Madhurashtakam
Madhurashtakam
Madhurashtakam
madhurAShTakam
adharaM madhuraM vadanaM madhuraM
nayanaM madhuraM hasitaM madhuram |
hRRidayaM madhuraM gamanaM madhuraM
madhurAdhipaterakhilaM madhuram || 1 ||
vachanaM madhuraM charitaM madhuraM
vasanaM madhuraM valitaM madhuram |
chalitaM madhuraM bhramitaM madhuraM
madhurAdhipaterakhilaM madhuram || 2 ||
veNu-rmadhuro reNu-rmadhuraH
pANi-rmadhuraH pAdau madhurau |
nRRityaM madhuraM sakhyaM madhuraM
madhurAdhipaterakhilaM madhuram || 3 ||
gItaM madhuraM pItaM madhuraM
bhuktaM madhuraM suptaM madhuram |
rUpaM madhuraM tilakaM madhuraM
madhurAdhipaterakhilaM madhuram || 4 ||
karaNaM madhuraM taraNaM madhuraM
haraNaM madhuraM smaraNaM madhuram |
vamitaM madhuraM shamitaM madhuraM
madhurAdhipaterakhilaM madhuram || 5 ||
gu~njA madhurA mAlA madhurA
yamunA madhurA vIchI madhurA |
salilaM madhuraM kamalaM madhuraM
madhurAdhipaterakhilaM madhuram || 6 ||
gopI madhurA lIlA madhurA
yuktaM madhuraM muktaM madhuram |
dRRiShTaM madhuraM shiShTaM madhuraM
madhurAdhipaterakhilaM madhuram || 7 ||
gopA madhurA gAvo madhurA
yaShTi rmadhurA sRRiShTi rmadhurA |
dalitaM madhuraM phalitaM madhuraM
madhurAdhipaterakhilaM madhuram || 8 ||
|| iti shrImadvallabhAchAryavirachitaM madhurAShTakaM sampUrNam ||
About This Stotram
Overview
The Madhurashtakam is a Sanskrit devotional hymn of eight verses attributed to Vallabhacharya (1479–1531 CE), the founder of the Pushti Marg tradition of Vaishnavism. Each verse meditates on the inherent sweetness (madhurya) of Lord Krishna across every aspect of his being, with the repeated refrain "Madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram" — "Everything of the Lord of sweetness is sweet." The text is a central composition of the Pushti Marg tradition and embodies its theology of divine grace and intimate devotion.
What are the benefits of chanting Madhurashtakam?
- Cultivation of the madhurya bhava — the devotional attitude of loving sweetness toward Krishna
- Development of spiritual joy and inner peace
- Deepening of the devotee's personal relationship with Lord Krishna
- Purification of the mind through meditative recitation
When is the best time to recite this?
The Madhurashtakam is recited in the morning and evening as part of devotional practice. Janmashtami, Radhashtami, and the Shravana month are the primary festival occasions associated with its recitation.
What is the historical and traditional background?
Vallabhacharya was a Gujarati Brahmin philosopher-saint who founded the Pushti Marg (Path of Grace), a Vaishnava tradition centered on the worship of Krishna as Shrinathji. His school emphasizes the concept of seva — loving service to Krishna — and the theological idea that Krishna's divine grace (pushti) is freely bestowed on devotees who cultivate intimacy with the Lord. The Madhurashtakam is considered an expression of Vallabhacharya's personal devotion and is believed to have been composed spontaneously. It holds a place of particular importance within the Pushti Marg sampradaya, where it is sung as part of daily devotional practice.
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 praising Lord Krishna, belonging to the same ashtakam genre of Krishna devotional literature
- Krishnam Kalaya Sakhi — a Sanskrit devotional composition that similarly meditates on Krishna's beauty and sweetness in the madhurya devotional mode