तं वसुं दर्शयित्वा च शिशुरूपो बभूव ह
After showing the form of Vasu, he became a child.
अयोनिसंभवश्चायमाविर्भूतो महीतले
He was manifested on earth without a womb-birth.
आविर्भूय वसुं मूर्तिं दर्शयित्वा जगाम ह
Having manifested the form of Vasu, he departed.
शुक्लः पीतस्तथा रक्त इदानीं कृष्णतां गतः
He was white, then yellow, then red, and now he has become dark.
त्रेतायां रक्तवर्णोऽयं पीतोऽयं द्वापरे विभुः
In the Tretā age he was red in color, in Dvāpara he was yellow, O mighty one.
परिपूर्णतमं ब्रह्म तेन कृष्ण इति स्मृतः
Because he is the most complete Brahman, he is known as Kṛṣṇa.
शिवस्य वाचकः षश्च नकारो धर्मवाचकः
The syllable 'śa' denotes Śiva, and 'na' denotes Dharma.
नरनारायणार्थस्य विसर्गो वाचकः स्मृतः
The visarga (ḥ) is said to signify the meaning of Nara and Nārāyaṇa.
सर्वाधारः सर्वबीजस्तेन कृष्ण इति स्मृतः
He is the support of all, the seed of all; therefore, he is known as Krishna.
अकारो दातृवचनस्तेन कृष्ण इति स्मृतः 4.13.
The letter 'a' signifies the giver; thus, he is called Krishna.
अकारः प्राप्तिवचनस्तेन कृष्ण इति स्मृतः
The letter 'a' signifies attainment; thus, he is called Krishna.
अकारो दातृवचनस्तेन कृष्ण इति स्मृतः
The letter 'a' signifies the giver; thus, he is called Krishna.
तत्फलं लभते नूनं कृष्णेति स्मरणे नरः
A person certainly attains that result by remembering the name Krishna.
कोटिजन्मांहसो नाशो भवेद्यत्स्मरणादिकात्
By remembering from the beginning, the destruction of sins from millions of births takes place.
कृष्णेति सुंदरं नाम मंगलं भक्तिदायकम्
The beautiful name 'Krishna' is auspicious and bestows devotion.
ऋकाराद्दास्यमतुलं षकाराद्भक्तिमीप्सिताम्
From the letter 'ṛ' comes incomparable servitude; from the letter 'ṣa', the desired devotion.
तत्सारूप्यं विसर्गाच्च लभते नात्र संशयः
From the visarga, one attains resemblance to him; there is no doubt about this.
ऋकारोक्तेर्न तिष्ठंति षकारात्पातकानि च
Sins do not remain because of the letter 'ṛ', and because of the letter 'ṣa', sins fall away.
रथं गृहीत्वा धावंति गोलोकात्कृष्णकिंकराः 4.13.
Taking a chariot, Krishna's attendants run from Goloka.
नाम्नः प्रभावसंख्यानं संतो वक्तुं न च क्षमाः
The saints are not able to recount the number of the glories of the name.
गुणान्नामप्रभावं च किंचिज्जानाति मद्गुरुः
My guru knows a little of the power of the name and its qualities.
वेदाः संतो न जानंति महिम्नः षोडशीं कलाम्
The Vedas and the saints do not know even a sixteenth part of his greatness.
यथामति यथाज्ञानं गुरुवक्त्राद्यथा श्रुतम्
As understood, as known, as heard from the mouth of the guru.
देवकीनंदनः श्रीशो यशोदानंदनो हरिः
He is the delight of Devaki, the Lord of Lakshmi, the joy of Yashoda, Hari.
सर्वाधारः सर्वगतिः सर्वकारणकारणम्
He is the support of all, the goal of all, the cause of all causes.
राधाप्राणो राधिकेशो राधिकारमणः स्वयम्
He is the life of Radha, the Lord of Radhika, the lover of Radhika himself.
राधिकाचित्तचोरश्च राधाप्राणाधिकः प्रभुः
He is the thief of Rādhikā’s heart, the Lord who is dearer to Rādhā than her very life.
परिपूर्णतमं ब्रह्म गोविंदो गरुडध्वजः
Govinda, the bearer of Garuḍa on his banner, is the Supreme, most complete Brahman.
जन्ममृत्युहराण्येव रक्ष नंद शुभेक्षण 4.13.
O Nanda, auspicious-eyed one, he alone removes birth and death—protect him.
ज्येष्ठस्य हलिनो नाम्नः संकेतं शृणु मन्मुखात्
Hear from my mouth the meaning of the name of the elder, Halin.