PADMANABHA SATAKAM (DASAKAS 6-10)

                      SRI  PADMANABHA SATAKAM (DASAKAS 6-10)

Padmanabha Satakam is a beautiful devotional poem in Sanskrit directly addressed to Lord Padmanabha, the presiding deity of the kingdom, by Maharaja Swathi Tirunal of  Travancore. The significant contribution of the Maharaja to the world of Carnatic music is  well-known. In Padmanabha Satakam the poet follows the style of Narayaneeyam composed by another great Sanskrit scholar and poet,  Meppathur Narayana Bhattathiri.  Bhattathiri has condensed Srimad Bhagavatam in  1000 slokas of unsurpassed poetic beauty and depth of devotion. Padmanabha Satakam is a more condensed version of  Srimad Bhagavatam  (or, we can say, of Narayeneeyam) in  100 slokas of  great poetic merit where the poet has poured out his heart to his favourite deity Lord Padmanabha.

The poem is divided into 10 Daskas containing 10 slokas each. The commentator ( Sri Guruswamy) has included a brief synopsis of the contents of the Dasaka in a couplet or two which are also included in the text.

Given below is the text of  dasakas 6 to 10 with a simple translation in English which, while giving the prosaic meaning, will not, by any stretch of imagination, be able to convey the beauty of expression of the original.

                         षष्ठम् दशमक्

कथ्यते षष्ठदशके हरेश्चरितमद्भुतम् ।

नारसिंहं वामनं च जामदग्न्यं च पावनम् ॥

In the sixth dasaka are described the auspicious incarnations of the Lord as Narasimha, Vamana and Parasurama

पुत्रोऽस्य वै समजनीह तवांघ्रिभक्तः

प्रह्लाद इत्यभिमतः खलु सज्जनानाम् |

तं तत्पिता परमदुष्टमतिर्न्यरौत्सीत्

त्वत्सेविनं किमिह दुष्करमीश पापैः|| 1||

To him was born a son, Prahlada, a great devotee of Yours and recognised as such by all good people.  His father Hiranya Kasipu tried to restrain him, in all manner of ways, from his loving devotion to You.  What evil deeds are not within the purview of the evil-minded?  

भूयोऽपि सोऽथ जगदीश्वर गर्भवासे

श्रीनारदेन मुनिनोक्तभवत्प्रभावः |

शुश्राव नो जनकवाक्यमसौ तदानीं

तत्प्रेरितैर्गुरुजनैरपि शिक्षितश्च ||2||

Prahlada had heard about Your glories from Narada while still in the womb of his mother Kayadhu. He, therefore, did not heed his father’s words even after being tutored by his teachers prompted by  Hiranya Kasipu.    

      

दृष्ट्वा पिताऽस्य निजपुत्रमतिं त्वकंपां

त्वत्पादपद्मयुगलादति रुष्टचेताः |

शूलैश्च दिग्गजगणैरपि दन्तशूकैः

एनं निहन्तुमिह यत्नशतं चकार ||3||

Seeing that Prahlada’s mind was firmly established in Your lotus-feet, his father became exceedingly angry.  He made a hundred attempts to kill  Prahlada,  using weapons like tridents, animals like elephants and even snakes.  

सोऽयं दृढं तव कृपाकवचावृतांगः

नो किञ्चिदाप किल देहरुजामनंत |

कस्ते बलं खल वदेत्यथ देव पृष्टो

लोकत्रयस्य तु बलं हरिरित्यवादीत् || 4||

Prahlada, strongly protected by the armour of Your compassion and grace, did not experience any bodily pain or discomfort whatsoever.  When questioned by his father about the power which was protecting him, Prahlada replied that Hari was the power behind all the three worlds.

स्तंभे विघट्टयति कुत्रहरिस्तवेति

रूपं ततः समभवत्तवघोरघोरम्       |

नो वा मृगात्म न नरात्म च सिंहनाद-

संत्रासिताखिल जगन्निकरान्तरालम्  ||5||

Asking where his Hari was, Hiranya Kasipu struck a pillar with his mace and from it emerged the most terrible form of Yours, half-lion and half-human, your roar reverberating through the worlds and terrifying their inhabitants.

