About this stotra
The Sri Venkateswara Prapatti (‘surrender to Lord Venkatesha’) is a profound devotional poem focused entirely on the sacred feet (charanau) of Lord Venkatesha. Each verse meditates on a different quality of the Lord's feet — their fragrance and auspicious markings, their ruby-red glow, their tender beauty surpassing the lotus, the crimson absorbed from Lakshmi's hands, and their role as the ultimate refuge of all souls. The prapatti culminates in the declaration of total surrender (sharanam prapadye) and a prayer to remain an eternal servant of the Lord. It is a cornerstone text of Sri Vaishnava devotion.
Sri Venkateswara Prapatti lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
ईशानां जगतोऽस्य वेङ्कटपते र्विष्णोः परां प्रेयसीं
तद्वक्षःस्थल नित्यवासरसिकां तत्-क्षान्ति संवर्धिनीम् ।
पद्मालङ्कृत पाणिपल्लवयुगां पद्मासनस्थां श्रियं
वात्सल्यादि गुणोज्ज्वलां भगवतीं वन्दे जगन्मातरम् ॥
īśānāṃ jagatō'sya vēṅkaṭapatē rviṣṇōḥ parāṃ prēyasīṃ
tadvakṣaḥsthala nityavāsarasikāṃ tat-kṣānti saṃvardhinīm ।
padmālaṅkṛta pāṇipallavayugāṃ padmāsanasthāṃ śriyaṃ
vātsalyādi guṇōjjvalāṃ bhagavatīṃ vandē jaganmātaram ॥
I bow to Shri (Lakshmi), the supreme beloved of Venkatesha Vishnu, who ever delights in dwelling on his chest, who fosters his grace, whose hands hold the lotus, who is seated on the lotus — the divine mother of all worlds, radiant with qualities of affection.
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Verse 2
श्रीमन् कृपाजलनिधे कृतसर्वलोक
सर्वज्ञ शक्त नतवत्सल सर्वशेषिन् ।
स्वामिन् सुशील सुल भाश्रित पारिजात
श्रीवेङ्कटेशचरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 2 ॥
śrīman kṛpājalanidhē kṛtasarvalōka
sarvajña śakta natavatsala sarvaśēṣin ।
svāmin suśīla sula bhāśrita pārijāta
śrīvēṅkaṭēśacharaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 2 ॥
O Srinivasa, ocean of compassion, creator of all worlds, all-knowing, mighty, compassionate to those who bow, supreme master of all, of gentle and accessible nature, refuge of the surrendered — I take refuge at your feet.
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Verse 3
आनूपुरार्चित सुजात सुगन्धि पुष्प
सौरभ्य सौरभकरौ समसन्निवेशौ ।
सौम्यौ सदानुभनेऽपि नवानुभाव्यौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 3 ॥
ānūpurārchita sujāta sugandhi puṣpa
saurabhya saurabhakarau samasannivēśau ।
saumyau sadānubhanē'pi navānubhāvyau
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 3 ॥
Adorned with anklets and honoured by flowers of beautiful fragrance, matched in exquisite proportion, ever gentle — yet revealing ever-new wonder to those who meditate eternally — I take refuge at the feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 4
सद्योविकासि समुदित्त्वर सान्द्रराग
सौरभ्यनिर्भर सरोरुह साम्यवार्ताम् ।
सम्यक्षु साहसपदेषु विलेखयन्तौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 4 ॥
sadyōvikāsi samudittvara sāndrarāga
saurabhyanirbhara sarōruha sāmyavārtām ।
samyakṣu sāhasapadēṣu vilēkhayantau
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 4 ॥
Instantly blooming, intensely fragrant, deep red in hue, surpassing the beauty of the lotus, leaving their mark of auspiciousness wherever they step — I take refuge at the feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 5
रेखामय ध्वज सुधाकलशातपत्र
वज्राङ्कुशाम्बुरुह कल्पक शङ्खचक्रैः ।
भव्यैरलङ्कृततलौ परतत्त्व चिह्नैः
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 5 ॥
