Śrī Śrī Rādhā-kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-stava-rāja

The PRAYER FOR THE MERCIFUL SIDELONG GLANCE OF SRI RADHA

(An Appeal to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī from the Ūrdhvāmnāya-tantra)

Spoken by Lord Śiva to Parvati
Translated by Kuśakratha dāsa

Text 1
म–वन–व न – – प्रसन-वक-प ञ-भ-! व स
व्र –भ– न व्र –स! –स#$
% ࠊᩄ п स म # प ’ d–भ म ॥१॥ )
munīndra-v nda-vandite triloka-śoka-hāri iṛ
prasanna-vaktra-pa kaje nikuñja-bhū-vilāsiniṇ
vrajendra-bhānu-nandini vrajendra-sūnu-sa gateṅ
kadā kari yasīha māṣṁ ṛ k pā-ka āk a-bhājanamṭ ṣ ||1||

muni—of sages; indra—of kings; vrinda—by the assembly; vandite—worshiped;

tri—three; loka—of the worlds; shoka—the distress; harini—removing;
prasanna —bright; vaktra—face; pankaje—lotus flower; nikunja-bhu—in the
groves of Vrindavana; vilasini—performing pastimes; vraja—of Vraja; indra—
of the king; bhanu—of Vrishabhanu; nandini—the daughter; vraja—of Vraja;
indra—of the king; sunu—of the Son (Krishna); sangate—associated; kada—
when?; karishyasi—will You make; iha—here; mam—me; kripa—of mercy;
kataksha—of the glance; bhajanam—the recipient.
O goddess worshiped by the kings of sages, O goddess who remove the
sufferings of the three worlds, O goddess whose face is a blossoming lotus, O
goddess who enjoy pastimes in the forest, O daughter of Vrishabhanu, O
companion of Vraja’s prince, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong
glance upon me? Text 2
अ –व d–वल्ल व –म .प– / प्रव 0 –पल्लव
प्रभ 1 # 2– म । व भሁ ㌶ त्क प्रभ! सम्प
%ሁ
% ࠊᩄ п स म # प ’ d–भ म ॥२॥ )

aśoka-v k a-vallarī-vitāna-maṛ ṣṇḍapa-sthite

pravāla-vāla-pallava prabhā ’ru ā ghri-komaleṇ ṅ
varābhaya-sphurat-kare prabhūta-sampadālaye
kadā kari yasīha māṣṁ ṛ k pā-ka āk a-bhājanam ṭṣ ||2||

ashoka—ashoka; vriksha—tree; vallari—creeper; vitana—spreading; mandapa

—pavilion; sthite—situated; pravala-vala-pallava—excellent blossoming
flowers; prabha—with the splendor; aruna—reddish; anghri—feet; komale—
delicate; vara—excellent; abhaya—fearlessness; sphurat—manifesting; kare—
hand; prabhuta—abundant; sampada—of opulence; alaye—abode; kada—
when?; karishyasi—will You make; iha—here; mam—me; kripa—of mercy;
kataksha—of the glance; bhajanam—the recipient.

O goddess staying in a vine-cottage by an ashoka tree, O goddess whose delicate

feet are as splendid as red blossoms, O goddess whose hand grants fearlessness,
O abode of transcendetal opulences, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong
glance upon me? Text 3
अ ङ-$ मङ-प्रसङ-भङ -भव #
स वभम# सस;म# <$=–0 प >? ।
=#व प्र नन
% ࠊᩄ п स म # प ’ d–भ म ॥३॥ )
ana ga-ra ga-ma gala-prasa ga-bha gura-bhruvāṅ ṅ ṅ ṅ ṅ
ṁ
sa-vibhramaṁ sa-sambhramaṁ ṛ d ganta-bā a-pātanaiṇ
ḥ nirantaraṁ vaśī-k ta-pratīti-nanda-nandaneṛ
kadā kari yasīha māṣṁ ṛ k pā-ka āk a-bhājanam ṭṣ ||3||

