Kumbandās was a humble Vaishnava saint, born in India during the Bhakti movement (around the 16th century), and was one of the Ashtachhap Poets—the eight cherished poet-devotees of Shrinathji, a form of child Krishna worshipped at Nathdwara.
He belonged to a low caste, a domestic servant, and lived a very simple life. Yet his heart was full of divine love for Krishna. He composed songs full of prema-bhakti (pure love), often singing to the Lord with the deep affection of a mother or friend. His soul was drenched in Pushti Bhakti—the path of graceful surrender, not motivated by desire for liberation or rewards.
The Episode: When Kumbandās Refused Heaven
Once, seeing his deep bhakti, Indra, the king of the gods, sent messengers to Kumbandās with an invitation to come to Swarga (heaven). The messengers arrived with celestial offerings and honors. But Kumbandās laughed and politely refused. He sang:
> "हम को तो कूलिन गँवारो भलो,
जहाँ श्रीनंदन की बात चलै।"
"Let me remain a simple village fool,
as long as I can hear the sweet stories of Nanda’s child (Krishna).”
He said: “What joy can heaven give me if Krishna is not there? I would rather stay in a humble hut near Vrindavan, singing his names, than live in the grandest palace without him.”
This incident became legendary, showing that true bhakti is not about reward—it is about being with the beloved Lord.
Kumbandās' life teaches us:
Bhakti is not limited by caste or class.
Love for God is greater than even heaven.
The Lord values heartfelt devotion more than rituals or status.
Even today, his bhajans are sung in Pushtimarg temples, and he remains an inspiration to those who love Krishna with unconditional surrender and simplicity.
Famous bhajan.
"मोंहि कोउ नंद को आनन्द भयो,
देख्यो ब्रज नव बाल गोकुल में।"
"ललित मुख, चपल नयन, मन मोहन,
हँसत रटन करत बृज शुक बोलत।"
"तन मन, धन सब वार्यो इन पै,
कुंभनदास बौरायो प्रीत पगे।"
"Mohi kou Nand ko anand bhayo,
Dekhyo Braj nav bāl Gokul mein."
"Lalit mukh, chapal nayan, man mohan,
Hansat ratan karat Vraj shuk bolat."
"Tan man dhan sab vāryo in pai,
Kumbhandās bourāyo prīt page."
"I felt a joy like Nanda himself,
when I saw the newborn child of Gokul (Krishna) in Braj!"
"His face is delicate, his eyes are playful, the mind’s enchanter,
He smiles, babbles sweetly, like a parrot speaking in Vraj dialect."
"I have given my body, mind, and wealth to him,
Kumbandās has gone mad with love for that divine child!"
This bhajan captures the deep ecstatic devotion of Kumbandās, who saw Krishna not as a distant God, but as a divine child playing in the dust of Gokul. His songs are full of personal feeling, where the devotee becomes a part of Krishna’s life.
1. “Jānak-jānak dhāvata āvat”
जाँक-जाँक धावत आवत,
मोहन माखन लै दौरत।
ग्वालन की मटकन फोरी,
हँसत-हँसत मुख लपटावत।
कुंभनदास यह लीला देखी,
मन-रंजन करि मोहावत।
Jānak-jānak dhāvat āvat,
Mohan mākhan lai daurat.
Gwālan kī maṭkan phorī,
Hansat-hansat mukh lapaṭāvat.
Kumbhandās yah līlā dekhī,
Man-rañjan kari mohāvat.
Krishna comes running with anklets jingling,
stealing butter and fleeing in joy.
He breaks the gopis’ pots playfully,
licking butter off his smiling lips.
Kumbhandās watches this sweet play,
his heart completely enchanted.
2. “Kānha ke roop bāt nihāri”
कान्हा के रूप बात निहारी,
मोरे मन को भा गए प्यारे।
नील कमल सम नयन विशाला,
मुखचंदनी हँसी उजियारी।
कुंभनदास सुध बुध बिसारी,
लागि रही नंदलाल पे न्यारी।
Kānhā ke rūp bāt nihārī,
More man ko bhā gaye pyāre.
