Madhurāṣṭakam

The Madhurāṣtakam (eight-sweet-verses, sweetness in eight verses) is made of a string of two-word phrases in which the first word describes something that Krishna is or does, and the second word classifies it "sweet." As the hymn proceeds, the 'm' endings of the words in the original amplify the mood of tenderness. Even as one lingers on the vibrant "mmm.." sound, relishing the particular thought invoked by its pair-word, the hymn has gone on to find yet another characteristic of Krishna that is also "..mmm..".

The emotion, stunning in its honesty, is surely rooted in everyday experience—the emotion of total love towards a beloved child where every aspect of the child is found endearing. Does the poet also smile at himself, recognize the indiscriminating absoluteness of his adoration? Or/and am I, still in a world of distinctions, surprised by the ordinariness in the presentation of characteristics which transcend measures such as ethics (adorable stealing) and aesthetics (adorable vomiting)?

The composition is also grammatically interesting and often taught in beginner Sanskrit classes. Students identify when the word ending with 'm' is a nominative case neuter gender, and when it is an accusative case masculine gender, and learn how the adjectives and nouns agree in case endings.