Mṛkaṇḍu’s Stotra to Vishṇu
This is the stotra of Mṛkaṇḍu Maharshi to Śrī Mahāvishṇu. He sang it when Bhagavān Vishṇu appeared before him at Śālagrāma tīrtha after ten thousand years of tapas (austerity). It praises Vishṇu as the Para-brahma, beyond all the changes of prakṛti (nature), who is both nirguṇa and saguṇa (without and with qualities), who is known through the Vedānta, and who is the refuge of all who seek shelter. Bhagavān Vishṇu was pleased and gave Mṛkaṇḍu the vara of being born as his son. The stotra is found in the Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, chapter 4.
The setting
Mṛkaṇḍu Maharshi did nirahāra tapas (austerity without food) for ten thousand years at Śālagrāma tīrtha, to win the favour of Śrī Mahāvishṇu. Moved by his tapas, Bhagavān Vishṇu appeared before him. He had no form of his own, yet he wore yellow silk (pītāmbara) and bore divine weapons. He shone by his own light and was beyond the touch of prakṛti.
Mṛkaṇḍu opened his eyes from meditation and saw the form of light in front of him. His whole body thrilled with pulaka (the hair of the body standing up in joy), and his eyes overflowed with tears of joy. He bowed flat on the ground in daṇḍavat-praṇāma and washed the lotus feet of Bhagavān Vishṇu with his tears. Then he raised his hands above his head and began this stotra.
The stotra
Each part ends in namaskāra to Śrī Mahāvishṇu, except the third, which ends in refuge.
Para-brahma. Namaskāra to the Paramātma-rūpa, the Pareśa. He is beyond mūla-prakṛti (first nature), mahat and ahaṃkāra. He is the last shore (pāra) for those who have no shore. He follows his devotees, and he lets even those who are beyond the devotees reach the other shore. To that Śrī Mahāvishṇu, namaskāra.
Nirguṇa and free of stain. Namaskāra to the one who has no difference of name or birth. He is free of the faults of sound, touch, form, taste and smell. Though he is present in many forms, he has no attachment at all. He is Parameśvara and stutipātra (worthy of praise). To that Śrī Mahāvishṇu, namaskāra.
Known through the Vedānta, the Ādi-deva. He is known through the Vedāntas, the Purāṇa-purusha. He abides in Brahman and in all the world-forms of this creation. He has no equal and blesses his bhaktas. He is the Ādi-deva and the Sarveśvara. “I take refuge in that Śrī Mahāvishṇu and serve him.”
Reached through meditation, ender of saṃsāra. Namaskāra to the purity that only those can see in whom all faults have gone, who are always in meditation, and who are free of hope and delusion. He is the parama-pavitra svarūpa (form of highest purity) who brings the saṃsāra (the cycle of birth and death) to an end. To that Śrī Mahāvishṇu, namaskāra.
Protector of those who seek refuge. Namaskāra to the one who removes the ārti (distress) of those who remember him. He protects those who seek śaraṇa (refuge). The whole jagat serves him, and the jagat itself is his abode. He is the dayālāvāla (the source of mercy) and the Pareśa. To that Śrī Mahāvishṇu, namaskāra.
The phalaśruti
When Śrī Mahāvishṇu heard the stotra, he was greatly pleased. He held the śaṅkha, the cakra and the gadā. He embraced Mṛkaṇḍu with his four long arms and said: “O suvrata (one of firm vows), ask for a vara. I am satisfied by your tapas and your stotra. Ask whatever is in your heart.”
Mṛkaṇḍu answered that the darśana (sight of Bhagavān Vishṇu) was itself the greatest vara, because even Brahmā and the great yogis cannot easily see the Parañdhāma (the supreme abode).
Then Bhagavān Vishṇu said: “I shall be born as your son. He will have all the guṇas, will live for ever (cirañjīvi), and will be beautiful in form. The kula (family) in which I am born shall reach moksha.”
Having said this, Bhagavān Vishṇu disappeared, and Mṛkaṇḍu ended his tapas.
Sources
- Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, chapter 4