Mukunda Mala

Mukunda Mala
By Kulasekhara Azhwar
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[These immortal verses were composed by a prince of the Chera Dynasty called Kulashekara Azhwar (Kula Shekara Perumal in Kerala). He was also called Mudaliyandan Nambi. He was one of the 12 sages of the Bhakthi cult of Vaishnavism called Azhwars. These sages were the minstrels of God who traveled from place to place and sang the praise of Lord Vishnu. The devotion to God expressed in these verses is unparallel in any world literature.]

Vandhe mukunda maravindha dalayathaksham,
Kundhendu sankha dasanam Sishu gopa vesham,
Indradhi deva gana vandhitha pada peetham,
Vridhavanalaya maham Vasudeva soonum,

Salutations to him who has,
Long lotus like eyes,
Teeth as white as moon, jasmine and conch,
Whose feet is for ever worshipped,
By Indra* and other Devas,**
Who lives in Brindavana,***
And who is the son of Vasudeva.****
* King of Devas.
** Demi Gods in Hindu Heaven.
*** Place where Sri Krishna grew up, literally forest of ocimum.
**** King of Vrishnis, father of Lord Krishna.

Sri Vallabhethi Varadhethi Dhaya Parethi,
Bhakthi priyethi Bhavaluntana kovidhethi,
Nathedhi, Naga sayanethi, Jagannivasa,
Thyalapinam prathi dinam kuru maam mukunda

Oh my lord who can only give delivarance, please make me capable of chanting every day,
Thy names such as, Lord of all beings, He who can give all boons,
He who is the store house of mercy, He who loves all his devotees,
He who can kill all problems of this world, He who is Lord of every thing,
He who sleeps on the serpent and He who lives every where in this universe.

Jayathu jayathu devo devaki nandhanoyam,
Jayathu jayathu krishno vrishni vamsa pradheepa,
Jayathu jayathu megha syamala komalango,
Jayathu jayathu prithvi bhara naso mukunda.

Victory and victory to the son of Devaki,*
Victory and victory to Krishna who belongs to family of Yadhu,**
Victory and victory to him who is black as a cloud and who has pretty limbs,
Victory and victory to the Mukunda*** who lightens the earth.
* Mother of Lord Krishna.
** The family of Lord Krishna's foster father, Nanda Gopa.
*** He who gives immortal bliss.

Mukunda, murdhna prani pathya yache,
Bhavantha mekantha miyantha martham,
Avismrithi swacharanaravinde,
Bhave bhave meastha bhavat prasadath.

Hey Mukunda, With bowed head I beg of you,
A small favour alone and in secret,
Never should I forget your lotus like feet,
Please, please be kind enough to grant.

Sri Govinda padhombhoja,
Madhuna Mahadbutham,
Yath Payino na munchanthi,
Munchanthi yadhpaina.

The honey from the Lotus like feet of Govinda,*
Is truly surprising,
People who get it never get released,
And people who do not get always get released
* He who is attained by Vedas.

Naham vandhe thave charanayor dwndwamadwandha mahatho.
Kumbhi pakam guru mapi hare, narakam napanothum,
Ramya rama mrudhthu thanu latha anandhanena apirama
Bhave bhave hridaya bhavane bhaveyayam bhavantham.

I do not bow before your two great holy feet,
Oh God, to protect us from Kumbhi paka hell,*
Nor do I for playing in the pretty graden,
Of sensuous tender bodies of bewitching damsels,
But with a request to keep your memory,
In the palace of my heart for ever,
From birth to birth.
* One of the sections of hell where the sinner is tortured.

Nastha dharmenavasu nichaye naiva kamopabhoghe,
Yadyath bhavyam bhavathu bhagawan poorva karmanuroopam,
Ethath prarthyam mama bahumatham janma janamathoropi,
Twatpadambhoruha yuga gatha nischala bhakthirasthu.

No interest I have in Dharma,
Nor in collection of wealth and assets,
Nor in passion and making love,
For what has been decided by you,
Will come to me in the form of karmas of the past,
But I have one soulful prayer to thee, my Lord,
In this birth and what follows,
Let me have rock like faith,
In thine two holy feet.

