Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram
राधा कृपा कटाक्ष स्तोत्रम्
What is the Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram?
Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram The Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram is a twelve-verse Sanskrit prayer that Lord Shiva is said to have spoken to Parvati in the Urdhvamnaya Tantra, asking again and again when Radha Rani will turn her merciful, sidelong glance toward the one who prays to her. It is recited every day by sadhus, temple priests and residents across Vrindavan, and many devotees simply call it Vrindavan's own anthem to Radha.
Walk through Vrindavan at sunrise and you will hear this stotram before you hear almost anything else. The Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram, its full name is the Radha-Kripa-Kataksha Stava-Raja, is the prayer that sadhus, temple singers and ordinary residents of the town recite together, day after day, asking Radha Rani for one thing only: her kripa kataksha, the merciful glance that falls sideways, almost by accident, on someone she has chosen to bless.Tradition places its origin in the Urdhvamnaya Tantra, where Lord Shiva himself is the speaker, teaching this prayer to Parvati as the highest way to reach Radha’s heart. Twelve verses build one continuous picture of her, her form lit like gold and lightning, her feet soft as new leaves, her glance that can quiet the whole of Vrindavan-bihari’s restless heart, and every verse ends by circling back to the same aching question: when will you look at me that way? A short set of closing verses then explains how and when devotees traditionally recite it, especially around Radhashtami, and what is said to come of that recitation.This page carries the twelve core verses in Sanskrit and Roman transliteration with plain-language meanings for each, along with how to chant it, its traditional benefits, and answers to common questions people ask about this stotram.
Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram Lyrics (Sanskrit & English)
The 12 core verses of the Radha-Kripa-Kataksha Stava-Raja, as recited daily in Vrindavan. Devanagari rendered from the verified transliteration; opening and closing lines checked against source Devanagari.
munindra-vrinda-vandite triloka-shoka-harini
prasanna-vaktra-pankaje nikunja-bhu-vilasini
vrajendra-bhanu-nandini vrajendra-sunu-sangate
kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam
मुनीन्द्रवृन्दवन्दिते त्रिलोकशोकहारिणि
प्रसन्नवक्त्रपङ्कजे निकुञ्जभूविलासिनि
व्रजेन्द्रभानुनन्दिनि व्रजेन्द्रसूनुसङ्गते
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्षभाजनम्
Meaning
O Radha, honored even by the greatest sages, you who lift away the sorrow of all three worlds, whose lotus face is always at peace, who delights in the groves of Vrindavan, daughter of Vrishabhanu, ever at the side of Vraja's own prince. When will you make me the object of your merciful, sidelong glance?
ashoka-vriksha-vallari-vitana-mandapa-sthite
pravala-bala-pallava-prabharunanghri-komale
varabhaya-sphurat-kare prabhuta-sampadalaye
kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam
अशोकवृक्षवल्लरीवितानमण्डपस्थिते
प्रवालबालपल्लवप्रभारुणाङ्घ्रिकोमले
वराभयस्फुरत्करे प्रभूतसम्पदालये
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्षभाजनम्
Meaning
O Radha, seated in a bower woven from ashoka creepers, whose soft feet glow pink like young coral leaves, whose hands shine with gestures of blessing and protection, abode of boundless wealth. When will you make me the object of your merciful, sidelong glance?
ananga-ranga-mangala-prasanga-bhangura-bhruvam
savibhramam sasambhramam driganta-bana-patanaih
nirantaram vashikrita-pratita-nanda-nandane
kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam
अनङ्गरङ्गमङ्गलप्रसङ्गभङ्गुरभ्रुवां
सविभ्रमं ससम्भ्रमं दृगन्तबाणपातनैः
निरन्तरं वशीकृतप्रतीतनन्दनन्दने
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्षभाजनम्
Meaning
O Radha, whose eyebrows arch playfully in the joyful theatre of love, whose glances fall like arrows from the corners of your eyes, restless and full of feeling, and who has won over Nanda's own son completely and forever. When will you make me the object of your merciful, sidelong glance?
