Madhurashtakam - 3¶
The Shloka¶
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वेणुर्मधुरो रेणुर्मधुरः पाणिर्मधुरः पादौ मधुरौ ।
नृत्यं मधुरं सख्यं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ॥
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Veṇurmadhuro reṇurmadhuraḥ pāṇirmadhuraḥ pādau madhurau.
Nṛtyaṁ madhuraṁ sakhyaṁ madhuraṁ madhurādhipaterakhilaṁ madhuram.
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Meaning / Summary¶
This shloka, like the entire Madhurashtakam, is an outpouring of devotion, emphasizing the aesthetic and emotional beauty of Lord Krishna. It highlights that true devotion sees sweetness in every facet of the Divine, even in seemingly ordinary things like dust or a flute. It invites devotees to perceive Krishna not just as a powerful deity but as an embodiment of ultimate charm and love, where every attribute is delightful and captivating. This perspective helps in cultivating a deep, personal, and loving relationship with the Lord.
His flute is sweet, the dust of His feet is sweet, His hands are sweet, His feet are sweet. His dance is sweet, His friendship is sweet, everything belonging to the Lord of Sweetness (Krishna) is sweet.
This verse glorifies the various aspects of Lord Krishna, declaring each one to be utterly sweet. From the mundane, like the dust of His feet, to the divine and personal, like His flute, hands, feet, dance, and even His companionship, everything associated with Krishna, the supreme Lord of sweetness, is imbued with an enchanting and delightful quality.
This verse continues the theme of the Madhurashtakam, where the poet Vallabhacharya expresses his profound devotion by perceiving Lord Krishna’s attributes as supremely “madhuram” (sweet, enchanting, delightful). Here, he focuses on specific physical and relational aspects of Krishna. The sound of Krishna’s flute (veṇu) is described as sweet, capable of mesmerizing all living beings. The dust (reṇu) from His feet, which might seem insignificant, is declared sweet, indicating its sacredness and the spiritual upliftment it offers to devotees. His hands (pāṇi), which hold the flute or perform various playful acts, are sweet, symbolizing their divine touch. His feet (pādau), which move gracefully in His pastimes, are also sweet, representing the auspiciousness of His divine steps. Moving beyond physical attributes, the shloka describes Krishna’s dance (nṛtyam) as sweet, evocative of His enchanting rasa lila and other divine dances. His friendship (sakhyam), or the companionship He offers, is also sweet, signifying the loving relationship devotees can have with Him. The culmination is the declaration that “everything” (akhilam) belonging to Madhurādhipati (the Lord of Sweetness, Krishna) is sweet. This encompasses not just the mentioned items but His entire being, His actions, His qualities, and His very essence, affirming His role as the ultimate source and embodiment of all sweetness and delight.
Sentence - 1¶
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वेणुर्मधुरो रेणुर्मधुरः पाणिर्मधुरः पादौ मधुरौ ।
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Meaning¶
His flute is sweet, the dust of His feet is sweet, His hands are sweet, His feet are sweet.
Meaning of Words¶
वेणुः | veṇuḥ | |
Refers specifically to the bamboo flute that Lord Krishna plays, which is famous for its enchanting melody that captivates all beings, human and animal alike, in Vrindavan. | ||
मधुरः | madhuraḥ | |
sweet | ||
रेणुः | reṇuḥ | |
Specifically, the dust from Lord Krishna’s lotus feet, which is considered supremely sacred and purifying by devotees. Its sweetness indicates its auspicious and divine nature. | ||
पाणिः | pāṇiḥ | |
Krishna’s hands are sweet because they perform divine actions, hold the flute, offer blessings, and engage in playful pastimes, all of which are delightful to His devotees. | ||
पादौ | pādau | |
Refers to Lord Krishna’s divine lotus feet (dual form), which are an object of worship and meditation for devotees, symbolizing protection, grace, and ultimate refuge. Their sweetness indicates their supreme auspiciousness and beauty. | ||
Sentence - 2¶
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नृत्यं मधुरं सख्यं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ॥
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Meaning¶
His dance is sweet, His friendship is sweet, everything belonging to the Lord of Sweetness is sweet.
Meaning of Words¶
नृत्यम् | nṛtyam | |
Refers to Lord Krishna’s enchanting dances, such as the Rasa Lila, which are full of divine grace, beauty, and emotional depth, captivating everyone who witnesses or contemplates them. | ||
सख्यम् | sakhyam | |
friendship | ||
मधुराधिपतेः | madhurādhipateḥ | |
of the Lord of Sweetness | ||
अखिलम् | akhilam | |
entire, whole, everything | ||