śrīlakṣmīnṛsiṃhasahasranāma stotram

॥ Preliminary Introduction ॥

Markandeya said: Thus, a fierce and terrible battle took place with the demon forces, against the many Narasimha-like beings born from the limbs of Narasimha.

There, millions of demons were slain, and some, being terrified, fled; seeing that, Hiranyakashipu himself became extremely enraged.

Thinking that he was immortal due to the boon of Brahma, he (Hiranyakashipu), being extremely arrogant, rained down a shower of arrows upon the immensely powerful Narasimha.

A fierce duel took place for a thousand divine years; witnessing the prowess of the demon king, the gods, led by Indra, were filled with apprehension.

"Who will attain auspiciousness here?" being thus worried, then the enraged Narasimha [destroyed] even those sent by the king of demons.

The Vishnu Chakra, the Great Chakra, the Time Chakra, and the Vaishnava Chakra; the Raudra, the Pashupata, the Brahma, the Kaubera, and the Vajra-wielding Chakra.

The wrathful Lord devoured many weapons, such as the Agneya, Varuna, Saumya, Mohana, Sauraparvata, and Bhargava.

At the time of twilight, at the entrance of the assembly hall, the Lord, having placed the demon upon His lap, then seized the sword-wielding demon, He who is the Lion among men.

Enraged beyond measure, He tore open the chest of Hiranyakashipu and, with His nails that shone like thunderbolts, extracted the garland of his entrails.

He considered Himself fulfilled and looked around in all directions; all the gods were overjoyed and showered flowers upon Him.

The celestial drums resounded, and the directions became clear; Narasimha appeared extremely fierce, with His mouth wide open.

Licking (His lips) and roaring, possessing the brilliance of the fire of universal destruction, extremely fierce, possessing a massive body, huge tusks, and a thunderous voice.

Seeing the Great Lion of magnificent form, the world became agitated; then, along with all the hosts of gods, the Grandfather (Brahma) arrived there.

He praised Him with a thousand names, which are adorned with excellent, eternal, and present qualities, and which are in accordance with the Vedas.

Om. Salutations. For the great mantra of the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Sahasranama Stotram, Brahma is the seer, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha is the presiding deity, and Anushtup is the meter. Sri Narasimha, the Supreme Self, is the seed; Lakshmi, the illusion, is the power. The individual soul is the seed; intellect is the power. The upward-moving vital air (Udana Vayu) is the seed; Saraswati is the power. The consonants are the seeds; the vowels are the powers. Om Kshraum Hrim are the seeds; Om Shrim Am Aam are the powers. "Vikīrṇanakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhāya" (He whose claws and teeth are his weapons) is the pin (kilaka). "Akārādi" (beginning with the letter A) is the indicator. This is engaged for the recitation of the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Sahasranama Stotram mantra, for the attainment of the grace of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha.

Nyasa – Om Salutations to Sri Lakshmi Narasimha – Salutations to the thumbs. Om Salutations to the One with diamond-hard claws – Salutations to the index fingers. Om Salutations to the Great Rudra – Salutations to the middle fingers. Om Salutations to the One with faces in all directions – Salutations to the ring fingers. Om Salutations to the One with a formidable face – Salutations to the little fingers. Om Salutations to the Heroic One – Salutations to the palms and the backs of the hands. Thus is the Nyasa of the heart and other parts.

Directional Binding: Om, I bind the Eastern direction with the Sudarshana; salutations to the Discus, Svaha. Om, I bind the South-Eastern direction with the Sudarshana; salutations to the Discus, Svaha. Om, I bind the Southern direction with the Sudarshana; salutations to the Discus, Svaha. Om, I bind the South-Western direction with the Sudarshana; salutations to the Discus, Svaha. Om, I bind the Western direction with the Sudarshana; salutations to the Discus, Svaha. Om, I bind the North-Western direction with the Sudarshana; salutations to the Discus, Svaha. Om, I bind the Northern direction with the Sudarshana; salutations to the Discus, Svaha. Om, I bind the North-Eastern direction with the Sudarshana; salutations to the Discus, Svaha. Om, I bind the Zenith (upward direction) with the Sudarshana; salutations to the Discus, Svaha. Om, I bind the Nadir (downward direction) with the Sudarshana; salutations to the Discus, Svaha. Om, I bind the intermediate space (the atmosphere) with the Sudarshana; salutations to the Discus, Svaha.

I worship Lakshmi Narasimha, who is the embodiment of truth, knowledge, and bliss; who is stainless and resides in the midst of the Ocean of Milk; who is seated in a yogic posture with a very serene countenance, radiant with thousands of ornaments; who has three eyes, and holds a discus, a bow (Pinaka), and displays the gesture of fearlessness with His hands; who possesses the brilliance of the sun, is sheltered by the king of serpents (Adishesha) acting as an umbrella, and is as white as the moon.

We meditate upon the Supreme Brahman known as Narasimha, who is accessible through the Vedanta, who is the cause of severing the cycle of repeated births and deaths, and who is the preceptor of the universe.

Now the Stotram. Brahma said: Om Hrim Srim Aim Kshaum. Om, salutations to Narasimha, who possesses diamond-like fangs, who wields the thunderbolt, whose body is as hard as a diamond, who is the thunderbolt itself, and who possesses diamond-like claws.

Salutations to Vasudeva, to the One worthy of worship, to the Giver of boons, to the One whose essence is supreme; to the One whose hands grant boons and fearlessness, to the Supreme One, and to the One whose form is the ultimate boon.

