Nrsimha mantras

Sri Nrsimha stuti

1. udaya-ravi-sahasra-dyotitam ruksa-viksam

pralaya-jaladhi-nadam kalpa-krd vahni-vaktram

sura-pati-ripu-vaksaƒ-ksoda-rakta-ksitangam

praNata-bhaya-haram tam nrsimham namami

udaya—rising; ravi—sun; sahasra—thousands; dyotitam—lit up; ruksa-viksam—of brilliant countenance; pralaya-jala-dhi—of the ocean of devastation; nadam—sound; kalpa-krt—making a kalpa (by destruction of the previous creation); vahni-vaktram—whose face is fire; sura-pati-ripu—of the enemy of the master of the demigods, Indra; vaksaƒ-ksoda—mashing the chest; rakta—blood; ksita—spattered; angam—whose body; praNata—of the surrendered; bhaya-haram—removing fear; tam—unto Him; nrsimham—Lord Nrsimha; namami—I offer obeisances.

Lord Nrsimhadeva´s countenance is as brilliantly illuminated as thousands of suns rising all together. He vibrates a roaring sound like that of the waters of the ocean of universal devastation, as if He Himself is prepared to create a new era by destroying the universe. His face is fire, and His body is spattered with drops of the blood from the chest of the enemy of Indra as He pulverizes his chest. Unto that Lord Nrsimhadeva, who removes the fear of the surrendered, I offer my obeisances.

2. pralaya-ravi-karalakara-ruk cakra-valam

virala-yaduru-rocirocitasanta-ralam

prati-bhaya-tama-kopatyutkatoccatta-hasin

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

pralaya-ravi—the sun at the time of devastation; karala—fearful; akara—form; ruk—effulgence; cakra-valam—in a circle; virala—fine; yaduru—broadly; rocirocita—shining brilliantly; asanta-ralam—giving fear; prati—each; bhaya-tama-kopa—fear, ignorance and anger; ati-utkata—extremely ferocious; ucca—shrill; atta—high; hasin—laughing; daha daha—burn, burn; nrsimha—O Nrsimhadeva; asahya—O intolerable one; virya—strength; ahitam—given; me—to me.

The circle of Your effulgence, blazing intolerably like the sun at the time of universal devastation, is very broad and most fearful in appearance. It greatly disturbs the demons. Laughing in a piercing, high tone at the fear, ignorance and anger present in the asuras, O Nrsimha, intolerable one, kindly burn, burn, and give me strength.

3. sara-sarabha-sapadapata-bharabhirava

pracakita-cala-sapta-dvandva-loka-stutas tvam

ripu-rudhira-nisekeNeva sonanghri-salin

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

sara—moving; sarabha—very quickly; sa-pada—on foot; apata—falling upon; bhara—burden; abhirava—crying very loudly; pracakita—very much agitated; cala—moving; sapta-dvandva—fourteen; loka—worlds; stutaƒ—praised by; tvam—You; ripu-rudhira—by the blood of the enemy; nisekeNa iva—as if bathed; sona—bright red; anghri—feet; salin—having; daha daha—burn, burn...

You move very quickly on Your feet, falling upon the burden of the universe with a terrible cry. All the fourteen planetary systems are agitated by Your movements, and they offer prayers unto You. You appear as if bathed in the blood of Your enemy, and Your feet are reddish in color. O intolerable Nrsimha, burn, burn, give me potency.

4. tava ghanaghana-ghoso ghoram aghraya jangha

parigham alaghum uru-vyaja-tejo-girim ca

ghana-vighatitam aga-daitya-janghala-sangho

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

tava—Your; ghanaghana—taking pleasure in slaughter; ghosaƒ—tumult; ghoram—ghastly; aghraya—smelling (sensing); jangha—shank; parigham—mace; alaghum—heavy; uru—greatly; vyaja—deceiving; tejaƒ—potency; girim—mountain; ca—also; ghana—by the killing; vighatitam—cut apart; aga—arriving; daitya—demons; janghala—running; sanghaƒ—multitute; daha daha—burn, burn...

You take great pleasure in slaughtering the armies of the demons, Your heavy mace wielded in a most cunning manner with all the force of a great mountain. Sensing the ghastly scene of destruction created by Your chopping them to pieces, as soon as the footsoldiers of the demons arrive they immediately flee for their lives. O intolerable Nrsimha, burn, burn, give me potency.

