vishnubhujangamshankaracharyastotram

𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁 𑌭𑍁𑌜𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌤 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍

Vishnu Bhujanga Prayata Stotram in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Brahma Muhurta, Ekadashi, or during evening Vishnu worship·📜 Composition of Adi Shankaracharya (Shankara Bhagavatpada)

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

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.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌂𑌶𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌲𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌹𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍋𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌗𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍। 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍇𑌕𑌂 𑌤𑍁𑌰𑍀𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌂 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮 𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑍇𑌦 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍈 𑌨𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇॥

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).

Verse 2

𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌶𑍂𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌜𑌗𑌜𑍍𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌨𑌂 𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌮𑍍। 𑌅𑌦𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌦𑍇𑌶𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍇𑌦𑌨𑍀𑌯𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑍀 𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑍇𑌦 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍈 𑌨𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇॥

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.

Verse 3

𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌪𑍀𑌠𑍇 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌭𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍇 𑌧𑌰𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌕𑍇 𑌶𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌯𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍇। 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌰𑍇 𑌵𑌹𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌬𑌿𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑍇 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌸𑍀𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌽𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌜𑍇॥

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.

Verse 4

𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍋𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍇𑌕𑌸𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍁𑌕𑍋𑌟𑌿- 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑌾𑌪𑍂𑌰𑌤𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌯𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑍍। 𑌨 𑌶𑍀𑌤𑌂 𑌨 𑌚𑍋𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌵𑌦𑌾𑌤- 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑌂𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 5

𑌸𑍁𑌨𑌾𑌸𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌟𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑌭𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌲𑌲𑌾𑌟𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌟𑍋𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌕𑍁𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌧𑌕𑍇𑌶𑌮𑍍। 𑌸𑍍𑌫𑍁𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌰𑍀𑌕𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌫𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍂𑌨𑌾𑌵𑌤𑌂𑌸𑌮𑍍॥

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;

Verse 6

𑌲𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌲𑌾𑌮𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌗𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌲𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌜𑌪𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌗𑌚𑍋𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌰𑌂 𑌚𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌹𑌾𑌸𑌮𑍍। 𑌅𑌲𑌿𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌕𑍁𑌲𑌾𑌮𑍋𑌲𑌿𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑍋𑌰𑌃𑌸𑍍𑌫𑍁𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍗𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌭𑍋𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍍॥

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;

Verse 7

𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌦𑍈𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌬𑌾𑌹𑍁𑌦𑌣𑍍𑌡𑍈- 𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌤𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌭𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌲𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌣𑌾𑌲𑌂𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌰𑍈𑌃। 𑌉𑌦𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌦𑌰𑌾𑌲𑌂𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑍀𑌤𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌪𑌦𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌧𑍂𑌤𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 8

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌶𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌸𑌦𑌾 𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌸𑌂𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌃। 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌪𑌂 𑌨𑌰𑍋 𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌪𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍈 𑌪𑌰𑍇𑌭𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌽𑌪𑌿 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍈 𑌨𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇॥

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.

Verse 9

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾 𑌶𑌾𑌤𑌕𑍁𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌧𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌧𑌰𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌚 𑌦𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌦𑌲𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌲𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌾। 𑌕𑌲𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌯𑍇𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌨𑌾 𑌤𑍋𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌯 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍀𑌗𑍃𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌯 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇॥

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.

Verse 10

𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑌲𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌂 𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍁𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌂 𑌵𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌧𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑌦𑍍𑌮 𑌭𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌂 𑌚। 𑌸𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌯 𑌹𑌾 𑌕𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌮𑍇𑌕𑍋 𑌗𑌮𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑍇𑌨 𑌦𑍂𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌲𑌾𑌹𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 11

𑌜𑌰𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌚𑍀𑌵 𑌹𑌾 𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌤𑍋 𑌮𑍇 𑌵𑌸𑌾𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌚 𑌮𑌾𑌂𑌸𑌂 𑌬𑌲𑌂 𑌚। 𑌅𑌹𑍋 𑌦𑍇𑌵 𑌸𑍀𑌦𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌕𑌮𑍍𑌪𑌿- 𑌨𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌮𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌪𑌿 𑌹𑌨𑍍𑌤 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌯𑍋𑌦𑌾𑌸𑌿𑌤𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍॥

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?

Verse 12

𑌕𑌫𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌹𑌤𑍋𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍋𑌲𑍍𑌬𑌣𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌵𑍇𑌗- 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌥𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌫𑍁𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌂 𑌬𑌿𑌭𑍇𑌮𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑍋 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍋𑌮𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍀𑌦॥

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!

Verse 13

𑌲𑌪𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌚𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌤 𑌗𑍋𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍋 𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌹𑌰𑍇 𑌨𑌾𑌥 𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑍇𑌤𑌿। 𑌯𑌥𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌤𑌥𑌾 𑌮𑍇 𑌦𑌯𑌾𑌶𑍀𑌲 𑌦𑍇𑌵 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍀𑌦॥

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.

