Sri Venkatesha Karavalamba Stotram
श्री वेङ्कटेश करावलम्ब स्तोत्रम्
Also known as: venkatesha karavalamba stotram · venkatesa karavalamba stotram · venkateswara karavalamba stotram · sri sesha saila suniketana · balaji karavalamba stotram · venkatesha karavalambam
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✦ Meaning
The Sri Venkatesha Karavalamba Stotram is a heartfelt prayer of surrender to Lord Venkateswara (Balaji) of Tirumala, composed by Sri Nrisimha Bharati, a Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. In fourteen verses, each closing with the plea 'Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand,' it adores the Lord's divine form from crown to feet and begs his protecting hand to lift the devotee across the ocean of worldly existence. The closing verse promises that those who recite it attain the supreme abode of Vishnu.
Origin & Story
Composed by Sri Nrisimha Bharati of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham · Sri Nrisimha Bharati (Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri) · Medieval / later Sringeri tradition
This stotram belongs to the popular genre of 'karavalamba' hymns — prayers in which a devotee, feeling helpless in the ocean of worldly suffering, repeatedly cries out to the Lord for 'the support of his hand.' It was composed by a Jagadguru Sri Nrisimha Bharati of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham in adoration of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala. Verse by verse it offers a complete darshan of Balaji, from his jewelled crown and musk-marked forehead down to his feet from which the purifying river is said to flow, ending always with the same humble plea for his grace. The closing verse declares that those who recite it reach the supreme state of Purushottama.
✦ As told in scripture
Devotees hold that those who beheld the feet of Lord Venkateswara found their sins and inner darkness dissolved that very day, as the twelfth verse declares; and the thirteenth verse testifies that on taking refuge in him, the inner enemies such as desire and all worldly poverty depart, the Lord's merciful glance lifting the lowly devotee to his protecting hand.
Complete Text with Meaning
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श्रीशेषशैलसुनिकेतन दिव्यमूर्ते नारायणाच्युत हरे नलिनायताक्ष। लीलाकटाक्षपरिरक्षितसर्वलोक श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Shri-shesha-shaila-suniketana divya-murte Narayanachyuta hare nalinayataksha Lila-kataksha-parirakshita-sarva-loka Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O Lord whose divine form dwells upon the lovely Seshachala hill, O Narayana, Achyuta, Hari, lotus-eyed one, protector of all the worlds by your playful glance — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
ब्रह्मादिवन्दितपदाम्बुज शङ्खपाणे श्रीमत्सुदर्शनसुशोभितदिव्यहस्त। कारुण्यसागर शरण्य सुपुण्यमूर्ते श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Brahmadi-vandita-padambuja shankha-pane Shrimat-sudarshana-sushobhita-divya-hasta Karunya-sagara sharanya su-punya-murte Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O one whose lotus-feet are adored by Brahma and the gods, holding the conch and the resplendent Sudarshana discus in your divine hands, O ocean of compassion, O refuge of the surrendered, of supremely holy form — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
वेदान्तवेद्य भवसागरकर्णधार श्रीपद्मनाभ कमलार्चितपादपद्म। लोकैकपावन परात्पर पापहारिन् श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Vedanta-vedya bhava-sagara-karnadhara Shri-padmanabha kamalarchita-pada-padma Lokaika-pavana paratpara papa-harin Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O one knowable through the Vedanta, helmsman across the ocean of existence, O Padmanabha whose lotus-feet are worshipped by the lotus-born Lakshmi, sole purifier of the worlds, higher than the highest, remover of sins — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
लक्ष्मीपते निगमलक्ष्य निजस्वरूप कामादिदोषपरिहारक बोधदायिन्। दैत्यादिमर्दन जनार्दन वासुदेव श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Lakshmipate nigama-lakshya nija-svarupa Kamadi-dosha-pariharaka bodha-dayin Daityadi-mardana janardana vasudeva Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O Lord of Lakshmi, the goal of the scriptures, of true essential nature, who removes the faults of desire and the rest and grants true knowledge, crusher of the demons, O Janardana, O Vasudeva — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
तापत्रयं हर विभो रभसान्मुरारे संरक्ष मां करुणया सरसीरुहाक्ष। मच्छिष्यमित्यनुदिनं परिरक्ष विष्णो श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Tapa-trayam hara vibho rabhasan-murare Samraksha mam karunaya sarasiruhaksha Mach-chhishyam-ity-anudinam pariraksha vishno Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:Quickly destroy the three afflictions, O all-pervading Murari; protect me with compassion, O lotus-eyed one; guard me each day as your own disciple, O Vishnu — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
श्रीजातरूपनवरत्नलसत्किरीट कस्तूरिकातिलकशोभिललाटदेश। राकेन्दुबिम्बवदनाम्बुज वारिजाक्ष श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Shri-jata-rupa-nava-ratna-lasat-kirita Kasturika-tilaka-shobhi-lalata-desha Rakendu-bimba-vadanambuja varijaksha Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O one wearing a crown shining with fine gold and the nine gems, your forehead beautiful with a musk tilaka, your lotus-face like the full moon, O lotus-eyed one — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
