viṣṇoḥ stavarāja-nirūpaṇe (Chapter Sixteen of the Śrī Nṛsiṃha Purāṇa) - Nrusimha Jayanti 2025

 viṣṇoḥ stavarāja-nirūpaṇe

(Chapter Sixteen of the Śrī Nṛsiṃha Purāṇa)

śrīśuka uvāca—

1. saṃsāravṛkṣam āruhya dvaṃdvapāśaśatair dṛḍhaiḥ /
badhyamānaḥ sutaiśvaryaiḥ patito yonisāgare // NsP 16.1

Having mounted (āruhya) the tree (vṛkṣam) of worldly existence (saṃsāra), he is firmly bound (badhyamānaḥ) by hundreds of strong (dṛḍhaiḥ) snares (pāśaśatair) of dualities (dvaṃdva) and, fettered (badhyamānaḥ) by sons (suta) and riches (aiśvarya), plunges (patitaḥ) into the ocean (sāgara) of wombs (yoni).

 

2. yaḥ kāmakrodhalobhais tu viṣayaiḥ paripīḍitaḥ /
baddhaḥ svakarmabhir gauṇaiḥ putradāraiṣaṇādibhiḥ // NsP 16.2

He who is tormented (paripīḍitaḥ) by sense‑objects (viṣayaiḥ) through desire (kāma), anger (krodha), and greed (lobha), and is bound (baddhaḥ) by his own (sva) secondary (gauṇa) actions (karmabhiḥ) such as the craving (eṣaṇā) for sons (putra), wife (dārā), and other ties (ādibhiḥ)…

 

3. sa kena nistaraty āśu dustaraṃ bhavasāgaram /
pṛcchām ākhyāhi me tāta tasya muktiṃ kathaṃ bhavet // NsP 16.3

By what (kena) may such a man swiftly (āśu) cross over (nistarati) the hard‑to‑ford (dustaraṃ) ocean (sāgaram) of becoming (bhava)? I ask (pṛcchāmi) you—tell (ākhyāhi) me (me), O revered father (tāta), how (katham) his (tasya) liberation (mukti) might be attained (bhavet).

śrīvyāsa uvāca—

4. śṛṇu vatsa mahāprājña yaj jñātvā muktim āpnuyāt /
tac ca vakṣyāmi te divyaṃ nāradena śrutaṃ purā // NsP 16.4

Listen (śṛṇu), dear one (vatsa), O deeply wise (mahāprājña)! That (yad) which, once known (jñātvā), lets a person attain liberation (muktim āpnuyāt) I shall now declare to you (vakṣyāmi te)—a divine (divyaṃ) teaching once heard (śrutaṃ) long ago (purā) from Nārada (nāradena).

 

5. narake raurave ghore dharmajñānavivarjitāḥ /
svakarmabhir mahāduḥkhaṃ prāptā yatra yamālaye // NsP 16.5

In the terrible (ghore) hell (narake) Raurava (raurave), bereft of insight (jñānavivarjitāḥ) into dharma (dharma), they arrive (prāptā) through their own deeds (svakarmabhiḥ) and undergo great suffering (mahāduḥkhaṃ) there (yatra) in the abode (ālaya) of Yama (yama).

 

6. mahāpāpakṛtaṃ ghoraṃ saṃprāptāḥ pāpakṛjjanāḥ /
ālokya nāradaḥ śīghraṃ gatvā yatra trilocanaḥ // NsP 16.6

Seeing (ālokya) the sinners (pāpakṛj‑janāḥ) who, through heinous (ghoraṃ) great sins (mahāpāpakṛtaṃ), had fallen into (saṃprāptāḥ) that plight, Nārada (nāradaḥ) quickly (śīghraṃ) went (gatvā) to the place where (yatra) dwells the Three‑eyed One (trilocanaḥ).

