vishnuranganathasrirangamvedanta-desika

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌸𑍋𑌪𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍍

Bhagavad Dhyana Sopanam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 During morning or evening meditation; especially Ekadashi, Panguni Uttiram and Vaikunta Ekadashi at Srirangam·📜 Stotras of Swami Vedanta Desika (one of his three hymns on Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Stotras of Swami Vedanta Desika (one of his three hymns on Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam) · Swami Vedanta Desika (Venkatanatha / Venkateshacharya) · 13th–14th century CE

Swami Vedanta Desika composed the Bhagavad Dhyana Sopanam at Srirangam in adoration of Lord Ranganatha, the great reclining Vishnu on Adishesha. Patterned after the Tamil Amalanadipiran of Tiruppanazhwar — who beheld the Lord from feet to face and refused to look upon anything else thereafter — Desika's hymn sets the same paadaadi-kesa (feet-to-crown) vision into elegant Sanskrit verse. Each verse rests the contemplating mind upon one part of the Lord's form, so that the whole becomes a 'staircase' of meditation by which the devotee ascends toward loving union with the Lord.

✦ As told in scripture

It is told of Tiruppanazhwar — whose vision inspired this hymn — that, being carried into the Srirangam sanctum upon the shoulders of the temple priest at the Lord's own command, he sang the Lord's beauty from His feet to His face and, declaring he would never let his eyes fall on anything lesser, merged then and there into Ranganatha; Desika's Dhyana Sopanam invites every devotee onto that same ascending path of vision.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌅𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌮𑌪𑌿 𑌯𑌮𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌂 𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍇- 𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌲𑌭𑌮𑌿𑌹 𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌮𑍍 । 𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌨𑌶𑌮𑌨𑌂 𑌦𑍈𑌵𑌤𑌂 𑌦𑍈𑌵𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌦𑌿𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌿𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌷𑌦𑌾𑌂 𑌦𑍃𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑍇 ॥ ௧ ॥

antarjyotiḥ kimapi yaminām añjanaṃ yogadṛṣṭe- ścintāratnaṃ sulabhamiha naḥ siddhimokṣānurūpam | dīnānāthavyasanaśamanaṃ daivataṃ daivatānāṃ divyaṃ cakṣuḥ śrutipariṣadāṃ dṛśyate raṅgamadhye || 1 ||

Meaning:There, in the midst of Srirangam, is seen — some ineffable inner light, the collyrium that opens the yogic eye of sages, a wish-gem here easily had by us and suited to both worldly attainment and liberation, the calmer of the distress of the helpless, the God of gods, the divine eye of the assembly of the Vedas. (1)

Verse 2

𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌿𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌮𑌲𑌂 𑌵𑍇𑌧𑌸𑌾𑌂 𑌮𑍗𑌲𑌿𑌸𑍇𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌂 𑌕𑌨𑌕𑌸𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑍈𑌕𑌤𑍇 𑌹𑌂𑌸𑌜𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍇 । 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌭𑍂𑌮𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌸𑌰𑌸𑌿𑌜𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌲𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌭𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌃 𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋𑌜𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌫𑌲𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑍇 𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌦𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌘𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௨ ॥

vedātītaśrutiparimalaṃ vedhasāṃ maulisevyaṃ prādurbhūtaṃ kanakasaritaḥ saikate haṃsajuṣṭe | lakṣmībhūmyoḥ karasarasijairlālitaṃ raṅgabhartuḥ pādāmbhojaṃ pratiphalati me bhāvanādīrghikāyām || 2 ||

Meaning:In the deep pond of my contemplation is reflected the lotus feet of the Lord of Srirangam — fragrant beyond the Vedas yet the perfume of the Vedas, served by the crowns of Brahma and the gods, risen on the swan-frequented sands of the golden river (Kaveri), and caressed by the lotus-hands of Lakshmi and Bhumi. (2)

Verse 3

𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑌟𑌕𑌰𑍁𑌚𑌿𑌭𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌵𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍇 𑌦𑍂𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌤𑌰𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌲𑍀𑌲𑌾𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌚𑍀𑌮𑍍 । 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌸𑍁𑌭𑌗𑌾𑌂 𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌭𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾 𑌜𑌙𑍍𑌘𑌾𑌂 𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌜𑌨𑌨𑌪𑌦𑌵𑍀𑌜𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌘𑌿𑌕𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌜𑌹𑌾𑌤𑌿 ॥ ௩ ॥

citrākārāṃ kaṭakarucibhiścāruvṛttānupūrvāṃ kāle dūtyadrutataragatiṃ kāntilīlākalācīm | jānucchāyādviguṇasubhagāṃ raṅgabharturmadātmā jaṅghāṃ dṛṣṭvā jananapadavījāṅghikatvaṃ jahāti || 3 ||

