Shri Krishna Ashtottara Shatanama Stotram

Shri Krishna Ashtottara Shatanama Stotram is a Sanskrit hymn of 22 verses that lists the 108 names of Krishna, as the colophon says, from the Uttarakhanda of the Padma Purana. Each name is a short picture of one form or deed, so reading it is a quick walk through Krishna''s life, from birth in Mathura, childhood in Vraja, youth in Vrindavan, kingship at Dwarka, to the charioteer of the Gita. Some names repeat or join as compounds, so the count differs by a few among editions.

Verses 1 to 2: who he is. Shrikrishna, lord of Kamala (Lakshmi), Vasudeva, the eternal one, the son of Vasudeva, pure, who took a human form in play. He wears the Shrivatsa mark and Kaustubha gem, loves Yashoda, is Hari, four-armed with discus, sword, mace and conch.

Verse 3: birth. Joy of Devaki, lord of Shri, dear son of Nanda, who calmed the flood of the Yamuna (when Vasudeva carried him across), and the dear younger brother of Balabhadra (see Baladevashtakam).

Verses 4 to 5: Gokul. He took the life of Putana, broke the Shakata demon, is the joy of the people of Nanda''s Vraja and a form of truth, consciousness and bliss. His body smeared with butter, who dances for butter, sinless, eating fresh butter, and who blessed King Muchukunda.

Verse 6: Vrindavan. Lord of the 16,000 queens in the tradition, bent in three places (tribhangi) in the flute pose, a sweet form, the moon to the ocean of nectar of Shuka''s speech, Govinda and master of the yogis.

Verses 7 to 8: deeds in Vraja. He roamed with the calves, is endless, broke Dhenuka, made Trinavarta like straw and broke the twin Arjuna trees (Yamalarjuna). He felled the tall palms, is dark as the tamala tree, lord of gopas and gopis, a yogi with the light of crores of suns.

Verses 9 to 10: Parijata and Govardhana. Lord of the earth, supreme light, king of the Yadavas, the forest-garland wearer in yellow cloth who brought the Parijata tree. Lifter of Govardhana, Gopala, protector of all, unborn, spotless, lotus-eyed.

Verses 11 to 12: Mathura and Dwarka. Slayer of Madhu, lord of Mathura and Dwarka, strong, who wanders in Vrindavan wearing a tulasi garland. He retrieved the Syamantaka gem, is of the nature of Nara-Narayana, showed grace to Kubja, and is the supreme person.

Verses 13 to 14: enemies. Master of the wrestling bout with Mushtika and Chanura, enemy of worldly bondage, Kamsari, Murari and the ender of Naraka. The text calls him a lifelong celibate in the sense of detachment (read in different ways), the one who ended Draupadi''s distress (Krishna means Draupadi here), who cut off the head of Shishupala and ended the line of Duryodhana.

Verses 15 to 16: friend and teacher. He gave boons to Vidura and Akrura, showed his cosmic form, is truthful, fond of Satyabhama, victorious, elder brother of Subhadra, gave liberation to Bhishma, is the teacher and lord of the world and a master of the flute.

Verses 17 to 18: Mahabharata. He destroyed the bull demon Vrishabha, cut Bana''s arms, established Yudhishthira, wears the peacock feather, is Partha''s charioteer, the unmanifest, the ocean of the nectar of the Gita, and his feet are coloured by the gems of Kaliya''s hoods.

Verses 19 to 20: names of grace. Damodara (bound by Yashoda''s rope), enjoyer of yajna, destroyer of demon chiefs, Narayana, Parabrahma, who rides Garuda. He loves water-play, took the garments of the gopis (read in the Vaishnava tradition as a play of giving up ego), is of holy fame, whose feet are a tirtha, known through the Vedas, ocean of mercy.

Verses 21 to 22: the close. He is all tirthas, the one who is the supreme beyond the supreme, and thus 108 names are told. The name of Krishna is nectar that gives supreme joy and, as the text says, removes great troubles and increases life. These are statements of faith, not guarantees.

The message. Naming is remembering: every name is a story to recall, and remembering him calms the mind. Prayer works best alongside real effort, and for health, money or legal problems please take proper help. See the Krishna Chalisa, Vishnu 108 names and Badrinath Stuti.