daśāvatāra stotram (vedāntācārya kṛtam)

May the Lord, who manifests in ten forms upon the stage of this world—a stage observed by realized souls who are immersed in the deepest essence of devotion—bestow upon us all auspiciousness. He, the underlying reality, assumes various roles according to the nature of each manifestation, delighting in this play of diverse forms.

May the Fish-form (Matsya) of the Lord protect us; that form whose eyes, momentarily diverted to search for the submerged Vedas, seemed to create lotus-groves within the vast oceanic waters, and whose movements amidst the surging, undulating waves resembled a playful ride upon a swing of liquid spray.

May the waves of breath from the sleeping Tortoise-form (Kurma) of the Supreme Lord protect the three worlds. As He rests, His back is scratched by the mountain, and He dwells in eternal bliss with Goddess Lakshmi, perpetually reclining upon the cradle of the ocean waters, which are churned into rhythm by His very presence.

May the deceitful Boar-form (Varaha), who sanctified the universe with the resonant, thundering sounds of His breath amidst the waves of dissolution, protect the worlds eternally. Upon the tip of His tusk, the entire earth was held firm and motionless, like a small nut resting in the hand of the Divine.

May the Man-Lion (Narasimha), whose infinite glory discarded the need for conventional weapons, protect the three worlds with His claws. From His sudden appearance, the earth—whose womb was blessed by the Creator—witnessed the mighty pillar of the demon's palace split asunder by the Mother of the Universe.

May the Trivikrama stride (Vamana), which purified the crown of Lord Shiva and shamed the reputation of the generous demon king, protect us. His stride caused the waters of the celestial river (Ganges) to rise and flutter like a victory flag, splashing across the mansions of the eight cardinal directions.

May the Sage (Parashurama), who sought to appease the fire of his grief born from the suffering of his father Jamadagni, protect us. Having traversed the earth twenty-one times to eradicate the unrighteous, and having gifted the land as a sacrificial offering before retiring to the shores of the sea, may He dispel all unrighteousness from the highest creator down to the smallest insect.

May the Wielder of the Bow (Rama), whose terrible prowess with arrows resembled the fire of cosmic dissolution capable of drying up the great oceans, protect us. Bound by the singular vow of protecting those who take refuge in Him under all circumstances, may He, the personified Dharma, bestow upon us the cessation of all impiety.

May the playful deeds of Krishna, such as the destruction of the Kaurava cities and the slaying of Pralamba, bestow auspiciousness upon us. These pastimes, which have been inextricably sweetened with His infinite virtues like sugar dissolved in milk, have delighted the world since His very childhood.

May our salutations be offered unto the Lord, who protects these worlds through His varied and wondrous series of events. To Him who delights in the Yamuna river, and who performed a graceful dance upon the expansive, hooded crests of the serpent Kaliya, we offer our deepest reverence for His enchanting ways.

May the tenth incarnation, Kalki, born as the son of Vishnuyasha, who is destined to appear to destroy our worldly attachments, be favorable to us. He, who sweeps away the impurities of the Kali age, will certainly establish the righteousness of the Krita age upon the earth, now rid of all thorns, by the power of his sword’s edge, which flows like a torrential stream. May those who daily recite the names of the Lord—O Wish-fulfilling Fish, O Playful Tortoise, O Great Boar, O Lord of spontaneous grace, O Protective Dwarf, O Wrathful Rama, O Compassionate descendant of Kakutstha, O Effortless wielder of the plow, O Playful Cowherd, and O Kalki, the final rider—purify the world, acting as merchants of immense merit. For the one who wishes to recite this auspicious hymn regarding the ten incarnations of the Lord of Devas, composed by the poet Venkateswara, which is like an ocean of knowledge, may Saraswati dwell upon their tongue in myriad forms, may supreme devotion reside in their heart, may a unique purity manifest in their body, and may their auspicious fame spread in all ten directions.