Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa Prapatti
Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa Prapatti is a sixteen-verse hymn composed by Prativādi Bhayaṅkaram Aṇṇan (15th century), the revered Śrī Vaiṣṇava ācārya and foremost disciple of Śrī Maṇavāḷa Māmunigaḷ. It forms the third and concluding section of the traditional Tirumala morning cycle—preceded by the Suprabhātam and Stotram and followed by the Prapatti and Mangaḷa-ślōka—recited daily at the shrine of Lord Veṅkaṭeśa on the sacred Tirumala hill. What sets this Prapatti apart is its rare poetic grace: rather than presenting śaraṇāgati as a dry formula, Aṇṇan weaves the soul's surrender into a tender, intimate drama. The hymn opens by saluting Śrī Mahālakṣmī as the compassionate Mother and unfailing mediatrix, then leads the devotee step by step to the lotus feet of the Lord—praising their fragrance, their gentleness, their accessibility to all who bow.
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ईशानां जगतोऽस्य वेङ्कटपतेर् विष्णोः परां प्रेयसीं
तद्वक्षःस्थलनित्यवासरसिकां तत्क्षान्तिसंवर्धिनीम् ।
पद्मालङ्कृतपाणिपल्लवयुगां पद्मासनस्थां श्रियं
वात्सल्यादिगुणोज्ज्वलां भगवतीं वन्दे जगन्मातरम् ॥ १ ॥
īśānāṃ jagato'sya veṅkaṭa-pater viṣṇoḥ parāṃ preyasīṃ
tad-vakṣaḥ-sthala-nitya-vāsa-rasikāṃ tat-kṣānti-saṃvardhinīm
padmālaṅkṛta-pāṇi-pallava-yugāṃ padmāsana-sthāṃ śriyaṃ
vātsalyādi-guṇojjvalāṃ bhagavatīṃ vande jagan-mātaram 1
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I bow to the divine Śrī, Mother of the universe—the supremely beloved of Viṣṇu, Lord of Veṅkaṭa and sovereign of all; she who delights in dwelling eternally upon His chest and deepens His patient mercy toward us; whose tender lotus-hands bear lotuses, who sits upon a lotus, and who shines with motherly tenderness and every auspicious virtue.
श्रीमन् कृपाजलनिधे कृतसर्वलोक
सर्वज्ञ शक्त नतवत्सल सर्वशेषिन् ।
स्वामिन् सुशील सुलभाश्रितपारिजात
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ २ ॥
śrīman kṛpā-jala-nidhe kṛta-sarva-loka
sarvajña śakta nata-vatsala sarva-śeṣin
svāmin suśīla sulabhāśrita-pārijāta
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 2
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
O glorious Lord inseparably united with Śrī! O ocean of compassion, creator of every world, all-knowing and all-powerful Lord, tenderly affectionate toward those who bow to You, and Master to whom all beings belong! O gracious and easily approachable wish-fulfilling tree of the surrendered—I take refuge at the two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa.
आनूपुरार्पितसुजातसुगन्धिपुष्प
सौरभ्यसौरभकरौ समसन्निवेशौ ।
सौम्यौ सदानुभवनेऽपि नवानुभाव्यौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ३ ॥
ānūpurārpita-sujāta-sugandhi-puṣpa-
saurabhya-saurabha-karau sama-sanniveśau
saumyau sadānubhavane'pi navānubhāvyau
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 3
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I take refuge at the two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa—gentle, perfectly formed, and so naturally fragrant that they lend a deeper sweetness even to the choice, perfumed flowers offered around His anklets; feet that, though enjoyed without end, are forever wondrous and new.
सद्योविकासिसमुदित्वरसान्द्रराग
सौरभ्यनिर्भरसरोरुहसाम्यवार्ताम् ।
सम्यक्षु साहसपदेषु विलेखयन्तौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ४ ॥
sadyo-vikāsi-samuditvara-sāndra-rāga-
saurabhya-nirbhara-saroruha-sāmya-vārtām
samyakṣu sāhasa-padeṣu vilekhayantau
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 4
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I take refuge at the two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa. Beside their freshly blossoming beauty, deep crimson glow, and overflowing fragrance, even the lotus's claim to resemble them is exposed as sheer audacity.
