Mukunda Mala Stotram
मुकुन्दमाला स्तोत्रम्
What is the Mukunda Mala Stotram?
Mukunda Mala Stotram The Mukunda Mala Stotram is a forty-verse Sanskrit hymn to Krishna composed by the Chera king turned poet-saint Kulasekhara, one of the twelve Alwars of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. It reads like a private prayer repeated in a dozen different ways: never let me forget Krishna's feet, in this life or any life after.
Sometime around the eighth or ninth century, a king who ruled part of Kerala did something unusual. He set aside the business of running a kingdom and picked up a reed pen to write down exactly what he wanted from his one life. That king was Kulasekhara, remembered today as one of the twelve Alwars of the Sri Vaishnava tradition, and what came out of that pen is the Mukunda Mala Stotram, forty compact Sanskrit verses spoken directly to Krishna under the name Mukunda, the one who grants release.There is no elaborate ritual instruction here and no long philosophical argument. It reads more like a private conversation, almost a bargain a devotee makes with his own mind: stop chasing palaces and pleasures, just keep one memory alive, the memory of Krishna’s feet, all the way through to the last breath. That single request, asked in a dozen different ways across forty verses, is why this stotram has stayed close to Vaishnava households for over a thousand years.
Mukunda Mala Stotram Lyrics (Sanskrit & English)
This is the widely printed forty-verse recension of the Mukunda Mala Stotram, opening with 'Sri vallabheti varadeti daya-pareti' and closing with Kulasekhara's own signature verse. A separate fifty-four verse recension also circulates in some regional editions with extra and reordered verses; this page follows the standard forty-verse text, cross-checked against two independently maintained editions (Stotra Nidhi and Vaidika Vignanam), which matched verse for verse. An older invocatory verse in praise of King Kulasekhara himself ('ghushyate yasya nagare…') is often printed before verse 1 in devotional collections; it praises the king rather than Krishna directly, so it is left out of the numbered verses here.
śrīvallabhēti varadēti dayāparēti bhaktapriyēti bhavaluṇṭhanakōvidēti
nāthēti nāgaśayanēti jagannivāsētyālāpanaṁ pratipadaṁ kuru mē mukunda
श्रीवल्लभेति वरदेति दयापरेति भक्तप्रियेति भवलुण्ठनकोविदेति
नाथेति नागशयनेति जगन्निवासेत्यालापनं प्रतिपदं कुरु मे मुकुन्द
Meaning
Kulasekhara asks Krishna to keep these names on his tongue every single day: beloved of Sri, granter of boons, full of compassion, fond of devotees, one who can strip away worldly attachment, protector, the one who reclines on the serpent bed, refuge of the whole world.
jayatu jayatu dēvō dēvakīnandanō’yaṁ jayatu jayatu kṛṣṇō vṛṣṇivaṁśapradīpaḥ
jayatu jayatu mēghaśyāmalaḥ kōmalāṅgō jayatu jayatu pṛthvībhāranāśō mukundaḥ
जयतु जयतु देवो देवकीनन्दनोऽयं जयतु जयतु कृष्णो वृष्णिवंशप्रदीपः
जयतु जयतु मेघश्यामलः कोमलाङ्गो जयतु जयतु पृथ्वीभारनाशो मुकुन्दः
Meaning
A shout of victory: hail Krishna, son of Devaki, lamp of the Vrishni clan, dark as a monsoon cloud with a gentle body, the one who lifted the burden off the earth.
mukunda mūrdhnā praṇipatya yācē bhavantamēkāntamiyantamartham
avismṛtistvaccaraṇāravindē bhavē bhavē mē’stu bhavatprasādāt
मुकुन्द मूर्ध्ना प्रणिपत्य याचे भवन्तमेकान्तमियन्तमर्थम्
अविस्मृतिस्त्वच्चरणारविन्दे भवे भवे मेऽस्तु भवत्प्रसादात्
Meaning
Bowing his head to the ground, Kulasekhara asks for exactly one thing: never to forget Krishna's lotus feet, in this life and every life that follows, purely as a gift of grace.
nāhaṁ vandē tava caraṇayōrdvandvamadvandvahētōḥ kumbhīpākaṁ gurumapi harē nārakaṁ nāpanētum
ramyārāmāmṛdutanulatā nandanē nāpi rantuṁ bhāvē bhāvē hṛdayabhavanē bhāvayēyaṁ bhavantam
नाहं वन्दे तव चरणयोर्द्वन्द्वमद्वन्द्वहेतोः कुम्भीपाकं गुरुमपि हरे नारकं नापनेतुम्
रम्यारामामृदुतनुलता नन्दने नापि रन्तुं भावे भावे हृदयभवने भावयेयं भवन्तम्
Meaning
He is not chasing Krishna's feet out of fear of a hell like Kumbhipaka, nor for the soft comforts of heaven's gardens. He only wants Krishna held in the room of his own heart, birth after birth.