वन्दारुलोकवरदानवचोविलास रत्नाढ्यहारपरिशोभित कम्बुकण्ठ। केयूररत्नसुविभासिदिगन्तराल श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Vandaru-loka-varadana-vacho-vilasa Ratnadhya-hara-parishobhita kambu-kantha Keyura-ratna-suvibhasi-digantarala Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O one whose words playfully bestow boons upon your devotees, your conch-like neck adorned with jewel-studded necklaces, the gems of your armlets lighting up every quarter — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
दिव्याङ्गदाङ्कितभुजद्वय मङ्गलात्मन् केयूरभूषण सुशोभित दीर्घबाहो। नागेन्द्रकङ्कणकरद्वयकामदायिन् श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Divyangadankita-bhuja-dvaya mangalatman Keyura-bhushana sushobhita dirgha-baho Nagendra-kankana-kara-dvaya-kama-dayin Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O auspicious one, your two arms marked with divine armlets, your long arms beautified with bracelet ornaments, your two hands granting wishes with serpent-king bangles — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
स्वामिन् जगद्धरण वारिधिमध्यमग्न मामुद्धरय कृपया करुणापयोधे। लक्ष्मींश्च देहि मम धर्मसमृद्धिहेतुं श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Svamin jagad-dharana varidhi-madhya-magna Mam-uddhara kripaya karuna-payodhe Lakshmimshcha dehi mama dharma-samriddhi-hetum Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O Master, sustainer of the world, I am drowning in the midst of the ocean (of samsara); lift me up by your grace, O sea of mercy; and grant me Lakshmi (prosperity) for the increase of righteousness — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
दिव्याङ्गरागपरिचर्चितकोमलाङ्ग पीताम्बरावृततनो तरुणार्कभास। सत्याञ्जनाभपरिधान सुपत्तबन्ध श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Divyanga-raga-paricharchita-komalanga Pitambaravrita-tano tarunarka-bhasa Satyanjanabha-paridhana su-patta-bandha Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O one whose tender limbs are anointed with divine fragrant pastes, your body wrapped in yellow silk, radiant like the rising sun, beautifully girded — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
रत्नाढ्यदामसुनिबद्धकटिप्रदेश माणिक्यदर्पणसुसन्निभजानुदेश। जङ्घाद्वयेन परिमोहितसर्वलोक श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Ratnadhya-dama-sunibaddha-kati-pradesha Manikya-darpana-susannibha-janu-desha Janghadvayena parimohita-sarva-loka Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O one whose waist is bound with a jewel-rich girdle, whose knees gleam like ruby mirrors, who enchants all the worlds with your two thighs — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
लोकैकपावनसरित्परिशोभिताङ्घ्रे त्वत्पाददर्शन दिने च ममाघमीश। हार्दं तमश्च सकलं लयमाप भूमन् श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Lokaika-pavana-sarit-parishobhitanghre Tvat-pada-darshana dine cha mamagham-isha Hardam tamashcha sakalam layam-apa bhuman Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O one whose feet are graced by the world's sole purifying river (that flows from them), on the day I beheld your feet, O Lord, all my sin and inner darkness met dissolution, O all-pervading one — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
कामादिवैरिनिवहोच्युत मे प्रयातः दारिद्र्यमप्यपगतं सकलं दयालो। दीनं च मां समवलोक्य दयार्द्रदृष्ट्या श्रीवेङ्कटेश मम देहि करावलम्बम्॥
Kamadi-vairi-nivahochyuta me prayatah Daridryam-apy-apagatam sakalam dayalo Dinam cha mam samavalokya dayardra-drishtya Shri-venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O Achyuta, the host of enemies such as desire has departed from me, and all my poverty too is gone, O compassionate one; looking upon me, lowly as I am, with a glance moist with mercy — O Sri Venkatesha, grant me the support of your hand.
श्रीवेङ्कटेशपदपङ्कजषट्पदेन श्रीमन्नृसिंहयतिना रचितं जगत्याम्। एतत्पठन्ति मनुजाः पुरुषोत्तमस्य ते प्राप्नुवन्ति परमां पदवीं मुरारेः॥
Shri-venkatesha-pada-pankaja-shatpadena Shriman-nrisimha-yatina rachitam jagatyam Etat-pathanti manujah purushottamasya Te prapnuvanti paramam padavim murareh
Meaning:This hymn was composed in the world by the ascetic Sri Nrisimha (Bharati), like a bee at the lotus-feet of Sri Venkatesha. Those who recite it attain the supreme state of Purushottama, Murari.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Sri Venkatesha Karavalamba Stotram
Expresses complete surrender (sharanagati) at the feet of Lord Venkateswara
Invokes the Lord's protecting hand to rescue the devotee from the ocean of samsara
Said to remove the three afflictions (tapa-traya) and inner darkness
The thirteenth verse describes the removal of poverty and of inner enemies like desire
A complete meditative darshan of Balaji from crown to feet (shata-anga dhyana)
Recitation is promised to lead the devotee to the supreme abode of Vishnu
Especially powerful when chanted before the deity at Tirumala or during Venkateswara worship
How to Chant Sri Venkatesha Karavalamba Stotram
Sit before an image of Lord Venkateswara, light a lamp, and recite all fourteen verses with a feeling of surrender, visualizing the Lord's form as each verse describes him from crown to feet. Let the refrain 'Sri Venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam' — 'grant me the support of your hand' — express your appeal for his protecting grace. It may be chanted daily or recited as part of Saturday Venkateswara puja. Conclude with the fourteenth verse, which states the fruit of recitation.
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