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Sudarshana Ashtakam Meaning — Line by Line

सुदर्शनाष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. pratibhaṭaśreṇi bhīṣaṇa varaguṇastoma bhūṣaṇa
  2. Verse 2. śubhajagadrūpa maṇḍana suragaṇatrāsa khaṇḍana
  3. Verse 3. sphuṭataṭijjāla piñjara pṛthutarajvāla pañjara
  4. Verse 4. nijapadaprīta sadgaṇa nirupadhisphīta ṣaḍguṇa
  5. Verse 5. danuja vistāra kartana jani tamisrā vikartana
  6. Verse 6. prathimukhālīḍha bandhura pṛthumahāheti dantura
  7. Verse 7. mahita sampat sadakṣara vihitasampat ṣaḍakṣara
  8. Verse 8. bhuvana netra trayīmaya savana tejastrayīmaya
  9. Verse 9. dvichatuṣkamidaṃ prabhūtasāraṃ paṭhatāṃ veṅkaṭanāyaka praṇītam |
Verse 1#

pratibhaṭaśreṇi bhīṣaṇa varaguṇastoma bhūṣaṇa

प्रतिभटश्रेणि भीषण वरगुणस्तोम भूषण जनिभयस्थान तारण जगदवस्थान कारण निखिलदुष्कर्म कर्शन निगमसद्धर्म दर्शन जय जय श्री सुदर्शन जय जय श्री सुदर्शन

pratibhaṭaśreṇi bhīṣaṇa varaguṇastoma bhūṣaṇa janibhayasthāna tāraṇa jagadavasthāna kāraṇa | nikhiladuṣkarma karśana nigamasaddharma darśana jaya jaya śrī sudarśana jaya jaya śrī sudarśana || 1 ||

MeaningVictory, victory to the glorious Sudarshana! O terror to the ranks of opposing foes, adorned with a host of noble qualities; deliverer from the fear of rebirth and cause of the world's stability; destroyer of all evil karma and revealer of the true dharma of the Vedas — victory, victory to Sri Sudarshana!

Verse 2#

śubhajagadrūpa maṇḍana suragaṇatrāsa khaṇḍana

शुभजगद्रूप मण्डन सुरगणत्रास खण्डन शतमखब्रह्म वन्दित शतपथब्रह्म नन्दित प्रथितविद्वत् सपक्षित भजदहिर्बुध्न्य लक्षित जय जय श्री सुदर्शन जय जय श्री सुदर्शन

śubhajagadrūpa maṇḍana suragaṇatrāsa khaṇḍana śatamakhabrahma vandita śatapathabrahma nandita | prathitavidvat sapakṣita bhajadahirbudhnya lakṣita jaya jaya śrī sudarśana jaya jaya śrī sudarśana || 2 ||

MeaningO ornament of the auspicious form of the universe, breaker of the terror of the gods; praised by Indra and Brahma and delighting the wisdom of the Vedas (Shatapatha); contemplated by learned sages and beheld by the devoted Ahirbudhnya — victory, victory to Sri Sudarshana!

Verse 3#

sphuṭataṭijjāla piñjara pṛthutarajvāla pañjara

स्फुटतटिज्जाल पिञ्जर पृथुतरज्वाल पञ्जर परिगत प्रत्नविग्रह पटुतरप्रज्ञ दुर्ग्रह प्रहरण ग्राम मण्डित परिजन त्राण पण्डित जय जय श्री सुदर्शन जय जय श्री सुदर्शन

sphuṭataṭijjāla piñjara pṛthutarajvāla pañjara parigata pratnavigraha paṭutaraprajña durgraha | praharaṇa grāma maṇḍita parijana trāṇa paṇḍita jaya jaya śrī sudarśana jaya jaya śrī sudarśana || 3 ||

MeaningGleaming amid a lattice of lightning, encased in a cage of vast leaping flames, encircling the ancient form of the Lord, hard to grasp even by the keenest intellect; adorned with the whole array of weapons and expert in protecting your devotees — victory, victory to Sri Sudarshana!

Verse 4#

nijapadaprīta sadgaṇa nirupadhisphīta ṣaḍguṇa

निजपदप्रीत सद्गण निरुपधिस्फीत षड्गुण निगम निर्व्यूढ वैभव निजपर व्यूह वैभव हरि हय द्वेषि दारण हर पुर प्लोष कारण जय जय श्री सुदर्शन जय जय श्री सुदर्शन

nijapadaprīta sadgaṇa nirupadhisphīta ṣaḍguṇa nigama nirvyūḍha vaibhava nijapara vyūha vaibhava | hari haya dveṣi dāraṇa hara pura ploṣa kāraṇa jaya jaya śrī sudarśana jaya jaya śrī sudarśana || 4 ||

MeaningWith hosts of attendants devoted to your feet, swelling boundlessly with the six divine qualities; your majesty proclaimed by the Vedas, glorious in your own and the Lord's vyuha forms; render of the asuras who hate Indra, and the cause that burned Tripura for Shiva — victory, victory to Sri Sudarshana!