nāsthā dharmē na vasunicayē naiva kāmōpabhōgē yadyadbhavyaṁ bhavatu bhagavan pūrvakarmānurūpam
ētatprārthyaṁ mama bahumataṁ janmajanmāntarē’pi tvatpādāmbhōruhayugagatā niścalā bhaktirastu
नास्था धर्मे न वसुनिचये नैव कामोपभोगे यद्यद्भव्यं भवतु भगवन् पूर्वकर्मानुरूपम्
एतत्प्रार्थ्यं मम बहुमतं जन्मजन्मान्तरेऽपि त्वत्पादाम्भोरुहयुगगता निश्चला भक्तिरस्तु
Meaning
He has no interest left in duty, wealth, or pleasure; whatever his old karma brings, let it come. The one prayer he keeps, life after life, is steady devotion at those two lotus feet.
divi vā bhuvi vā mamāstu vāsō narakē vā narakāntaka prakāmam
avadhīrita śāradāravindau caraṇau tē maraṇē’pi cintayāmi
दिवि वा भुवि वा ममास्तु वासो नरके वा नरकान्तक प्रकामम्
अवधीरित शारदारविन्दौ चरणौ ते मरणेऽपि चिन्तयामि
Meaning
Let him be born in heaven, on earth, or even in hell, he does not mind. Even as he is dying he will still be thinking of those feet, more lovely than any autumn lotus.
kṛṣṇa tvadīya padapaṅkajapañjarāntamadyaiva mē viśatu mānasarājahaṁsaḥ
prāṇaprayāṇasamayē kaphavātapittaiḥ kaṇṭhāvarōdhanavidhau smaraṇaṁ kutastē
कृष्ण त्वदीय पदपङ्कजपञ्जरान्तमद्यैव मे विशतु मानसराजहंसः
प्राणप्रयाणसमये कफवातपित्तैः कण्ठावरोधनविधौ स्मरणं कुतस्ते
Meaning
The most quoted verse in the whole hymn: let this swan of a mind fly into the cage of Krishna's lotus feet right now, today, because who can remember anything once the breath is caught in a choking throat at the last moment of life.
cintayāmi harimēva santataṁ mandamanda hasitānanāmbujaṁ
nandagōpatanayaṁ parātparaṁ nāradādimunibṛndavanditam
चिन्तयामि हरिमेव सन्ततं मन्दमन्द हसिताननाम्बुजं
नन्दगोपतनयं परात्परं नारदादिमुनिबृन्दवन्दितम्
Meaning
He keeps his thoughts fixed on Hari, on that gently smiling lotus face, the cowherd boy of Nanda who is somehow greater than the greatest, honored by sages like Narada.
karacaraṇasarōjē kāntimannētramīnē śramamuṣi bhujavīcivyākulē’gādhamārgē
harisarasi vigāhyāpīya tējōjalaughaṁ bhavamaruparikhinnaḥ khēdamadya tyajāmi
करचरणसरोजे कान्तिमन्नेत्रमीने श्रममुषि भुजवीचिव्याकुलेऽगाधमार्गे
हरिसरसि विगाह्यापीय तेजोजलौघं भवमरुपरिखिन्नः खेदमद्य त्यजामि
Meaning
Bathing in the lake that is Hari, hands and feet like lotuses, restless eyes like fish, tiring arm-waves, bottomless depths, he drinks in that flood of light and finally sets down the exhaustion of wandering through the desert of worldly life.
sarasijanayanē saśaṅkhacakrē murabhidi mā virama svacitta rantum
sukhataramaparaṁ na jātu jānē haricaraṇasmaraṇāmṛtēna tulyam
सरसिजनयने सशङ्खचक्रे मुरभिदि मा विरम स्वचित्त रन्तुम्
सुखतरमपरं न जातु जाने हरिचरणस्मरणामृतेन तुल्यम्
Meaning
To the lotus-eyed one holding conch and discus, killer of the demon Mura, he says, don't stop pulling at my mind, because nothing is sweeter than the taste of remembering your feet.
mā bhīrmandamanō vicintya bahudhā yāmīściraṁ yātanāḥ nāmī naḥ prabhavanti pāparipavaḥ svāmī nanu śrīdharaḥ
ālasyaṁ vyapanīya bhaktisulabhaṁ dhyāyasva nārāyaṇaṁ lōkasya vyasanāpanōdanakarō dāsasya kiṁ na kṣamaḥ
मा भीर्मन्दमनो विचिन्त्य बहुधा यामीश्चिरं यातनाः नामी नः प्रभवन्ति पापरिपवः स्वामी ननु श्रीधरः
आलस्यं व्यपनीय भक्तिसुलभं ध्यायस्व नारायणं लोकस्य व्यसनापनोदनकरो दासस्य किं न क्षमः
Meaning
Don't be afraid, timid mind, imagining long punishments ahead. Those sin-demons have no real power over us, our master is Shridhara himself. Drop the laziness, meditate on Narayana, it is easy through devotion. He removes the world's suffering, so how could he refuse his own servant.
