Chaurashtakam (Sri Chauragraganya Purushashtakam)
Chaurashtakam (Sri Chauragraganya Purushashtakam)
चौराष्टकम् (श्री चौराग्रगण्य पुरुषाष्टकम्)
व्रजे प्रसिद्धं नवनीतचौरं
गोपाङ्गनानां च दुकूलचौरम् ।
अनेकजन्मार्जितपापचौरं
चौराग्रगण्यं पुरुषं नमामि ॥ 1॥
श्रीराधिकाया हृदयस्य चौरं
नवाम्बुदश्यामलकान्तिचौरम् ।
पदाश्रितानां च समस्तचौरं
चौराग्रगण्यं पुरुषं नमामि ॥ 2॥
अकिञ्चनीकृत्य पदाश्रितं यः
करोति भिक्षुं पथि गेहहीनम् ।
केनाप्यहो भीषणचौर ईदृग्-
दृष्टःश्रुतो वा न जगत्त्रयेऽपि ॥ 3॥
यदीय नामापि हरत्यशेषं
गिरिप्रसारान् अपि पापराशीन् ।
आश्चर्यरूपो ननु चौर ईदृग्
दृष्टः श्रुतो वा न मया कदापि ॥ 4॥
धनं च मानं च तथेन्द्रियाणि
प्राणांश्च हृत्वा मम सर्वमेव ।
पलायसे कुत्र धृतोऽद्य चौर
त्वं भक्तिदाम्नासि मया निरुद्धः ॥ 5॥
छिनत्सि घोरं यमपाशबन्धं
भिनत्सि भीमं भवपाशबन्धम् ।
छिनत्सि सर्वस्य समस्तबन्धं
नैवात्मनो भक्तकृतं तु बन्धम् ॥ 6॥
मन्मानसे तामसराशिघोरे
कारागृहे दुःखमये निबद्धः ।
लभस्व हे चौर! हरे! चिराय
स्वचौर्यदोषोचितमेव दण्डम् ॥ 7॥
कारागृहे वस सदा हृदये मदीये
मद्भक्तिपाशदृढबन्धननिश्चलः सन् ।
त्वां कृष्ण हे! प्रलयकोटिशतान्तरेऽपि
सर्वस्वचौर! हृदयान् न हि मोचयामि ॥ 8॥
इति श्रीबिल्वमङ्गलठाकूरविरचितं चौराष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ।
चौरग्रगण्य पुरुषाष्टकम् ।
About This Stotram
Overview
The Chaurashtakam (Sri Chauragraganya Purushashtakam) is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn in the Vaishnava tradition that praises Lord Krishna under the epithet "foremost among thieves." The text portrays Krishna's acts of stealing — butter, the Gopis' garments, and the sins of devotees — as expressions of divine love and liberation rather than wrongdoing.
What are the benefits of chanting Chaurashtakam?
- Invokes Krishna's grace for the removal of accumulated sins.
- Cultivates a mood of surrender by focusing on Krishna's playful, accessible nature.
- Supports purification of the mind through repetition of the divine name.
- Encourages detachment from worldly possessions and ego.
- Fosters devotion within the Bhakti framework of Vaishnavism.
When is the best time to recite this?
There is no single prescribed time, but recitation is considered especially appropriate during Krishna Janmashtami, the month of Kartika, and during morning or evening devotional sessions. It may be recited at any time as a standalone act of devotion.
What is the historical and traditional background?
The Chaurashtakam belongs to the Vaishnava devotional tradition, with themes that align closely with the Krishna Bhakti movements of medieval India. The author is not known. The title "Chauragraganya Purushashtakam" identifies the hymn as an ashtakam (eight-verse composition) addressed to the supreme being celebrated as the greatest of thieves, a poetic conceit widely used in Vaishnava literature to describe Krishna's irresistible draw on devotees. It circulates as a standalone hymn in various devotional collections.
Available scripts
This text is available in 14 scripts: devanagari, tamil, telugu, kannada, malayalam, gujarati, bengali, iast, gurmukhi, oriya, assamese, sinhala, itrans, hk. Use the script selector above to switch between them.
Related Texts
- Krishna Ashtakam — another eight-verse Sanskrit hymn in praise of Lord Krishna's attributes and deeds.
- Madhurashtakam — a Vaishnava ashtakam by Vallabhacharya celebrating the sweetness (madhurya) of Krishna.
- Gopala Sahasranama — a thousand-name enumeration of Krishna in his form as the cowherd, sharing the same devotional context.