Verse 5#

danuja vistāra kartana jani tamisrā vikartana

दनुज विस्तार कर्तन जनि तमिस्रा विकर्तन दनुजविद्या निकर्तन भजदविद्या निवर्तन अमर दृष्ट स्व विक्रम समर जुष्ट भ्रमिक्रम जय जय श्री सुदर्शन जय जय श्री सुदर्शन

danuja vistāra kartana jani tamisrā vikartana danujavidyā nikartana bhajadavidyā nivartana | amara dṛṣṭa sva vikrama samara juṣṭa bhramikrama jaya jaya śrī sudarśana jaya jaya śrī sudarśana || 5 ||

MeaningCutter-down of the expanse of demons, dispeller of the darkness of birth; severing the sorcery of the demons and turning back the ignorance of those who worship you; your valour witnessed by the immortals, whirling in dazzling circuits in battle — victory, victory to Sri Sudarshana!

Verse 6#

prathimukhālīḍha bandhura pṛthumahāheti dantura

प्रथिमुखालीढ बन्धुर पृथुमहाहेति दन्तुर विकटमाय बहिष्कृत विविधमाला परिष्कृत स्थिरमहायन्त्र तन्त्रित दृढ दया तन्त्र यन्त्रित जय जय श्री सुदर्शन जय जय श्री सुदर्शन

prathimukhālīḍha bandhura pṛthumahāheti dantura vikaṭamāya bahiṣkṛta vividhamālā pariṣkṛta | sthiramahāyantra tantrita dṛḍha dayā tantra yantrita jaya jaya śrī sudarśana jaya jaya śrī sudarśana || 6 ||

MeaningGraceful with mouths set turned toward the foe, bristling with great mighty blades, casting out terrible illusion, decked with manifold garlands; fixed within the steadfast great yantra, governed by the firm working of compassion — victory, victory to Sri Sudarshana!

Verse 7#

mahita sampat sadakṣara vihitasampat ṣaḍakṣara

महित सम्पत् सदक्षर विहितसम्पत् षडक्षर षडरचक्र प्रतिष्ठित सकल तत्त्व प्रतिष्ठित विविध सङ्कल्प कल्पक विबुधसङ्कल्प कल्पक जय जय श्री सुदर्शन जय जय श्री सुदर्शन

mahita sampat sadakṣara vihitasampat ṣaḍakṣara ṣaḍarachakra pratiṣṭhita sakala tattva pratiṣṭhita | vividha saṅkalpa kalpaka vibudhasaṅkalpa kalpaka jaya jaya śrī sudarśana jaya jaya śrī sudarśana || 7 ||

MeaningGlorified by the venerable imperishable Word, endowed with the wealth of the six-syllabled mantra; established in the six-spoked wheel and in all the principles of reality; fulfiller of every resolve, granting the wishes of the gods — victory, victory to Sri Sudarshana!

Verse 8#

bhuvana netra trayīmaya savana tejastrayīmaya

भुवन नेत्र त्रयीमय सवन तेजस्त्रयीमय निरवधि स्वादु चिन्मय निखिल शक्ते जगन्मय अमित विश्वक्रियामय शमित विश्वग्भयामय जय जय श्री सुदर्शन जय जय श्री सुदर्शन

bhuvana netra trayīmaya savana tejastrayīmaya niravadhi svādu chinmaya nikhila śakte jaganmaya | amita viśvakriyāmaya śamita viśvagbhayāmaya jaya jaya śrī sudarśana jaya jaya śrī sudarśana || 8 ||

MeaningO eye of the worlds, embodiment of the three Vedas; the radiance of the three sacrificial fires; endless, sweet and full of pure consciousness; all-powerful and pervading the whole universe; embodiment of the immeasurable activity of the cosmos, pacifier of all fear and disease from every side — victory, victory to Sri Sudarshana!

Verse 9#

dvichatuṣkamidaṃ prabhūtasāraṃ paṭhatāṃ veṅkaṭanāyaka praṇītam |

द्विचतुष्कमिदं प्रभूतसारं पठतां वेङ्कटनायक प्रणीतम् विषमेऽपि मनोरथः प्रधावन् विहन्येत रथाङ्ग धुर्य गुप्तः

dvichatuṣkamidaṃ prabhūtasāraṃ paṭhatāṃ veṅkaṭanāyaka praṇītam | viṣame'pi manorathaḥ pradhāvan na vihanyeta rathāṅga dhurya guptaḥ ||

MeaningFor those who recite this essence-filled set of eight verses composed by Venkatanatha (Vedanta Desika), every cherished aim, guarded by the foremost of discs, races forward unobstructed even through the hardest difficulties.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

