About this stotra
The Sri Vishnu Shatpadi (śrīviṣṇuṣaṭpadī) is a revered Sanskrit stotra (hymn) dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver and protector in Hinduism. Composed by the illustrious philosopher and saint, Sri Adi Shankaracharya, this hymn comprises six verses (ṣaṭpadī) that encapsulate deep spiritual insights and expressions of devotion.
In this stotra, devotees invoke Lord Vishnu to dispel ignorance, calm the mind, and cultivate compassion. Each verse serves as a heartfelt plea for divine assistance in overcoming the trials and tribulations of worldly existence. The hymn highlights the unity between the devotee and the divine, emphasizing that the relationship with Lord Vishnu transcends superficial distinctions.
Recited with reverence, the Sri Vishnu Shatpadi is often chanted during spiritual practices and rituals, fostering a sense of peace and surrender. Through its melodic verses, the stotra invites practitioners to deepen their connection with the divine and to seek refuge in the compassionate nature of Lord Vishnu.
Vishnu Shatpadi Stotram lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
श्रीविष्णुषट्पदी
अविनयमपनय विष्णो दमय मनः शमय विषयमृगतृष्णाम् ।
भूतदयां विस्तारय तारय संसारसागरतः ॥ १॥
śrīviṣṇuṣaṭpadī
avinayamapanaya viṣṇo damaya manaḥ śamaya viṣayamṛgatṛṣṇām .
bhūtadayāṃ vistāraya tāraya saṃsārasāgarataḥ .. 1..
O Vishnu, remove arrogance, subdue my mind, and calm the thirst for worldly desires. Expand compassion towards all beings, and guide me across the ocean of worldly existence.
Word by word
- श्रीविष्णुषट्पदी (śrīviṣṇuṣaṭpadī)
- O Vishnu, six-footed (śrī:O | viṣṇu:Vishnu | ṣaṭpadī:six-footed)
- अविनयम् (avinayam)
- arrogance
- अपनय (apanaya)
- remove
- विष्णो (viṣṇo)
- O Vishnu
- दमय (damaya)
- subdue
- मनः (manaḥ)
- mind
- शमय (śamaya)
- calm
- विषयमृगतृष्णाम् (viṣayamṛgatṛṣṇām)
- thirst for worldly desires (viṣaya:worldly desires | mṛgatṛṣṇām:thirst)
- भूतदयाम् (bhūtadayām)
- compassion towards beings (bhūta:beings | dayām:compassion)
- विस्तारय (vistāraya)
- expand
- तारय (tāraya)
- guide across
- संसारसागरतः (saṃsārasāgarataḥ)
- ocean of worldly existence (saṃsāra:worldly existence | sāgarataḥ:ocean of)
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
दिव्यधुनीमकरन्दे परिमलपरिभोगसच्चिदानन्दे ।
श्रीपतिपदारविन्दे भवभयखेदच्छिदे वन्दे ॥ २॥
divyadhunīmakarande parimalaparibhogasaccidānande .
śrīpatipadāravinde bhavabhayakhedacchide vande .. 2..
In the divine nectar of bliss, with the fragrance of true existence, I bow to the lotus feet of the Lord, which dispel the sorrows of existence.
Word by word
- दिव्यधुनीमकरन्दे (divyadhunīmakarande)
- in the divine nectar (divya:divine | dhunī:nectar | makarande:in the nectar)
- परिमलपरिभोगसच्चिदानन्दे (parimalaparibhogasaccidānande)
- with the fragrance of true existence (parimala:fragrance | paribhoga:enjoyment | sat:true | cit:consciousness | ānande:in bliss)
- श्रीपतिपदारविन्दे (śrīpatipadāravinde)
- to the lotus feet of the Lord (śrīpati:Lord | padāravinde:to the lotus feet)
- भवभयखेदच्छिदे (bhavabhayakhedacchide)
- which dispel the sorrows of existence (bhava:existence | bhaya:fear | kheda:sorrows | cchide:which dispel)
- वन्दे (vande)
- I bow
॥ २ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 2
सत्यपि भेदापगमे नाथ तवाहं न मामकीनस्त्वम् ।
सामुद्रो हि तरङ्गः क्वचन समुद्रो न तारङ्गः ॥ ३॥
satyapi bhedāpagame nātha tavāhaṃ na māmakīnastvam .
sāmudro hi taraṅgaḥ kvacana samudro na tāraṅgaḥ .. 3..
