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Śrī Hayagrīva Stotram

Śrī Hayagrīva Stotram is a hymn of thirty-three verses composed by Śrī Vedānta Deśika (1268–1369 CE), the celebrated Śrī Vaiṣṇava scholar-saint, in praise of Lord Hayagrīva — the horse-faced form of Śrīman Nārāyaṇa and the embodiment of knowledge and flawless speech. The hymn seeks His grace for pure understanding, eloquence, freedom from doubt, and success in the study of the śāstras. 'Hayagrīva' means 'the horse-necked One' — a form of Viṣṇu who restored the stolen Vedas and is venerated as the patron deity of students, scholars, and teachers. Chanting this stotram is traditionally believed to bestow clarity of intellect, sharp memory, eloquence, freedom from fear and self-doubt, and success in academic and scriptural pursuits.

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Invocation to Śrī Vedānta Deśika

श्रीमान् वेङ्कटनाथार्यः कवितार्किककेसरी ।
वेदान्ताचार्यवर्यो मे सन्निधत्तां सदा हृदि ॥

śrīmān veṅkaṭanāthāryaḥ kavi-tārkika-kesarī
vedāntācārya-varyo me sannidhattāṃ sadā hṛdi

SYNONYMS

śrīmān: the illustrious and blessed one | veṅkaṭanāthāryaḥ: Ācārya Veṅkaṭanātha, Śrī Vedānta Deśika | kavi-tārkika-kesarī: the lion among poets and logicians | vedāntācārya-varyaḥ: the foremost among teachers of Vedānta | me: in my | sannidhattām: may he dwell and remain present | sadā: always | hṛdi: in the heart |

TRANSLATION

May the illustrious Veṅkaṭanātha—the lion among poets and logicians and the foremost teacher of Vedānta—dwell forever in my heart.

Verse 1

ज्ञानानन्दमयं देवं
निर्मलस्फटिकाकृतिम् ।
आधारं सर्वविद्यानां
हयग्रीवम् उपास्महे ॥ १ ॥

jñānānanda-mayaṃ devaṃ
nirmala-sphaṭikākṛtim
ādhāraṃ sarva-vidyānāṃ
hayagrīvam upāsmahe 1

SYNONYMS

jñānānanda-mayam: whose nature is knowledge and bliss | devam: the radiant Lord | nirmala-sphaṭikākṛtim: whose form is like flawless crystal | ādhāram: the foundation and support | sarva-vidyānām: of every branch of knowledge | hayagrīvam: Lord Hayagrīva | upāsmahe: we meditate upon and worship |

TRANSLATION

We worship Lord Hayagrīva, whose very being is knowledge and bliss, whose form is pure as flawless crystal, and who is the foundation of every branch of learning.

Verse 2

स्वतः सिद्धं शुद्धस्फटिकमणि भूभृत्प्रतिभटं
सुधासध्रीचीभिः द्युतिभिर् अवदातत्रिभुवनम् ।
अनन्तैस् त्रय्यन्तैर् अनुविहितहेषाहलहलं
हताशेषावद्यं हयवदनम् ईडीमहि महः ॥ २ ॥

svataḥ siddhaṃ śuddha-sphaṭika-maṇi bhūbhṛt-pratibhaṭaṃ
sudhā-sadhrīcībhiḥ dyutibhir avadāta-tribhuvanam
anantais trayy-antair anuvihita-heṣā-halahalaṃ
hatāśeṣāvadyaṃ hayavadanam īḍīmahi mahaḥ 2

SYNONYMS

svataḥ: by itself; independently | siddham: self-established and self-manifest | śuddha-sphaṭika-maṇi: a jewel of pure crystal | bhūbhṛt-pratibhaṭam: rivaling a great mountain | sudhā-sadhrīcībhiḥ: flowing in companionship with nectar | dyutibhiḥ: by radiant beams | avadāta-tribhuvanam: making the three worlds pure and bright | anantaiḥ: by the boundless | trayy-antaiḥ: Upaniṣads, the concluding portions of the three Vedas | anuvihita-heṣā-halahalam: whose resounding neigh is reverently echoed | hatāśeṣāvadyam: which destroys every fault and stain | hayavadanam: the horse-faced Lord | īḍīmahi: we praise | mahaḥ: the divine splendor |

TRANSLATION

We praise that self-manifest splendor of the Horse-faced Lord: a rival to a mountain of pure crystal, whose nectar-bright rays make the three worlds radiant, whose mighty neigh is echoed by the boundless Upaniṣads, and whose presence sweeps away every stain.

Verse 3

समाहारः साम्नां प्रतिपदम् ऋचां धाम यजुषां
लयः प्रत्यूहानां लहरिविततिर् बोधजलधेः ।
कथादर्पक्षुभ्यत् कथककुलकोलाहलभवं
हरत्व् अन्तर्ध्वान्तं हयवदनहेषाहलहलः ॥ ३ ॥

samāhāraḥ sāmnāṃ pratipadam ṛcāṃ dhāma yajuṣāṃ
layaḥ pratyūhānāṃ lahari-vitatir bodha-jaladheḥ
kathā-darpa-kṣubhyat kathaka-kula-kolāhala-bhavaṃ
haratv antar-dhvāntaṃ hayavadana-heṣā-halahalaḥ 3