bhavajaladhigatānāṁ dvandvavātāhatānāṁ sutaduhitṛkalatratrāṇabhārārditānām
viṣamaviṣayatōyē majjatāmaplavānāṁ bhavatu śaraṇamēkō viṣṇupōtō narāṇām
भवजलधिगतानां द्वन्द्ववाताहतानां सुतदुहितृकलत्रत्राणभारार्दितानाम्
विषमविषयतोये मज्जतामप्लवानां भवतु शरणमेको विष्णुपोतो नराणाम्
Meaning
For everyone tossed on the ocean of worldly life, battered by opposite winds of pleasure and pain, worn down carrying the weight of protecting spouse and children, sinking in poisoned water with no boat in sight, let Vishnu alone be that one boat of refuge.
bhavajaladhimagādhaṁ dustaraṁ nistarēyaṁ kathamahamiti cētō mā sma gāḥ kātaratvam
sarasijadṛśi dēvē tāvakī bhaktirēkā narakabhidi niṣaṇṇā tārayiṣyatyavaśyam
भवजलधिमगाधं दुस्तरं निस्तरेयं कथमहमिति चेतो मा स्म गाः कातरत्वम्
सरसिजदृशि देवे तावकी भक्तिरेका नरकभिदि निषण्णा तारयिष्यत्यवश्यम्
Meaning
How will someone as weak as me cross this bottomless, impossible ocean of existence? Do not let the heart lose courage. One thread of devotion to the lotus-eyed god who sits at the gate of hell will carry it across for certain.
tṛṣṇātōyē madanapavanōddhūta mōhōrmimālē dārāvartē tanayasahajagrāhasaṅghākulē ca
saṁsārākhyē mahati jaladhau majjatāṁ nastridhāman pādāmbhōjē varada bhavatō bhaktināvaṁ prayaccha
तृष्णातोये मदनपवनोद्धूत मोहोर्मिमाले दारावर्ते तनयसहजग्राहसङ्घाकुले च
संसाराख्ये महति जलधौ मज्जतां नस्त्रिधामन् पादाम्भोजे वरद भवतो भक्तिनावं प्रयच्छ
Meaning
In this thirsty water churned by desire's wind into waves of confusion, circled by whirlpools of family life and crocodiles of attachment, in this vast ocean called samsara, grant, giver of boons, the boat of devotion at your lotus feet.
mādrākṣaṁ kṣīṇapuṇyān kṣaṇamapi bhavatō bhaktihīnānpadābjē māśrauṣaṁ śrāvyabandhaṁ tava caritamapāsyānyadākhyānajātam
māsmārṣaṁ mādhava tvāmapi bhuvanapatē cētasāpahnuvānānmābhūvaṁ tvatsaparyāvyatikararahitō janmajanmāntarē’pi
माद्राक्षं क्षीणपुण्यान् क्षणमपि भवतो भक्तिहीनान्पदाब्जे माश्रौषं श्राव्यबन्धं तव चरितमपास्यान्यदाख्यानजातम्
मास्मार्षं माधव त्वामपि भुवनपते चेतसापह्नुवानान्माभूवं त्वत्सपर्याव्यतिकररहितो जन्मजन्मान्तरेऽपि
Meaning
May his eyes never rest, even for a moment, on anyone without devotion to those feet, though his own merit runs thin. May his ears never hear any story but Krishna's own. May his mind never once forget Madhava, lord of every world. May he never be born again without the touch of serving those feet.
jihvē kīrtaya kēśavaṁ muraripuṁ cētō bhaja śrīdharaṁ pāṇidvandva samarcayācyutakathāḥ śrōtradvaya tvaṁ śṛṇu
kṛṣṇaṁ lōkaya lōcanadvaya harērgacchāṅghriyugmālayaṁ jighra ghrāṇa mukundapādatulasīṁ mūrdhannamādhōkṣajam
जिह्वे कीर्तय केशवं मुररिपुं चेतो भज श्रीधरं पाणिद्वन्द्व समर्चयाच्युतकथाः श्रोत्रद्वय त्वं शृणु
कृष्णं लोकय लोचनद्वय हरेर्गच्छाङ्घ्रियुग्मालयं जिघ्र घ्राण मुकुन्दपादतुलसीं मूर्धन्नमाधोक्षजम्
Meaning
Tongue, keep chanting Keshava. Mind, worship Shridhara. Hands, honor Achyuta's deeds. Ears, listen to his stories. Eyes, look at Krishna. Feet, walk toward Hari's home. Nose, smell the tulasi at Mukunda's feet. Head, bow to Adhokshaja.
hē lōkāḥ śṛṇuta prasūtimaraṇavyādhēścikitsāmimāṁ yōgajñāḥ samudāharanti munayō yāṁ yājñavalkyādayaḥ
antarjyōtiramēyamēkamamṛtaṁ kṛṣṇākhyamāpīyatāṁ tatpītaṁ paramauṣadhaṁ vitanutē nirvāṇamātyantikam
हे लोकाः शृणुत प्रसूतिमरणव्याधेश्चिकित्सामिमां योगज्ञाः समुदाहरन्ति मुनयो यां याज्ञवल्क्यादयः
अन्तर्ज्योतिरमेयमेकममृतं कृष्णाख्यमापीयतां तत्पीतं परमौषधं वितनुते निर्वाणमात्यन्तिकम्
Meaning
Listen, everyone, to this cure for the sickness of birth and death that sages like Yajnavalkya, masters of yoga, speak of: drink the single, boundless inner light called Krishna. That one drink alone gives the final peace.