 

7. gaṅgādharaṃ mahādevaṃ śaṃkaraṃ śūlapāṇinam /
praṇamya vidhivad devaṃ nāradaḥ paripṛcchati // NsP 16.7

To Gaṅgā‑bearer (gaṅgādharaṃ), the great god (mahādevaṃ) Śaṅkara (śaṃkaraṃ), holder of the trident (śūlapāṇinam), Nārada (nāradaḥ) duly bowed (praṇamya vidhivat) and then respectfully asked (paripṛcchati) the god (devaṃ).

nārada uvāca—

8. yaḥ saṃsāre mahādvaṃdvaiḥ kāmabhogaiḥ śubhāśubhaiḥ /
śabdādiviṣayair baddhaḥ pīḍyamānaḥ ṣaḍūrmibhiḥ // NsP 16.8

Whoever, in worldly existence (saṃsāre) is bound (baddhaḥ) by great dualities (mahādvaṃdvaiḥ), by the enjoyments born of desire (kāmabhogaiḥ), by what is deemed auspicious and inauspicious (śubhāśubhaiḥ), and by the sense‑objects such as sound and the rest (śabdādi‑viṣayaiḥ), and is tormented (pīḍyamānaḥ) by the six internal waves—hunger, thirst, grief, delusion, decay, and death (ṣaḍūrmibhiḥ)…

 

9. kathaṃ nu mucyate kṣipraṃ mṛtyusaṃsārasāgarāt /
bhagavan brūhi me tattvaṃ śrotum icchāmi śaṃkara // NsP 16.9

How then (kathaṃ nu) can he be freed (mucyate) swiftly (kṣipram) from the ocean (sāgarāt) of death (mṛtyu) and worldly becoming (saṃsāra)? O Blessed Lord (bhagavan), tell (brūhi) me (me) the truth (tattvam); I wish to hear (śrotum icchāmi), O Śaṅkara (śaṃkara).

 

10. tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā nāradasya trilocanaḥ /
uvāca tam ṛṣiṃ śaṃbhuḥ prasannavadano haraḥ // NsP 16.10

Hearing (śrutvā) those words (tad vacanam) of Nārada (nāradasya), the Three‑eyed One (trilocanaḥ)—Śaṃbhu (śaṃbhuḥ), Hara (haraḥ), his face beaming with grace (prasannavadano)—spoke (uvāca) to the sage (tam ṛṣiṃ).

maheśvara uvāca—

11. jñānāmṛtaṃ ca guhyaṃ ca rahasyam ṛṣisattama /
vakṣyāmi śṛṇu duḥkhaghnaṃ sarvabandhabhayāpaham // NsP 16.11

Listen (śṛṇu), O best of seers (ṛṣisattama); I shall declare (vakṣyāmi) the secret (guhyaṃ, rahasyam) nectar (amṛtaṃ) of knowledge (jñāna) that destroys (ghnaṃ) sorrow (duḥkha) and removes (āpaham) every bond (bandha) and fear (bhaya).

 

12. tṛṇādi caturāsyāntaṃ bhūtagrāmaṃ caturvidham /
carācaraṃ jagat sarvaṃ prasuptaṃ yasya māyayā // NsP 16.12

Through whose (yasya) māyā (māyayā) the whole universe (jagat)—moving and unmoving (cara‑acaraṃ), the four‑fold (caturvidham) host of beings (bhūtagrāmaṃ) from a mere blade of grass (tṛṇa) to Four‑faced (caturāsya) Brahmā—lies asleep (prasuptaṃ).

 

13. tasya viṣṇoḥ prasādena yadi kaścit prabudhyate /
sa nistarati saṃsāraṃ devānām api dustaram // NsP 16.13

If by the grace (prasādena) of that Viṣṇu (viṣṇoḥ) anyone awakens (prabudhyate), he crosses over (nistarati) the ocean of saṃsāra (saṃsāraṃ), hard to ford (dustaram) even for the gods (devānām).

 

14. bhogaiśvaryamadonmattas tattvajñānaparāṅmukhaḥ /
saṃsārasumahāpaṅke jīrṇā gaur iva majjati // NsP 16.14

Drunk (unmattas) with pleasure (bhoga), wealth (aiśvarya), and pride (mada), and averse (parāṅmukhaḥ) to true knowledge (tattva‑jñāna), a man sinks (majjati) in the vast mud (mahā‑paṅka) of saṃsāra (saṃsāra) like an aged (jīrṇā) cow (gaur).