ananga—of cupid; ranga—in the pleasure; mangala—auspiciousness; prasanga

—contact; bhangura—bending; bhruvam—of the eyebrows; sa—with;
vibhramam—amorous playfulness; sa—with; sambhramam—movements; drik—
of the eyes; anta—from the corners; bana—of the arrows; patanaih—with the
falling; nirantaram—constantly; vashi-krita—subdued; pratiti—conviction;
nanda-nandane—of Lord Krishna, the Son of Nanda Maharaja; kada—when?;
karishyasi—will You make; iha—here; mam—me; kripa—of mercy; kataksha—
of the glance; bhajanam—the recipient.

O goddess who, playfully shooting the arrows of Your glances from the curved
bows of Your auspicious, amorous eyebrows, have completely subdued
Nanda’s son [Krishna], when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon
me? Text 4
.–स) व –चम्प –प्र% C–$D – व EA
मख–प्रभ –प G– ’– %न्दुम . । व च-च स I J-
व-च
% ࠊᩄ п स म # प ’ d–भ म ॥४॥ )
ta it-suvar a-campaka-pradīpta-gaura-vigraheḍ
ṇ
mukha-prabhā-parāsta-ko i-śāradendu-maṭ ṇḍale vicitra-citra-sañcarac-
cakora-śāva-locane
kadā kari yasīha māṣṁ ṛ k pā-ka āk a-bhājanam ṭṣ ||4||
tadit—lightning; suvarna—gold; campaka—campaka flower; pradipta—
splendid; gaura—golden; vigrahe—form; mukha—of the face; prabha—by the
splendor; parasta—eclipsed; koti—millions; sharada—autumn; indu—moons;
mandale—multitude; vicitra—amazing; citra—beautiful; sancarat—moving;
cakora-shava—young cakora birds; locane—eyes; kada—when?; karishyasi—
will You make; iha—here; mam—me; kripa—of mercy; kataksha—of the glance;
bhajanam—the recipient.

O goddess whose form is as splendid as campaka flowers, gold, and lightning, O

goddess whose face eclipses millions of autumn moons, O goddess whose eyes
are wonderful, restless young cakora birds, when will You cast Your merciful
sidelong glance upon me?

Text 5
म% 僛% –ሁ D व प्रम %–म –म .
प्रሁ$– ञ – व स – प . । अ न्यधन्य– ञ O–
म – व%
% ࠊᩄ п स म # प ’ d–भ म ॥५॥ )
madonmadāti-yauvane pramoda-māna-maṇḍite priyānurāga-
rañjite kalā-vilāsa-paṇḍite
ananya-dhanya-kuñja-rājya-kāma keli-kovide
kadā kari yasīha māṣṁ ṛ k pā-ka āk a-bhājanam ṭṣ ||5||

mada—with joy; unmadita—intoxicated; yauvane—youth; pramoda—with

delight; mana—jealous anger; mandite—decorated; priya—to the beloved;
anuraga-ranjite—full of affection; kala—of art; vilasa—in the pastimes; pandite
—expert; ananya—incomparable; dhanya—opulence; kunja—of the grove of
Vrindavana; rajya—of the kingdom; kama—amorous; keli—in pastimes; kovide
—expert.; kada—when?; karishyasi—will You make; iha—here; mam—me;
kripa —of mercy; kataksha—of the glance; bhajanam—the recipient.

O young girl intoxicated with passion, O goddess decorated with cheerful jealous
anger, O goddess who passionately love Your beloved Krishna, O goddess
learned in playful arts, O goddess expert at enjoying amorous pastimes in the
kingdom of the peerlessly opulent forest groves of Vrindavana, when will You
cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 6
अ ष– वभ व–ध –भष! प्रभ! म– म म–मस G
। प्र G मन– S च! प A ! स DT –स $A
% ࠊᩄ п स म # प ’ d–भ म ॥६॥ )
aśe a-hāva-bhāva-dhīra-hīra-hāra-bhū iteṣ
prabhūta-śāta-kumbha-kumbha-kumbhi kumbha-sustani
praśasta-manda-hāsya-cūr a-pūr a-saukhya-sāgareṇ
ṇ
kadā kari yasīha māṣṁ ṛ k pā-ka āk a-bhājanam ṭṣ ||6|

