श्री पद्मनाभशतकम्
प्रथमं दशकम्
शिष्टं दुष्टं सुदुःखार्तं स्त्रियं वृद्धं च बालकम् ।
प्रपन्नं त्राति हरिरित्यादिमे दशके श्रुतम्॥
इन्द्रद्युम्नोऽजामिलश्च पाञ्चाली पिङ्गला ध्रुवः
मार्कण्ड्य महर्षिश्च दृष्टान्ताः षट् प्रकीर्तिताः ॥
या ते पादसरोजधूलिरनिशं ब्रह्मादिभिर्निस्पृहैः
भक्त्या सन्नतकन्धरैः सकुतुकं सन्धार्यमाणा हरे |
या विश्वं प्रपुनाति जालमचिरात् संशोषयत्यंहसां
सा मां हीनगुणं पुनातु नितरां श्री पद्मनाभाऽन्वहम् ||1||
सत्वैकप्रवणाशया मुनिवरा वेदैः स्तुवन्तः परैः
त्वन्माहात्म्य पयोनिधेरिहपरं नाद्यापि पारंगताः|
एवं सत्यहमल्पबुद्धिरवशः स्तोतुं कथं शक्नुयां
त्वत्कारुण्यमृते हरे तरति कः पोतं विना सागरम् ||2||
तस्माच्छिन्धि मदीयमोहमखिलं संसारबन्धावहं
भक्तिं त्वत्पदयोर्दिश स्थिरतरां सर्वापदुन्मीलिनीम् |
वाणीं त्वत्पदवर्णने पटुतमां विद्वज्जनाह्लादिनीं
देहि त्वत्पदसेवकाय ननु मे कारुण्यवारांनिधे ||3||
येनेदं भुवनं ततं स्वबलतो यस्याज्ञयोदेत्यहर्-
नाथो वात्यनिलो दहत्यपि शिखिः सर्वेऽपि यन्निर्मिताः|
यश्चेदं सकलं जगत्स्वजठरे धत्ते च कल्पावधौ
तत्तादृग्विभवे त्वयि प्रमुदिते किं वा दुरापं नृणाम् ||4||
भक्तानां अखिलेप्सितार्थघटने बद्धोद्यमस्त्वं हरे
नित्यं खल्विति बोद्धुमस्ति बहुशो देव प्रमाणं मम |
नो चेद्व्यासवचस्तवैव वचनं वेदोपगीतं वचो
हा रथ्याजनवादवत् बत भवेन्मिथ्या रमावल्लभ ||5||
ईन्द्रद्युम्ननृपः करीन्द्रजननं प्राप्तोऽथ शापेन वै
नक्राक्रान्तपदो विमोचनपटुः नाभूत्सहस्रं समाः|
भूयस्त्वामयमर्चयन् सरसिजैः शुण्डोद्धृतैः सादरं
सारूप्यं समवाप देव भवतो नक्रोऽपि गन्धर्वताम् ||6||
पापः कश्चिदजामिलाख्यधरणीदेवोऽवसत्संततं
स्वैरिण्या सह काममोहितमतिस्त्वां विस्मरन् मुक्तिदम्|
अन्ते चाह्वयदीश भीतहृदयो नारायणेत्यात्मजं
नीतः सोऽपि भवत्भटैस्तवपदं संरुध्य याम्यान् भटान्||7||
पाञ्चालीं नृपसन्निधौ खलमतिः दुश्शासनः पुष्पिणीं
आकर्षन् चिकुरेण दीनवदनां वासः समाक्षिप्तवान् |
यावत् सा भुवनैकबन्धुमवशा सस्मार लज्जाकुला
क्रोशन्ती व्यतनोः पटौघममलं तस्यास्त्वनन्तं हरे ||8||
यामार्धेन तु पिङ्गला तव पदं प्राप्ता हि वाराङ्गना
बालः पञ्चवयोयुतो ध्रुवपदं चौत्तानपादिर्गतः|
यातश्चापि मृकण्डुमौनितनयः शौरे चिरं जीवितं
नाहं वक्तुमिह क्षमस्तव कृपालभ्यं शुभं प्राणिनाम् ||9||
एवं भक्तजनौघकल्पकतरुं तं त्वां भजन्तः क्षणं
पापिष्ठा अपि मुक्तिमार्गममलं के के न याता विभो|
स त्वं मामपि तावकीनचरणे भक्तं विधायानतं