SYNONYMS

samāhāraḥ: the gathered essence | sāmnām: of the Sāma hymns | pratipadam: in every word | ṛcām: of the Ṛgvedic verses | dhāma: the abode | yajuṣām: of the Yajurvedic mantras | layaḥ: the dissolution and destruction | pratyūhānām: of obstacles | lahari-vitatiḥ: an unbroken succession of waves | bodha-jaladheḥ: from the ocean of knowledge | kathā-darpa-kṣubhyat: agitated by pride in disputation | kathaka-kula-kolāhala-bhavam: arising from the uproar of contentious debaters | haratu: may it remove | antar-dhvāntam: the darkness within | hayavadana-heṣā-halahalaḥ: the deep, resounding neigh of the Horse-faced Lord |

TRANSLATION

May the deep neigh of the Horse-faced Lord—the gathered essence of the Sāma Veda, the meaning within every Ṛgvedic word, the abode of the Yajur mantras, the end of all obstacles, and a surge of waves from the ocean of knowledge—dispel the inner night born from the proud uproar of contentious debaters.

Verse 4

प्राची सन्ध्या काचिद् अन्तर्निशायाः
प्रज्ञादृष्टेर् अञ्जनश्रीर् अपूर्वा ।
वक्त्री वेदान् भातु मे वाजिवक्त्रा
वागीशाख्या वासुदेवस्य मूर्तिः ॥ ४ ॥

prācī sandhyā kācid antar-niśāyāḥ
prajñā-dṛṣṭer añjana-śrīr apūrvā
vaktrī vedān bhātu me vāji-vaktrā
vāgīśākhyā vāsudevasya mūrtiḥ 4

SYNONYMS

prācī: eastern | sandhyā: dawn | kācit: a wondrous and indescribable | antar-niśāyāḥ: of the inner night of ignorance | prajñā-dṛṣṭeḥ: for the eye of wisdom | añjana-śrīḥ: the beauty and power of sacred collyrium | apūrvā: unprecedented and marvelous | vaktrī: the revealer and speaker | vedān: of the Vedas | bhātu: may He shine | me: before me and within me | vāji-vaktrā: horse-faced | vāgīśākhyā: known as the Lord of speech | vāsudevasya: of Vāsudeva | mūrtiḥ: the divine form |

TRANSLATION

May the horse-faced form of Vāsudeva, renowned as the Lord of Speech, shine within me—the wondrous dawn that ends the inner night, the matchless collyrium that clears the eye of wisdom, and the divine voice that reveals the Vedas.

Verse 5

विशुद्धविज्ञानघनस्वरूपं
विज्ञानविश्राणनबद्धदीक्षम् ।
दयानिधिं देहभृतां शरण्यं
देवं हयग्रीवम् अहं प्रपद्ये ॥ ५ ॥

viśuddha-vijñāna-ghana-svarūpaṃ
vijñāna-viśrāṇana-baddha-dīkṣam
dayā-nidhiṃ deha-bhṛtāṃ śaraṇyaṃ
devaṃ hayagrīvam ahaṃ prapadye 5

SYNONYMS

viśuddha-vijñāna-ghana-svarūpam: whose essential nature is a perfect fullness of pure knowledge | vijñāna-viśrāṇana-baddha-dīkṣam: firmly vowed to bestow true knowledge | dayā-nidhim: the treasure-house of compassion | deha-bhṛtām: of all embodied beings | śaraṇyam: the one worthy of refuge | devam: the radiant Lord | hayagrīvam: Lord Hayagrīva | aham: I | prapadye: surrender to and seek refuge in |

TRANSLATION

I surrender to Lord Hayagrīva, whose very nature is a flawless fullness of knowledge, who has solemnly vowed to bestow wisdom, who is the treasure-house of compassion, and who is the sure refuge of every embodied soul.

Verse 6

अपौरुषेयैर् अपि वाक्प्रपञ्चैर्
अद्यापि ते भूतिम् अदृष्टपाराम् ।
स्तुवन्न् अहं मुग्ध इति त्वयैव
कारुण्यतो नाथ कटाक्षणीयः ॥ ६ ॥

apauruṣeyair api vāk-prapañcair
adyāpi te bhūtim adṛṣṭa-pārām
stuvann ahaṃ mugdha iti tvayaiva
kāruṇyato nātha kaṭākṣaṇīyaḥ 6

SYNONYMS

apauruṣeyaiḥ: by the authorless Vedas | api: even | vāk-prapañcaiḥ: by the vast expanse of sacred speech | adyāpi: even to this day | te: Your | bhūtim: glory and majesty | adṛṣṭa-pārām: whose far shore has never been seen | stuvan: while attempting to praise | aham: I | mugdhaḥ: simple and ignorant | iti: thus | tvayaiva: by You alone | kāruṇyataḥ: out of compassion | nātha: O Lord | kaṭākṣaṇīyaḥ: worthy of a gracious sidelong glance |

TRANSLATION

Even the authorless Vedas, with all their boundless speech, have never beheld the far shore of Your glory. Yet I, a simple fool, dare to praise You; O Lord, for that very reason, let me become the object of Your compassionate glance.