Divi va bhuvi va mamastu vaso
Narake va narakantaka prakamam
Avadhirita-sarada aravindau
Charanau the marane api chintayami

Lord, who is the killer of Narakasura.*
Let me be in this world,
Or the ether world or nether world,
But make me remember even at my death,
Only your pretty lotus like feet
* One of the Rahshsas who is son of Vishnu and Bhoodevi.

Chintayami harim eva santatam
Manda-hasa-muditananambujam
Nanda-gopa-tanayam parat param
Naradadi-muni-vrinda-vanditam

Always I think of Hari,*
Whose smile adorns his lotus like face,
Who is the truth of truths,
Who is the son of Nanda Gopa,**
And who is worshipped by sage Narada,***
And crowds of sages like him.
* He who removes births and deaths.
** Foster father of Lord Krishna.
*** One of the sages who is the singing minstrel of God.

Kara-charana-saroje kantiman-netra-mine
Srama-mushi bhuja-vichi-vyakule agadha-marge
Hari-sarasi vigahyapiya tejo-jalaugham
Bhava-maru-parichinnah klesam adya tyajami

Exhasted by the difficult path of life so far,
I will drink the water from the pond of Hari,
Where his hands and arms are the lotus flowers,
And his shining eyes are the pretty fish,
And leave the pains and aches of this earth forever.

Sarasija-nayane sa-sankha-chakre
Mura-bhidi ma viramasva chitta rantum
Sukha-taram aparam na jathu jane
Hari-charana-smarana amrithena tulyam

Oh mind, never stop thinking for ever.
Of he who has lotus like eyes.
Of he who has the conch and the holy wheel,
And of he who has killed the Asura* called Mura,
For I do not know any other pleasure as equal or great
Than the memory of the nectar like feet of Hari.
* Ogre

Mabhir manda-mano vichintya bahudha yamis chiram yatana
Naivami prabhavanti papa-ripavah svami nanu sridharah
Alasyam vyapaniya bhakti-sulabham dhyayasva narayanam
Lokasya vyasanapanodana-karo dasasya kim na kshamah

Oh my foolish idiotic mind,
Do not fret and think,
Of the pains that God of death will give.
How can your foes and sin touch you ever,
Is not your master the great Lord Sridhraa?*
Leave out this indifference,
And pray Lord Narayana,
Who is easy to approach.
Will not that master.
Remove the sorrows of his slaves in a jiffy?
* He who carries Goddess Lakshmi.

Bhava-jaladhi-gathanam dvandva-vata hatanam
Suta-duhitru-kalatra-thrana-bhararditanam
Vishama-vishaya-thoye majjatam aplavanam
Bhavati saranam eko vishnu-poto naranam.

Travelling in this sea of birth and death,
Being tossed hither and thither,
By the cyclone of love and hate,
Carrying the heavy care,
Of son, daughter and wife,
And being drowned,
In this troublesome sea of attachments,
The only boat to save us is our Lord Vishnu

Bhava-jaladhim agadham dustharam nisthareyam
Katham aham ithi cheto ma sma gah katharathvam
Sarasija-drisi deve tharaki bhaktir eka
Naraka-bhidi nishanna tarayishyaty avasyam

Do not fret and worry,
As to how you can cross,
This deep sea of life,
Which can never be crossed,
For the single minded devotion,
To the God who killed the Naraka,
Will certainly take you across,
Without fail.

Trishna-toye madana-pavanoddhuta-mohormi-male
Daravarte tanaya-sahaja-graha-sanghakule cha
Samsarakhye mahati jaladhau majjatam nas tri-dhaman
Padambhoje vara-da bhavato bhakti-navam prayaccha.

Drowning I am in this sea,
Of birth, death and life,
Because Of the wind of passion,
Started by the God of love,
And because of the burden of attachment,
To the son I love,
To the wealth that I earned and keep,
To the wife for whom I yearn,
And so giver of blessings,
Please be kind to give me a place,
In the boat of devotion,
To thine lotus like feet and save.