Salutations again and again to the most excellent, to the most supreme, to the Lord of Sri (Lakshmi), to the bestower of boons upon Prahlada, and to the bestower of boons in person.

Salutations to the One who is supreme above all the supreme, the Lord of all lords, the pure One, the wielder of the Pinaka bow, the purifier, the gracious One, the wielder of the noose, and the destroyer of sins.

Salutations to You, who are praised by many, who are meritorious, and who are invoked by many. Salutations to You, who are the Supreme Being, the Truth, and the Ancient Being.

Salutations to You, who are the Purodha (the priest/guide), the Primeval One, and the Lotus-eyed; who are the one with a flowery smile, the one who smiles, the one with a great laugh, and the wielder of the Sharnga bow.

Salutations to You, who are the Lion, the King of Lions, and the One who brings the world under control. Salutations to You, who possess the loud, thunderous laughter, who are the embodiment of divine wrath, and who reside in the waters.

Salutations to You, who are the dwelling place of all beings, who are the light, who are the abode of Lakshmi, who hold the sword, who possess a sword-like tongue, who are the Lion, and who dwell in the sword.

Salutations to the One who dwells at the root of all existence, who dwells in righteousness, and who wields the bow. Salutations to the conqueror of wealth, the blessed One, and the conqueror of death.

Salutations to the Victorious One, to the Thread (the underlying principle of the universe), and to the Conqueror of enemies. Salutations to the Stainless One, to the Pure One, to the One devoid of attributes, and to the One who is the embodiment of attributes.

To Him who is beyond the phenomenal world, who bestows liberation, who is dense and infinite, who is independent and without support, who is dark-hued, who is devoid of parts, and who is the embodiment of art.

(Salutations to Him) who is the blink of an eye, who is the cause of bondage, who moves in the blink of an eye, who is beyond all dualities, who is free from all desires, who is the embodiment of certainty, and who is devoid of any support.

Salutations to the One who is pure, the One who is the cause of bondage, the One who is free from delusion, the One who is formless, the One who is eternal, the One who is truth, and the One who is devoted to righteous actions.

Salutations to Him who bears the banner of truth, who is the source of liberation, who possesses beautiful hair, who is the slayer of the demon Keshi, who is the Lord of the gods, who is the eternal Shesha, and who is the master of the senses.

(Salutations to Him) who has beautiful hair, who has hair standing on end, who is the destroyer of the demon Keshi, who resides in the water, who resides on the land, who is the Lord of Lakshmi (Padma), and who possesses a fierce form.

Salutations again and again to Him who is like a lotus, who is the shore (of the ocean of existence), and who is Keshava. Salutations to Him whose ears are adorned with auspicious hymns, who is the embodiment of the Vedas, who has a red tongue, and who is full of divine passion.

Salutations to the One with a radiant form, to the One who is effulgent, to the One who is intensely blazing, to the One who is alluring, to the One who destroys (ignorance), to the One who is pure consciousness, to the One who is the Lord of all, and to the One who is omnipresent.

(Salutations to Him) who is the destroyer (of sins/enemies), who is the traveler (who guides the soul), who is the source of true knowledge, who is immeasurable, who is the light, who is the splendor, who is the blazing fire, and who is the radiant one.

To the One whose form is a garland of flames, whose tongue is blazing, who is radiant, who is intensely brilliant, who is Time itself, and who bears the form of Time.

Salutations to Him who is the Ender of time, who is the Aeon, who is the Cause of creation, and who is the Doer. Salutations to Him who is the Wheel of time, who is the mighty Indra, who is the Lord of the six mystic centers, and who bears the Discus.

To the One who is free from cruelty, to the One who is the end of all, to the One who is valorous, to the One who is the order of the universe, to the One who is the skin-wearer, to the One who dwells in the skin, to the One who is the destroyer of the ungrateful, and to the One who is the perfected soul.

To Him who is the transition, to Him who is wrathful, to Him who has traversed the three worlds, to Him who is formless, to Him who is with form, to Hari, the Supreme Soul.

To the Unborn, to the Primal God, to the Imperishable, and to the Destroyer; to the Non-terrible, to the Terribly fierce, and to the most terrible of the terrible.

Salutations to the one of terrible prowess, salutations to the one who is brilliantly fierce; salutations to the presiding lord of the fierce, the capable one, the noble one who is the source of auspiciousness.

Salutations to You, who are unfailing, who are an ocean of virtues, who are sinless, who are the destroyer of sins, who are the roar of the clouds, who are the primordial sound, and who are the embodiment of the clouds.

Salutations to Him who has the form of the one who rides the clouds, who is dark like a rain cloud, who wears a garland, who has a serpent as His sacred thread, and who has the body of a tiger.

Salutations to Him who is Vyaghrapada (the sage Vyaghrapada), to Him who performs the deeds of a tiger, to Him who is all-pervading, to Him who has a formidable face, to Him who is the valiant hero, and to Him who is known through the scriptures.

Salutations to Him whose claws and fangs are spread out, whose claws and fangs are His weapons, who is the commander of the celestial hosts, who is the army itself, who is agitated (with divine fury), and who is the embodiment of strength.

Salutations again and again to the One with diverse eyes, to the Hero, to the One with extraordinary eyes, to the Witness, to the One free from sorrow, and to the One with a vast countenance.

Salutations to Him who is the ordainer of all rituals, to Him who is the object of all injunctions, to Him who is the embodiment of victory, to Him who is the conqueror, to Him who is the wise one, to Him who is the source of all glory, and to Him who sustains the entire universe.

