Madhurashtakam (Adharam Madhuram) — Lyrics with Meaning
Madhurashtakam is a loving hymn to Shri Krishna composed by Shri Vallabhacharya. It says everything about Krishna, the Lord of sweetness, is sweet — his lips, smile, flute, walk, friends, cows and playful deeds. It is sung on Janmashtami, at bhajan gatherings and in daily Krishna worship.
Adharam madhuram vadanam madhuram nayanam madhuram hasitam madhuram | Hridayam madhuram gamanam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||1||
Vachanam madhuram charitam madhuram vasanam madhuram valitam madhuram | Chalitam madhuram bhramitam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||2||
Venurmadhuro renurmadhurah panirmadhurah padau madhurau | Nrityam madhuram sakhyam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||3||
Gitam madhuram pitam madhuram bhuktam madhuram suptam madhuram | Rupam madhuram tilakam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||4||
Karanam madhuram taranam madhuram haranam madhuram ramanam madhuram | Vamitam madhuram shamitam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||5||
Gunja madhura mala madhura yamuna madhura vichi madhura | Salilam madhuram kamalam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||6||
Gopi madhura lila madhura yuktam madhuram muktam madhuram | Drishtam madhuram shishtam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||7||
Gopa madhura gavo madhura yashtirmadhura srishtirmadhura | Dalitam madhuram phalitam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||8||
Meaning
Verse 1
Adharam madhuram vadanam madhuram nayanam madhuram hasitam madhuram | Hridayam madhuram gamanam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||1||
His lips are sweet, his face is sweet, his eyes are sweet, his smile is sweet, his heart is sweet, his walk is sweet — everything about the Lord of sweetness is sweet.
Verse 2
Vachanam madhuram charitam madhuram vasanam madhuram valitam madhuram | Chalitam madhuram bhramitam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||2||
His words are sweet, his deeds are sweet, his clothes are sweet, the curve of his posture is sweet, his movement is sweet, his wandering is sweet — everything about the Lord of sweetness is sweet.
Verse 3
Venurmadhuro renurmadhurah panirmadhurah padau madhurau | Nrityam madhuram sakhyam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||3||
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 about the Lord of sweetness is sweet.
Verse 4
Gitam madhuram pitam madhuram bhuktam madhuram suptam madhuram | Rupam madhuram tilakam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||4||
His song is sweet, his drinking is sweet, his eating is sweet, his sleeping is sweet, his form is sweet, his tilak is sweet — everything about the Lord of sweetness is sweet.
Verse 5
Karanam madhuram taranam madhuram haranam madhuram ramanam madhuram | Vamitam madhuram shamitam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||5||
His deeds are sweet, his rescuing is sweet, his stealing (of butter and hearts) is sweet, his play is sweet, his giving is sweet, his calmness is sweet — everything about the Lord of sweetness is sweet.
Verse 6
Gunja madhura mala madhura yamuna madhura vichi madhura | Salilam madhuram kamalam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||6||
His gunja-berry necklace is sweet, his garland is sweet, the Yamuna is sweet, its waves are sweet, its water is sweet, its lotuses are sweet — everything about the Lord of sweetness is sweet.
Verse 7
Gopi madhura lila madhura yuktam madhuram muktam madhuram | Drishtam madhuram shishtam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||7||
The gopis are sweet, his play is sweet, his union is sweet, his release is sweet, his glance is sweet, his courtesy is sweet — everything about the Lord of sweetness is sweet.
Verse 8
Gopa madhura gavo madhura yashtirmadhura srishtirmadhura | Dalitam madhuram phalitam madhuram madhuradhipaterakhilam madhuram ||8||
The cowherd boys are sweet, the cows are sweet, his herding stick is sweet, his creation is sweet, his crushing (of evil) is sweet, its fruit is sweet — everything about the Lord of sweetness is sweet.
Meanings written in simple language by the KathaMantra team.
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Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the Madhurashtakam?
Shri Vallabhacharya, the 15th–16th century teacher and founder of the Pushti Marg tradition of Krishna devotion.
What does 'Madhuradhipati' mean?
'The Lord of sweetness' — Shri Krishna. Some also connect it with Mathura, but the main sense is sweetness.
When is the Madhurashtakam sung?
It can be sung any time — in morning worship, at the evening aarti or during bhajans. It is sung with special love on Janmashtami and in the month of Kartik.