Damodara Ashtakam

I bow to the Supreme Lord whose form is eternal existence, consciousness, and bliss, whose earrings glisten as He shines in Gokula, who in fear of Mother Yashoda ran from the wooden mortar and was caught from behind by the gopi after a swift pursuit.

I bow to Damodara who is weeping and rubbing His eyes with His lotus hands, His eyes full of fear, His throat marked with three lines trembling with quick breaths, bound only by the devotion of His mother.

By such childhood pastimes He immerses the inhabitants of Gokula in pools of ecstasy, showing to all that He is conquered only by pure devotion. To that Supreme Lord I offer my obeisances hundreds of times.

O Lord, although You are the master of all boons, I pray neither for liberation nor for the highest realm. I only pray that this childhood form of Yours as a cowherd boy may ever remain manifest in my mind.

May Your lotus face, framed by soft dark curling locks and kissed again and again by Mother Yashoda, with its lips red as bimba fruit, remain ever present in my heart. Millions of other attainments are of no use to me.

O Supreme Lord Damodara, O boundless Vishnu, be pleased with me! I am drowning in the ocean of worldly sorrows; shower Your glance of compassion upon me and grant me Your divine vision.

Just as You delivered the two sons of Kubera from their tree form and bestowed pure devotion upon them even while You were tied to the mortar, please grant me Your pure love; I have no longing for mere liberation.

Obeisance to the radiant rope that bound Your belly, and obeisance to Your belly which holds the entire universe! Obeisances to Srimati Radhika, Your dearest beloved, and obeisances to You, the Lord of boundless divine pastimes.