A GARLAND OF HYMNS TO

MUKUNDA

Translated by
SWAMI GABHIRANANDA

6di Ramakdishna Math

Mylapore, Madras-600 004
 Published by
The President 'VI. -J

Sri Ramakrishna Math

Mylapore, Chennai-4

PREFACE

I Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai Mukundamala or a Garland of

All rights reserved Hymns to Mukunda, is a Sanskrit
poem composed in praise of Sri Maha-
vishnu by the saintly King Kula-
sekhara. The devotional depth and
VI-2M 3C-9-2008
ISBN 81-7120-530-5
appeal of its stanzas have raised the
poem to the crest of the Bhakti move
ment in India. The divine experience,
which the God-inebriate author had,
Printed in India at still rings in the ears of those who
Sri Ramakrishna Math Printing Press chant the poem with devotion.
Mylapore, Chennai-4
There are earlier editions of the
book presenting texts differing in ex
tent and even wording. In this edition
 llf.ir.fl"-
we have chosen 41 stanzas which form
the core of the Stotra. The English ■ -/U
version is made with care to echo the II II
devotional fervour of the original.
We are thankful to Swami MUKUNDAMALA
Vimalanandaji for many valuable sug A Garland of Hymns to Mukunda
gestions in this regard. May this book
let prove a boon to the readers of devo
tional literature, who are not suffi
ciently familiar with Sanskrit to follow
the text without the aid of a transla
tion.
Publisher
Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti I adore the Supreme Lord
10 March 1978 Mukunda, who releases bound souls
from Samsara and whose eyes are like
shapely lotus petals. His teeth are
T[ , ,r^ sparkling white like the jasmine
U/. i '^ I
flower, the full moon and the shell of
■ ■ 'y.»i "lit II ' .-'iK
the white conch. He has assumed the
''' •■irt! |i( 1,: . 'nn'
Ml
character of a young cowherd boy. (Resting on the bed of infinity con
Celestials headed by Indra worship ceived as a serpent), and Jagannivasa
His feet for support. He is the son of (Indweller of the whole universe).
Vasudeva and He dwells in Vrin-
davana.
firofj- I

ll^ll
Victory to the supreme Divinij;y
oMicoiM'l ll^ll (born as) the delightsome child of
Devaki! Victory to Sri Krishna who
O Mukunda, make me repeat brought light to the Vrishni racel Vic
constantly Your hallowed names Sri-
tory to that embodiment of tender
vallabha (Consort of Lakshmi), Varada beauty with a cloud-hlue complexionl
(Bestower of boons), Dayapara (Com
Victory to Mukunda who removes the
passionate One), Bhaktapriya (Loving
burden of the earth caused by the
and loved by the devotees), Bhava-
wicked!
lunthanakovida (Proficient in exter
minating the bondage of the cycle of
births), Natha (Master), Nagasayana
 8

||«ll offender is boiled in a giant pot,

O, Mukunda, I prostrate before not even for revelling in the covetable
You in deep reverence and beseech Nandana groves of paradise with
You for this much only and nothing beautiful damsels, soft like creepers.
more. May I, through Your grace, On the other hand, the sole purpose of
never forget Your lotus feet in this my devotion is: May I have You in the
life and the lives to come. abode of my heart—may my mind con
template on You in every state.
*115 ^ I

^W ^^d^cridi ^irf^ P:craiTwf nn ^|TT% ihTra^iiR%sf%

111% 111% i^^im% iira%% nci-dH^INI
O Hari, I cherish a whole-hear
ted devotion to You, not for getting O Supreme abode of all excel
rid of the opposing dual experiences lence! I do not crave for the accumu
like pain and pleasure, not for escap- lation of virtues through the perform
ing from the grave sufferings of ance of duties and sacrifices laid down
the Kumbhipaka hell in which the in the scriptures; nor do I desire the
accession of great wealth or enjoyment
of sense pleasures. Whatever is to
 11
10

happen according to my previous mer

its or demerits, let that come to pass.
But this I consider desirable above
everjdhing else: May my deep devotion W^W
to Your lotus-feet remain firm in this
birth and the succeeding births. O Krishna! Like the royal swan
repairing into its nest (of perpetual
safety and protection) may my mind
resort to Your lotus feet now itself.
Where is the guarantee (otherwise) of
^ f^nxTETTf^ INI remembering You at time of death,
O Lord, whose grace (alone) ends when one is gasping for breath with
the sufferings of hells, if it be Your the respiratory passage blocked up
^Ui let my place of residence be on with phlegm, wind and bile?
earth or in heaven or hell. I am fully
reconciled to it. On my part I only see f^Fcrmfri
e it that even at the point of death my
TOind meditates on Your hallowed feet tRRtR

