Meditating on Baby Mukunda (Krishna) on the Banyan Leaf

Karāravindena Padāravindaṁ
Mukhāravinde Viniveśayantam
Vaṭasya Patrasya Puṭe Śayānaṁ
Bālaṁ Mukundaṁ Manasā Smarāmi॥

With his lotus-like hands holding his lotus-like feet,
And placing them near his lotus-like mouth,
Lying on a banyan leaf,
I meditate upon Baby Mukunda (Krishna) in my heart.

🕉️ Let us understand the meaning of the shlok

• Karāravindena Padāravindaṁ: Describes the image of baby Krishna, whose hands are compared to lotuses (karāravinda), playfully holding his lotus-like feet (padāravinda).

• Mukhāravinde Viniveśayantam: Krishna’s lotus-like face (mukhāravinda) is tenderly touching his feet, symbolizing innocence and divine beauty.

• Vaṭasya Patrasya Puṭe Śayānaṁ: The shlok paints a vivid picture of Krishna as an infant lying on a banyan leaf (vaṭasya patrasya), floating amidst the cosmic waters during the great deluge.

• Bālaṁ Mukundaṁ Manasā Smarāmi: Invokes the vision of baby Mukunda (Krishna, the liberator), meditating upon his divine form with devotion (manasā smarāmi).

This shlok captures the essence of Krishna as the cosmic child, blending divine power with childlike innocence. It evokes tender devotion and awe for the supreme being in his simplest, most endearing form.

⌚ When to chant this shlok?

• During Krishna Janmashtami, celebrating Krishna’s birth.

• In moments of stress or doubt, to reconnect with the soothing and playful image of Krishna.

• Before meditation, to invoke childlike purity and focus.

🧩 Three easy ways to integrate this shlok in your daily lives

Morning Visualization: Recite the shlok and visualize Krishna’s form, filling your heart with joy and serenity.

Childlike Wonder: Use the shlok as a reminder to embrace life with curiosity and simplicity, akin to a child.

Bedtime Chanting: Chant it before sleep to instill peace and love in your heart, imagining Krishna’s divine form.

🙏 Benefits of daily chanting

• Invokes a sense of peace, innocence, and divine connection.

• Relieves stress by shifting focus to a beautiful, meditative image.

• Enhances devotion and strengthens emotional well-being.

💡 Good to know…

This shlok was composed by the sage Markandeya after his extraordinary mystical experience during Pralaya (cosmic dissolution). When he witnessed baby Krishna on the banyan leaf, he was actually pulled into the infant's body through His breath, where he saw the entire universe safely preserved inside while everything outside was submerged in cosmic waters. This personal experience inspired Markandeya to compose this beautiful verse, which uses the word "arvinda" (lotus) three times to symbolize the perfect symmetry of the divine child. The verse later became part of the larger composition known as Bala-Mukunda-Ashtakam.

💭 Take a moment to reflect…

How can you cultivate childlike joy and innocence in your daily life, inspired by Krishna’s playful and divine form?

Hari om!

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