“Śrī Kṛṣṇāśraya” is a profound devotional hymn composed by Śrī Vallabhacharya. It reflects the sentiment of accepting Lord Krishna as the ultimate refuge and guide. This composition highlights the importance of unwavering faith in Lord Krishna amidst worldly struggles.
Essence of Devotion: Lord Krishna is depicted as both the means and the ultimate goal.
Victory over Struggles: Taking refuge in Lord Krishna helps overcome both internal and external obstacles.
Path to Salvation: Lord Krishna is portrayed as the center of the paths of karma (action), jñāna (knowledge), and bhakti (devotion).
Complete Surrender: Through “Kṛṣṇa eva gatirmama” (Krishna alone is my refuge), surrender to Lord Krishna’s will is considered the highest form of devotion.
Assurance for Devotees: Devotees with firm faith are promised Lord Krishna’s grace and salvation.
sarva mārgeṣu naṣṭeṣu kalau ca khala dharmiṇi । pāṣaṇḍa pracure loke kṛṣṇa eva gatiḥ mama ।। 1 ।।
सर्व मार्गेषु नष्टेषु कलौ च खल धर्मिणि । पाषण्ड प्रचुरे लोके कृष्ण एव गतिः मम ।। १ ।।
sarvamārgeṣu naṣṭeṣu kalau ca khaladharmiṇi । pāṣaṇḍapracure loke kṛṣṇa eva gatirmama ।। 1 ।।
सर्वमार्गेषु नष्टेषु कलौ च खलधर्मिणि । पाषण्डप्रचुरे लोके कृष्ण एव गतिर्मम ।। १ ।।
When all paths (sarva mārgeṣu) are lost (naṣṭeṣu), and in the age of Kali (kalau) when unrighteousness thrives (khala dharmiṇi), in a world filled with hypocrisy (pāṣaṇḍa pracure loke), Krishna alone (kṛṣṇa eva) remains my ultimate refuge (gatiḥ mama).
mleccha ākrānteṣu deśeṣu pāpa eka nilayeṣu ca । sat pīḍā vyagra lokeṣu kṛṣṇa eva gatiḥ mama ।। 2 ।।
म्लेच्छ आक्रान्तेषु देशेषु पाप एक निलयेिषु च । सत पीडा व्यग्र लोकेषु कृष्ण एव गतिः मम ।। २ ।।
mlecchākrānteṣu deśeṣu pāpaikanilayeṣu ca । satpīḍāvyagra lokeṣu kṛṣṇa eva gatirmama ।। 2 ।।
म्लेच्छाक्रान्तेषु देशेषु पापैकनिलयेिषु च । सत्पीडाव्यग्रलोकेषु कृष्ण एव गतिर्मम ।। २ ।।
In lands overrun by the impure (mleccha ākrānteṣu deśeṣu), and in places that are the very abode of sin (pāpa eka nilayeṣu ca), amidst a world distressed and agitated by the suffering of the virtuous (sat pīḍā vyagra lokeṣu), Krishna alone (kṛṣṇa eva) is my ultimate refuge (gatiḥ mama).
gaṅgā adi tīrtha varyeṣu duṣṭaiḥ eva āvr̥teṣu iha । tirohita adhi daiveṣu kṛṣṇa eva gatiḥ mama ।। 3 ।।
गङ्गा आदि तीर्थ वर्येषु दुष्टैः एव आवृतेषु इह । तिरोहित अधि दैवेषु कृष्ण एव गतिः मम ।। ३ ।।
gaṅgāditīrthavaryeṣu duṣṭairevāvr̥teṣviha । tirohitādhidaiveṣu kṛṣṇa eva gatirmama ।। 3 ।।
गङ्गादितीर्थवर्येषु दुष्टैरेवावृतेष्विह । तिरोहिताधिदैवेषु कृष्ण एव गतिर्मम ।। ३ ।।
In sacred places like the Ganga and others (gaṅgā adi tīrtha varyeṣu), even when they are overrun by the unrighteous (duṣṭaiḥ eva āvr̥teṣu iha), and when the divine presences appear to have withdrawn (tirohita adhi daiveṣu), Krishna alone (kṛṣṇa eva) remains my ultimate refuge (gatiḥ mama).
ahaṁkāra vimūḍheṣu satsu pāpa anuvartiṣu । lābha pūjā artha yatneṣu kṛṣṇa eva gatiḥ mama ।। 4 ।।
अहंकार विमूढेषु सत्सु पाप अनुवर्तिषु । लाभ पूजाः अर्थ यत्नेषु कृष्ण एव गतिः मम ।। ४ ।।
अहंकारविमूढेषु सत्सु पापानुवर्तिषु । लाभपूजार्थयत्नेषु कृष्ण एव गतिर्मम ।। ४ ।।
Among those deluded by pride (ahaṁkāra vimūḍheṣu), in the company of the virtuous who follow sinful paths (satsu pāpa anuvartiṣu), and amidst efforts driven by the pursuit of gain, honor, or wealth (lābha pūjā artha yatneṣu), Krishna alone (kṛṣṇa eva) is my ultimate refuge (gatiḥ mama).
