Vishnu Bhujanga Prayata Stotram
विष्णु भुजङ्गप्रयात स्तोत्रम्
Also known as: vishnu bhujanga prayata stotram · vishnu bhujangam · chidamsam vibhum nirmalam nirvikalpam · vishnu bhujanga stotra · shankaracharya vishnu bhujangam
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✦ Meaning
The Vishnu Bhujanga Prayata Stotram is a soul-stirring hymn to Lord Vishnu composed by Adi Shankaracharya in the graceful 'gliding serpent' (bhujangaprayata) metre. Its opening verses adore Vishnu both as the formless Absolute (Para Brahman) realised through Om and as the resplendent four-armed Narayana seated with Lakshmi and Bhudevi. The later verses turn into a moving personal prayer on old age, death and surrender, ending with the assurance that whoever recites it with devotion crosses the ocean of samsara and attains the imperishable Lord.
Origin & Story
Composition of Adi Shankaracharya (Shankara Bhagavatpada) · Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE) · 8th century CE
This stotram is counted among Adi Shankaracharya's devotional hymns in the bhujangaprayata metre. Tradition relates that Shankara, the great teacher of Advaita Vedanta, composed and recited such Vishnu hymns out of deep bhakti even while expounding the formless Absolute, showing the harmony of jnana and devotion. By one account he sang a Vishnu hymn so that the attendants of the Lord came to escort his departing mother to the higher worlds — fitting the stotram's theme of surrender at life's end.
✦ As told in scripture
It is said that when Adi Shankaracharya's mother lay dying and feared the fierce messengers she beheld, Shankara sang the praises of Vishnu, and the gentle servants of the Lord at once descended to carry her soul to Vaikuntha. Devotees therefore cherish this Bhujangam as a hymn that turns the terror of death into the grace of liberation.
Complete Text with Meaning
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चिदंशं विभुं निर्मलं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं निराकारमोङ्कारगम्यम्। गुणातीतमव्यक्तमेकं तुरीयं परं ब्रह्म यं वेद तस्मै नमस्ते॥
Chidamsham Vibhum Nirmalam Nirvikalpam Niriham Nirakaram-Onkara-Gamyam Gunatitam-Avyaktam-Ekam Turiyam Param Brahma Yam Veda Tasmai Namaste
Meaning:Salutations to You, whom the knowers realise as the Supreme Brahman — a portion of pure consciousness, all-pervading, stainless, changeless, desireless, formless, reached through Om; beyond the gunas, unmanifest, one, and the fourth (turiya).
विशुद्धं शिवं शान्तमाद्यन्तशून्यं जगज्जीवनं ज्योतिरानन्दरूपम्। अदिग्देशकालव्यवच्छेदनीयं त्रयी वक्ति यं वेद तस्मै नमस्ते॥
Vishuddham Shivam Shantam-Adyanta-Shunyam Jagaj-Jivanam Jyotir-Ananda-Rupam A-dig-desha-kala-vyavacchedaniyam Trayi Vakti Yam Veda Tasmai Namaste
Meaning:Salutations to You, whom the three Vedas proclaim — utterly pure, auspicious, peaceful, without beginning or end, the life of the world, of the form of light and bliss, not bounded by direction, place or time.
महायोगपीठे परिभ्राजमाने धरण्यादितत्त्वात्मके शक्तियुक्ते। गुणाहस्करे वह्निबिम्बार्धमध्ये समासीनमोङ्कर्णिकेऽष्टाक्षराब्जे॥
Maha-Yoga-Pithe Paribhrajamane Dharanyadi-Tattvatmake Shakti-Yukte Gunahaskare Vahni-Bimbardha-Madhye Samasinam-Onkarnike-Ashtaksharabje
Meaning:Upon the great seat of yoga, shining with the elements beginning with earth and joined with Shakti, in the half-orb of fire that is the sun of the gunas, You are seated on the lotus-pericarp of Om, the eight-syllabled mantra.