Prithvi-renur anuh payamsi kanikah phalguh sphulingo laghus
Tejo nihsvasanam marut tanu-taram randhram su-sukshmam nabhah
Kshudra rudra-pitamaha-prabhritayah kinah samastah sura
Drishte yatra sa tarako vijayate sri-pada-dhuli-kanah

This earth becomes a particle of dust,
This water of the sea becomes but a single drop,
The raging fire becomes a tiny spark,
The blowing winds become a tiny movement,
The sky surrounding us becomes a small hole,
The Lords Shiva* and Brahma** become insignificant,
And all the devas become like tiny insects,
If our Lord Mukunda is seen,
For the dust from his feet enslaves them all.
* Lord of destruction.
** Lord of creation.

He! lokah srinutha prasuthi-marana-vyadhes chikitsam imam
Yoga-jnah samudaharanti munayo yam yajnavalkyadayah
Antar-jyothir ameyam ekam amritham krishnakhyam apiyatam
Tat pitam paramaushadham vitanute nirvanam atyantikam

Hey, people of the world,
Hear the panacea for birth, death and disease,
That has been told by sages great.
Steeped in ancient wisdom,
Like the Yagnavalkya,*
It is the inner light alone,
Which like nectar,
And is the name "Krishna"
For when drunk this great necter,
Grants the final liberation,
Which is complete and forever.
* One of the great sages of the Vedas.

He! martyah paramam hitham srinutha vo vakshyami sankshepatah
Samsararnavam apad-urmi-bahulam samyak pravisya sthitah
Nana-jnanam apasya chetasi namo narayanayety amum
Mantram sa-pranavam pranama-sahitam pravartayadhvam muhuh

Hey men, hear what is really good for you,
In briefest possible words,
Drowned you have in the sea of existence,
Which has big waves of misfortune.
Which toss you hither and thither.
So leave out this futile search for jnana,*
And oft chant "Om Narayana"
And bow before your lord.
* Knowledge of the Ultimate Truth.

Nathe nah purushottame tri-jagatam ekadhipe chetasa
Sevye svasya padasya dathari pare narayane thishthati
Yam kinchit purushadhamam kathipaya-gramesam alpartha-dam
Sevayai mrigayamahe naram aho mudha varaka vayam

Our Lord Narayana, the greatest among men,
Who rules alone the three worlds,
Who can be served by mere control of breath,
Has come to share his all with us,
And come personally before us,
Yet we beg some lowly men,
Who rules a few villages,
For petty rewards and service.
What foolish wretches we are, alas.?

Baddhenanjalina nathena sirasa gatraih sa-romodgamaih
Kanthena svara-gadgadena nayanenodgirna-bashpambuna
Nityam tvachranaravinda-yugala-dhyanamritasvadinam
Asmakam sarasiruhaksha satatam sampadyatam jivitam

With bowed head and joined hands,
We pray our Lord,
With hairs standing erect,
And with tottering voice we repeat his names,
With swelling tears we request the Lord Narayana,
"Please allow us to drink the nectar,
From your two lotus like feet,
And carry on our lives for us,
Oh, Lord who is lotus eyed".

Yat krishna-pranipatha-dhuli-dhavalam thath varshma thad vai siras
Thea nethre tamasojjhite su-ruchire yabhyam harir drisyathe
Sa buddhir vimalendu-sankha-dhavala ya madhava-dhyayini
Sa jihvamrita-varshiti prati-padam ya stauti narayanam

The head with white dust is loftiest, where the dust is collected by bowing to our Lord,
Those eyes which have left ignorance after seeing Lord Hari are the prettiest,
That brain which meditates on Lord Madhava,*
Has the white glow of the moon and the conch and that tongue always showers nectar,
Which praises and glorifies lord Narayana.
* He who is born in the family of Madhu.

Jihve kirthaya kesavam mura-ripum cheto bhaja sridharam
Pani-dvandva samarchayachyuta-kathah srotra-dvaya thvam srunu
Krishnam lokaya lochana-dvaya harer gacchanghri-yugamalayam
Jighra ghrana mukunda-pada-tulasim murdhan namadhokshajam

Oh tongue, sing the praises of Kesava,*
Oh mind, praise the Lord who killed Mura,**
Oh hands, serve the Lord Sridhara,
Of ears, hear the stories extolling Achyutha***
Oh eyes, see always lord Krishna,
Oh feet, Go to the temples of Hari,
Oh nose, smell the Thulasi,****
From the two holy feet of Lord Mukunda,
And Oh head, bow before Lord Adhokshaja.*****
* He who has a beautiful hair.
** An ogre or Rakshasa.
*** He who does not allow his devotees to slip.
**** The sacred basi plant.
***** He who never gets tired of his devotees.