ashesha—complete; hava—amorous gestures; bhava—state of being; dhira—

brave; hira—of pearls; hara—with a necklace; bhushite—decorated; prabhuta—
great; shatakumbha—of gold; kumbha-kumbhi—pitcher; kumbha—like pitchers;
su—beautiful; stani—breasts; prashasta—celebrated; manda—gentle; hasya—of
the smile; curna—aromatic powders; purna—full; saukhya—of happiness;
sagare—ocean; kada—when?; karishyasi—will You make; iha—here; mam—
me; kripa—of mercy; kataksha—of the glance; bhajanam—the recipient.

O goddess decorated with a pearl neclace of bold amorous hints, O goddess as

fair as gold, O goddess whose breasts are great golden waterpots, O ocean of
happiness filled with the scented powders of gentle smiles, when will You cast
Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 7
म -व -वल्ल ङ-ङ-% A
E– S– – – च व ।
ल्ल 僛 僛 ﾸ–म W ध–म ̋
% ࠊᩄ п स म # प ’ d–भ म ॥७॥ )
mṛṇāla-vāla-vallarī tara ga-ra ga-dor-lateṅ
latāgra-lāsya-lola-nīla-locanāvalokane
lalal-lulan-milan-manojña mugdha-mohanāśrite
kadā kari yasīha māṣ ṁ ṛ k pā-ka āk a-bhājanam ṭ ṣ ||
7||
mrinala-vala-vallari—of lotus stalks; taranga—waves; ranga—arena; doh—of
the arms; late—creepers; lata—of the creepers; agra—at the tip; lasya—dance;
lola—restlessly moving; nila—dark; locana—of the eyes; avalokane—glance;
lalat—sporting; lulat—moving about; milat—meeting; manojna—lovely;
mugdha—of an innocent young girl; mohana—charm; ashrite—sheltered; kada
—when?; karishyasi—will You make; iha—here; mam—me; kripa—of mercy;
kataksha—of the glance; bhajanam—the recipient.

O goddess whose arms are lotus stalks dancing on the waves, O goddess whose
dark eyes are dancing vines, O playful, beautiful, charming goddess, when will
You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 8
सव म A I – ख– म– [$ स–मङ! -$ – ‫ܢ‬-%
C–% ध । स – = –प्रस–$! च–$^
% ࠊᩄ п स म # प ’ d–भ म ॥८॥ )
suvar a-mālikāñcita-trirekha-kambu-kaṇ ṇṭhage
tri-sūtra-ma galī-gu a-tri-ratna-dīpti-dīdhitiṅ ṇ
salola-nīla-kuntala prasūna-guccha-gumphite
kadā kari yasīha māṣṁ ṛ k pā-ka āk a-bhājanam ṭṣ ||8||

suvarna—of gold; malika—with necklaces; ancita—bent; tri—three; rekha—with

lines; kambu—conchshell; kantha-ge—placed on the neck; tri—three; sutra—
strands; mangali—with the scent of jasmine flowers; guna—strings; tri—three;
ratna—jewels; dipti-didhiti—very splendid; sa-lola—moving; nila—dark;
kuntala—locks of hair; prasuna—of flowers; guccha—with bunches; gumphite—
strung; kada—when?; karishyasi—will You make; iha—here; mam—me; kripa—
of mercy; kataksha—of the glance; bhajanam—the recipient.