Salutations again and again to the One who is free from attachment, to the One who is the learned sage, to the One who has beautiful eyes, to the One who is vast, to the One who is humble, and to the One who is the source of the universe.

Salutations to the One who assumes various forms for sport, who is the wealth, who is renowned, and who is the source of all existence. Salutations to the One who is the vast sky of consciousness, who is agitated, who is the cause of all disputes, and who is the embodiment of the sacred word.

Salutations to You, who are the sport, the manifestation, and the great aeon; who are the many aeons, the aeon itself, and the one who transcends all aeons, the divine architect.

Salutations to Him who is the embodiment of imagination, who rests upon the serpent-bed, who possesses the radiance of lightning, who is the lord of Garuda, who is eternally youthful, and who is full of vigor.

(Salutations to Him) who is the sun (that illuminates the universe), who is like a leopard (in destroying the enemies of devotees), who removes the three types of afflictions, who is the savior (who helps cross the ocean of worldly existence), who destroys darkness (of ignorance), who is the Supreme Truth, and who is the ascetic.

Salutations to You, who are the protector of Takshaka, who are the river-like, who are the tremulous, who possess a hundred forms, who are peaceful, and who possess a hundred streams.

To the One with eyes as wide as lotus petals, to the One who is the foundation of all, to the One who manifests in a hundred forms, to the One who is the essence of Indra (the performer of a hundred sacrifices), to the Eternal One, and to the One who possesses a hundred souls.

Salutations to the Thousand-Headed One, to the Thousand-Faced One, to the Thousand-Eyed God, and salutations to You whose ears are the directions.

Salutations to the thousand-tongued One; salutations to the great-tongued One; salutations to the One who possesses a thousand names and the One who bears a thousand eyes.

Salutations to You, who possess a thousand arms, a thousand feet, the brilliance of a thousand suns, and who wield a thousand weapons.

Salutations to the Gross, the Subtle, and the Supremely Subtle. Salutations again and again to the Well-Crushed, the Provider of Alms, the Lord of the Gods, and the descendant of Shura.

Salutations to the Overseer of Dharma, to Dharma itself, to the Overseer of the worlds, to the Overseer of all beings, to the One who is the instruction, and to the One whose form is the destruction of the enemies.

Salutations to You, the Presiding Lord of Time, the Fierce One, and the Presiding Lord of the Origin. Salutations to You, the Transcendental One, the Friend, and the One who is the friend of Varuna.

Salutations again and again to the Destroyer of enemies, the Remover of obstacles, the Destroyer of millions of obstacles, the Destroyer of demons, the Destroyer of darkness, and the Destroyer of evil spirits.

Salutations to the Protector of all beings, to the One who is the essence of all existence, to the Abode of all beings, to the Source of all prosperity, to the Destroyer of ghosts and evil spirits, and to the Lord of all beings.

Salutations to the Controller of all beings for the destruction of malevolent spirits; salutations to the Great Being, the descendant of Bhrigu, and the Soul of all beings.

Salutations to the destroyer of all misfortunes, the bestower of all prosperity, the support of all, the auspicious one, and the remover of all distress.

To the One who pacifies all sorrows, the bestower of all good fortune, the all-knowing, the infinite, and the bearer of all powers.

To the bestower of all prosperity, to the accomplisher of all tasks, to the destroyer of all fevers, and to the remover of all diseases.

(Salutations to Him) who destroys all black magic, who bestows all forms of prosperity, who has tawny eyes, who has one horn, who has two horns, and who is the source of light.

Salutations to You, who possess many horns, who are the symbol (Linga), and who possess a great horn. Salutations to You, who are the source of all auspiciousness, who are delightful to the mind, who are worthy of contemplation, and who are the Great Soul.

To the Supreme Lord, to the Divine One, to the bearer of the citron fruit, to the One born of the Great Illusion, and to the One who is the source of all praise and the Master of Illusion.

Salutations to the One who possesses infinite and boundless forms, the master of illusion, the One who reclines upon the cosmic waters, the One with a vast abdomen, the One who is gentle, the One who bestows joy, and the One who is the embodiment of divine intoxication.

Salutations to You, the destroyer of Madhu and Kaitabha, the husband of Lakshmi (Madhava), the enemy of Mura, the possessor of great valor, the embodiment of courage, and the possessor of wondrous prowess.

Salutations to the wondrous Tortoise, to the wondrous One, to the wondrous effulgence; salutations to You, who are beyond illusion, who are the source of illusion, and who are the great hero.

Salutations to the One of great brilliance, the seed of all, the abode of brilliance, the source of all seeds, the effulgent Narasimha, and the One who possesses wonderful splendor.

Salutations to the One with great tusks, to the One who is satisfied, to the One who bestows nourishment, to the One who pervades the rays of light, to the One who is joyful, to the One who is complete, and to the Supreme Lord.

Salutations to the One who is distinct, to the One who is righteous, to the One who is most venerable, and to the One who grants desires; salutations to the One who is primordial, to the One who is supreme, to the One who is satisfied, and to the One who possesses infinite brilliance.

Salutations to You, whose form is established in the eight limbs (of Yoga), who is the destroyer of all the wicked, who is Vaikuntha (the Lord of the spiritual abode), who is Vikuntha (the one who is never obstructed), and who is Keshikantha (the one who destroyed the demon Keshi).

To the Lion-formed, to the plunderer of sins, to the guileless, to the forceful, to the one pre-eminent in goodness, to the destroyer of sorrows, and to the chanter of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas.