O Lord, even in the dissolution of differences, I am yours, and you are mine; like the ocean and its waves, one cannot exist without the other.
Word by word
- सत्यपि (satyapi)
- even in truth (satya:truth | api:even)
- भेदापगमे (bhedāpagame)
- in the dissolution of differences (bheda:differences | apagame:in the dissolution)
- नाथ (nātha)
- O Lord
- तव (tava)
- your
- अहम् (aham)
- I am
- न (na)
- not
- मामकीनः (māmakīnaḥ)
- mine
- त्वम् (tvam)
- you
- सामुद्रः (sāmudraḥ)
- oceanic
- हि (hi)
- indeed
- तरङ्गः (taraṅgaḥ)
- wave
- क्वचन (kvacana)
- somewhere
- समुद्रः (samudraḥ)
- ocean
- न (na)
- not
- तारङ्गः (tāraṅgaḥ)
- wave
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
उद्धृतनग नगभिदनुज दनुजकुलामित्र मित्रशशिदृष्टे ।
दृष्टे भवति प्रभवति न भवति किं भवतिरस्कारः ॥ ४॥
uddhṛtanaga nagabhidanuja danujakulāmitra mitraśaśidṛṣṭe .
dṛṣṭe bhavati prabhavati na bhavati kiṃ bhavatiraskāraḥ .. 4..
O Lord, who uplifts the mountains and protects the kin of demons, those who see you are blessed. Whether you manifest or not, what remains unfulfilled in your presence?
Word by word
- उद्धृतनग (uddhṛtanaga)
- uplifts the mountains (uddhṛta:uplifted | naga:mountain)
- नगभिदनुज (nagabhidanuja)
- kin of mountain-splitter (naga:mountain | bhid:splitter | anuja:younger brother)
- दनुजकुलामित्र (danujakulāmitra)
- protector of demon kin (danuja:demon | kula:family | amitra:enemy)
- मित्रशशिदृष्टे (mitraśaśidṛṣṭe)
- seen by friend and moon (mitra:friend | śaśi:moon | dṛṣṭe:seen)
- दृष्टे (dṛṣṭe)
- seen
- भवति (bhavati)
- becomes
- प्रभवति (prabhavati)
- manifests
- न (na)
- not
- भवति (bhavati)
- becomes
- किं (kiṃ)
- what
- भवतिरस्कारः (bhavatiraskāraḥ)
- unfulfilled in your presence (bhava:presence | tiraskāraḥ:neglect)
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
मत्स्यादिभिरवतारैरवतारवताऽवता सदा वसुधाम् ।
परमेश्वर परिपाल्यो भवता भवतापभीतोऽहम् ॥ ५॥
matsyādibhiravatārairavatāravatā'vatā sadā vasudhām .
parameśvara paripālyo bhavatā bhavatāpabhīto'ham .. 5..
O Supreme Lord, who takes various forms, you are always the protector of the earth through your incarnations. I am afraid of the fears of existence; please protect me.