समानोदितानेकसूर्येन्दुकोटि- प्रभापूरतुल्यद्युतिं दुर्निरीक्षम्। न शीतं न चोष्णं सुवर्णावदात- प्रसन्नं सदानन्दसंवित्स्वरूपम्॥
Samanoditaneka-Suryendu-Koti- Prabha-Pura-Tulya-Dyutim Durniriksham Na Shitam Na Choshnam Suvarnavadata- Prasannam Sadananda-Samvit-Svarupam
Meaning:Your radiance rivals countless suns and moons risen together, hard to gaze upon, neither cold nor hot, bright and pure as gold, ever-serene — the very form of eternal bliss-consciousness.
सुनासापुटं सुन्दरभ्रूललाटं किरीटोचिताकुञ्चितस्निग्धकेशम्। स्फुरत्पुण्डरीकाभिरामायताक्षं समुत्फुल्लरत्नप्रसूनावतंसम्॥
Sunasaputam Sundara-Bhru-Lalatam Kiritochitakunchita-Snigdha-Kesham Sphurat-Pundarikabhiramayataksham Samutphulla-Ratna-Prasunavatamsam
Meaning:With a shapely nose, fair brows and forehead, soft curling locks fit for the crown, eyes wide and lovely as full-blown lotuses, and ornaments of blossoming jewel-flowers;
लसत्कुण्डलामृष्टगण्डस्थलान्तं जपारागचोराधरं चारुहासम्। अलिव्याकुलामोलिमन्दारमालं महोरःस्फुरत्कौस्तुभोदारहारम्॥
Lasat-Kundalamrishta-Ganda-Sthalantam Japa-Raga-Choradharam Charu-Hasam Ali-Vyakulamoli-Mandara-Malam Mahorah-Sphurat-Kaustubhodara-Haram
Meaning:with cheeks brushed by glittering earrings, lips that steal the red of the hibiscus, a gracious smile, a mandara-garland thronged by bees on Your crown, and the noble Kaustubha gem flashing upon Your broad chest;
सुरत्नाङ्गदैरन्वितं बाहुदण्डै- श्चतुर्भिश्चलत्कङ्कणालंकृताग्रैः। उदारोदरालंकृतं पीतवस्त्रं पदद्वन्द्वनिर्धूतपद्माभिरामम्॥
Suratnangadair-Anvitam Bahu-Dandai- sh-Chaturbhish-Chalat-Kankanalankritagraih Udarodaralankritam Pita-Vastram Pada-Dvandva-Nirdhuta-Padmabhiramam
Meaning:adorned with jewelled armlets on four mighty arms whose tips are graced by swaying bangles, Your noble belly girt with yellow silk, beautiful with a pair of feet that put the lotus to shame.
स्वभक्तेषु सन्दर्शिताकारमेवं सदा भावयन्संनिरुद्धेन्द्रियाश्वः। दुरापं नरो याति संसारपारं परस्मै परेभ्योऽपि तस्मै नमस्ते॥
Sva-Bhakteshu Sandarshitakaram-Evam Sada Bhavayan-Sannirudhendriyashvah Durapam Naro Yati Samsara-Param Parasmai Parebhyo-Api Tasmai Namaste
Meaning:Salutations to You, supreme beyond all that is supreme — the man who ever meditates thus on the form You reveal to Your devotees, his senses reined in like horses, crosses the hard-to-cross ocean of worldly existence.
श्रिया शातकुम्भद्युतिस्निग्धकान्त्या धरण्या च दूर्वादलश्यामलाङ्ग्या। कलत्रद्वयेनामुना तोषिताय त्रिलोकीगृहस्थाय विष्णो नमस्ते॥
Shriya Shatakumbha-Dyuti-Snigdha-Kantya Dharanya Cha Durva-Dala-Shyamalangya Kalatra-Dvayenamuna Toshitaya Triloki-Grihasthaya Vishno Namaste
Meaning:Salutations to You, O Vishnu, householder of the three worlds, contented with these two consorts — Shri, of soft lustre glowing like gold, and Earth, dark as a blade of durva grass.