Meaning:Beholding the shanks of the Lord of Srirangam — wondrous in form, beautifully tapering and round, swift as a messenger in their hour, graceful with playful charm, and twice-blessed by the glow of His knees — my enraptured mind gives up forever its wandering on the road of repeated births. (3)

Verse 4

𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌰𑌕𑌦𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌨𑍀𑌯𑌂 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍗𑌮𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌲𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌮𑌪𑌿 𑌕𑌮𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍂𑌮𑌿𑌨𑍀𑌲𑍋𑌪𑌧𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍍 । 𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌞𑍍𑌚𑍀𑌕𑌿𑌰𑌣𑌰𑍁𑌚𑌿𑌰𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍂𑌰𑍁𑌯𑍁𑌗𑍍𑌮𑌂 𑌲𑌾𑌵𑌣𑍍𑌯𑍗𑌘𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌮𑌿𑌵 𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌕𑌾 𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌯𑍂𑌨𑌃 ॥ ௪ ॥

kāmārāmasthirakadalikāstambhasambhāvanīyaṃ kṣaumāśliṣṭaṃ kimapi kamalābhūminīlopadhānam | nyañcatkāñcīkiraṇaruciraṃ nirviśatyūruyugmaṃ lāvaṇyaughadvayamiva matirmāmikā raṅgayūnaḥ || 4 ||

Meaning:My mind enters the pair of thighs of the youthful Lord of Srirangam — worthy to be likened to the firm plantain-stems of the garden of love, wrapped in silk, an ineffable dark cushion for Lady Lakshmi, lovely with the downward-streaming rays of His girdle — as though entering two streams of pure loveliness. (4)

Verse 5

𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌣𑌾𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌲𑌮𑌸𑍗 𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌸𑌂 𑌮𑍇 𑌸𑍁𑌜𑌾𑌤𑌾 𑌗𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍀𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌵𑌚𑌨 𑌸𑌮𑌯𑍇 𑌗𑍂𑌢𑌨𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌾 । 𑌨𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌕𑍇𑌨 𑌸𑍍𑌫𑍁𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌰𑌜𑌸𑌾 𑌵𑍇𑌧𑌸𑍋 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌮𑌾𑌣𑌾 𑌰𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌤𑌿𑌸𑌹𑌚𑌰𑍀 𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌨𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌃 ॥ ௫ ॥

samprīṇāti pratikalamasau mānasaṃ me sujātā gambhīratvātkvacana samaye gūḍhanikṣiptaviśvā | nālīkena sphuritarajasā vedhaso nirmimāṇā ramyāvartadyutisahacarī raṅganāthasya nābhiḥ || 5 ||

Meaning:At every instant the well-formed navel of Ranganatha gladdens my heart — so deep that at the time of dissolution it secretly holds the whole universe within, giving birth, through its lotus with blossoming pollen, to Brahma the creator, and graced by its lovely whorl of light. (5)

Verse 6

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍇𑌨 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌵𑌿𑌭𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌪𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑌧𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌬𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌵𑍋𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌣𑌿𑌵𑌰𑌰𑍁𑌚𑌾 𑌰𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌧𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌨𑌃 । 𑌸𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌾𑌯𑌂 𑌤𑌰𑍁𑌣𑌤𑍁𑌲𑌸𑍀𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾 𑌵𑍈𑌜𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌪𑌂 𑌮𑍇 𑌶𑌮𑌯𑌤𑌿 𑌧𑌿𑌯𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌕𑍋𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௬ ॥

śrīvatsena prathitavibhavaṃ śrīpadanyāsadhanyaṃ madhyaṃ bāhvormaṇivararucā rañjitaṃ raṅgadhāmnaḥ | sāndracchāyaṃ taruṇatulasīcitrayā vaijayantyā santāpaṃ me śamayati dhiyaścandrikodārahāram || 6 ||

Meaning:The waist of the Lord of Srirangam — its glory proclaimed by the Srivatsa, blessed by the imprint of Sri's feet, reddened between the arms by the lustre of the choicest gems, densely shaded by the Vaijayanti garland bright with fresh tulasi, and bearing a necklace generous as moonlight — stills the burning of my mind. (6)

