Sri Dasavatara-stotra Lyrics — The Ten Avatars
Songs of Celebration
Śrī Daśāvatāra-stotra
By the floods of devastation,
Read Sri Dasavatara-stotra from Krishna Meditations, with Sanskrit transliteration and an English rendition by Kalakantha das.
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Original lyrics · Sanskrit transliteration
1) pralaya-payodhi-jale dhṛtavān asi vedaṁ vihita-vahitra-caritram akhedam keśava dhṛta-mīna-śarīra jaya jagadīśa hare
2) kṣitir iha vipulatare tiṣṭhati tava pṛṣṭhe dharaṇi-dhāraṇa-kiṇa-cakra-gariṣṭhe keśava dhṛta-kūrma-śarīra jaya jagadīśa hare
3) vasati daśana-śikhare dharaṇī tava lagnā śaśini kalaṅka-kaleva nimagnā keśava dhṛta-śūkara-rūpa jaya jagadīśa hare
4) tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-śṛṅgaṁ dalita-hiraṇyakaśipu-tanu-bhṛṅgam keśava dhṛta-narahari-rūpa jaya jagadīśa hare
5) chalayasi vikramaṇe balim adbhuta-vāmana pada-nakha-nīra-janita-jana-pāvana keśava dhṛta-vāmana-rūpa jaya jagadīśa hare
6) kṣatriya-rudhira-maye jagad-apagata-pāpam snapayasi payasi śamita-bhava-tāpam keśava dhṛta-bhṛgupati-rūpa jaya jagadiśa hare
7) vitarasi dikṣu raṇe dik-pati-kamanīyaṁ daśa-mukha-mauli-balim ramaṇīyam keśava dhṛta-rāma-śarīra jaya jagadiśa hare
8) vahasi vapuṣi viśade vasanaṁ jaladābhaṁ hala-hati-bhīti-milita-yamunābham keśava dhṛta-haladhara-rūpa jaya jagadiśa hare
9) nindasi yajña-vidher ahaha śruti-jātaṁ́ sadaya-hṛdaya darśita-paśu-ghātam keśava dhṛta-buddha-śarīra jaya jagadīśa hare
10) mleccha-nivaha-nidhane kalayasi karavālaṁ́ dhūmaketum iva kim api karālam keśava dhṛta-kalki-śarīra jaya jagadīśa hare
11) śrī-jayedeva-kaver idam uditam udāraṁ́ śṛṇu sukha-daṁ́ śubha-daṁ́ bhava-sāram keśava dhṛta-daśa-vidha-rūpa jaya jagadīśa hare
English rendition
1) When the Vedic texts were nearly swamped by the floods of devastation, You assumed the form of a great fish and You saved them. Keśava dhṛta-mina-śarīra, jaya jagat-īśa hare!
2) When Mount Mandara became a churn, You held it as a tortoise. Though it left a rounded scar, Your shell is enormous. Keśava dhṛta-mina-śarīra, jaya jagat-īśa hare!
3) When our planet fell into the sea, as a boar, You could support us. Like a spot upon the moon, the Earth stayed on Your tusk. Keśava dhṛta-mina-śarīra, jaya jagat-īśa hare!
4) Your soft lotus hands have lion’s nails, my Lord, and You employed them on the wasp Hiraṇyakaśipu to destroy him. Keśava dhṛta-mina-śarīra, jaya jagat-īśa hare!
5) As a little brāhmaṇa You took massive steps, deceiving Bali, Then you let the Gaṅgā waters bless everybody. Keśava dhṛta-mina-śarīra jaya jagat-īśa hare!
6) When You killed demonic rulers, waves of their blood left the Earth cleansed. You’re the cooling bath that ends our burning existence. Keśava dhṛta-mina-śarīra, jaya jagat-īśa hare!
7) In Your fight with Rāvaṇa, his heads flew off in ten directions, filling all the demigods with grateful affection. Keśava dhṛta-rāma-śarīra, jaya jagat-īśa hare!
8) You cover Your brilliant form of white with garments of monsoon-blue. Yamunā herself fears Your great plow and obeys You. Keśava dhṛta-haladhara-rūpa, jaya jagat-īśa hare!
9) Due to Your compassion You decry sacrifices from the Vedas calling for the death of animals in some cases. Keśava dhṛta-buddha-śarīra, jaya jagat-īśa hare!
10) You destroy mleccha armies in Kali-yuga like a fireball. You and Your amazing, dauntless sword terrify all. Keśava dhṛta-kalki-śarīra, jaya jagat-īśa hare!
11) Poet Jayadeva sings this hymn to the ten incarnations. Hear this best and sweetest of auspicious invocations. Keśava dhṛta-daśavidha-rūpa, jaya jagat-īśa hare!