Amnayabhyasanany aranya-ruditham veda-vrathany anv-aham
Medas-cheda-phalani purtha-vidhayah sarvam hutam bhasmani
Tirthanam avagahanani cha gaja-snanam vina yat-pada-
Dvandvambhoruha-samsmritim vijayate devah sa narayanah

Recitation of holy words is but a cry in the forest,
Observation of penance of the Vedas is but a slimming exercise,
Holy sacrifices observed are but pouring ghee in to ashes.
Bathing in holy rivers is but a bath of an elephant,
If done without the memory of his lotus feet,
And so victory to the lord Narayana.

Madana parihara sthitim madhiye
Manasi mukunda-padaravinda-dhamni
Hara-nayana-krisanuna kriso 'si
Smarasi na chakra-parakramam murarer.

Oh God of love, change your place of residence from my mind,
For my mind is occupied by the lotus feet of Mukunda,
Ere long ago have you not been burnt by the fiery look of Hara,*
And still you forget the holy wheel of Lord Murari.**
* Lord Shiva who burnt the God of Love.
** He who killed the Rakshasa called Mura.

Nathe dhathari bhogi-bhoga-sayane narayane madhave
Deve devaki-nandane sura-vare chakrayudhe sarangini
Lilasesha-jagat-prapancha-jathare visvesvare sridhare
Govinde kuru chitta-vrittim achalam anyais tu kim vartanai

Never forget the Hari who sleeps on the serpent,
And who is also called Narayana and Madhava,
Who is the darling son of Devaki,
Who is venerated by Devas,
Who has the holy wheel and the bow Saranga* as weapon,
Who holds the world as if it is a play,
Who is the Lord of the universe,
Who is the Lord Sridhara.
Who takes care of cows,
And make your mind unwaveringly firm on him,
For what else can you gain by any other way?
* The bow of Lord Vishnu.

Ma draksham kshina-punyan kshanam api bhavato bhakti-hinan padabje
Ma srausham sravya-bandham tava charitam apasyanyad akhyana-jatam
Ma smarsham madhava tvam api bhuvana-pathe chetasapahnuvanan
Ma bhuvam tvat-saparya-vyatikara-rahito janma-janmantare api

Let not my glances fall on those,
Who do not have devotion to your feet,
Let not me hear any other thing,
Except the stories of your exploits,
Let not me think of those,
Who do not think of thee, Madhava,
And let not me become unable,
To serve you even in a menial way,
Birth after birth.

Maj-janmanah phalam idam madhu-kaitabhare
Math-prarthaniya-mad-anugraha esha eva
Tvad-bhrithya-bhrithya-paricharaka-bhrithya-bhrithya-
Bhrithyasya bhrithya iti mam smara loka-natha

The result of my life,
Oh god who killed Madhu and Kaitabha,*
And the prayer and also my blessing
Would be oh, Lord of the earth,
If you can make me,
To be thy servant's, servant's,
Assistant's servant's servant's,
Servant's servant.
* Two ogres who were produced by Vishnu and killed by him.

Tattvam bruvanani param paras tan
Madhu ksharantiva mudavahani
Pravartaya pranjalir asmi jihve
Namani narayana-gocharani

His names indicating the supreme truth,
Would give you as much pleasure, as constant dripping of honey,
And so I pray with folded hands, Oh my tongue,
Repeat endlessly the various names of Lord Narayana.

Namami Narayana-pada-pankajam
Karomi narayana-pujanam sada
Vadami narayana-nama nirmalam
Smarami narayana-tattvam avyayam

I prostrate on the lotus feet of Narayana,
I always do worship of Narayana,
I recite the pure names of Narayana,
And I meditate on the truth behind Narayana.