hē martyāḥ paramaṁ hitaṁ śṛṇuta vō vakṣyāmi saṅkṣēpataḥ saṁsārārṇavamāpadūrmibahulaṁ samyakpraviśya sthitāḥ
nānājñānamapāsya cētasi namō nārāyaṇāyētyamuṁ mantraṁ sapraṇavaṁ praṇāmasahitaṁ prāvartayadhvaṁ muhuḥ
हे मर्त्याः परमं हितं शृणुत वो वक्ष्यामि सङ्क्षेपतः संसारार्णवमापदूर्मिबहुलं सम्यक्प्रविश्य स्थिताः
नानाज्ञानमपास्य चेतसि नमो नारायणायेत्यमुं मन्त्रं सप्रणवं प्रणामसहितं प्रावर्तयध्वं मुहुः
Meaning
Mortals, hear the one true good I will explain briefly. You are already deep inside an ocean of worldly life, full of the waves of trouble. Drop every confused idea and just keep repeating, again and again, this simple line with a bow: Namo Narayanaya.
pṛthvīrēṇuraṇuḥ payāṁsi kaṇikāḥ phalguḥ sphuliṅgō’laghustējō niḥśvasanaṁ maruttanutaraṁ randhraṁ susūkṣmaṁ nabhaḥ
kṣudrā rudrapitāmahaprabhṛtayaḥ kīṭāḥ samastāḥ surāḥ dṛṣṭē yatra sa tāvakō vijayatē bhūmāvadhūtāvadhiḥ
पृथ्वीरेणुरणुः पयांसि कणिकाः फल्गुः स्फुलिङ्गोऽलघुस्तेजो निःश्वसनं मरुत्तनुतरं रन्ध्रं सुसूक्ष्मं नभः
क्षुद्रा रुद्रपितामहप्रभृतयः कीटाः समस्ताः सुराः दृष्टे यत्र स तावको विजयते भूमावधूतावधिः
Meaning
The earth is a speck of dust, the ocean a drop, wealth a spark, this whole raging fire just a breath, the wind a tiny hole, the sky barely a pinprick, and Rudra, Brahma, and every god are small insects, in front of the one whose glory has no border even in this vast universe.
baddhēnāñjalinā natēna śirasā gātraiḥ sarōmōdgamaiḥ kaṇṭhēna svaragadgadēna nayanēnōdgīrṇabāṣpāmbunā
nityaṁ tvaccaraṇāravindayugala dhyānāmṛtāsvādināmasmākaṁ sarasīruhākṣa satataṁ sampadyatāṁ jīvitam
बद्धेनाञ्जलिना नतेन शिरसा गात्रैः सरोमोद्गमैः कण्ठेन स्वरगद्गदेन नयनेनोद्गीर्णबाष्पाम्बुना
नित्यं त्वच्चरणारविन्दयुगल ध्यानामृतास्वादिनामस्माकं सरसीरुहाक्ष सततं सम्पद्यतां जीवितम्
Meaning
With hands joined, head bowed, hair standing on end, voice breaking, eyes wet with tears, may this life of ours, lotus-eyed one, be spent always tasting the nectar of meditating on your two feet.
hē gōpālaka hē kṛpājalanidhē hē sindhukanyāpatē hē kaṁsāntaka hē gajēndrakaruṇāpārīṇa hē mādhava
hē rāmānuja hē jagattrayagurō hē puṇḍarīkākṣa māṁ hē gōpījananātha pālaya paraṁ jānāmi na tvāṁ vinā
हे गोपालक हे कृपाजलनिधे हे सिन्धुकन्यापते हे कंसान्तक हे गजेन्द्रकरुणापारीण हे माधव
हे रामानुज हे जगत्त्रयगुरो हे पुण्डरीकाक्ष मां हे गोपीजननाथ पालय परं जानामि न त्वां विना
Meaning
O cowherd, ocean of mercy, husband of the ocean's daughter, killer of Kamsa, the one who reached out to the suffering elephant king, Madhava, younger brother of Balarama, teacher of the three worlds, lotus-eyed one, lord of the cowherd women, protect me, because I do not know anyone besides you.
bhaktāpāyabhujaṅgagāruḍamaṇistrailōkyarakṣāmaṇiḥ gōpīlōcanacātakāmbudamaṇiḥ saundaryamudrāmaṇiḥ
yaḥ kāntāmaṇi rukmiṇī ghanakucadvandvaikabhūṣāmaṇiḥ śrēyō dēvaśikhāmaṇirdiśatu nō gōpālacūḍāmaṇiḥ
भक्तापायभुजङ्गगारुडमणिस्त्रैलोक्यरक्षामणिः गोपीलोचनचातकाम्बुदमणिः सौन्दर्यमुद्रामणिः
यः कान्तामणि रुक्मिणी घनकुचद्वन्द्वैकभूषामणिः श्रेयो देवशिखामणिर्दिशतु नो गोपालचूडामणिः
Meaning
He is the antidote for the devotee's troubles the way the Garuda gem cures snakebite, the protecting jewel of the three worlds, the rain cloud that the gopis' longing eyes watch for, the very emblem of beauty, and his one jewel of a wife is Rukmini adorning his chest. Let that crown jewel of cowherds bless us with good fortune.