Verse 7

दाक्षिण्यरम्या गिरिशस्य मूर्तिर्
देवी सरोजासनधर्मपत्नी ।
व्यासादयोऽपि व्यपदेश्यवाचः
स्फुरन्ति सर्वे तव शक्तिलेशैः ॥ ७ ॥

dākṣiṇya-ramyā giriśasya mūrtir
devī sarojāsana-dharma-patnī
vyāsādayo'pi vyapadeśya-vācaḥ
sphuranti sarve tava śakti-leśaiḥ 7

SYNONYMS

dākṣiṇya-ramyā: beautiful through graciousness | giriśasya: of Śiva, the Lord of the mountain | mūrtiḥ: the teaching form | devī: the goddess Sarasvatī | sarojāsana-dharma-patnī: the lawful consort of lotus-seated Brahmā | vyāsādayaḥ: Vyāsa and the other sages | api: also | vyapadeśya-vācaḥ: renowned for authoritative speech | sphuranti: shine forth | sarve: all of them | tava: Your | śakti-leśaiḥ: through mere particles of power |

TRANSLATION

Śiva in his gracious teaching form, Sarasvatī the divine consort of lotus-seated Brahmā, and Vyāsa and the other sages whose words carry authority—all shine only through the faintest particles of Your power.

Verse 8

मन्दोऽभविष्यन् नियतं विरिञ्चो
वाचां निधे वञ्चितभागधेयः ।
दैत्यापनीतान् दययैव भूयोऽप्य्
अध्यापयिष्यो निगमान् न चेत् त्वम् ॥ ८ ॥

mando'bhaviṣyan niyataṃ viriñco
vācāṃ nidhe vañcita-bhāgadheyaḥ
daityāpanītān dayayaiva bhūyo'py
adhyāpayiṣyo nigamān na cet tvam 8

SYNONYMS

mandaḥ: dull and incapable | abhaviṣyat: would have become | niyatam: certainly | viriñcaḥ: Brahmā | vācām: of speech | nidhe: O treasury | vañcita-bhāgadheyaḥ: deprived of his destined good fortune | daityāpanītān: carried away by the demons | dayayaiva: solely out of compassion | bhūyaḥ: again | api: indeed | adhyāpayiṣyaḥ: You taught | nigamān: the Vedas | na: not | cet: if | tvam: You |

TRANSLATION

O treasury of speech, Brahmā would surely have remained dull, deprived of the fortune appointed for him, had You not compassionately taught him once again the Vedas stolen away by the daityas.

Verse 9

वितर्कडोलां व्यवधूय सत्त्वे
बृहस्पतिं वर्तयसे यतस् त्वम् ।
तेनैव देव त्रिदशेश्वराणाम्
अस्पृष्टडोलायितम् आधिराज्यम् ॥ ९ ॥

vitarka-ḍolāṃ vyavadhūya sattve
bṛhaspatiṃ vartayase yatas tvam
tenaiva deva tridaśeśvarāṇām
aspṛṣṭa-ḍolāyitam ādhirājyam 9

SYNONYMS

vitarka-ḍolām: the swing of wavering speculation | vyavadhūya: having thoroughly cast away | sattve: in clarity and truth | bṛhaspatim: Bṛhaspati, preceptor of the gods | vartayase: You establish and maintain | yataḥ: because | tvam: You | tenaiva: for that very reason | deva: O Lord | tridaśeśvarāṇām: of the rulers among the gods | aspṛṣṭa-ḍolāyitam: untouched by instability | ādhirājyam: supreme sovereignty |

TRANSLATION

Because You cast away the swaying uncertainty of argument and establish Bṛhaspati firmly in lucid truth, O Lord, the high sovereignty of the gods remains untouched by the slightest wavering.

Verse 10

अग्नौ समिद्धार्चिषि सप्ततन्तोः
आतस्थिवान् मन्त्रमयं शरीरम् ।
अखण्डसारैर् हविषां प्रदानैर्
आप्यायनं व्योमसदां विधत्से ॥ १० ॥

agnau samiddhārciṣi sapta-tantoḥ
ātasthivān mantra-mayaṃ śarīram
akhaṇḍa-sārair haviṣāṃ pradānair
āpyāyanaṃ vyoma-sadāṃ vidhatse 10

SYNONYMS

agnau: in the sacrificial fire | samiddhārciṣi: whose flames are brightly kindled | sapta-tantoḥ: of the sacrifice woven from seven constituents | ātasthivān: having taken Your place | mantra-mayam: composed of sacred mantras | śarīram: the body | akhaṇḍa-sāraiḥ: whose essential potency remains whole | haviṣām: of the oblations | pradānaiḥ: through the offerings | āpyāyanam: nourishment and satisfaction | vyoma-sadām: of those who dwell in heaven | vidhatse: You bring about |

TRANSLATION

You take Your place in the brightly blazing sacrificial fire, assuming a body woven of mantra; through offerings whose sacred essence remains undiminished, You nourish and gladden the dwellers of heaven.

Verse 11

यन्मूलम् ईदृक् प्रतिभाति तत्त्वं
या मूलम् आम्नायमहाद्रुमाणाम् ।
तत्त्वेन जानन्ति विशुद्धसत्त्वास्
ताम् अक्षराम् अक्षरमातृकां त्वाम् ॥ ११ ॥

yan-mūlam īdṛk pratibhāti tattvaṃ
yā mūlam āmnāya-mahā-drumāṇām
tattvena jānanti viśuddha-sattvās
tām akṣarām akṣara-mātṛkāṃ tvām 11

SYNONYMS

yan-mūlam: having whom as its root | īdṛk: such as this | pratibhāti: shines forth and appears | tattvam: the order of manifest reality | : she who | mūlam: is the root | āmnāya-mahā-drumāṇām: of the great trees of Vedic revelation | tattvena: in accordance with truth | jānanti: know | viśuddha-sattvāḥ: those whose minds are wholly pure | tām: that very one | akṣarām: imperishable | akṣara-mātṛkām: the mother and source of all letters | tvām: You |

TRANSLATION

The pure in heart know You truly as the imperishable Mother of every letter: the root from which this whole manifest order shines forth, and the hidden root of the mighty trees of Vedic revelation.