1Aotus
^ flower. shame the charm of the HKdlR Il'^|l
 13
IS

equivalent to the ambrosial remem

I only think of Hari constantly,
brance of the feet of Hari in confer
the attractor of all, whose face—^with
ring bliss on us.
the gentle smile playing over it—is
charming like a lotus flower in bloom,
and who transcends all cause-and-
effect relations. Yet He appeared as nnft n: mnftTn:
the son of Nandagopa and was wor
shipped by the band of ascetic sages
headed by Narada. •iKN'Ji

\\n\\
in I
Do not have uneasy anticip
ations, O stupid mind, about the mani
IRo|| fold penalties that will be imposed on
O Mind, never desist from taking you by Yama (the inflictor of retribu
delight in Murari whose eyes are com tion for misdeeds). Our enemies, the
parable to lotus petals and who has for demerits accruing from our past trans
his emblem the conch and the discus. gressions, cannot overpower us. Is not
I do not at all know of anything else Sridhara (the support of everything
M2
 14 15

that is good) our Master? Shaking dependents, such as son, daughter,

off all sloth meditate upon Narayana, and wife (or husband), demanding pro
the indwelling self of all, who is easily tection and they have no boat to save
accessible through Bhakti. He who themselves. May Bhagavan Vishnu
chases away the bitter grief of all alone be the ship to take such men
humanity, will He become incap across.

able when it comes to the turn of His

servant?
^HT Rn tt:
'^d^l^^'+ividdlumKlRdMIH^I ^did#
m\\
"The ocean of Samsara is very
This ocean of transmigratory deep and extremely hard to cross over,
existence is lashed into waves by the how can I possibly get over to the
wind of opposing experiences such other side of it?" Mind, do not be dis
as pleasure and pain; hard and intri couraged and dejected by such thou
cate pursuit of pleasure forms its ghts. Whole-hearted devotion to the
core. Many are those who fall in it Deity (Sri Krishna) with gracious eyes
and are dragged down by the weight of attractive and charming like the lotus
 16 17

flower, and the slayer of the demon the purpose of crossing this Samsara a
Naraka, will surely take you across boat in the form of deep devotion to
Samsara. Your lotus feet,
in 51^

IT^ TTT ^=€lftcT-

TTi^init^^vi^ flfxR^TH 5ra^ 11 ^
We are sinking in the terrible
ocean called Samsara which has for its
waters insatiable desires curling into
ridges and depressions of maddening ~jFlT5T«TrFd^5f^ IINI
infatuations tossed by the strong wind I do not wish to see even for
of lust (and greed), and is further in a moment those who have scanty
fested with large crocodiles in the religious merit and so are devoid of
form of brothers and sons as well as devotion to Your feet. I do not wish
the whirlpool of wives (or husbands.) to listen to poetic compositions other
O grantor of our wishes, who are pre than those that describe Your glory.
sent in all the three states (waking, O Madhava, Lord of the universe,
dream and sleep), may we have for far be it from me even to remember
 18 19

those who deny You at heart and mis Prahlada, Vibhishana, Gajendra,
represent You. Never let it befall me Draupadi, Ahalya, and Dhruva—^these
to be born in any of my future lives six stand witness to this fact.
where there is no provision for Your
worship.

3ildNFdy^nyuiKdfi)id ^:MciyNuiici^l
O, my tongue, recite the glory
II
of Kesava; O my mind, worship Mura-
Sripati, the Lord of Lakshmi, ripu; O my hands, make devout offer
alone is fit to be worshipped always. ings to Sridhara; O my ears, listen to
O man, take shelter in Him only. As the glorifjdng deeds of Achyuta; 0 my
the bestower of affection, as the gran eyes, look at Krishna's form; O my
tor of protection, as the remover of feet, approach the temple where Hari
angfuish, as the embodiment of magna is worshipped; O my organ of olfaction,
nimity, as the destroyer of sins, and smell the Tulasi offered at the feet
as the giver of boundless prosperity, of Mukunda; O my head, bow down in
there is none equal to Sri Krishna. reverence to Adhokshaja.
 21
20

O mortals, please listen to me.

