Indranila Mani Manjula
Sri Kunjaviharyastakam (Volume 1 Prathama)
Sri Kunjaviharyastakam is a beautiful set of eight prayers composed by Srila Rupa Goswami, glorifying Lord Krishna's enchanting pastimes in the groves of Vrndavana. Each verse celebrates a different aspect of Krishna's divine beauty, His playful activities with the gopis, and His role as the supreme enjoyer of transcendental loving exchanges. The refrain "jayati kunja-vihari" (all glories to the enjoyer of the forest groves) emphasizes Krishna's position as the object of all devotional love.
📜 Sanskrit Verses
indranīla-maṇi-mañjula-varṇaḥ phulla-nīpa-kusumāñcita-karṇaḥ kṛṣṇalābhir akṛśorasi hārī sundaro jayati kuñja-vihārī
rādhikā-vadana-candra-cakoraḥ sarva-ballava-vadhū-dhṛti-cauraḥ carcarī-caturatāñcita-cārī cāruto jayati kuñja-vihārī
sarvataḥ prathita-kaulika-parva- dhvaḿsanena hṛta-vāsava-garvaḥ goṣṭha-rakṣaṇa-kṛte giridhārī līlayā jayati kuñja-vihārī
rāga-maṇḍala-vibhūṣita-vaḿśī- vibhrameṇa madanotsava-śaḿsī stūyamāna-caritaḥ śuka-sārī- śreṇibhir jayati kuñja-vihārī
śātakumbha-ruci-hāri-dukūlaḥ keki-candraka-virājita-cūlaḥ navya-yauvana-lasad-vraja-nārī- rañjano jayati kuñja-vihārī
sthāsakī-kṛta-sugandhi-paṭīraḥ svarṇa-kāñci-pariśobhi-kaṭīraḥ rādhikonnata-payodhara-vārī- kuñjaro jayati kuñja-vihārī
gaura-dhātu-tilakojjvala-bhālaḥ keli-cañcalita-campaka-mālaḥ adri-kandara-gṛheṣv abhisārī subhruvām jayati kuñja-vihārī
vibhramoccala-dṛg-añcala-nṛtya- kṣipta-gopa-lalanākhila-kṛtyaḥ prema-matta-vṛṣabhānu-kumārī- nāgaro jayati kuñja-vihārī
aṣṭakaḿ madhura-kuñja-vihāri- krīḍayā paṭhati yaḥ kila hāri sa prayāti vilasat-para-bhāgaḿ tasya pāda-kamalārcana-rāgam
📖 Translation
All glories to Sri Krsna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana forest. His complexion is as splendid as sapphires. He wears kadamba blossom earrings, and his broad chest is decorated with a garland of gunja.
All glories to Sri Krsna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana forest. He is the cakora bird that drinks the moonlight of Sri Radha's face. He steals away the composure of all the gopis. Skillfully clapping his hands in the rhythm known as carcari, he dances very gracefully.
All glories to Sri Krsna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana forest. He stopped his relatives from performing the famous sacrifice. He removed Indra's pride, and to protect the people of Vraja he playfully lifted Govardhana hill.
All glories to Sri Krsna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana forest. His pastimes are glorified by the parrots. By decorating his flute with many beautiful melodies, he glorifies the festival of his transcendental amorous love.
All glories to Sri Krsna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana forest. The luster of his silk garments eclipses the glory of gold. The top of His head is decorated with a peacock feather. He pleases the splendid girls of Vraja.
All glories to Sri Krsna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana forest. He is anointed with fragrant sandal paste. His hips are decorated with a golden belt. He is the elephant bound by the rope of the raised breasts of Sri Radhika.
All glories to Sri Krsna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana forest. His forehead is splendid with golden dhatu tilaka. His campaka garland moves to and fro in his pastimes. He meets the beautiful-eyebrowed gopis in the palatial caves of Govardhana hill.
All glories to Sri Krsna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana forest. His dancing sidelong glances make the gopis drop all their household duties. He is the charming lover of Vrsabhanu's daughter, who is mad with love for Him.
He who reads these eight verses, which are beautified by the Lord's charming pastimes in the forest, will attain many splendid transcendental virtues. He will become attached to the service of the Lord's lotus feet.
ℹ️ About Sri Kunjaviharyastakam
This ashtakam (set of eight verses) was composed by Srila Rupa Goswami, one of the six Goswamis of Vrndavana and a direct disciple of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is part of his celebrated work Stavamala (Garland of Prayers).
Key themes in this prayer include:
- Krishna's sapphire-like complexion and beautiful ornaments
- His attraction to Sri Radha, compared to a cakora bird drinking moonlight
- The pastime of lifting Govardhana Hill to humble Indra's pride
- His enchanting flute playing that attracts all living beings
- His loving exchanges with the gopis of Vraja
- The benefit of reciting these verses - attachment to serving Krishna's lotus feet
Srila Rupa Goswami (1489-1564) was empowered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to establish the philosophy of devotional service. His literary contributions, including Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu and Ujjvala-nilamani, form the theological foundation of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
Spiritual Significance
Scriptural Source & Tradition
Commentary from the Acharyas
When to Sing / Chant
Benefits for the Devotee
Gratitude to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada
We offer our humble obeisances at the lotus feet of our founder-acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, without whose causeless mercy the priceless prayers, bhajans and sacred literature of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition would have remained inaccessible to most of the world. By his herculean preaching efforts, his unparalleled translations and his founding of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the holy names, pastimes and instructions of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are today chanted in every town and village.
nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracharine
nirvishesha-shunyavadi-pashchatya-desha-tarine
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to the Vaishnava acharyas in the disciplic succession.