Verse 14

𑌭𑍁𑌜𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑌠𑍇𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌧𑌾𑌯 𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌭𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍇। 𑌸 𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌶𑍁 𑌯𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌾𑌦𑌾- 𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯 𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌚𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌤𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌮𑍍॥

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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𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌂𑌶𑌂🔊ChidamshamOf the nature of pure consciousness (chit)

𑌵𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌂🔊VibhumAll-pervading, omnipresent

𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌲𑌂🔊NirmalamStainless, immaculate

𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌂🔊NirvikalpamFree of all distinctions / changeless

𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊NirakaramFormless

𑌓𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌗𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊Onkara-GamyamAttainable through (the meditation of) Om

𑌤𑍁𑌰𑍀𑌯𑌂🔊TuriyamThe fourth state, beyond waking, dream and deep sleep

𑌪𑌰𑌂 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮🔊Param BrahmaThe supreme Absolute

𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍈 𑌨𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇🔊Tasmai NamasteTo that One, salutations to You

𑌜𑌗𑌜𑍍𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌨𑌂🔊Jagaj-JivanamThe life of the universe

𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌮𑍍🔊Jyotir-Ananda-RupamOf the nature of light and bliss

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑍀 𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿🔊Trayi VaktiWhom the three Vedas declare

𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌪𑍀𑌠𑍇🔊Maha-Yoga-PitheUpon the great seat of yoga

𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌜𑍇🔊AshtaksharabjeOn the lotus of the eight-syllabled (Narayana) mantra

𑌸𑍁𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌵𑌦𑌾𑌤🔊SuvarnavadataBright and pure as gold

𑌸𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑌂𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌮𑍍🔊Sadananda-Samvit-SvarupamWhose very form is eternal bliss-consciousness

𑌕𑍗𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌭🔊KaustubhaThe Kaustubha gem (worn on Vishnu's chest)

𑌪𑍀𑌤𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂🔊Pita-VastramClad in yellow silk

𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌪𑌾𑌰𑌂🔊Samsara-ParamThe far shore beyond worldly existence (liberation)

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍀𑌗𑍃𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌯🔊Triloki-GrihasthayaTo the householder of the three worlds

𑌜𑌰𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌚𑍀𑌵🔊Jareyam PishachivaThis old age, like a she-demon

𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌕𑌮𑍍𑌪𑌿𑌨𑍍🔊DinanukampinO compassionate to the wretched!

𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑍇𑌤𑌿🔊Narayaneti'O Narayana!' (calling out the holy names)

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍀𑌦🔊PrasidaBe gracious, be pleased with me

𑌭𑍁𑌜𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌂🔊Bhujanga-PrayatamThis hymn in the Bhujangaprayata metre ('gliding serpent')

𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌚𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌤𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Vrajaty-Achyutam TvamGoes to You, the imperishable Achyuta

Benefits of Chanting Vishnu Bhujanga Prayata Stotram

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Unites the highest Advaitic vision of Vishnu as Para Brahman with loving devotion to Narayana

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Considered a powerful prayer for a peaceful death and liberation (moksha)

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Traditionally recited at the bedside of the dying and during sandhya worship of Vishnu

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Cultivates vairagya (dispassion) by reflecting on the impermanence of body and possessions

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The closing verse promises that devoted recitation dissolves delusion and grants union with the Lord

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Calms fear of old age, disease and death, replacing it with surrender to Hari

How to Chant Vishnu Bhujanga Prayata Stotram

Repetitions1times

Best TimeBrahma Muhurta, Ekadashi, or during evening Vishnu worship

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Vishnu Bhujanga Prayata Stotram 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 is a hymn of fourteen verses in praise of Lord Vishnu, composed by Adi Shankaracharya in the bhujangaprayata ('gliding serpent') metre. It combines a Vedantic description of Vishnu as the formless Supreme Brahman with a heartfelt prayer of surrender about mortality and liberation.

Bhujangaprayata is the name of the Sanskrit metre in which it is written — its rhythm is said to resemble the gliding, swaying movement of a serpent (bhujanga). Adi Shankaracharya composed several famous stotras in this metre, including those to Shiva, Subrahmanya and Devi.

It is treasured as a prayer for a good death and for moksha. Its later verses are a moving meditation on old age, disease and the surrender of the soul, making it a beloved hymn for cultivating dispassion and devotion in the face of mortality.

Anyone devoted to Vishnu may recite it, especially during morning or evening worship, on Ekadashi, or at the bedside of the seriously ill. The closing verse assures that whoever recites it with devotion, holding the Lord in the heart, attains Him.