स्यानन्दूरपुरेश पालय मुदा तापान्ममापाकुरु ||10||
***********
द्वितियम् दशकम् |
भगवद्भक्तिरेकैव नियानन्द्प्रदायिनी ।
क्लेशप्रशमनीत्युक्तं द्वितीये दशके स्फुटम् ॥
पिबन्ति ये त्वच्चरितामृतौघं
स्मरन्ति रूपं तव विश्वरम्यम्|
हरन्ति कालं च सह त्वदीयैः
मन्येऽत्र तान् माधव धन्यधन्यान् ||1||
सदा प्रसक्तां विषयेष्वशान्तां
मतिं मदीयां जगदेकबन्धो|
तवैव कारुण्यवशादिदानीं
सन्मार्गगां प्रेरय वासुदेव ||2||
दृशौ भवन्मूर्तिविलोकलोले
श्रुती च ते चारुकथाप्रसक्ते |
करौ च ते पूजनबद्धतृष्णौ
विधेहि नित्यं मम पंकजाक्ष ||3||
नृणां भवत्पादनिषेवणं तु
महौषधं संसृतिरोगहारी |
तदेव मे पंकजनाभ भूयात्
त्वन्माययामोहित मानसस्य ||4||
यदीह भक्तिस्तवपादपद्मे
स्थिरा जनानामखिलार्तिहन्त्री |
तदा भवेन्मुक्तिरहो करस्था
धर्मार्थकामाः किमु वर्णनीयाः ||5||
वेदोदिताभिर्व्रतसत्क्रियाभि-
र्नश्यत्यघौघो न हि वासना तु |
त्वत्पादसेवा हरति द्वयं तत्
तस्मात् स्थिरा सैव ममास्तु नित्यम् ||6||
त्वदीयनामस्मृतिरप्यकस्मात्
धुनोतिपापौघमसंशयं तत् |
यद्वत् गदानौषधमाशु हन्ति
यथा कृशानुर्भुवि दारुकूटम् ||7||
यद्यत् स्मरन् प्रोज्झति देहमेतत्
प्रयाणकाले विवशोऽत्र देही |
तत्तत्किलाप्नोति यदन्यभावे
तस्मात्तवैव स्मृतिरस्तु नित्यम् ||8||
अनेकधर्मान् प्रचरन्मनुष्यः
नाके नु भुङ्क्ते सुखमव्यलीकम् |
तस्यावधौ संपततीहभूमौ
त्वत्सेवको जातु न विच्युतः स्यात् ||9||
वधेन स्वभ्रातुः परमकुपितो दानववरो
हिरण्यप्रारंभः कशिपुरिह मोहाकुलमतिः|
विजेतुं त्वां सोऽयं निखिलजगदाधारवपुषं
प्रतिज्ञां चाकार्षीद्दनुसुतसभामध्यनिलयः||10||
*************
त्रितीयं दशकम्
त्रितीय दशके रम्ये ध्यानापेक्षितमुत्तमम् ।
रूपम् पदादि केशान्तं पद्मनाभस्य वर्ण्यते ॥
दिनमनुपदयुग्मं भावयेयं मुरारे
कुलिशशफरमुख्यैश्चिन्हिते चारु चिन्हैः|
नखमणिविधुदीप्त्या ध्वस्त योगीन्द्रचेतो
गततिमिरसमूहं पाटलांभोजशोभम् ||1||
यदुदितजलधारा पावनी जह्नुकन्या
पुरभिदपि महात्मा यां बिभर्ति स्वमूर्ध्ना |
भुजगशयनतल्पे मंजुमंजीरयुक्तं
मुहुरपि हृदि सेवे पादपद्मं मनोज्ञम् ||2||
मुरहर तव जंघे जानुयुग्मं च सेवे
दुरितहर तथोरू मंसलौ चारुशोभौ |
कनकरुचिरचेलेनावृतौ देव नित्यं
भुवनहृदयमोहं सम्यगाशंक्य नूनम् ||3||
मणिगणयुतकाञ्चीदाम सत्किङ्किणीभिः
मुखरतमममेयं भावये मध्यदेशम् |
निखिलभुवनवासत्स्थानमप्यद्य कुक्षिं
मुहुरजित निषेवे सादरं पद्मनाभ ||4||
भवहरण तथा श्रीवत्सयुक्तं च वक्षो