रेखामयध्वजसुधाकलशातपत्र
वज्राङ्कुशाम्बुरुहकल्पकशङ्खचक्रैः ।
भव्यैर् अलङ्कृततलौ परतत्त्वचिह्नैः
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ५ ॥
rekhā-maya-dhvaja-sudhā-kalaśātapatra-
vajrāṅkuśāmburuha-kalpaka-śaṅkha-cakraiḥ
bhavyair alaṅkṛta-talau para-tattva-cihnaiḥ
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 5
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I take refuge at the two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa, whose soles are adorned with splendid emblems of the Supreme Lord: the flag, vessel of nectar, royal parasol, thunderbolt, goad, lotus, wish-fulfilling tree, conch, and discus.
ताम्रोदरद्युतिपराजितपद्मरागौ
बाह्यैर् महोभिर् अभिभूतमहेन्द्रनीलौ ।
उद्यन्नखांशुभिर् उदस्तशशाङ्कभासौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ६ ॥
tāmrodara-dyuti-parājita-padma-rāgau
bāhyair mahobhir abhibhūta-mahendra-nīlau
udyan-nakhāṃśubhir udasta-śaśāṅka-bhāsau
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 6
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I take refuge at the two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa: their copper-red inner glow outshines the ruby, their dark outer brilliance overwhelms the finest sapphire, and the ascending rays of their nails cast aside even the splendor of the moon.
सप्रेमभीतिकमलाकरपल्लवाभ्यां
संवाहनेऽपि सपदि क्लमम् आदधानौ ।
कान्तौ अवाङ्मनसगोचरसौकुमार्यौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ७ ॥
sa-prema-bhīti-kamalā-kara-pallavābhyāṃ
saṃvāhane'pi sapadi klamam ādadhānau
kāntau avāṅ-manasa-gocara-saukumāryau
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 7
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I take refuge at the beautiful feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa. Their tenderness lies beyond the grasp of speech and thought; even when Śrī Lakṣmī lovingly and reverently presses them with Her lotus-soft hands, they seem at once to grow weary.
लक्ष्मीमहीतदनुरूपनिजानुभाव
नीलादिदिव्यमहिषीकरपल्लवानाम् ।
आरुण्यसङ्क्रमणतः किल सान्द्ररागौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ८ ॥
lakṣmī-mahī-tad-anurūpa-nijānubhāva-
nīlādi-divya-mahiṣī-kara-pallavānām
āruṇya-saṅkramaṇataḥ kila sāndra-rāgau
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 8
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I take refuge at the two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa, richly crimson, as though they had received the tender redness of the lotus-like hands of His divine queens—Śrī, Bhū, Nīlā, and the others—each endowed with glory befitting Him.
नित्यानमद्विधिशिवादिकिरीटकोटि
प्रत्युप्तदीप्तनवरत्नमहःप्ररोहैः ।
नीराजनाविधिम् उदारम् उपादधानौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ९ ॥
nityānamad-vidhi-śivādi-kirīṭa-koṭi-
pratyupta-dīpta-nava-ratna-mahaḥ-prarohaiḥ
nīrājanā-vidhim udāram upādadhānau
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 9
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I take refuge at the two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa. As Brahmā, Śiva, and hosts of devas eternally bow before them, rays springing from the brilliant gems set in their countless crowns perform a magnificent festival of waving lights.
विष्णोः पदे परम इत्य् उदितप्रशंसौ
यौ मध्व उत्स इति भोग्यतयाप्य् उपात्तौ ।
भूयस् तथेति तव पाणितलप्रदिष्टौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ १० ॥
viṣṇoḥ pade parama ity udita-praśaṃsau
yau madhva utsa iti bhogyatayāpy upāttau
bhūyas tatheti tava pāṇi-tala-pradiṣṭau
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 10
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I take refuge at the two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa—praised by the Veda as 'the supreme station of Viṣṇu' and cherished as 'the fountain of honeyed bliss'; those very feet which Your lowered hand once again points out to us as our refuge.