śatrucchēdaikamantraṁ sakalamupaniṣadvākyasampūjyamantraṁ saṁsārōttāramantraṁ samupacitatamaḥ saṅghaniryāṇamantram
sarvaiśvaryaikamantraṁ vyasanabhujagasandaṣṭasantrāṇamantraṁ jihvē śrīkṛṣṇamantraṁ japa japa satataṁ janmasāphalyamantram
शत्रुच्छेदैकमन्त्रं सकलमुपनिषद्वाक्यसम्पूज्यमन्त्रं संसारोत्तारमन्त्रं समुपचिततमः सङ्घनिर्याणमन्त्रम्
सर्वैश्वर्यैकमन्त्रं व्यसनभुजगसन्दष्टसन्त्राणमन्त्रं जिह्वे श्रीकृष्णमन्त्रं जप जप सततं जन्मसाफल्यमन्त्रम्
Meaning
Tongue, chant the name of Krishna without stopping. It is the one mantra that cuts down every enemy, the one every Upanishad quietly bows to, the one that carries a person across worldly life, that clears away built up darkness, that grants every kind of wealth, that rescues from the snakebite of misfortune, the mantra that makes a birth actually worth something.
vyāmōha praśamauṣadhaṁ munimanōvṛtti pravṛttyauṣadhaṁ daityēndrārtikarauṣadhaṁ tribhuvanī sañjīvanaikauṣadham
bhaktātyantahitauṣadhaṁ bhavabhayapradhvaṁsanaikauṣadhaṁ śrēyaḥprāptikarauṣadhaṁ piba manaḥ śrīkṛṣṇadivyauṣadham
व्यामोह प्रशमौषधं मुनिमनोवृत्ति प्रवृत्त्यौषधं दैत्येन्द्रार्तिकरौषधं त्रिभुवनी सञ्जीवनैकौषधम्
भक्तात्यन्तहितौषधं भवभयप्रध्वंसनैकौषधं श्रेयःप्राप्तिकरौषधं पिब मनः श्रीकृष्णदिव्यौषधम्
Meaning
It is the medicine that calms confusion, that feeds the quiet habits of sages' minds, that troubles the mighty demon kings, the one tonic that keeps all three worlds alive, the truest kindness for a devotee, the only cure for the fear of worldly life. Drink it, mind, this divine medicine called Krishna.
āmnāyābhyasanānyaraṇyaruditaṁ vēdavratānyanvahaṁ mēdaśchēdaphalāni pūrtavidhayaḥ sarvē hutaṁ bhasmani
tīrthānāmavagāhanāni ca gajasnānaṁ vinā yatpadadvandvāmbhōruhasaṁsmṛtirvijayatē dēvaḥ sa nārāyaṇaḥ
आम्नायाभ्यसनान्यरण्यरुदितं वेदव्रतान्यन्वहं मेदश्छेदफलानि पूर्तविधयः सर्वे हुतं भस्मनि
तीर्थानामवगाहनानि च गजस्नानं विना यत्पदद्वन्द्वाम्भोरुहसंस्मृतिर्विजयते देवः स नारायणः
Meaning
All the memorized scripture is just weeping alone in a forest, the daily vows are empty ritual, austerity only wastes the body, every act of charity is an offering poured over cold ash, every pilgrimage bath is no better than an elephant's bath, unless it comes with steady memory of his two lotus feet. That Narayana alone truly wins.
śrīmannāma prōcya nārāyaṇākhyaṁ kē na prāpurvāñchitaṁ pāpinō’pi
hā naḥ pūrvaṁ vākpravṛttā na tasmin tēna prāptaṁ garbhavāsādiduḥkham
श्रीमन्नाम प्रोच्य नारायणाख्यं के न प्रापुर्वाञ्छितं पापिनोऽपि
हा नः पूर्वं वाक्प्रवृत्ता न तस्मिन् तेन प्राप्तं गर्भवासादिदुःखम्
Meaning
Once someone has spoken the glorious name Narayana, what has even a sinner not received of their heart's wish? What a pity that our own tongues turned to it so late, and so we still carried the pain of being born again and again.
majjanmanaḥ phalamidaṁ madhukaiṭabhārē matprārthanīya madanugraha ēṣa ēva
tvadbhṛtyabhṛtya paricāraka bhṛtyabhṛtya bhṛtyasya bhṛtya iti māṁ smara lōkanātha
मज्जन्मनः फलमिदं मधुकैटभारे मत्प्रार्थनीय मदनुग्रह एष एव
त्वद्भृत्यभृत्य परिचारक भृत्यभृत्य भृत्यस्य भृत्य इति मां स्मर लोकनाथ
Meaning
This is the whole point of my being born, enemy of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha. The only grace I ask for is this: remember me as the servant of the servant of the servant of your servant's servant.