Verse 7

𑌏𑌕𑌂 𑌲𑍀𑌲𑍋𑌪𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌰𑌂 𑌬𑌾𑌹𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌜𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌤𑍗 𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌶𑌯𑌿𑌤𑍁𑌰𑌖𑌿𑌲𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌨𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌜𑌾𑌤𑌮𑍍 । 𑌦𑍃𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌾 𑌸𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌦𑍃𑌢𑌨𑌿𑌯𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌾 𑌰𑌶𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌭𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌣𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍁𑌭𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑍇 𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌾𑌨𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௭ ॥

ekaṃ līlopahitamitaraṃ bāhumājānulambaṃ prāptau raṅge śayiturakhilaprārthanāpārijātam | dṛptā seyaṃ dṛḍhaniyamitā raśmibhirbhūṣaṇānāṃ cintāhastinyanubhavati me citramālānayantram || 7 ||

Meaning:The two arms of the reclining Lord of Srirangam — one laid in graceful ease, the other hanging down to the knee, a very wish-tree fulfilling every prayer — are proud yet firmly bound by the rays of their ornaments; my 'elephant of contemplation' experiences them as a wondrous tethering post. (7)

Verse 8

𑌸𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌸𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌚𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌬𑌿𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾𑌧𑌰𑍋𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌂 𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌯𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌯𑌿𑌨𑌿 𑌜𑌨𑍇 𑌦𑍂𑌰𑌦𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍 । 𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑌨𑌕𑌤𑌿𑌲𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌂 𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌭𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌗𑌾𑌢𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌲𑌗𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑌮 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌗𑌤𑍋𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌨𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௮ ॥

sābhiprāyasmitavikasitaṃ cārubimbādharoṣṭhaṃ duḥkhāpāyapraṇayini jane dūradattābhimukhyam | kāntaṃ vaktraṃ kanakatilakālaṅkṛtaṃ raṅgabhartuḥ svānte gāḍhaṃ vilagati mama svāgatodāranetram || 8 ||

Meaning:The lovely face of the Lord of Srirangam — blossoming with a meaningful smile, with charming bimba-red lips, turned graciously toward the suffering devotee from afar, adorned with a golden tilaka — clings deep within my heart, with its wide, generously welcoming eyes. (8)

Verse 9

𑌮𑌾𑌲𑍍𑌯𑍈𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌰𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌮𑌲𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌭𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌪𑌰𑍍𑌶𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍈𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌚𑍍𑌚𑍋𑌲𑍀𑌵𑌚𑌨𑌕𑍁𑌟𑌿𑌲𑍈𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌲𑍈𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌲𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌮𑍂𑌲𑍇 । 𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌪𑍀𑌡𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌤𑌿𑌶𑌬𑌲𑌿𑌤𑍇 𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌭𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌟𑍇 𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌿𑌮𑌧𑌿𑌗𑌤𑌾 𑌵𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌯𑌶𑍍𑌚𑍇𑌤𑌸𑍋 𑌮𑍇 ॥ ௯ ॥

mālyairantaḥsthiraparimalairvallabhāsparśamānyaiḥ kupyaccolīvacanakuṭilaiḥ kuntalaiḥ śliṣṭamūle | ratnāpīḍadyutiśabalite raṅgabhartuḥ kirīṭe rājanvatyaḥ sthitimadhigatā vṛttayaścetaso me || 9 ||

Meaning:Upon the crown of the Lord of Srirangam — its base entwined with His curls (precious to the touch of His beloved, curling as if vexed at the gem-studded bodice), variegated by the radiance of its jewelled crest — the activities of my mind, well-governed, have found their abode and their sovereign. (9)

Verse 10

𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋𑌜𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌪𑍃𑌶𑌤𑌿 𑌭𑌜𑌤𑍇 𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌜𑌙𑍍𑌘𑌾- 𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌲𑌗𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑌨𑍈𑌰𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌭𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌤𑌿 𑌨𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌮𑍍 । 𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌲𑌤𑌿 𑌭𑍁𑌜𑌯𑍋𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑍀𑌷𑌾 𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑌿𑌬𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌹𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌮𑍗𑌲𑌿𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍇 ॥ ௧௦ ॥

pādāmbhojaṃ spṛśati bhajate raṅganāthasya jaṅghā- mūrudvandve vilagati śanairūrdhvamabhyeti nābhim | vakṣasyāste valati bhujayormāmikeyaṃ manīṣā vaktrābhikhyāṃ pibati vahate vāsanāṃ maulibandhe || 10 ||

Meaning:This mind of mine touches and adores the lotus feet of Ranganatha, clings to His shanks and thighs, slowly rises to His navel, rests upon His chest, moves over His arms, drinks in the beauty of His face, and bears its loving fixation upon His crown. (10)