 

15. yas tv ātmānaṃ nibadhnāti karmabhiḥ kośakāravat /
tasya muktiṃ na paśyāmi janmakoṭiśatair api // NsP 16.15

He who binds (nibadhnāti) himself (ātmānam) with his own actions (karmabhiḥ) like a silkworm (kośakāravat)—for such a one I see no liberation (muktiṃ) even in hundreds of millions (koṭi‑śatair) of births (janma).

 

16. tasmān nārada sarveśaṃ devānāṃ devam avyayam /
ārādhayet sadā saṃyag dhyāyed viṣṇuṃ samāhitaḥ // NsP 16.16

Therefore (tasmāt), O Nārada (nārada), let one ever worship (ārādhayet) the Lord of all (sarveśaṃ), the God of gods (devānāṃ devam), the imperishable (avyayam) and, collected in mind (samāhitaḥ), meditate (dhyāyet) continually on Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ).

 

17. yas taṃ viśvam anādyantam ādyaṃ svātmani saṃsthitam /
sarvajñam amalaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.17

Whoever always meditates (dhyāyan) on that Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—the omniscient (sarvajñaṃ), stainless (amalaṃ) source (ādyaṃ) in whom the beginning‑less and endless (anādi‑antaṃ) universe (viśvam) abides (saṃsthitam)—is freed (vimucyate).

 

18. nirvikalpaṃ nirākāśaṃ niṣprapañcaṃ nirāmayam /
vāsudevam ajaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.18

Ever meditating (dhyāyan) on Vāsudeva (vāsudevam) Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—undifferentiated (nirvikalpaṃ), beyond space (nirākāśaṃ), transcending manifestation (niṣprapañcaṃ), free of ailment (nirāmayam), unborn (ajaṃ)—one attains freedom (vimucyate).

 

19. nirañjanaṃ paraṃ śāntam acyutaṃ bhūtabhāvanam /
devagarbhaṃ vibhuṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.19

He who ever contemplates Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—stainless (nirañjanaṃ), supreme (param), peaceful (śāntam), unchanging (acyutaṃ), the source of beings (bhūta‑bhāvanam), the womb of the gods (deva‑garbhaṃ), the all‑pervading (vibhuṃ)—is liberated (vimucyate).

 

20. sarvapāpavinirmuktam aprameyam alakṣaṇam /
nirvāṇam anaghaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.20

Constantly meditating on Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—free from all sin (sarva‑pāpa‑vinirmuktam), immeasurable (aprameyam), feature‑less (alakṣaṇam), the peace of nirvāṇa (nirvāṇam), spotless (anagham)—one is released (vimucyate).

 

21. amṛtaṃ paramānandaṃ sarvapāpavivarjitam /
brahmaṇyaṃ śaṃkaraṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā saṃkīrtya mucyate // NsP 16.21

By continually chanting (saṃkīrtya) Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—immortal (amṛtam), supreme bliss (parama‑ānandam), without any sin (sarva‑pāpa‑vivarjitam), the friend of Brahman (brahmaṇyam), the auspicious one (śaṃkaram)—one is freed (mucyate).

 

22. yogeśvaraṃ purāṇākhyam aśarīraṃ guhāśayam /
amātram avyayaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.22

He who always contemplates Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—Lord of Yoga (yogeśvaram), celebrated in the Purāṇas (purāṇa‑ākhyam), bodiless (aśarīram), dwelling in the cave (guhā‑śayam) [of the heart], beyond measure (amātram), imperishable (avyayam)—attains liberation (vimucyate).

 

23. śubhāśubhavinirmuktam ūrmiṣaṭkaparaṃ vibhum /
acintyam amalaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.23

Perpetually meditating on Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—free of merit and demerit (śubha‑aśubha‑vinirmuktam), beyond the six waves (ūrmi‑ṣaṭka‑param) of existence, all‑pervading (vibhum), inconceivable (acintyam), spotless (amalam)—one is liberated (vimucyate).

