Devaki Sthuthi

Sri Devaki Sthuthi
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[Lord Vishnu was born as the eighth child to Devaki in prison. He was born with four hands holding Conch, wheel, mace and flower. Devaki offered this prayer to him and requested him to assume the usual human form so that Kamsa will not find out. This prayer occurs in the Tenth Skanda, third chapter, slokas 24-31. I have consulted the translation of Smt. Sudha Devi Ramkumar and that done by Sri C. L. Goswami in doing this translation.]

1. Roopam yathath prahuravyaktha maadhyam,
Brahma jyothi nirgunam nirvikaram,
SAthaa mathram nirvisesham nireeham,
SA thwam saakshaad vishnur adhyathma dheepa.

Oh god, your form is not clear to the senses,
It has the shine of Brahmam, it is property less,
It is devoid of feelings, it is simply goodness,
It cannot be described by adjectives, It is beyond self,
It is the real divine light of Vishnu which is the only Sathwa.

2. Nashta loke dwi parardha avasane,
Maha bhoothe shwaadhi bhootham gatheshu,
Vyakthe avyaktham kala vegena yathe,
Bhavaneka sishyathe sesha samgna.

At the end of two great eons when the world would come to anend,
When the primeval five elements merge with the great element,
And when in the speed of time, all the clear things,
Merge with and in you who is not clear, you only will be left,
And so you would be called "Sesha" meaning "what is left out".

3. Yoyam kalasthasya theey avyaktha bandho,
Cheshtaamahu scheshtahe yena viswam,
Nimeshaadhirvathsaranthoi mahyamstham,
Thwesaanaam kshema dhama prapadhye.

The wise declare that the time is the essence of your power,
Which extends from, a second to a year and is infinite.
And the universe moves in time on its course,
And I move towards the comfort zone of yours.

4. Marthyo mruthyu vyala bheethaa palayan,
Lokaan sarvaan nirbhayam naadhya gachath,
Thwat padabhjam prapya yadruccha yaadhya,
Swastha seethe mruthyurasmadha paithi.

Man when chased by the serpent of death,
Cannot be without fear wherever he goes,
But if he accidentally reaches your lotus feet,
He would be peaceful and death will be afraid of him.

5. Sa thwam goraadh Ugra senathmaja nna,
Thrahi thrasthaan bruthya vithra saahasi,
Roopam chedham pourusham dhyana dhishnyam,
Maa prathyaksham maam sadrusaam krusheeshtaa.

So please protect us from the horrible son of Ugrasena,
For you are the dispeller of fear of your devotees,
And please do not reveal this form of yours,
Which is fit for meditation even to the ignorant.

6. Janma they mayya sou paapo maa vidhyaan Madhu soodhana,
Samudwije bhavad ddhetho kamasad ahamdheeradhi.

Oh killer of Madhu, let not that sinner,
Know your birth from me, for I am afraid of Kamsa,
For the sake of your safety and am much agitated.

7. Upasamhara viswathman aaho roopam aloukikam,
Sankha chakra gadha Padma sriyaa jushtam chathur bhujam.

Oh soul of the universe, please put an end,
To this rare form of yours holding in your four hands,
The Conch, wheel, mace and a flower of lotus.

8. Viswam yadhe thath swa thanou nissanthe,
Yadhavaakasam Purusha pare bhavaan,
Vibharthi soyam mama garbhago aabhooth,
Aaho nrulokasya vidambhanam hi thath.

You keep the entire universe in your belly,
At the time of the cosmic night, by which time,
They enlarge and occupy lot of space,
And the fact that you entered my womb,
Is surely your way of imitating the humans.