तूर्णं प्रगृह्य दनुजं प्रणिपात्य चोरौ

वक्षो विदार्य नखरैः रुधिरं निपीय |

पादाम्बुजैकनिरतस्य तु बालकस्य

कायाधवस्य शिरसि स्वकरं न्याधास्त्वम् ||6||

You quickly caught hold of the asura, pushed him on to your thighs , tore open his chest with your nails and drank his blood.  Then You put your hands on the head of child Prahlada as a token of your blessing.

 

 एवं स्वभक्तजनकामितदानलोल

निर्लेप निर्गुण निरीह समस्तमूल |

मां पाहि तावक पदाब्जनिविष्टचित्तं

श्रीपद्मनाभ परपूरष ते नमोऽस्तु ||7||

O Padmanabha, the Supreme Being, I bow to you who is always eager to grant the wishes of your devotees and who is unattached, beyond gunas  and actions, and the source of everything.  Kindly take care of me whose mind is always engaged in the contemplation of your lotus-feet.

 दृष्टो भवानदितिजो वटुरूपधारी

दैत्याधिपेन बलिना निज यज्ञगेहे |

पृष्टश्च तेन किमु वाञ्झसि बालकेति

पादत्रयी प्रमितभूमितलं ययाचे  || 8||

You were born as the son of Aditi and seen in the yagashala  of Bali, the King of the Asuras, in the form of a brahmachari (celibate). Asked by Bali what You wanted, You asked for three feet of land measured by Your own foot.   

युग्मेन देव चरणस्य तु सर्वलोके

पूर्णे तृतीयचरणं त्ववशः प्रदातुम् |

बद्धश्च देहि मम मूर्ध्नि तृतीयपादं

इत्यब्रवीत् गतमदोऽनुगृहीत एषः ||9||

You measured all the worlds in two steps and Bali, unable to provide the third foot, bound and his egotism completely deflated, requested  you to put the third step on his bowed head.  Blessed indeed is Bali, who thus surrendered everything to You.

जातोऽसि देव जमदग्निसुतो महात्मा

त्वं रेणुका जठर ईश्वर भार्गवाख्यः |

शम्भुप्रसाद सुगृहीतवरास्त्रजालः

कृत्ताखिलारिनिकरोरुकुठारपाणिः ||10||

You were born as Bhargava, a great soul, as the son of Maharshi Jamadagni and his consort Renuka Devi. By the grace of Lord Siva you acquired divine weapons and axed the horde of your enemies to death.

                            सप्तमं दशकम्

श्रीरामचरितं रम्यं पुण्यं पापप्रणाशनम् ।

सप्तमे दशके भक्त्या वर्ण्यते रामवर्मणा ॥

In the seventh dasaka Rama Varma, with great love and devotion, decribes the story of Rama which is beautiful, purifying and capable of wiping out all sins.

याच्ञाभिस्त्वं खलु दिविषदां रावणोपद्रुतानां

पुत्रीयेष्ट्या फलविलसितं मानवे देव वंशे |

जातो रामो दशरथनृपाल्लक्ष्मणेनानुजेन

भ्रात्रा युक्तो वरद भरतेनाथ शत्रुघ्न नाम्ना || 1||

By the entreaties of the devas persecuted by Ravana, You took birth as the son of King Dasaratha of the dynasty of Manu, along with brothers Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna as the result of  Putrakameshti yagna performed by the king.

धृत्वाचापं सहजसहितः पालयन् कौशिकीयं

यज्ञं मारीचमुखसुमहाराक्षसेभ्यः परं त्वम्  |

कृत्वाऽहल्यां चरणरजसा गौतमस्येश पत्नीं

भित्वा शैवं धनुरथ तदा लब्धवांश्चापि सीताम् ||2||

Armed with your bow and accompanied by your brother Lakshmana, You guarded the yagna performed by Viswamitra from the demons led by Maricha. You purified, by the dust of your feet, wife of Gautama and, breaking the bow of Siva, won the hand of Sita. 

