mukunda-malakulasekharavishnubhakti

Nastha Dharme Na Vasu Nichaye

नास्था धर्मे न वसुनिचये in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Early morning or evening; especially Ekadashi, Janmashtami, and Kartik month·📜 Mukunda Mala Stotram, verse on nishchala bhakti (Kulasekhara Alwar)

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This is the most beloved verse of the Mukunda Mala Stotram by the saint-king Kulasekhara Alwar, and a classic statement of pure, motiveless devotion (ananya bhakti). The poet declares that he places no value on piety for reward, on wealth, or on sense-pleasure; he is content to let destiny unfold according to his karma. His one cherished prayer, repeated birth after birth, is for nishchala bhakti — unshakable devotion to the lotus feet of the Lord.

Origin & Story

Mukunda Mala Stotram, verse on nishchala bhakti (Kulasekhara Alwar) · Kulasekhara Alwar (Kulasekhara Perumal) · c. 9th century CE

Kulasekhara was a king of the Chera dynasty of Kerala and a passionate devotee of Lord Vishnu who renounced his kingdom to live as a devotee; he is revered as one of the twelve Alwars. His Mukunda Mala is a garland of verses asking for nothing but eternal devotion to Mukunda's feet. This verse is its very heart — the king setting aside piety, wealth, and pleasure, and praying only for unshakable bhakti, birth after birth.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that Kulasekhara's devotion was so pure that he sought no reward from God but the Lord himself. Devotees believe that one who prays this verse sincerely receives the gift it asks for — a love for the Lord's feet that no fortune or misfortune can shake, carrying them safely through every birth.

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The Mantra

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nāsthā dharme na vasu-nicaye naiva kāmopabhoge yad yad bhavyaṃ bhavatu bhagavan pūrva-karmānurūpam | etat prārthyaṃ mama bahu-mataṃ janma-janmāntare 'pi tvat-pādāmbhoruha-yuga-gatā niścalā bhaktir astu ||

Meaning:I have no faith in religious duty, in heaps of wealth, nor in the enjoyment of desires. O Lord, let whatever is destined come to pass according to my past deeds. This alone is my cherished prayer, birth after birth: let me have unshakable devotion to the pair of Your lotus feet.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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nāsthā🔊No faith, no firm interest / reliance

dharme🔊In (mere) religious duty / piety

na vasu-nicaye🔊Not in the accumulation of wealth

naiva kāma-upabhoge🔊Nor at all in the enjoyment of desires/pleasures

yad yad bhavyam🔊Whatever is destined to happen

bhavatu bhagavan🔊Let it be, O Lord!

pūrva-karma-anurūpam🔊In accordance with (my) past deeds (karma)

etat prārthyam🔊This is what is to be prayed for

mama bahu-matam🔊My most cherished (wish), highly esteemed by me

janma-janma-antare 'pi🔊Even birth after birth, in every lifetime

tvat-pāda-ambhoruha-yuga-gatā🔊Directed to the pair of Your lotus feet

niścalā bhaktiḥ🔊Unwavering, steadfast devotion

astu🔊Let there be, may it be

Benefits of Chanting नास्था धर्मे न वसुनिचये

✦

Awakens pure, motiveless devotion (ananya bhakti) to Lord Vishnu/Krishna

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Frees the heart from craving for wealth, pleasure, and even pious reward

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Teaches glad acceptance of destiny shaped by one's own past karma

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Instills the prayer for nishchala bhakti — unwavering devotion in every birth

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Brings deep inner contentment and surrender to the Lord's will

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Among the most cherished and frequently recited verses of Vaishnava bhakti

How to Chant नास्था धर्मे न वसुनिचये

Repetitions11times

Best TimeEarly morning or evening; especially Ekadashi, Janmashtami, and Kartik month

Sit calmly before an image of Lord Vishnu or Krishna and recite this verse with heartfelt feeling, dwelling on the prayer for 'nishchala bhakti.' Let go, in your mind, of demands for wealth or pleasure as you chant, offering instead only the wish for steadfast devotion. It may be recited on its own as a daily prayer of surrender or within the full Mukunda Mala Stotram.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete नास्था धर्मे न वसुनिचये written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It means 'I have no faith (or interest) in religious duty for reward, nor in heaps of wealth, nor in the enjoyment of desires.' Kulasekhara renounces these in favour of a single prayer: unwavering devotion to the Lord's lotus feet in every birth.

Nishchala bhakti means 'unshakable, steadfast devotion.' It is devotion that asks for nothing in return — not heaven, wealth, or pleasure — but seeks only the Lord himself. This verse is one of the most famous prayers for such pure devotion.

It was composed by Kulasekhara Alwar, a 9th-century king of the Chera dynasty in South India who renounced his throne for devotion to Lord Vishnu. It appears in his celebrated Mukunda Mala Stotram and is counted among the Alwar saints' most treasured verses.

He says 'let whatever is destined come to pass according to my past deeds.' Rather than praying to change his fortunes, he gladly accepts whatever his karma brings, asking only that his devotion to the Lord remain unbroken through it all.