Akrura Stuti (Prayers of Akrura) Meaning — Line by Line

अक्रूर स्तुति

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Akrura Stuti (Prayers of Akrura) with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Verse 1#

नतोऽस्म्यहं त्वाखिलहेतुहेतुं नारायणं पूरुषमाद्यमव्ययम् । यन्नाभिजातादरविन्दकोशाद् ब्रह्माविरासीद्यत एष लोकः ॥ १॥

nato'smy ahaṁ tvākhila-hetu-hetuṁ nārāyaṇaṁ pūruṣam ādyam avyayam | yan-nābhi-jātād aravinda-kośād brahmāvirāsīd yata eṣa lokaḥ || 1||

MeaningI bow down to You, the cause of all causes, Narayana, the original and imperishable Supreme Person — from the whorl of the lotus born of whose navel appeared Brahma, and from whom this entire world has come forth.

Verse 2#

भूस्तोयमग्निः पवनं खमादिर् महानजादिर्मन इन्द्रियाणि । सर्वेन्द्रियार्था विबुधाश्च सर्वे ये हेतवस्ते जगतोऽङ्गभूताः ॥ २॥

bhūs toyam agniḥ pavanaṁ kham ādir mahān ajādir mana indriyāṇi | sarvendriyārthā vibudhāś ca sarve ye hetavas te jagato'ṅga-bhūtāḥ || 2||

MeaningEarth, water, fire, air, ether and their source (false ego); the mahat-tattva; the unborn primal nature; the mind, the senses, the sense-objects and all the presiding deities — all these causes of the cosmos are but parts of Your transcendental body.

Verse 3#

नमो विज्ञानमात्राय सर्वप्रत्ययहेतवे । पुरुषेशप्रधानाय ब्रह्मणेऽनन्तशक्तये ॥ ३॥

namo vijñāna-mātrāya sarva-pratyaya-hetave | puruṣeśa-pradhānāya brahmaṇe'nanta-śaktaye || 3||

MeaningObeisance to You, who are pure transcendental consciousness itself, the source of all awareness, the master of the puruṣa and of primordial nature — to the Supreme Brahman of infinite potencies.

Verse 4#

नमस्ते वासुदेवाय सर्वभूतक्षयाय च । हृषीकेश नमस्तुभ्यं प्रपन्नं पाहि मां प्रभो ॥ ४॥

namas te vāsudevāya sarva-bhūta-kṣayāya ca | hṛṣīkeśa namas tubhyaṁ prapannaṁ pāhi māṁ prabho || 4||

MeaningObeisance to You, Vasudeva, the resting place of all created beings; O Hrishikesha, Lord of the senses, obeisance unto You. O Lord, protect me, for I have surrendered to You.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

नतोऽस्म्यहं

nato'smy ahaṁ

I bow down (in obeisance)

त्वाखिलहेतुहेतुं

tvā akhila-hetu-hetuṁ

to You, the cause of all causes

नारायणं

nārāyaṇaṁ

to Narayana (the resting-place of all beings)

पूरुषमाद्यमव्ययम्

pūruṣam ādyam avyayam

the original, imperishable Supreme Person

यन्नाभिजातात्

yan-nābhi-jātāt

from whose navel was born

अरविन्दकोशात्

aravinda-kośāt

from the whorl of the lotus

ब्रह्माविरासीत्

brahmā avirāsīt

Brahma appeared (the creator)

यत एष लोकः

yata eṣa lokaḥ

from whom this whole world (came forth)

भूस्तोयमग्निः पवनं खम्

bhūs toyam agniḥ pavanaṁ kham

earth, water, fire, air, ether (the five elements)

महान्

mahān

the mahat-tattva (the cosmic intelligence)

मन इन्द्रियाणि

mana indriyāṇi

the mind and the senses

ये हेतवस्ते जगतोऽङ्गभूताः

ye hetavas te jagato'ṅga-bhūtāḥ

all these causes of the universe are parts of Your body

नमो विज्ञानमात्राय

namo vijñāna-mātrāya

obeisance to You who are pure consciousness (knowledge) itself

सर्वप्रत्ययहेतवे

sarva-pratyaya-hetave

the source of all cognition and awareness

ब्रह्मणेऽनन्तशक्तये

brahmaṇe'nanta-śaktaye

to the Supreme Brahman of unlimited potencies

नमस्ते वासुदेवाय

namas te vāsudevāya

obeisance to You, Vasudeva (the indwelling Lord, son of Vasudeva)

सर्वभूतक्षयाय च

sarva-bhūta-kṣayāya ca

and to the abode (resting place) of all created beings

हृषीकेश नमस्तुभ्यं

hṛṣīkeśa namas tubhyaṁ

O Hrishikesha (Lord of the senses), obeisance to You

प्रपन्नं पाहि मां प्रभो

prapannaṁ pāhi māṁ prabho

O Lord, protect me, who have surrendered to You

Origin & History

Source: Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Canto 10, Chapter 40 (The Prayers of Akrura)

Author: Veda Vyasa (as spoken by Akrura)

Period: Ancient (Puranic)

When Kamsa sent the devoted Akrura to bring Krishna and Balarama from Vrindavan to Mathura, Akrura travelled with a heart full of longing to behold the Lord. On the way, while bathing in the river Yamuna, he was granted a wondrous vision of Krishna as the Supreme Lord Narayana, resting upon the serpent Shesha and surrounded by divine beings. Overcome with awe and love, Akrura folded his hands and poured out this stuti, glorifying Krishna as the cause of all causes, from whose navel-lotus Brahma was born and within whose body the entire universe rests. He concluded by surrendering himself utterly, praying, 'O Lord, protect me, for I have taken refuge in You.' His prayer stands among the great devotional hymns of the Bhagavata.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Akrura Stuti?▼

The Akrura Stuti is the prayer offered by Akrura, the noble Yadava who escorted Krishna and Balarama to Mathura, as recorded in the Srimad Bhagavatam (Canto 10, Chapter 40). Overwhelmed after receiving a divine vision of the Lord in the Yamuna, Akrura praises Krishna as the Supreme Person, Narayana, and surrenders himself completely.

Where does the Akrura Stuti appear?▼

It appears in the Tenth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, Chapter 40, which is titled 'The Prayers of Akrura'. The selection here gives its famous opening verse, the verse describing the cosmos as the Lord's body, and the well-known concluding verses of surrender.

What is the meaning of 'namas te vasudevaya... prapannam pahi mam prabho'?▼

It means: 'Obeisance to You, Vasudeva, the resting place of all beings; O Hrishikesha, obeisance to You. O Lord, protect me, for I have surrendered to You.' It is one of the most beloved expressions of sharanagati (loving surrender) in the Bhagavata.

What are the benefits of reciting the Akrura Stuti?▼

It deepens devotion and the spirit of surrender, awakens awareness of the Lord as the source of all that exists, and is recited to seek His protection and grace. As authentic scripture spoken by a great devotee, it is regarded as especially purifying and auspicious.

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