Salutations to Him who is the banner of the seasons, who is like the thunderbolt, who is the king of mantras, and who is the supreme counselor. Salutations to Him who has three eyes, who is the bestower of the three goals of life, who resides in the three realms, and who bears the trident.

Salutations to the One who is the embodiment of knowledge of the three times, who possesses three bodies, who is the soul of the three (Gunas), who is the knowledge of the three forms, and who is the knower of the three truths.

To the Imperturbable, to the Unobstructed, to the Incomprehensible, to the Effulgent, to the Immortal, to the Infinite, to the Boundless, and to the One of immeasurable power.

Salutations to the destroyer of untimely death, the slayer of epilepsy, the giver of food, the embodiment of food, the food itself, and the consumer of food.

Salutations again and again to Him who is the beginning, who is faultless, who is the embodiment of knowledge, whose actions are wondrous, who is born immediately, who is the assembly of all, and who is radiant like lightning.

Salutations to Him who is beyond the path, who is the essence of existence, who is beyond the reach of speech, and who is the master of eloquence. Salutations to the Lord of speech, the protector, the benefactor of the cows, and the Lord of all beings.

Salutations to the One who is the Gandharva (celestial musician), the Profound, the Roaring, and the Mighty; to the One who is the Cloud (bestower of rain), the Awakened, and the Supreme Being (Pradhana-Purusha).

Salutations to Him who has the luster of a lotus, who has a beautiful navel, who is Padmanabha (the Lord from whose navel the lotus springs), who is honorable, who has lotus-like eyes, who is the lotus itself, and who is the Lord of Lakshmi.

Salutations to Him who has a lotus-like belly, who is pure, who manifested in the Padma Kalpa, who resides in the lotus of the heart, and who uplifted the lotus-like earth.

Salutations to You, who are the embodiment of the Sabda Brahman (the primordial sound), who assume the form of Brahman, who are Brahman itself, who possess the nature of Brahman, and who have eyes like lotus petals.

Salutations to the one who is the gift of Brahman, who is the Brahmana, who is the soul of Brahman and the universe. Salutations to the one who is auspicious, the divine, the protector of the Vedas, and the knower of the three Vedas.

Salutations to the One whose form is the Supreme Brahman, who is the embodiment of the five Brahmas. Salutations to the head of Brahman, and likewise, salutations to the One with the horse's head.

Salutations to the One who is the essence of the Atharvashira, to the One who is measured by the thunderbolt, to the One with sharp fangs, to the One who is playful, and to the One who is charming.

Salutations to the embodiment of beauty, to the reaper of sins, and to the radiant one. Salutations again and again to the knower of all signs, to the ultimate goal, and to the one who is the mark of all auspiciousness.

Salutations to the One who is brilliantly radiant, to the One who is anointed, to the all-pervading Vishnu, to the powerful Lord, to the root of the Vrishni lineage, to Krishna, and to the Supreme Lord Mahavishnu.

I behold You as the Great Lion, the destroyer of sins, adorned with a garland of forest flowers, wearing a crown and earrings, with all Your limbs perfect, and facing in all directions.

He who has hands, feet, chests, eyes, heads, and faces everywhere; who is the Lord of all, always satisfied, capable, and fond of battle.

(He) who is vast, extending over many yojanas, who is long by many yojanas, who has hands and feet extending over many yojanas, and who has a nose extending over many yojanas.

He who has a magnificent form, a magnificent face, magnificent tusks, and magnificent arms; He who has a magnificent roar, a magnificent fierce appearance, a magnificent body, and magnificent strength.

From the navel is the form of Brahma, from the throat is that of Vishnu, from the head is the Rudra-Ishana, and beyond that, everywhere, is the auspicious Supreme.

Salutations to Narayana, the Man-Lion; Salutations to Narayana, the Valiant Lion; Salutations to Narayana, the Fierce Lion; Salutations to Narayana, the Divine Lion.

Salutations to the tiger-lion Narayana. Salutations to the lion-tailed Narayana. Salutations to the perfect lion Narayana. Salutations to the fierce lion Narayana.

Salutations, salutations to the terrifying and auspicious Lion. Salutations, salutations to the Lion with agitated eyes. Salutations, salutations to the Lion who roars and sustains all beings. Salutations, salutations to the Lion of pure and wondrous form.

Salutations, salutations to the One who has conquered the lion of time. Salutations, salutations to the One who is the lion of the imagined cosmic cycles. Salutations, salutations to the lion who grants all desires. Salutations, salutations to You, the unique lion of the universe.

This space between heaven and earth and all the directions are indeed pervaded by You alone. Having seen this wonderful and fierce form of Yours, the three worlds are greatly agitated, O Great Soul.

Some abandon the hosts of gods and enter into You, while others, struck with fear, praise You with joined palms. Saying "May there be auspiciousness," the sages and the hosts of perfected beings praise You with abundant hymns.

The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Vishvedevas, Maruts, Ushmapas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras, and the hosts of Siddhas, all gaze upon You in utter amazement.

You are licking and devouring all the worlds from all sides with your flaming mouths; filling the entire universe with your radiance, your fierce rays are scorching, O Vishnu.

You are the becoming, You are the enduring, You are the shining, and You are the victorious; You are the earth, the atmosphere, the mountains, and the forests.

You are the one who is manifested as Kala, Kashtha, Muhurta, Prahara, and the like; you are the day and night, the three Sandhyas, the fortnights, months, seasons, and years.

