Since it is considered a Kavya, a work of poetry, it is divided into sargas or chapters, like other kavyas such as the Raghuvamsha. This work has been composed in twelve sargas, bearing the Dvadashakshari mantra (twelve-syllable mantra) of Krishna. The names given by Jayadeva to each of these sargas are also unique and meaningful. They bestow grace upon devotees.

  1. Samoda Damodaran: He who gives joy to the mother who tied him to a mortar.
  2. Aklesha Keshavan: He who protected Brahma and Shiva.
  3. Mukta Madhusudanan: He who punished Madhu, the asura who was enslaved by Moha.
  4. Snigdha Madhusudanan: He who revealed his beauteous form to Madhu and Kaitabha.
  5. Sakanksha Pundarikakshan: He who awaits the arrival of his devotees with eyes wide open.
  6. Dhrishta Vaikuntan or Dhanya Vaikunthan: He who reveals the bliss of Vaikuntha to every one.
  7. Nagara Narayanan: He who can appeal to people of a city, though He had lived in a village among Gopis (cowherdesses).
  8. Vilakshya Lakshmipati: He who accepts every one who seeks his Grace as Lakshmi herself.
  9. Mukta Mukundan: The Guru who bestows a unique experience.
  10. Chatura Chaturbhujan: He who has four arms which grant all the goals of human life.
  11. Sannada Govindan: He who brings joy to cowherds and to every one on earth.
  12. Supreeta Pitambaran: He who, pleased by the devotion of his devotees, bestows upon them the Pitambara (the yellow garment worn by Him).

These meaningful names explain the import of the Ashtapadi clearly. We have no knowledge of Moksha and the unknown is to be reached through the known. Moksha is unalloyed bliss and all other pleasures we experience are but drops of this Ocean of Bliss. This bliss is purely experiential. The sacred texts try to make us have a glimpse of it through the example of Sringara bhava known to all of us in our experience. Today’s world, following Western thought, understands Sringara bhava in terms of brutish lust. This is fallacious. Sringara bhava comes out of the perfect union between the husband and wife and is expressed in a harmonious life, sweet conversation, congenial behaviour, not being separated from one another, the misery felt if separation happens, offering music and dance, (a part of the worship of the Lord) to the god residing in the temple of the body, embracing one another, exchanging kisses and so on.

This Nayaka-Nayaki Bhava is akin to the relationship between the Jiva and Ishwara, in aspects such as the experience of union and devotion. This Nayaka-Nayaki Bhava is not exclusive to our religion alone; it is found in Christianity and Islam too. Prema Bhakti is, thus, portrayed in the songs of the Thevaram, the Divya Prabhandam and in the songs of many other devotees. Though these appear to be erotic in nature, they are replete with ideas from the Vedantas and so are sung even by renunciates. The jiva is separated from the Paramatman and suffers several sorrows such as birth, death, old age, hunger and disease. By the grace of the Lord, the jiva finds a good acharya, who guides him aright and leads him to union with the Lord. Here, Krishna is the Paramatman, Radha the Jivatman, and the friend is the Acharya. Similarly our ancestors have written plays such as the Prabodha Chandrodayam and the Snakalpa Suryodayam which portray abstract qualities as a king – Prabodha, the King triumphs over the asura Ajnana who comes to battle accompanied by his army of Kama (desires) and Krodha (anger). The Padma Purana serves as a precedent to this.

A Sanskrit Ashtapadi, ChandanaCharchita by Sri Jayadeva in 3 Charanas is provided below:
1.HariVihamugdhavaDhooniKareVilaasiniVilasatiKelipare
ChandanaCharchitaNeelaKalebaraPeetaVasanaVanamaali
ChandanaCharchitaNeelaKalebaraPeetaVasanaVanamaali
KeliChalanmaniKundalaManditaGandayuGasmitaSaali
HarivihamughdhavaDhooniKareVilaasiniVilasatiKelipare

Ashtapadi Lyrics In Malayalam Pdf

2.KaapiVilaasavi Lola VilochanaKelanaJanitaManojam
KaapiVilaasavi Lola VilochanaKelanaJanitaManojam
DhyayatiMugdhavaBuravibhakamMadhuSoodhanaVadanaSarojam
DhyayatiMugdhavaBuravibhakamMadhuSoodhanaVadanaSarojam
HarivihamughdhavaDhooniKareVilaasiniVilasatiKelipare
3.IshyatiKaamapiChumbatiKaamapiRamayatiKamaapiRaama
SathyatiSasmitaChaarutaraamAparaamanuGasyatiRaama
HarivihamughdhavaDhooniKareVilaasiniVilasatiKelipare
Introduction to the Ashtapadi:
This Ashtapadi by Sri Jayadeva [Sanskrit scholar] throws lights on Sri Krishna’s frolicking and playing with damsels in the Brindavan garden. This Ashtapadi is said actually to be a one-to-discussion between Raadha and her friend.
Meaning:
1.He who has a bluish body that is bedecked with sandal paste, clad in yellow (peeta) silks, garlanded with basil leaves and other flowers (vanamaali), whose cheeks are adorned with glitters from the studded earrings; is frolicking and playing with the damsels and is amid a modest, simple, naïve damsels!
One damsel says to Radha like this: “You, the expert in romance and amusement, are leaving Krishna play with simple, immatured and naïve damsels; Is it befitting Krishna to play with them when you are here? You go at once”.

Ashtapadi Lyrics Pdf Download

2.Krishna is surrounded by these women who are simple and naïve, the romantic gestures of Krishna. His sliding and moving wide eyes (vilochana) towards them are so attractive (He himself) that these modest damsels/women who are inexperts in romancing, started gazing and staring at the the beautiful, lotus-like face of His, the eliminator of a demon Madhu (madhusoodhana*); thus, the Lord is amidst these damsels in a delightful (blissful) circle.
*Madhusoodhana also means ‘The one who is spilling honey’.
Though not everybody is expert danseuses/songsters, romance is common in every lass. Reaching Him is the Goal of every damsel and luckily He is for everyone. Women may be at any point in the circle/row, wherever but they feel Him. Be it bodily reach or envisaged/imagined. This is bringing each lady, a belonging to Krishna.
3.Krishna, now in the ronde, is kissing someone; someone else find Him in their bosom; yet someone else find Him delighting her in full beauty, having a look at the other damsels too (pashyati). Each damsel go after Krishna and everybody readily finds themselves with Him! Such is the delight that Raama**
**Rama is the analogy to the one who gives and takes delight in which the other person is delighted.
He, the giver of delight, is received with the beaming smiles on the faces of the damsels. Even those women who are peeved or irritated were reclaimed by the Lord and they encircle Him to play and frolic with Him for the diving desire !!

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