विलसदरुणभासं कौस्तुभेनांग कण्ठम् |
मणिवलययुतं ते बाहुयुग्मं च सेवे
दनुजकुलविनाशायोद्यतं संततं यत् ||5||
वरद जलधिपुत्र्या साधु पीतामृतं ते
त्वधरमिह भजेऽहं चारुबिंबारुणाभम् |
विमलदशनपंक्तिं कुन्दसद्कुड्मलाभां
मकरनिभविराजत्कुण्डलोल्लासि गण्डम् ||6||
तिलकुसुमसमानां नासिकां चाद्य सेवे
गरुडगमन चिल्यौ दर्पकेष्वासतुल्यौ |
मृगमदकृतपुण्ड्रं तावकं फालदेशं
कुटिलमलकजालं नाथ नित्यं निषेवे ||7||
सजलजलदनीलं भावये केशजालं
मणिमकुटमुदञ्चत्कॊटिसूर्यप्रकाशम् |
पुनरनघ मतिं मे देव सङ्कोच्य युञ्जे
तव वदनसरोजे मन्दहासे मनोज्ञे ||8||
गिरिधर तव रूपं ईदृशं विश्वरम्यं
मम विहरतु नित्यं मानसांभोज मध्ये |
मनसिजशतकान्तं मञ्जुमाधुर्यसारं
सततमपि विचिन्त्यं योगिभिः त्यक्तमोहैः||9||
अथ भुवनपतेऽहं सर्गवृद्धिक्रमं वै
किमपि किमपि वक्तुं प्रारभे दीनबन्धो|
परपुरुष तदर्थं त्वत्कृपा संपतेन्म-
य्यकृत सुकृतजालैर्दुर्लभा पंकजाक्ष ||10||
************
चतुर्थं दशकम्
चतुर्थ दशके प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मणः सृष्टिपाटवम्।
अतिदीर्घ तपोलब्ध पद्मनाभप्रसादजम् ॥
तावकनाभिसरोजात् जातो धाता समस्तवेदमयः |
शंसति सकलो लोको यं किल हिरण्यगर्भ इति||1||
तदनु स विस्मितचेताः चतसृषु दिक्षु साधु संपश्यन् |
समगादच्युत तूर्णं चतुराननतामिहाष्टनयनयुताम् ||2||
दृष्ट्वा कमलं सोऽयं तन्मूलां तव तनुं त्वसम्पश्यन् |
कोऽहं निश्शरणॊऽहं कस्मादजनीति देव चिंतितवान् ||3||
ज्ञातुं तत्वं सोऽयं सरसिजनालाध्वना त्वधो गत्वा |
योगबलेन मनोज्ञां तवतनुमखिलेश नाप्यपश्यदहो ||4||
तावद्दुखितहृदयः पुनरपि च निवृत्य पूर्ववज्जलजे |
तावक करुणामिच्छन् चक्रे समाधिमयि भगवन् ||5||
वत्सरशतकस्यान्ते दृढतरतपसा परिविधूतहृदयमलः |
स विधिरपश्यत् स्वान्ते सूक्ष्मतया तव तनुं तु सुभगतमाम् ||6|
पुनरिह तेन नुतस्त्वं शक्तिमदास्तस्य भुवननिर्माणे |
पूर्वं त्वसृजत्सोऽयं स्थावरजंगममयं तु सकलजत् ||7||
सनकमुखान् मुनिवर्यान् मनसाह्यसृजत् तवांघ्रिरतहृदयान्|
सृष्टौ तु ते नियुक्ताः जगृहुर्वाणीं न वैधसीं भूमन् ||8||
अंगादभवंस्तूर्णं नारदमुख्या मुनीश्वरास्तस्य |
मनुशतरूपात्मासौ मानुषसृष्टिं चकार कमलभवः ||9||
सर्गस्थितिलयमूलं सुरमुनिजालैरमेयमहिमानम् |
तं त्वामेव प्रणमन् मुदमतुलाम् पद्मनाभ कलयामि ||10||
*************
पंचमं दशकम्
पञ्चमे पद्मनाभस्य दशके मङ्गलप्रदाः।
मत्स्य-कूर्म-वराहाणामवताराः प्रकीर्तिताः ॥
भुवो भारं हर्तुं नियतमवतारांस्तु भवतो