nāthē naḥ puruṣōttamē trijagatāmēkādhipē cētasā sēvyē svasya padasya dātari surē nārāyaṇē tiṣṭhati
yaṁ kañcitpuruṣādhamaṁ katipayagrāmēśamalpārthadaṁ sēvāyai mṛgayāmahē naramahō mūkā varākā vayam
नाथे नः पुरुषोत्तमे त्रिजगतामेकाधिपे चेतसा सेव्ये स्वस्य पदस्य दातरि सुरे नारायणे तिष्ठति
यं कञ्चित्पुरुषाधमं कतिपयग्रामेशमल्पार्थदं सेवायै मृगयामहे नरमहो मूका वराका वयम्
Meaning
Narayana himself stands ready as our lord, the one Supreme Person, ruler of the three worlds, worshipped in the heart, willing to give even his own home to us. And yet we, mute and pitiful, go begging some petty man, some small village official who gives almost nothing, for a job.
madana parihara sthitiṁ madīyē manasi mukundapadāravindadhāmni
haranayanakṛśānunā kṛśō’si smarasi na cakraparākramaṁ murārēḥ
मदन परिहर स्थितिं मदीये मनसि मुकुन्दपदारविन्दधाम्नि
हरनयनकृशानुना कृशोऽसि स्मरसि न चक्रपराक्रमं मुरारेः
Meaning
Cupid, let go of my mind. It already belongs to the home of Mukunda's lotus feet. You are already burned thin by Shiva's third eye, have you already forgotten the strength of Krishna's discus.
tattvaṁ bruvāṇāni paraṁ parasmānmadhu kṣarantīva satāṁ phalāni
prāvartaya prāñjalirasmi jihvē nāmāni nārāyaṇa gōcarāṇi
तत्त्वं ब्रुवाणानि परं परस्मान्मधु क्षरन्तीव सतां फलानि
प्रावर्तय प्राञ्जलिरस्मि जिह्वे नामानि नारायण गोचराणि
Meaning
Tongue, I ask you with folded hands, speak the names of Narayana. They are the highest truth, sweeter than honey dripping from the fruit of the good.
idaṁ śarīraṁ pariṇāmapēśalaṁ patatyavaśyaṁ ślathasandhijarjaram
kimauṣadhaiḥ kliśyasi mūḍha durmatē nirāmayaṁ kṛṣṇarasāyanaṁ piba
इदं शरीरं परिणामपेशलं पतत्यवश्यं श्लथसन्धिजर्जरम्
किमौषधैः क्लिश्यसि मूढ दुर्मते निरामयं कृष्णरसायनं पिब
Meaning
This body was built to wear out. It will fall one day, its joints loosening and its frame giving way with age. Why torment yourself chasing medicines, foolish mind. Drink instead the disease-free tonic that is Krishna.
dārā vārākaravarasutā tē tanūjō viriñciḥ stōtā vēdastava suragaṇō bhṛtyavargaḥ prasādaḥ
muktirmāyā jagadavikalaṁ tāvakī dēvakī tē mātā mitraṁ balaripusutastvayyatō’nyanna jānē
दारा वाराकरवरसुता ते तनूजो विरिञ्चिः स्तोता वेदस्तव सुरगणो भृत्यवर्गः प्रसादः
मुक्तिर्माया जगदविकलं तावकी देवकी ते माता मित्रं बलरिपुसुतस्त्वय्यतोऽन्यन्न जाने
Meaning
My wife is the finest daughter of the ocean, my son is Brahma, the Veda itself sings for me, the gods are my servants, his favor is my grace, freedom itself is mine, this whole world is my illusion, Devaki is my mother, and Balarama's nephew is my friend. Beyond you, I know nothing else at all.
kṛṣṇō rakṣatu nō jagattrayaguruḥ kṛṣṇaṁ namasyāmyahaṁ kṛṣṇēnāmaraśatravō vinihatāḥ kṛṣṇāya tasmai namaḥ
kṛṣṇādēva samutthitaṁ jagadidaṁ kṛṣṇasya dāsō’smyahaṁ kṛṣṇē tiṣṭhati sarvamētadakhilaṁ hē kṛṣṇa rakṣasva mām
कृष्णो रक्षतु नो जगत्त्रयगुरुः कृष्णं नमस्याम्यहं कृष्णेनामरशत्रवो विनिहताः कृष्णाय तस्मै नमः
कृष्णादेव समुत्थितं जगदिदं कृष्णस्य दासोऽस्म्यहं कृष्णे तिष्ठति सर्वमेतदखिलं हे कृष्ण रक्षस्व माम्
Meaning
May Krishna, teacher of all three worlds, protect us. I bow to Krishna. By Krishna the enemies of the gods were struck down, salutations to that Krishna. This entire universe rose up from Krishna alone. I am Krishna's servant. Everything that exists rests inside Krishna. Krishna, save me.
