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Kurma Stotram Meaning — Line by Line

कूर्म स्तोत्रम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Kurma Stotram with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. namāma te deva padāravindaṃ prapannatāpopaśamātapatram |
  2. Verse 2. dhātaryadasmin bhava īśa jīvāstāpatrayeṇopahatā na śarma |
  3. Verse 3. mārganti yatte mukhapadmanīḍaiśchandaḥsuparṇairṛṣayo vivikte |
  4. Verse 4. yachchraddhayā śrutavatyāṃ cha bhaktyā saṃmṛjyamāne hṛdaye'vadhāya |
  5. Verse 5. viśvasya janmasthitisaṃyamārthe kṛtāvatārasya padāmbujaṃ te |
  6. Verse 6. yatsānubandhe'sati dehagehe mamāhamityūḍhadurāgrahāṇām |
  7. Verse 7. tānvā asadvṛttibhirakṣibhirye parāhṛtāntarmanasaḥ pareśa |
  8. Verse 8. pānena te deva kathāsudhāyāḥ pravṛddhabhaktyā viśadāśayā ye |
  9. Verse 9. tathāpare chātmasamādhiyogabalena jitvā prakṛtiṃ baliṣṭhām |
  10. Verse 10. tatte vayaṃ lokasisṛkṣayādya tvayānusṛṣṭāstribhirātmabhiḥ sma |
  11. Verse 11. yāvadbaliṃ te'ja harāma kāle yathā vayaṃ chānnamadāma yatra |
  12. Verse 12. tvaṃ naḥ surāṇāmasi sānvayānāṃ kūṭastha ādyaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ |
  13. Verse 13. tato vayaṃ satpramukhā yadarthe babhūvimātmankaravāma kiṃ te |
Verse 1#

namāma te deva padāravindaṃ prapannatāpopaśamātapatram |

नमाम ते देव पदारविन्दं प्रपन्नतापोपशमातपत्रम् यन्मूलकेता यतयोऽञ्जसोरुसंसारदुःखं बहिरुत्क्षिपन्ति

namāma te deva padāravindaṃ prapannatāpopaśamātapatram | yanmūlaketā yatayo'ñjasorusaṃsāraduḥkhaṃ bahirutkṣipanti || 1 ||

MeaningWe bow to your lotus feet, O Lord — feet that are like a sheltering umbrella subduing the sufferings of all who surrender, the feet which sages take as their refuge and thereby cast far away the great misery of worldly existence.

Verse 2#

dhātaryadasmin bhava īśa jīvāstāpatrayeṇopahatā na śarma |

धातर्यदस्मिन् भव ईश जीवास्तापत्रयेणोपहता शर्म आत्मँल्लभन्ते भगवंस्तवाङ्घ्रिच्छायां सविद्यामत आश्रयेम

dhātaryadasmin bhava īśa jīvāstāpatrayeṇopahatā na śarma | ātmam̐llabhante bhagavaṃstavāṅghricchāyāṃ savidyāmata āśrayema || 2 ||

MeaningO Sustainer, O Lord, in this world the living beings, stricken by the threefold misery, find no happiness; therefore we take shelter in the shade of your feet, which is joined with true knowledge.

Verse 3#

mārganti yatte mukhapadmanīḍaiśchandaḥsuparṇairṛṣayo vivikte |

मार्गन्ति यत्ते मुखपद्मनीडैश्छन्दःसुपर्णैरृषयो विविक्ते यस्याघमर्षोदसरिद्वराया पदं पदं तीर्थपदः प्रपन्नाः

mārganti yatte mukhapadmanīḍaiśchandaḥsuparṇairṛṣayo vivikte | yasyāghamarṣodasaridvarāyā padaṃ padaṃ tīrthapadaḥ prapannāḥ || 3 ||

MeaningIn solitude the sages, like birds nesting in the lotus of your face through the Vedic hymns, seek you — surrendering at every step to the Lord whose feet are the supreme holy ford, the source of the sin-destroying celestial Ganga.