 

24. sarvadvaṃdvavinirmuktaṃ sarvaduḥkhavivarjitam /
apratarkyam ajaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.24

He who unceasingly contemplates Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—free from every duality (sarva‑dvaṃdva‑vinirmuktam), devoid of all sorrow (sarva‑duḥkha‑vivarjitam), beyond reasoning (apratarkyam), unborn (ajaṃ)—is released (vimucyate).

 

25. anāmagotram advaitaṃ caturthaṃ paramaṃ padam /
taṃ sarvahṛdgataṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.25

By constant meditation on Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—nameless (anāma‑gotram), non‑dual (advaitam), the fourth (caturthaṃ) supreme state (paramaṃ padam) present in every heart (sarva‑hṛd‑gatam)—one wins freedom (vimucyate).

 

26. arūpaṃ satyasaṃkalpaṃ śuddham ākāśavat param /
ekāgramanasā viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.26

With one‑pointed mind (ekāgra‑manasā) ever meditating (dhyāyan) on Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—formless (arūpam), of true resolve (satya‑saṃkalpam), pure (śuddham), supreme like space (ākāśavat param)—one becomes free (vimucyate).

 

27. sarvātmakaṃ svabhāvastham ātmacaitanyarūpakam /
śubhram ekākṣaraṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.27

He who always contemplates Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—the Self of all (sarva‑ātmakaṃ), abiding in his own nature (svabhāva‑stham), whose form is Self‑consciousness (ātma‑caitanya‑rūpakam), radiant (śubhram), the single syllable (eka‑akṣaram)—is liberated (vimucyate).

 

28. anirvācyam avijñeyam akṣarādim asaṃbhavam /
ekaṃ nūtnaṃ sadā viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.28

Perpetual meditation on Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—inexpressible (anirvācyam), unknowable (avijñeyam), the source of the imperishable (akṣara‑ādim), unborn (asaṃbhavam), the ever‑one (ekaṃ) and ever‑new (nūtnaṃ)—brings release (vimucyate).

 

29. viśvādyaṃ viśvagoptāraṃ viśvādaṃ sarvakāmadam /
sthānatrayātigaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.29

He who incessantly meditates on Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—the origin of the universe (viśva‑ādyaṃ), its protector (viśva‑goptāram), its eater (viśva‑ādam), the giver of all desires (sarva‑kāma‑dam), beyond the three states (sthāna‑traya‑ātigam)—is freed (vimucyate).

 

30. sarvaduḥkhakṣayakaraṃ sarvaśāntikaraṃ harim /
sarvapāpaharaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.30

By ever contemplating Hari (harim) Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ)—destroyer of all sorrow (sarva‑duḥkha‑kṣaya‑karam), bringer of all peace (sarva‑śānti‑karam), remover of every sin (sarva‑pāpa‑haram)—one attains liberation (vimucyate).

 

31. brahmādidevagandharvair munibhiḥ siddhacāraṇaiḥ /
yogibhiḥ sevitaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.31

Constant contemplation on Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ) served (sevitaṃ) by Brahmā and the other gods (brahmā‑ādi‑deva), by Gandharvas, sages (munibhiḥ), Siddhas, Cāraṇas, and Yogis (yogibhiḥ) brings freedom (vimucyate).

 

32. viṣṇau pratiṣṭhitaṃ viśvaṃ viṣṇur viśve pratiṣṭhitaḥ /
viśveśvaram ajaṃ viṣṇuṃ kīrtayann eva mucyate // NsP 16.32

The universe (viśvam) rests (pratiṣṭhitam) in Viṣṇu (viṣṇau) and Viṣṇu (viṣṇuḥ) abides (pratiṣṭhitaḥ) in the universe; by praising (kīrtayan) the unborn (ajaṃ) Lord of the universe (viśva‑īśvaram) one is at once liberated (mucyate).

