Kevalashtakam lyrics and meaning

Mantra – Kevalashtakam
Writer – Nilantha Goswami
Original text- Panchratnam
Language- Sanskrit
Diety – Krishna

1.Madhuraḿ Madhurebhyo ‘Pi
Mańgalebhyo ‘Pi Mańgalam
Pāvanaḿ Pāvanebhyo ‘Pi
Harer Nāmaiva Kevalam

मधुरं मधुरेभ्योऽपि मङ्गलेभ्योऽपि मङ्गलम् ।
पावनं पावनेभ्योऽपि हरेर्नामैव केवलम् ॥ १॥

More sweet than all other sweet things; more auspicious than all other auspicious things; the greatest purifier of all purifying things—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
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2.Ābrahmā-Stamba-Paryantaḿ
Sarvaḿ Māyā-Mayaḿ Jagat
Satyaḿ Satyaḿ Punaḥ Satyaḿ
Harer Nāmaiva Kevalam


आब्रह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तं सर्वं मायामयं जगत् ।
सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यं हरेर्नामैव केवलम् ॥ २॥

The entire universe, from exalted Brahma down to the lowly clump of grass, is a product of the illusory energy of the supreme Lord. The only thing that is reality, reality, again I say reality—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
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3.Sa Guruḥ Sa Pitā Cāpi
Sā Mātā Bandhavo ‘Pi Saḥ
Śikṣayec Cet Sadā Smartuḿ
Harer Nāmaiva Kevalam

स गुरुः स पिता चापि सा माता बान्धवोऽपि सः ।
शिक्षयेच्चेत्सदा स्मर्तुं हरेर्नामैव केवलम् ॥ ३॥

 That person is a true preceptor, or a true father, a true mother, and a true friend also only if they teach one to always remember—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything
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4.Niḥśvāse Nāhi Viśvāsaḥ
Kadā Ruddho Bhaviṣyati
Kīrtanīya Mato Bālyād
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Harer Nāmaiva Kevalam

निःश्र्वासे न हि विश्र्वासः कदा रुद्धो भविष्यति ।
कीर्तनीयमतो बाल्याद्धरेर्नामैव केवलम् ॥ ४॥

There is no certainty when the last breath will come and put an abrupt halt to all one’s material plans; therefore it is wise to always practice chanting from very childhood—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
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5.Hariḥ Sadā Vaset Tatra
Yatra Bhāgavatā Janāḥ
Gāyanti Bhakti-Bhāvena
Harer Nāmaiva Kevalam

हरिः सदा वसेत्तत्र यत्र भगवता जनाः ।
गायन्ति भक्तिभावेन हरेर्नामैव केवलम् ॥ ५॥

Lord Hari eternally dwells in that place where truly exalted, spiritually advanced souls sing in the mood of pure devotion—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
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6.Aho Duḥkhaḿ Mahā-Duḥkhaḿ
Duḥkhād Duḥkhataraḿ Yataḥ
Kācārthaḿ Vismṛtam Ratna-
Harer Nāmaiva Kevalam

अहो दुःखं महादुःखं दुःखद् दुःखतरं यतः ।
काचार्थं विस्मृतं रत्नं हरेर्नामैव केवलम् ॥ ६॥

What a sorrow, what a great sorrow! More painful than any other misery in the world! Mistaking it as a mere piece of glass, the people have forgotten this jewel—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
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7.Dīyatāḿ Dīyatāḿ Karṇo
Nīyatāḿ Nīyatāḿ Vacaḥ
Gīyatāḿ Gīyatāḿ Nityaḿ
Harer Nāmaiva Kevalam

दीयतां दीयतां कर्णो नीयतां नीयतां वचः ।
गीयतां गीयतां नित्यं हरेर्नामैव केवलम् ॥ ७॥

It should be heard again and again with one’s ears; It should be uttered over and over with one’s voice; It should be perpetually sung and sung anew—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
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8.Tṛṇī-Kṛtya Jagat Sarvaḿ
Rājate Sakalopari
Cid-Ānanda-Mayaḿ Śuddhaḿ
Harer-Nāmaiva Kevalam

तृणीकृत्य जगत्सर्वं राजते सकलोपरि ।
चिदानन्दमयं शुद्धं हरेर्नामैव केवलम् ॥ ८॥

 It makes the entire universe seem insignificant as a blade of grass; it splendorously reigns supreme over all; it is full of eternally conscious divine ecstasy; it is supremely pure—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
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इति कैवल्याष्टकम् अथवा केवलाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ।

श्रीकृष्णार्पणमस्तु ।

इति नीलकण्ठगोस्वामी विरचितं केवलाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