tadit-suvarna-champaka-pradipta-gaura-vigrahe
mukha-prabha-parasta-koti-sharadendu-mandale
vichitra-chitra-sancharach-chakora-shava-lochane
kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam
तडित्सुवर्णचम्पकप्रदीप्तगौरविग्रहे
मुखप्रभापरास्तकोटिशारदेन्दुमण्डले
विचित्रचित्रसञ्चरच्चकोरशावलोचने
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्षभाजनम्
Meaning
O Radha, whose fair form gleams like lightning, gold and champak blossom together, whose face outshines millions of autumn moons, whose eyes move like young chakora birds darting after moonlight. When will you make me the object of your merciful, sidelong glance?
madonmadati-yauvane pramoda-mana-mandite
priyanuraga-ranjite kala-vilasa-pandite
ananya-dhanya-kunja-rajya-kama-keli-kovide
kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam
मदोन्मदातियौवने प्रमोदमानमण्डिते
प्रियानुरागरञ्जिते कलाविलासपण्डिते
अनन्यधन्यकुञ्जराज्यकामकेलिकोविदे
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्षभाजनम्
Meaning
O Radha, intoxicated with your own eternal youth, adorned with joy and gentle pride, colored through with love for your beloved, expert in every graceful art, sovereign of the one grove blessed above all others. When will you make me the object of your merciful, sidelong glance?
ashesha-hava-bhava-dhira-hira-hara-bhushite
prabhuta-shata-kumbha-kumbha-kumbhi-kumbha-sustani
prashasta-manda-hasya-churna-purna-saukhya-sagare
kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam
अशेषहावभावधीरहीरहारभूषिते
प्रभूतशातकुम्भकुम्भकुम्भिकुम्भसुस्तनि
प्रशस्तमन्दहास्यचूर्णपूर्णसौख्यसागरे
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्षभाजनम्
Meaning
O Radha, decorated with a diamond necklace that carries every graceful expression, whose beauty rivals a golden vessel, an ocean brimming with happiness held in the soft powder of your gentle smile. When will you make me the object of your merciful, sidelong glance?
mrinala-bala-vallari-taranga-ranga-dor-late
latagra-lasya-lola-nila-lochanavalokane
lalal-lulan-milan-manojna-mugdha-mohanashrite
kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam
मृणालबालवल्लरीतरङ्गरङ्गदोर्लते
लताग्रलास्यलोलनीललोचनावलोकने
ललल्लुलन्मिलन्मनोज्ञमुग्धमोहनाश्रिते
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्षभाजनम्
Meaning
O Radha, whose creeper-soft arms sway like young lotus stems in a gentle current, whose restless deep blue eyes dance like vine-tips catching a breeze, home of a bewildering, irresistible charm. When will you make me the object of your merciful, sidelong glance?
suvarna-malikanchita-tri-rekha-kambu-kanthage
tri-sutra-mangali-guna-tri-ratna-dipti-didhite
salola-nila-kuntala-prasuna-guccha-gumphite
kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam
सुवर्णमालिकाञ्चिततिरेखकम्बुकण्ठगे
त्रिसूत्रमङ्गलीगुणत्रिरत्नदीप्तिदीधिते
सलोलनीलकुन्तलप्रसूनगुच्छगुम्फिते
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्षभाजनम्
Meaning
O Radha, whose conch-smooth neck, marked with three fine lines, wears a golden necklace, whose three-stranded mangalsutra glows with the light of three gems, whose flowing dark hair is threaded through with clusters of fresh blossoms. When will you make me the object of your merciful, sidelong glance?
nitamba-bimba-lambamana-pushpa-mekhala-gune
prashasta-ratna-kinkini-kalapa-madhya-manjule
karindra-shunda-dandikavaroha-saubhagoruke
kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam
नितम्बबिम्बलम्बमानपुष्पमेखलागुणे
प्रशस्तरत्नकिङ्किणीकलापमध्यमञ्जुले
करीन्द्रशुण्डदण्डिकावरोहसौभगोरुके
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्षभाजनम्
Meaning
O Radha, whose rounded hips wear a belt of hanging flowers, whose waist is graced by a cluster of jewelled bells, whose thighs curve with the same fortunate grace as an elephant king's trunk. When will you make me the object of your merciful, sidelong glance?