 

33. saṃsārabandhanān muktim icchan kāmam aśeṣataḥ /
bhaktyaiva varadaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyan vimucyate // NsP 16.33

Whoever desires (icchan) freedom (muktim) from the bonds (bandhanān) of saṃsāra (saṃsāra) and from every craving (kāmam aśeṣataḥ), by devotion alone (bhaktyā‑eva) constantly meditating (dhyāyan) on Viṣṇu (viṣṇuṃ), the Bestower of boons (varadam), is liberated (vimucyate).

 

vyāsa uvāca—

34. nāradena purā pṛṣṭa evaṃ sa vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ /
yad uvāca tadā tasmai tan mayā kathitaṃ tava // NsP 16.34

Once asked (pṛṣṭaḥ) long ago (purā) by Nārada (nāradena), the Bull-bannered One (vṛṣabha‑dhvajaḥ) spoke thus (uvāca); what he told (yad uvāca) him then (tadā tasmai), I have now narrated (kathitaṃ) to you (tava), O child (tāta).

 

35. tam eva satataṃ dhyāhi nirbījaṃ brahma kevalam /
avāpsyasi dhruvaṃ tāta śāśvataṃ padam avyayam // NsP 16.35

Meditate constantly (dhyāhi satatam) on that very (tam eva) Brahman (brahma), seedless (nirbījam), absolute (kevalam); you will surely attain (avāpsyasi dhruvam), O dear one (tāta), the eternal (śāśvatam), imperishable state (avyayam padam).

 

36. śrutvā suraṛṣiviṣṇoḥ prādhānyam idam īśvarāt /
sa viṣṇuṃ saṃyag ārādhya parāṃ siddhim avāptavān // NsP 16.36

Hearing (śrutvā) this supreme glory (prādhānyam idam) of Viṣṇu (viṣṇoḥ) from the Lord (īśvarāt), the divine sage (sura‑ṛṣi) Nārada properly worshipped (ārādhya) Viṣṇu (viṣṇum) and attained the highest perfection (parāṃ siddhim avāptavān).

 

37. yaś cainaṃ paṭhate caiva nṛsiṃhakṛtamānasaḥ /
śatajanmakṛtaṃ pāpam api tasya praṇaśyati // NsP 16.37

Whoever recites this (yaḥ ca enaṃ paṭhate), with a mind devoted to Nṛsiṃha (nṛsiṃha‑kṛta‑mānasaḥ), even sins (pāpam) committed over a hundred births (śata‑janma‑kṛtam) are destroyed (praṇaśyati).

 

38. viṣṇoḥ stavam idaṃ puṇyaṃ mahādevena kīrtitam /
prātaḥ snātvā paṭhen nityam amṛtatvaṃ sa gacchati // NsP 16.38

This auspicious hymn (stavam puṇyam) to Viṣṇu (viṣṇoḥ), praised by Mahādeva (mahādevena kīrtitam), if recited daily after a morning bath (prātaḥ snātvā paṭhen nityam), grants immortality (amṛtatvaṃ sa gacchati).

 

39. dhyāyanti ye nityam anantam acyutaṃ hṛtpadmamadhyeṣv atha kīrtayanti ye /
upāsakānāṃ prabhum īśvaraṃ paraṃ te yānti siddhiṃ paramāṃ tu vaiṣṇavīm // NsP 16.39

Those who always meditate (dhyāyanti nityam) on the infinite, unfailing One (anantam acyutam) in the lotus of the heart (hṛt‑padma‑madhyeṣu), and those who praise (kīrtayanti) Him as Lord of devotees (upāsakānām prabhum), the Supreme God (īśvaram param), they attain (te yānti) the highest Vaiṣṇava perfection (paramāṃ tu vaiṣṇavīm siddhim).

 

॥ इति श्रीनृसिंहपुराणे विष्णोः स्तवराजनिरूपणे षोडशोऽध्यायः ॥
|| iti śrī-nṛsiṃha-purāṇe viṣṇoḥ stavarāja-nirūpaṇe ṣoḍaśo 'dhyāyaḥ ||

“Thus ends Chapter Sixteen of the Śrī Nṛsiṃha Purāṇa, describing the Royal Hymn to Viṣṇu.”