Nīl kamal sam nayan vishālā,
Mukha-chandnī hansī ujiārī.
Kumbhandās sudh budh bisārī,
Lāgi rahī Nandalāl pe nyārī.
Just one glimpse of Krishna’s form,
and my heart is forever his.
Eyes like blue lotus, face shining with moonlight and smiles—
Kumbhandās forgot himself,
and stays lost in love for Nandalal.
3. “Hām to dās banī rahīyo”
हाम तो दास बनी रहियो,
गोविंद के घर द्वार।
झाड़ू लगाऊँ चौक पूरौं,
पावन करूं अपार।
कुंभनदास प्रभु तेरी सेवा,
मोको और न भार।
Hām to dās banī rahiyo,
Govind ke ghar dvār.
Jhāḍū lagāūn, chauka pūrau,
Pāvan karūn apār.
Kumbhandās Prabhu terī sevā,
Moko aur na bhār.
Let me remain a humble servant
at the doorstep of Govind.
I’ll sweep the floor and clean his courtyard—
purifying even my soul.
Kumbhandās asks for no burden in life
except the joy of serving the Lord.
4. “Nainana hi me rāma base”
नैना ही में राम बसे हैं,
दृष्टि में श्याम समाए।
जहाँ जहाँ देखूँ नन्दलाल,
सोई मोरे मन भाए।
कुंभनदास यह सुख पाया,
जो जोगी जतन न पाए।
Nainana hī me Rām base hain,
Drishti me Shyām samāe.
Jahān jahān dekhū Nandalāl,
Soī more man bhāe.
Kumbhandās yah sukh pāyā,
Jo jogī jatan na pāe.
Rama (Krishna) dwells in my eyes,
Shyām fills my every gaze.
Wherever I look, I see Nandalal—
and my heart delights in all I see.
Kumbhandās has found such bliss,
which even yogis miss with all their effort.
5. “Mohe māro nā māro”
मोहे मारो ना मारो प्रभुजी,
जैसी तेरी मर्जी।
तेरे चरणन की रज को,
अनमोल धन समझूं सजी।
कुंभनदास कहे मन ही मन,
तोरे प्रेम में बाजी रंजी।
Mohe māro nā māro Prabhujī,
Jaisī terī marzī.
Tere charanan kī raj ko,
Anmol dhan samjhūn sajī.
Kumbhandās kahe man hī man,
Tore prem me bājī ranjī.
Beat me or bless me, O Lord—
do as You wish!
The dust of Your feet
I treasure more than all the world’s riches.
Kumbhandās whispers in his heart,
“Your love alone is my greatest game, my only prize.”
6. “Govind gun gāvau din rāti”
> गोविंद गुण गाऊँ दिन राती,
भूलि गए जग के सब भांति।
मीठे मीठे रसना बोले,
श्रवणन में बजत बाँसुरी ताती।
कुंभनदास भयो रस माहीं,
प्रेम में डूब्यो, भयो सनाति।
Govind gun gāvau din rātī,
Bhūli gaye jag ke sab bhānti.
Mīṭhe mīṭhe rasnā bole,
Shravanan me bajat bānsurī tātī.
Kumbhandās bhayo ras māhīn,
Prem me ḍūbyo, bhayo sanāti.
I sing of Govind’s virtues day and night,
forgetting all else in the world.
My tongue speaks only his sweet names,
my ears are filled with the sound of his flute.
Kumbhandās is soaked in this rasa,
lost in love, freed from all illusion.
7. “Gāvata rahiye Giridhar ki gatha”
गावत रहिये गिरिधर की गाथा,
सुनत रहिये रसमय वृथा।
नेत्रन में बसै जब नंदनंदन,
दुनिया लागि मोहि सकल व्यथा।
कुंभनदास रह्यो मगन प्रेम में,
भूलि गयो सब दुःख की व्यथा।
Gāvat rahīye Giridhar kī gāthā,
Sunat rahīye rasamay vrithā.
