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Stotra Vishnu

Achyutam Keshavam

अच्युतम् केशवम्

Achyutam Keshavam is a beloved short bhajan that garlands the many names of Vishnu — Krishna, Rama, Damodara, Madhava — into one flowing prayer, ending with the soul's plea: who is mine in this world besides you, Krishna?

Lyrics with meaning

1

अच्युतम् केशवम् रामनारायणम्
कृष्णदामोदरम् वासुदेवम् भजे।
श्रीधरम् माधवम् गोपिकावल्लभम्
जानकीनायकम् रामचन्द्रम् भजे॥

Achyutam Keshavam Rama-narayanam
Krishna-damodaram Vasudevam bhaje
Shridharam Madhavam Gopika-vallabham
Janaki-nayakam Ramachandram bhaje

2

अच्युतम् केशवम् सत्यभामाधवम्
माधवम् श्रीधरम् राधिकाराधितम्।
इन्दिरामन्दिरम् चेतसा सुन्दरम्
देवकीनन्दनम् नन्दजम् सन्दधे॥

Achyutam Keshavam Satyabhama-dhavam
Madhavam Shridharam Radhika-radhitam
Indira-mandiram chetasa sundaram
Devaki-nandanam Nanda-jam sandadhe

3

विष्णवे जिष्णवे शङ्खिने चक्रिणे
रुक्मिणीरागिणे जानकीजानये।
वल्लवीवल्लभायार्चितायात्मने
कंसविध्वंसिने वंशिने ते नमः॥

(continues: Vishnave jishnave shankhine chakrine... Krishna Govinda he Rama Narayana... Raghavah patu mam... Bala-gopalakah patu mam sarvada)

4

कृष्ण गोविन्द हे राम नारायण
श्रीपते वासुदेवाजित श्रीनिधे।
अच्युतानन्त हे माधवाधोक्षज
द्वारकानायक द्रौपदीरक्षक॥

5

राक्षसक्षोभितः सीतया शोभितो
दण्डकारण्यभूपुण्यताकारणः।
लक्ष्मणेनान्वितो वानरैः सेवितो-
'गस्त्यसम्पूजितो राघवः पातु माम्॥

6

धेनुकारिष्टकोऽनिष्टकृद्द्वेषिणां
केशिहा कंसहृद्वंशिकावादकः।
पूतनाकोपकः सूरजाखेलनो
बालगोपालकः पातु मां सर्वदा॥

Meaning

I worship Achyuta (the unfailing), Keshava, who is Rama and Narayana; I worship Krishna, Damodara, Vasudeva; I worship Shridhara, Madhava, the beloved of the gopis, the lord of Janaki (Sita), Ramachandra. I hold in my heart the one beautiful to the mind — husband of Satyabhama, worshipped by Radha, dwelling in the heart of Lakshmi, the son of Devaki raised by Nanda. Salutations to you, Vishnu the ever-victorious, bearer of the conch and discus, beloved of Rukmini, husband of Janaki, cherished by the cowherd girls, the slayer of Kamsa, the flute-player. O Krishna, Govinda, Rama, Narayana, lord of Shri, unconquered Vasudeva, treasure of fortune; O Achyuta, Ananta, Madhava, Adhokshaja, lord of Dvaraka, protector of Draupadi. May Raghava — adorned beside Sita, served by the vanaras, worshipped by Agastya — protect me. May the child Gopala, slayer of the demons Dhenuka and Keshi, player of the flute, ever protect me.

About this bhajan

Achyutam Keshavam is one of the most loved short bhajans of Vishnu, stringing together his many names — Achyuta (the unfailing), Keshava, Rama, Narayana, Krishna, Damodara, Vasudeva, Shridhara, Madhava — into a single tender prayer. The second half turns personal and aching: “Who will wipe away my sorrow if not you? Who is mine in this world besides you, Krishna?”

Its gentleness and simple repetition make it a favourite for kirtan, for quiet personal prayer, and for teaching children the names of the Lord. Unlike the long stotras, it asks for nothing but nearness.

How to sing it

  1. Sing slowly and with feeling; it is a bhajan of longing, not a rapid chant.
  2. Beautiful before a tulsi plant or an image of Krishna or Rama, with a lamp lit.
  3. Often sung in satsang and kirtan, with the gathering repeating each line.

Why devotees love it

Where many hymns praise the Lord’s power, Achyutam Keshavam simply reaches for his companionship. It is the cry of the soul that has run out of other refuges and found that the Lord’s name is enough.

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Sources

  1. Achyutashtakam, traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
  2. Gita Press, Gorakhpur, Bhajan collections

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