मध्येमार्गागत भृगुपतिं देव जित्वाऽतिरुष्टं

भूयो गत्वा परम नगरीं स्वामयोध्यां वसंस्त्वम् |

कैकेयीवाग्भ्रमितमनसो हन्त तातस्य वाचा

त्यक्त्वा राज्यं विपिनमगमो दुःखिताशेषलोकः ||3||

You conquered an angry Parasurama who crossed your path and returned to Ayodhya.  You abandoned the kingdom and went into the forest plunging your subjects in sorrow in order to honour the words of Your father whose mind was distressed and confused because of Kaikeyi’s utterances.

गत्वाऽरण्यं सह दयितया चाथ सौमित्रिणा त्वं

गंगां तीर्त्वा सुसुखमवसत् चित्रकूटाख्यशैले |

तत्र श्रुत्वा भरतवचनात् तातमृत्युं विषण्णः

तस्मै प्रादा वरद धरणिं पादुकां चात्मनस्त्वम् ||4||

Proceeding to the forests along with your wife and Lakshmana, You crossed the Ganga and happily lived in the Chitrakoota hills. There you were grieved to hear the news of your father’s death from Bharata to whom you gave the kingdom and also your padukas (footwear). 

भूयो हत्वा निशिचरवरान् द्राक् विराधादिकांस्त्वं

कुंभोद्भूतेन खलु मुनिना दत्तदिव्यास्त्रजालः |

भ्रातृच्छिन्न श्रवणविनदच्छूर्पणख्या वचोभिः

त्वायातांस्तान् खरमुखमहाराक्षसान् प्रावधीश्च || 5||

Putting to death many other rakshasas like Viradha and acquiring many divine weapons from sage Agastya, you killed the great rakshasas led by Khara who had come to fight after hearing the wails of Surpananakha whose ears had been cut off by Lakshmana.

मारीचं तं कनकहरिणछद्मनायातमारात्

जायावाक्यादलमनुगतः प्रावधीः सायकेन |

तावद्भूमन् कपटयतिवेषोऽथ लंकाधिनाथः

सीतां देवीमहरत तदा दुःखितात्माऽभवस्त्वम् ||6||

At the request of Sita, You pursued Maricha who had come in the guise of a golden deer and finally killed him by a single arrow.  In the interval when You were away,  Ravana, disguised as a sanyasi, abducted Sita leaving You grieving

दृष्ट्वा लंकेश्वरविनिहतं तातमित्रं जटायुं

तस्याऽथ त्वम् वरद कृतवान् प्रेतकार्यं विषण्णः|

दृष्टस्तत्राऽनुपम भवता मारुतिर्भक्तवर्यः

भूयस्तुष्टः सरसमकरोः साधु सुग्रीवसख्यम् || 7||

Seeing Jatayu, a friend of Dasratha,  killed by Ravana  You performed his after-death rites.  There You met Hanuman, a great devotee of Yours,  and,  at his instance,  happily entered into a friendship pact with Sugreeva

छित्वा सालान् सरसमिषुणा सप्तसंख्यान् क्षणेन

व्याजेन त्वं बत निहतवान् वालिनं शक्रसूनुम् |

भूयोऽन्वेष्टुं जनकतनयां दिक्षु संप्रेष्य कीशान्

सुग्रीवोक्तान् पवनजकरे दत्तवांश्चांगुलीयम्     ||8||

You cut down, easily and instantly, seven huge sal trees by a single arrow and killed Vali, the son of Indra, by stealth (hiding behind a tree). You sent out the monkeys of Sugriva in search of Sita in all directions and gave your ring in the hands of Hanuman (to be given to Sita when she was found).  

