Bhagwatcharana Stotram

Bhagawatcharana stotram
(Stotra requesting refuge in God)
Written by
Brahmananda
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

(This rare stotra is all about the reasons for seeking refuge in God and is being placed in the web for the first time. Sage Brahmananda has written this great stotra. He does not talk to God under the assumption that he is a learned man or a sage but as a common person like any of us. Another peculiarity of this stotra is that it is addressed to God and not to any of his well known forms of Shiva or Vishnu, though seeking refuge in God is a Vaishnava concept. Several names of Vishnu and Shiva are included in stanza number 19.)

Sachid ananda roopaya,
Bhaktanugraha karine,
Maya nirmitha viswaya,
Mahesaya namo nama. 1

Salutations and salutations,
To the god who is the greatest,
Who is of the form of eternal joy,
Who forever blesses devotees,
And who created this universe by Maya.

Roga haranthi sathatham prabhala sareeram,
Kamodayopyanudhinam cha dahandhi chitham,
Mrutyuscha nrutyathi sada kalayan dinani,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 2

Diseases eat away, this body of mine,
Thoughts like passion burn my mind daily,
Death counts my days and dances before me,
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.

Deho vinasyahi sada parinama seela,
Schitham cha ghidyathi sada vishatyaanu raagi,
Budhi sada hi ramathe vishayeshthantha,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 3

This ever changing body of mine, is daily dying,
This mind of mine full of worries is daily being troubled,
This intellect mine endlessly enjoys the ephemeral joys,
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.


Ayur vinasyathi yadhaamaghatasthoyam,
Vidhyutprabheva Chapala bhatha youvana sri,
Vrudha pradhavathi yadha mruga raja pathni,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 4

This life mine daily lessens like the water in an unbaked mud pot,
This pleasure of youth keeps it ever changing like the streaks of lightning,
This old age mine, is marching towards me like the wife of the lion king,
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.


Aaydhyayo mama bhavathyadhiko vineethe,
Kamadayoha balinothibalassamadhya.,
Mrutyur dathu dathimaam batha kim vadheyam,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 5

For me , my expenses are always more than my income,
Undesirable qualities like passion are stronger,
Desirable qualities like patience are really weak,
What shall I say, the Thought of death is ever painful to me,
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.

Thaptham thapona hikakadhapi maya hathanwa,
Vaanyathadhanahi kadhapi thapascha thaptham,
Midhyabhi bhashana parenanamana samhi,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 6

Never have I done meditation by this body of mine,
Never have I done search of god by my intellect,
My mind which loves gossip has never ever attempted to pray,
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.


Sthabdham mano mama sada nahi yathi soumyam,
Chakshuschamena thava pasyathi viswaroopam,
Vacho thadaiva navadhan mama soumya vaneem,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 7

This foolish mind mine, never is it at peace,
These eyes mines never see your universal form,
This words mine does not help me to utter sweet words,
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.



Sathwam name manasiyathi rajasthamobhyam,
Viddhe thadha kadhamaho shubha karma vartha,
Sakshath parambharathaya sukha sadhanam thath,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 8

Desirable good qualities never reach my mind,
Which is broken by dark deeds and deeds of valour,
Thus where are my chances of doing good deeds ,
Especially when , as is usual, my mind hankers for pleasures?
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.

Poojakrutha nahi kadapi mayaa thadheeya,
Mithram twadeeyamapimenajapadrasamngna,
Chitham name smarathithe charanouhya vaapya,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 9

I have never offered you worship,
My toungue has never even called your name as a friend,
My mind has never ever thought of your feet,
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.

Yagnonamestheehootha dana dayadhi yuktho,
Jnanasya sadhana gano na viveka mukhya,
Jnanam kwa sadhana ganena vinaa kwa moksha,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 10

I have never known a yagna with homa, mercy or charity,
I do not have knowledge about salvation like intelligence,
Without intelligence there is no jnana,
Without jnana there is no salvation,
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.


Sath sangathirhividitha thava bhakthi hethu,
Saapyadhyanasthibatha, panditha manino mey,
Thaamantharena nahi saakwachabodha vaartha,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 11

Good company is known as the source of devotion to thee,
But I who consider myself learned do not have even that,
And how is it possible to realize God without devotion?
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.

Drishtir na bodha vishaytaa samathabhidana,
Vaishamyamevathadeeyam vishayee karothi,
Santhi kutho mama bhavethsamathana chethasya,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 12

Tolerance which is needed for realization is not with me,
This makes me see differences , when they are not there,
And how will I get peace , if I do not have tolerance?
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.


Maithree sameshu na cha mesthi kadhapi nadha,
Dheene thadha na karunamudhitha cha punye,
Papenupekshanavaho mama muthkadam sya,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 13

Friendship with my equals, mercy towards the oppressed,
Desire for doing good deeds, never come to me,
And how can I ever be happy as I am interested in sin?
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.

Nethradhikam mama bahir vishayeshu saktham,
Naandarmukham bhavathi thama vihaya thasya,
Kwandar mukhatwamapahaya sukhasya vaartha,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 14

My senses like eyes are only interested in outward aspects,
They do not bother to see or feel inside me and how can I,
Get perennial pleasure without their seeing inward?
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.

Thyaktham grahadhyapi maya bhava thaapa santhya,
Naaseedasaou hruthahyadho mama mayaa they,
Saachaadhunaa kimuvidhasyathi nethi jane,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 15

I forsook things like house, to calm the pain of life,
But my mind still is attached to them because of your Maya,
And I do not know what this illusion is going to do to me?
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.

Praptha danam gruha kutumbhajaswadhara,
Rajyaya daihika mahendrapuram cha nadha,
Sarvam vinaswaramidham na phalayakasmai,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 16

If I get riches, house, family, elephant, horse or wife,
If I become a king and get everything and go to even heaven,
All these are temporary and would get destroyed and there is no use,
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.

Pranaan nirudhya vidhi thana krutham hiyogo,
Yogam vinasthi manasa sthiratha kutho mey,
Thaam vai vinaamama na chethasi santhi vartha,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 17

I have never learnt to control breath using yoga,
Without learning yoga, how can my mind be stable?
Without stability of mind where is the question of peace?
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.

Jnanam yadha mama bhaveth krupaya gurunaam,
Sevam thadha na vidhina karavam hi thesham,
Sevapi sadhanathaya vidhithasthi chithe,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 18

There is no possibility for me of getting Jnana by the grace of Guru,
For I have not served any Guru in the fashion recommended,
And also it is known that this service leads to salvation,
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.

Govinda Sankara Hare Girije Ramesa,
Sambho janardhana Gireesa Mukunda Sambha,.
Naa anya gathirmama kadhanchanavaam vihaya,
Thasmathwamadhya saranam mama deena bandho. 19

I do not see any other way except you .
Oh Govinda, Oh Sankara, Oh Hari, Oh Sambha,Oh Ramesa
Oh Janardhana, Oh Gireesa, Oh Mukunda, Oh Sambha,
And so you are my only refuge, oh, Friend of the oppressed.

Phalasthuthi

Ethath sthavam Bhagwadaasrayinabhi dhanam,
Ye manava prathi dinam pranatha patanthi,
They manusha bhava rathim parihruthya santhim,
Gachandhi kim cha paramathmani bhakthi madha.

Benefit accruing

That man who recites this poem of praise
Called “Refuge in God”, daily and with devotion,
Would attain perennial peace after destruction of sorrows,
And also would without any doubt attain devotion to God.