5. kataki-kata-karala-dhatakagrya-stha-labha

prakata-pata-tadit te sat-katisthati-patvi

katuka katuka dustatopadrsti-pramustau

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

kataki-kata—the mountain of His hips; karala—fierce; dhataka—attacking; agrya—foremost; stha—situated; labha—acquiring; prakata—manifest; pata—garment; tadit—lightning; te—Your; sat-katistha—nicely situated on the hips; ati-patvi—most intense; katuka katuka—o ferocious one; dusta—evil; ata—wandering about; upadrsti—appearance; pramustau—removed; daha daha—burn, burn...

The mountain of Your hips is nicely decorated by a yellow garment, which appears just like lightning in its intense brilliance. Attacking fiercely he who had the foremost position (the seat of King Indra), You removed the threat of that exceedingly wicked one. O ferocious one! O ferocious and intolerable Nrsimha, burn, burn. Please give me potency.

6. prakhara-nakhara-vajrotkhata-ruksari-vaksaƒ

sikhari-sikhara raktai rakta nandoha-deha

suvalibha-subha-kukse bhadra gambhira-nabhe

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

prakhara—very hot; nakhara—claw; vajra-utkhata—digging like a thunderbolt; ruksa—roughly; ari-vaksaƒ—the chest of the enemy; sikhari—of the summit; sikhara—the peak; raktaiƒ—by the blood; suvalibha—nicely wrinkled; subha—auspicious; kukse—Your abdomen; bhadra—O auspicious one; gambhira—profound; nabhe—Your navel; daha daha—burn, burn...

As Your hot claws roughly dig into the chest of the enemy (HiraNyakasipu) like thunderbolts, You happily bear the redness of his blood upon Your body just as a peak is born by a mountain. Your abdomen is nicely folded, and Your navel is very deep. O auspicious one, O intolerable Nrsimha, burn, burn, give me strength.

7. sphurayati tava saksat saiva naksatra-mala

ksapita-ditija-vakso-vyapta-naksatra-marga

ari-dara-dhara-janv-asakta-hasta-dvayaho

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

sphurayat—bursts open; tava—Your; saksat—directly; sa—that; eva—certainly; naksatra-mala—cluster of stars; ksapita—destroyed; diti-ja—of the son of Diti; vaksaƒ—chest; vyapta—permeated; naksatra-marga—the path of the stars (the heavens); ari-dara—the ripping apart of the enemy; dhara-janu—supported by the knee; asakta—resting on; hasta-dvaya—the pair of hands; aho—how wonderful it is; daha daha—burn, burn...

Your two hands, as they directly burst open the chest of the son of Diti, appear just like clusters of stars. You support the enemy on Your knee and send him on the path of liberation. O intolerable Nrsimha, burn, burn, give me potency.

8. katu-vikata-sataudho-dhattanad bhrasta-bhuyo

ghana-patala-visalakasa-labdhavakasam

kara-parigha-vimarda-prodyamam dhyayatas te

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

katu—caustic, burning; vikata—monstrous; sata—mane; odhaƒ—chest; dhattanat—by the killing; bhrasta-bhuyaƒ—fallen from position; ghana—the clouds; patala—roof; visala—broad; akasa—sky; labdha-avakasam—having attained the opportunity; kara—hand; parigha—mace; vimarda—hardness; pra-udyamam—raised; dhyayataƒ—meditating; te—upon You; daha daha—burn, burn...

Your mane is burning and monstrous, and You cause the enemy to fall from his position by tearing apart his chest. Once attaining the opportunity, under the broad roof of the clouds and sky, You raise Your hand, powerful as a mace, to strike. I meditate upon You in this form. O intolerable Nrsimha, burn, burn, give me potency.

9. hata-lutada-laghisthotkaNtha-dasto ´sta-vidyut

sata-sata-katinoraƒ-pitha-bhit sustu nistham

patati nu tava kaNthadhistha-ghorantramala

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

hata—brilliant; lutada—giving light; laghistha—lightest; utkaNtha—with neck raised; dastaƒ—bitten; asta-vidyut—eight lightnings; sata—mane; sata—hundreds; katina—by the hip; uraƒ—chest; pitha—seat; bhit—separating; sustu—very much; nistham—fixed; patati—moves; nu—indeed; tava—Your; kaNta-adhistha—lower part of the neck; ghora—ghastly; antra-mala—intestines; daha daha—burn, burn...