दृष्ट्वा सीतां निशिचरगृहे तावकं देव वृत्तं

कृत्स्नं तूक्त्वाप्यदित भवते मारुतिर्मौलिरत्नम् |

तुष्टस्तावत् किल जलनिधौ बाणवित्रासिते त्वं

सेतुं बध्वा निशिचरपुरं यातवान् पद्मनाभ || 9 ||

Having found Sita in Ravana’s palace and having apprised her of Your endeavours to reclaim her, Hanuman returned and gave you the Chudamani of Sita (as evidence of having met Sita) upon which you were extremely happy. The Lord of the ocean, frightened by your arrows, allowed You to bridge the ocean and cross over to Lanka, the city of Ravana.

हत्वा युद्धे किल दशमुखं देव सामात्यबन्धुं

सीतां गृह्णन् परिहृतमलां पुष्पके राजमानः |

प्राप्यायोध्यां हरिवरनिषादेन्द्रयुक्तोऽभिषिक्तः

त्राताशेषो रहितदयितश्चागमोऽन्ते स्वधिष्ण्यम् ||10||

You killed Ravana along with his ministers and relatives, accepted Sita purified by fire, reached Ayodhya by Pushpak and were crowned along with Sugreeva and Vibheeshana.  Finally, protecting all,  You returned to your abode without your consort.

                          

                                                         अष्टकं दशकम्

आष्टमे बलभद्रस्य श्रीकृष्णस्य परात्मनः।

संभवो दशके दिव्यः कथ्यते कलिनाशनः ॥

 In the eighth dasaka the divine births of Balarama and Krishna, the Paramatman, are described which will  remove all the evils of this Kaliyuga

देवदुष्टजनौघभरेण व्याकुलाऽथ वसुधाम्बुजयोनिं |

प्राप्य देवनिकरैः श्रितपादं स्वीयतापमिह सम्यगुवाच ||1||

Unable to bear the burden of wicked men, Vasudha (Earth) approached Brahma, who was already surrounded by the devas (in this connection), and poured out her worries and fears in detail. 

पद्मभूरथ निशम्य च तापं चिन्तयन् सपदि देव भवन्तम् |

युष्मदीय सकलाधिहरः श्रीपद्मनाभ इति तानवदत्सः ||2||

Having heard Vasudha’s problems, Brahma thought of you and told Vasudha and others that only Lord Padmanabha could remove their sorrows 

भूय एत्य तव मन्दिरमेते हीनपुण्यनिकरैरनवाप्यम् |

तुष्टुवुः सविबुधो द्रुहिणस्त्वां तापमाश्वकथयत् वसुधायाः ||3||

Coming to your abode which is unapproachable by those deficient in Punya (fruit of meritorious deeds), Brahma sang your praises and explained the cause of Earth’s worries.

संभवामि तरसा यदुवंशे यादवाः किल भवन्त्विह देवाः|

एवमीश कथिते तव वाक्ये वेधसा किल सुरा मुदमापन् ||4||

“I will soon take birth in the dynasty of Yadus.  Let the devas take birth as Yadavas“ – On hearing these words of Yours conveyed by Brahma, devas felt very happy.   

रोहिणी जठरतः किल जातः प्रेरणात्तव परं त्वहिराजः |

त्वं च विश्वगत कल्मषहारी देवकीजठरमाशुनिविष्टः ||5||

From the womb of Rohini was born, prompted by you, Adisesha. You, the purifier of the worlds, also soon entered the womb of Devaki.

 अर्धरात्रसमये तु भवन्तं देवकी प्रसुषुवेऽधिकधन्या|

शंखचक्रकमलोरुगदाभी राजितातिरुचिबाहुचतुष्कम् ||6||

At midnight Devaki, greatly fulfilled, gave birth to You,  resplendent with four hands carrying the conch, the disc, the lotus and the mace.

तावदीश सकलो बत लोको तुष्टिमाप तमृते किल कंसं |

अष्टमः किल सुतोऽथ भगिन्यास्तद्वधं कलयतीति च वाक्यात् ||7||

Then the whole world was filled with joy except Kamsa as it had been predicted by the invisible voice that the eighth child of his sister Devaki would kill him.

