Shri Mukunda Mala Stotram

Q: Why is Verse 3 so famous?

Verse 3 (*Krishna Tvadiya...*) is widely quoted by Acharyas as the ideal prayer of a devotee seeking total surrender (*Saranagati*) while healthy.

Verse 1

Ghiryati Jīvanaṃ Yaśo Nayati Parām-Riddhim
Harati Sakala-Pāpaṃ Snānam-Apy-Artha-Pāpām ।
Bhajati Sakala-Kāmān-Svargadaṃ Mokṣadaṃ Ca
Jayati Jayatu Devī Devakī-Nandano 'yam ॥ 1 ॥

Verse 2

Jayamatu Mukundaḥ Siddhi-Mānanda-Kandaḥ
Kalyāṇāt-Mā Kāruṇyā-Sāramayāḥ ।
Hṛdaya-Kuhara-Madhyāt-Samyag-Uttīrya Nityaṃ
Sphuratu Mama Mukunde Bhakti-Ravyāhatai-Vā ॥ 2 ॥

Verse 3

Kṛṣṇa Tvadīya-Pada-Paṅkaja-Pañjarāntam
Adyaiva Me Viśatu Mānasa-Rājahāṃsaḥ ।
Prāṇa-Prayāṇa-Samaye Kapha-Vāta-Pittalaiḥ
Kaṇṭhārodhana-Vidhau Smaraṇaṃ Kutaste ॥ 3 ॥

Shri Mukunda Mala Stotram (literally meaning "Garland of Hymns to Lord Mukunda") is one of the most celebrated, emotionally intense, and poetic hymns in Sri Vaishnava literature. Composed by King Kulasekhara Alwar (one of the 12 revered Alwar saints of South India), this stotram consists of 40 verses praising Lord Mukunda (Vishnu/Krishna).

Kulasekhara Alwar was a Chera king who renounced his royal throne and riches out of passionate love for Lord Sriman Narayana. In Mukunda Mala, the royal saint expresses the supreme joy of devotion (Bhakti Rasa), declaring that worldly kingdoms, royal crowns, and sense pleasures are worthless compared to meditating on the lotus feet of Mukunda.

The stotram contains famous verses like "Jayamatu Mukundaḥ" and "Kṛṣṇa Tvadīya-Pada-Paṅkaja-Pañjarāntam" ("O Lord Krishna! May my mind-swan enter the cage of Your lotus feet right now, while my throat is clear and my mind is peaceful!").

According to scriptural tradition and verse 40 of this stotram, daily recitation of Shri Mukunda Mala grants the following blessings:

Awakening of Unconditional Devotion (Bhakti Prada): Fills the soul with intense, blissful love for Sriman Narayana.
Freedom from Rebirth and Death: Grants protection at the moment of death (Anta-Kala Smarana).
Dispassion towards Worldly Attachments: Eradicates attachment to wealth, fame, and sense pleasures.

Daily morning or evening, on Ekadashi, Vaikuntha Ekadashi, and Janmashtami.

Verse 3 (Krishna Tvadiya...) is widely quoted by Acharyas as the ideal prayer of a devotee seeking total surrender (Saranagati) while healthy.

Kulasekhara Alwar was a Chera king of Kerala and one of the 12 Alwar saints. He authored Mukunda Mala in Sanskrit and Perumal Tirumoli in Tamil.

Mukunda Mala is a jewel of Raganuga Bhakti:

Mind-Swan in Lotus Cage (Verse 3): Famously prays for devotions now, not waiting until deathbed when throat is choked with phlegm.
King's Renunciation: A reigning king declaring that royal thrones and diamond crowns are mere dust compared to Narayana's grace.
Praise of Namasmarana: Extols chanting Krishna, Govinda, Damodara as the easy medicine (Aushadha) for samsara.

Whoever recites this sacred Mukunda Mala Stotram composed by King Kulasekhara Alwar with pure devotion will have all sins destroyed and attain the supreme realm of Lord Vishnu (Vaikuntha Loka).

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!
Krishna Tvadiya Pada Pankaja Panjarantam Adyaiva Me Visatu Manasa Rajahamsah |
Prana Prayana Samaye Kapha Vata Pittai Kantharodhana Vidhau Smaranam Kutaste ||

O Lord Krishna! May the swan of my mind enter the cage of Your lotus feet today itself, before old age and disease impair my memory.

Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!

Verse 1

Verse 2

Jayamatu Mukundaḥ Siddhi-Mānanda-Kandaḥ
Kalyāṇāt-Mā Kāruṇyā-Sāramayāḥ ।
Hṛdaya-Kuhara-Madhyāt-Samyag-Uttīrya Nityaṃ
Sphuratu Mama Mukunde Bhakti-Ravyāhatai-Vā ॥ 2 ॥

Verse 3

Verse 4

Mā Bhīr-Manda-Mano Vicintya Bahudhā Vande Yaśodā-Sutaṃ
Kā-Tekṣyā Bhava-Bhītim-Artika-Damanaṃ Prahlāda-Rākṣā-Karam ।
Gopālaṃ Puruṣottamaṃ Tri-Jagatāṃ Nāthaṃ Harim-Anantam
Vande Vandya-Maśeṣa-Loka-Varadaṃ Śrīmad-Vāsudevaṃ Bhaje ॥ 4 ॥

Verse 5

Mekṣayaṃ Karma-Phalaṃ Mumukṣubhir-Anāvṛttir-Nṛbhiḥ Prārthyate
Vainateya-Rathaṃ Vinā Viṣaya-Rāsāt-Paśyantu Veda-Jnānaiḥ ।
Smṛtvā Vishnu-Pada-Dvayaṃ Sugahanaṃ Samsāra-Pathi-Prakramaṃ
Kṣemaṃ Yāti Narottamo Na Hi Punar-Gārhastya-Bandhaṃ Vrajet ॥ 5 ॥

[ ... Complete 40 Slokas ... ]

Verse 40

Kulaśekhara-Rājña-Stotraṃ Kṛtaṃ Mukunda-Mālā-Ākhyam ।
Yaḥ Paṭhati Bhakti-Yuktaḥ Sa Vaikuṇṭha-Lokam-Avāpnuyāt ॥ 40 ॥

Whoever recites this sacred Mukunda Mala Stotram composed by King Kulasekhara Alwar with pure devotion will have all sins destroyed and attain the supreme realm of Lord Vishnu (Vaikuntha Loka).

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!
Krishna Tvadiya Pada Pankaja Panjarantam Adyaiva Me Visatu Manasa Rajahamsah |
Prana Prayana Samaye Kapha Vata Pittai Kantharodhana Vidhau Smaranam Kutaste ||

O Lord Krishna! May the swan of my mind enter the cage of Your lotus feet today itself, before old age and disease impair my memory.

Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!

Verse 1: Victory to Lord Devakinandana, whose name cleanses all sins and bestows heaven and Mukti.
Verse 2: May unshakeable devotion to Mukunda bloom in the cave of my heart.
Verse 3: Let my mind-swan enter the cage of Your lotus feet today itself!
Verses 4–39: Praising Mukunda, Prahlada's protector, discarding worldly vanity, praying for rememberance of Narayana.
Verse 40 (Phalashruti): Reciting Kulasekhara's Mukunda Mala leads to Vaikuntha.

Stotram Name	Shri Mukunda Mala Stotram
Primary Deity	Lord Mukunda (Vishnu / Krishna)
Composer	King Kulasekhara Alwar
Language	IAST English Transliteration
Tradition	Sri Vaishnava / Alwar
Verse Count	40 Verses