Netran me basai jab Nandanandan,
Duniyā lāgi mohi sakal vyathā.
Kumbhandās rahyo magan prem me,
Bhūli gayo sab dukh kī vyathā.
Keep singing the story of Giridhar (Krishna),
and listen to its divine nectar.
When the son of Nanda lives in your eyes,
the pain of the world melts away.
Kumbhandās remains lost in love,
forgetting all sorrow and suffering.
8. “Prema bhagati ka māraga nyārā”
प्रेम भगति का मारग न्यारा,
नाहिं तहाँ ग्यान जप न तपसारा।
तन मन धन सब अर्पण करिए,
जो होइ सो प्रभु करै हमारा।
कुंभनदास कहे मन माहीं,
कृष्ण नाम सिरताज हमारा।
Prem bhagati kā māraga nyārā,
Nāhi tahān gyān jap na tapasārā.
Tan man dhan sab arpaṇ kariye,
Jo hoi so Prabhu karai hamārā.
Kumbhandās kahe man māhīn,
Krishna nām siratāj hamārā.
The path of loving devotion is unique—
there’s no need of dry knowledge, rituals, or penance.
Just offer your body, mind, and wealth to Krishna,
and let Him do what He wills.
Kumbhandās says from his heart:
“The crown of my life is the name of Krishna.”
9. “Charan saroj rāhi bhayo”
चरण सरोज राहि भयो,
मोरे मन कौ आधार।
जग सागर दुख सिंधु भारी,
ताहिं तरी गोपाल आधार।
कुंभनदास लाज रखियो,
नाम प्रताप अपार।
Charan saroj rāhi bhayo,
More man kau ādhār.
Jag sāgar dukh sindhu bhārī,
Tāhi tarī Gopāl ādhār.
Kumbhandās lāj rakhiye,
Nām pratāp apār.
The lotus feet of Krishna
are the only support of my heart.
This world is a vast ocean of sorrow,
but Gopal’s feet can carry me across.
O Lord, please uphold the honor
of Your name, which is infinitely powerful.
10. “Mohe lāgi lāl chhabi pyārī”
मोहे लागी लाल छबि प्यारी,
रस में डूब्यो ब्रज बिहारी।
कानन कुंज वन बँसुरिया बाजे,
भूल्यो घरद्वार संसारी।
कुंभनदास हिये सम्हारो,
श्याम सुधा की बूँद उतारी।
Mohe lāgī lāl chhabi pyārī,
Ras me ḍūbyo Braj Bihārī.
Kānan kunj van baṁsuriyā bāje,
Bhūlyo ghar-dwār saṁsārī.
Kumbhandās hiye samhāro,
Shyām sudhā kī būnd utārī.
I’ve fallen in love with the sweet form of my Lal (Krishna),
Braj Bihari has drowned me in divine nectar.
The flute echoes through forest bowers—
and I’ve forgotten home, family, and the world.
Kumbhandās clutches his heart,
tasting one drop of Shyam’s immortal nectar.
11. “Mero man nanda-nandan ras bhāyo”
मेरो मन नंदनंदन रस भायो,
सब तजि श्याम सरन में आयो।
ना देख्यो रूप ऐसो प्यारा,
ज्यों कंज मुकुट बँधायो।
कुंभनदास उर में बसायो,
श्याम ही जीवन ठहरायो।
Mero man Nandanandan ras bhāyo,
Sab taji Shyām sharaṇ me āyo.
Nā dekhyo rūp aiso pyārā,
Jyon kanj mukut bandhāyo.
Kumbhandās ur me basāyo,
Shyām hī jīvan ṭhaharāyo.
My heart has fallen for the sweetness of Nandanandan (Krishna).
I’ve renounced all and come to take shelter in Shyam.
Never have I seen such beauty—
like a lotus crowned with a peacock feather.
Kumbhandās has installed Him in his heart,
and made Shyam his only life.
