Vishnu Padadi Keshanta Stotram
विष्णुपादादिकेशान्तस्तोत्रम्
Viṣṇupādādikeśāntastotram
All 12 verses
Verse 1
लक्ष्मीभर्तुर्भुजाग्रे कृतवसति सितं यस्य रूपं विशालम् नीलाद्रेस्तुङ्गशृङ्गस्थितमिव रजनीनाथबिंबं विभाति । पायान्नः पाञ्चजन्यः स दितिसुतकुलत्रासनैः पूरयन् स्वैः निध्वानैर्नीरदौघध्वनिपरिभवदैरम्बरं कम्बुराजः ॥१॥
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- लक्ष्मीभर्तुर्भुजाग्रे कृतवसति सितं यस्य रूपं विशालम्
- On Lakshmi's lord's arm, dwelling, whose vast form is white,
- नीलाद्रेस्तुङ्गशृङ्गस्थितमिव रजनीनाथबिंबं विभाति
- shining like the moon's disc on Niladri's lofty peak,
- पायान्नः पाञ्चजन्यः स दितिसुतकुलत्रासनैः पूरयन् स्वैः
- may Panchajanya protect us, filling with his own sounds that terrify Diti's sons' hosts,
- निध्वानैर्नीरदौघध्वनिपरिभवदैरम्बरं कम्बुराजः
- with deep roars rivaling cloud-flood sounds - the royal conch.
Panchajanya's white radiance and thunderous sound proclaim the Lord whose presence terrifies the forces of darkness. The conch's call is Om resounding through the sky of consciousness, awakening the devotee from the sleep of ignorance.
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Verse 2
आहुर्यस्य स्वरूपं क्षणमुखमखिलं सूरयः कालमेतम् ध्वान्तस्यैकान्तमन्तं यदपि च परमं सर्वधाम्नां च धाम । चक्रं तच्चक्रपाणेर्दितिजतनुगलद्रक्तधाराक्तधारम् शश्वन्नो विश्ववन्द्यं वितरतु विपुलं शर्म घर्मांशुशोभम् ॥२॥
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- आहुर्यस्य स्वरूपं क्षणमुखमखिलं सूरयः कालमेतम्
- The wise declare its nature to be this entire time with moment as mouth,
- ध्वान्तस्यैकान्तमन्तं यदपि च परमं सर्वधाम्नां च धाम
- the sole end of darkness, and also the supreme abode of all abodes,
- चक्रं तच्चक्रपाणेर्दितिजतनुगलद्रक्तधाराक्तधारम्
- that disc of the disc-bearer, with streams of blood from demon bodies,
- शश्वन्नो विश्ववन्द्यं वितरतु विपुलं शर्म घर्मांशुशोभम्
- ever worshipped by the world - may it grant abundant welfare, splendid as the sun's rays.
Sudarshana as time itself and destroyer of darkness is the Lord's power to cut through avidya. The disc worshipped by all worlds is the wheel of dharma turning in consciousness, granting peace when seen as the Self's own light.
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Verse 3
अव्यान्निर्घातघोरो हरिभुजपवनामर्शनाध्मातमूर्तेः अस्मान् विस्मेरनेत्रत्रिदशनुतिवचःसाधुकारैः सुतारः । सर्वं संहर्तुमिच्छोररिकुलभुवनं स्फारविस्फारनादः संयत्कल्पान्तसिन्धौ शरसलिलघटावार्मुचः कार्मुकस्य ॥३॥
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- अव्यान्निर्घातघोरो हरिभुजपवनामर्शनाध्मातमूर्तेः
- Unfailing, thunderously terrible, the form inflated by the wind of Hari's arm's rubbing,
- अस्मान् विस्मेरनेत्रत्रिदशनुतिवचःसाधुकारैः सुतारः
- for us, with gods' wonder-filled eyes and clearly spoken words of praise, well-crossed,
- सर्वं संहर्तुमिच्छोररिकुलभुवनं स्फारविस्फारनादः
- wishing to destroy all the enemy hosts' worlds, with expanding, resounding sound,
- संयत्कल्पान्तसिन्धौ शरसलिलघटावार्मुचः कार्मुकस्य
- like a cloud at the kalpa's end-ocean, arrow-water jar raised - Sarnga's bow.
Sarnga's twang like clouds at world's end shakes the realms of ignorance and draws wonder from the gods. The bow's sound is the vibration of Om that dissolves the false worlds built by the ego's enmity toward truth.