शरीरं कलत्रं सुतं बन्धुवर्गं वयस्यं धनं सद्म भृत्यं भुवं च। समस्तं परित्यज्य हा कष्टमेको गमिष्यामि दुःखेन दूरं किलाहम्॥
Shariram Kalatram Sutam Bandhu-Vargam Vayasyam Dhanam Sadma Bhrityam Bhuvam Cha Samastam Parityajya Ha Kashtam-Eko Gamishyami Duhkhena Duram Kilaham
Meaning:Forsaking body, wife, son, kinsfolk, friends, wealth, home, servants and land — abandoning all, alas, alone and in sorrow, I must surely journey far.
जरेयं पिशाचीव हा जीवतो मे वसामत्ति रक्तं च मांसं बलं च। अहो देव सीदामि दीनानुकम्पि- न्किमद्यापि हन्त त्वयोदासितव्यम्॥
Jareyam Pishachiva Ha Jivato Me Vasam-Atti Raktam Cha Mamsam Balam Cha Aho Deva Sidami Dinanukampin Kim-Adyapi Hanta Tvayodasitavyam
Meaning:This old age, like a she-demon, devours my marrow, blood, flesh and strength while I yet live. Alas, O Lord, I sink! O You who pity the wretched, even now must I be neglected by You?
कफव्याहतोष्णोल्बणश्वासवेग- व्यथाविस्फुरत्सर्वमर्मास्थिबन्धाम्। विचिन्त्याहमन्त्यामसङ्ख्यामवस्थां बिभेमि प्रभो किं करोमि प्रसीद॥
Kapha-Vyahatoshnolbana-Shvasa-Vega- Vyatha-Visphurat-Sarva-Marmasthi-Bandham Vichintyaham-Antyam-Asankhyam-Avastham Bibhemi Prabho Kim Karomi Prasida
Meaning:Thinking of that last, numberless condition — every vital point, bone and joint racked with pain by the violent rush of breath inflamed and obstructed by phlegm — I am afraid, O Lord. What shall I do? Be gracious!
लपन्नच्युतानन्त गोविन्द विष्णो मुरारे हरे नाथ नारायणेति। यथानुस्मरिष्यामि भक्त्या भवन्तं तथा मे दयाशील देव प्रसीद॥
Lapann-Achyutananta Govinda Vishno Murare Hare Natha Narayaneti Yathanusmarishyami Bhaktya Bhavantam Tatha Me Daya-Shila Deva Prasida
Meaning:O Achyuta, Ananta, Govinda, Vishnu, Murari, Hari, Lord, Narayana! — as I remember You thus with devotion crying out Your names, so, O compassionate Lord, be gracious to me.
भुजङ्गप्रयातं पठेद्यस्तु भक्त्या समाधाय चित्ते भवन्तं मुरारे। स मोहं विहायाशु युष्मत्प्रसादा- त्समाश्रित्य योगं व्रजत्यच्युतं त्वाम्॥
Bhujanga-Prayatam Pathed-Yas-Tu Bhaktya Samadhaya Chitte Bhavantam Murare Sa Moham Vihayashu Yushmat-Prasadat Samashritya Yogam Vrajaty-Achyutam Tvam
Meaning:Whoever recites this Bhujangaprayata hymn with devotion, fixing You, O Murari, in his heart, swiftly casts off delusion and, by Your grace, taking refuge in yoga, attains You, the imperishable Achyuta.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Vishnu Bhujanga Prayata Stotram
Unites the highest Advaitic vision of Vishnu as Para Brahman with loving devotion to Narayana
Considered a powerful prayer for a peaceful death and liberation (moksha)
Traditionally recited at the bedside of the dying and during sandhya worship of Vishnu
Cultivates vairagya (dispassion) by reflecting on the impermanence of body and possessions
The closing verse promises that devoted recitation dissolves delusion and grants union with the Lord
Calms fear of old age, disease and death, replacing it with surrender to Hari
How to Chant Vishnu Bhujanga Prayata Stotram
Sit facing east before an image of Vishnu, steady the mind, and recite the fourteen verses slowly in the lilting bhujangaprayata metre. Begin by visualising the four-armed Narayana described in the early verses, then offer the closing verses of surrender from the heart. It may be chanted once with full attention daily, or read at the bedside of one who is gravely ill, as Shankaracharya is said to have done for his own mother.
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