tattvaṁ prasīda bhagavan kuru mayyanāthē viṣṇō kṛpāṁ paramakāruṇikaḥ kila tvam
saṁsārasāgaranimagnamanantadīnamuddhartumarhasi harē puruṣōttamō’si
तत्त्वं प्रसीद भगवन् कुरु मय्यनाथे विष्णो कृपां परमकारुणिकः किल त्वम्
संसारसागरनिमग्नमनन्तदीनमुद्धर्तुमर्हसि हरे पुरुषोत्तमोऽसि
Meaning
Be pleased with this offering, Lord. Show mercy to someone like me who has no other refuge, Vishnu, because you are truly the most compassionate of all. You alone, Hari, the Supreme Person, are able to lift up this endless, helpless being drowning in the ocean of worldly life.
namāmi nārāyaṇapādapaṅkajaṁ karōmi nārāyaṇapūjanaṁ sadā
vadāmi nārāyaṇanāma nirmalaṁ smarāmi nārāyaṇatattvamavyayam
नमामि नारायणपादपङ्कजं करोमि नारायणपूजनं सदा
वदामि नारायणनाम निर्मलं स्मरामि नारायणतत्त्वमव्ययम्
Meaning
I bow to Narayana's lotus feet. I worship Narayana always. I speak Narayana's pure name. I remember Narayana's unchanging truth.
śrīnātha nārāyaṇa vāsudēva śrīkṛṣṇa bhaktapriya cakrapāṇē
śrīpadmanābhācyuta kaiṭabhārē śrīrāma padmākṣa harē murārē
श्रीनाथ नारायण वासुदेव श्रीकृष्ण भक्तप्रिय चक्रपाणे
श्रीपद्मनाभाच्युत कैटभारे श्रीराम पद्माक्ष हरे मुरारे
Meaning
O Sri-natha, Narayana, Vasudeva, dear Krishna beloved of devotees, wielder of the discus, Padmanabha, Achyuta, foe of Kaitabha, Rama, lotus-eyed Hari, killer of Mura.
ananta vaikuṇṭha mukunda kṛṣṇa gōvinda dāmōdara mādhavēti
vaktuṁ samarthō’pi na vakti kaścidahō janānāṁ vyasanābhimukhyam
अनन्त वैकुण्ठ मुकुन्द कृष्ण गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति
वक्तुं समर्थोऽपि न वक्ति कश्चिदहो जनानां व्यसनाभिमुख्यम्
Meaning
Ananta, Vaikuntha, Mukunda, Krishna, Govinda, Damodara, Madhava. What a strange thing, that a person able to say these names simply does not say them. That is how strongly people lean toward their own trouble.
dhyāyanti yē viṣṇumanantamavyayaṁ hṛtpadmamadhyē satataṁ vyavasthitam
samāhitānāṁ satatābhayapradaṁ tē yānti siddhiṁ paramāṁ ca vaiṣṇavīm
ध्यायन्ति ये विष्णुमनन्तमव्ययं हृत्पद्ममध्ये सततं व्यवस्थितम्
समाहितानां सतताभयप्रदं ते यान्ति सिद्धिं परमां च वैष्णवीम्
Meaning
Those who keep the endless, unchanging Vishnu fixed in the lotus of their heart, steady and composed, are given fearlessness at every moment, and they reach the highest state a devotee of Vishnu can reach.
kṣīrasāgarataraṅgaśīkarā’āsāratārakitacārumūrtayē
bhōgibhōgaśayanīyaśāyinē mādhavāya madhuvidviṣē namaḥ
क्षीरसागरतरङ्गशीकराऽऽसारतारकितचारुमूर्तये
भोगिभोगशयनीयशायिने माधवाय मधुविद्विषे नमः
Meaning
Salutations to Madhava, foe of the demon Madhu, whose beautiful form is dotted with spray flung up from the waves of the milk ocean, who rests upon the coils of his serpent bed.
yasya priyau śrutidharau kavilōkavīrau mitrē dvijanmavarapadmaśarāvabhūtām
tēnāmbujākṣacaraṇāmbujaṣaṭpadēna rājñā kṛtā kṛtiriyaṁ kulaśēkharēṇa
यस्य प्रियौ श्रुतिधरौ कविलोकवीरौ मित्रे द्विजन्मवरपद्मशरावभूताम्
तेनाम्बुजाक्षचरणाम्बुजषट्पदेन राज्ञा कृता कृतिरियं कुलशेखरेण
Meaning
The closing signature verse. King Kulasekhara, calling himself a bee at Krishna's lotus feet, names his two dear poet friends, a great scholar of the scriptures and a poet born like a lotus from Brahma's line, as the ones who inspired this composition.
Meaning & Significance
Read straight through, the Mukunda Mala Stotram moves like a single argument with several turns. The first few verses are an opening prayer, just a request for one thing: to never forget Krishna’s feet, in this life or any life after. Then Kulasekhara turns almost urgent about it, verse 7 pictures him worrying that death itself might arrive too fast and confused for him to remember anything at all, which is why devotees still recite it as a prayer for a peaceful, aware final moment. The middle verses widen out into a kind of public sermon, he addresses ‘mortals’ and ‘people’ directly, urging them to treat chanting Krishna’s name as medicine for the disease of being born and dying again and again. Toward the end the tone softens into simple surrender, culminating in the well known verse 33, ‘Krishno rakshatu no jagat traya guruh’, where every clause begins with the word Krishna, as if the poet cannot bring himself to change the subject.