O goddess who wear a golden necklace on the three-lined conchshell of Your

neck, O goddess splendid with three jasmine garlands and three jeweled
necklaces, O goddess whose moving locks of dark hair are decorated with
bunches of flowers, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 9
म– 0 म– मम –पष्पमख $
G प्र ‫ܢ‬-a-प-मध्य मञ ।
– .% . –व स D भ $ 1
% ࠊᩄ п स म # प ’ d–भ म ॥९॥ )
nitamba-bimba-lambamāna-pu pa-mekhalā-gu eṣ
ṇ praśasta-ratna-ki ki ī-kalāpa-madhya mañjuleṅ ṇ
karīndra-śuṇḍa-daṇḍikā-varoha-saubhagoruke
kadā kari yasīha māṣ ṁ ṛ k pā-ka āk a-bhājanam ṭ ṣ
||9||
nitamba—hips; bimba—round; lambamana—suspended; pushpa—of flowers;
mekhala-gune—belt; prashasta—excellent; ratna—of jewels; kinkini—of tinkling
bells; kalapa—of the collection; madhya—middle; manjule—charming; kari—of
elephants; indra—of the king; shunda—the trunk; dandika—chastising; avaroha
—descended; saubhaga—beauty; uruke—thighs; kada—when?; karishyasi—will
You make; iha—here; mam—me; kripa—of mercy; kataksha—of the glance;
bhajanam—the recipient.

O goddess who wear a sash of flowers on Your curved hips, O goddess charming
with a sash of tinkling jeweled bells, O goddess whose beautiful thighs punish
the regal elephant’s trunk, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance
upon me? Text 10
अ –मन्त्र %–मञ प! व–स्ख )
सम – #स–व# – f –$D व । वम–वल्ल – व.
मच 1–चङ्क्रम
% ࠊᩄ п स म # प ’ d–भ म ॥१०॥ )
aneka-mantra-nāda-mañju-nūpurā-rava-skhalat
samāja-rāja-haṁsa-vaṁśa-nikva āti-gauraveṇ
vilola-hema-vallarī-vi ambi-cāru-ca krameḍ
kadā kari yasīha māṣṁ ṛ k pā-ka āk a-bhājanam ṭ ṣ ||10||

aneka—many; mantra—of sacred mantras; nada—sounds; manju—beautiful;

nupura—ankle bells; rava—the sound; skhalat—stammering; samaja—of the
community; raja—royal; hamsa—of swans; vamsha—of the family; nikvana—
sounds; ati—very; gaurave—significant; vilola—moving; hema—of gold; vallari
—creeper; vidambi—appearances; caru—beautiful; cankrame—movements;
kada—when?; karishyasi—will You make; iha—here; mam—me; kripa—of
mercy; kataksha—of the glance; bhajanam—the recipient.

O goddess whose anklets’ tinkling is more beautiful than the sounds of many
mantras and the cooing of many regal swans, O goddess whose graceful motions
mock the moving golden vines, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong
glance upon me? Text 11
अ =– ’– व i – म–पद्म च A म l –प म – व I -व
प्र% ।
अप – स m–ऋ m– %W ध–सत्प% ङ -ख
% ࠊᩄ п स म # प ’ d–भ म ॥११॥ )
ananta-ko i-viṭ ṣṇu-loka-namra-padmajārcite himādrijā-pulomajā-
viriñcajā-vara-prade
apāra-siddhi- ddhi-digdha-sat-padā gulī-nakheṛ ṅ
kadā kari yasīha māṣ ṁ ṛ k pā-ka āk a-bhājanam ṭ ṣ ||
11||
ananta—unlimited; koti—millions; vishnu-loka—of devotees of Lord Vishnu;
namra—offered obeisances; padmaja—by Lord Brahma; arcite—worshiped;
himadrija—of Parvati; pulomaja—shaci-devi, the wife of Indra and daughter of
Puloma; virincija—Sarasvati, the daughter of Lord Brahma; vara—
benedictions; prade—granting; apara—boundless; siddhi—perfections; riddhi—
opulences; digdha—anointed; sat—transcendental; pada-anguli—of the toes;
nakhe—nails; kada—when?; karishyasi—will You make; iha—here; mam—me;
kripa—of mercy; kataksha—of the glance; bhajanam—the recipient.

