Lord Vishnu

śrīviṣṇvaṣṭakam

(Shri Vishnu Ashtakam in English (IAST))

Traditional

The Shri Vishnu Ashtakam, composed by the revered Sri Narayana Guru, is a devotional octet glorifying Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe. Each verse beautifully describes various attributes, forms, and exploits of Vishnu, portraying Him as the supreme, eternal, compassionate, and all-pervading deity. From His lotus-like eyes and yellow garments to His reclining on Sheshanaga and His role as the destroyer of demons and sins, the stotra vividly paints a picture of the Lord's majesty and grace. It emphasizes His accessibility to devotees, His nature as the ultimate refuge, and concludes with a powerful plea of surrender, promising liberation from sins and attainment of Vishnu's abode to those who recite it with devotion. The Ashtakam encapsulates the essence of Vishnu bhakti, celebrating His role as the bestower of welfare, the remover of obstacles, and the supreme protector.

śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ |
śrīviṣṇvaṣṭakam
viṣṇuṃ viśālāruṇapadmanetraṃ
vibhāntamīśāṃbujayonipūjitam |
sanātanaṃ sanmatiśodhitaṃ paraṃ
pumāṃsamādyaṃ satataṃ prapadye || 1||
kalyāṇadaṃ kāmaphalapradāyakaṃ
kāruṇyarūpaṃ kalikalmaṣaghnam |
kalānidhiṃ kāmatanūjamādyaṃ
namāmi lakṣmīśamahaṃ mahāntam || 2||
pītāṃbaraṃ bhṛṅganibhaṃ pitāmaha-
pramukhyavandyaṃ jagadādidevam |
kirīṭakeyūramukhaiḥ praśobhitaṃ
śrīkeśavaṃ santatamānato'smi || 3||
bhujaṅgatalpaṃ bhuvanaikanāthaṃ
punaḥ punaḥ svīkṛtakāyamādyam |
purandarādyairapi vanditaṃ sadā
mukundamatyantamanoharaṃ bhaje || 4||
kṣīrāṃburāśerabhitaḥ sphurantaṃ
śayānamādyantavihīnamavyayam |
satsevitaṃ sārasanābhamuccaiḥ
vighoṣitaṃ keśiniṣūdanaṃ bhaje || 5||
bhaktārttihantāramaharnniśantaṃ
munīndrapuṣpāñjalipādapaṅkajam |
bhavaghnamādhāramahāśrayaṃ paraṃ
parāparaṃ paṅkajalocanaṃ bhaje || 6||
nārāyaṇaṃ dānavakānanānalaṃ
natapriyaṃ nāmavihīnamavyayam |
harttuṃ bhuvo bhāramanantavigrahaṃ
svasvīkṛtakṣmāvaramīḍito'smi || 7||
namo'stu te nātha! varapradāyin
namo'stu te keśava! kiṅkaro'smi |
namo'stu te nāradapūjitāṅghre
namo namastvaccaraṇaṃ prapadye || 8||
phalaśrutiḥ
viṣṇvaṣṭakamidaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ paṭhedbhaktito naraḥ |
sarvapāpavinirmukto, viṣṇulokaṃ sa gacchati ||
iti śrīnārāyaṇaguruviracitaṃ śrīviṣṇvaṣṭakaṃ sampūrṇam |

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