Vishnu Sthava Raja

Vishnu Sthava Raja
(King of prayers addressed to Vishnu)

Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(This is a rare and remarkable prayer addressed to Vishnu. Each stanza describes a part of his body with similes and metaphors. The effect is stunning.)

Sidha vibhudhou paribhavya maanam,
Lakshmyalayam Thulasi kaachitha bhaktha brungam,
Prothunga raktha nakharanguli pithra chithram,
Ganga rasam Hari padambhujamasreyaham. 1

I surrender myself to the lotus feet of Hari,
Which is meditated upon, by yogis and sidhas,
Which is the place of stay, of Goddess Lakshmi,
Which attracts devotees ,like bees attracted by the scent of Thulasi,
Which is decorated by bold and red nails,
And which is the place where Ganges oozes out as juice.

Gumphan mani prachaya hatitha raja hamsa,
Sinchal su noopura yutham pada padma vrundam,
Peethambaranjala vilola chalath pathaakam,
Swarna trivakra valayancha hare smaraami. 2

I meditate on the ankles of Lord Hari,
Which has, anklets made of gems,
Making tinkling sound as if tied,
To the lotus feet of the royal swans,
Which is , covered by the rim,
Of the yellow silk , looking like a flag,
And which is decorated by golden anklets.

Jange suparna gala neela mani pravrudhe,
Shobhbaspa dharuna mani dhyuthi chanchu madhye,
Aaraktha pada thalambhana shobha mane,
Loke kshnothsava kare cha hare smarami. 3

I meditate on the calves of Lord Hari,
Which has added luster due to the,
Blue gems adorning the neck of Garuda*,
Which hangs and shines with reddish gem like glitter,
Of the red beaks of Lord Garuda,
And which are feast to the eyes of people.
* The calves are seen when Lord Vishnu is riding on Garuda.

They Januni makha pather bhuja moola sangha,
Ragothsavaa Vrutha thadidwasane vichithre,
Chanjath patha trimukha nirgatha sama Geetha,
Vistharithathma yasasi cha Hare Smarame. 4

I meditate on the knee of Lord Hari,
Which is adorned by the golden cloth,
Celebrating the festival of being with,
The shoulders of Garuda , who is Yagna personified,
And which are made famous , by the singing,
Of Sama Veda sung wonderfully by Garuda.

Vishno katim vidhi kruthantha manoja bhumim,
Jeevanda kosa gana sanga dhukoola Madhyam,
Nana guna prakruthi peetha chitha vasthram,
Dhyaye nibhadha vasanaam Khaga prushta samsthaam. 5

I meditate on the sacred hip of Lord Vishnu,
Which gave birth to Brahma, Yama and Kama Deva,
Which is tied with white silk embracing,
Several universes in the middle,
Which is decorated with yellow silk,
Inlaid with several pictures indicating three gunas*,
And which is resting on the back of Lord Garuda.
*Sathwa, Rajas and Thamas

Shathodharam bhagawatha strivali prakasa,
Mavarthanabhi vikasa dwidhi janma padmam,
Nadee nadhie gana rasothaseethanthra sindhum,
Dhyaye anda kosa nilayam thanu loma rekham. 6

I meditate on the belly of the great God,
Which is slightly covered with hair,
Which shines due to the inlaid three lines,
Which has the whirl pool like belly button,
Which is the birth place of lotus , from which Brahma was born,
Which is being filled by juices of great rivers,
And is the place where all universes exist.

Vaksha payodhi thanaya kuch kumkumena,
Hareana kousthubha mani prabhaya vibhatham,
Sri vathsa lakshma hari chandanaja prasoona,
Malochitham bhagawatha subhagam smarami. 7

I meditate on the pretty chest of the God with garlands,
Which is marked, by the Lakshmi’s kumkum put on her breasts,
Which shines by the garland of Kouusthubha and other gems,
And which is marked by Srivathsa mole, where sandal is applied

Bahu suvesh sadhanou valayangdhadhi,
Shobhaspadhou duritha daithya vinasa dakshou,
Thou dakshinou bhgawadascha gadhasunaabha-,
Thejorjithou sulalithou manasa smarami. 8

I meditate in my mind on the two right hands of God,
Which shines due to the wearing of armlet and shoulder ring,
Which are capable of killing the bad Rakshasas,
Which are soft and shine due to mace and wheel held by them.

Vamou bhujou mura ripor drutha Padma Sankhou,
Shyamou kareendra caravan mani bhooshanadyai,
Rakthanguli prachaya chumbitha Janu madyou,
Padmalaya Priya karou ruchirou smarami. 9

I also meditate on the two left hands , which are liked by goddess Lakshmi,
Which are enemies of Mura and hold the conch and the lotus flower,
Which is black and resembles the trunk of the king of elephants,
Which is decorated by gems and which with its reddish fingers,
Embrace the knee middle of Goddess Lakshmi.

