Mantra.Tips

Varaha Stotram Meaning — Line by Line

वराह स्तोत्रम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

Jump to a verse ▾
  1. Verse 1. chidānandaghanaṃ śuddhaṃ viśvamaṅgalakārakam |
  2. Verse 2. neti neti śrutirbrūte yasya rūpaṃ vinirṇayan |
  3. Verse 3. tattvamasīti vaktāramāvirbhūtaṃ jagatpatim |
  4. Verse 4. rasātalagatāṃ bhūmiṃ gajaḥ kamalinīmiva |
  5. Verse 5. avadhīdyo hiraṇyākṣaṃ viśvakaṇṭakarākṣasam |
  6. Verse 6. dharmoddhārāvatāro'yaṃ sajjanāvanahetukam |
  7. Verse 7. atyantakaruṇāsāndraṃ jagaduddhārakaṃ param |
  8. Verse 8. sadaivākliṣṭakarmāṇaṃ jagataḥsthitihetave |
Verse 1#

chidānandaghanaṃ śuddhaṃ viśvamaṅgalakārakam |

चिदानन्दघनं शुद्धं विश्वमङ्गलकारकम् मोक्षहेतुं हि तं विष्णुं वन्दे वाराहरूपिणम्

chidānandaghanaṃ śuddhaṃ viśvamaṅgalakārakam | mokṣahetuṃ hi taṃ viṣṇuṃ vande vārāharūpiṇam || 1 ||

MeaningI bow to that Vishnu in the form of the boar (Varaha) — the dense mass of consciousness and bliss, the pure one, who brings auspiciousness to the whole world and is the cause of liberation.

Verse 2#

neti neti śrutirbrūte yasya rūpaṃ vinirṇayan |

नेति नेति श्रुतिर्ब्रूते यस्य रूपं विनिर्णयन् परब्रह्महितं विष्णुं वन्दे वाराहरूपिणम्

neti neti śrutirbrūte yasya rūpaṃ vinirṇayan | parabrahmahitaṃ viṣṇuṃ vande vārāharūpiṇam || 2 ||

MeaningI bow to that Vishnu in the boar form — whose nature the Vedas, seeking to define, can only call 'not this, not this' (neti neti), the very good that is the Supreme Brahman.

Verse 3#

tattvamasīti vaktāramāvirbhūtaṃ jagatpatim |

तत्त्वमसीति वक्तारमाविर्भूतं जगत्पतिम् श्रीसद्गुरुं हितं विष्णुं वन्दे वाराहरूपिणम्

tattvamasīti vaktāramāvirbhūtaṃ jagatpatim | śrīsadguruṃ hitaṃ viṣṇuṃ vande vārāharūpiṇam || 3 ||

MeaningI bow to that Vishnu in the boar form — the Lord of the universe who has manifested, the true preceptor (sadguru) who is the speaker of the great teaching 'That thou art' (Tat Tvam Asi).

Verse 4#

rasātalagatāṃ bhūmiṃ gajaḥ kamalinīmiva |

रसातलगतां भूमिं गजः कमलिनीमिव उद्दधार हि तं विष्णुं वन्दे वाराहरूपिणम्

rasātalagatāṃ bhūmiṃ gajaḥ kamalinīmiva | uddadhāra hi taṃ viṣṇuṃ vande vārāharūpiṇam || 4 ||

MeaningI bow to that Vishnu in the boar form — who lifted up the earth sunk into the nether regions as effortlessly as an elephant lifts a lotus-stalk.

Verse 5#

avadhīdyo hiraṇyākṣaṃ viśvakaṇṭakarākṣasam |

अवधीद्यो हिरण्याक्षं विश्वकण्टकराक्षसम् विश्वपालहितं विष्णुं वन्दे वाराहरूपिणम्

avadhīdyo hiraṇyākṣaṃ viśvakaṇṭakarākṣasam | viśvapālahitaṃ viṣṇuṃ vande vārāharūpiṇam || 5 ||

MeaningI bow to that Vishnu in the boar form — who slew Hiranyaksha, the demon who was a thorn tormenting the whole world, for the welfare and protection of all.

Verse 6#

dharmoddhārāvatāro'yaṃ sajjanāvanahetukam |

धर्मोद्धारावतारोऽयं सज्जनावनहेतुकम् जगत्पतिं हितं विष्णुं वन्दे वाराहरूपिणम्

dharmoddhārāvatāro'yaṃ sajjanāvanahetukam | jagatpatiṃ hitaṃ viṣṇuṃ vande vārāharūpiṇam || 6 ||

MeaningI bow to that Vishnu in the boar form — this incarnation for the upliftment of dharma, the Lord of the universe who descended for the protection of the virtuous.