12. “Moko kaha’n dhūnḍhe re bande”
मोको कहाँ ढूंढे रे बन्दे,
मैं तो तेरे पास में।
ना मैं तीर्थ, न मैं मूरत,
ना मैं काबे काशी में।
कुंभनदास कहे मन माहीं,
प्रेम भरे जिहरा बासी में।
Moko kahān ḍhūnḍhe re bande,
Main to tere pās meṁ.
Nā main tīrth, nā main mūrat,
Nā main Kābe Kāshī meṁ.
Kumbhandās kahe man māhīn,
Prem bhare jihra bāsī meṁ.
O seeker, where do you search for Me?
I am right beside you.
I am not in temples, or idols,
not in Kaaba or Kashi.
Kumbhandās says: I live in that heart
which is full of love.
(This bhajan is often attributed to multiple saints, but appears in Kumbhandās traditions too, reflecting his simple philosophy of inner bhakti.)
13. “Kānh gaye mākhan chor”
कान्ह गये माखन चोर,
गोपिन के मन को चुरायो।
दधि लूट्यो, मटकी फोरी,
हँसत-हँसत घर भर आयो।
कुंभनदास रस में डूब्यो,
श्याम सखा रस पायो।
Kānh gaye mākhan chor,
Gopin ke man ko churāyo.
Dadhi lūṭyo, maṭkī phorī,
Hansat-hansat ghar bhar āyo.
Kumbhandās ras meṁ ḍūbyo,
Shyām sakhā ras pāyo.
Krishna, the butter thief, has struck again—
and stolen the hearts of the Gopis.
He loots the curd, breaks their pots,
and returns home laughing and glowing.
Kumbhandās is immersed in this rasa,
tasting the nectar of friendship with Shyam.
14. “Saanchi kahun tohe shyām pyāre”
सांची कहूँ तोहे श्याम प्यारे,
तो बिनु मोहि और न भाए।
सोना रूप कंचन काया,
सकल मृगमद तुल जाए।
कुंभनदास तज्यो जग सारा,
नाम तेरो जीवन बनाए।
Sāṁchī kahūn tohe Shyām pyāre,
To binu mohi aur na bhāe.
Sonā rūp kanchan kāyā,
Sakal mṛgamad tul jāe.
Kumbhandās tajyo jag sārā,
Nām tero jīvan banāe.
Let me speak truly, O beloved Shyam—
without You, nothing appeals to me.
Even golden beauty and scented pleasures
are like worthless dust compared to You.
Kumbhandās has given up the whole world,
and made Your name his life.
15. “Mann re! Hari bhajan bina nahin chhūt”
मन रे! हरि भजन बिना नहीं छूट,
कर्म बन्ध की कठिन गठरी।
जप-तप, यज्ञ, दान, न बन्धन तोड़े,
केवल नाम हि चीरि।
कुंभनदास कहे मन माहीं,
श्याम बिनु गति और न हीरी।
Man re! Hari bhajan binā nahīṁ chhūṭ,
Karma bandh kī kaṭhin gaṭhrī.
Jap-tap, yajña, dān, na bandhan toṛe,
Keval nām hi chīri.
Kumbhandās kahe man māhīn,
Shyām binu gati aur na hīrī.
O mind! Without Hari’s bhajan,
the knots of karma will not break.
Chanting, austerity, and rituals—
none can fully free you.
Only Krishna’s name can cut through bondage.
Kumbhandās says: there's no path for me but Shyam.
16. “Bāl mukund ghanshyām hamāro”
बाल मुकुंद घनश्याम हमारा,
ब्रज में जो खेलै नंद दुलारा।
माखन चोर, वृन्दावन चंचल,
हर लेत हिय की ज्वाला।
कुंभनदास रटन करै दिन रैना,
नाम लिए बिसरै दुख सारा।
Bāl Mukund Ghanśyām hamārā,
Braj me jo khelei Nand dulārā.
Mākhan chor, Vrindāvan chañchal,
Har let hiy kī jvālā.