Verse 12

अव्याकृताद् व्याकृतवान् असि त्वं
नामानि रूपाणि च यानि पूर्वम् ।
शंसन्ति तेषां चरमां प्रतिष्ठां
वागीश्वर त्वां त्वदुपज्ञवाचः ॥ १२ ॥

avyākṛtād vyākṛtavān asi tvaṃ
nāmāni rūpāṇi ca yāni pūrvam
śaṃsanti teṣāṃ caramāṃ pratiṣṭhāṃ
vāgīśvara tvāṃ tvad-upajña-vācaḥ 12

SYNONYMS

avyākṛtāt: from the undifferentiated primordial state | vyākṛtavān: differentiated and brought forth | asi: You have | tvam: You | nāmāni: names | rūpāṇi: forms | ca: and | yāni: which | pūrvam: at the beginning of creation | śaṃsanti: proclaim | teṣām: of those names and forms | caramām: the final and ultimate | pratiṣṭhām: foundation and resting place | vāgīśvara: O Lord of speech | tvām: You | tvad-upajña-vācaḥ: the words of revelation first made known by You |

TRANSLATION

From the unmanifest You unfolded every name and form at creation's dawn. O Lord of Speech, the words of revelation first made known by You proclaim that You alone are their final foundation and eternal resting place.

Verse 13

मुग्धेन्दुनिष्यन्दविलोभनीयां
मूर्तिं तवानन्दसुधाप्रसूतिम् ।
विपश्चितश् चेतसि भावयन्ते
वेलाम् उदाराम् इव दुग्धसिन्धोः ॥ १३ ॥

mugdhendu-niṣyanda-vilobhanīyāṃ
mūrtiṃ tavānanda-sudhā-prasūtim
vipaścitaś cetasi bhāvayante
velām udārām iva dugdha-sindhoḥ 13

SYNONYMS

mugdhendu-niṣyanda-vilobhanīyām: enchanting like the tender outpouring of moonlight | mūrtim: the divine form | tava: Your | ānanda-sudhā-prasūtim: the fountainhead of the nectar of bliss | vipaścitaḥ: the wise | cetasi: within the heart and mind | bhāvayante: lovingly contemplate | velām: the shore | udārām: magnificent and beautiful | iva: like | dugdha-sindhoḥ: of the ocean of milk |

TRANSLATION

The wise cherish within their hearts Your captivating form, the fountainhead of blissful nectar—like the splendid shore of the Milk Ocean made irresistibly lovely by the soft streaming of moonlight.

Verse 14

मनोगतं पश्यति यः सदा त्वां
मनीषिणां मानसराजहंसम् ।
स्वयं पुरोभावविवादभाजः
किङ्कुर्वते तस्य गिरो यथार्हम् ॥ १४ ॥

mano-gataṃ paśyati yaḥ sadā tvāṃ
manīṣiṇāṃ mānasa-rāja-haṃsam
svayaṃ purobhāva-vivāda-bhājaḥ
kiṅkurvate tasya giro yathārham 14

SYNONYMS

mano-gatam: present within the mind | paśyati: beholds | yaḥ: the person who | sadā: always | tvām: You | manīṣiṇām: of the wise | mānasa-rāja-haṃsam: the royal swan upon the lake of the mind | svayam: of their own accord | purobhāva-vivāda-bhājaḥ: contending for the honor of appearing first | kiṅkurvate: become obedient attendants | tasya: for that person | giraḥ: words and expressions | yathārham: exactly as the occasion requires |

TRANSLATION

For the one who always beholds You within as the royal swan upon the mind-lake of the wise, words themselves compete for the honor of appearing first, then stand as willing attendants, arranging themselves perfectly for every need.

Verse 15

अपि क्षणार्धं कलयन्ति ये त्वाम्
आप्लावयन्तं विशदैर् मयूखैः ।
वाचां प्रवाहैर् अनिवारितैस् ते
मन्दाकिनीं मन्दयितुं क्षमन्ते ॥ १५ ॥

api kṣaṇārdhaṃ kalayanti ye tvām
āplāvayantaṃ viśadair mayūkhaiḥ
vācāṃ pravāhair anivāritais te
mandākinīṃ mandayituṃ kṣamante 15

SYNONYMS

api: even | kṣaṇārdham: for half a moment | kalayanti: contemplate and experience | ye: those who | tvām: You | āplāvayantam: flooding them completely | viśadaiḥ: with clear and stainless | mayūkhaiḥ: rays | vācām: of speech | pravāhaiḥ: with torrents | anivāritaiḥ: irresistible and unobstructed | te: they | mandākinīm: the celestial Gaṅgā | mandayitum: to make seem slow and feeble | kṣamante: become capable |

TRANSLATION

Those who contemplate You for even half a moment, while Your stainless rays flood their being, pour forth such irresistible torrents of speech that even the heavenly Gaṅgā seems slow beside them.