You are the beginning of the yugas, the divider of the yugas, the battle, and the junctions of the yugas; You are the Nitya (daily), Naimittika (occasional), Daina (daily), and the Maha-pralaya (great dissolution) as well.

You are the instrument, the cause, the creator, the sustainer, and the destroyer, O Lord. You are the benefactor, the good deed, the protector, and the embodiment of existence, consciousness, and bliss.

You are the life-breath of all living beings, the indwelling soul of all embodied ones, the supreme light, the transcendental light, the light of the soul, and the eternal one.

You are the form of the world of light, the knower, the light of lights, and the Lord of lights. You are the sacred utterance Svaha, the sacred utterance Svadha, the sacred utterance Vashat, and the bestower of grace.

He who is the destroyer of sins, who is formless, who has the form of speed, and who is the benefactor; He who is from the letter 'A' to the letter 'Ha', who is the Omkara, and who is the creator of the worlds.

You are the One Self, You are the many-selved, You are the four-fold Self, You are the four-armed One, You are the four-formed One, You are the four-fanged One, and You are the supreme One who is the embodiment of the four Vedas.

Beloved of the world, Preceptor of the world, Lord of the world, Leader of the world, Witness of the world, Master of the world, Soul of the world, and Eye of the world.

He is the support of the worlds, the vast universe itself, the embodiment of the light that illuminates the worlds, and the all-pervading Lord. He is the creator of the worlds, the creator of the universe, the one who revolves in the cycle of creation, and the author of the sacred scriptures.

You are beginningless, You are endless, You are uncreated, yet You are the embodiment of all created beings. You are the praise, You are the one worthy of praise, You are pleased by hymns of praise, You are the praiser, the leader, and the regulator.

You are my refuge, you are my wisdom, you are my father, mother, teacher, and friend. You are my well-wisher and my very own self; without you, I have no other destination.

Salutations to You who are in the form of mantras, and salutations to You who are in the form of weapons. Salutations to You who possess many forms, who are the embodiment of form itself, and who bear five forms.

To the One of auspicious form, to the One who is exalted, to the One of the form of Yoga, to the Yogi, to the One of equal vision, to the One who is Yoga itself, and to the One who resides on the seat of Yoga.

Salutations to Him who is attainable through Yoga, who is gentle, who is attainable through meditation, who is the meditator, who is the goal of meditation, who is the abode, and who is the Lord of all abodes.

Salutations to the Supporter of the earth, to the embodiment of Dharma, to the One intent on sustaining, to the Creator, to the Uniter, to the Dispenser of destiny, and to the Bearer of all.

Salutations to the One bound by a rope (Damodara), to the One who is self-controlled (Danta), and to the destroyer of demons (Danavantakara). Salutations again and again to the Physician of the world (Samsaravaidya) and to the supreme medicine (Bheshaja).

Salutations to Him who is the bearer of the plough (Sīradhvaja), who is cool and calm (Śīta), who is like the wind (Vāta), who is immeasurable (Apramita), who is the source of all knowledge (Sārasvata), who is the destroyer of the cycle of worldly existence (Saṃsāranāśana), and who wears a garland of beads (Akṣamālin).

Salutations to Him who bears the sword and shield, who is engaged in the six prescribed duties, who is beyond all karma, who is the embodiment of good deeds, and who is the ordainer of the actions of others.

Salutations to the one who is the best refuge, the one who is the enchanter (Manmatha), the one who is the armor (Varma), and the one who is armored (Varmi). Salutations to the one who is clad in elephant skin and the one who has a formidable face.

Salutations to the Poet, to the one who contains the lotus (Brahma) within, to the one who contains all beings, to the treasure of compassion, to the one who contains the Vedas within, to the one who is the source of all creation, to the one who contains the vast universe within, and to the one who bears the matted locks.

Salutations to Him who contains the universe within Himself, who contains the Goddess of Fortune within Himself, and who is the conqueror of enemies. Salutations to Him who is the source of the universe (Hiranyagarbha) and who is adorned with golden armor.

To the One whose body is of the color of gold, the destroyer of Hiranyaksha, the slayer of Hiranyakashipu, and the One with golden eyes.

Salutations to You, who possess golden energy, who have a golden face, who possess golden horns, who are devoid of horns, and who are the Lord of all horns.

Salutations to the Terrifying One, to the One with beautiful hair, to the Formidable One, to the One wearing a garland of entrails, to the Fierce One, to the One wearing a garland of skulls, and to the One who wields the staff of justice.

Salutations to the One whose form is the undivided Reality and who bears the water-pot; salutations to the Lion who destroys the ego, and salutations to You, the Lion of Truth.

Salutations to the White Lion, salutations to the Yellow Lion; salutations to the Blue Lion, to the Blue One, and to the Red Lion.

Salutations to the Turmeric-colored Lion, salutations to the Smoke-colored Lion. Salutations to the Primal Lion, to the Root of all, and to the Great Lion.

Salutations to the Lion dwelling in the netherworld, and to the One who resides on the mountains. Salutations to the Lion dwelling in the waters, and to the One who resides in the firmament.

Salutations to the Lion who is the Fire of Time (Kālāgnirudra), and to the Fierce Lion (Caṇḍasiṃha). Salutations to the Infinite Lion (Anantasiṃha), who is the ultimate refuge for all.

Salutations to the wondrous Lion, to the One who possesses many lion-forms, to the Lion who grants fearlessness, and to You, O Narasimha, salutations.

