2) Sri Dasavatara-stotra
(from Gita-govinda)
by Jayadeva Gosvami
1
pralaya-payodhi-jale dhrtavan asi vedam
vihita-vahitra-caritram akhedam
kesava dhrta-mina-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
2
ksitir iha vipulatare tisthati tava prste
dharani-dharana-kina-cakra-garisthe
kesava dhrta-kurma-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
3
vasati dasana-sikhare dharani tava lagna
sasini kalanka-kaleva nimagna
kesava dhrta-sukara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
4
tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-srngam
dalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhrngam
kesava dhrta-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
5
chalayasi vikramane balim adbhuta-vamana
pada-nakha-nira-janita-jana-pavana
kesava dhrta-vamana-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
6
ksatriya-rudhira-maye jagad-apagata-papam
snapayasi payasi samita-bhava-tapam
kesava dhrta-bhrgupati-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
7
vitarasi diksu rane dik-pati-kamaniyam
dasa-mukha-mauli-balim ramaniyam
kesava dhrta-rama-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
8
vahasi vapusi visade vasanam jaladabham
hala-hati-bhiti-milita-yamunabham
kesava dhrta-haladhara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
9
nindasi yajna-vidher ahaha sruti-jatam
sadaya-hrdaya darsita-pasu-ghatam
kesava dhrta-buddha-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
10
mleccha-nivaha-nidhane kalayasi karavalam
dhumaketum iva kim api karalam
kesava dhrta-kalki-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
11
sri-jayadeva-kaver idam uditam udaram
srnu sukha-dam subha-dam bhava-saram
kesava dhrta-dasa-vidha-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
12
vedan uddharate jaganti vahate bhu-golam udbibhrate
daityam darayate balim chalayate ksatra-ksayam kurvate
paulastyam jayate halam kalayate karunyam atanvate
mlecchan murchayate dasakrti-krte krsnaya tubhyam namah
TRANSLATION
(1) O Kesava! O
Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a fish! All
glories to You! You easily acted as a boat in the form of a giant fish just to
give protection to the Vedas, which had become immersed in the turbulent sea of
devastation.
(2) O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O
Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a tortoise! All glories to You! In this
incarnation as a divine tortoise the great Mandara Mountain rests upon Your
gigantic back as a pivot for churning the ocean of milk. From holding up the
huge mountain a large scar like depression is put in Your back, which has
become most glorious.
(3) O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O
Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a boar! All glories to You! The earth,
which had become I,merged in the Garbhodaka Ocean at the bottom of the
universe, sits fixed upon the tip of Your tusk like a spot upon the moon.
(4) O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O
Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of half-man, half-lionl All glories to
You! lust as one can easily crush a wasp between one's fingernails, so in the
same way the body of the wasp like demon Hiranyakasipu has been ripped apart by
the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands.
(5) O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O
Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a dwarf-brahmana! All glories to You! O
wonderful dwarf, by Your massive steps You deceive King Bali, and by the Ganges
water that has emanated from the nails of your lotus feet, You deliver all
living beings within this world.
(6) O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O
Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Bhrgupati [Parasurama] ! All glories to
You! At Kuruksetra You bathe the earth in the rivers of blood from the bodies
of I he demoniac ksatriyas that You have slain. The sins of the world are
washed away by You, and because of You people are relieved room the blazing
fire of material existence.
(7) O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O
Lord Hari, who haze assumed the form of Ramacandra! All glories to You! In the
battle of Lanka You destroy the ten-headed demon Ravana and distribute his
heads as a delightful offering to the presiding deities of the ten directions,
headed by Indira. This action was long desired by all of them, who were much
harassed by this monster.
(8) O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O
Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Balarama, the yielder of the prowl All
glories to You! On Your brilliant white body You wear garments the color of a
fresh blue rain cloud. These garments are colored like the beautiful dark hue
of the River Yamuna, who feels great fear due to the striking of Your
plowshare.
(9) O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O
Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Buddha! All glories to You! O Buddha of
compassionate heart, you decry the slaughtering of poor animals performed
according to the rules of Vedic sacrifice
(10) 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O
Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Kalki! All glories to You! You appear like
a comet and carry a terrifying sword for bringing about the annihilation of the
wicked barbarian men at the end of the Kali-yuga.
(11) 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O
Lord Hari, who have assumed these ten different forms of incarnation! All
glories to You! O readers, please hear this hymn of the poet Jayadeva, which is
most excellent, an awarder of happiness, a bestower of auspiciousness, and is
the best thing in this dark world.
(12) O Lord Krsna, I offer my obeisances
unto You, who appear in the forms of these ten incarnations. In the form of
Matsya You rescue the Vedas, and as Karma You bear the Mandara Mountain on Your
back. As Varaha You lift the earth with Your tusk, and in the form of Narasimha
You tear open the chest of the daitya Hiranyakasipu. In the form of Vamana You
trick the daitya king Bali by asking him for only three steps of land, and then
You take away the whole universe from him by expanding Your steps. As
Parasurama You slay all of the wicked ksatriyas, and as Ramacandra You conquer
the raksasa king Ravana. In the form of Balarama You carry a plow with which
You subdue the wicked and draw toward You the River Yamuna. As Lord Buddha You
show compassion toward all the living beings suffering in this world and a the
end of the Kali-yuga You appear as Kalki to bewilder the mlecchas [degraded
low-class men].
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