rēkhāmaya dhvaja sudhākalaśātapatra
vajrāṅkuśāmburuha kalpaka śaṅkhachakraiḥ ।
bhavyairalaṅkṛtatalau paratattva chihnaiḥ
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 5 ॥
Adorned with auspicious marks — the flag, umbrella, thunderbolt, goad, lotus, wish-granting tree, conch and discus — marks of the supreme reality itself — I take refuge at the feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 6
ताम्रोदरद्युति पराजित पद्मरागौ
बाह्यैर्-महोभि रभिभूत महेन्द्रनीलौ ।
उद्य न्नखांशुभि रुदस्त शशाङ्क भासौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 6 ॥
tāmrōdaradyuti parājita padmarāgau
bāhyair-mahōbhi rabhibhūta mahēndranīlau ।
udya nnakhāṃśubhi rudasta śaśāṅka bhāsau
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 6 ॥
Glowing red within, they outshine the ruby outside; their nails radiate light that eclipses the moon — I take refuge at these feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 7
स प्रेमभीति कमलाकर पल्लवाभ्यां
संवाहनेऽपि सपदि क्लम माधधानौ ।
कान्ता नवाङ्मानस गोचर सौकुमार्यौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 7 ॥
sa prēmabhīti kamalākara pallavābhyāṃ
saṃvāhanē'pi sapadi klama mādhadhānau ।
kāntā navāṅmānasa gōchara saukumāryau
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 7 ॥
So tender that Lakshmi's lotus hands cause them pain when massaging with love — yet they are the sublime object of the noble-minded's deepest feeling — I take refuge at the feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 8
लक्ष्मी मही तदनुरूप निजानुभाव
नीलादि दिव्य महिषी करपल्लवानाम् ।
आरुण्य सङ्क्रमणतः किल सान्द्ररागौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 8 ॥
lakṣmī mahī tadanurūpa nijānubhāva
nīlādi divya mahiṣī karapallavānām ।
āruṇya saṅkramaṇataḥ kila sāndrarāgau
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 8 ॥
Made richly red by the touch of the soft hands of Lakshmi, Bhu Devi, Nila Devi and the other divine consorts — I take refuge at the feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 9
नित्यानमद्विधि शिवादि किरीटकोटि
प्रत्युप्त दीप्त नवरत्नमहः प्ररोहैः ।
नीराजनाविधि मुदार मुपादधानौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 9 ॥
nityānamadvidhi śivādi kirīṭakōṭi
pratyupta dīpta navaratnamahaḥ prarōhaiḥ ।
nīrājanāvidhi mudāra mupādadhānau
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 9 ॥
Whose radiance, from the gems in the crowns of ever-bowing Brahma, Shiva and others, performs a ceremonial wave-offering (nirajanaa) — I take refuge at the feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 10
"विष्णोः पदे परम" इत्युदित प्रशंसौ
यौ "मध्व उत्स" इति भोग्य तयाऽप्युपात्तौ ।
भूयस्तथेति तव पाणितल प्रदिष्टौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 10 ॥
"viṣṇōḥ padē parama" ityudita praśaṃsau
yau "madhva utsa" iti bhōgya tayā'pyupāttau ।
bhūyastathēti tava pāṇitala pradiṣṭau
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 10 ॥
Praised as "the supreme abode of Vishnu" and celebrated as "the spring of honey" — pointed out again to you by your own hand — I take refuge at the feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 11
पार्थाय तत्-सदृश सारधिना त्वयैव
यौ दर्शितौ स्वचरणौ शरणं व्रजेति ।
भूयोऽपि मह्य मिह तौ करदर्शितौ ते
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 11 ॥
pārthāya tat-sadṛśa sāradhinā tvayaiva
yau darśitau svacharaṇau śaraṇaṃ vrajēti ।
bhūyō'pi mahya miha tau karadarśitau tē
