Mantra.Tips

Lakshmi Narasimha Pancharatnam Meaning — Line by Line

लक्ष्मीनृसिंह पञ्चरत्नम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

Jump to a verse ▾
  1. Verse 1. Tvatprabhujivapriyamicchasi cen
  2. Verse 2. Shuktau rajatapratibha jata
  3. Verse 3. Akritisamyacchalmalikusume
  4. Verse 4. Srakchandanavanitadin
  5. Verse 5. Tava hitamekam vachanam vakshye
Verse 1#

Tvatprabhujivapriyamicchasi cen

त्वत्प्रभुजीवप्रियमिच्छसि चेन् नरहरिपूजां कुरु सततं प्रतिबिम्बालङ्कृतिधृतिकुशलो बिम्बालङ्कृतिमातनुते चेतोभृङ्ग भ्रमसि वृथा भवमरुभूमौ विरसायां भज भज लक्ष्मीनरसिंहा- नघपदसरसिजमकरन्दम्

Tvatprabhujivapriyamicchasi cen naraharipujam kuru satatam Pratibimbalankritidhritikushalo bimbalankritimatanute | Cetobhringa bhramasi vritha bhavamarubhumau virasayam Bhaja bhaja lakshminarasimha- naghapadasarasijamakarandam || 1 ||

MeaningIf you wish to win the affection of your true Lord and Master, worship Narahari (Narasimha) constantly. One skilled only in decorating a reflection (in a mirror) is really adorning the original. O bee of the mind, why do you wander uselessly in the tasteless desert of worldly existence? Worship, worship the nectar of the sinless lotus-feet of Lakshmi-Narasimha!

Verse 2#

Shuktau rajatapratibha jata

शुक्तौ रजतप्रतिभा जाता कटकाद्यर्थसमर्था चेत् दुःखमयी ते संसृतिरेषा निर्वृतिदाने निपुणा भवति चेतोभृङ्ग भ्रमसि वृथा भवमरुभूमौ विरसायां भज भज लक्ष्मीनरसिंहा- नघपदसरसिजमकरन्दम्

Shuktau rajatapratibha jata katakadyarthasamartha cet Duhkhamayi te samsritiresha nirvritidane nipuna bhavati | Cetobhringa bhramasi vritha bhavamarubhumau virasayam Bhaja bhaja lakshminarasimha- naghapadasarasijamakarandam || 2 ||

MeaningJust as the glitter of silver appears in a mere shell — can it ever serve as a real bracelet or ornament? — so this sorrow-filled worldly life of yours can never truly bestow lasting bliss. O bee of the mind, why wander in vain in the tasteless desert of samsara? Worship, worship the nectar of the sinless lotus-feet of Lakshmi-Narasimha!

Verse 3#

Akritisamyacchalmalikusume

आकृतिसाम्याच्छाल्मलिकुसुमे स्थलनलिनत्वभ्रममकरोः गन्धरसाविह किमु विद्यते विकच सरोरुहपरिमलमिलिते चेतोभृङ्ग भ्रमसि वृथा भवमरुभूमौ विरसायां भज भज लक्ष्मीनरसिंहा- नघपदसरसिजमकरन्दम्

Akritisamyacchalmalikusume sthalanalinatvabhramamakaroh Gandharasaviha kimu vidyate vikacha saroruhaparimalamilite | Cetobhringa bhramasi vritha bhavamarubhumau virasayam Bhaja bhaja lakshminarasimha- naghapadasarasijamakarandam || 3 ||

MeaningDeceived by mere similarity of form, you mistook the (scentless) silk-cotton flower for a fragrant land-lotus! How can there be the perfume and sweetness here that belong to a fully-blossomed, fragrant lotus? O bee of the mind, why wander in vain in the tasteless desert of samsara? Worship, worship the nectar of the sinless lotus-feet of Lakshmi-Narasimha!

Verse 4#

Srakchandanavanitadin

स्रक्चन्दनवनितादीन् विषयानसुखाय भुङ्क्ष्व किमु मूढ सर्वम् इदं रजनीकर- किरणवियद्वारिविभ्रमं चलितम् चेतोभृङ्ग भ्रमसि वृथा भवमरुभूमौ विरसायां भज भज लक्ष्मीनरसिंहा- नघपदसरसिजमकरन्दम्

Srakchandanavanitadin vishayanasukhaya bhunkshva kimu mudha Sarvam idam rajanikara- kiranaviyadvarivibhramam chalitam | Cetobhringa bhramasi vritha bhavamarubhumau virasayam Bhaja bhaja lakshminarasimha- naghapadasarasijamakarandam || 4 ||

MeaningWhy, O deluded one, do you enjoy garlands, sandal-paste, women and other sense-objects, hoping for happiness? All this is as fleeting and illusory as the shimmer of moonbeams on water in the sky (a mirage). O bee of the mind, why wander in vain in the tasteless desert of samsara? Worship, worship the nectar of the sinless lotus-feet of Lakshmi-Narasimha!

