Dasavatara Stotra
(Prayer about ten
incarnations)
Composed by
Jayadeva
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(Jayadeva was a poet who lived in the 12th centaury in
Orissa. He is a well known mystic, who drowned himself in the ocean of devotion
to Lord Krishna. His only work Gita Govinda(The song of our Lord) , starts with
this prayer to ten incarnations of Vishnu. Since it is written in verses of
eight lines each, it is also called Ashta Padi. This is one of the earliest works
in Sanskrit to be translated in to English verse.
This great Stotra mentions,
Buddha as an incarnation but nothing has been mentioned about the incarnation as Lord Krishna. This
was possibly due to the fact that the poet was writing about ten incarnations
of
Pralaya-payodhi-jale dhruta vanasi vedam
Vihita-vahitra-charitramakhedam
Keshava dhruta-meena-sarira jaya jagadisa hare 1
Victory to Keshava,
the lord of Universe,
Who assumed the form
of a fish,
And gave protection
like a boat to Vedas,
Which were immersed
in the turbulent sea of deluge.
Kshitirathi vipulatare
tisthtati tava prushte
Dharani-dharana-kina-chakra-garishte ,
Keshava dhruta-kachapa-sarira jaya jagadisa hare 2
Victory to Keshava ,
the lord of Universe,
Who assumed the form of a tortoise,
And made the great
mountain rest on his back,
And allowed it to
churn the ocean like a wheel.
Vasati
dasana-sikhare dharani thava lagna
Sasini kalanka-kaleva nimagna
Keshava dhruta-sukara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare 3
Victory to Keshava ,
the lord of Universe,
Who assumed the form of a boar,
On whose tusks rested the earth,
Which was drowned and
appeared.
Like the shadow on
the moon.
Thava kara-kamala-vare
nakha madbhuta-srngam
Dalita-hiranyakasipu-thanu-bhrngam
Keshava dhruta-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare 4
Victory to Keshava ,
the lord of Universe,
Who assumed the form of a man lion,
Whose nails of his lotus like hand,
Were made wonderful
weapons,
And Crushed
Hiranyakasipu like a wasp.
Chalayasi
vikramane balimadbhuta-vamana
Pada-nakha-nira-janita-jana-pavana
Keshava dhruta-vamana-rupa jaya jagadisa hare 5
Victory to Keshava ,
the lord of Universe,
Who assumed the form of a dwarf Brahmin,
Who by his massive
steps deceived Mahabali,
And the water*
emanating from the nail of whose feet,
Made all living
beings holy and divine.
* River
Kshatriya-rudhira-maye
jagad-apagata-papam
Snapayasi payasi samita-bhava-tapam
Keshava dhruta-bhrgupati-rupa jaya jagadisa hare 6
Victory to Keshava ,
the lord of Universe,
Who assumed the form of
Parasurama,
Who bathed the earth
with blood of Kshatriyas,
Who washed away the
sins of the world,
And who calmed down
the pains of existence.
Vitarasi
dikshu rane dik-pati-kamaniyam
Dasa-mukha-mauli-balim ramaniyam
Keshava dhruta-rama-sarira jaya jagadisa hare 7
Victory to Keshava ,
the lord of Universe,
Who assumed the form of Lord Rama,
Who presented the
lords of ten pretty directions,
The delightful
offering of ten heads of Ravana.
Vahasi vapusi
visade vasanam jaladabham
Hala-hati-bhiti-milita-yamunabham
Keshava dhruta-haladhara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare 8
Victory to Keshava ,
the lord of Universe,
Who assumed the form of
Balarama,
Who wore cloths
of colour of The River,
Yamuna over his white body and made ,
The river fear his
weapon of the plough.
Nindasi
yajna-vidher ahaha shruti-jatam
Sadaya-hrdaya darsita-pasu-ghatham
Keshava dhruta-buddha-sarira jaya jagadisa hare 9
Victory to Keshava ,
the lord of Universe,
Who assumed the form of
Buddha,
Who found fault with
fire sacrifices,
In which poor animals
were sacrificed,
As prescribed in the
Vedas due to his compassionate heart.
Mleccha-nivaha-nidhane
kalayasi karavalam
Dhumaketum iva kim api karalam
Keshava dhruta-kalki-sarira jaya jagadisa hare 10
Victory to Keshava ,
the lord of Universe,
Who would assume the
form of Lord Kalki,
Who would appear like
a blazing comet,
Holding a terrifying
sword and kill,
All barbarians at the
end of Kali age.
Sri-jayadeva-kaver idam uditam udaaram
Srunu sukha-dam subha-dam bhava-saram
Keshava dhruta-dasa-vidha-rupa jaya jagadisa hare 11
Victory to Keshava ,
the lord of Universe,
Who assumed ten different forms,
With a humble request
to hear,
This pleasant , holy
and divine,
Poem composed by
Jayadeva.
Vedan
uddharate jaganni vahate bhu-golam udbibhrate
Daityam darayate balim chalayate ksatra-ksayam kurvate
Paulastyam jayate halam kalayate karunyam aathanvate
Mlecchan murchayate dasakruti-krute krushnaya tubhyam namah 12
Salutations to Lord
Krishna who assumed ten different forms,
And saved the Vedas,
bore a mountain, lifted the earth,
Killed Asuras,
tricked Mahabali, exterminated
Kshatriyas,
Won over Rakshasas,
drew Yamuna towards him and showered mercy,
And would benumb the
barbarians, in his ten different incarnations.