Sudarśana Ashṭakam
• October 2, 1995
Acharya Vedanta Desika’s birthday, same as that of Tirupati Perumaal (Purattasi Sravanam), falls this year (1995) on Thursday, Oct 4. I usually prepare a small or large monograph each year on Swami Desikan’s birthday. This year, I have translated the Sudarsana Ashtakam (/sudarśanāshtakam/)at the request of a devotee of Sri Ranganatha Swami Sannadhi at Pomona, NY. This poem in melodious and lilting Sanskrit is a pleasure to recite and listen to.
Traditionally, this stotram is recited in homes, when some one has fever or illness of other kinds. Swami Desikan is said to have composed it to help the residents of Tirupputkuzhi, when they suffered from the grip of a epidemic fever. Alternatively, It is said that he composed it at Tiruvahindrapuram prior to a major debate with a leader of another sampradaya. Swami Desikan won that debate and thereby established the supremacy of Sriman Narayana and Visishtadvaita.
Swami Desikan chose the ‘dhrithas’ chandas as a meter for the 8 verses praising Sudarsana. He chose the ‘aupachandasikam’ meter for the phala-Sruti sloka. Both these meters hint at the the Vedic origin of Sudarsana as indicated by Swami Desikan in one or more verses of this Stotram.
Srimate nigamānta mahādeśikāya namaḥ
śrīmān venkaṭanāthāryaḥ kavitāarkika kesarī |
vedantācārya varyo me sannidhattām sadā hṛdi ||
Verse 1: Pratibhatasreni Bhishana Varagunasthoma Bhushana
Janibhyasthana Taarana Jagadavasthaana Karana |
Nikhiladushkarma Karsana Nigamasaddharma Darsana
Jaya Jaya Sri sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||
O Sri Sudarsana! All the enemies of your Lord’s devotees run away fearing your prowess. All auspicious attributes find their home in you. Those , Who worship you cross the ‘shoreless’ ocean of Samsara and free themselves from their cycles of births and deaths. The entire Universe is stabilized by your mighty power. You cut asunder all the sins of those who approach you as their refuge. You bless all of your devotees with the knowledge about the righteous conduct prescribed by the Vedas. O Lord Sudarsana of these auspicious attributes! Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!
Verse 2: Subhajagadrupa Mandana Suraganathrasa Khandana
Satamakabrahma vandita Satapatabrahma Nandita |
Pratitavidvat Sapakshita Bhajata Ahirbudhnya Lakshita
Jaya jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||
O Sri Sudarsana! You are resplendent as a precious decoration on the hand of Sriman Narayana, who has the universes as His body. Through your grace, Devas are freed from the fear caused by the Asuras. Indra and Brahma always worship you. The Satapatha Brahmana belonging to Sukla Yajur Veda hails your glories and pays its tributes to you. The scholars of this universe seek your help to overcome their contestants . Ahirbudhnya Samhita states that Ahirbudhnya (Siva) worships you and sought the boon to see your beautiful form with His own eyes. O Lord Sudarsana of illustrious attributes! Hail To Thee! Hail to Thee!
Verse 3: śphutataḍijjaala Pinjara Pruthutarajwaala Panjara
Parigata Pratnavigraha Paḍutaraprajña Durgraha |
Praharana Grama Manditha Parijana Thraana Panditha
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||
O Lord Sudarsana! You shine like the resplendent assembly of lightnings. The bright tongues of flames surrounding you appear like a cage (home) for you. The forms of Vasudeva, Sankarshana and other vyuha murti-s find their positions around your geometric form (yantra). Even the scholars with sharp intellects stumble, when they try to understand the full extent of your glory. It is a beautiful sight to see the sixteen weapons of yours resting on your hands to serve you. You are dedicated to come to the rescue of those ,who seek your protection . O Sri Sudarsana of such auspicious attributes! Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!
Verse 4: Nijapatapreetha saddgana Nirupathispeetha Shad Guna
Nigama ṇirvyuḍa Vaibhava Nijapara Vyuha Vaibhava |
Hari Haya Dweshi Daarana Hara Pura Plosha Kaarana
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||
O Lord Sudarsana! The Righteous people have firm attachment to your holy feet. The Six Kalyana Gunaas --- Knowledge, Power, Strength, Wealth, Heroism, and effulgence— find their natural home in You. The Vedas have firmly established Your glory in their many sections. Like your Lord, You have the forms of para and vyuha. You cut asunder the fear caused by the foes of Indra, the foremost among your devotees. You were responsible for the burning down Kashi, the city of Siva to ashes. You stood at the tip of Siva’s arrow, when He was engaged in the campaign to destroy Tripuraasura. O Sri Sudarsana Of such Kalyana Gunas! Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!