नियुङ्क्ते वक्तुं मामपि जडधियं भक्तिरधुना |
तदर्थं कृत्वा मामनुपम पटुं पालय हरे
भवत्पादांभोजप्रवणहृदयं देव सदयम् ||1||
हयग्रीवाख्येन त्रिदशरिपुणा वेदनिवहे
हृते निद्राणस्यांबुरुहजनुषो हन्त वदनात् |
निहन्तुं दुष्टं तं विनिहितमतिस्त्वं पुरुदया-
पयोधिस्तूर्णं वै दधित बत मात्स्यं किल वपुः ||2||
नदीतोये संतर्पयति किल सत्यव्रतनृपे
भवान् दृष्टो हस्ते परमतनु वैसारिणवपुः |
ततो निन्ये कूपं पुनरपि तटाकं च तटिनीं
महाब्धिं तेनाहो सपदि ववृधे तावक वपुः ||3||
ततस्तं भूपालं प्रलयसमयालोकनपरं
मुनीन्द्रान् सप्तापि क्षितितरणिमारोप्य च भवान् |
समाकर्षन् बद्धां निज विपुलशृंगे पुनरिमां
मुदा तेभ्यः संदर्शितभुवनभागः समचरत् ||4||
पुनस्संहृय त्वं निजपरुषशृंगेण दितिजं
क्षणाद्वेदान् प्रादा मुदितमनसे देव विधये |
तथाभूताऽमेय प्रणतजन सौभ्याग्यद हरे
मुदा पाहि त्वं मां सरसिरुहनाभाऽखिल गुरो ||5||
वहंस्त्वं मन्थानं कमठवपुषा मन्दरगिरिं
दधानः पाणिभ्यां स्वयमपि वरत्रां फणिपतिम् |
सुरेभ्यः संप्रादास्त्वमृतमिह मथ्नन्किल जवात्
हरे दुग्धांभोधेः सपदि कमलाऽजायत ततः ||6||
ततो निक्षिप्ता वै सपदि वरणस्रक् खलु तया
भवत्कण्ठे मात्रा निखिल भुवनानां सकुतुकम् |
पपौ त्वत्प्रीत्यर्थं सपदि बत हालाहलविषं
गिरीशः प्रादास्त्वं सुरतरुगजादीनि हरये ||7||
पुरा ते द्वास्थौ द्वौ सनकमुखशापेन तु गतौ
हरे सर्वैर्निन्द्यं खलु दनुजजन्मातिकठिनम् |
तयोर्भ्राता दुष्टो मुरहर कनीयान् वरबलात्
हिरण्याक्षो नाम क्षितिमिह जले मज्जयदसौ ||8||
महीं मग्नां दृष्ट्वा तदनु मनुना सेवितपदात्
विधेर्नासारंध्रात् समभवदहो सूकरशिशुः |
ततो दैत्यं हत्वा परम महितः पीवरतनुः
भवान् निन्ये भूमिं सकल विनुत प्राक्तनदशाम् ||9||
तस्मात् समस्तार्तिहरं जनानां
स्वपादभाजां श्रुतिसारमृग्यम् |
तवाद्य रूपं परिपूर्णसत्वं
रमामनोहारि विभातु चित्ते ||10||
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Sri Padmanabha Shatakam
SRI PADMANABHA SHATAKAM (DASAKAS 1-5)
The poem is divided into 10 Dasakas 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 1 to 5 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.
In the first dasaka is told that Hari protects those who surrender themselves to Him whether they be good, bad, suffering, women, aged or children. The exampes of Indradyumna, Ajamila, Panchali, Pingala, Dhruwa and Markandeya are given in support of this assertion.