Sri-natha narayana vasudeva
Sri-krishna bhakta-priya chakra-pane
Sri-padmanabhachyuta kaitabhare
Sri-rama padmaksha hare murare

Ananta vaikuntha mukunda krishna
Govinda damodara madhaveti
Vaktum samartho api na vakthi kaschid
Aho jananam vyasanabhimukhyam

Lord of Lakshmi, Narayana, Vasudeva,*
Sri Krishna, Darling of devotes, Wielder of the holy wheel,
Sri Padmanabha,** Achyutha, Kaita Bhare,***
Sri Rama, Lotus eyed Lord, Hari, He who killed Mura,
* Son of King Vasudeva
** He who has a lotus growing in his belly
*** He who killed Kaitabha

Oh endless one, Vaikuntha,* Mukunda, Krishna,
Govinda, He who was tied by a rope in his belly, Madhava,
All of us are able to call you any of these,
But we never call you these,
See how eager all of us are,
To see our own peril.
* Heaven in which Lord Vishnu lives

Bhaktapaya-bhujanga-garuda-manis trailokya-raksha-manir
Gopi-lochana-chatakambuda-manih saundarya-mudra-manih
Yah kanta-mani-rukmini-ghana-kucha-dvandvaika-bhusha-manih
Sreyo deva-sikha-manir disathu no gopala-chuda-manih.

Hey jewel riding on the back of Garuda,*
Hey jewel taking care of all the three worlds,
Hey jewel attracting the eyes of Gopis** like the Chataka bird,***
Hey jewel which is the signal of beauty,
The only jewel on the chest of Rukhmani,****
Who herself is a jewel among your consorts,
Hey crown jewel of all gods,
Hey Gopala***** who is the supreme jewel,
Please show us the way.
* The bird on which Lord Vishnu rides.
** The cow maidens who were friends and devotees of Lord Krishna.
*** A mythical ever thirsty bird.
**** One of the consorts of Lord Krishna
***** He who takes care of cows or souls.

Satru-cchedaika-mantram sakalam upanishad-vakya-sampujya-mantram
Samsaroccheda-mantram samuchita-tamasah sangha-niryana-mantram
Sarvaisvaryaika-mantram vyasana-bhujaga-sandashta-santhrana-mantram
Jihve sri-krishna-mantram japa japa sathatham janma-saphalya-mantram

Mantra which kills all enemies,
Mantra which is worshipped,
By each and every word of Upanishads.
Mantra which cuts the bonds of the world,
Mantra which drives away.
The darkness of ignorance,
Mantra which helps in attaining all riches,
Mantra which cures the snake bite,
Of worldly worries,
Is the name of Sri Krishna,
And so tongue always chant it,
And get deliverance from life.

Vyamoha-prasam aushadham muni-mano-vritti-pravritty-aushadham
Daityendrarti-karaushadham tri-bhuvane sanjivanaikaushadham
Bhaktatyanta-hitaushadham bhava-bhaya-pradhvamsanaikaushadham
Sreyah-prapti-karaushadham piba manah sri-krishna-divyaushadham

Medicine that cures improper desires,
Medicine in the minds of sages,
Which makes them to meditate,
Medicine for controlling king among Rakshasas,
Medicine which gives life to the three worlds,
Medicine which cures the travails of devotees,
Medicine that cures fear of existence,
Medicine that can bring all glory,
Is the holy medicine of Sri Krishna.
And so, devotees drink it to your fill..

Krishna tvadiya-pada-pankaja-panjarantam
Adyaiva me visatu manasa-raja-hamsah
Prana-prayana-samaye kapha-vata-pittaih
Kanthavarodhana-vidhau smaranam kutas te

Krishna, within your feet which are like lotus stems,
How can my mind which is like a royal swan enter?
When the soul is ready to depart and when bile air and phlegm, choke my throat,
How will I ever remember your holy name?

Chetas chintaya kirthayasva rasane namri-bhava thvam siro
Hastav anjali-samputam rachayatam vandasva dirgham vapuh
Atman samsraya pundarika-nayanam nagachalendra-sthitam
Dhanyam punya-tamam thad eva paramam daivam hi sat-siddhaye

Oh mind, Sing of our Lord,
Oh head, bow before him,
Oh hands join your hands in supplication,
Oh body, do obeisance to him,
Oh soul, Make him your refuge,
Him who reclines on mountain of snake,
Him who is auspicious,
Him who is holy of holies,
Him who is the greatest God,
And Him who leads to the only truth.