Verse 5: Dhanuja visthaara Kartana Janitamisraa Vikartana
Dhanujavidya Nikartana Bhajatavidya Nivatana |
Amara drushtasva Vikrama Samara Jushta Bramikrama
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||
O Lord Sudarsana! You arrest the growth of the evil-minded Asuras and destroy them down to their roots. You are like the resplendent Sun banishing the dark night of Samsara, which bedevil your devotees. You Overcome any and every act of deception practised by the Asuras. You remove every shred of false knowledge that invade the minds of those ,who seek refuge in you. The Devas celebrate Your heroic deeds and experience joy in witnessing Your powerful actions. You revolve and rotate in many ways in your battles against the enemies of Your devotees. May Thou with such auspicious attributes prosper further! Hail to Thee! Hail To Thee!
Verse 6: Prathimukhaaleeta Bandhura Pruthumahaheti Danthura
Vikatamaaya Bahishkrutha Vividhamaalaa Parishkrutha |
Sthiramahaayantra Tantritha Dhruta Daya Tantra Yantrita
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||
O Lord Sudarsana! You give darsana to us with Your dynamic gait of One foot placed forward in movement and the other rapidly following it. Your position in that gait is beautiful to behold. You are surrounded by Your magnificient and fearsome weapons. You are the conqueror of Powerful illusions (māyā) caused by Asuras. You are not therefore affected by their acts of Mayaa. You are decorated with many beautiful flower garlands that add to your natural beauty. You are firmly bound in the warp of your great compassion for your devotees and bless them , when they worship You through Your Yantra and Mantra. O Sri Sudarsana of such auspicious qualities! Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!
Verse 7: Mahita Sampath Sadhakshara Vihitasampath Shatakshara
Shatarachakra Pratisishtita Sakala Tattva Prathishtita |
Vividha Sankalpaka Kalpaka Vibhudhasankalpa Kalpaka
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||
O Lord Sudarsana of many prime qualities! The wealth of the righteous is their true knowledge about Your Lord. You Bless them with the unperishable wealth of Moksham, When they seek refuge at Your holy feet. Those who recite Your mantra made up of the six letters (aksharas) gain incomparable wealth. Your devotees (upaasakas) invoke You in Your yantra of six corners formed by two intersecting triangles and worship You at its epicenter. You pervade and reside in all the creations of Your Lord. You have the power to complete all deeds that you decide to undertake. You are thus a satya sankalpa and serve as the divine Kalpaka tree granting all the boons that your devotees request. O Sri Sudarsana! Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!
Verse 8: Bhuvana Netra Trayeemaya Savanatejastrayeemaya
Niravadhisvaadhu Chinmaya Nikhila Sakthe Jaganmaya |
Amita Viswakriyaamaya Samitavishvagbhayaamaya
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||
O Lord Sudarsana, the eye of the Universe! You are of the form of the three Vedas. You are of the form of the three fires — gaarhapatyam, Ahvaneeyam and dakshināgni — of the Yagaas. You are of the delectable form of true knowledge! You have the power to accomplish every deed. You have taken the form of the Universe and its contents. You are woorshipped thru the sacrificial rituals of your devotees. In return, You destroy the fears and diseases of those, who worship You from all directions. O Lord Sudarsana of auspicious qualities! Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!
Verse 9: Phala Sruthi
Dwichatushkamidam Prabhoothasaaram patathaam Venkatanayaka Praneetham |
Vishamepi Manorata: Pradhaavan na Vihanyeta Rataangadhuryagupta : ||
Those, who recite this Stotram consisting of 8 verses in praise of Sudarsana composed by Venkatanatha known as Vedanta Desikan comprehend the deep references to the glory of Lord Sudarsana will have the fulfilment of all their wishes.The Boon-granting powers of Lord Sudarsana will make them realize all their wishes by overcoming all obstacles that stand in the way.
kavitārkika-simhāya kalyāṇa-guṇa-SAline |
śrīmate venkaṭeśāya vedānta-gurave namaḥ ||
In an earlier posting, I described the Archa Vigraham of Sudarsana on one side and Bhagavan Narasimha On the other side. The icon of such form worshipped at Srirangam and Ranganatha Temple at Pomona are most beautiful to behold and to offer one’s worship as described by Sri Vedanta Desikan.
V.Sadagopan