Appearing brilliantly illuminated, Your neck, with hundreds of mane-hairs, is raised lightly and appears to be bitten by eight bolts of lightning. You divide the chest and very strong position of Hiranyakasipu. You are garlanded with his ghastly entrails. O intolerable Nrsimha, burn, burn, give me potency.

10. hata-bahu-mihirabhasa hy asamhara-ramho

huta-vaha-bahu-hetir hrepikananta-hetiƒ

ahata-vihita-moham samvihansai ham asyam

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

hata—slain; bahu—many; mihira-abhasa—sun´s effulgence; hi—certainly; asamhara-ramhaƒ—uncheckable force; huta—offered; vaha—carried; bahu—many; hetiƒ—weapons; hrepika—sent; ananta-hetiƒ—unlimited weapons; ahata—struck; vihita—put down; moham—illusion; samvihansai—may You destroy; ham—expressing anger; asyam—face; daha daha—burn, burn...

The effulgence of many suns is destroyed by Your uncheckable potency. The many weapons sent against You are like sacrificial offerings, and You reply with unlimited weaponry. O intolerable Nrsimha! Burn, burn. Give me potency. Put down, strike and slay my illusion.

11. guru-guru-giri-rajat-kandarantargad eva

dina-maNi-maNi-srngevanta-vahni-pradipte

dadhad ati-katu-damstre bhisaNojjihva-vaktram

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

guru-guru—very heavy; giri—the hill; rajat—shines; kandara—the caves; antar-gat—entered within; eva—certainly; a-dina—sunrise; maNimani—on the bejewelled one; srnga iva—as if the peak; antaƒ-vahni—the fire within; pradipte—blazing; dadhad—placing; ati-katu—very sharp; damstre—teeth; bhisaNa—fearful; ut-jihva—with the tongue extended; vaktram—whose face; daha daha—burn, burn...

My Lord, Your fearful countenance, with tongue extended and sharp teeth blazing as if illuminated from within, appears as the peak of a huge mountain of gems lit by the sunrise and by fire coming from within its caves. O Nrsimha of intolerable strength, burn, burn, give me strength.

12. adharita-vibudhabdhi-dhyana-dhairya vididhyad

vividha-vibudhadhi sraddha-pitendrari-nasam

vidadhad ati-katahoddhatanoddhatta-hasam

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

adharita—unsteady; vibudha-abdhi—the ocean of demigods; dhyana-dhairya—meditation and steadiness; vididhyad—piercing; vividha—in various ways; vibudha-dhi—the intelligence of the demigods; sraddha-pita—the sraddha ceremony offered to the forefathers; indra-ari—the enemy of Indra (Hiranyakasipu); nasam—destruction; vidadhad—causing; ati-kataha—in the broad pot; uddhatana—making bright (red-hot); uddhatta-hasam—shrill laughter; daha daha—burn, burn...

The enemy of Indra (Hiranyakasipu) made waves in the ocean of demigods and took the sraddha offerings meant for the forefathers. Confounding the intelligence of the demigods, he minimized their austerity and position in various ways. But You, O Nrsimha, melted him in the pot of Your shrill laughter. O Nrsimha of intolerable strength, burn, burn, give me strength.

13. tri-bhuvana-trNa-matra-traNa-trsNardra-netra-

trayam ati-laghitarcir vistapavistapadam

navatara-ravi-tamram dharayan ruksa-viksam

  daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

tri-bhuvana—the three planetary systems; trNa-matra—down to the blade of grass; traNa—delivering; trsNa-ardra—dried up by thirst; netra-trayam—the three eyes; ati-laghita—greatly lightening; arciƒ—flame; vistapa—upper; avista—entered; padam—abode; navatara—new; ravi-tamram—having a coppery hue like the sun; dharayan—putting on; ruksa—threatening; viksam—countenance; daha daha—burn, burn...

Every living being in the three worlds, down to the blade of grass, was scorched by the flame of HiraNyakasipu. But You, with Your three eyes, have anihilated this flame. Your appearance is threatening to the miscreants, and Your color is coppery like the newly risen sun. O Nrsimha of intolerable strength, burn, burn, give me strength.