O Lord Padmanabha ! May the dust of Your lotus-feet which Brahma and others, devoid of desires, put on their bowed heads with great devotion, which purifies the whole world and soon burns up the cobweb of sins, ever purify me who is wanting in noble qualities.
Sages of most noble qualities, singing your praise by chanting the Vedic hymns eulogising your exploits, are unable to cross, to this day, the ocean of your glory. Such being the case how can I, dull-witted and helpless, praise you enough without your grace? Who can cross the ocean without a boat?
Therefore, O Lord, cut asunder my delusion which is binding me to this samsara (cycle of births and deaths) and grant me steadfast devotion to your feet which will root out all trials and tribulations. Also grant me such power of language and speech as would vividly describe your exalted position gladdening the heart of learned men.
O Lord! it is by Your power this whole world is pervaded. By your command the Sun rises, the Wind blows, the Fire burns and everything is created. It is in You that everything is lodged at the end of a Kalpa. When You, of such majesty, is pleased, what cannot be attained by men?
O Hari! You are always engaged in granting all the wishes of your devotees. I have a lot of evidence with me to prove this. If this be not so, the words of Vyasa, Your own words and what the Vedas say would prove to be false as the street talk of ignorant men.
The King Indradyumna was born as an elephant by the curse (of sage Agastya). A crocodile caught hold of him by the leg and he could not extricate himself from its grip even after (the struggle) of a thousand years. Finally, worshipping You with lotus flowers lifted up by his trunk, he attained Your form. The crocodile also was restored to its original state as a gandharva.
A brahamana, Ajamila by name, was a sinner who, deluded by lust, cohabited with a woman of easy virtue, forgetting You, the giver of liberation. At the end of his life he, frightened as he was, called his son by his name Narayana. As soon as he took the name ‘Narayana’, Your soldiers prevented the soldiers of Yama from taking him and led him to Your abode.
The wicked Dussasana caught hold of Panchali and dragged her by her locks to the court of King Dhrutarashtra. Helplessness was writ large on her face. She was having her monthly period and in this condition Dussasana started disrobing her. Utterly helpless, she cried out her heart to You, shamed by the violation of her modesty. O Hari! You did hear her prayer and provide her with unending yards of spotless clothing rescuing her from such a terrible ordeal.
The prostitute Pingala attained your feet in an hour and a half. Dhruva, a boy of five years, attained the Dhruvapada by his tapas. Markandeya became a chiranjeevi ( of eternal life) by Your grace (though he was destined to die young). I am incapable of recounting the blessings human beings can derive by Your grace and compassion.
You are the wish-yielding tree for Your devotees. By loving devotion to You, even for a few seconds sinners have taken to the pure path of liberation. O Lord of Syanandurapura! make me also a humble devotee at Your feet, be pleased to save me and remove my sufferings.
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2.
In the second dasaka it is clearly stated that only devotion to the Lord is capable of giving one continuous happiness and destroying all sorrows and sufferings.
Those who drink the nectar of Your doings (leelas), meditate on Your all-enchanting form and spend their time in the company of Your devotees are the ones whom O Madhava! I consider to have achieved the highest goal of their lives.
O Vasudeva! by Your grace inspire my mind, which is always attached to the pleasures of the senses and is devoid of peace, to tread the path of goodness.
O Lotus-eyed One! let my eyes take pleasure in seeing Your form always. Let my ears revel in hearing the stories of Your exploits and my hands thirst for worshipping You daily .
Taking refuge at Your feet is the medicine to cure the disease of this samsara, cycle of births and deaths. O Padmanabha! let that be so with me whose mind is deluded by Your Maya.
Steadfast devotion to Your lotus-feet will free human beings from all afflictions. For them even liberation will be at hand, what to talk of other things like dharma( virtue), artha (wealth) and kama(pleasures of the senses).
By observing the vows and performing the rites propounded in the Vedas one can be absolved of one’s sins. But one will still be dogged by his vasanas, the impressions left on one’s mind by past behaviour and actions. But loving devotional service at Your feet will destroy one’s sins and root out thevasanas. Grant me that I am steadfastly devoted to Your lotus-feet.
There is no doubt that even accidental remembrance of Your names washes away all one’s sins just like medicine curing the disease and the fire burning a bundle of firewood. (Taking the medicine and setting the fire may be accidental, not intentional. But they will still do their job).
