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Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram Meaning — Line by Line

लक्ष्मीनृसिंह करावलम्ब स्तोत्र

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. Shrimatpayonidhiniketana chakrapane
  2. Verse 2. Brahmendrarudramarudarkakiritakoti
  3. Verse 3. Samsaraghoragahane charato murare
  4. Verse 4. Samsarakupamatighoramagadhamulam
  5. Verse 5. Samsarasagaravishalakaralakala
  6. Verse 6. Samsaravrikshamaghabijamanantakarma
  7. Verse 7. Samsarasarpaghanavaktrabhayogrativra
  8. Verse 8. Samsaradavadahanaturabhikaroru
  9. Verse 9. Samsarajalapatitasya jagannivasa
  10. Verse 10. Samsarabhikarakarindrakarabhighata
  11. Verse 11. Andhasya me hritavivekamahadhanasya
  12. Verse 12. Lakshmipate kamalanabha suresha vishno
  13. Verse 13. Yanmayayorjitavapuhprachurapravaha
Verse 1#

Shrimatpayonidhiniketana chakrapane

श्रीमत्पयोनिधिनिकेतन चक्रपाणे भोगीन्द्रभोगमणिरञ्जितपुण्यमूर्ते योगीश शाश्वत शरण्य भवाब्धिपोत लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥१॥

Shrimatpayonidhiniketana chakrapane Bhogindrabhogamaniranjitapunyamurte Yogisha shashvata sharanya bhavabdhipota Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

MeaningO Lord who dwells in the glorious ocean of milk, holder of the discus; whose holy form is reddened by the gems on the hoods of Shesha, lord of serpents; O Lord of yogis, eternal, refuge of all, the boat that carries us across the ocean of worldly existence — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 2#

Brahmendrarudramarudarkakiritakoti

ब्रह्मेन्द्ररुद्रमरुदर्ककिरीटकोटि सङ्घट्टिताङ्घ्रिकमलामलकान्तिकान्त लक्ष्मीलसत्कुचसरोरुहराजहंस लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥२॥

Brahmendrarudramarudarkakiritakoti Sanghattitanghrikamalamalakantikanta Lakshmilasatkuchasaroruharajahamsa Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

MeaningO Lord, the spotless radiance of whose lotus-feet is rendered beautiful by the touch of the millions of crowns of Brahma, Indra, Rudra, the Maruts and the Sun as they bow; O royal swan playing at the lotus-breast of Lakshmi — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 3#

Samsaraghoragahane charato murare

संसारघोरगहने चरतो मुरारे मारोग्रभीकरमृगप्रवरार्दितस्य आर्तस्य मत्सरनिदाघनिपीडितस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥३॥

Samsaraghoragahane charato murare Marograbhikaramrigapravararditasya Artasya matsaranidaghanipiditasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

MeaningO Murari! As I wander in the terrible dense forest of worldly existence, tormented by the fierce dreadful beast of lust, afflicted and scorched by the summer-heat of envy — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 4#

Samsarakupamatighoramagadhamulam

संसारकूपमतिघोरमगाधमूलं सम्प्राप्य दुःखशतसर्पसमाकुलस्य दीनस्य देव कृपणापदमागतस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥४॥

Samsarakupamatighoramagadhamulam Samprapya duhkhashatasarpasamakulasya Dinasya deva kripanapadamagatasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

MeaningHaving fallen into the well of worldly existence — most terrible and bottomless — swarming with a hundred serpents of sorrow; wretched, O God, and come to pitiable calamity — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 5#

Samsarasagaravishalakaralakala

संसारसागरविशालकरालकाल नक्रग्रहग्रसननिग्रहविग्रहस्य व्यग्रस्य रागरसनोर्मिनिपीडितस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥५॥

Samsarasagaravishalakaralakala Nakragrahagrasananigrahavigrahasya Vyagrasya ragarasanorminipiditasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

MeaningIn the vast and fearsome ocean of worldly existence, caught in the grip of the crocodile of Time, distressed and battered by the waves of the restless tongue of craving — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 6#

Samsaravrikshamaghabijamanantakarma

संसारवृक्षमघबीजमनन्तकर्म शाखाशतं करणपत्रमनङ्गपुष्पम् आरुह्य दुःखफलितं पततो दयालो लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥६॥

Samsaravrikshamaghabijamanantakarma Shakhashatam karanapatramanangapushpam Aruhya duhkhaphalitam patato dayalo Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

MeaningO Compassionate One! Having climbed the tree of worldly existence — whose seed is sin, whose root is endless karma, whose hundred branches are the deeds, whose leaves are the senses and whose flower is desire — I am falling, for its fruit is sorrow — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 7#

Samsarasarpaghanavaktrabhayogrativra

संसारसर्पघनवक्त्रभयोग्रतीव्र दंष्ट्राकरालविषदग्धविनष्टमूर्तेः नागारिवाहन सुधाब्धिनिवास शौरे लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥७॥

Samsarasarpaghanavaktrabhayogrativra Damshtrakaralavishadagdhavinashtamurteh Nagarivahana sudhabdhinivasa shaure Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

MeaningO Shauri, who rides the enemy of serpents (Garuda) and dwells in the ocean of nectar! My very form is destroyed, burnt by the dreadful venom of the cruel, terrible fangs in the dense mouth of the serpent of samsara — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 8#

Samsaradavadahanaturabhikaroru

संसारदावदहनातुरभीकरोरु ज्वालावलीभिरतिदग्धतनूरुहस्य त्वत्पादपद्मसरसीशरणागतस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥८॥

Samsaradavadahanaturabhikaroru Jvalavalibhiratidagdhatanuruhasya Tvatpadapadmasarasisharanagatasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

