Dasavatara Stotra [Prayer about Ten Incarnations]
Composed by Jayadeva; Translated by P. R. Ramachander
[ Jayadeva was a poet who lived in the 12th centaury in Orissa. He is a well known mystic, who drowned himself in the ocean of devotion to Lord Krishna. His only work Gita Govinda (The song of our Lord), starts with this prayer to ten incarnations of Vishnu. This great Stotra mentions Buddha as an incarnation, but not the incarnation as Lord Krishna. This was possibly because the poet was writing about ten incarnations of Krishna. ]
| प्रलय पयोधी जले धृतवानसि वेदम्
विहित वहित्र चरित्रमखेदम् केशव धृत मीन शरीर जय जगदीश हरे (2) -1 |
Victory to Keshava, the lord of Universe, Who assumed the form of a fish, and gave protection like a boat to Vedas, Which were immersed in the turbulent sea of deluge. |
| क्षितिरिह विपुलतरे तिष्ठति तव पृष्ठे
धरणि धारण किण चक्र गरिष्ठे केशव धृत कुर्म शरीर जय जगदीश हरे (2) -2 |
Victory to Keshava, the lord of Universe, Who assumed the form of a tortoise, And made the great mountain rest on his back, and allowed it to churn the ocean like a wheel. |
| वसति दशन शिखरे धरणी तव लग्ना
शशिनी कलंक कलेव निमग्ना केशव धृत सूकर रूप जय जगदीश हरे (2) -3 |
Victory to Keshava, the lord of Universe, Who assumed the form of a boar, on whose tusks rested the earth, which was drowned and appeared like the shadow on the moon. |
| तव कर कमलवरे नखम् अद्भूत शृगम्
दलित हिरण्याकशिपु तनुभृंगम् केशव धृत नरहरि रूप जय जगदीश हरे (2) – 4 |
Victory to Keshava, the lord of Universe, Who assumed the form of a man lion, Whose nails of his lotus like hand were made wonderful weapons, and crushed Hiranyakasipu like a wasp. |
| चलयसि विक्रमणे बलिमद्भूत वामन
पद नख नीर जनित जन पावन केशव धृत वामन रूप जय जगदीश हर (2) -5 |
Victory to Keshava, the lord of Universe, Who assumed the form of a dwarf Brahmin, Who by his massive steps deceived Mahabali, and the water* emanating from the nail of Whose feet, made all living beings holy and divine. * River Ganga is believed to have originated from Vishnu’s feet. |
| क्षत्रीय रुधिर मये जगद पगद पापम्
स् नपयसि पयसि शमित भव तापम् केशव धृत भृगुपति रूप जय जगदीश हरे (2) -6 |
Victory to Keshava, the lord of Universe, Who assumed the form of Parasurama, Who bathed the earth with blood of Kshatriyas, Who washed away the sins of the world, and who calmed down the pains of existence. |
| वितरसि दिक्शु रणे दिक्पति कमनियम्
दश मुख मौलि बलिम् रमणीयम् केशव धृत राम शरीर जय जगदीश हरे (2) -7 |
Victory to Keshava, the lord of Universe, Who assumed the form of Lord Rama, Who presented the lords of ten pretty directions, the delightful offering of ten heads of Raavana. |
| वहसि वपुसि विशदे वसनम् जलदाभम्
हप हति भीति मिलित यमुनाभम् केशव धृत हलधर रूप जय जगदीश हरे (2) -8 |
Victory to Keshava, the lord of Universe, Who assumed the form of Balarama, Who wore cloths of color of the river Yamuna over his white body and made the river fear his weapon of the plough. |
| निन्दसि यज्ञ विधेर् अहह शृति जातम्
सदय हृदय दर्शित पशु घातम् केशव धृत बुद्ध शरीर जय जगदीश हरे (2) – 9 |
Victory to Keshava, the lord of Universe, Who assumed the form of Buddha, Who found fault with fire sacrifices, in which poor animals were sacrificed as prescribed in the Vedas, due to his compassionate heart. |
| म् लेच्छ निवह निधने कलयसि करवालम्
धूमकेतुमिव किमपि करालम् केशव धृत कल्कि शरीर जय जगदीश हरे (2) -10 |
Victory to Keshava, the lord of Universe, Who would assume the form of Lord Kalki, Who would appear like a blazing comet, holding a terrifying sword and kill, all barbarians at the end of Kali age. |
| श्री जयदेव कवेर् इदमुदितम् उदारम्
शृणु सुखदम् शुभदम् भव सारम् केशव धृत दशविध रूप जय जगदीश हरे (2) |
Victory to Keshava, the lord of Universe, Who assumed ten different forms, with a humble request to hear, this pleasant holy and divine poem composed by Jayadeva. |
ॐ Hinduu Nation ॐ 