venkateswarabalajivishnutirupati

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍

Sri Venkatesha Karavalamba Stotram in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Early morning during Venkateswara worship; on Saturdays (sacred to Balaji), Ekadashi, and during a pilgrimage to Tirumala·📜 Composed by Sri Nrisimha Bharati of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham

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

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.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌶𑍇𑌷𑌶𑍈𑌲𑌸𑍁𑌨𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌨 𑌦𑌿𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑌾𑌚𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌤 𑌹𑌰𑍇 𑌨𑌲𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷। 𑌲𑍀𑌲𑌾𑌕𑌟𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌲𑍋𑌕 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 2

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌪𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜 𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌖𑌪𑌾𑌣𑍇 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍁𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌶𑌨𑌸𑍁𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌤𑌦𑌿𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌤। 𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌾𑌗𑌰 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑍍𑌯 𑌸𑍁𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 3

𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍇𑌦𑍍𑌯 𑌭𑌵𑌸𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌧𑌾𑌰 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌮𑌨𑌾𑌭 𑌕𑌮𑌲𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌮। 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍈𑌕𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌨 𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌰 𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌨𑍍 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 4

𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌪𑌤𑍇 𑌨𑌿𑌗𑌮𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌯 𑌨𑌿𑌜𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌦𑍋𑌷𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌕 𑌬𑍋𑌧𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌿𑌨𑍍। 𑌦𑍈𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌨 𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌨 𑌵𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌦𑍇𑌵 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 5

𑌤𑌾𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌂 𑌹𑌰 𑌵𑌿𑌭𑍋 𑌰𑌭𑌸𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌸𑌂𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷 𑌮𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍁𑌣𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑌰𑌸𑍀𑌰𑍁𑌹𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷। 𑌮𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍁𑌦𑌿𑌨𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍋 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 6

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌜𑌾𑌤𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌨𑌵𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌲𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌟 𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍂𑌰𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌤𑌿𑌲𑌕𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌲𑌲𑌾𑌟𑌦𑍇𑌶। 𑌰𑌾𑌕𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍁𑌬𑌿𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌵𑌦𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌜𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 7

𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌵𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌚𑍋𑌵𑌿𑌲𑌾𑌸 𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌢𑍍𑌯𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌤 𑌕𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠। 𑌕𑍇𑌯𑍂𑌰𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌸𑍁𑌵𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌸𑌿𑌦𑌿𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌾𑌲 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 8

𑌦𑌿𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌦𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌤𑌭𑍁𑌜𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌯 𑌮𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌲𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍍 𑌕𑍇𑌯𑍂𑌰𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌣 𑌸𑍁𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌤 𑌦𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌘𑌬𑌾𑌹𑍋। 𑌨𑌾𑌗𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌕𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌣𑌕𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌿𑌨𑍍 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 9

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌨𑍍 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌰𑌣 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌗𑍍𑌨 𑌮𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌰𑌯 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌯𑌾 𑌕𑌰𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌪𑌯𑍋𑌧𑍇। 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌂𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌮𑌮 𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌸𑌮𑍃𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌹𑍇𑌤𑍁𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 10

𑌦𑌿𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌰𑌾𑌗𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌚𑌰𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌕𑍋𑌮𑌲𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗 𑌪𑍀𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌾𑌵𑍃𑌤𑌤𑌨𑍋 𑌤𑌰𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌕𑌭𑌾𑌸। 𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌭𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌧𑌾𑌨 𑌸𑍁𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 11

𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌢𑍍𑌯𑌦𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌨𑌿𑌬𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌕𑌟𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌯𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌣𑌸𑍁𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌭𑌜𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌦𑍇𑌶। 𑌜𑌙𑍍𑌘𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌯𑍇𑌨 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌲𑍋𑌕 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 12

𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍈𑌕𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌸𑌰𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌘𑍍𑌰𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌶𑌨 𑌦𑌿𑌨𑍇 𑌚 𑌮𑌮𑌾𑌘𑌮𑍀𑌶। 𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌤𑌮𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌸𑌕𑌲𑌂 𑌲𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌪 𑌭𑍂𑌮𑌨𑍍 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 13

𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌹𑍋𑌚𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌤 𑌮𑍇 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌃 𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌪𑌗𑌤𑌂 𑌸𑌕𑌲𑌂 𑌦𑌯𑌾𑌲𑍋। 𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌂 𑌚 𑌮𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑌵𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌯 𑌦𑌯𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍॥

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.

