Let us realize the real nature and form of ourselves. Who are we? Where have we come from? Where will we go? Let us affirm strongly while chanting this powerful Jeeva Ashtakam that we are the eternal servants of Shri Krishna, we are Krushnadasa and this is our ultimate reality!
अहं अचिन्त्यः अमरः नित्यरूपः अहं सत्यः सत्यांशः सत्यस्वरूपः अहं अक्लेद्यश्च अदाह्यः अशोष्यः अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः ||१||
Aham achintyah amarah nityaroopah Aham satyah satyaamshah satyaswaroopah Aham akledyascha adaahyah ashoshyah Aham Krushnadaasah aham Krushnadaasah ||1||
I am unthinkable, my form is eternal/ I am eternal. I am a part of the supreme truth, therefore I am truth and I have the same form as the supreme truth. I can neither be wetted, burnt nor can I be dried. I am a servant of Lord Shri Krishna. (1)
नाहं ब्रह्मा विष्णुच रुद्र: बसोबः नाह आदित्यः मरुतः यक्षः देवः नाहं बालः बृद्धश्च नारी पुरुषः अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः ||२||
Naaham brahmaa vishnu cha rudrah basobah Naaham aadityah marutah yakshah devah Naaham baalah vriddhascha naaree purushah Aham Krushnadaasah aham Krushnadaasah ||2||
I am not Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, or any one of the Vasus. I am neither one of the Adityas, Murtas, Yakshas nor even Devas. I am not a child, an old person, a female, or even a male. I am a servant of Lord Shri Krishna. (2)
अहं अजन्मा अब्ययः मुक्त सत्यः अहं कूटस्थाचल पुरुषः नित्यः अहं कृष्णांशः कृष्णदेवस्य अंशः अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः ||३||
Aham ajanmaa abyayah mukta satyah Aham kutasthaachala purushah nityah Aham Krishnaamshah Krishnadevasya amshah Aham Krushnadaasah aham Krushnadaasah ||3||
I am never born (therefore I never die), I am never spent, I am free and I am truth. I am untouched, fixed, and eternal. I am a part of Shri Krishna, I am His servant. (3)
नाहं एतत्देहश्च ना तस्य अंगः नाहं कस्य संगश्च नाहं असंगः नाहं पंचप्राणः नाहं पंचकोषः अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः ||४||
Naaham etat dehascha naa tasya angah Naaham kasya sangascha naaham asangah Naaham panchapraanah naaham panchakoshah Aham Krushnadaasah aham Krushnadaasah ||4||
I am not this body and I am not any of the bodily parts. Since I am not attached to anyone or anything therefore I am not even detached from anyone or anything. I am not the five pranas and the five sheaths that constitute the body. I am a servant of Lord Shri Krishna. (4)
अहं गुणातीतः अहं कालातीतः अहं आनन्दः शिब स्वरूपः सत्यः अहं चिदानन्दोहं कृष्णस्य दासः अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः ||५||
Aham gunaateetah aham kaalaateetah Aham aanandah shiva swaroopah satyah Aham chidaanandoham Krishnasya daasah Aham Krushnadaasah aham Krushnadaasah ||5||
I am beyond the three modes of nature, I am beyond time. I am bliss, I am all auspiciousness and I am a form of the truth. I am Chidananda and a servant of Lord Shri Krishna. (5)
अहं तेन सह एकत्वं सम्भन्धम् अहं तेन सह सम्भन्धम् पृथकम् अहं तद भेदाभेदश्च अचिन्त्यम् अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः ||६||
Aham tena saha ekatwam sambandham Aham tena saha sambandham prithakam Aham tada bhedaabhedascha achintyam Aham Krushnadaasah aham Krushnadaasah ||6||
I am like the supreme yet I am different. I am one with the supreme yet I am not the supreme. My relationship with the supreme is unthinkable. I am a servant of Lord Shri Krishna. (6)
अहं विस्मृतवान् मम रूपः शुद्धः अहं माया अनले देहे आबद्धः अहं शतोशतः आशाया निबद्धः अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः ||७||
Aham vismritavaan mama roopah shuddhah Aham maayaa anale dehe aabaddhah Aham shatoshatah aashaayaa nibaddhah Aham Krushnadaasah aham Krushnadaasah ||7||
I have become oblivious to my real form which is all pure as I am stuck in the form of a body within this fire of illusion. I am bound by the unfortunate shackles of hundreds of desires whereas I am really a servant of Lord Shri Krishna. (7)
अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः अहं कृष्णदासः ||8||
Aham Krushnadaasah aham Krushnadaasah Aham Krushnadaasah aham Krushnadaasah Aham Krushnadaasah aham Krushnadaasah Aham Krushnadaasah aham Krushnadaasah ||8||
(I strongly affirm that) I am a servant of Lord Shri Krishna. I am a servant of Lord Shri Krishna. I am a servant of Lord Shri Krishna. I am a servant of Lord Shri Krishna. I am a servant of Lord Shri Krishna. I am a servant of Lord Shri Krishna. (8)
इति श्रीकृष्णदासः विरचित जीव अष्टकम् संपूर्णम् ||