Śukrācārya’s Stotra to Vishṇu
This is a stotra of nine verses sung by Śukrācārya, the teacher of the daityas, as he stood in the waters of the Gaṅgā. He sang it to Bhagavān Vishṇu as Vāmana, Nārāyaṇa and Narasiṃha. It is found in the Narasiṃha Purāṇa, chapter 55. When it ended, Bhagavān Vishṇu appeared and gave back the eye Śukrācārya had lost.
The setting
After the Vāmana avatāra, Śukrācārya had lost the sight of one eye. During the yajña of Bali, Bhagavān Vāmana had pushed a blade of kuśa grass into the spout of the kalaśa (water pot) to clear the flow of water for Bali’s gift. Śukrācārya had entered the kalaśa in a tiny form to stop the gift, and the blade pierced his eye.
With this wound, Śukrācārya made a long tīrtha yātrā (journey to sacred places) to many holy places. At last he stood in the waters of the Jāhnavī (the Gaṅgā) and raised both arms. In his heart he meditated on Bhagavān Narasiṃha, the eternal bearer of the conch, discus and mace (Śaṅkhacakragadādhārī). Then he recited this stotra.
The stotra
Verse 1 (introductory)
Vāmanena saviddhāksho bahutīrdeshu Bhārgavaḥ
Jāhnavī salile sthitvā devam abhyarcya Vāmanam
Ūrdhvabāhuḥ sadeveśaṃ śaṅkhacakragadādharaṃ
Hṛdi saṃcintya tushṭāva Narasiṃhaṃ sanātanam
Bhārgava (Śukrācārya), his eye pierced by Vāmana, visited many tīrthas. He stood in the waters of the Jāhnavī with his arms raised. In his heart he meditated on the Īśvara of the devas, the bearer of the conch, discus and mace, and he praised Narasiṃha, the Eternal.
Verse 2
Namāmi devaṃ viśveśaṃ Vāmanaṃ Vishṇurūpiṇam
Balidarpaharaṃ śāntaṃ śāśvataṃ Purushottamam
I bow to the deva, the Īśvara of the universe, Vāmana, who has the form of Vishṇu. He took away Bali’s pride. He is ever peaceful. He is the eternal Purushottama.
Verse 3
Dhīraṃ śūraṃ mahādevaṃ sargagaṃ sarvabhāvanaṃ
Anādim ajaraṃ nityaṃ namāmi Garuḍadhvajam
He is steady and brave. He is Mahādeva (the great deva), present everywhere, the maker of all beings. He has no beginning, he never ages, he is eternal. I bow to Garuḍadhvaja (he whose banner is Garuḍa).
Verse 4
Surāsuraiḥ bhaktimadbhiḥ stuto Nārāyaṇaḥ sadā
Pūjitaṃ ca Hṛshīkeśaṃ taṃ namāmi Jagadgurum
Nārāyaṇa is always praised with devotion by devas and asuras alike. Hṛshīkeśa is always worshipped. I bow to him, the Jagadguru (teacher of the world).
Verse 5
Hṛdi saṃkalpya yadrūpaṃ saṃdhyāyanti yatayaḥ sadā
Jyotirūpam anaupamyaṃ Narasiṃhaṃ namāmy aham
The yogins always meditate in their hearts on his form. It is the form of pure light, and nothing is like it. I bow to that Narasiṃha.
Verse 6
Na jānanti paraṃ rūpaṃ Brahmādyā devatāgaṇāḥ
Yasyāvatārarūpāṇi samarcanti namāmi tam
Even Brahmā and the hosts of devas do not truly know his highest form. They worship his avatāra forms. I bow to him.
Verse 7
Etat samastaṃ yenādau spashṭaṃ dushṭavadhāt punaḥ
Trātaṃ yatra jagallīnaṃ taṃ namāmi Janārdanam
By him all this was first made clear. Again he destroys the wicked and then protects. In him the universe dissolves. I bow to that Janārdana.
Verse 8
Bhaktair abhyarcito yastu nityaṃ bhaktapriyohi yaḥ
Taṃ devam amalaṃ divyaṃ praṇamāmi Jagatpatim
He is always worshipped by his devotees and is always dear to them. I bow to that stainless, divine deva, Jagatpati (master of the universe).
Verse 9
Durlabhaṃ cāpi bhaktānāṃ yaḥ prayacchati toshitaḥ
Taṃ sarvasākshiṇaṃ Vishṇuṃ praṇamāmi sanātanam
When he is pleased, he gives even what is hardest for devotees to gain. I bow to that eternal Vishṇu, the witness of all.
The result
When the stotra was done, Bhagavān Jagannātha, the bearer of the conch, discus and mace, appeared before Śukrācārya. Bhagavān Jagannātha said that Śukrācārya had lost his eye because he had stood against his divine purpose. But he was now pleased with the stotra.
He took his divine Pāñcajanya conch and touched it to Śukrācārya’s lost eye. By that touch alone a perfect new eye, the same as the first, formed at once. Bhagavān Jagannātha accepted Śukrācārya’s worship and became unseen.
Sources
- Narasiṃha Purāṇa, chapter 55