Verse 14

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶𑌪𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌷𑌟𑍍𑌪𑌦𑍇𑌨 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹𑌯𑌤𑌿𑌨𑌾 𑌰𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌜𑌗𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌏𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌠𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌜𑌾𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌷𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌤𑍇 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍁𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑌦𑌵𑍀𑌂 𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍇𑌃॥

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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𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌶𑍇𑌷𑌶𑍈𑌲𑌸𑍁𑌨𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌨🔊Shri-shesha-shaila-suniketanaO one whose lovely abode is the Seshachala (Tirumala) hill

𑌦𑌿𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍇🔊Divya-murteO one of divine form

𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑌾𑌚𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌤 𑌹𑌰𑍇🔊Narayanachyuta hareO Narayana, O Achyuta (infallible), O Hari

𑌨𑌲𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷🔊NalinayatakshaO lotus-eyed one (with eyes long like a lotus)

𑌲𑍀𑌲𑌾𑌕𑌟𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌲𑍋𑌕🔊Lila-kataksha-parirakshita-sarva-lokaO protector of all the worlds by your playful sidelong glance

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍇𑌶🔊Shri-venkateshaO Lord Venkatesha (of Tirupati)

𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍🔊Mama dehi karavalambamGrant me the support of your hand

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌪𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜🔊Brahmadi-vandita-padambujaO one whose lotus-feet are worshipped by Brahma and the gods

𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌖𑌪𑌾𑌣𑍇🔊Shankha-paneO one holding the conch in your hand

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍁𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌶𑌨🔊Shrimat-sudarshana(Holding) the glorious Sudarshana discus

𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌾𑌗𑌰 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑍍𑌯🔊Karunya-sagara sharanyaO ocean of compassion, O refuge worthy of surrender

𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍇𑌦𑍍𑌯🔊Vedanta-vedyaO one knowable through the Vedanta (Upanishads)

𑌭𑌵𑌸𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌧𑌾𑌰🔊Bhava-sagara-karnadharaO helmsman who steers (us) across the ocean of worldly existence

𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌨𑍍🔊Papa-harinO remover of sins

𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌪𑌤𑍇🔊LakshmipateO Lord (consort) of Lakshmi

𑌤𑌾𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌂 𑌹𑌰🔊Tapa-trayam haraRemove the three kinds of suffering

𑌸𑌰𑌸𑍀𑌰𑍁𑌹𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷🔊SarasiruhakshaO lotus-eyed one

𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌾𑌗𑌰🔊Karuna-payodheO ocean of mercy

𑌮𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌰 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌯𑌾🔊Mam-uddhara kripayaLift me up (rescue me) by your grace

𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌪𑌗𑌤𑌂🔊Daridryam-apy-apagatamMay poverty too be entirely removed

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹𑌯𑌤𑌿𑌨𑌾 𑌰𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍🔊Shriman-nrisimha-yatina rachitamComposed by the ascetic Sri Nrisimha (Bharati of Sringeri)

Benefits of Chanting Sri Venkatesha Karavalamba Stotram

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Expresses complete surrender (sharanagati) at the feet of Lord Venkateswara

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Invokes the Lord's protecting hand to rescue the devotee from the ocean of samsara

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Said to remove the three afflictions (tapa-traya) and inner darkness

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The thirteenth verse describes the removal of poverty and of inner enemies like desire

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A complete meditative darshan of Balaji from crown to feet (shata-anga dhyana)

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Recitation is promised to lead the devotee to the supreme abode of Vishnu

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Especially powerful when chanted before the deity at Tirumala or during Venkateswara worship

How to Chant Sri Venkatesha Karavalamba Stotram

Repetitions1times

Best TimeEarly morning during Venkateswara worship; on Saturdays (sacred to Balaji), Ekadashi, and during a pilgrimage to Tirumala

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Sri Venkatesha Karavalamba 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.

'Kara' means hand and 'avalamba' means support; a karavalamba stotram is a hymn that repeatedly begs the Lord for 'the support of his hand.' Each verse here ends with 'Sri Venkatesha mama dehi karavalambam' — 'O Venkatesha, give me the support of your hand' — making it a prayer of total dependence on his grace.

It was composed by Sri Nrisimha Bharati, a Jagadguru Shankaracharya of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, as stated in the final verse, where he calls himself a bee at the lotus-feet of Sri Venkatesha. It has been popularised in recitation, including by Bharat Ratna M. S. Subbulakshmi.

Sri Venkatesha, also called Venkateswara, Srinivasa or Balaji, is the form of Lord Vishnu enshrined on the Tirumala (Seshachala) hills at Tirupati, one of the most visited and revered temples in the world. The first verse addresses him as the divine form dwelling on the Seshachala hill.

It is recited daily during Venkateswara worship, and especially on Saturdays which are sacred to Balaji, on Ekadashi, and by pilgrims visiting Tirumala. It is a fitting prayer whenever one seeks the Lord's protecting hand in difficulty.