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 11 ॥
These feet which you yourself — acting as Arjuna's charioteer — showed to Arjuna saying "take refuge at my feet"; those same feet you now show to me with your own hand — I take refuge at the feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 12
मन्मूर्थ्नि कालियफने विकटाटवीषु
श्रीवेङ्कटाद्रि शिखरे शिरसि श्रुतीनाम् ।
चित्तेऽप्यनन्य मनसां सममाहितौ ते
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 12 ॥
manmūrthni kāḻiyaphanē vikaṭāṭavīṣu
śrīvēṅkaṭādri śikharē śirasi śrutīnām ।
chittē'pyananya manasāṃ samamāhitau tē
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 12 ॥
Placed on my head, on the hood of Kaliya, in the dense forest, on the summit of Venkatadri, on the crowns of the Vedas, and equally in the heart of those of single-pointed mind — I take refuge at the feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 13
अम्लान हृष्य दवनीतल कीर्णपुष्पौ
श्रीवेङ्कटाद्रि शिखराभरणाय-मानौ ।
आनन्दिताखिल मनो नयनौ तवै तौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 13 ॥
amlāna hṛṣya davanītala kīrṇapuṣpau
śrīvēṅkaṭādri śikharābharaṇāya-mānau ।
ānanditākhila manō nayanau tavai tau
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 13 ॥
Feet on which unfading fresh flowers are ever scattered, which are the supreme ornament of Venkata's summit, which fill all minds and eyes with bliss — I take refuge at the feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 14
प्रायः प्रपन्न जनता प्रथमावगाह्यौ
मातुः स्तनाविव शिशो रमृतायमाणौ ।
प्राप्तौ परस्पर तुला मतुलान्तरौ ते
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 14 ॥
prāyaḥ prapanna janatā prathamāvagāhyau
mātuḥ stanāviva śiśō ramṛtāyamāṇau ।
prāptau paraspara tulā matulāntarau tē
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 14 ॥
Drunk first with joy by the surrendered, like a baby at its mother's breast — matchless, yet each foot matching the other in equal splendour — I take refuge at the feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 15
सत्त्वोत्तरैः सतत सेव्यपदाम्बुजेन
संसार तारक दयार्द्र दृगञ्चलेन ।
सौम्योपयन्तृ मुनिना मम दर्शितौ ते
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ 15 ॥
sattvōttaraiḥ satata sēvyapadāmbujēna
saṃsāra tāraka dayārdra dṛgañchalēna ।
saumyōpayantṛ muninā mama darśitau tē
śrīvēṅkaṭēśa charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ 15 ॥
These feet were shown to me by Saumyopayantri Muni (Tiruvaymozhi Pillai) — one whose pure mind is ever devoted to those lotus feet, whose compassionate gaze rescues souls from samsara — I take refuge at the feet of Venkatesha.
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Verse 16
श्रीश श्रिया घटिकया त्वदुपाय भावे
प्राप्येत्वयि स्वयमुपेय तया स्फुरन्त्या ।
नित्याश्रिताय निरवद्य गुणाय तुभ्यं
स्यां किङ्करो वृषगिरीश न जातु मह्यम् ॥ 16 ॥
śrīśa śriyā ghaṭikayā tvadupāya bhāvē
prāpyētvayi svayamupēya tayā sphurantyā ।
nityāśritāya niravadya guṇāya tubhyaṃ
syāṃ kiṅkarō vṛṣagirīśa na jātu mahyam ॥ 16 ॥
O Lord, with Shri (Lakshmi) as the means and you as the goal — you who are the eternal refuge of those who depend on you, of flawless attributes — may I become your servant, O lord of Vrishagiri, never belonging to myself alone.
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Verse 17
इति श्रीवेङ्कटेश प्रपत्तिः
iti śrīvēṅkaṭēśa prapattiḥ
Thus the Sri Venkatesha Prapatti is complete.
ॐ