बाष्पपूर्णनयनो वसुदवो नीतवान् व्रजपदेऽथ भवन्तं |

तत्र नन्दसदने  किल जातामंबिकामनयदात्मनिकेतम् ||8||

Eyes filled with tears, Vasudeva took You to the house of Nanda in Vraja, and took the girl baby (an incarnation of Ambika ) born there to his house

.कंस एत्य किल सूतिगृहे ते कन्यकां तु शयितां स निशाम्य |

नूनमेवमजितस्य तु माया सेयमित्ययमतुष्टिमयासीत् || 9 ||

Kamsa came to the delivery room and,  seeing a little girl there, concluded that it was the Maya of Ajita (Vishnu) and was not pleased at all.

तूर्णमेष निधने निरतांस्ते पूतनाशकटधेनुकमुख्यान् |

प्राहिणोदजित! मन्दमतिस्तान् दुष्करं किमिह विस्मृतपापैः ||10||

Soon the dull-witted Kamsa ordered Putana, Sakata, Dhenuka and others to kill all newly born babies.  What is beyond the purview of those who have forgotten what sin is    

                  नवमं दशकम्

नवमे दशके कृष्णाचरितं परमाद्भुतम् ।

कल्किवृत्तं भविष्यच्च पावनं प्रतिपाद्यते ॥

In the ninth dasaka is told the most wonderful life history of Krishna and the incarnation of Kalki which is yet to come.

एवं घोषे विराजत्ययि भवति जगन्नेत्रपीयूषमूर्तौ

दुष्टा काचिन्निशाचर्यथ समधिगता चारुयोषित्स्वरूपा |

स्तन्यं दातुं कुचाग्रं तवमुखजलजे देव चिक्षेप यावत्

तावत् क्षीरं सजीवं कपटशिशुरहो पीतवांस्त्वं क्षणेन || 1||

When you, nectar for the eyes of the whole world,  were growing up in Vraja, a wicked demoness came there in the guise of a beautiful woman (with the idea of killing you by suckling you with poisioned breasts).  As soon as she placed the nipple of her breast in your month You, the child in guise, sucked in her life along with the milk.

भूयः शौरे व्रजे वै शकटदनुसुत प्राप्तवान् संहृतोयं

वातात्मा दानवश्च प्रवितत धरणीभारनाशेन कृत्तः|

दृष्ट्वैवं ते महत्वं दनुजहृतिचणं तादृशीं बाललीलां

त्वन्माया मोहितत्वात् बत पशुपा विस्मयम् मोदमापन् ||2||

Again, it was Sakatasura who came to Vraja and was killed (by the child Krishna who kicked him to pieces).  The Wind-Asura was also killed by you, the destroyer of the load on Earth.    Seeing that  killing these demons was child’s play for you the cowherds, deluded by your Maya, were overcome by wonderment and happiness.

नन्दः पश्यन् कदाचित् निजनिलयगतं यादवाचार्यवर्यं

गर्गं ते कारयामास च विधिवदसौ नाम कृष्णेति तेन |

रामाख्यां सोदरे ते मुनिरथ कलयन् वैभवं च त्वदीयं

नन्दादिभ्यः प्रशंसन् निजपदमिह संप्राप्तवान् भक्तवर्यः ||3||

Seeing that Garga, the Acharya for the Yadavas, had come to his house, Nanda arranged for the performance of your naming ceremony according to  the Sastras.  You were named Krishna and your brother was named Rama by the sage, a loving devotee of yours, who praised your greatness to Nanda and others and returned to his place.

दृष्टं मात्रा समस्तं जगदिह वदने मृत्तिकाभक्षणं ते

व्याकुर्व्यन्त्या शिशूनामथ वचनवशात्किन्वितो हन्त चित्रम् |

भूयस्तूर्णं भवान् मंगलगुण गतवान्देव वृन्दावनं तत्

युष्मत् गात्रोरुशोभा प्रतुलित यमुनातीरसंस्थं मनोज्ञम् ||4||

When children reported to your mother that you had swallowed mud, she was worried and looked into your mouth where she saw, wonder of wonders, the whole of this created world.  Soon after this You, the repository of all auspicious qualities, moved to Vrindavan situated on the banks of the Yamuna the colour of whose waters matched the dark colour of your body.     