14. bhramad abhi-bhava-bhubhrd bhuri-bhubhara-sad-bhid-

bhida-nava-vibhava-bhru-vibhramadabhra-subhra

ripu-bhava-bhayam etar bhasi bho bho vibho ´bhir

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

bhramat—wandering; abhi-bhava—superior; bhu-bhrt—sustainer of the earth; bhuri—great; bhu-bhara—the burden of the earth; sat—thus; bhidbhida—divided; nava-vibhava—into nine parts; bhru-vibhrama—by the movement of the eyebrows; adabhra—plentiful; subhra—shining; ripu—for the enemy; bhava-bhayam—becoming fearful; etaƒ—goer; bhasi—You shine; bho bho—hail, hail; vibho—O all-powerful; abhiƒ—without fear; daha daha—burn, burn...

You wander about without resistance, for You are the supreme power and the maintainer of the earth. Hail to You, O Lord; You are effulgent and fearful to Your enemies, although You fear no one. You divide into nine parts the burden of the earth (HiraNyakasipu) simply by the effulgence produced by the movement of Your eyebrows. O Nrsimha of intolerable strength, burn, burn, give me strength.

15. sravaNa-khacita-cascat-kuNdaloccaNda-gaNda

bhrukuti katu lalata-srestha-nasaruNosta

varada surada rajat-kesarotsaritare

daha daha nrsimasahya viryahitam me

sravaNa—ears; khacita—prominent; cascat—swinging; kuNdala—earrings; uccaNda—violent; gaNda—face; bhrukuti—contraction of the eyebrows; katu—fierce; lalata—forehead; srestha-nasa—with excellent nose; aruNa-usta—reddish lips; varada—giver of benedictions; surada—benefactor of the demigods; rajat-kesara—shining mane hairs; utsarita—scattering; are—the enemy; daha daha—burn, burn...

Your ears are prominent, Your earrings swing to and fro and Your face appears ferocious. Your eyebrows give Your forehead a threatening aspect, and You are most beautiful with Your high nose and reddish lips. O giver of benedictions, well-wisher of the demigods and devotees, the enemy is scattered by the effulgence of Your mane-hairs. O Nrsimha of intolerable strength, burn, burn, give me strength.

16. pravikavaca-kaca-rajad-ratna kotira-salin

gala-gata galad-usradara-ratnangadadhya

kanaka-kataka-kasci sisjini mudrikavan

daha daha nrsimhasahya viryahitam me

pravikavaca—bereft of armor; kaca—hair; rajat—resplendent; ratna—gem; kotira—matted locks; salin—You possess; gala-gata—swallowed; galad—swallowing; usra—by the sunrise; adara—honored; ratna-angada-adhya—possessed of many jewelled ornaments; kanaka-kataka—chain of gold; kasci—the girdle; sisjini—making a shrill sound; mudrika-van—with Your hands in the mudra; daha daha—burn, burn...

You wear no armor, yet You are decorated by beautiful locks of shining hair and many ornaments made of jewels. Your bodily effulgence appears as if You had swallowed the newly-risen sun, Your hands exhibit various mudras, and Your waist is decorated with a gold chain, making a tinkling noise. O Nrsimha of intolerable strength, burn, burn, give me strength.

17. ari-daram asi hetau capa-baNau gadam san-

musalam api kapolam cankusam pasa-sulam

dadhad api vidhutantra-sragvi-bhinnari-vakso

daha daha nrsimhasahya viryahitam me

ari-daram—tearing apart the enemy; asi—You; hetau—missiles; capa-baNau—bow and arrow; gadam—and club; sat-musalam—mace; api—even; kapolam—the cheek; ca—and; ankusam—rod for controlling elephants; pasa-sulam—noose and trident; dadhat—placing; api—even; vidhuta—purified; antra-sragvi—garland of intestines; bhinna-ari-vaksaƒ—taken from the bifurcated abdomen of the enemy; daha daha—burn, burn...

You are equipped with bow and arrow, as well as various astras or missiles, club, mace, rod for controlling elephants, noose, and trident. Placing the enemy upon Your lap and tearing open his abdomen, he is thus purified of all contamination, and therefore You take his intestines and wear them as a victory garland. O Nrsimha of intolerable strength, burn, burn, give me strength.

18. cata cata cata duram mohayan bhramayarin

kada kada kada kayam jvalaya sphotayasva

jahi jahi jahi vegam satravaƒ sanubandham

daha daha nrsimhasahya viryahitam me

cata cata cata—fall upon, fall upon, fall upon; duram—far away; mohayan—bewildering; bhramaya—scatter; arin—foes; kada kada kada—consume, consume, consume; kayam—body; jvalaya—incinerate; sphotayasva—explode; jahi jahi jahi—conquer, conquer, conquer; vegam—forcefully; satravaƒ—enemies; sa-anubandham—with their followers; daha daha—burn, burn...