Verse 4#

yachchraddhayā śrutavatyāṃ cha bhaktyā saṃmṛjyamāne hṛdaye'vadhāya |

यच्छ्रद्धया श्रुतवत्यां भक्त्या संमृज्यमाने हृदयेऽवधाय ज्ञानेन वैराग्यबलेन धीरा व्रजेम तत्तेऽङ्घ्रिसरोजपीठम्

yachchraddhayā śrutavatyāṃ cha bhaktyā saṃmṛjyamāne hṛdaye'vadhāya | jñānena vairāgyabalena dhīrā vrajema tatte'ṅghrisarojapīṭham || 4 ||

MeaningUpon the heart cleansed by faith and devotion through hearing of you, the steadfast ones, by knowledge and the strength of dispassion, fix their minds and so reach that lotus-seat of your feet.

Verse 5#

viśvasya janmasthitisaṃyamārthe kṛtāvatārasya padāmbujaṃ te |

विश्वस्य जन्मस्थितिसंयमार्थे कृतावतारस्य पदाम्बुजं ते व्रजेम सर्वे शरणं यदीश स्मृतं प्रयच्छत्यभयं स्वपुंसाम्

viśvasya janmasthitisaṃyamārthe kṛtāvatārasya padāmbujaṃ te | vrajema sarve śaraṇaṃ yadīśa smṛtaṃ prayachchhatyabhayaṃ svapuṃsām || 5 ||

MeaningFor the creation, maintenance and dissolution of the universe you have taken your incarnation; we all go for refuge to your lotus feet, O Lord, which, merely remembered, bestow fearlessness upon your devotees.

Verse 6#

yatsānubandhe'sati dehagehe mamāhamityūḍhadurāgrahāṇām |

यत्सानुबन्धेऽसति देहगेहे ममाहमित्यूढदुराग्रहाणाम् पुंसां सुदूरं वसतोऽपि पुर्यां भजेम तत्ते भगवन्पदाब्जम्

yatsānubandhe'sati dehagehe mamāhamityūḍhadurāgrahāṇām | puṃsāṃ sudūraṃ vasato'pi puryāṃ bhajema tatte bhagavanpadābjam || 6 ||

MeaningThough you dwell far from those who, clinging with the false notions of 'I' and 'mine' to the body and home with all their entanglements, are obstinate in delusion — yet, O Lord, may we worship those lotus feet of yours.

Verse 7#

tānvā asadvṛttibhirakṣibhirye parāhṛtāntarmanasaḥ pareśa |

तान्वा असद्वृत्तिभिरक्षिभिर्ये पराहृतान्तर्मनसः परेश अथो पश्यन्त्युरुगाय नूनं ये ते पदन्यासविलासलक्ष्म्याः

tānvā asadvṛttibhirakṣibhirye parāhṛtāntarmanasaḥ pareśa | atho na paśyantyurugāya nūnaṃ ye te padanyāsavilāsalakṣmyāḥ || 7 ||

MeaningThose whose inner minds are dragged away by the senses fixed on base pursuits surely do not behold, O much-glorified one, the splendour and beauty of the placing of your feet.

Verse 8#

pānena te deva kathāsudhāyāḥ pravṛddhabhaktyā viśadāśayā ye |

पानेन ते देव कथासुधायाः प्रवृद्धभक्त्या विशदाशया ये वैराग्यसारं प्रतिलभ्य बोधं यथाञ्जसान्वीयुरकुण्ठधिष्ण्यम्

pānena te deva kathāsudhāyāḥ pravṛddhabhaktyā viśadāśayā ye | vairāgyasāraṃ pratilabhya bodhaṃ yathāñjasānvīyurakuṇṭhadhiṣṇyam || 8 ||

MeaningBut those of pure heart who, by drinking the nectar of your divine stories with ever-growing devotion, attain the essence of dispassion and right knowledge, easily reach your unobstructed supreme abode.