At the time of death whatever one remembers, visualises mentally, will determine the type of body the soul will take in its next birth. Therefore grant me that my mind is ever engaged in remembering and contemplating Your form.
Man attains and enjoys the pleasures of Heaven as the fruit of meritorious actions done by him on Earth. Eventually, however, he returns to Earth when the fruits of his good deeds have been exhausted. But Your devotee never returns to this mortal world after attaining You.
Therefore I pray that your form, which has enthralled the heart of Lakshmi, which banishes all cares and worries of devotees, which is sought after by the Vedas and which is of pure sattwa guna, should always shine in the heart of my heart.
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3.
In the beautiful third dasaka the captivating form of Lord Padmanabha is described in detail from foot-to-head to help the devotee in meditation.
O Lord ! daily do I mentally visualise Your feet, beautiful as the red lotus flower and bearing the marks of kulisha, fish etc and which dispel the crowd of darkness in the heart of Yogis by the moon-like brightness of the nails.
I again visualise in my heart your beautiful lotus-feet which is placed on the serpent-bed of Adishes,which is adorned with beautiful anklets and from which has sprung the Ganga which Lord Siva has placed on his head.
I visualise Your legs and the knees and also thighs which are fleshy and attractive. The latter are always covered with golden-hued clothes lest people seeing them are enthralled (by their beauty).
I see before my mind’s eye Your diamond-studded waist-band tinkling with tiny bells attached to them. I also meditate on Your matchless middle and Your stomach which accommodates within itself all the worlds, O Padmanabha.
O Destroyer of samsara! I salute your chest with its srivatsa mark, your neck adorned with Kaustubhaof lustrous red colour and your hands, wearing dimond-studded bangles, always ready to be raised for destroying the hordes of demons.
Salutations to your lips, red as the bimba fruit, the nectar of which is tasted by your consort Lakshmi, to your spotless row of teeth resembling buds of jasmine flower and to your cheeks adorned with ear-rings shaped like fish.
O Rider of Garuda ! I worship, daily, your nose shaped as the flower of the sesame plant, your brows resembling the bow of Kamadeva (Cupid), Your forehead adorned with kasturi tilak and dark curly hair playing on it.
I meditate on your locks, dark as thick clouds rich with water and your diamond-studded crown as bright as the combined brightness of many Suns. I then finally engage my mind, O Unblemished One, on your beautiful face and the bewitching smile playing on it.
O Giridhar !(the One who lifted up the hill Govardhan), may this form of yours, which is beautiful to behold for the whole world, as attractive as a hundred Cupids combined, the very essence of beauty and sweetness, ever revel at the centre of my heart-lotus.
O Lord of the worlds! I am now beginning to narrate, in whatever manner, the sequence in which creation took place. To accomplish this I need your grace which is hard to get for those who have not done many meritorious deeds.
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4.
In the fourth dasaka is described the creativity and dexterity of Brahma acquired by the grace of LordPadmanabha as a result of long and difficult austerities (tapas) observed by the former.
From your navel-lotus Brahma, the embodiment of all the Vedas, was born. All the worlds refer to him as Hiranyagarbha.
With wonderment in his heart he looked around all the four directions and soon developed, in his body, four faces and eight eyes.
Brahma saw the lotus but could not see Your body from which it had sprung. He pondered over who he was, so helpless, and from whom he was born.
To find out the Truth, he went down and down, by his yogic powers, through the hole in the stalk of the Lotus but alas! he could not find your beautiful form.
Disheartened, he came back again to the Lotus and, seeking Your grace, went into deep samadhi.
At the end of a hundred years, his heart rid of all impurities by intense penance, Brahma had, in his heart, the subtle vision of your beautiful form.
Again, prayed by Brahma, You gave him the power to create the worlds. Brahma, to start with, created the whole of moving and non-moving entities of the world.
Brahma, by his mind, created the sages Sanaka and others. He prompted them to engage themselves in the creation of the world but they did not heed his words as their hearts ever delighted in your lotus-feet alone.
From the body of Brhama were born sages, the chief among whom was Narada. Also, he created, from his body, the very first couple, Manu and Satarupa, from whom proceeded creation of human beings.