aneka-mantra-nada-manju-nupura-rava-skhalat samaja-raja-hamsa-vamsha-nikvanati-gaurave
vilola-hema-vallari-vidambi-charu-chankrame
kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam
अनेकमन्त्रनादमञ्जुनूपुरारवस्खलत्समाजराजहंसवंशनिक्वणातिगौरवे
विलोलहेमवल्लरीविडम्बिचारुचङ्क्रमे
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्षभाजनम्
Meaning
O Radha, whose sweet anklet bells ring out like many Vedic mantras with every step, more graceful than a flock of royal swans, whose walk mocks even a swaying golden creeper for its beauty. When will you make me the object of your merciful, sidelong glance?
ananta-koti-vishnu-loka-namra-padmajarchite
himadrija-pulomaja-virinchija-vara-prade
apara-siddhi-vriddhi-digdha-sat-padanguli-nakhe
kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam
अनन्तकोटिविष्णुलोकनम्रपद्मजार्चिते
हिमाद्रिजापुलोमजाविरिञ्चिजावरप्रदे
अपारसिद्धिवृद्धिदिग्धसत्पदाङ्गुलिनखे
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्षभाजनम्
Meaning
O Radha, worshipped by every Brahma bowing down from countless millions of Vishnu's realms, giver of boons to Parvati, Indrani and Brahma's own daughter, whose toenails shine with limitless mystic perfection. When will you make me the object of your merciful, sidelong glance?
makheshvari kriyeshvari svadheshvari sureshvari
triveda-bharatishvari pramana-shasaneshvari
rameshvari kshameshvari pramoda-kananeshvari
vrajeshvari vrajadhipe sri radhike namo stu te
मखेश्वरि क्रियेश्वरि स्वधेश्वरि सुरेश्वरि
त्रिवेदभारतीश्वरि प्रमाणशासनेश्वरि
रमेश्वरि क्षमेश्वरि प्रमोदकाननेश्वरि
व्रजेश्वरि व्रजाधिपे श्रीराधिके नमोऽस्तु ते
Meaning
O sovereign of every sacrifice, of every sacred act, of the offerings to ancestors, of the celestial gods, of the speech of the three Vedas, of every scripture's authority, of Lakshmi's own realm, of forgiveness, of the joyful groves of Vraja, and of Vraja itself. Sri Radhike, I bow to you.
Meaning & Significance
Read together, the twelve verses of the Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram are not a list of separate compliments, they are one long, patient description of Radha as seen by someone standing before her and unable to look away. Her feet, her walk, her eyes, her smile, her jewellery, her hair, all of it is described so that the listener feels they are truly present in her grove in Vrindavan. Then, verse after verse, the same line returns like a heartbeat: kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam, when will you make me the vessel of your merciful glance.
The final praise verse changes the refrain. Instead of asking again, it simply names her as Vrajeshvari, the queen of Vraja, and bows. Tradition holds that Lord Shiva, the greatest of Radha’s own devotees, composed this prayer for Parvati precisely because a mere ask was not enough, the devotee first has to see Radha fully, in all her tenderness and majesty, before her glance can be asked for at all.
The verses that follow the twelve (often printed separately as the phalashruti, or fruit-of-recitation section) explain when to recite it, on the full moon and on the bright eighth, tenth, eleventh and thirteenth lunar days, and describe what is said to follow: fulfilment of one’s sincere wishes, the growth of pure devotional love, and, for those who recite it standing in the waters of Radha Kunda, a vision of Radha and Krishna together. None of that is a claim this page makes for the reader, it is simply what the tradition itself says about the stotram.