Verse 7#

atyantakaruṇāsāndraṃ jagaduddhārakaṃ param |

अत्यन्तकरुणासान्द्रं जगदुद्धारकं परम् भवतारं हि तं विष्णुं वन्दे वाराहरूपिणम्

atyantakaruṇāsāndraṃ jagaduddhārakaṃ param | bhavatāraṃ hi taṃ viṣṇuṃ vande vārāharūpiṇam || 7 ||

MeaningI bow to that Vishnu in the boar form — supremely saturated with boundless compassion, the great rescuer of the world, who carries beings across the ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 8#

sadaivākliṣṭakarmāṇaṃ jagataḥsthitihetave |

सदैवाक्लिष्टकर्माणं जगतःस्थितिहेतवे भवनौकां हि तं विष्णुं वन्दे वाराहरूपिणम्

sadaivākliṣṭakarmāṇaṃ jagataḥsthitihetave | bhavanaukāṃ hi taṃ viṣṇuṃ vande vārāharūpiṇam || 8 ||

MeaningI bow to that Vishnu in the boar form — ever effortless in his deeds, who for the maintenance of the universe is himself the very boat that ferries us across the sea of samsara.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

चिदानन्दघनं
chidānanda-ghanaṃ
The dense mass of consciousness and bliss (chit-ananda)
शुद्धं
śuddhaṃ
The pure one
विश्वमङ्गलकारकम्
viśva-maṅgala-kārakam
The doer of auspiciousness for the whole universe
मोक्षहेतुं
mokṣa-hetuṃ
The cause / bestower of liberation
तं विष्णुं वन्दे
taṃ viṣṇuṃ vande
I bow to that Vishnu
वाराहरूपिणम्
vārāha-rūpiṇam
Who is in the form of the boar (Varaha)
नेति नेति श्रुतिः ब्रूते
neti neti śrutiḥ brūte
Whom the Vedas describe as 'not this, not this' (neti neti)
यस्य रूपं विनिर्णयन्
yasya rūpaṃ vinirṇayan
While trying to determine / define his form
परब्रह्महितं
parabrahma-hitaṃ
Who is the benefactor / the very good as the Supreme Brahman
तत्त्वमसि इति वक्तारम्
tattvamasi iti vaktāram
Who is the speaker of 'That thou art' (the great Upanishadic teaching)
आविर्भूतं जगत्पतिम्
āvirbhūtaṃ jagatpatim
The Lord of the universe who has manifested / appeared
श्रीसद्गुरुं
śrī-sadguruṃ
The true and venerable preceptor (sadguru)
रसातलगतां भूमिं
rasātala-gatāṃ bhūmiṃ
The earth that had sunk into the nether regions (Rasatala)
गजः कमलिनीम् इव
gajaḥ kamalinīm iva
As an elephant lifts a lotus(-stalk)
उद्दधार
uddadhāra
Lifted up / rescued
अवधीत् यः हिरण्याक्षं
avadhīt yaḥ hiraṇyākṣaṃ
Who slew (the demon) Hiranyaksha
विश्वकण्टकराक्षसम्
viśva-kaṇṭaka-rākṣasam
The demon who was a thorn (a torment) to the whole world
धर्मोद्धार-अवतारः अयम्
dharma-uddhāra-avatāraḥ ayam
This is the incarnation for the upliftment of dharma
सज्जनावनहेतुकम्
sajjana-avana-hetukam
For the sake of protecting the virtuous / good people
अत्यन्तकरुणासान्द्रं
atyanta-karuṇā-sāndraṃ
Densely saturated with boundless compassion
भवतारं
bhava-tāraṃ
Who carries one across the ocean of worldly existence (bhava)
अक्लिष्टकर्माणं
akliṣṭa-karmāṇaṃ
Whose actions are effortless / untainted
भवनौकां
bhava-naukāṃ
Who is the boat (to cross) the ocean of samsara

Origin & History

Source: Varaha Stotram (anushtubh metre), composed by Sri Shridhara Swami Maharaj

Author: Sri Shridhara Swami Maharaj (paramahamsa parivrajaka acharya)

Period: Modern (composed at Sri Kshetra Varadapura, 20th century)

Varaha, the boar avatar of Vishnu, is one of the most ancient and beloved incarnations: when the demon Hiranyaksha dragged the earth down into the cosmic waters, the Lord assumed the colossal form of a boar, dived into the deep, slew the demon, and raised the earth on his tusks. This eight-verse stotra in praise of Varaha was composed by Sri Shridhara Swami Maharaj. In gem-like anushtubh verses it praises the Lord not only for rescuing the earth and destroying evil but as the very Brahman beyond words, the sadguru who utters 'Tat Tvam Asi', and the boat that carries souls across the sea of existence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Varaha Stotram?
It is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn in praise of Lord Varaha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu. Each verse ends with the refrain 'vande vārāha-rūpiṇam' — 'I bow to the One in the form of the boar' — extolling his rescue of the earth and his nature as the Supreme Brahman.
Who is Lord Varaha?
Varaha is the third avatar of Vishnu, who took the form of a giant boar to dive into the cosmic ocean and lift the earth (Bhudevi), which had been dragged down to the nether regions (Rasatala) by the demon Hiranyaksha, whom he then slew.
What is the meaning of the recurring refrain?
The refrain 'vande vārāha-rūpiṇam' means 'I bow to that Vishnu who is in the form of the boar (Varaha).' Each verse first describes a quality or deed of the Lord and then ends with this loving salutation.
When should the Varaha Stotram be recited?
It is recited as a daily prayer to Vishnu and especially on Varaha Jayanti (Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya), as well as during Vishnu festivals, for protection, upliftment and spiritual deliverance.

Ready to start chanting?

See Benefits & How to Chant →