Verse 16

स्वामिन् भवद्ध्यानसुधाभिषेकाद्
वहन्ति धन्याः पुलकानुबन्धम् ।
अलक्षिते क्वापि निरूढमूलम्
अङ्गेष्व् इवानन्दथुम् अङ्कुरन्तम् ॥ १६ ॥

svāmin bhavad-dhyāna-sudhābhiṣekād
vahanti dhanyāḥ pulakānubandham
alakṣite kvāpi nirūḍha-mūlam
aṅgeṣv ivānandathum aṅkurantam 16

SYNONYMS

svāmin: O Lord | bhavad-dhyāna-sudhābhiṣekāt: from the consecrating bath of nectar that is meditation upon You | vahanti: bear and experience | dhanyāḥ: the blessed devotees | pulakānubandham: an unbroken succession of horripilation | alakṣite: unseen | kvāpi: somewhere mysterious | nirūḍha-mūlam: having taken deep root | aṅgeṣu: throughout the limbs | iva: as though | ānandathum: a swelling mass of bliss | aṅkurantam: sprouting forth |

TRANSLATION

O Lord, those blessed souls bathed in the nectar of meditation upon You bear an unbroken thrill upon their bodies, as though bliss had secretly taken root within and were sprouting through every limb.

Verse 17

स्वामिन् प्रतीचा हृदयेन धन्यास्
त्वद्ध्यानचन्द्रोदयवर्धमानम् ।
अमान्तम् आनन्दपयोधिम् अन्तः
पयोभिर् अक्ष्णां परिवाहयन्ति ॥ १७ ॥

svāmin pratīcā hṛdayena dhanyās
tvad-dhyāna-candrodaya-vardhamānam
amāntam ānanda-payodhim antaḥ
payobhir akṣṇāṃ parivāhayanti 17

SYNONYMS

svāmin: O Lord | pratīcā: inward-turned | hṛdayena: with the heart | dhanyāḥ: the blessed devotees | tvad-dhyāna-candrodaya-vardhamānam: swelling with the moonrise of meditation upon You | amāntam: too vast to be contained | ānanda-payodhim: the ocean of bliss | antaḥ: within themselves | payobhiḥ: with streams of water | akṣṇām: from their eyes | parivāhayanti: cause to overflow |

TRANSLATION

O Lord, the blessed turn their hearts inward and feel an ocean of bliss rise within them beneath the moon of meditation upon You. Unable to contain its swelling waters, they let that ocean overflow as tears from their eyes.

Verse 18

स्वैरानुभावास् त्वदधीनभावाः
समृद्धवीर्यास् त्वदनुग्रहेण ।
विपश्चितो नाथ तरन्ति मायां
वैहारिकीं मोहनपिञ्छिकां ते ॥ १८ ॥

svairānubhāvās tvad-adhīna-bhāvāḥ
samṛddha-vīryās tvad-anugraheṇa
vipaścito nātha taranti māyāṃ
vaihārikīṃ mohana-piñchikāṃ te 18

SYNONYMS

svairānubhāvāḥ: possessing effortless spiritual majesty | tvad-adhīna-bhāvāḥ: knowing themselves to be wholly dependent upon You | samṛddha-vīryāḥ: endowed with abundant strength | tvad-anugraheṇa: through Your grace | vipaścitaḥ: the wise | nātha: O Lord | taranti: cross beyond | māyām: the power of cosmic bewilderment | vaihārikīm: belonging to Your divine play | mohana-piñchikām: the peacock-feather wand of enchantment | te: Your |

TRANSLATION

O Lord, the wise know themselves to be wholly dependent upon You; yet by Your grace their spiritual power becomes boundless, and they cross beyond Your sportive māyā—the dazzling peacock-feather wand with which the world is enchanted.

Verse 19

प्राङ्निर्मितानां तपसां विपाकाः
प्रत्यग्रनिःश्रेयससम्पदो मे ।
समेधिषीरन् तव पादपद्मे
सङ्कल्पचिन्तामणयः प्रणामाः ॥ १९ ॥

prāṅ-nirmitānāṃ tapasāṃ vipākāḥ
pratyagra-niḥśreyasa-sampado me
samedhiṣīran tava pāda-padme
saṅkalpa-cintāmaṇayaḥ praṇāmāḥ 19

SYNONYMS

prāṅ-nirmitānām: performed in former times or former births | tapasām: of austerities | vipākāḥ: the ripened fruits | pratyagra-niḥśreyasa-sampadaḥ: ever-fresh treasures of the highest good | me: my | samedhiṣīran: may they grow and multiply | tava: Your | pāda-padme: at the lotus feet | saṅkalpa-cintāmaṇayaḥ: wish-fulfilling gems for noble resolves | praṇāmāḥ: prostrations |

TRANSLATION

May my prostrations at Your lotus feet ever multiply—ripened fruits of austerities performed long ago, ever-fresh treasures of the highest good, and wish-fulfilling gems that bring every sacred resolve to fruition.

Verse 20

विलुप्तमूर्धन्यलिपिक्रमाणां
सुरेन्द्रचूडापदलालितानाम् ।
त्वदङ्घ्रिराजीवरजःकणानां
भूयान् प्रसादो मयि नाथ भूयात् ॥ २० ॥

vilupta-mūrdhanya-lipi-kramāṇāṃ
surendra-cūḍā-pada-lālitānām
tvad-aṅghri-rājīva-rajaḥ-kaṇānāṃ
bhūyān prasādo mayi nātha bhūyāt 20

SYNONYMS

vilupta-mūrdhanya-lipi-kramāṇām: which erase the hostile writing of fate upon the forehead | surendra-cūḍā-pada-lālitānām: tenderly caressed by the crowns of the lords of heaven | tvad-aṅghri-rājīva-rajaḥ-kaṇānām: of the tiny dust particles from Your lotus feet | bhūyān: abundant and exceedingly great | prasādaḥ: grace | mayi: upon me | nātha: O Lord | bhūyāt: may it descend |

TRANSLATION

O Lord, may the abundant grace of the tiniest dust from Your lotus feet descend upon me—dust cherished by the crowns of the gods and powerful enough to erase the cruel script of fate written upon the brow.