Verse 5#

Tava hitamekam vachanam vakshye

तव हितमेकं वचनं वक्ष्ये शृणु सुखकामो यदि सततं स्वप्ने दृष्टं सकलं हि मृषा जाग्रति स्मर तदिति मतिमान् चेतोभृङ्ग भ्रमसि वृथा भवमरुभूमौ विरसायां भज भज लक्ष्मीनरसिंहा- नघपदसरसिजमकरन्दम्

Tava hitamekam vachanam vakshye shrinu sukhakamo yadi satatam Svapne drishtam sakalam hi mrisha jagrati cha smara taditi matiman | Cetobhringa bhramasi vritha bhavamarubhumau virasayam Bhaja bhaja lakshminarasimha- naghapadasarasijamakarandam || 5 ||

MeaningIf you desire lasting happiness, listen — I shall tell you one beneficial word: all that is seen in a dream is surely false; O wise one, remember this very truth in the waking state too. O bee of the mind, why wander in vain in the tasteless desert of samsara? Worship, worship the nectar of the sinless lotus-feet of Lakshmi-Narasimha!

Word-by-Word Breakdown

त्वत्प्रभु
Tvat-prabhu
Your master / the Lord who is your true master
जीवप्रियम्
Jiva-priyam
The affection / dearness of (your) life and soul
इच्छसि चेत्
Icchasi cet
If you wish / desire
नरहरिपूजां कुरु सततम्
Narahari-pujam kuru satatam
Always perform the worship of Narahari (the Man-Lion, Narasimha)
चेतोभृङ्ग
Ceto-bhringa
O bee of the mind / O wandering mind
भ्रमसि वृथा
Bhramasi vritha
You wander in vain / uselessly
भवमरुभूमौ
Bhava-maru-bhumau
In the desert-land of worldly existence (samsara)
विरसायाम्
Virasayam
Which is tasteless / devoid of true joy
भज भज
Bhaja bhaja
Worship, worship! / Resort again and again
लक्ष्मीनरसिंह
Lakshmi-narasimha
Lakshmi-Narasimha (Narasimha with Goddess Lakshmi)
अनघपद
Anagha-pada
The sinless / pure feet
सरसिजमकरन्दम्
Sarasija-makarandam
The nectar (honey) of the lotus (of his feet)
शुक्तौ रजतप्रतिभा
Shuktau rajata-pratibha
The illusory appearance of silver in a mother-of-pearl shell
दुःखमयी ते संसृतिः
Duhkhamayi te samsritih
This worldly existence of yours, full of sorrow
शाल्मलिकुसुमे
Shalmali-kusume
In the (showy but scentless) silk-cotton flower
स्थलनलिनत्वभ्रमम्
Sthala-nalinatva-bhramam
The delusion that it is a (fragrant) land-lotus
स्रक्चन्दनवनितादीन्
Srak-chandana-vanitadin
Garlands, sandal-paste, women and such (sense objects)
विषयान्
Vishayan
Objects of the senses
किमु मूढ
Kimu mudha
Why, O deluded one? / what for, O fool?
स्वप्ने दृष्टं सकलं हि मृषा
Svapne drishtam sakalam hi mrisha
All that is seen in a dream is indeed unreal
जाग्रति च स्मर
Jagrati cha smara
Remember this (truth) even in the waking state
मतिमान्
Matiman
O wise / intelligent one

Origin & History

Source: Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (Stotra literature)

Author: Adi Shankaracharya

Period: c. 8th century CE

Narasimha, the half-man half-lion avatara of Vishnu, appeared to slay the demon Hiranyakashipu and protect his devotee Prahlada. Adi Shankaracharya, who composed hymns to many forms of the divine, addressed this 'Pancharatnam' not in praise of the Lord's deeds but to the seeker's own restless mind — likening it to a bee that flits among illusory pleasures. In five gem-like verses he dismantles the charm of the world and points the mind to the one true refuge: the lotus-feet of Lakshmi-Narasimha.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Lakshmi Narasimha Pancharatnam?
It is a five-verse Sanskrit hymn ('pancha-ratnam' = five gems) by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Lakshmi-Narasimha. It addresses the wandering mind as a bee and, through vivid images of illusion, urges it to seek the nectar of the Lord's lotus-feet.
Who composed the Lakshmi Narasimha Pancharatnam?
It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE), the great Advaita master, who composed many devotional hymns including this one to Narasimha, an avatara of Vishnu.
What is the meaning of the recurring refrain?
The refrain 'Ceto-bhringa bhramasi vritha bhava-maru-bhumau virasayam, bhaja bhaja Lakshmi-Narasimha…' means: 'O bee of the mind, why do you wander uselessly in the tasteless desert of worldly life? Worship, worship the nectar of the sinless lotus-feet of Lakshmi-Narasimha.'
When is it best recited?
It is recited daily in the morning or evening as a contemplative prayer, and especially on Narasimha Jayanti and on Saturdays, before an image of Lakshmi-Narasimha.

Ready to start chanting?

See Benefits & How to Chant →