प्रतिभटश्रेणि भीषण
pratibhaṭa-śreṇi bhīṣaṇa
O terror to the ranks of opposing enemies / fearsome to hostile foes
वरगुणस्तोम भूषण
varaguṇa-stoma bhūṣaṇa
O one adorned with a host of excellent qualities
जनिभयस्थान तारण
janibhaya-sthāna tāraṇa
O deliverer from the fear of (repeated) birth
जगदवस्थान कारण
jagadavasthāna kāraṇa
O cause of the sustenance and stability of the world
निखिलदुष्कर्म कर्शन
nikhila-duṣkarma karśana
O destroyer of all evil deeds / sins
निगमसद्धर्म दर्शन
nigama-saddharma darśana
O revealer of the true dharma of the Vedas
जय जय श्री सुदर्शन
jaya jaya śrī sudarśana
Victory, victory to the auspicious Sudarshana (the discus of Vishnu)!
सुरगणत्रास खण्डन
suragaṇa-trāsa khaṇḍana
O remover of the terror of the hosts of gods
शतमखब्रह्म वन्दित
śatamakha-brahma vandita
Worshipped by Indra (of a hundred sacrifices) and Brahma
अहिर्बुध्न्य लक्षित
ahirbudhnya lakṣita
Beheld / contemplated by Ahirbudhnya (the form of Shiva who meditates on Sudarshana)
पृथुतरज्वाल पञ्जर
pṛthutara-jvāla pañjara
Encased in a cage of vast, far-spreading flames
परिजन त्राण पण्डित
parijana trāṇa paṇḍita
Expert / skilled in protecting one's devotees and dependents
हरि हय द्वेषि दारण
hari haya dveṣi dāraṇa
O render of the enemies of Indra (whose horses are tawny) — the asuras
हर पुर प्लोष कारण
hara pura ploṣa kāraṇa
The cause of the burning of the (three) cities for Hara (Shiva — i.e. Tripura)
भजदविद्या निवर्तन
bhajad-avidyā nivartana
O remover of the ignorance of those who worship you
षडर चक्र प्रतिष्ठित
ṣaḍara-chakra pratiṣṭhita
Established in the six-spoked mystic wheel (yantra)
सकल तत्त्व प्रतिष्ठित
sakala tattva pratiṣṭhita
In whom all the principles of reality (tattvas) are established
भुवन नेत्र त्रयीमय
bhuvana netra trayīmaya
O eye of the worlds, embodiment of the three Vedas
निखिल शक्ते जगन्मय
nikhila śakte jaganmaya
O all-powerful one, who pervades and is the whole universe
शमित विश्वग्भयामय
śamita viśvag-bhayāmaya
O pacifier of every fear and disease from all directions
वेङ्कटनायक प्रणीतम्
veṅkaṭanāyaka praṇītam
Composed by Venkatanatha (Vedanta Desika)
रथाङ्ग धुर्य गुप्तः
rathāṅga dhurya guptaḥ
Protected by the foremost of discs (Sudarshana), one's desires run unobstructed even in difficulty

Origin & History

Source: Composed by Sri Vedanta Desika (Stotra literature, Kanchipuram)

Author: Sri Vedanta Desika (Venkatanatha)

Period: c. 13th–14th century CE

Sudarshana is the personified discus weapon of Lord Vishnu, held in his right hand and worshipped in the Sri Vaishnava tradition as a fierce deity who destroys evil and protects devotees. Sri Vedanta Desika, the towering acharya of Sri Vaishnavism, composed the Sudarshana Ashtakam at Kanchipuram. Tradition holds that he wrote it to counter a powerful affliction or to invoke Sudarshana's protective grace, pouring into eight verses a torrent of names and qualities of the divine discus, each closing with the victory-cry 'jaya jaya śrī sudarśana'.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sudarshana Ashtakam?
It is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn (ashtakam) composed by Sri Vedanta Desika in praise of Sudarshana, the radiant discus (chakra) of Lord Vishnu worshipped as a powerful protective deity. Each verse ends with the refrain 'jaya jaya śrī sudarśana' — 'victory, victory to Sri Sudarshana'.
Who composed the Sudarshana Ashtakam?
It was composed by Sri Vedanta Desika (Venkatanatha / Venkatanayaka, 1268–1369 CE), the great Sri Vaishnava philosopher-poet, at Kanchipuram. He signs it in the final verse as 'Venkatanayaka praṇītam'.
What are the benefits of chanting it?
It is chanted for protection from enemies, black magic, evil eye, diseases and obstacles. The phalashruti promises that those who recite it, guarded by Sudarshana, will see their cherished aims succeed even amid the greatest difficulties.
When is it best recited?
It is recited daily in the morning after bathing, especially on Saturdays, and is central to the Sudarshana Homam performed for warding off negativity, illness and obstacles and for the protection of the family.

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