Salutations to the King of Lions, salutations to You, O Narasimha; to the One who has the seven oceans as His girdle, and who is the embodiment of the Truth of Truths.

To the One who resides within the seven worlds, to the One who is the embodiment of the seven musical notes, to the One whose fangs are like the seven flames of fire, and to the One who takes the form of the chariot of the seven-horsed Sun.

Salutations to You, who are the form of the seven winds, who are composed of the seven Vedic meters, who are pure, who possess a pure form, and who are self-willed.

(Salutations to Him) who bears the Shrivatsa mark, who is adorned with beautiful attire, who is the Veda itself, who is the embodiment of the Vedas, who is praised by the pure, who is the valiant one, who possesses a beautiful radiance, and who wields the excellent bow.

Salutations again and again to the Pure One, the Lord of the celestials, the One with the beautiful radiance, the Auspicious One, the One with the beautiful vision, the Subtle One, and the One who is defined by the Vedas.

To the One of beautiful radiance, to the One whose nature is self-existent, to the One who is the source of existence, to the One who is the source of all wealth and glory, to the One who has beautiful branches (of the Vedas), to the One who is widely branched (all-pervading), to the One with a beautiful face, and to the One who is the primary face (the source of all).

To the One with beautiful claws, to the One with beautiful fangs, to the One who possesses a beautiful chariot, to the One who is nectar, to the One who is the essence of Sankhya philosophy, to the One who is the foremost among the gods, to the One who is renowned, and to the One who is effulgence.

Salutations to the One who holds the khatvanga (club) in His hand, who bears the shield and the mudgara (hammer) in His hands, who is the Lord of birds (Garuda), the Lord of beasts (Narasimha), the Lord of serpents (Shesha), and who is firm and steadfast.

Salutations to Him who is adorned with armlets and necklaces made of serpents, who is the Lord of serpents, who destroys sins, who dwells in the river (or is the abode of the celestial river), who is naked (devoid of worldly attachments), and who assumes various forms.

To the Lord of serpents, to the serpent, to the One who is bowed down to, and to the Man; to the One whose chariot is the destroyer of serpents (Garuda), and to Nara-Narayana.

Salutations to the One in the form of the Fish, and repeated salutations to the Tortoise. Salutations to the Sacrificial Boar, and salutations to You, the Man-Lion.

Salutations to Him who strode across the worlds, to the Vamana (Dwarf) of great splendor, to Bhargava Rama (Parashurama), and to the destroyer of Ravana.

Salutations to Balarama, the destroyer of Kamsa; to the Buddha, who is the embodiment of wisdom; and to the fierce-formed Kalki.

Salutations to You, who are the descendant of Atri, who have fire as Your eyes, who are Kapila, who are the twice-born, who are the sacred field (Kshetra), who are the protector of beings, and who have the face of a beast.

To the householder, to the forest-dweller, to the ascetic, and to the celibate; to the giver of heaven and liberation, and to the enjoyer of those states, and to the seeker of liberation.

Salutations to You, who dwell in the Shalagrama, who rest in the Ocean of Milk, who reside on the Shrishaila mountain, and who dwell within the stone.

Salutations to You, who dwell in the lotus-heart of the yogis, and who possess a magnificent smile. Salutations to You, who dwell in the cave of the heart, who are mysterious, who are hidden, and who are the supreme teacher.

Salutations to the One who dwells in the root (Mūlādhāra), to the One who wears blue garments, to the One who wears yellow garments, to the One who is armed with weapons, and to the One who wears red garments.

Adorned with a garland of red flowers, anointed with red sandalwood paste, the bearer of the burden of the universe, the cunning one, the one difficult to be held, and the supporter of the earth.

Salutations again and again to Him who is difficult to be intoxicated, who is endless, who is difficult to be held, who is difficult to be looked at, who is the ultimate goal, who is difficult to be seen, and who is like a tree.

Salutations again and again to Him who is difficult to penetrate, who has difficult desires, and who is difficult to attain; to Him who is proud, who has a fierce face, and who has eyes that are not arrogant.

Salutations to the One who appears intoxicated and the One who is heedless, salutations to the Enemy of the demons. Salutations to the Knower of essence, the Lord of essence, and the One with a reddish tongue.

Salutations to Him who is the path of righteousness, who is the source of supreme contentment, who is the charioteer of the universe, and who is the enjoyer of all essences. Salutations to Him who has upright hair, who possesses a transcendent form, and who is the master of supreme celibacy.

Salutations to the One who is the Supreme Lion, to the Lion, to the One with uplifted arms, to the Destroyer of the enemies of the devotees, and to the Bearer of the conch and the discus.

Salutations to the bearer of the mace and the lotus, to the bearer of the five arrows, to the Lord of desires, to the embodiment of desire, to the protector of desires, and to the one who is full of desire.

Salutations to Him who sports according to His will and who assumes any form at will. Salutations again and again to Him who has the moon, the sun, and fire as His eyes, and who drinks the Soma juice.

Salutations to the One who is the moon, the One who is beautiful, and salutations to You who are Vamadeva. Salutations to the One whose voice is like the Sama Veda, who is gentle, and who is attainable through devotion.

Salutations to the Lord of the hosts of Kushmandas, to the bestower of all auspiciousness, to the One who is formidable, to the One who inspires fear in the wicked, and to the One who possesses terrifying prowess.

Salutations to the One with a neck like a deer, to the living soul, to the One who has conquered, to the One who performs unconquerable deeds, to the One with matted hair, to the descendant of Jamadagni, and to the One who is the knower of all beings (Agni).