Verse 9#

tathāpare chātmasamādhiyogabalena jitvā prakṛtiṃ baliṣṭhām |

तथापरे चात्मसमाधियोगबलेन जित्वा प्रकृतिं बलिष्ठाम् त्वामेव धीराः पुरुषं विशन्ति तेषां श्रमः स्यान्न तु सेवया ते

tathāpare chātmasamādhiyogabalena jitvā prakṛtiṃ baliṣṭhām | tvāmeva dhīrāḥ puruṣaṃ viśanti teṣāṃ śramaḥ syānna tu sevayā te || 9 ||

MeaningAnd others, the steadfast, having conquered mighty material nature by the power of yoga and self-absorption, enter into you, the Supreme Person; for them all toil ceases — though this is not as easy as serving you with devotion.

Verse 10#

tatte vayaṃ lokasisṛkṣayādya tvayānusṛṣṭāstribhirātmabhiḥ sma |

तत्ते वयं लोकसिसृक्षयाद्य त्वयानुसृष्टास्त्रिभिरात्मभिः स्म सर्वे वियुक्ताः स्वविहारतन्त्रं शक्नुमस्तत्प्रतिहर्तवे ते १०

tatte vayaṃ lokasisṛkṣayādya tvayānusṛṣṭāstribhirātmabhiḥ sma | sarve viyuktāḥ svavihāratantraṃ na śaknumastatpratihartave te || 10 ||

MeaningNow, O Unborn One, we have been brought forth by you through your three forms (the gunas) for the creation of the worlds; yet, separated and each acting on its own, we are unable to carry out for you the work of creation.

Verse 11#

yāvadbaliṃ te'ja harāma kāle yathā vayaṃ chānnamadāma yatra |

यावद्बलिं तेऽज हराम काले यथा वयं चान्नमदाम यत्र यथोभयेषां इमे हि लोका बलिं हरन्तोऽन्नमदन्त्यनूहाः ११

yāvadbaliṃ te'ja harāma kāle yathā vayaṃ chānnamadāma yatra | yathobhayeṣāṃ ta ime hi lokā baliṃ haranto'nnamadantyanūhāḥ || 11 ||

MeaningGrant, O Unborn, that we may at the proper time offer you our oblations and partake of our food, so that both we and these created beings, offering tribute and eating, may flourish free of anxiety.

Verse 12#

tvaṃ naḥ surāṇāmasi sānvayānāṃ kūṭastha ādyaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ |

त्वं नः सुराणामसि सान्वयानां कूटस्थ आद्यः पुरुषः पुराणः त्वं देवशक्त्यां गुणकर्मयोनौ रेतस्त्वजायां कविमादधेऽजः १२

tvaṃ naḥ surāṇāmasi sānvayānāṃ kūṭastha ādyaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ | tvaṃ devaśaktyāṃ guṇakarmayonau retastvajāyāṃ kavimādadhe'jaḥ || 12 ||

MeaningYou are the unchanging, primeval, ancient Supreme Person, the source of us gods and our lineage; you, the Unborn, as the Purusha placed the seed in Prakriti (the womb of the gunas and karma) to bring forth the creator (Brahma).

Verse 13#

tato vayaṃ satpramukhā yadarthe babhūvimātmankaravāma kiṃ te |

ततो वयं सत्प्रमुखा यदर्थे बभूविमात्मन्करवाम किं ते त्वं नः स्वचक्षुः परिदेहि शक्त्या देवक्रियार्थे यदनुग्रहाणाम् १३

tato vayaṃ satpramukhā yadarthe babhūvimātmankaravāma kiṃ te | tvaṃ naḥ svachakṣuḥ paridehi śaktyā devakriyārthe yadanugrahāṇām || 13 ||

MeaningFor what purpose, then, have we and the foremost beings come into being? O Lord, what shall we do for you? Graciously bestow on us your own guiding vision and power, that we may accomplish the work of the gods that depends on your grace.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