I concisely declare unto you what is
supremely good. You are well-nigh
34rd^1'lcKA^A+«^d ^W|Ko<44^1in^dr immersed in the sea of Samsara rife
tRjftw fdd[umicdRi+H,ll with severe afflictions and dangerous
situations like successive waves. Set
Hearken, O fellow men, to this ting aside varied and different kinds of
remedy for the illness of birth and knowledge, start repeating in your
dea|;h, given out by ascetics like Yajna- mind continuously this sacred formula
valkya who are adepts in Yoga; within 'Narayana' with Pranava (Om) pre
you there is the one supreme Light, fixed to it, followed by prostrations
the immortal and immeasurable of love and homage (i.e. Om namo
Krishna. That is the supreme medi Narayanaya).
cine; take it (orally) always. That will ^1^: yyiRi
confer on you absolute Bliss.
^ BdTl^d<^ I
I hhit; tw ^
f^sicTi; I H cTT^ II
You are supremely transcendent.
y ldcld<^ II Glory to Your plentitude (Bhuma)
 22 23

in which all limitations are entirely humble ■ contemplation; our bodies

blown off. When that is perceived, thrilled by the fervour of devotion
this planet becomes a mere mote, ali indicated by the hair standing on end;
the waters mere drops, fire a petty our voice choked with feelings of deep
spark of little consequence, wind a devotion; our eyes swimming in tears
tenuous breath, all space but a minute of joy as a result of the delight of the
hole, gods like Brahma, Rudra and nectar of meditation on Your lotus
the rest insignificant manifestations feet.
and denizens of heaven no better than I I I
worms.
^ dvirll'-ddi ^ ^ I
t 150:3^^ RT
I ^^^II
O the tender Cowherd Boy who
'Held ^miJcTT 11 protected the cattle of Vrindavana,
O lotus-eyed Lord, may our lives O You sea of Compassion, O You con
be enriched constantly in this manner- sort of Lakshmi, the daughter of the
palms of our hands reverently brought milk ocean, O You destroyer of Kamsa,
together in prayer for Your grace O You bestower of endless mercy
and protection; our heads bent in upon the elephant chief in his distress,
 25
24

0 Madhava known through contem

plation, O You the younger brother
of Balarama, O Preceptor of all the
May Gopala, our Sovereign, who
three worlds, O You lotus-eyed One,
wears the crown of gems, who is the
0 Protector of the Gopis of Vrinda-
most honoured jewel among gods, who
vana, deign to save me; for, except you
is the gem associated with Garuda
1 know none other who is supreme.
the heavenly bird, curing the sfiake-
[In Ayurveda and Yoga teachings,
poison of misery and distress coming
wearing of suitable gems (Manis) on the
in the way of His devotees, who is the
body, repetition of holy formulas(Mantras)
gem that saves the triple world, who is
and consumption of medicaments (Ausha-
the pearl-like drop of water from the
dham)are prescribed for the attainment of
cloud for which the eyes of the Gopis
physical and supernatural powers. In the
are athirst, who is the signature and
next three stanzas Bhagavan Sri Krishna
alone is pointed out as all these three for
seal of the gem set as the acme of
all beauty; who is the important orna
the devotee who seeks happiness and bliss
here and hereafter.]
ment of jewels on the fascinating
breasts of Rukmini, the gem among
-wives—may that peerless Gem Sn
(Krishna)give us the bliss of Release.
 26 27

mastery; it is the Mantra that delivers

completely those who are bitten by the
snake of addiction to passions. O my
^rgqf^RT^- tongue, always chant this Mantra
so that you may attain the fruition of
5ERT^f^5FT- your life.

^T^S^FSfMJFSITi;

^nTRTPTiWFsfJ^^ ||^«||
The holy formula of Sri Krishna
is an unparalleled Mantra to cut off This medicament in the form
everything hostile to one's good; it is of the divine name of Sri Krishna
the sum total of the Mantras consist cures ignorance and indiscrimination,
ing of the sacred Upanishadic state it induces the mental state of a medi
ments; it is the Mantra that rescues tative ascetic, it is a potion that gave
one from Samsara; it is the Mantra great discomfort to the Demon King
that expels the mass of accumulated (Hiranyaksipu) when Prahlada u
arkness; it is the only Mantra for the tered it, it is the only life-restorer in
attainment of complete freedom and the three worlds, it is the supreme y
 28
29
wholesome medical dose for the pious,
it is the incomparable remedy for the ashes; taking plunges in holy waters
annihilation of the fears arising from is like giving a bath to the elephant
mundane existence. O mind, take this
that rolls in sand immediately after
that.
medicine by which one attains the
supreme good. dl-ddUlKoii
%^ yiMrsfir I

cftaiFdrnddl^dlfd ^ ^STTH' IRvsll

HKId"!; II
Who have not attained the
Victory to God, Narayana, with
out the remembrance of whose lotus-
desired ends—even if they had been
feet the exercise of Vedic study is a habitual sinners—by loudly repeating
cry in the wilderness, the daily observ the hallowed name of God Narayana!
ance of vows prescribed in the Vedas Alas, our faculty of speech was not so
produces no result other than reduc employed earlier, hence our misery in
ing bodily fat, public good done by the form of birth and its sequelae.
excavating tanks and wells is all
like pouring oblations on burnt down
 30 31

Person, is our master and lord and the

JTT^ IK <i 11 sovereign ruler of the triple world. He
can he properly served by meditating
O slayer of Madhu and Kaitabha, within ourselves. By that He confers
O the Master of all the worlds, the upon His devotee His own state. Even
fruit of my life and the gracious help so we are in search of a mere man,
for which, I think, I must pray for, some low individual, owner of a few
are these alone; Be gracious to bear villages, who can give only petty
in mind that I am the most insigni rewards for our service. Alas, what
ficant servant of Yours—to wit, for mortal fools we he!
seven generations I and my ancestors
have been in your service and so my
loyalty cannot be suspected.