How to Chant the Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram
- Sit or stand facing an image of Radha and Krishna – Light a diya or incense if you have one, and settle into a comfortable, upright posture.
- Begin with a short pranam – Offer a simple bow to Radha Rani before starting, asking for her attention rather than rushing into the verses.
- Chant verses 1 to 11 at an even pace – Let the refrain kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam settle each time, it is the heart of the prayer, not just a closing line.
- Chant verse 12 as a bow, not a question – Notice the shift, this verse ends in namo stu te, I bow to you, rather than the repeated question.
- Sit quietly for a moment afterward – Many reciters in Vrindavan pause here before moving into kirtan or their next round of japa.
- Keep the pronunciation over the pace – It is far better to chant it slowly and clearly once than quickly and unclearly several times.
What Are the Benefits of Chanting?
The tradition attached to the Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram, drawn from its own closing verses, describes several outcomes of sincere and regular recitation. These are the stotram’s own claims, offered here as tradition rather than as a promise.
- Radha's merciful glance: The stotram's stated purpose from its very first verse, to become the object of Radha's kripa kataksha, her compassionate, sidelong look of grace.
- Cleansing of past karma: The closing verses say that constant recitation helps dissolve the accumulated results of the reciter's actions across the three modes.
- Fulfilment of sincere desires: Verse 15 states that whatever a sincere reciter wishes for becomes attainable through Radha's grace.
- Bhakti marked by prema: Beyond ordinary devotion, the phalashruti describes devotion that carries the specific quality of prema, or pure loving affection.
- A vision of Radha and Krishna: The verses on chanting at Radha Kunda describe the reciter eventually beholding Radha, and her beloved Shyamasundara, directly.
- Entry into Vraja's eternal pastimes: The final verse of the phalashruti describes this as the highest fruit a devotee of Vraja can hope for.
Who Composed This Stotram?
The Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram is traditionally attributed to Lord Shiva, spoken to Parvati within the Urdhvamnaya Tantra, one of the tantric texts associated with the Gaudiya and wider Vaishnava devotional lineages of Braj. Its Sanskrit is dense with alliteration and compound words built almost entirely around Radha’s physical form, her groves, her ornaments and her movements, a style that Vrindavan’s own sadhus and kirtan singers have kept alive for generations through daily recitation rather than through any single written manuscript.
Today it is recited every morning across much of Vrindavan, in temple courtyards, along the parikrama path and in private homes, and it is especially prominent around Radhashtami, Radha Rani’s own appearance day. Because it has been passed down largely through oral recitation, small variations exist between printed editions, this page follows the widely circulated 12-verse form used across the temples of Braj.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram?
It is traditionally attributed to Lord Shiva, who is said to have spoken it to Parvati within the Urdhvamnaya Tantra as the highest prayer for reaching Radha's grace.
What does Radha Kripa Kataksha mean?
Kripa means mercy or grace, and kataksha refers to a sidelong glance, the kind that falls almost by chance on someone. Together the phrase describes Radha's compassionate glance toward a devotee, which the entire stotram is built around requesting.
How many verses does the Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram have?
Twelve core verses of praise, each ending in the refrain kada karishyasiha mam kripa-kataksha-bhajanam except the twelfth, which closes with a bow instead. A further set of verses on the benefits and method of recitation, often printed alongside it, brings the full text to nineteen verses.
When should the Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram be chanted?
It is chanted every day in Vrindavan, most often in the morning. The stotram itself names the full moon and the bright eighth, tenth, eleventh and thirteenth lunar days as especially auspicious, and Radhashtami is the occasion most devotees associate it with.
Is this the same as a Radha-Krishna stotram?
No. This is a Radha-alone prayer, addressed to her directly and describing only her form and grace. It is distinct from combined Radha-Krishna hymns, which describe the pair together.
Can anyone recite the Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotram?
Yes, it is recited widely by sadhus, temple priests and lay devotees alike across Vrindavan, and there is no formal initiation required to chant it with sincerity and respect.
॥ जय श्री राधे ॥