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Verse 4
जीमूतश्यामभासा मुहुरपि भगवद्बाहुना मोहयन्ती युद्धेषूद्धूयमाना झटिति तटिदिवालक्ष्यते यस्य मूर्तिः । सोऽसिस्त्रासाकुलाक्षत्रिदशरिपुवपुःशोणितास्वादतृप्तो नित्यानन्दाय भूयान्मधुमथनमनोनन्दनो नन्दको नः ॥४॥
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- जीमूतश्यामभासा मुहुरपि भगवद्बाहुना मोहयन्ती
- With cloud-dark splendor, at times deluding with the Lord's arm,
- युद्धेषूद्धूयमाना झटिति तटिदिवालक्ष्यते यस्य मूर्तिः
- brandished in battles, whose form is suddenly seen like a flash of lightning,
- सोऽसिस्त्रासाकुलाक्षत्रिदशरिपुवपुःशोणितास्वादतृप्तो
- sated with drinking the blood of demon foes' bodies, with eyes troubled by sword terror,
- नित्यानन्दाय भूयान्मधुमथनमनोनन्दनो नन्दको नः
- may Nandaka, delighting the slayer of Madhu's mind, be for our eternal bliss.
Nandaka flashing like lightning is the sword of knowledge that slays ignorance and delights the Lord who destroyed delusion. Eternal bliss flows when the weapon of discrimination is recognized as the Self's own radiance.
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Verse 5
कम्राकारा मुरारेः करकमलतलेनानुरागाद्गृहीता सम्यग्वृत्ता स्थिताग्रे सपदि न सहते दर्शनं या परेषाम् । राजन्ती दैत्यजीवासवमदमुदिता लोहितालेपनार्द्रा कामं दीप्तांशुकान्ता प्रदिशतु दयितेवास्य कौमोदकी नः ॥५॥
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- कम्राकारा मुरारेः करकमलतलेनानुरागाद्गृहीता
- Tenderly formed, held with love in Murari's lotus-palm,
- सम्यग्वृत्ता स्थिताग्रे सपदि न सहते दर्शनं या परेषाम्
- well-rounded, standing before Him, which instantly cannot bear others' sight,
- राजन्ती दैत्यजीवासवमदमुदिता लोहितालेपनार्द्रा
- shining, glad with the intoxication of demon life's essence, moist with red anointing,
- कामं दीप्तांशुकान्ता प्रदिशतु दयितेवास्य कौमोदकी नः
- may Kaumodaki, like a beloved jealous of bright rays, grant our wishes.
Kaumodaki held tenderly yet fiercely is the Lord's power that crushes pride while remaining inseparable from Him. The mace that cannot bear another's gaze mirrors the mind devoted solely to the one Self, intolerant of divided loyalty.
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Verse 6
यो विश्वप्राणभूतस्तनुरपि च हरेर्यानकेतुस्वरूपो यं सञ्चिन्त्यैव सद्यः स्वयमुरगवधूवर्गगर्भाः पतन्ति । चञ्चच्चण्डोरुतुण्डत्रुटितफणिवसारक्तपङ्काङ्कितास्यम् वन्दे छन्दोमयं तं खगपतिममलस्वर्णवर्णं सुपर्णम् ॥६॥
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- यो विश्वप्राणभूतस्तनुरपि च हरेर्यानकेतुस्वरूपो
- Who is the world's life-breath body and also Hari's banner in form,
- यं सञ्चिन्त्यैव सद्यः स्वयमुरगवधूवर्गगर्भाः पतन्ति
- by merely thinking of whom, serpent-maidens' wombs miscarry at once,
- चञ्चच्चण्डोरुतुण्डत्रुटितफणिवसारक्तपङ्काङ्कितास्यम्
- with mouth marked by red paste from the hoods of trembling fierce beaks,
- वन्दे छन्दोमयं तं खगपतिममलस्वर्णवर्णं सुपर्णम्
- I bow to that bird-king Suparna, embodiment of the Vedas, of pure golden hue.
Garuda, Veda incarnate and Vishnu's banner, destroys the serpent of ignorance by the mere thought of him. The golden bird king is vahana of the Lord, showing that devoted intelligence carries consciousness to its source.