Srunvan janardana-katha-guna-kirtanani
Dehe na yasya pulakodgama-roma-rajih
Nothpadyathe nayanayor vimalambu-mala
Dhik tasya jivitam aho purushadhamasya

Hearing the stories and nature of Lord Janardhana,
In whose body the hairs do not stand erect,
And in whose eyes the pure garland of tears does not form,
See for yourself, the man who is basest of humans.

Andhasya me hritha-viveka-maha-dhanasya
Chauraih prabho balibhir indriya-namadheyaih
Mohandha-kupa-kuhare vinipatitasya
Devesa dehi kripanasya karavalambam

Blind I have become of the great riches of discrimination,
For the thieves of senses have stolen them from me,
And thrown me in the blind well of passion,
And so Lord, please extend your hands of support to this wretch.

Idam sariram parinama-pesalam
Pathaty avasyam satha-sandhi-jarjaram
Kim aushadham pricchasi mudha durmate
Niramayam krishna-rasayanam piba

This body which will change over time,
Would one day fall after its hundred joints stiffen,
Why are you in search of other medicines, you fool,
Only drink deep, the elixir of Lord Krishna.

Ascharyam ethad dhi manushya-loke
Sudham parityajya visham pibanti
Namani narayana-gocharani
Tyaktvanya-vacah kuhakah pathanti

Wonderful is this world of men,
Leaving out nectar they drink poison,
Not repeating the names of Narayana,
The ignorant go on telling all other words.

Tyajantu bandhavah sarve
Nindantu guravo janah
Tathapi paramanando
Govindo mama jivanam

Relatives and friends have abandoned me,
All the elders scold me always,
But in spite of it, the supreme bliss,
Of Govinda is my life.

Sathyam brovami manujah svayam urdhva-bahur
Yo yo mukunda narasimha janardaneti
Jivo japaty anu-dinam marane rane va
Pashana-kashtha-sadrisaya dadaty abhishtam

Hey man, I shout the truth with raised hands,
All of whom, who meditate in death and war,
Of Mukunda, Narasimha* and Janardhana,
Would think of his own desires as worthless,
Worse than stone and dead wood for ever.
* Incarnation of Lord Vishnu as half human and half lion

Narayanaya nama ity amum eva mantram
Samsara-ghora-visha-nirharanaya nityam
Srinvanthu bhavya-matayo yatayo anuragad
Ucchais taram upadisamy aham urdhva-bahuh

The hearing of the mantra "Om Namo Narayana"
Is the panacea for the every day dark poisonous material life,
With compassion I utter this to the sages who have renounced the world,
And shout this at the top of my voice and with raised hands.

Chittam naiva nivarthate kshanam api sri-krishna-padambujat
Nindantu priya-bandhava guru-jana grihnanthu munchantu va
Durvadam parighoshayantu manuja vamse kalanke astu va
Tadrik prema-dharanuraga-madhuna mattaya manam tu me.

Mind of mine never for a moment
Not think of the lotus feet of Krishna,
Let my dear relations and friends,
Elders and the ordinary ones,
Scold and berate me,
Let the evil ones spread with gusto,
Gossips about bad things of my family,
For an intoxicated mad mind of mine,
It is sufficient to have only His nectar of love.

Krishno rakshatu no jagat-traya-guruh krishnam namadhvam sada
Krishnenakhila-satravo vinihatah krishnaya tasmai namah
Krishnad eva samutthitam jagad idam krishnasya daso asmy aham
Krishne tishthati visvam etad akhilam he krishna rakshasva mam

Krishna is the teacher of the three worlds and protects us,
And so without stop bow before Lord Krishna,
Krishna has killed all our enemies in this universe,
Salutations to Krishna,
All the world has come from Krishna,
I am the humble slave of Krishna,
All the world is within Krishna,
Oh Krishna, protect me for ever.