Kumbhandās raṭan karai din rainā,
Nām liye bisarai dukh sārā.
Child Mukund, my Ghanshyam,
the darling of Nanda, plays in Braj.
The butter thief, naughty and lively,
steals away the heart’s sorrows.
Kumbhandās chants his name day and night,
and all pain is forgotten in that remembrance.
17. “Jānakī jhūle Shyām”
जानकी झूले श्याम,
बरसाने के बनवारी।
पवन बहे मंद मंद,
मोर मुकुट सजधज प्यारी।
कुंभनदास कहे, देख्यो लालन,
नैनन में बसी छवि न्यारी।
Jānakī jhūle Shyām,
Barsāne ke Banvārī.
Pavan bahe mand mand,
Mor mukut sajdhaj pyārī.
Kumbhandās kahe, dekhyo lālan,
Nainan meṁ basī chhavi nyārī.
Janaki swings her Shyam,
the playful Lord of Barsana.
Gentle breeze blows, peacock crown shines—
how lovely is His adorned form!
Kumbhandās says: I have seen the Darling,
and His sweet image now lives in my eyes.
18. “Mohe rang de Vrindavan vāro”
मोहे रंग दे वृंदावन वारो,
श्याम रंग में रंग दीजै।
नैनन में छवि बसाइ लीजै,
मन की मैल उतार दीजै।
कुंभनदास भये बिहारी के,
दास करुणा निधान कीजै।
Mohe rang de Vrindāvan vāro,
Shyām rang meṁ raṅg dīje.
Nainan meṁ chhavi basāi līje,
Man kī mail utār dīje.
Kumbhandās bhaye Bihārī ke,
Dās karuṇā-nidhān kīje.
O Krishna of Vrindavan, color me in Your love!
Soak me fully in the hue of Shyām.
Let Your form live in my eyes,
and wash away the dirt from my heart.
Kumbhandās has become Yours, Bihari—
O ocean of compassion, make me Your servant.
19. “Nāchata Gopal sab gāwalin sang”
नाचत गोपाल सब गावलिन संग,
बाजत मृदंग, झंकार मधुर अंग।
बृज की गली में रास रचायो,
प्रीत के मोती बिखेरत रंग।
कुंभनदास मोहित मन भयो,
श्यामसंग लीला देखत अंग-अंग।
Nāchat Gopāl sab gāwalin sang,
Bājat mṛdaṅg, jhaṅkār madhur aṅg.
Braj kī galī meṁ rās rachāyo,
Prīt ke motī bikherat raṅg.
Kumbhandās mohit man bhayo,
Shyām-saṅg līlā dekhat aṅg-aṅg.
Gopal dances with all the gopis,
the drums beat, sweet bells jingle.
In the lanes of Braj, a divine raas unfolds,
scattering pearls of love and color.
Kumbhandās’ heart is enchanted,
as he watches every limb of Shyam dancing in divine play.
20. “Braj bāla lāgiyo mōhe”
ब्रज बाला लागियो मोहे,
छोटे से रूप में रस बहुतेरे।
लट झूलत, नैन हँसावत,
सुनत ही हर लाज गोपिके रे।
कुंभनदास रसिक भया,
श्याम बचपन में सब सुख हेरे।
Braj bālā lāgiyo mohe,
Choṭe se rūp meṁ ras bahutere.
Laṭ jhūlat, nain hasāvat,
Sunat hī har laaj Gopike re.
Kumbhandās rasik bhayā,
Shyām bachpan meṁ sab sukh herē.
The child of Braj has captured me,
though small in form, he overflows with sweetness.
His curls swing, his eyes laugh,
even hearing his name stirs love in the gopis.
Kumbhandās becomes rasik, a lover of rasa,
as he beholds all joy in Shyam’s childhood.
These bhajans celebrate a deeply personal bond with Krishna—full of emotion, innocence, and devotion beyond ritual. Kumbhandās sees God not as distant or fearsome, but as a child, a playmate, a joy that overflows the heart.