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Verse 7
विष्णोर्विश्वेश्वरस्य प्रवरशयनकृत्सर्वलोकैकधर्ता सोऽनन्तः सर्वभूतः पृथुविमलयशाः सर्ववेदैश्च वेद्यः । पाता विश्वस्य शश्वत्सकलसुररिपुध्वंसनः पापहन्ता सर्वज्ञः सर्वसाक्षी सकलविषभयात् पातु भोगीश्वरो नः ॥७॥
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- विष्णोर्विश्वेश्वरस्य प्रवरशयनकृत्सर्वलोकैकधर्ता
- Of Vishnu, lord of the universe, the chief couch's sole bearer of all worlds,
- सोऽनन्तः सर्वभूतः पृथुविमलयशाः सर्ववेदैश्च वेद्यः
- that Ananta, all-beings, broad as the Himalaya, knowable through all Vedas,
- पाता विश्वस्य शश्वत्सकलसुररिपुध्वंसनः पापहन्ता
- protector of the world always, destroyer of all foes of gods, destroyer of sin,
- सर्वज्ञः सर्वसाक्षी सकलविषभयात् पातु भोगीश्वरो नः
- all-knowing, all-witnessing - may the serpent-lord protect us from every poison's fear.
Ananta bearing all worlds on the cosmic ocean is the serpent of endless consciousness on which Vishnu rests. Known through the Vedas and witness to all, He protects from poison because the Self is never tainted by what appears within it.
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Verse 8
वाग्भूगौर्यादिभेदैर्विदुरिह मुनयो यां यदीयैश्च पुंसाम् कारुण्यार्द्रैः कटाक्षैः सकृदपि पतितैः सम्पदः स्युः समग्राः । कुन्देन्दुस्वच्छमन्दस्मितमधुरमुखाम्भोरुहां सुन्दराङ्गीम् वन्दे वन्द्यामसेषैरपि मुरभिदुरोमन्दिरामिन्दिरां ताम् ॥८॥
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- वाग्भूगौर्यादिभेदैर्विदुरिह मुनयो यां यदीयैश्च पुंसाम्
- Whom sages here know through distinctions like Speech, Earth, and Gauri, and through whose glances on men
- कारुण्यार्द्रैः कटाक्षैः सकृदपि पतितैः सम्पदः स्युः समग्राः
- with moist compassionate sidelong looks, fallen even once, fortunes become complete,
- कुन्देन्दुस्वच्छमन्दस्मितमधुरमुखाम्भोरुहां सुन्दराङ्गीम्
- with lotus face of sweet gentle smile clear as kunda and moon,
- वन्दे वन्द्यामसेषैरपि मुरभिदुरोमन्दिरामिन्दिरां ताम्
- I bow to that Indira, worshipped by all, dwelling on Murari's chest.
Lakshmi on Vishnu's chest is prosperity and grace, known through speech and earth as manifestations of the one Shakti. Her compassionate glance bestows fullness because she is maya when recognized as the Lord's own creative power, not other than Him.
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Verse 9
या सूते सत्त्वजालं सकलमपि सदा संनिधानेन पुंसः धत्ते या तत्त्वयोगाच्चरमचरमिदं भूतये भूतजातम् । धात्रीं स्थात्रीं जनित्रीं प्रकृतिमविकृतिं विश्वशक्तिं विधात्रीम् विष्णोर्विश्वात्मनस्तां विपुलगुणमयीं प्राणनाथां प्रणौमि ॥९॥
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- या सूते सत्त्वजालं सकलमपि सदा संनिधानेन पुंसः
- Who always bears the entire web of sattva through nearness to the Purusha,
- धत्ते या तत्त्वयोगाच्चरमचरमिदं भूतये भूतजातम्
- who sustains this moving and unmoving creation through union with truth, for beings' welfare,
- धात्रीं स्थात्रीं जनित्रीं प्रकृतिमविकृतिं विश्वशक्तिं विधात्रीम्
- creatrix, sustainer, mother, nature, non-nature, world-power, ordainer,
- विष्णोर्विश्वात्मनस्तां विपुलगुणमयीं प्राणनाथां प्रणौमि
- of Vishnu, soul of the universe - Her, rich in qualities, lady of life, I bow to.
Lakshmi as prakriti creates and sustains all through union with Vishnu, the Purusha who is the world's Self. Mother nature and the indwelling Lord are not two realities but consciousness and its power, seen as one in non-dual vision.