(Salutations to Him) who is of the color of the China rose (Japa flower), who is the object of repetition (of mantras), who is attained through repetition, and who is the source of the four kinds of beings: those born from the womb, those born from eggs, those born from sweat (moisture), and those born from the earth (plants).

Salutations to Janardana (the destroyer of the wicked), to Rama, to the father of Jahnavi (Ganga), to the One who is far removed from old age, birth, and the like, to Pradyumna, and to the One who is full of joy.

Salutations to You, who are the fierce-tongued, the destroyer, the heroic warrior, the embodiment of consciousness, the ocean, the one who is beyond all forms of Rudra, and the wise one.

Salutations to the Lord of the senses, the Knower of the senses, and the younger brother of Indra. Salutations to the One who is beyond the senses, the Essence, and the Lord of Indira (Lakshmi).

Salutations to the Lord of all, to the One worthy of praise, to the Supreme Ruler, and to the powerful Master. Salutations to the One whose essence is the sky, to the sky itself, and to the One who has the sky as His hair.

Salutations to You, who are the support of the sky, who have the sky as Your mouth, and who are the slayer of the demons; salutations to You, who have the sky as Your fangs, and who reside in the sky.

Salutations to the delicate and graceful Rama, who is of auspicious conduct. Salutations to Him who is the universe, who has the universe as His form, and who is the soul of the universe.

Salutations to You, who are the embodiment of knowledge, who are knowledge itself, the Lord of the universe, and the Supreme Self. Salutations to You, who are the One Self, and salutations to You, who are the twelve-fold Self.

Salutations to Him who has twenty-four forms, who is the twenty-five manifestations, who is the essence of the twenty-six, and who is eternally the essence of the twenty-seven.

Salutations again and again to Him who is the bestower of righteousness, wealth, desires, and liberation, who is detached, whose nature is pure, who is the perfected one, who is the goal to be attained, and who is the destroyer of obstacles.

Salutations to the One who is the awakening, the One who is true knowledge, and the One who is dear to the intellect. Salutations to the One who is affectionate, the One who is wise, the One who is charming, and the One who is a sage.

Salutations again and again to the One who speaks pleasantly, who is worthy of being heard, who is the sacrificial ladle and the offering, who is the refuge of those who seek Him, who is the Lord of the house, the Supreme Lord, and the Lord of Brahma.

Salutations to You, who are the bearer of Sri (Lakshmi), who are the sacred pilgrimage site, and who are Hayagriva. Salutations also to You, who are fierce, who possess fierce speed, and who are intent on fierce deeds.

Salutations to Him who has fierce eyes, who is intent and focused, who is endowed with all virtuous qualities, who destroys the afflictions caused by malevolent spirits in children, and who slays the demonic spirits.

To the destroyer of evil planetary influences, to the one who grants both punishment and grace, to the one who has the bull as his emblem, to the one who belongs to the Vrishni clan, to the one who is righteousness itself, and to the one who is the best among all.

Salutations to the Fierce-voiced, to the Peaceful, and to the One who upholds the Vedas. Salutations to You, O Lord of the gods; salutations to You, O slayer of Madhu.

Salutations to You, O Lotus-eyed One; salutations to You, O Destroyer of sins. Salutations to You, O Ocean of compassion; salutations to You, O Victor in battle.

Salutations to Narasimha, salutations to the One whose banner bears Garuda. Salutations to the One who is the eye of the sacrifice, salutations to the One whose banner is Time, and the One whose banner is Victory.

O Lord with eyes of fire, salutations to You; salutations to You, O beloved of the immortals. O Lord with great eyes, salutations to You; salutations to You, O lover of Your devotees.

Salutations to You, whose eyes are righteousness; salutations to You, O compassionate one. Salutations to You, whose eyes are merit; salutations to You, the bestower of desired boons.

Salutations, salutations to You, who possess the form of a victorious lion. Salutations, salutations to You, who possess the form of a man-lion. Salutations, salutations to You, who possess the form of a battle-lion. Salutations, salutations to You, who possess the form of a man-lion.

Having lifted up the arrogant demon and slain the enemy of the gods in battle, having accomplished the great task of the gods, You roar with the brilliance of Your own Self.

Having seen this extremely fierce, unbearable, and insurmountable form, all the gods, filled with apprehension, have approached You.

Behold these, the Great Lord, Brahma, myself, the Lord of Sachi, the guardians of the directions, the twelve Adityas, the Rudras, the serpents, and the demons.

All the groups of sages, the seven mothers, Gauri, Saraswati, Lakshmi, the rivers, the sacred places, Rati, and also the hosts of beings.

Be gracious, O Great Lion, abandon this fierce form. Return to your natural state and assume a peaceful disposition.

Having said this, the grandfather (Brahma) fell prostrate on the ground, saying again and again, "Be pleased, O Lord, be pleased, be pleased."

Markandeya said: Having seen all the gods and having heard those words of Brahma, He became delighted with the hymn and assumed a gentle form.

Having seen all the best of the gods, who were terrified, agitated by fear, and had come seeking refuge, Lord Narasimha spoke.

Sri Narasimha said: O best of the gods, all of you, led by the grandfather (Brahma), listen to my words and be free from all distress.

I shall now surely do what is beneficial for you. Whoever, being pure, recites these thousand names of Mine at the three junctures of the day (dawn, noon, and dusk).

He who listens to this or causes others to listen to it with devotion at the end of the worship, attains all his desires and lives for a hundred years.