aparijñāna naṣṭeṣu mantra iṣu avratayogiṣu । tirohita artha deveṣu kṛṣṇa eva gatiḥ mama ।। 5 ।।
अपरिज्ञान नष्टेषु मन्त्रे षु अव्रतयोगिषु । तिरोहित अर्थ देवे षु कृष्ण एव गतिः मम ।। ५ ।।
aparijñānanāṣṭeṣu mantraiṣvavratayogiṣu । tirohitārthadeveṣu kṛṣṇa eva gatirmama ।। 5 ।।
अपरिज्ञाननष्टेषुमन्त्रैष्वव्रतयोगिषु । तिरोहितार्थदेवेणु कृष्ण एव गतिर्मम ।। ५ ।।
Amid the loss of wisdom (aparijñāna naṣṭeṣu) and among those who misuse sacred mantras (mantra iṣu) or fail to uphold vows (avratayogiṣu), and when the true essence of divinity seems concealed (tirohita artha deveṣu), Krishna alone (kṛṣṇa eva) remains my ultimate refuge (gatiḥ mama).
nānāvāda vināṣṭeṣu sarva karma vrata ādiṣu । pāṣaṇḍa eka prayatneṣu kṛṣṇa eva gatiḥ mama ।। 6 ।।
नानावाद विनष्टेषु सर्व कर्म व्रत आदिषु । पाषण्ड एक प्रयत्नेṣu कृष्ण एव गतिः मम ।। ६ ।।
nānāvādavināṣṭeṣu sarvakarmavratādiṣu । pāṣaṇḍaikaprayatneṣu kṛṣṇa eva gatirmama ।। 6 ।।
नानावादविनष्टेषु सर्वकर्मव्रतादिषु । पाषण्डैकप्रयत्नेषु कृष्ण एव गतिर्मम ।। ६ ।।
When varied doctrines are destroyed (nānāvāda vināṣṭeṣu), and in the realm of all actions, vows, and rituals (sarva karma vrata ādiṣu), amidst efforts driven solely by hypocrisy (pāṣaṇḍa eka prayatneṣu), Krishna alone (kṛṣṇa eva) remains my ultimate refuge (gatiḥ mama).
ajāmila ādi doṣāṇāṁ nāśakaḥ anubhave sthitaḥ । jñāpita ākhila māhātmyaḥ kṛṣṇa eva gatiḥ mama ।। 7 ।।
अजामिल आदि दोषाणां नाशकः अनुभवॆ स्थितः । ज्ञापित आाखिल माहात्म्यः कृष्ण एव गतिः मम ।। ७ ।।
अजामिलादिदोषाणांनाशकोऽनुभवस्थितः । ज्ञापिताखिलमाहात्म्यःकृष्णएवगतिर्मम ।। ७ ।।
The destroyer of the flaws exemplified by Ajamila and others (ajāmila ādi doṣāṇāṁ nāśakaḥ), He is firmly established in personal experience (anubhave sthitaḥ). The one who reveals all-encompassing greatness (jñāpita ākhila māhātmyaḥ), Krishna alone (kṛṣṇa eva) remains my ultimate refuge (gatiḥ mama).
prākṛtāḥ sakalā devāḥ gaṇitānanda kaṁ bṛhat । pūrṇa ānandaḥ hariḥ tasmāt kṛṣṇa eva gatiḥ mama ।। 8 ।।
प्राकृताः सकला देवाः गणितानन्दकं बृहः । पूर्ण आनन्दः हरिः तस्मात् कृष्ण एव गतिः मम ।। ८ ।।
All natural gods (prākṛtāḥ sakalā devāḥ) are but limited sources of joy (gaṇitānanda kaṁ bṛhat). Hari alone is the embodiment of perfect bliss (pūrṇa ānandaḥ hariḥ), and therefore (tasmāt), Krishna alone (kṛṣṇa eva) is my ultimate refuge (gatiḥ mama).
viveka dhairya bhakti ādi rahitasya viśeṣataḥ । pāpa āsaktasya dīnasya kṛṣṇa eva gatiḥ mama ।। 9 ।।
विवेक धैर्य भक्ति आदि रहितस्य विशेषतः । पाप आसक्तस्य दीनस्य कृष्ण एव गतिः मम ।। ९ ।।
विवेकधैर्यभक्त्यादि रहितस्यविशेषतः । पापासक्तस्यदीनस्य कृष्णएवगतिर्मम ।। ९ ।।
For those devoid of discernment, courage, devotion, and other virtues (viveka dhairya bhakti ādi rahitasya viśeṣataḥ), especially those engrossed in sinful attachments (pāpa āsaktasya) and in a pitiable state (dīnasya), Krishna alone (kṛṣṇa eva) remains the ultimate refuge (gatiḥ mama).
सर्वसामर्थ्यसहितः सर्वत्रैवाखिलार्थकृत् । शरणस्थसमुद्धारं कृष्णंविज्ञापयाम्यहम् ।। १० ।।
He who is endowed with all abilities (sarva sāmarthya sahitaḥ), present everywhere (sarvatra eva), accomplishing all purposes entirely (akhila artha kṛt), I humbly appeal to Krishna (śaraṇa stha samuddhāraṁ kṛṣṇaṁ vijñāpayāmi aham).
This hymn of Krishna’s refuge (kṛṣṇa āśraya idam stotram), when recited in the presence of Krishna (yaḥ paṭhet kṛṣṇa sannidhau), grants the reciter Krishna’s protection and refuge (tasya āśrayaḥ bhavet kṛṣṇa). Thus spoke (iti... abravīt) the revered Śrī Vallabhaḥ, affirming the boundless grace of the Lord.
Thus ends the 'Śrī-kṛṣṇāśraya' composed by Shri Vallabhacharya.