O goddess worshiped by Brahma, O goddess to whom countless millions of

Vaishnavas bow down, O goddess who give blessings to Parvati, shaci, and
Sarasvati, O goddess whose toenails are anointed with limitless opulences and
mystic perfections, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?
Text 12
मखश्व q ሁश्व r धश्व स श्व
व%–भ श्व प्रम – स श्व ।
मश्व d मश्व प्रम %– श्व
व्र श्व व्र धप ̋ ध म ˜G ॥१२॥
makheśvari kriyeśvari svadheśvari sureśvari
triveda-bhāratīśvari pramā a-śāsaneśvariṇ
rameśvari k ameśvari pramoda kānaneśvariṣ
vrajeśvari vrajādhipe śrī rādhike namo ’stu te ||12||

makha—of sacrifices; ishvari—O queen; kriya—of pious activities; ishvari—O

controller; svadha—of the material world; ishvari—O controller; sura—of the
demigods; ishvari—O controller; tri—three; veda—of the Vedas; bharati—
scholarship; ishvari—O controller; pramana—of evidence; shasana—of
instruction; ishvari—O controller; rama—of goddesses of fortune; ishvari—O
controller; kshama—of patience; ishvari—O controller; pramoda—of
happiness; kanana—of the forest; ishvari—O controller; vraja—of Vraja;
ishvari—O controller; vraja—of Vraja; adhipe—O Empress; Shri-radhike—O
Shrimati Radharani; namah astu—I offer respectful obeisances; te—unto You.

O queen of Vedic sacrifices, O queen of pious activities, O queen of the material

world, O queen of the demigods, O queen of Vedic scholarship, O queen of
knowledge, O queen of the goddesses of fortune, O queen of patience, O queen
of Vrindavana, the forest of happiness, O queen of Vraja, O empress of Vraja, O
Shri Radhika, obeisances to You!

Text 13
इ मम˱#-G व# àlx भ न स= # # प ’ d-भ म
।)
भवत्त%>व स I ik प– म A # भत्त% व्र –स!
–म . –प्रवम ॥१३॥ )
 itī mam adbhutaṁ-stavaṁ niśamya bhānu-nandinī
karotu santataṁ janaṁ ṛ k pā-ka āk a-bhājanamṭ ṣ
bhavet tadaiva-sañcita-tri-rūpa-karma-nāśanaṁ
bhavet tadā-vrajendra-sūnu-maṇḍala-praveśanam ||13||

Upon hearing this most astonishing prayer of mine being recited by a devotee,
may Shri Vrishabhanu-nandini constantly make him the object of Her most
merciful sidelong gance. At that time all his karmic reactions — whether mature,
fructifying, or lying in seed — will be completely destroyed, and then he will
gain entrance into the assembly of Nandanandana's eternal loving associates.

Text 14-15
ሁ # च सÅÆÇàlx # % àlx # च व m ध ? ।
ए %{ሁ # ሁ %{ሁ # ሁ? प[| ध ? सध ? ॥१४॥ ሁ ሁ#

# मሁ म # म }# स ध ? ।
ध प ’ d भ ô?S प्र) म d ॥१५॥
rākāyāṁ ca sitāṣṭamyāṁ daśamyāṁ ca viśuddha-dhī |ḥ
ekādaśyāṁ trayodaśyāṁ ya pa het sādhaka sudhī ḥ
ḥ ḥ ||14||

yaṁ yaṁ kāmayate kāmaṁ taṁ tamāpnoti sādhaka |ḥ

rādhā-k pā-ka āk e a bhakti syāt prema-lak a ā ṛ ṭ ṣṇ ḥ
ṣ ṇ ||15||

If a sadhaka with purified intelligence recites this stava with a fixed mind on the
lunar days known as the full-moon day, the bright ashtami, the dashami, the
ekadashi, and the trayodashi, then each and every one of his desires will be
fulfilled, one by one. And by the merciful sidelong glance of Shri Radha he will
obtain devotional service that has the special symptom of being imbued with
pure, ecstatic love of God (prema).