O Padmanabha! You are the very first cause of creation, sustenance and dissolution of the worlds. Your greatness cannot be measured by all the devas and the rishis. Bowing to you alone I experience supreme happiness in my heart.
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5.
In the fifth dasaka are described the auspicious incarnations of the Lord as the fish, the tortoise and the boar.
O Lord! devotion prompts me, though I am dull-witted, to describe your incarnations in this world to take the load off Mother Earth. Please therefore give me the skills to do this and take care of me whose heart is always immersed in contemplating your lotus-feet.
You put the king, who was desirous of seeing the deluge, along with the seven rishis, on a boat which was the Earth itself tied to your huge horn. Dragging the Earth-boat, You coursed through the flood waters, showing the occupants the different parts of the world.
You then killed the demon with your huge sharp horn and restored the Vedas to a happy Brahma. Such is your generosity to those who bow to you, the One with the lotus in the navel and the Teacher of all. Please be kind enough to take care of me.
At the end of a hundred years, his heart rid of all impurities by intense penance, Brahma had, in his heart, the subtle vision of your beautiful form.
Again, prayed by Brahma, You gave him the power to create the worlds. Brahma, to start with, created the whole of moving and non-moving entities of the world.
Brahma, by his mind, created the sages Sanaka and others. He prompted them to engage themselves in the creation of the world but they did not heed his words as their hearts ever delighted in your lotus-feet alone.
From the body of Brhama were born sages, the chief among whom was Narada. Also, he created, from his body, the very first couple, Manu and Satarupa, from whom proceeded creation of human beings.
O Padmanabha! You are the very first cause of creation, sustenance and dissolution of the worlds. Your greatness cannot be measured by all the devas and the rishis. Bowing to you alone I experience supreme happiness in my heart.
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5.
In the fifth dasaka are described the auspicious incarnations of the Lord as the fish, the tortoise and the boar.
O Lord! devotion prompts me, though I am dull-witted, to describe your incarnations in this world to take the load off Mother Earth. Please therefore give me the skills to do this and take care of me whose heart is always immersed in contemplating your lotus-feet.
The asura named Hayagriva, enemy of the devas, snatched away the Vedas from the mouth of Brahma when the latter was sleeping. You, the ocean of compassion, made up your mind to kill him and donned the body of a fish for this purpose.
While the King Satyavrata was offering tarpan in the waters of a river, You were seen as a tiny fish in his cupped hands filled with water. The king put him in a well. Then You, in the body of the fish, started growing bigger and bigger. So you were put in a lake, then in a river and finally in the great ocean.
You then killed the demon with your huge sharp horn and restored the Vedas to a happy Brahma. Such is your generosity to those who bow to you, the One with the lotus in the navel and the Teacher of all. Please be kind enough to take care of me.
Donning the body of a tortoise and lifting the Mandara mountain on your back as the agitator and carrying Vasuki, the serpent, in your hands as the churning rope, You churned the Milky Ocean and obtained nectar for the devas. From the Milky Ocean was born Goddess Lakshmi.
Lakshmi, the Mother of the worlds, happily placed the nuptial garland around Your neck. Lord Siva, to please you, drank the poison thrown up by the ocean during the churning process. You gave the wish-yielding tree, Airavata the elephant etc. to Indra.
Once upon a time, the two palace guards of Vaikunta, were cursed by Sanaka and other sages to takeasura-birth despised by all and beset with difficulties. The younger of the two named Hiranyaksha was wicked and, using his immense power earned by his intense tapas, he submerged the Earth in the flood waters.
Once upon a time, the two palace guards of Vaikunta, were cursed by Sanaka and other sages to takeasura-birth despised by all and beset with difficulties. The younger of the two named Hiranyaksha was wicked and, using his immense power earned by his intense tapas, he submerged the Earth in the flood waters.
Seeing the Earth submerged, Manu sought help from Brahma from whose nostrils You emerged as the young one of a boar. The boar assumed a gigantic form and, after killing the asura, returned the Earth to its earlier state.
Extremely angered by the killing of his brother and confused by delusion, Hiranya Kashipu vowed, in the midst of the assembly of asuras, to vanquish you the substratum of all the worlds.
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