Verse 11

𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌰𑌯𑍈𑌰𑌿𑌹 𑌭𑍁𑌜𑍈𑌃 𑌕𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌣𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌕𑌿𑌣𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍈- 𑌰𑍍𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌧𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌨𑌃 𑌪𑍃𑌥𑍁𑌲𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌘𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌾 𑌭𑍀𑌤𑌿𑌹𑍇𑌤𑌿𑌃 । 𑌅𑌗𑍍𑌰𑍇 𑌕𑌿𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌭𑍁𑌜𑌗𑌶𑌯𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍈𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑌨𑍍 𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌂 𑌮𑌮 𑌚 𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌯𑍇 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑌾𑌵𑌰𑍋𑌧𑌃 ॥ ௧௧ ॥

kāntodāararayairiha bhujaiḥ kaṅkaṇajyākiṇāṅkai- rlakṣmīdhāmnaḥ pṛthulaparighairlakṣitā bhītihetiḥ | agre kiñcidbhujagaśayanaḥ svātmanaivātmanaḥ san madhyeraṅgaṃ mama ca hṛdaye vartate sāvarodhaḥ || 11 ||

Meaning:Here lies the reclining Lord on the serpent — His broad arms lovely and mighty, marked with calluses from the bowstring, like great door-bars of the abode of Lakshmi, His weapons a refuge from all fear; being by His own Self for His own Self, He abides in the midst of Srirangam, and now, with His entourage, within my heart as well. (11)

Verse 12

𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌨𑍇 𑌰𑌸𑌿𑌕𑌮𑌹𑌿𑌤𑍇 𑌰𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌶𑍇𑌷𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌮𑌲𑌮𑌨𑌸𑌾 𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶𑍇𑌨 𑌕𑍢𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍 । 𑌅𑌕𑍍𑌲𑍇𑌶𑍇𑌨 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌿𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌧𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍋𑌰𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌂 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌗𑌾𑌢𑌾𑌂 𑌦𑌿𑌶𑌤𑍁 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌸𑍋𑌪𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍇𑌤𑌤𑍍 ॥ ௧௨ ॥

raṅgāsthāne rasikamahite rañjitāśeṣacitte vidvatsevāvimalamanasā veṅkaṭeśena kḷptam | aktleśena praṇihitadhiyāmārurukṣoravasthāṃ bhaktiṃ gāḍhāṃ diśatu bhagavaddhyānasopānametat || 12 ||

Meaning:May this 'Bhagavad Dhyana Sopanam' — composed by Venkatesha (Vedanta Desika), whose mind was made pure by the service of the learned, in the sanctum of Srirangam dear to the discerning and delighting every heart — effortlessly bestow deep, intense devotion upon those of fixed mind who wish to climb the steps to that state. (12)

Verse 13

॥ 𑌇𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌦𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑍀𑌤𑌂 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌸𑍋𑌪𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥

|| iti śrīmadveṅkaṭeśāryapraṇītaṃ bhagavaddhyānasopānaṃ sampūrṇam ||

Meaning:Thus is completed the Bhagavad Dhyana Sopanam composed by the revered Venkateshacharya (Vedanta Desika).

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

𑌅𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌮𑌪𑌿🔊antarjyotiḥ kimapiSome ineffable inner light

𑌯𑌮𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌂 𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍇𑌃🔊yaminām añjanaṃ yogadṛṣṭeḥThe collyrium (that opens) the yogic vision of the self-controlled sages

𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌂🔊cintāratnaṃThe wish-fulfilling gem (Chintamani)

𑌦𑍈𑌵𑌤𑌂 𑌦𑍈𑌵𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂🔊daivataṃ daivatānāṃThe God of (all) gods

𑌦𑍃𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑍇🔊dṛśyate raṅgamadhyeIs seen (manifest) in the midst of Srirangam

𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌭𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌃 𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋𑌜𑌂🔊raṅgabhartuḥ pādāmbhojaṃThe lotus feet of the Lord of Srirangam (Ranganatha)

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌫𑌲𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑍇 𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌦𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌘𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊pratiphalati me bhāvanādīrghikāyāmIs reflected in the deep pond of my contemplation

𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌭𑍂𑌮𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌸𑌰𑌸𑌿𑌜𑍈𑌃🔊lakṣmībhūmyoḥ karasarasijaiḥBy the lotus-hands of Lakshmi and Bhumi (caressing the feet)

𑌜𑌙𑍍𑌘𑌾𑌂 𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍𑌵𑌾🔊jaṅghāṃ dṛṣṭvāHaving beheld the (lovely) shanks (of the Lord)

𑌜𑌨𑌨𑌪𑌦𑌵𑍀𑌜𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌘𑌿𑌕𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌜𑌹𑌾𑌤𑌿🔊jananapadavījāṅghikatvaṃ jahātiMy mind gives up its 'travelling along the road of (repeated) births'