He who worships Me in sequence with the names such as Narasimha, obtains the merit and the fruit that is attained in all the sacred pilgrimage sites.

He obtains in abundance everything that is prescribed in all forms of worship; he attains the memory of his past births and the eternal knowledge of Brahman.

Freed from all sins, he attains the supreme abode of Vishnu; having bound on this armor of My names, he shall wander free from all distress.

Ghosts, vetalas, kushmandas, pishachas, brahmarakshasas, shakinis, dakinis, jyeshtha, neeli, balagrahas, and others.

Evil planets are destroyed, as are Yakshas, Rakshasas, and serpents, as well as all those known as Sandhya-grahas and Chandala-grahas.

All nocturnal spirits and malevolent planetary influences perish and flee to a distance; likewise, abdominal diseases, heart ailments, colic, and epilepsy are destroyed.

Fevers occurring for one day, two days, or four days, all mental agonies, physical ailments, diseases, and the presiding deities of diseases.

All those who remember Narasimha are quickly destroyed, O Devas; kings become servants, and enemies turn into friends.

By the remembrance of Narasimha, O Suras, waters become land, fires become cool, and even poisons turn into nectar.

He who desires a kingdom shall attain a kingdom; he who desires wealth shall attain wealth; he who desires knowledge shall attain knowledge; and he who is bound shall be liberated from his bonds.

There is no fear of snakes, tigers, thieves, or other such dangers; one’s wife becomes supportive, and one is honored by the people.

They obtain good children, wealth, and grain, and become free from all afflictions; one attains all of this through the grace of Narasimha.

Whether crossing water, traversing mountains or forests, or wandering in difficult and dangerous paths, a mortal [who chants this] shall be protected.

Even while entering a cave, one should not forget Narasimha; he who has killed a brahmin, killed an animal, destroyed a fetus, or approached his teacher's wife [is purified by remembering Him].

He is liberated from all sins, even the ungrateful, the slayer of women, the reviler of the Vedas, and the one who insults his mother and father.

Even one who is untruthful, a denouncer of sacrifices, or a slanderer of the world, is liberated from all sins by remembering Narasimha even once.

What more needs to be said here? If a mortal, with a pure mind, remembers Me, Narasimha protects him wherever he may wander.

Whether walking, standing, sleeping, eating, waking, or even laughing, always remember "Narasimha, Narasimha, Narasimha."

A man is not tainted by sins and attains both worldly enjoyment and liberation; a woman attains charm, good fortune, and beauty.

She attains the affection of her husband and does not suffer widowhood; she has no co-wife, and at the end of life, the learned one becomes truly enlightened.

The fruit that a mortal obtains after a long time by circumambulating the earth, that same fruit is obtained by circumambulating the Narasimha-murti.

Markandeya said: Having said this, the Lord of the Lords of gods embraced Lakshmi playfully, and instructed Brahma regarding the coronation of Prahlada.

By the grace of Shrishaila and for the welfare of the people, He established His own form and then became manifest in His true nature.

Even Brahma, being highly pleased, anointed Prahlada as the king of the demons, and then he himself returned to his own abode along with the gods.

Fearing Hiranyakashipu, the Lord of Sachi (Indra) fled and was deprived of his heavenly kingdom for twenty-one yugas.

When the demon was slain by Narasimha, he attained the heavenly realm, and the guardians of the directions reached their own supreme abodes.

At that time, the minds of all beings became inclined towards righteousness; thus, this thousand names of Mine was composed by Brahma in the past.

The great-minded one taught his sons, Sanaka and the others; and then, desiring the welfare of all worlds, they spoke.

The gods, the sages, the perfected beings (Siddhas), the Yakshas, the Vidyadharas, the serpents (Nagas), the Gandharvas, and the humans, all desiring fruits here and hereafter, [worship Him].

By the mere recitation of this hymn, those of purified minds, such as the great sage Sanatkumara and the highly intelligent Bharadvaja, attained [the supreme state].

From him, Angirasa received it, and from him, Mahakratu received it; Bhargava obtained it from him, and he spoke it to Agnimitra.

He spoke it to Jaigishavya, and he in turn spoke it to Chyavana; to him, Shandilya spoke it, and the sage indeed spoke it to Garga.

The self-controlled sage spoke to Kratunjaya, who in turn spoke to Jatukarnya, and he likewise spoke to Vishnuvriddha, who then spoke to Bodhayana.

Then, in sequence, he spoke to Vishnu, and he spoke to the one with the magnificent womb; from him, the one with the brilliance of a lion gave [it] to the beloved of Sri for us.

I have been instructed by him in this thousand-name hymn; through his grace, I am deathless, and therefore, I have no fear from any source whatsoever.

I have narrated this Narasimha Stotram to you; having become pure, you should always worship Him, the Eternal One.

Having worshipped the Lord Narasimha, who is the refuge of all beings and dear to His devotees, and having recited this hymn and performed the sacrificial offering with a steady mind.

You will attain supreme success and all the best of desires; this alone is the supreme duty, and this alone is the supreme penance.

This alone is the supreme knowledge, this alone is the great vow, this alone is the righteous conduct, and this alone is the eternal sacrifice.

This alone is the three Vedas, the true scriptures, and the Agamas; there is no other Vedic knowledge apart from the Narasimha Mantra.

Whatever is here is found elsewhere, but what is not here is nowhere else; thus has the sin-destroying story of Narasimha been narrated to you.

It is the embodiment of all mantras, the supreme alleviator of the three types of suffering, the fulfiller of all desires, and divine; what more do you wish to hear?