MeaningThe very hairs of my body are scorched by the dreadful, vast rows of flames of the forest-fire of worldly existence; distressed, I have taken refuge in the lake of your lotus-feet — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 9#

Samsarajalapatitasya jagannivasa

संसारजालपतितस्य जगन्निवास सर्वेन्द्रियार्तवडिशार्थझषोपमस्य प्रोत्खण्डितप्रचुरतालुकमस्तकस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥९॥

Samsarajalapatitasya jagannivasa Sarvendriyartavadisharthajhashopamasya Protkhanditaprachuratalukamastakasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

MeaningO Abode of the universe! I have fallen into the net of worldly existence, like a fish caught on the baited hook of the sense-objects, my palate and head torn through — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 10#

Samsarabhikarakarindrakarabhighata

संसारभीकरकरीन्द्रकराभिघात निष्पिष्टमर्मवपुषः सकलार्तिनाश प्राणप्रयाणभवभीतिसमाकुलस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥१०॥

Samsarabhikarakarindrakarabhighata Nishpishtamarmavapushah sakalartinasha Pranaprayanabhavabhitisamakulasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

MeaningO Destroyer of all affliction! My vital frame is crushed by the blow of the trunk of the dreadful elephant of samsara, and I am overwhelmed by the terror of death and rebirth as my life-breath departs — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 11#

Andhasya me hritavivekamahadhanasya

अन्धस्य मे हृतविवेकमहाधनस्य चोरैः प्रभो बलिभिरिन्द्रियनामधेयैः मोहान्धकूपकुहरे विनिपातितस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥११॥

Andhasya me hritavivekamahadhanasya Choraih prabho balibhirindriyanamadheyaih Mohandhakupakuhare vinipatitasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

MeaningO Lord! I am blind, the great wealth of my discrimination stolen by the mighty thieves named the senses, and I am cast down into the dark hollow-pit of delusion — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 12#

Lakshmipate kamalanabha suresha vishno

लक्ष्मीपते कमलनाभ सुरेश विष्णो वैकुण्ठ कृष्ण मधुसूदन पुष्कराक्ष ब्रह्मण्य केशव जनार्दन वासुदेव देवेश देहि कृपणस्य करावलम्बम् ॥१२॥

Lakshmipate kamalanabha suresha vishno Vaikuntha krishna madhusudana pushkaraksha Brahmanya keshava janardana vasudeva Devesha dehi kripanasya karavalambam

MeaningO Consort of Lakshmi, lotus-naveled, Lord of the gods, Vishnu; Vaikuntha, Krishna, slayer of Madhu, lotus-eyed; well-wisher of the holy, Keshava, Janardana, Vasudeva — O Lord of gods, give this wretched one the support of your hand.

Verse 13#

Yanmayayorjitavapuhprachurapravaha

यन्माययोर्जितवपुःप्रचुरप्रवाह मग्नार्थमत्र निवहोरुकरावलम्बम् लक्ष्मीनृसिंहचरणाब्जमधुव्रतेन स्तोत्रं कृतं सुखकरं भुवि शङ्करेण ॥१३॥

Yanmayayorjitavapuhprachurapravaha Magnarthamatra nivahorukaravalambam Lakshminrisimhacharanabjamadhuvratena Stotram kritam sukhakaram bhuvi shankarena

MeaningThis blissful hymn was composed on earth by Shankara — a honey-bee at the lotus-feet of Lakshmi-Narasimha — as a great supporting hand for the multitude drowning in the abundant flood of births wrought by His maya.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

नृसिंह
Nrisimha
The man-lion — the fierce protective avatar of Vishnu who slew Hiranyakashipu
करावलम्बम्
Karavalambam
The support/help of the hand — a hand extended to lift one up
संसार
Samsara
The cycle of worldly existence — birth, death and suffering
भवाब्धिपोत
Bhavabdhi-pota
The boat that ferries the soul across the ocean of existence
मुरारे
Murare
O slayer of the demon Mura — an epithet of Vishnu/Krishna
देहि
Dehi
Give, grant, bestow (imperative)

Origin & History

Source: Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

Author: Adi Shankaracharya

Period: c. 8th century CE

Lord Narasimha is the fourth avatar of Vishnu — half-man, half-lion — who burst forth from a pillar to slay the tyrant Hiranyakashipu and save his devotee-son Prahlada, becoming the supreme symbol of God's protection of His devotees. In this hymn the great teacher Adi Shankaracharya pictures the soul drowning in the ocean of samsara — beset by lust, envy, delusion and the fear of death — and in verse after verse stretches out his arms to Lakshmi-Narasimha with the same cry: 'give me the support of your hand.'

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram?
It is a famous 13-verse Sanskrit hymn to Lord Narasimha (the man-lion avatar of Vishnu) with His consort Lakshmi, composed by Adi Shankaracharya. In each verse the devotee describes the terrors of worldly existence and pleads, 'O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand (karavalamba).'
What does 'Karavalamba' mean?
'Karavalamba' means 'the support of the hand' — a helping hand extended to lift someone who is drowning or falling. The whole stotra is a prayer asking Narasimha to reach out His hand and rescue the soul from the ocean of samsara.
What are the benefits of reciting it?
It is chanted as a prayer of surrender for protection from fear, danger, disease and untimely death, and to cross the sufferings of worldly life. Narasimha is revered as the supreme protector of devotees, and this hymn is especially powerful in times of crisis.
When should the Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram be recited?
It can be recited daily, morning or evening. Saturdays and Narasimha Jayanti (the appearance day of Lord Narasimha, in the month of Vaishakha) are considered especially auspicious.

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