Yamunashtakam
(The octet on river Yamuna)
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(River Yamuna is one of the major tributaries of river
Murari kaya kalima lalama vari dharini,
Thrunikrutha vishtapaa triloka soka harini,
Manonukoola koola kunja punja dhootha durmatha,
Dunothu may mano malam kalinda nandini sada. 1
Let the dirt in my
mind be removed by the daughter of kalinda,
Who carries within
her water of the colour of Lord Krishna,
Who has the fame of
making heavenly pleasures as low as grass,
Who destroys the
sorrows of the entire three worlds,
And who destroys the
bad in bad people ,
In the several small
huts all along her shores.
Malapahari varipoora bhoorimandithamrutha,
Bhrusam prapathaka prapanchanadhipanditha nisa,
Sunanda nandananga sanga raga ranjitha hitha,
Dunothu may mano malam kalinda nandini sada. 2
Let the dirt in my
mind be removed by the daughter of kalinda,
Who has mixed lot of
nectar in her sin killing tide of water,
Who is decorated by
water which destroys sins,
Who is capable of
giving god like stature,
Who is greatest in
destroying great sins,
Who is on all days
and all moments moving without rest,
Who bears the reddish
colour from the body of
And who is the one
who does what is liked.
Lasatharanga sanga
dhootha bhootha jatha pathaka,
Naveena madhuri dhureena bhaktha chatha chathaka,
Thatantha vasa
dasa sahamsa samsruthahnikaamadha,
Dunothu may mano malam kalinda nandini sada. 3
Let the dirt in my
mind be removed by the daughter of kalinda,
Who destroys all sins
of all beings by the touch of her moving tides,
Who has her Chathaka*
like devotees waiting to drink her new
happy nectar,
And who daily
fulfills the wants of her swan like
devotees living on her shore.
* A mythical bird which drinks rain and
survives.
Vihara rasa khedha bheda dheera theera marutha,
Gathagirama gochare yadheeya neera charutha,
Pravaha sahacharya pootha medhini nadhee nadha,
Dunothu may mano malam kalinda nandini sada. 4
Let the dirt in my
mind be removed by the daughter of kalinda,
Who has the breeze
which removes the exertion ,
Of Lord Krishna after
his vigorous Rasa Kreeda,
Who has the flow of
water which can not.
Possibly be described
adequately by words,
And who makes the
land through which she flows,
And the streams
joining her greatly holy.
Tharanga sanga saikathanthareekam sada sitha,
Saranisakaramsu manju manjari sabhajitha,
Bhavardhana pracharunambu nadhuna visharadha,
Dunothu may mano malam kalinda nandini sada. 5
Let the dirt in my
mind be removed by the daughter of kalinda,
Whose sand filled
beaches are populated by several sages,
Who is being
worshipped by the pretty flower like rays of the autumn moon,
And who has the sweet
waters capable of destroying sorrow of life.
Jalantha keli kari charu radhikanga ragini,
Swabharthuranya durlabha gatham gathmsa bhagini,
Swadatha hastha suptha sindhu bedhanathi kovidha,
Dunothu may mano malam kalinda nandini sada. 6
Let the dirt in my
mind be removed by the daughter of kalinda,
Who has the wash of
the body of Radha interested in water
sports,
Who cannot be approached
by anybody except her husband,
Who has more water
from the streams joining her,
Who is very capable
of making the ocean ,
Who is her sleeping
husband into tumultuous action
Jalachithachyuth anga raga lambatali shalini,
Vilola radhika kuchantha champakali malini,
Sabhava gaha nava
theerna bharthru bruthya narada,
Dunothu may mano malam kalinda nandini sada. 7
Let the dirt in my
mind be removed by the daughter of kalinda,
Who drowns the bees who are attracted ,
By the waters washing
the body of Lord Krishna,
Who has the fallen
champaka garland worn
By the tired Radha, decorating her hair,
And who gives
salvation to gopas ,
Who enter in to her
to take bath.
Sadaiva nandanandakeli Sali kunja manjula,
Thatoththa phulla
mallika kadambha renu soojwala,
Jalava gahinaam nrunaam bhavabdhi sindhu paradha,
Dunothu may mano malam kalinda nandini sada. 8
Let the dirt in my
mind be removed by the daughter of kalinda,
Who has pretty banks
full of small homes where
Whose luster is
increased by mixture of pollen
From open jasmine
flowers from plants in her banks,
And who helps people
taking a dip in her to get salvation,