Madhurashtakam
मधुराष्टकम्
Vallabhacharya's lyrical celebration of the sweetness of Krishna.
अधरं मधुरं वदनं मधुरं नयनं मधुरं हसितं मधुरम्। हृदयं मधुरं गमनं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥१॥
Krishna's lips, face, eyes, smile, heart and movement are all sweetness itself.
वचनं मधुरं चरितं मधुरं वसनं मधुरं वलितं मधुरम्। चलितं मधुरं भ्रमितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥२॥
His speech, conduct, clothing, posture, motion and wandering are all sweet.
वेणुर्मधुरो रेणुर्मधुरः पाणिर्मधुरः पादौ मधुरौ। नृत्यं मधुरं सख्यं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥३॥
His flute, foot-dust, hands, feet, dance and friendship are all sweet.
गीतं मधुरं पीतं मधुरं भुक्तं मधुरं सुप्तं मधुरम्। रूपं मधुरं तिलकं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥४॥
His song, drink, food, rest, form and sacred mark are all sweet.
करणं मधुरं तरणं मधुरं हरणं मधुरं रमणं मधुरम्। वमितं मधुरं शमितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥५॥
His deeds, deliverance, playful stealing, love, serenity and beauty are all sweet.
गुञ्जा मधुरा माला मधुरा यमुना मधुरा वीची मधुरा। सलिलं मधुरं कमलं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥६॥
His garland, Yamuna, waves, waters, lotuses and the whole setting of his play are sweet.
गोपी मधुरा लीला मधुरा युक्तं मधुरं मुक्तं मधुरम्। दृष्टं मधुरं शिष्टं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥७॥
The gopis, his play, union, enjoyment, gracious sight and refined conduct are all sweet.
गोपा मधुरा गावो मधुरा यष्टिर्मधुरा सृष्टिर्मधुरा। दलितं मधुरं फलितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्॥८॥
The cowherds, cows, staff, creation, what he overcomes and every fruit of his grace are sweet.
What does Madhurashtakam mean?
Every aspect of Krishna — his form, speech, flute, play, companions and world — is described as divinely sweet.
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Source & verification
Vallabhacharya; cross-check source: Sanskrit Wikisource
Public-domain composition
Prepared from a commonly recited traditional recension.
Open verification source ↗Last verified: 2026-09-06