पार्थाय तत्सदृशसारथिना त्वयैव
यौ दर्शितौ स्वचरणौ शरणं व्रजेति ।
भूयोऽपि मह्यम् इह तौ करदर्शितौ ते
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ११ ॥
pārthāya tat-sadṛśa-sārathinā tvayaiva
yau darśitau sva-caraṇau śaraṇaṃ vrajeti
bhūyo'pi mahyam iha tau kara-darśitau te
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 11
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
As Arjuna's charioteer, You Yourself revealed Your feet to him with the command, 'Take refuge in Me alone.' Here again, Your hand points out those very feet to me. At the two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa, I take refuge.
मन्मूर्ध्नि कालियफणे विकटाटवीषु
श्रीवेङ्कटाद्रिशिखरे शिरसि श्रुतीनाम् ।
चित्तेऽप्य् अनन्यमनसां समम् आहितौ ते
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ १२ ॥
man-mūrdhni kāliya-phaṇe vikaṭāṭavīṣu
śrī-veṅkaṭādri-śikhare śirasi śrutīnām
citte'py ananya-manasāṃ samam āhitau te
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 12
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May those feet rest upon my head—the feet that danced upon Kāliya's hoods, walked through fearsome forests, crown the summit of sacred Veṅkaṭa Hill and the head of the Vedas, and dwell equally within the hearts of those whose minds know no other refuge. At the two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa, I surrender.
अम्लानहृष्यदवनीतलकीर्णपुष्पौ
श्रीवेङ्कटाद्रिशिखराभरणायमानौ ।
आनन्दिताखिलमनोनयनौ तव् ऐतौ
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ १३ ॥
amlāna-hṛṣyad-avanī-tala-kīrṇa-puṣpau
śrī-veṅkaṭādri-śikharābharaṇāyamānau
ānanditākhila-mano-nayanau tav aitau
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 13
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I take refuge at these two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa, surrounded by unfading flowers joyfully strewn upon the earth, adorning the summit of sacred Veṅkaṭa Hill, and filling the eyes and hearts of every beholder with delight.
प्रायः प्रपन्नजनताप्रथमावगाह्यौ
मातुः स्तनाव् इव शिशोर् अमृतायमानौ ।
प्राप्तौ परस्परतुलाम् अतुलान्तरौ ते
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ १४ ॥
prāyaḥ prapanna-janatā-prathamāvagāhyau
mātuḥ stanāv iva śiśor amṛtāyamānau
prāptau paraspara-tulām atulāntarau te
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 14
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I take refuge at the two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa—the first shelter embraced by surrendered souls, life-giving as a mother's breasts are to her infant. Each can be compared only with the other; nothing anywhere is their equal.
सत्त्वोत्तरैः सततसेव्यपदाम्बुजेन
संसारतारकदयार्द्रदृगञ्चलेन ।
सौम्योपयन्तृमुनिना मम दर्शितौ ते
श्रीवेङ्कटेश चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ १५ ॥
sattvottaraiḥ satata-sevya-padāmbujena
saṃsāra-tāraka-dayārdra-dṛg-añcalena
saumyopayantṛ-muninā mama darśitau te
śrī-veṅkaṭeśa caraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye 15
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The gracious sage Maṇavāḷa Māmunigaḷ—whose lotus feet are forever served by those rich in pure sattva, and whose compassion-filled sidelong glance carries souls across saṃsāra—has shown me Your feet. At the two feet of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa, I take refuge.
श्रीश श्रिया घटिकया त्वदुपायभावे
प्राप्ये त्वयि स्वयम् उपेयतया स्फुरन्त्या ।
नित्याश्रिताय निरवद्यगुणाय तुभ्यं
स्यां किङ्करो वृषगिरीश न जातु मह्यम् ॥ १६ ॥
śrīśa śriyā ghaṭikayā tvad-upāya-bhāve
prāpye tvayi svayam upeyatayā sphurantyā
nityāśritāya niravadya-guṇāya tubhyaṃ
syāṃ kiṅkaro vṛṣagirīśa na jātu mahyam 16
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
O Lord of Śrī, O Master of Vṛṣagiri! Through Śrī, who joins me to You when You are embraced as the saving means and who shines inseparably with You when You are attained as the supreme goal, may I belong wholly to You—the eternal refuge, rich in flawless qualities. May I be Your servant, and never, ever, exist for myself.