Fall upon my foes, fall upon them, fall upon them. Bewilder them and drive them far away. Consume, consume, consume the bodies of the enemies; incinerate and burst them asunder. Conquer, conquer, conquer forcefully my foes and their followers. O Nrsimha of intolerable strength, burn, burn, give me strength.

19. vidhi-bhava-vibudhesa-bhramakagni-sphulinga

prasavi-vikata-damstrojjihva-vaktra tri-netra

kala kala kala kalam pahi mam te subhaktam

daha daha nrsimhasahya viryahitam me

vidhi—Brahma; bhava—Siva; vibudha-isa—Indra; bhramaka—bewildering; agni-sphulinga—a firebrand; prasavi—pressing out; vikata—monstrous; damstra—teeth; ut-jihva—with tongue extended; vaktra—Your face; tri-netra—O three-eyed; kala kala kala—sound, sound, sound; kalam—fate; pahi mam—protect me; te—Your; su-bhaktam—surrendered devotee; daha daha—burn, burn...

Even Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and King Indra are bewildered to see Your tongue, like a firebrand, pressed between Your gigantic teeth. O three-eyed one, Your face appears most fearful, like time personified. Sound out the fate of the demons and kindly protect me, Your surrendered servant. O Nrsimha of intolerable strength, burn, burn, give me strength.

20. kuru kuru karuNam tvam sankuram daitya-pote

disa disa visadam me sasvatim deva-drstim

jaya jaya jaya murte ´narta jetavya-paksa

daha daha nrsimhasahya viryahitam me

kuru kuru karuNam—have mercy, have mercy; tvam—You; sa-ankuram—by the root; daitya-pote—the child of Diti; disa disa—dispel, dispel; visadam—dejection; me—my; sasvatim—eternal; deva-drstim—divine vision; jaya jaya jaya—conquer, conquer, conquer; murte—O supreme form; anarta—who never suffers; jetavya-paksa—who is always on the winning side; daha daha—burn, burn...

O supreme form, You are never subjected to the sufferings of material existence. Neither are You defeated; indeed, whoever You favor will always triumph. Be victorious. Have mercy, have mercy upon me. Dispel, dispel my ignorance just as You uprooted the child of Diti. Bestow upon me the divine vision to see You always. O Nrsimha of intolerable strength, burn, burn, give me strength.

21. stutir iyam ahita-ghni sevita narasimhi

tanur iva parisanta-malini sabhitolam

tad akhila-gurum agrya-srida-rupa-mahadbhiƒ

daha daha nrsimhasahya viryahitam me

stutiƒ—prayer; iyam—this; ahita-ghni—destroyer of all inauspicious things; sevita—devotional service; narasimhi—in relation to Nrsimhadeva; tanuƒ—body; iva—as if; parisanta—destroyed; malini—garlanded; sa—that; abhitolam—sufficiently close; tat—that; akhila-gurum—Lord of the universe; agrya—before; srida—bestowing good fortune; rupa-mahadbhiƒ—greatness of form; daha daha...

This prayer, offered in devotional service to Lord Nrsimhadeva, destroys all inauspicious things. That Lord of the universe, the universal teacher, appearing as if garlanded by the destroyed body of HiraNyakasipu, bestows all good fortune and opulence upon His worshipers. O Nrsimha of intolerable strength, burn, burn, give me strength.

22. likuca-tilaka-sunuƒ sad-dhitarthanusari

narahari-nitim etam satru-samhara-hetum

akrta-sakala-papa-dhvamsanim yaƒ pathet tam

daha daha nrsimhasahya viryahitam me

likuca—sour; tilaka—ornamented; sunuƒ—offspring; sat—of the devotees; hita-artha—for the benefit; anusari—acting; narahari-nitim—activities of Lord Narahari; etam—this; satru-samhara—retreat of enemies; hetum—cause; akrta—undone; sakala-papa—all sins; dhvamsanim—vanquishing; yaƒ—who; pathet—reads; tam—this; daha daha—burn, burn...

The Lord appears in a seemingly bitter form to act for the protection of His devotee Prahlada. Anyone who reads this description of the character of Lord Narahari causes his enemies to retreat. That person´s sins are undone and vanquished. O Nrsimha of intolerable strength, burn, burn, give me strength.