Dashavatar Stotram
Sri Dasavatara-stotra
(from Gita-govinda)
(1)
Prayer to Matsya Avatar
pralaya-payodhi-jale dhritavan asi vedam
vihita-vahitra-caritram akhedam
kesava dhrita-mina-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
प्रलय पयोधि-जले धृतवान् असि वेदम्
विहित वहित्र-चरित्रम् अखेदम्
केशव धृत-मीन-शरीर, जय जगदीश हरे
(2)
Prayer to Kurma Avatar
kshitir iha vipulatare tishthati tava prishthe
dharani-dharana-kina-cakra-garishthe
kesava dhrita-kurma-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
क्षितिर् इह विपुलतरे तिष्ठति तव पृष्ठे
धरणि- धारण-किण चक्र-गरिष्ठे
केशव धृत-कूर्म-शरीर जय जगदीश हरे
(3)
Prayer to Varaha Avatar
vasati dasana-sikhare dharani tava lagna
sasini kalanka-kaleva nimagna
kesava dhrita-sukara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
वसति दशन शिखरे धरणी तव लग्ना
शशिनि कलंक कलेव निमग्ना
केशव धृत शूकर रूप जय जगदीश हरे
(4)
Prayer to Narasimha Avatar
tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-sringam
dalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhringam
kesava dhrita-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
तव कर-कमल-वरे नखम् अद्भुत शृंगम्
दलित-हिरण्यकशिपु-तनु-भृंगम्
केशव धृत-नरहरि रूप जय जगदीश हरे
(5)
Prayer to Vamana Avatar
chalayasi vikramane balim adbhuta-vamana
pada-nakha-nira-janita-jana-pavana
kesava dhrita-vamana-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
छलयसि विक्रमणे बलिम् अद्भुत-वामन
पद-नख-नीर-जनित-जन-पावन
केशव धृत-वामन रूप जय जगदीश हरे
(6)
Prayer to Parshurama Avatar
kshatriya-rudhira-maye jagad-apagata-papam
snapayasi payasi samita-bhava-tapam
kesava dhrita-bhrigupati-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
क्षत्रिय-रुधिर-मये जगद् -अपगत-पापम्
स्नपयसि पयसि शमित-भव-तापम्
केशव धृत-भृगुपति रूप जय जगदीश हरे
(7)
Prayer to Rama Avatar
vitarasi dikshu rane dik-pati-kamaniyam
dasa-mukha-mauli-balim ramaniyam
kesava dhrita-rama-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
वितरसि दिक्षु रणे दिक्-पति-कमनीयम्
दश-मुख-मौलि-बलिम् रमणीयम्
केशव धृत-राम-शरीर जय जगदीश हरे
(8)
Prayer to Lord Balaram
vahasi vapushi visade vasanam jaladabham
hala-hati-bhiti-milita-yamunabham
kesava dhrita-haladhara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
वहसि वपुशि विसदे वसनम् जलदाभम्
हल-हति-भीति-मिलित-यमुनाभम्
केशव धृत-हलधर रूप जय जगदीश हरे
(9)
Prayer to Budha Avatar
nindasi yajna-vidher ahaha sruti-jatam
sadaya-hridaya darsita-pasu-ghatam
kesava dhrita-buddha-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
नंदसि यज्ञ- विधेर् अहः श्रुति जातम्
सदय-हृदय-दर्शित-पशु-घातम्
केशव धृत-बुद्ध-शरीर जय जगदीश हरे
(10)
Prayer to Kalki Avatar
mleccha-nivaha-nidhane kalayasi karavalam
dhumaketum iva kim api karalam
kesava dhrita-kalki-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
म्लेच्छ-निवह-निधने कलयसि करवालम्
धूमकेतुम् इव किम् अपि करालम्
केशव धृत-कल्कि-शरीर जय जगदीश हरे
(11)
Prayer to Lord Krishna
sri-jayedeva-kaver idam uditam udaram
srinu sukha-dam subha-dam bhava-saram
kesava dhrita-dasa-vidha-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
श्री-जयदेव-कवेर् इदम् उदितम् उदारम्
शृणु सुख-दम् शुभ-दम् भव-सारम्
केशव धृत-दश-विध-रूप जय जगदीश हरे
(12)
vedan uddharate jaganti vahate bhu-golam udbibhrate
daityam darayate balim chalayate kshatra-kshayam kurvate
paulastyam jayate halam kalayate karunyam atanvate
mlecchan murchayate dasakriti-krite krishnaya tubhyam namah
वेदान् उद्धरते जगंति वहते भू-गोलम् उद्बिभ्रते
दैत्यम् दारयते बलिम् छलयते क्षत्र-क्षयम् कुर्वते
पौलस्त्यम् जयते हलम् कलयते कारुण्यम् आतन्वते
म्लेच्छान् मूर्छयते दशाकृति-कृते कृष्णाय तुभ्यम् नमः
~ Srila Jayadeva Goswami
Translation:
(1) 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a fish! All glories to You!
You easily acted as a boat in the form of a giant fish just to give protection to the Vedas, which had
become immersed in the turbulent sea of devastation.
(2) 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a tortoise! All glories to You!
In this incarnation as a divine tortoise the great Mandara Mountain rests upon Your gigantic back as a pivot
for churning the ocean of milk. From holding up the huge mountain a large scarlike depression is put in
Your back, which has become most glorious.
(3) 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a boar! All glories to You!
The earth, which had become immersed in the Garbhodaka Ocean at the bottom of the universe, sits fixed
upon the tip of Your tusk like a spot upon the moon.
(4) 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of half-man, half-lion! All
glories to You! Just as one can easily crush a wasp between one’s fingernails, so in the same way the body of
the wasplike demon Hiranyakasipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful
lotus hands.
(5) 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a dwarf-brahmana! All
glories to You! O wonderful dwarf, by Your massive steps You deceive King Bali, and by the Ganges water that
has emanated from the nails of Your lotus feet, You deliver all living beings within this world.
(6) 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Bhrigupati [Parasurama]!
All glories to You! At Kurukshetra You bathe the earth in the rivers of blood from the bodies of the
demoniac kshatriyas that You have slain. The sins of the world are washed away by You, and because of You
people are relieved from the blazing fire of material existence.
(7) 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Ramacandra! All glories to
You! In the battle of Lanka You destroy the ten-headed demon Ravana and distribute his heads as a
delightful offering to the presiding deities of the ten directions, headed by Indra. This action was long desired
by all of them, who were much harassed by this monster.
(8) 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Balarama, the wielder of
the plow! All glories to You! On Your brilliant white body You wear garments the color of a fresh blue rain
cloud. These garments are colored like the beautiful dark hue of the River Yamuna, who feels great fear due to
the striking of Your plowshare.
(9) O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Buddha! All glories to You!
O Buddha of compassionate heart, you decry the slaughtering of poor animals performed according to the rules
of Vedic sacrifice.
(10) O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Kalki! All glories to You!
You appear like a comet and carry a terrifying sword for bringing about the annihilation of the wicked
barbarian men at the end of the Kali-yuga.
(11) O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed these ten different forms of
incarnation! All glories to You! O readers, please