Hey gopalaka, Hey kripa-jalanidHe, Hey sindhu-kanya-pate
Hey kamsantaka, Hey gajendra-karuna-parina, Hey madhava
Hey ramanuja, Hey jagat-traya-guro, Hey pundarikaksha mam
Hey gopijana-natha palaya param janami na tvam vina

Hey, cow heard boy, Hey, ocean of mercy, Hey, darling of the daughter of the sea,
Hey, slayer of Kamsa,* Hey, Lord who showered mercy on the king of elephants,
Hey, Madahava, Hey brother of Balarama,** Hey, master of the three worlds,
Hey, my lord with lotus eyes, Hey, Lord of all gopis,
Know I none greater than you and so protect me.
* Uncle of Krishna who wanted to eliminate him
** Elder brother of Lord Krishna

Dara varakara-vara-sutha the tanujo virincih
Stotra vedas tava sura-gana bhritya-vargah prasadah
Mukthir maya jagad avikalam tavaki devaki thwa
Mata mithram bala-ripu-sutas tat tvad anyam na jane

Your wife is the daughter of the sea,
Your son is Brahma who creates the world,
Chants about you are the holy Vedas,
Devas are your servant force,
Liberation from this world is your sport, Devaki is your mother,
Arjuna the invincible enemy is your friend,
And so I do not know any one else but you.

Pranamam isasya sirah-phalam vidhus
Tad-archanam prani-phalam divaukasah
Manah-phalam tad-guna-tattva-chintanam
Vacah-phalam tad-guna-kirtanam budhah

Prostration to God is supreme duty of the head,
Worship with flowers the duty of the life breath,
Thought of his goodness is the duty of the mind,
And singing of his praise is the duty of the speech,
So say the divine ones living in the sky.

Sriman-nama prochya narayanakhyam
Ke na prabhur vanchitam papino api
Ha nah purvam vak-pravritta na tasmims
Tena praptam garbha-vasadi-duhkham

By calling aloud the name of Lord Narayana,
Even the sinner is blessed with his desires,
Possibly we had not used the power of speech in last earlier life,
Which resulted in the sorrow of us living in the womb.

Dhyayanti ye vishnum anantam avyayam
Hrit-padma-madhye satatam vyavasthitam
Samahitanam satatabhaya-pradam
Te yanti siddhim paramam tu vaishnavim.

He who meditates on Vishnu, the limitless and folly less,
Who is present on a lotus in the middle of the heart,
And who grants the one who meditates, fearlessness,
Will get for sure the perfection great of a Vaishnava.*
* Devotee of Vishnu also means a great soul.

Tat tvam prasida bhagavan kuru mayy anathe
Vishno kripam parama-karunikah khalu tvam
Samsara-sagara-nimagnam ananta dinam
Uddhartum arhasi hare purushottamo asi

Shower your mercy on me my Lord,
You are the Vishnu who is the most merciful,
For this sinner is drowned in this endless sea of material life,
And merits your help Hey Hari, Hey Purushottama.*
* The greatest among males

Kshira-sagara-tarangarasikara-
Sara-tarakita-charu-murtaye
Bhogi-bhoga-sayaniya-saayine
Madhavaya madhu-vidvishe namah

To the one sprayed with drops from the waves of the ocean of milk,
Who has the pretty form of stars in the sky,
Who Reclines on the bed of the serpent,
Who is Madhava and the killer of Madhu,
Are my heart felt salutations.

Alam alam alam eka praninam patakanam
Nirasana-vishaye ya krishna krishneti vani
Yadi bhavati mukunde bhaktir ananda-sandra
Karatala-kalina sa moksha-samrajya lakshmih

Suffice, suffice and suffice it is for all sins of a being,
To be driven away for ever,
By the repetition of "Krishna" and "Krishna"
But if one has the ecstasy of devotion to Mukunda,
He will have always in his hand liberation, influence and riches.

Yasya priyau sruti-dharau kavi-loka-virau
Mitrau dvi-janma-vara-padma-sarav abhutam
Tenambujaksha-charanambuja-shat-padena
Rajna krita kritir iyam kulasekharena

Friends of mine, intellects great,
Who were heroes in the world of poets,
Belonging to the twice born caste,
Are the lotus stems pretty,
And these poems dedicated to the lotus feet of the lotus eyed,
Were composed by king called Kulashekara.

Mukunda-malam pathatam naranam
Asesha-saukhyam labhate na kah svit
Samasta-papa-kshayam etya dehi
Prayati vishnoh paramam padam tat

All men who read the verses of Mukunda Mala,
Will achieve all happiness in life,
And their sins would be pardoned,
And will travel to the supreme abode of Vishnu.