Text 16-17
ऊ 1%घ भ%घ हृद्दघ [%घ ।
ध. / ሁ? प[ स ध ? ) म ॥१६॥)

S सवर A स m? S %A व) मòरभ।)
ऐश्वሁ च भ स d) प{ሁ ध म ॥१७॥ )
ūru-daghne nābhi-daghne h d-daghne kaṛ ṇṭa-daghnake |
rādhā-kuṇḍa-jale sthitā ya pa het sādhaka śatam ḥ ṭ ḥ ||16||

tasya sarvārtha-siddhi syād vāk-sāmarthyaḥṁ tathā labhet |

aiśvaryaṁ ca labhet sāk ād d śā paśyati rādhikām ṣ ṛ ||17||
That sadhaka who recites this stava 100 times while standing in the waters of
Shri Radha-kunda up to his thighs, navel, chest, or neck will attain complete
perfection in the five goals of human existence, namely dharma, artha, kama,
moksha, and prema. He also will attain the power by which everything he says
will come true. He becomes very powerful and opulent due to attaining
transcendental majesty, and he gets to meet shri Radhika face to face, seeing Her
even with his present eyes.

Text 18
स त्क्ष %व ÅÆÇ %त्त म व म । )
ሁ प{ሁ # प्रሁ# {ሁ मस) न म ॥१८॥ )
tena sa tat-k a ād eva tuṣ ṇṣṭā datte mahāvaram |
yena paśyati netrābhyāṁ tat-priyaṁ śyāmasundaram ||18||

[By such chanting of this prayer in Radha-kunda] Shri Radhika becomes so

pleased that She instantly bestows a great benediction on the devotee, which is
that he sees Her beloved Shyamasundara with his very own eyes.

Text 19 쁰 ༶ –प्रव #
च %% ̋ -व्र धप? ।
अ?प # प्र ò व>i व S व ẽẽ ॥१९॥
nitya-līlā-praveśaṁ ca dadāti śrī-vrajādhipa |ḥ
ata parataraḥṁ prārthyaṁ vaiṣṇavasya na vidyate ||19||

Then that Lord of Vrindavana grants the devotee entrance into His eternal
pastimes. Genuine Vaishnavas hanker for nothing beyond this.

---

|| इ ̋ मẽ ሁA ̋ ध ሁ?प ’ dG # सम्प! म A )||

|| iti śrīmad-ūrdhvāmnāye śrī-rādhikāyāḥ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-stotraṁ sampūrṇam ||

Thus ends the śrī-rādhikāyāḥ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-stotraṁ found

in the ūrdhvāmnāya tantra

---

PHALA SRUTI (THE BENEFIT OF RECITING THIS PRAYER)

The aspirant who recites this hymn on the full-moon day, on the eighth day of the
waxing moon, and on the tenth, eleventh and thirteenth days of the waxing and
waning moons, achieves the fruition of his desires and, by the grace of Sri
Radhika's compassionate sidelong glance, bhakti characterized by prema
sprouts in his heart.
The aspirant who recites this hymn one hundred times, while immersed in the
waters of Sri Radha-kunda, either up to his waist, up to his navel, up to his chest,
or up to his neck, achieves the perfection of his desired ends and whatever he
speaks comes true, he is endowed with full spiritual opulence and gets the direct,
personal darshan of Srimati Radharani.
Being pleased with him, Srimati Radhika immediately grants him the greatest
benediction and he gets to see with his own eyes Her darling sweet Lord, Sri
Syamasundara. The Lord of Vraja, in His turn, grants that devotee an entrance
into His eternal sports. For the Vaisnavas there is no greater goal to be achieved
than this.
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This is the most famous stotra in Sri Vrindavana, Sometimes called the national
anthem of Vrindavan. All the sadhus and devoted matajis [ladies] know it by
heart, and it is recited daily in most temples and nearby villages; indeed, this
prayer is regarded as the very heart of Vrindavana. It is also known as: "The
King of Prayers which Petitions the Most Merciful Side-long Glance from
Srimati Radharani". This exceptional prayer is composed in a lovely meter and
daily sung in a charming melody by many Brijabasis (Vrindavan residents).