वन्याशं त्वय्यधीशे कलयति तरसा श्रीधराहो विरिञ्चो

गोपान् वत्सान् त्वदीयानहरदयि विभो तावदेव स्वरूपं |

संख्याहीनं परं त्वामपि कबलधरं वीक्ष्य संभ्रान्तचेताः

त्वत्पादाब्जे पतित्वा मुहुरपि भगवन्नस्तवीदच्युतं त्वाम् ||5||

When you the Lord of Lakshmi were picnicing in the forest along with cowherd boys, Brahma, (desirous of seeing your maya), abducted your calves and the cowherd boys. You, the Lord of all, yourself became countless calves and cowherds and continued the picnic with the eatables on your palm (as if nothing had happened).  Brahma was utterly confused and, falling at your feet again and again,  praised you, the immutable Lord.    

सर्पं तोये निमग्नं परमसुकुटिलं कालियं वीक्ष्य शौरे

नृत्यन् नृत्यन् फणे त्वं तदनु गतमदं चाकरोस्तं गतं च  |

भूयस्त्वद्वेणुगानादजित! जगदलं मोहितं सर्वमासीत्

योषिच्चित्तापहारे निपुणमिदमिति श्रीश! किं वर्णनीयम् ||6||

The crooked serpent Kaliya, living submerged in the Yamuna, poisoned its waters.  Seeing this you jumped on its hoods and started a beautiful dance.  Broken in body by your weight and his arrogance softened,  he was made to leave Yamuna. In the days that followed You played, on your flute, melodious songs which kept the whole world spell-bound.  What else is to be said about this except that the melody of your flute was powerful enough to steal the hearts of cowherd women.

धृत्वा गोवर्धनं त्वं गिरिमलमतनोः वासवं वीतगर्वं

योषिद्भिस्त्वं सलीलं रजनिषु कृतवान् रासकेलिं मनोज्ञां |

भक्ताग्र्यं गान्दिनेयं तव खलु निकटे प्रेषयामास कंसः

हत्वेभेन्द्रं च मल्लान् यदुवर सबलो मातुलं चावधीस्त्वम् ||7||

Lifting up the Govardhana hill (on the little finger of your left hand), You deflated the conceit of Indra. You performed the beautiful rasa dance with the cowherd women (on the banks of the Yamuna) on several moonlit nights.  Kamsa sent Akroora, one of your devotees, to invite you to the dhanuryagna where You killed the elephant Kuvalayapeeda, the wrestlers Malla and Chanoora and finally Kamsa himself.

गत्वा सान्दीपनिं त्वं कतिपयदिवसैः ज्ञातवान्सर्वविद्याः

कृत्वा राज्ये नरेन्द्रं विमलतमगुणं चोग्रसेनं जवेन |

राजानं धर्मसूनुं चरणरतमवन् चैद्यमुख्यादिहन्ता

रुग्मिण्याद्यष्टयोषायुत बहुवनिताश्चारमो द्वारकायाम् ||8||

At the hermitage  of Sandeepani  you learned all that was to be learned in a few days. You crowned Ugrasena, of sterling qualities, as the King, helped Dharmaputra, who was devoted to your feet, perfrom the Rajasuya sacrifice and killed the wicked Sisupala and others of his ilk.   You merrily spent your days in Dwaraka along with eight married wives with Rukmini at their head and several thousand other women (released from captivity).  