𑌊𑌰𑍁𑌯𑍁𑌗𑍍𑌮𑌂 ... 𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌯𑍂𑌨𑌃🔊ūruyugmaṃ ... raṅgayūnaḥThe pair of thighs of the youthful Lord of Srirangam

𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌨𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌃🔊raṅganāthasya nābhiḥThe navel of Ranganatha (from which Brahma's lotus arises)

𑌵𑍇𑌧𑌸𑍋 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌮𑌾𑌣𑌾🔊vedhaso nirmimāṇāCreating (giving birth to) Brahma the creator

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍇𑌨 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌵𑌿𑌭𑌵𑌂🔊śrīvatsena prathitavibhavaṃWhose glory is renowned through the Srivatsa mark (on the chest)

𑌵𑍈𑌜𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾 ... 𑌸𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌾𑌯𑌂🔊vaijayantyā ... sāndracchāyaṃDensely shaded by the Vaijayanti garland (with fresh tulasi)

𑌅𑌖𑌿𑌲𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌨𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌜𑌾𑌤𑌮𑍍🔊akhilaprārthanāpārijātamThe wish-tree (Parijata) fulfilling all prayers — the Lord's arm

𑌸𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌸𑌿𑌤𑌂 ... 𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂🔊sābhiprāyasmitavikasitaṃ ... vaktraṃThe face blossoming with a meaningful smile

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌗𑌤𑍋𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌨𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊svāgatodāranetramWith wide eyes that lovingly welcome (the devotee)

𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌭𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌟𑍇🔊raṅgabhartuḥ kirīṭeUpon the crown of the Lord of Srirangam

𑌭𑍁𑌜𑌗𑌶𑌯𑌨𑌃🔊bhujagaśayanaḥHe who reclines on the serpent (Adishesha)

𑌮𑌮 𑌚 𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌯𑍇 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌤𑍇🔊mama ca hṛdaye vartateAnd (now) dwells within my heart as well

𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌸𑍋𑌪𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍍 𑌏𑌤𑌤𑍍🔊bhagavaddhyānasopānam etatThis 'staircase of meditation upon the Lord' (the title of the hymn)

Benefits of Chanting Bhagavad Dhyana Sopanam

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Guides the devotee in dhyana (meditation) on Lord Ranganatha's divine form from feet to crown

✦

Composed by Swami Vedanta Desika, one of the greatest Sri Vaishnava acharyas

✦

Cultivates intense, focused bhakti as a step-by-step 'staircase' to the Lord

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Calms the burning of the mind and stills the restless wandering through samsara

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Its phala-shruti promises deep devotion and an easy ascent toward union (yoga) with the Lord

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Deepens love for Sri Ranganatha of Srirangam, the foremost of the 108 Divya Desams

How to Chant Bhagavad Dhyana Sopanam

Repetitions1times

Best TimeDuring morning or evening meditation; especially Ekadashi, Panguni Uttiram and Vaikunta Ekadashi at Srirangam

This hymn is itself a meditation. Sit quietly after bathing, calm the breath, and recite the twelve verses slowly, letting the mind rest on each part of Lord Ranganatha's form in turn — beginning at His lotus feet (verse 2) and rising, as if climbing a staircase, up to His crown (verse 9), then surveying the whole form (verses 10-11). Conclude with the phala-shruti (verse 12), praying for deep devotion. Best chanted unhurriedly, in a contemplative mood.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Bhagavad Dhyana Sopanam written in the Grantha 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 'the staircase (sopana) for meditation (dhyana) upon the Lord (Bhagavat)'. The hymn is structured so that the meditating mind climbs, step by step, over the Lord's divine form — from His lotus feet up to His crown — as one would ascend a flight of stairs toward the goal of union with Him.

It was composed by Swami Vedanta Desika (Venkatanatha, 13th–14th century CE), the great Sri Vaishnava philosopher-poet. It is one of his three hymns devoted exclusively to Lord Ranganatha — the reclining form of Vishnu at Srirangam — along with the Abheeti Stavam and Nyasa Tilakam.

Bhagavad Dhyana Sopanam follows the spirit of the Tamil 'Amalanadipiran' of Tiruppanazhwar, who sang of Ranganatha's beauty from His feet up to His face (paadaadi-kesa). Vedanta Desika composed this Sanskrit hymn in the same feet-to-crown sequence, honouring that Alvar's vision.

The twelfth verse (phala-shruti) declares that this hymn will, without effort, bestow deep and intense devotion upon those of steady mind who long to climb toward the state of union with the Lord — making it a treasured aid for the practice of loving meditation.