of eternity. Your glance, full of compassion and charm, melts every heart. Your virtues, noble and divine, inspire all. Everything about You, Bhagwan Krishna, the King of Sweetness, is a divine song of love.

Devotional Essence:
This verse celebrates Krishna’s divine relationships and qualities, each shimmering with sweetness.

Verse 8

गोपा मधुरा गावो मधुरा यष्टिर्मधुरा सृष्टिर्मधुरा।
दलितं मधुरं फलितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥

Translation:
Oh Krishna! Your cowherds are sweet, Your cows are sweet, Your staff is sweet, Your creation is sweet.
Your triumphs are sweet, Your fruits are sweet, everything about You, the King of Sweetness, is sweet.

Explanation:
Oh Krishna, Your cowherd friends, sharing Your playful adventures, brim with sweet camaraderie. Your cows, gazing at You with love, reflect Your divine charm. Your staff, guiding the herd, is a symbol of Your tender care. Your creation, the beauty of Vrindavan, blooms with Your sweetness. Your triumphs, defeating demons, are victories of love. The fruits of Your actions, blessing devotees, are divine nectar. Everything about You, Bhagwan Krishna, the King of Sweetness, is a radiant stream of bliss.

Devotional Essence:
This verse glorifies Krishna’s world—His friends, cows, and victories—all drenched in divine sweetness.

The Madhurashtakam is complete, a divine hymn where every verse sings Krishna’s sweetness, from His form to His creation. Each word draws us closer to His infinite charm, inviting us to immerse in His love.

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