 विप्रं निस्स्वं कुचेलं सदनमुपगतं बाल्यकालैकमित्रं

पश्यन् कारुण्यलोलः पृथुकमिह करात्तस्य संगृह्य तूर्णं |

लक्ष्मीसंवारितोऽपि स्वयमपरिमितं वित्तमस्मै ददानः

कारुण्यांभोनिधिस्त्वं जय जय भगवन् सर्वलोकाधिनाथः|| 9||

The poor brahmin Kuchela who was your class fellow and friend (at the Hermit of Sandeepani) came to your palace in Dwaraka. You welcomed him and,  overcome by pity at his condition, snatched the bundle of flattened rice which he had brought and partook of it in spite of Lakshmi preventing you and in return gave him immeasurable riches.  Victory to you, the Lord of all the worlds and an ocean of compassion.

यावत् वृद्धिः कलेर्वै भवति बत तदा कल्किरूपोऽतिहीनान्

म्लेच्छान् धर्मैकशत्रून् भरितपुरुरुषा नाशयिष्यत्यशान्तान् |

स त्वं सत्वैकतानां मम मतिमनिशं देहि शौरे तदर्थं

त्वत्पादाब्जे पतित्वा मुहुरहमवशः प्रार्थये पद्मनाभ || 10||

When Kali Yuga advances and reaches its zenith, You will incarnate as Kalki and angrily destroy all those who are opposed to dharma and are of mean character.  O Lord! I fall at your feet again and again, helplessly, and pray to You, to make my mind steeped in pure sattwa only.

                                                 दशमं दशकम्

      सच्चिदानन्दमद्वैतं पद्मनाभं स्वदैवतम् ।

   नत्वाऽभीष्टं प्रार्थयते दशमे दशके नृपः॥

 In the tenth dasaka  the King prays to Lord Padmanabha, his favourite deity,  who is none other than the non-dual Brahman,  the very embodiment of pure Consciousness and Bliss, to grant him his wishes.

भूषणेषु किल हेमवज्जगति मृत्तिकावदथवा घटे

तन्तुजालवदहोपटेष्वपि राजिताद्वयरसात्मकम् |

सर्वसत्वहृदयैकसाक्षिणमिहातिमाय निजवैभवं

भावयामि हृदये भवन्तमिह पद्मनाभ परिपाहि माम् ||1||

Just like gold in ornaments, mud in pots and thread in clothes, O Padmanabha ! you are the one consciousness uniformly pervading all life,  You are the only witness in the heart of all beings. Your majesty  transcends the Maya. I see you in my heart, O Padmanabha! protect me and take care of me.

चिन्मयांबुनिधिवीचिरूप सनकादिचिन्त्यविमलाकृते

जातिकर्मगुणभेदहीन सकलादिमूल जगतां गुरो ।

ब्रह्मशंकरमुखैरमेयविपुलानुभाव करुणानिधे

भावयामि हृदये भवन्तमिह पद्मनाभ परिपाहि माम् ||2||

O Padmanabha! Your form is like a wave of the ocean of consciousness.  Your pure form is meditated upon by the saints led by Sanaka.  You are without any differentiation of category, action or attributes.  You are the very first  cause of everything and the Spiritual Teacher of the whole world.  Your greatness  cannot be measured even by the gods led by Brahma  and Siva.  I see you in my heart, O Padmanabha! protect me and take care of me.

माययावृततनुर्बहिः सृजसि लोकजालमखिलं भवान्

स्वप्नसन्निभमिदं पुनस्सपदि संहरन्निजबलादहो |

हन्त कूर्म इव पादमात्मनि तु धारयत्यथ यदा तदा

दारुणे तमसि विस्तृते वितिमिरो लसत्यनिशमात्मना ||3||

O Lord! By the power of your Maya you create all these material worlds which are really dream-like only and are annihilated by your power at the end of a cycle. Like the tortoise,  when you withdraw everything in you, You alone shine brightly, in the enveloping thick darkness,  as the Ultimate Reality.