Verse 21

परिस्फुरन्नूपुरचित्रभानु
प्रकाशनिर्धूततमोऽनुषङ्गाम् ।
पदद्वयीं ते परिचिन्महेऽन्तः
प्रबोधराजीवविभातसन्ध्याम् ॥ २१ ॥

parisphuran-nūpura-citra-bhānu-
prakāśa-nirdhūta-tamo'nuṣaṅgām
pada-dvayīṃ te paricinmahe'ntaḥ
prabodha-rājīva-vibhāta-sandhyām 21

SYNONYMS

parisphuran-nūpura-citra-bhānu-prakāśa-nirdhūta-tamo'nuṣaṅgām: whose every trace of darkness is driven away by the many-splendored sunlight of flashing anklets | pada-dvayīm: the pair of feet | te: Your | paricinmahe: we contemplate and recognize | antaḥ: within the heart | prabodha-rājīva-vibhāta-sandhyām: the radiant dawn that makes the lotus of awakened knowledge bloom |

TRANSLATION

Deep within, we contemplate Your two feet: their flashing anklets cast a many-hued sunlight that drives away every remnant of darkness, and they arise like the radiant dawn that opens the lotus of awakened knowledge.

Verse 22

त्वत्किङ्करालङ्करणोचितानां
त्वयैव कल्पान्तरपालितानाम् ।
मञ्जुप्रणादं मणिनूपुरं ते
मञ्जूषिकां वेदगिरां प्रतीमः ॥ २२ ॥

tvat-kiṅkarālaṅkaraṇocitānāṃ
tvayaiva kalpāntara-pālitānām
mañju-praṇādaṃ maṇi-nūpuraṃ te
mañjūṣikāṃ veda-girāṃ pratīmaḥ 22

SYNONYMS

tvat-kiṅkarālaṅkaraṇocitānām: fit to serve as ornaments for Your servants | tvayaiva: by You alone | kalpāntara-pālitānām: preserved safely through the end of a cosmic age | mañju-praṇādam: sweetly resonant | maṇi-nūpuram: jeweled anklet | te: Your | mañjūṣikām: a precious casket | veda-girām: of the words of the Vedas | pratīmaḥ: we understand and revere as |

TRANSLATION

We behold Your sweetly ringing jeweled anklet as a precious casket of Vedic words—words preserved by You through the darkness between cosmic ages and worthy to become the finest ornaments of Your servants.

Verse 23

सञ्चिन्तयामि प्रतिभादशास्थान्
सन्धुक्षयन्तं समयप्रदीपान् ।
विज्ञानकल्पद्रुमपल्लवाभं
व्याख्यानमुद्रामधुरं करं ते ॥ २३ ॥

sañcintayāmi pratibhā-daśā-sthān
sandhukṣayantaṃ samaya-pradīpān
vijñāna-kalpa-druma-pallavābhaṃ
vyākhyāna-mudrā-madhuraṃ karaṃ te 23

SYNONYMS

sañcintayāmi: I meditate deeply upon | pratibhā-daśā-sthān: the lamps whose wicks are inspired intelligence | sandhukṣayantam: kindling into a bright flame | samaya-pradīpān: the lamps of the established sacred systems | vijñāna-kalpa-druma-pallavābham: resembling a tender shoot of the wish-fulfilling tree of knowledge | vyākhyāna-mudrā-madhuram: beautiful in the gesture of exposition | karam: the hand | te: Your |

TRANSLATION

I meditate upon Your hand, lovely in the gesture of sacred exposition: a tender shoot from the wish-fulfilling tree of knowledge, kindling the lamps of the established teachings at the very wicks of inspired understanding.

Verse 24

चित्ते करोमि स्फुरिताक्षमालं
सव्येतरं नाथ करं त्वदीयम् ।
ज्ञानामृतोदञ्चनलम्पटानां
लीलाघटीयन्त्रम् इवाश्रितानाम् ॥ २४ ॥

citte karomi sphuritākṣa-mālaṃ
savyetaraṃ nātha karaṃ tvadīyam
jñānāmṛtodañcana-lampaṭānāṃ
līlā-ghaṭī-yantram ivāśritānām 24

SYNONYMS

citte: within my mind | karomi: I place and contemplate | sphuritākṣa-mālam: shining with a rosary of beads | savyetaram: the hand opposite the left, the right hand | nātha: O Lord | karam: the hand | tvadīyam: Your | jñānāmṛtodañcana-lampaṭānām: for those intensely eager to draw up the nectar of knowledge | līlā-ghaṭī-yantram: a graceful water-lifting wheel | iva: like | āśritānām: for those who have sought refuge |

TRANSLATION

O Lord, I enshrine within my mind Your right hand, radiant with its rosary. To those who take refuge in You and thirst for the nectar of knowledge, it is like a graceful water-wheel, drawing that immortal sweetness upward without cease.

