Shatpadi Stotram

विष्णु षट्पदी

Viṣṇu Ṣaṭpadī

All 6 verses

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Verse 1

अविनयमपनय विष्णो दमय मनः शमय विषयमृगतृष्णाम् । भूतदयां विस्तारय तारय संसारसागरतः ॥१॥

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अविनयमपनय विष्णो दमय मनः शमय विषयमृगतृष्णाम् ।: O Vishnu, remove my arrogance, subdue my mind, and quiet the mirage-thirst of sense objects.
भूतदयां विस्तारय तारय संसारसागरतः ॥१॥: Expand compassion toward beings and carry me across the ocean of samsara.

The prayer asks Vishnu to tame the mind and dry up the mirage of worldly objects. Compassion for all beings and crossing samsara arise when arrogance yields to the Lord who is the Self.

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Verse 2

दिव्यधुनीमकरन्दे परिमलपरिभोगसच्चिदानन्दे । श्रीपतिपदारविन्दे भवभयखेदच्छिदे वन्दे ॥२॥

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दिव्यधुनीमकरन्दे परिमलपरिभोगसच्चिदानन्दे ।: In the nectar of the divine river, in the fragrant enjoyment of existence-consciousness-bliss.
श्रीपतिपदारविन्दे भवभयखेदच्छिदे वन्दे ॥२॥: I bow to the lotus feet of Sri's lord, the cutter of the sorrow and fear of becoming.

The Lord's feet are tasted as nectar and as the bliss that is one's own nature. Devotion to those feet dissolves the fear born of identifying with the perishable body.

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Verse 3

सत्यपि भेदापगमे नाथ तवाहं न मामकीनस्त्वम् । सामुद्रो हि तरङ्गः क्वचन समुद्रो न तारङ्गः ॥३॥

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सत्यपि भेदापगमे नाथ तवाहं न मामकीनस्त्वम् ।: Even when difference vanishes, O Lord, I am not yours; you are not mine.
सामुद्रो हि तरङ्गः क्वचन समुद्रो न तारङ्गः ॥३॥: For the wave is of the ocean; the ocean is never of the wave.

The devotee affirms that even in non-dual vision the relation is not reversed: the individual belongs to the Lord, not the Lord to the individual. The wave cannot claim the ocean; the Self alone is the ground of the person.

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Verse 4

उद्धृतनग नगभिदनुज दनुजकुलामित्र मित्रशशिदृष्टे । दृष्टे भवति प्रभवति न भवति किं भवतिरस्कारः ॥४॥

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उद्धृतनग नगभिदनुज दनुजकुलामित्र मित्रशशिदृष्टे ।: O uplifter of the mountain, breaker of the mountain, friend of the gods, foe of the demon race, friend of the moon-faced one.
दृष्टे भवति प्रभवति न भवति किं भवतिरस्कारः ॥४॥: Once seen, what pride of becoming can remain or not remain?

Vision of the Lord who sustains the cosmos leaves no room for the ego's pride. When the supreme is known, the fiction of a separate becoming self loses its force.

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Verse 5

मत्स्यादिभिरवतारैरवतारवताऽवता सदा वसुधाम् । परमेश्वर परिपाल्यो भवता भवतापभीतोऽहम् ॥५॥

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मत्स्यादिभिरवतारैरवतारवताऽवता सदा वसुधाम् ।: Through avatars beginning with Matsya, you have always descended and protected the earth.
परमेश्वर परिपाल्यो भवता भवतापभीतोऽहम् ॥५॥: O supreme Lord, I am afraid of the heat of becoming; protect me.

The Lord's repeated descents image the ever-present grace that upholds the world. The devotee's fear of samsara is answered by taking shelter in Parameshvara, the Self beyond change.

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Verse 6

दामोदर गुणमन्दिर सुन्दरवदनारविन्द गोविन्द । भवजलधिमथनमन्दर परमं दरमपनय त्वं मे ॥६॥

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दामोदर गुणमन्दिर सुन्दरवदनारविन्द गोविन्द ।: O Damodara, temple of virtues, Govinda with a beautiful lotus face.
भवजलधिमथनमन्दर परमं दरमपनय त्वं मे ॥६॥: O Mandara for churning the ocean of becoming, remove my deepest fear.

Govinda is the churning mountain that brings forth the nectar hidden in the ocean of life. The hymn closes by asking removal of the last fear, which is the fear of losing one's false identity.

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