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Verse 10
येभ्योऽसूयद्भिरुच्चैः सपदि पदमुरु त्यज्यते दैत्यवर्गैः येभ्यो धर्तुं च मूर्ध्ना स्पृहयति सततं सर्वगीर्वाणवर्गः । नित्यं निर्मूलयेयुर्निचिततरममी भक्तिनिघ्नात्मनां नः पद्माक्षस्याङ्घ्रिपद्मद्वयतलनिलयाः पांसवः पापपङ्कम् ॥१०॥
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- येभ्योऽसूयद्भिरुच्चैः सपदि पदमुरु त्यज्यते दैत्यवर्गैः
- From which, in envy, demon hosts instantly abandon the broad foot,
- येभ्यो धर्तुं च मूर्ध्ना स्पृहयति सततं सर्वगीर्वाणवर्गः
- for which all hosts of singers ever long to bear on their heads,
- नित्यं निर्मूलयेयुर्निचिततरममी भक्तिनिघ्नात्मनां नः
- may these thoroughly uproot forever, for us whose souls slay devotion,
- पद्माक्षस्याङ्घ्रिपद्मद्वयतलनिलयाः पांसवः पापपङ्कम्
- the dust at the lotus-feet of the lotus-eyed one, dwelling on the pair of foot-surface.
Dust at Vishnu's feet uproots sin because it symbolizes complete surrender, which demons of ego cannot abide. What the gods long to bear on their heads is humility before the Self, the ground from which devotion flowers.
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Verse 11
रेखा लेखादिवन्द्याश्चरणतलगताश्चक्रमत्स्यादिरूपाः स्निग्धाः सूक्ष्माः सुजाता मृदुललिततरक्षौमसूत्रायमाणाः । दद्युर्नो मङ्गलानि भ्रमरभरजुषा कोमलेनाब्धिजायाः कम्रेणाम्रेड्यमानाः किसलयमृदुना पाणिना चक्रपाणेः ॥११॥
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- रेखा लेखादिवन्द्याश्चरणतलगताश्चक्रमत्स्यादिरूपाः
- Lines on the foot-soles, worshipful like script, shaped as wheel, fish, and other forms,
- स्निग्धाः सूक्ष्माः सुजाता मृदुललिततरक्षौमसूत्रायमाणाः
- smooth, subtle, well-born, softer and more delicate than silk thread,
- दद्युर्नो मङ्गलानि भ्रमरभरजुषा कोमलेनाब्धिजायाः
- may they grant us auspiciousness, massaged by the ocean-born's tender, bee-laden hand,
- कम्रेणाम्रेड्यमानाः किसलयमृदुना पाणिना चक्रपाणेः
- made soft by the lotus-hand of Chakrapani, tender as a shoot.
The marks of wheel and fish on the Lord's feet are signs of the cosmic forms He embodies, soft as silk under Lakshmi's touch. To meditate on the feet is to rest in the subtle ground of being from which all auspicious signs arise.
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Verse 12
यस्मादाक्रामतो द्यां गरुडमणिशिलाकेतुदण्डायमानात् आश्च्योतन्ती बभासे सुरसरिदमला वैजयन्तीव कान्ता । भूमिष्ठो यस्तथान्यो भुवनगृहबृहत्स्तम्भशोभां दधौ नः पातामेतौ पयोजोदरललिततलौ पङ्कजाक्षस्य पादौ ॥१२॥
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- यस्मादाक्रामतो द्यां गरुडमणिशिलाकेतुदण्डायमानात्
- From which, striding the sky, stretching like a flagstaff on Garuda's jeweled rock,
- आश्च्योतन्ती बभासे सुरसरिदमला वैजयन्तीव कान्ता
- dripping, shone the pure divine river, lovely as the Vaijayanti garland,
- भूमिष्ठो यस्तथान्यो भुवनगृहबृहत्स्तम्भशोभां दधौ नः
- the one on earth, the other, gave us the splendor of a great pillar of the world-house,
- पातामेतौ पयोजोदरललिततलौ पङ्कजाक्षस्य पादौ
- may these two feet of the lotus-eyed one, soft as the lotus-belly, protect us.
One foot strides the sky, the other stands as earth's pillar, and from them flows the pure Ganga of liberation. The lotus-soft feet of the Lord are the two aspects of reality, transcendence and immanence, united in the one Self the devotee seeks.
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