How to Chant the Mukunda Mala Stotram
- Sit facing east or north – A simple seat, a lit lamp, and a picture or murti of Krishna are enough, no elaborate setup is needed
- Begin unhurried – Read the first few verses slowly to settle the mind before picking up any pace, since the whole hymn is really one long, calm request
- Pause at verse 7 – This is the heart of the stotram; even a single unhurried reading of 'Krishna tvadiya pada pankaja' is considered meaningful on its own
- Keep a steady, even rhythm – The long compound words in verses like 22 and 23 read more smoothly when paced out syllable by syllable rather than rushed
- Close with verse 33 – Ending on 'Krishno rakshatu no' before adding your own private words to Krishna is a common way devotees finish
- Repeat daily if possible – Kulasekhara frames the whole hymn as something to be said 'pratipadam', at every step, so daily repetition is closer to the spirit of the text than an occasional one-off recitation
What Are the Benefits of Chanting?
Devotees who recite the Mukunda Mala Stotram regularly describe a few recurring effects, more about steadiness of mind than any promised material reward.
- Calms fear around death: Verse 7's plea for remembrance at the final breath is why many people keep this stotram close during illness or old age, as a way of practicing for that moment ahead of time
- Redirects everyday craving: Verses 5 and 29 talk plainly about giving up the pull of wealth, comfort, and desire, which makes the hymn a favorite for anyone trying to loosen an unhelpful attachment
- Builds a habit of remembrance: Repeating names like Krishna, Keshava, and Narayana across so many verses trains the mind to return to them automatically, even outside the time spent chanting
- Offers comfort during hardship: The ocean-of-troubles imagery in verses 12 to 14 speaks directly to anyone feeling overwhelmed, whether by family responsibility, debt, or simple exhaustion
- Encourages humility over pride: Verse 27's image of being 'the servant of the servant's servant' is often cited by teachers as a corrective to spiritual ego
- Connects to the wider Alwar tradition: Chanting it is also a way of honoring the Sri Vaishnava bhakti lineage that Kulasekhara belonged to, alongside Andal, Nammalwar, and the other Alwar poet-saints
Who Composed This Stotram?
Kulasekhara was a real king before he became a poet-saint. Historical accounts place him as a ruler of the Chera dynasty in what is now Kerala, somewhere around the eighth or ninth century, and tradition credits him with genuine devotion to Ranganatha, the form of Vishnu enshrined at Srirangam. One popular story says he grew so anxious about the safety of the Srirangam temple that he would send soldiers ahead just to be sure the deity was safe, an anxiety echoed in the opening verse that some editions print before verse 1, praising a king in whose city the festival procession is announced ‘day after day’.
Eventually he set aside the throne and travelled south, spending his remaining years among Vaishnava saints. He is counted as one of the twelve Alwars, the Tamil poet-saints whose devotional outpourings between roughly the sixth and ninth centuries shaped the whole bhakti movement in South India, and whose collected hymns form the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. The Mukunda Mala Stotram is his one major Sanskrit work, since his other verses are in Tamil, and closing verse 40 even names two poet friends who inspired him, a detail that has helped scholars place him within a real circle of contemporaries rather than treating him as a purely legendary figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the Mukunda Mala Stotram?
It was composed by Kulasekhara, a king of the Chera dynasty in present day Kerala who is counted among the twelve Alwars, the Tamil Vaishnava poet-saints. Verse 40 names him directly as the author.
What does 'Mukunda' mean?
Mukunda is a name for Krishna that means the giver of liberation, from 'mukti' (release) and 'da' (giver). The whole stotram is built as a garland, a 'mala', of such names and pleas addressed to him.
How many verses does the Mukunda Mala Stotram have?
The widely printed and most commonly chanted version has 40 verses, which is the recension followed on this page. A longer 54 verse recension also exists in some regional manuscript traditions, with some verses reordered or added.
Why is verse 7 so famous?
Verse 7, beginning 'Krishna tvadiya pada pankaja panjarantam', asks Krishna to let the swan of the mind settle into his lotus feet right now, because at the actual moment of death, with the breath failing, there may be no chance left to remember anything at all. It is quoted on its own far more often than any other verse in the hymn.
When is the best time to chant it?
Any time works, but many devotees favor early morning or dusk, and especially Ekadashi days or Thursdays, which are traditionally associated with Vishnu and Krishna worship.
Is the Mukunda Mala Stotram difficult to chant for a beginner?
A few verses use long Sanskrit compounds that take some practice to pace out smoothly, but most of the hymn is written in clear, direct language. Reading the transliteration alongside the Devanagari, slowly at first, is usually enough to get comfortable with it.
॥ जय श्री कृष्ण ॥