Verse 25

प्रबोधसिन्धोर् अरुणैः प्रकाशैः
प्रवालसङ्घातम् इवोद्वहन्तम् ।
विभावये देव सपुस्तकं ते
वामं करं दक्षिणम् आश्रितानाम् ॥ २५ ॥

prabodha-sindhor aruṇaiḥ prakāśaiḥ
pravāla-saṅghātam ivodvahantam
vibhāvaye deva sa-pustakaṃ te
vāmaṃ karaṃ dakṣiṇam āśritānām 25

SYNONYMS

prabodha-sindhoḥ: from the ocean of awakened knowledge | aruṇaiḥ: with crimson | prakāśaiḥ: rays | pravāla-saṅghātam: a cluster of coral | iva: like | udvahantam: bearing the appearance of | vibhāvaye: I contemplate | deva: O Lord | sa-pustakam: holding a book | te: Your | vāmam: left | karam: hand | dakṣiṇam: generous, skillful, and gracious | āśritānām: toward those who seek refuge |

TRANSLATION

O Lord, I contemplate Your left hand holding the sacred book. Crimson with rays from the ocean of awakening, it gleams like a cluster of coral, yet toward all who seek refuge it is ever gracious and giving.

Verse 26

तमांसि भित्त्वा विशदैर् मयूखैः
सम्प्रीणयन्तं विदुषश् चकोरान् ।
निशामये त्वां नवपुण्डरीके
शरद्घने चन्द्रम् इव स्फुरन्तम् ॥ २६ ॥

tamāṃsi bhittvā viśadair mayūkhaiḥ
samprīṇayantaṃ viduṣaś cakorān
niśāmaye tvāṃ nava-puṇḍarīke
śarad-ghane candram iva sphurantam 26

SYNONYMS

tamāṃsi: the darknesses of ignorance | bhittvā: having pierced and shattered | viśadaiḥ: with pure and limpid | mayūkhaiḥ: rays | samprīṇayantam: completely delighting and nourishing | viduṣaḥ: the learned | cakorān: likened to cakora birds that live upon moonlight | niśāmaye: I behold in contemplation | tvām: You | nava-puṇḍarīke: upon a fresh white lotus | śarad-ghane: within a clear autumn cloud | candram: the moon | iva: like | sphurantam: shining brilliantly |

TRANSLATION

I behold You shining upon a fresh white lotus like the autumn moon emerging from a stainless cloud. Your limpid rays pierce the darkness and nourish learned hearts, as moonlight delights the waiting cakora birds.

Verse 27

दिशन्तु मे देव सदा त्वदीयाः
दयातरङ्गानुचराः कटाक्षाः ।
श्रोत्रेषु पुंसाम् अमृतं क्षरन्तीं
सरस्वतीं संश्रितकामधेनुं ॥ २७ ॥

diśantu me deva sadā tvadīyāḥ
dayā-taraṅgānucarāḥ kaṭākṣāḥ
śrotreṣu puṃsām amṛtaṃ kṣarantīṃ
sarasvatīṃ saṃśrita-kāmadhenuṃ 27

SYNONYMS

diśantu: may they grant | me: to me | deva: O Lord | sadā: always | tvadīyāḥ: Your | dayā-taraṅgānucarāḥ: following the waves of compassion | kaṭākṣāḥ: gracious sidelong glances | śrotreṣu: into the ears | puṃsām: of all listeners | amṛtam: nectar | kṣarantīm: pouring forth | sarasvatīm: eloquent and sacred speech | saṃśrita-kāmadhenuṃ: a wish-fulfilling cow for those who take refuge |

TRANSLATION

O Lord, may Your glances, moving close behind the waves of Your compassion, forever grant me Sarasvatī: speech that pours nectar into every listener's ear and becomes a wish-fulfilling cow for all who seek shelter in it.

Verse 28

विशेषवित्पारिषदेषु नाथ
विदग्धगोष्ठीसमराङ्गणेषु ।
जिगीषतो मे कवितार्किकेन्द्रान्
जिह्वाग्रसिंहासनम् अभ्युपेयाः ॥ २८ ॥

viśeṣavit-pāriṣadeṣu nātha
vidagdha-goṣṭhī-samarāṅgaṇeṣu
jigīṣato me kavi-tārkikendrān
jihvāgra-siṃhāsanam abhyupeyāḥ 28

SYNONYMS

viśeṣavit-pāriṣadeṣu: in assemblies of distinguished specialists | nātha: O Lord | vidagdha-goṣṭhī-samarāṅgaṇeṣu: in the battle-arenas of refined scholarly discussion | jigīṣataḥ: of me who seeks victory | me: my | kavi-tārkikendrān: over the foremost poets and logicians | jihvāgra-siṃhāsanam: the lion-throne at the tip of the tongue | abhyupeyāḥ: may You graciously ascend and occupy |

TRANSLATION

O Lord, when I enter assemblies of masters and the keen battlefields of learned discussion, seeking victory over the foremost poets and logicians, may You ascend the lion-throne at the very tip of my tongue.

Verse 29

त्वां चिन्तयंस् त्वन्मयतां प्रपन्नस्
त्वाम् उद्गृणन् शब्दमयेन धाम्ना ।
स्वामिन् समाजेषु समेधिषीय
स्वच्छन्दवादाहवबद्धशूरः ॥ २९ ॥

tvāṃ cintayaṃs tvan-mayatāṃ prapannas
tvām udgṛṇan śabda-mayena dhāmnā
svāmin samājeṣu samedhiṣīya
svacchanda-vādāhava-baddha-śūraḥ 29

SYNONYMS

tvām: You | cintayan: while contemplating | tvan-mayatām: complete absorption in You | prapannaḥ: having attained | udgṛṇan: praising aloud | śabda-mayena: formed of luminous speech | dhāmnā: with splendor | svāmin: O Lord | samājeṣu: in learned assemblies | samedhiṣīya: may I flourish and grow | svacchanda-vādāhava-baddha-śūraḥ: a resolute champion armed for the free contest of debate |

TRANSLATION

O Lord, contemplating You until I am filled with You, and proclaiming You through the radiance of sacred speech, may I flourish in learned assemblies—a steadfast champion girded for the open contest of debate.