Kandam mrunalamamalam mukha pankajasya,
Lekha thrayena vana malikaya niveetham,
Kimvaa vimukthi vasa manthra kasad phalasya,
Vrundam chiram bhagawatha subhagam smarami. 10


I meditate on the very pretty neck of Bhagawan,
Which is the petiole holding his pretty lotus like face,
Which wears three lines and forest garland,
And which is the twig holding the fruit of salvation and which is pretty.

Vakthrambhujam dasana hasa vikasa ramyam,
Rakthaa dharoshta dala komala vak sudhadyam,
Sanmana sodha vachalekshana pithra chithram,
Lokabhi ramamalancha Hare Smarami. 11

I meditate on the very attractive face of Lord Vishnu,
Which is beautiful due to the well formed teeth,
As well as the soulful smile worn by it,
Which has reddish lips giving out the honey like words,
Causing a festival in the hearts of great devotees,
Which is a pretty picture due to the ever shifting eyes,
And which is clear and attracts the whole world.

Soorathmaja vasadabandhamitha sunasam,
Broopallavam sthithi layodhaya karma daksham,
Kamothsavancha kamala hrudaya prakasam,
SAnchinthaymi Hari vakthra vilasa daksham, 12

I meditate on the pretty eye brows of Lord Hari,
Which are like the waves of river Yamuna, the daughter of son,
Which are well bridged by his firm nose,
Which are capable of creation, upkeep and destruction,
And which are a festival of passion , which make the heart of Lakshmi ignite.

Karnou lasadh makara kundala ganda lolou,
Nanadisancha nabhasancha vikasa geham,
Lolalaka prachaya chumbhana kunchithagrou,
Lagnou harer mani kireeta thate smarami. 13

I also meditate on the ears of Lord Hari,
Which has waving ear studs in the shape of shark,
Which expand on all the four directions and the ether,
Which kiss the tender hairs flowing to the forehead,
And which touch his gem studded crown.

Phalam vichithra thilaka Priya charu gandha,
Gorochana rachanaya lalanakshi sakhyam,
Brahmaika dhama mani kantha kireta jushtam,
Dhayeye mano nayana hara meeswarasya. 14

I meditate the forehead of God , which steals the mind and eye,
Which has peculiar Thilaka and bewitching perfume,
Made out of musk attractive to the pretty ladies,
Which is the seat of the Brahma ,
And which touches his gem studded crown.

Sri Vasudeva chikuram kutilam nibhadham,
Nana sugandhi kusumai swa janaadharena,
Deergham rama hudhayagam madhanam dhunandam,
Dhyeye ambuvaharuchiram hrudhyabja madhye. 15

I meditate the curly dense and long hair of the lord,
Made up by his people with many scented flowers ,
Which is very long and attracts the mind of Lakshmi,
And which is pretty with the colour of the rich water bearing cloud.

Meghaakaaram soma Surya prakasam,
Subrhoonasam sacra vapaika manam,
Lokatheetham pundaree kaaya thaksham,
Vidhyucchelam cha aasrayeham thwaporvam. 16

I submit myself to the lord with lightning like cloths,
Who resembles the cloud and shines like moon and sun,
Who has pretty eye lashes and a prominent nose,
Who is beyond the world and has lotus like eyes.

Dheenam heenam sevayaa dhaiva gathya,
Papai sthapai pooritham may sareeram.
LObhakrantham soka mohaadhi vidham,
Krupa drushtya pahi maam Vasudeva. 17

Though having a mind filled with sins and pain,
And also oppressed and down trodden,
And caught in the net of wants and miserliness,
Since I do service to you, due to grace of God,
Please see me with mercy and save me.

Ye bhakthyabhyam dhyayamaanam manognam,
Vyakthim vishno Shodasa sloka pushpai,
Sththwa nathwa poojayithwa vidhigna,
Shudha muktha brahma soukhyam prayanthi. 18

Those people who sing these sixteen verses on Lord Vishnu,
Which are flowers that steal the heart
And then salute the god and then worship him with devotion,
Would attain pure salvation and at the end attain peaceful happiness.

Padmerithamidham punyam shivena paribhashitham,
Dhannyam yasaya mayushyam swargyam swashtyanam param. 19

This prayer first chanted by Goddess Lakshmi and retold by Lord Shiva,
Would grant money , fame , long life and good life always.

Padanthi yea mahaa bhaagasthe muchyanthe amhaso akhilaal,
Dharmartha kama mokshaanaam parathreha phala pradham. 20

Those people who are great and who read this prayer,
Would get rid of all sins of the world and would attain,
Dharma , Kama and Mokshaa in this and later world.

Ithi Sri Kalki Purane anubhagawathe Bhavishye,
Padma proktho Vishnu sthava raja sampoornam.

Thus ends the king of all prayers addressed to Lord Vishnu,
As told by Goddess Lakshmi occurring in Kalki Purana in the chapter
On the future of devotees..