नमाम ते देव
namāma te deva
We bow to you, O Lord
पदारविन्दं
padāravindaṃ
(To your) lotus feet
प्रपन्न-ताप-उपशम-आतपत्रम्
prapanna-tāpa-upaśama-ātapatram
Which are like an umbrella that subdues the sufferings of those who surrender
यन्मूलकेताः यतयः
yanmūla-ketāḥ yatayaḥ
Sages who take those feet as their refuge / shelter
उरुसंसारदुःखं बहिरुत्क्षिपन्ति
uru-saṃsāra-duḥkhaṃ bahir-utkṣipanti
Cast far away the great misery of worldly existence
तापत्रयेण उपहताः
tāpatrayeṇa upahatāḥ
Afflicted by the three kinds of misery (bodily, mental, external)
तव अङ्घ्रिच्छायां
tava aṅghri-chhāyāṃ
The shade / shelter of your feet
सविद्याम् आश्रयेम
savidyām āśrayema
We take refuge, (the shelter) joined with true knowledge
मार्गन्ति ऋषयः विविक्ते
mārganti ṛṣayaḥ vivikte
The sages seek (you) in solitude / secluded contemplation
तीर्थपदः प्रपन्नाः
tīrtha-padaḥ prapannāḥ
Surrendering to the Lord whose feet are the holy fords (tirthas)
ज्ञानेन वैराग्यबलेन धीराः
jñānena vairāgya-balena dhīrāḥ
The steadfast ones, by knowledge and the power of dispassion
अङ्घ्रिसरोजपीठम्
aṅghri-saroja-pīṭham
The lotus-seat of your feet
विश्वस्य जन्म-स्थिति-संयम-अर्थे
viśvasya janma-sthiti-saṃyama-arthe
For the creation, maintenance and dissolution of the universe
कृतावतारस्य
kṛtāvatārasya
Of you who have taken (this) incarnation
शरणं व्रजेम सर्वे
śaraṇaṃ vrajema sarve
We all go for refuge
स्मृतं प्रयच्छति अभयं
smṛtaṃ prayachchhati abhayaṃ
Which, when remembered, bestows fearlessness
कथासुधायाः पानेन
kathā-sudhāyāḥ pānena
By drinking the nectar of your divine stories
प्रवृद्धभक्त्या
pravṛddha-bhaktyā
With ever-growing devotion
आत्मसमाधियोगबलेन
ātma-samādhi-yoga-balena
By the power of yoga and absorption in the Self
जित्वा प्रकृतिं बलिष्ठाम्
jitvā prakṛtiṃ baliṣṭhām
Having conquered the powerful material nature (prakriti)
त्वं आद्यः पुरुषः पुराणः
tvaṃ ādyaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ
You are the primeval, ancient Supreme Person
त्वं नः स्वचक्षुः परिदेहि
tvaṃ naḥ sva-chakṣuḥ paridehi
Bestow on us your own (guiding) vision / sight

Origin & History

Source: Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Canto 3, Chapter 5 (verses 38–50)

Author: Maharshi Veda Vyasa (traditional)

Period: Puranic

Kurma is the tortoise incarnation of Vishnu, who bore the mountain Mandara on his back during the churning of the ocean of milk. This stotra, preserved in the Srimad Bhagavata Purana, is the prayer of surrender offered by the gods to the Supreme Lord. Bowing at his lotus feet, the devas extol him as the refuge of all sages and the primeval Person who incarnates to create, sustain and dissolve the worlds, and they beseech his grace and guiding vision to fulfil their appointed role in creation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Kurma Stotram?
It is a thirteen-verse Sanskrit hymn of surrender to Lord Vishnu, found in the Srimad Bhagavata Purana (Canto 3, Chapter 5), in which the gods bow to the Lord's lotus feet and pray for refuge and grace. It is associated with Lord Kurma, the tortoise incarnation of Vishnu.
Where does the Kurma Stotram come from?
It is taken from the Srimad Bhagavata Purana, the great Vaishnava scripture traditionally ascribed to Maharshi Veda Vyasa. The verses form a prayer offered by the devas to the Supreme Lord.
What is the main theme of the hymn?
Its central theme is sharanagati — total surrender at the lotus feet of the Lord. It declares that those feet shelter the devotee like an umbrella from all suffering, and that merely remembering them grants fearlessness, while urging refuge over mere effort.
When should the Kurma Stotram be recited?
It is recited as a daily contemplative prayer to Vishnu, and especially on Ekadashi and during Vishnu festivals, as well as in the course of studying and reciting the Srimad Bhagavata Purana.

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