^ ^ fcrefir I •ghTh Ti5hq<ish4 11^®!'

Cupid, get away from my mind,
gwnt 11 which is the abode of the lotus feet of
Sri Narayana is the God giving Mukunda. You are already reduced by
only what is good. He, the Supreme the fiery eye of God Siva. Don t you
 33
32
This body which has grown
remember the might of the discus of attractive (in youth), is bound to age
Vishnu? one day and will disintegrate gradu-
ally by its very nature. O foolish man,
cR^^ciiuiiPi why try to perpetuate it through medi
TT^ ^ihc?4lft I cines? Utter the sweet name of Sri
Krishna, which is the sure remedy
for all ills.
iWf^^TRIWThERrf^ ll^^ll
0 my tongue, with folded hands
^dKI<h<cK'y^dl ^
I request you to start repeating Divine
names of which the referent is Nara- dN=Q
yana. They denote the supreme Rea Rim fM ^II
lity beyond which there is nothing. Regarding You, I know this much
For good people they are like delicious
and nothing else; the noble daughter
fruits exuding honey. of the milk ocean (Goddess Lakshmi)
is Your consort; Brahma is Your son,
the Vedas sing Your praise; celestial
beings are Your retinue; Your grace is
release from bondage; the entire world
 m
35

is nothing but the expression of Your affectionate regards. From Krishna

inscrutable power; Your mother is has gloriously emanated this universe.
Devaki; and Aijuna, the son of Indra, I am the slave of Krishna. All this
is Your dear companion. world is standing firm in Krishna.
O Krishna, save me mercifully.
[Note how the Bhakti of the poet
is expressed through Vibhakti. Each refer
ence to Krishna in the above verse is in
a different case-ending—^from Nominative
to Vocative]

cT^ JTEIHT^

#T-
IfwT TTPn; ||^y||
May Krishna, the preceptor of
the three worlds, protect us. I bow Therefore, O Bhagavan Vishnu,
down to Krishna in deep reverence. be gracious to me who am helpless.
The enemies of gods were utterly Are You not the most merciful? You
vanqui-shed by Krishna. To Krishna, alone can lift me from the ocean o
who is such, my deep respects and Samsara into which I am sin ng
 36
37

O Lord Hari, You are verily the Puru-

shottama, the supreme Person, embo
dying divine freedom, omniscience,
glory, beauty, righteousness, and dis- Though every one is capable
passion. of repeating Your divine names
like Ananta, Vaikuntha, Miikunda,
Jwrfir Krishna, Govinda, Damodara, and
dKlihJI4vjH' I Madhava, hardly does any one do it.
'TRPPfHW f^nfe Alas! man's inclination to evil pursuits
is amazing.

I bow down in worship at the

lotus-feet of Narayana. I do reverent
service to Narayana constantly and
repeat the hallowed Names of Nara
yana. I am remembering the reality of By force of my nature whatever
Narayana which is unchanging. I do by physical action, utterance, of
Words, mental acts, or operations of
3PRT the senses—all that, without omission,
iflf^ JTTNtf^ I dedicate to Narayana, the Most
High.
 39
38

me the good fortune to carry the amb

rosial provisions consisting of the
name of Sri Krishna. The virtue of this
viaticum is that it need not be begged
for or bought, it is not the worse for
TTTy^ IR^II
age, it requires no cooking, it does
I humbly salute Madhava, the not diminish, and it is not difficult
foe of Madhu, whose sky-blue body is to carry.
studded with the star-like spray of
particles continuously blown from the
billows of the milk ocean and who is
reclining upon the bed formed by
Ananta.
^ II

This work is composed by King

if I Kulasekhara who was a honey bee
fondly hovering round the Lotus Feet
of God Narayana synonymously cal
led Ambujaksha, and who had two
For my journey from here, after friends, dear to him—one a noble
departure from this body, I have with
 40

twice-born and the other a Parasava—

who were hoth poets of the highest
order with capacity to retain and
remember what they learnt. □

■ ■! ' -'->1

if .1' i> ; .py

- .-i: . . . . .
■ ■ .' V .■I ' ■ ;,
rf- i. * V, : i_i .

• ' " • '-' u

 ^^^Al<R\smw^''

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