Verse 30

नानाविधानाम् अगतिर् कलानां
न चापि तीर्थेषु कृतावतारः ।
ध्रुवं तवानाथपरिग्रहायाः
नवं नवं पात्रम् अहं दयायाः ॥ ३० ॥

nānā-vidhānām agatir kalānāṃ
na cāpi tīrtheṣu kṛtāvatāraḥ
dhruvaṃ tavānātha-parigrahāyāḥ
navaṃ navaṃ pātram ahaṃ dayāyāḥ 30

SYNONYMS

nānā-vidhānām: of the many varieties | agatiḥ: one who has found no entry or mastery | kalānām: of arts and sciences | na: not | ca: and | api: even | tīrtheṣu: in sacred disciplines and seats of learning | kṛtāvatāraḥ: one who has immersed himself | dhruvam: surely | tavānātha-parigrahāyāḥ: of Your compassion that accepts the helpless as its own | navam: new | pātram: a worthy vessel | aham: I | dayāyāḥ: of mercy |

TRANSLATION

I have gained no mastery over the countless arts, nor have I immersed myself in the great sacred disciplines. Surely, then, I am an ever-new vessel for Your mercy—the mercy that delights in taking the helpless as its very own.

Verse 31

अकम्पनीयान्य् अपनीतिभेदैर्
अलङ्कृषीरन् हृदयं मदीयम् ।
शङ्काकलङ्कापगमोज्ज्वलानि
तत्त्वानि सम्यञ्चि तव प्रसादात् ॥ ३१ ॥

akampanīyāny apanīti-bhedair
alaṅkṛṣīran hṛdayaṃ madīyam
śaṅkā-kalaṅkāpagamojjvalāni
tattvāni samyañci tava prasādāt 31

SYNONYMS

akampanīyāni: unshakable | apanīti-bhedaiḥ: by the many varieties of false reasoning and wrong doctrine | alaṅkṛṣīran: may they adorn | hṛdayam: the heart | madīyam: my | śaṅkā-kalaṅkāpagamojjvalāni: shining after the stain of doubt has vanished | tattvāni: the truths of reality | samyañci: rightly and harmoniously understood | tava: Your | prasādāt: through grace |

TRANSLATION

Through Your grace, may the truths of reality adorn my heart—rightly understood, radiant after every stain of doubt has vanished, and unshakable before every form of false reasoning.

Verse 32

व्याख्यामुद्रां करसरसिजैः पुस्तकं शङ्खचक्रे
बिभ्रद्भिन्नस्फटिकरुचिरे पुण्डरीके निषण्णः ।
अम्लानश्रीर् अमृतविशदैर् अंशुभिः प्लावयन् माम्
आविर्भूयाद् अनघमहिमा मानसे वागधीशः ॥ ३२ ॥

vyākhyā-mudrāṃ kara-sarasijaiḥ pustakaṃ śaṅkha-cakre
bibhrad-bhinna-sphaṭika-rucire puṇḍarīke niṣaṇṇaḥ
amlāna-śrīr amṛta-viśadair aṃśubhiḥ plāvayan mām
āvirbhūyād anagha-mahimā mānase vāgadhīśaḥ 32

SYNONYMS

vyākhyā-mudrām: the hand gesture of divine exposition | kara-sarasijaiḥ: with lotus-like hands | pustakam: a book | śaṅkha-cakre: the conch and discus | bibhrat: bearing | bhinna-sphaṭika-rucire: radiant like a freshly cleft crystal | puṇḍarīke: upon a white lotus | niṣaṇṇaḥ: seated | amlāna-śrīḥ: possessing unfading splendor | amṛta-viśadaiḥ: pure and limpid like nectar | aṃśubhiḥ: with rays | plāvayan: flooding | mām: me | āvirbhūyāt: may He manifest | anagha-mahimā: whose glory is flawless and sinless | mānase: within the mind | vāgadhīśaḥ: the sovereign Lord of speech |

TRANSLATION

May the flawless Lord of Speech arise within my mind: seated upon a white lotus that gleams like freshly cleft crystal, bearing in His lotus hands the gesture of teaching, the sacred book, the conch and discus, His unfading beauty flooding me with rays as pure and sweet as nectar.

Verse 33

वागर्थसिद्धिहेतोः पठत हयग्रीवसंस्तुतिं भक्त्या ।
कवितार्किककेसरिणा वेङ्कटनाथेन विरचिताम् एताम् ॥ ३३ ॥

vāg-artha-siddhi-hetoḥ paṭhata hayagrīva-saṃstutiṃ bhaktyā
kavi-tārkika-kesariṇā veṅkaṭanāthena viracitām etām 33

SYNONYMS

vāg-artha-siddhi-hetoḥ: for perfection in speech and the truths it conveys | paṭhata: recite and study | hayagrīva-saṃstutim: this hymn of praise to Lord Hayagrīva | bhaktyā: with devotion | kavi-tārkika-kesariṇā: by the lion among poets and logicians | veṅkaṭanāthena: by Śrī Veṅkaṭanātha, Vedānta Deśika | viracitām: composed | etām: this |

TRANSLATION

For perfection in speech and in the truths that speech must convey, recite with devotion this praise of Lord Hayagrīva, composed by Śrī Veṅkaṭanātha, the lion among poets and logicians.