Word by word
- मत्स्यादिभिः (matsyādibhiḥ)
- by incarnations like Matsya (matsya:Matsya | ādi:and others | bhiḥ:by)
- अवतारैः (avatāraiḥ)
- by incarnations
- अवतारवताऽवता (avatāravatā'vatā)
- by the one with incarnations (avatāra:incarnation | vatā:with)
- सदा (sadā)
- always
- वसुधाम् (vasudhām)
- the earth
- परमेश्वर (parameśvara)
- O Supreme Lord
- परिपाल्यः (paripālyaḥ)
- to be protected
- भवता (bhavatā)
- by you
- भवतापभीतः (bhavatāpabhītaḥ)
- afraid of worldly fears (bhava:worldly existence | tāpa:fears | bhītaḥ:afraid)
- अहम् (aham)
- I
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
दामोदर गुणमन्दिर सुन्दरवदनारविन्द गोविन्द ।
भवजलधिमथनमन्दर परमं दरमपनय त्वं मे ॥ ६॥
dāmodara guṇamandira sundaravadanāravinda govinda .
bhavajaladhimathanamandara paramaṃ daramapanaya tvaṃ me .. 6..
O Govinda, the embodiment of all virtues, whose beautiful lotus-like face shines with grace, please help me overcome the ocean of existence.
Word by word
- दामोदर (dāmodara)
- Damodara
- गुणमन्दिर (guṇamandira)
- abode of virtues (guṇa:virtues | mandira:abode)
- सुन्दरवदनारविन्द (sundaravadanāravinda)
- beautiful lotus-like face (sundara:beautiful | vadana:face | aravinda:lotus-like)
- गोविन्द (govinda)
- Govinda
- भवजलधिमथनमन्दर (bhavajaladhimathanamandara)
- churner of the ocean of existence (bhava:existence | jaladhi:ocean | mathana:churning | mandara:churner)
- परमं (paramaṃ)
- supreme
- दरम् (daram)
- fear
- अपनय (apanaya)
- remove
- त्वं (tvaṃ)
- you
- मे (me)
- my
॥ ६ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 6
नारायण करुणामय शरणं करवाणि तावकौ चरणौ ।
इति षट्पदी मदीये वदनसरोजे सदा वसतु ॥ ७॥
nārāyaṇa karuṇāmaya śaraṇaṃ karavāṇi tāvakau caraṇau .
iti ṣaṭpadī madīye vadanasaroje sadā vasatu .. 7..
O Narayana, the embodiment of compassion, I take refuge at your lotus feet. May my heart always dwell at your lotus-like face.
Word by word
- नारायण (nārāyaṇa)
- Narayana
- करुणामय (karuṇāmaya)
- embodiment of compassion (karuṇā:compassion | maya:embodiment of)
- शरणं (śaraṇaṃ)
- refuge
- करवाणि (karavāṇi)
- I take
- तावकौ (tāvakau)
- your
- चरणौ (caraṇau)
- feet
- इति (iti)
- thus
- षट्पदी (ṣaṭpadī)
- six-footed verse (ṣaṭ:six | padī:footed)
- मदीये (madīye)
- my
- वदनसरोजे (vadanasarojé)
- lotus-like face (vadana:face | saroja:lotus-like)
- सदा (sadā)
- always
- वसतु (vasatu)
- may dwell
॥ ७ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 7
इति श्रीमद् शङ्कराचार्यविरचितं विष्णुषट्पदीस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
iti śrīmad śaṅkarācāryaviracitaṃ viṣṇuṣaṭpadīstotraṃ sampūrṇam ..
Thus ends the Vishnuṣaṭpadī composed by Sri Shankaracharya.
Word by word
- इति (iti)
- thus
- श्रीमद् (śrīmad)
- venerable
- शङ्कराचार्यविरचितं (śaṅkarācāryaviracitaṃ)
- composed by Shankaracharya (śaṅkara:Shankara | ācārya:teacher | viracitaṃ:composed)
- विष्णुषट्पदीस्तोत्रं (viṣṇuṣaṭpadīstotraṃ)
- Vishnuṣaṭpadī hymn (viṣṇu:Vishnu | ṣaṭpadī:six-footed | stotraṃ:hymn)
- सम्पूर्णम् (sampūrṇam)
- complete
ॐ