   

देवदेव तनुवाङ्मनोभिरिह यत्करोमि सततं हरे

त्वय्यसावहमर्पयाम्यखिलमेतदीश परितुष्यताम् |

त्वत्पदैकमतिरन्त्यजोऽपि खलु लोकमीश पुनात्यहो

नो रमेश विमुखाशयो भवति विप्रजातिरपि केवलम् || 4||

O Devadeva! Whatever I ever do with my body, speech and mind I offer to you and surrender to you so that you are pleased wih me.  Even a man of the lowest caste whose mind is single-mindedly attached to your lotus-feet purifies this world, not the one who turns his face away from you though he may be a brahmin  

पाप एष किल गूहितुं निज दुश्चरित्रमिह सर्वदा

कृष्ण राम मधुसूदनेत्यनिशमालपत्यहह निष्फलम् |

एवमीश तव सेवकोऽपि भवति निन्दितः खलजनैः कलौ

तादृशं त्वनघ मा कृथा वरद मामसीमतमवैभव ||5||

“This sinner always repeats Krishna, Rama and Madhusoodana without any purpose only to hide his bad conduct and character”.  Your devotee is defamed in this fashion by the wicked of this Kali Yuga.  Please do not make me like that, O generous one who gives without limit.

कस्तु लोक इह निर्भयो भवति तावकं किल विना पदं

सत्यलोक वसति स्थितोऽपि बत न स्थिरो वसति पद्मभूः |

एवमीश सति का कथा परम पापिनाम् तु निरयात्मनां

तन्मदीय भवबन्धमोहमयि खण्डयाऽनघ नमोऽस्तु ते ||6||

Which world is without fear except your world ? Though Brahma’s abode of Satyaloka is permanent, Brahma himself does not stay there permanently.  This being the situation, what will be the condition of the sinners who are fit only for Hell.   Please, therefore,  cut asunder my bonds and break my delusion, O the pure One

भावयन्ति हि परे  भवन्तमयि चारु बद्धविमलासनाः

नासिकाग्रधृतलोचना परम पूरकादिजितमारुताः|

उद्गताग्रमथ चित्तपद्ममयि भावयन्त इह सादरं

भानुसोमशिखिमण्डलोपरि तु नीलनीरद समप्रभम् ||7||

Sitting in the lotus pose, some meditate on your beautiful dark blue form, in the centre of the upturned heart-lotus,  above the regions of the sun, the moon and the fire,  focusing their eyes on the tip of their nose and  gaining control over their breath by pranayama etc.

श्लक्ष्ण नील कुटिलालकं मकरकुण्डलद्युति विराजितम्

मन्दहासहृत सर्वलोक विपुलातिभारमति मोहनं |

कौस्तुभेन वनमालयापि च विराजितं मदनसुन्दरं

काञ्चनाभवसनं भवन्तमयि भावयन्ति हृतकल्मषाः||8||

They, with their impurities removed, visualise you with soft, blue and curly hair, adorned by the lustre of fish-shaped ear-rings, lightening  the burden of the worlds by your bewitching smile and captivating beauty,  wearing the Kaustubha  diamond and the garland of wild flowers, beautiful as the Kama and wearing clothes of golden hue.   

ज्ञानमीश बत कर्म भक्तिरपि तत्त्रयं भवदापकं

ज्ञानयोग विषयेऽधिकार इह वै विरक्त जनताहितः |

कर्मणीह भवेन्नृणामधिकसक्तमानसजुषां हरे

येतु नाधिकविरक्तसक्तहृदया हि भक्तिरयि तद्धिता||9||

One can reach you by Gnana, Karma or Bhakti. Gnana is for those who have developed complete detachment from worldly things. Karma is those who are still interested in worldly things. Bhakti is for those who are not completely detached but also not completely attached.  . 

देव वैभवमजानताद्य तव यन्मया निगदितं हरे

क्षम्यतां खलु समस्तमेतदिह मोदमीश कुरु तावके |

दीर्घमायुरयि देहसौख्यमपि वर्धतां भवदनुग्रहात्

पङ्कजाभनयनापदो दलय पद्मनाभ विजयी भव ||10||

Whatever I have said, O Padmanabha !, without understanding your magnificence, please bear with me and accept this with pleasure. Please also bless me with long life and good heath. Victory to thee, O Lord with eyes beautiful as the  lotus! free me from my trials and tribulations.