Vishṇu Śarmā’s Stotra
This is the stotra that the brāhmaṇa Vishṇu Śarmā offered at Ayodhyā after three years of tapas (austerity). It praises Bhagavān Vishṇu by a run of names and epithets. It calls him the supreme master, the infinite one, and the mother and father of all worlds. It asks him to be pleased and to give moksha. It is found in the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Ayodhyā Māhātmya, chapter 1, verses 79 to 87.
The setting
Vishṇu Śarmā was a Vaishṇava brāhmaṇa, full of devotion. For three years he kept hard tapas. In summer he sat among the five fires (pañcāgni). In the rainy season he sat in the open in the rain. In winter he bathed in cold water and did Vishṇu pūjā. After this he sang the stotra with great bhakti in his mind.
When the stotra was finished, Bhagavān Acyuta appeared before him. He came on Garuḍa, holding the conch, the discus and the iron club, and wearing yellow robes.
The stotra
Verses 79 to 83
The verses are given here in English, as the text has them.
“Be pleased, O Bhagavān Vishṇu. Be pleased, O Purushottama. Be pleased, O master of the chiefs of the devas. Be pleased, O lotus-eyed one.”
“Be victorious, O Kṛshṇa. Be victorious, O inconceivable one. Be victorious, O Vishṇu, O unchanging one. Be victorious, O master of yajñas. Be victorious, O Bhagavān Vishṇu, O master, the all-powerful one.”
“Be victorious, O infinite one. O remover of pāpa, be victorious. O remover of the sickness of births.”
“Obeisance to the lotus-navelled one. Obeisance to the master with lotus garlands. Obeisance, O master of all, O master of all living beings. Obeisance, O slayer of Kaiṭabha. Obeisance to the master of the three worlds. O root of the universe, O master of the universe.”
“Obeisance to the overlord of the devas. Obeisance to Nārāyaṇa. Obeisance to Kṛshṇa, to Rāma. Obeisance to the one whose weapon is the discus.”
Verses 84 to 87
“You are the mother of all the worlds. You alone are the father of the universe. You are the true friend of those who are afraid and in distress. You are the father, you are the grandfather. You are Havis. You are Vashaṭkāra. You are the master. You are Agni, the deva of fire. You alone are the instrument, the cause and the maker. You alone are the greatest master.”
“O Mādhava, who hold the conch, the discus and the iron club in your hands, save me. Be pleased, O supporter of the Mandara mountain. Be pleased, O slayer of Madhu. Be pleased, O lover of Kamalā. Be pleased, O master of the worlds.”
The epithets
| Epithet | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Purushottama | The Supreme Person |
| Lotus-eyed | The one whose eyes are like lotuses |
| Kṛshṇa | The dark one; the one who draws all to himself |
| Acyuta | The unchanging one; the one who does not fall |
| Master of yajñas | The master of all the rites of yajña |
| Infinite one | Without limit, without measure |
| Lotus-navelled | Padmanābha; Brahmā’s seat is his navel |
| Slayer of Kaiṭabha | His victory over the asura Kaiṭabha |
| Nārāyaṇa | He who dwells in all beings as their inner self |
| Mādhava | Master of Śrī (Lakshmī); master of the spring season |
| Supporter of Mandara | He who held the Mandara mountain at the churning of the ocean (Samudra-manthana) |
| Slayer of Madhu | He who killed the asura Madhu |
| Lover of Kamalā | The beloved of Lakshmī (Kamalā) |
| Vashaṭkāra | The sacred call used in Vedic yajña |
The fruit
Bhagavān Vishṇu said that all of Vishṇu Śarmā’s pāpas were destroyed because of this prayer. He appeared and gave him a vara (a boon). He set up Cakratīrtha. He directed that the mūrti (sacred image) be set up as Vishṇuhari.
Sources
- Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Ayodhyā Māhātmya, chapter 1 (verses 79–87)