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Hi Friends, visitors, and readers:

I wanted a small favor from the Sanskrit poetry readers. I have two possible alternatives for language in translations. Please reply, through comments, if you want a Hindi or English translation.

If the number of readers selecting a language is more than 10, I will select that language. If it is less than 10 for both, I will select Hindi.

PS: Hindi-translation people, please remember that you _have_to_ vote, because if the count for english goes above 10, Hindi translations will be stopped.

Best regards,
Bhaaluu

PS: Use comments to post. Please write ur nickname at least for identification purposes.

Poem: Vishnu-Vandana [meaning in Hindi]

vishnu-vandanaM

vishwaatiitaM vishwa-vidhaanaM vibudheshaM |
vishwaantaM vishwaraMbharamaadyaM vibhumiiDyaM ||
vidyaaSvidyaa-vedya-vihiinaM hRRidi-vedyaM |
vande viShNuM vishwavilaasaM vidhivandyaM || 1 ||

satyaM satyaatiitamasatyaM sadasantaM |
shuddhaM buddhaM muktamanuktaM vidhimuktaM ||
sarvaM sarvaasarvasuduuraM sukhasaandraM |
vande viShNuM sarvasahaayaM surasevyaM || 2 ||

maanaM maanaatiitamamameyaM manasaapyaM |
manturmantaaraM munimaanyaM mahimaaDhyaM
maayaakrii.DaM maayinamaadyaM gatamaayaM
vande viShNuM mohamahaariM mahaniiyaM || 3 ||

paaraM paaraapaaramapaaraM parapaaraM |
paaraavaaraamaadhaaramadhaaryaM hyaavikaaryaM ||
puurNaakaaraM puurNavihaaraM paripuurNaM |
vande viShNuM paramaaraadhyaM paramaarthaM || 4 ||

kaalaatiitaM kaalakaraalaM karuuNaardraM |
kaalaakaalyaM kelikalaaDhyaM kamaniiyaM ||
kaamaadhaaraM kaamakuThaaraM kamalaakshaM |
vande viShNuM kaamavilaasaM kamaleshaM || 5 ||

nityaanandaM nityavihaaraM nirapaayaM |
niiraadhaaraM niiradakaantiM niravandyaM ||
naanaanaanaakaaramanaakaaramudaaraM |
vande viShNuM niirajanaabhaM nalinaakshaM || 6 ||

MEANING

jo vishwa se atiit [pare] hai.n, jo vishwa ke vidhaan [ke nirmaataa] hai.n, jo vishwa ke ant aur aaraMbh hai.n, tathaa aadi-kaaraN [aatma-swaruup ath.aa kaaraN-ruup] hai.n, jo vibhu aadi devtaa ke puujya hai.n, jo vidyaa-avidyaa-veda aadi GYaan-bhaNDaar se pare athwaa vihiin hai, kintu hRRiday me [ham sab ke liye] veda ko dhaaraN karate hai.n, vishwa ke vilaas aur vaibhav ke kaaraN hai.n, aur vidhi ke vandya [jinakii vandanaa karane laayak ho] hai.n, vaise viShNu kii mai.n vandanaa karataa huu.N || 1 ||

jo satya aur asatya --- dono hai.n, jo satya ke atiit [beyond] hain, jo sadaa sa.nt [sage] ke samaan hai.n, jo shuddh aur buddhimaan hai.n, jo mukt hain, jinko kisii bhii prakaar se puurNataH [completely] ukt nahii.n kiyaa jaa sakataa hai, jo vidhi [destiny] ke mukt hai.n, jo sarva [sab kuchh] hai.n aur us sarva se sheSh asarva hai.n, tathaa jo sarva aur asarva dono se duur hai.n, jo sukh ko laane waale hai.n, jo sab kii sahaayataa [help] karte hai.n, aur sur [devataa] jinakii sevaa [service] karate hain, vaise viShNu kii mai.n vandanaa karataa huu.N || 2 ||

jo maan [measure] ke aadhaar [basis] hai.n, jo maan se atiit [beyond meausre] hai.n, jo ameya [like potion] hai.n, jo man se hii dekhe jaate hai.n [perceived only through heart], jo vishwa ke shaashak [ruler] hai.n, jo muniyo.n se maanya [respected] hai.n, jinakii mahimaa sundar hai, jo maayaa se atiit [beyond] hai.n, jo maayaa jaanate hai.n, maayaa se jinakaa swaruup bataayaa nahii.n jaa sakataa, mahaan moh [attachment] kaa jo naash karate hai.n, aur jo mahaniiya hai.n, waise viShNu kii mai.n vandanaa karataa huu.N || 3 ||

jo pare hai.n, jo paar aur apaar dono se pare [beyond] hai.n, jo par se bhii pare hai.n, jo paar aur a-paar ke aadhaar hai.n, jo aarya hai.n, jo hyaavikaarya (?) hai.n, jo puurNa hai.n, jo puurNa ruupa me (man se) vihaara karane yogya hai.n, jo sarvathaa pariipuurNa [complete] hai.n, jo param aaraadhya [supreme deity] hai.n, jo param artha [wealth] hai.n, waise viShNu kii mai.n vandanaa karataa huu.N || 4 ||

jo kaal [time] se atiit [beyond] hai,n, jo swayaM kaal [time] ke liye bhi karaal-ruup [destructive form] hai.n, (kaal-ruup hote huye bhii) karuuNaa puurNa hai.n, kaala ke viShaya nahii.n hai.n, keli aur kalaa me daksha [perfect] hai.n, kamaniiya [desirable owing to physical beauty] hai.n, kaam ke aadhaar hai.n, (aur kaam ek aadhaar hote hu_e bhii) kaam kaa naash karane waale hai.n, kamal jaise aa.Nkho.n waale hai.n, kaam-vilaas aadi bhog hai.n, aur kamalaa (lakshmii) ke iishwar hai.n, waise viShNu kii mai.n vandanaa karataa huu.N || 5 ||

jo nitya [eternal] aanand-swaruup hai.n, jo nitya vihaar karane yogya hai.n, jo nirapaay (?) hai.n, jo niir [ether, space] ke aadhaar hai.n, jinake shariir kii aabhaa prakaash-punj [light source] ke upar vidyamaan [existing] baadal-samuuh jaisi hai, jinake liye ko_ii bhi vandanaa karane yogya nahii.n hai (arthaat jo sarvopari ekmaatra sattaa tathaa sarvatra ek-ras ruup me sthit hai.n), jo naanaa-aakaar [various forms] dhaaraN karake sRRiShTi chalaate hai.n, kintu in sab se pare jinakaa ek niraakaar ruup hai, jo udaar [benevolent] hai.n, jinake naabhi [belly button] se kamal ki utpatti hu_ii hai, aur jinakii aa.Nkhe.n kamal ke samaan hai.n, waise viShNu kii mai.n vandanaa karataa huu.N

* * * * *
Why hindi?
Ans: So that people relate to words of Hindi better. Best english equivalents are put in braces.

Hope you enjoy!

NOTE: The poem appears in the cover page of Vishnu-Puraan and I am unaware of its poet.

A poem on Goddess Lakshmi

lalitaaShtakaM

lalite kalite vanite sumukhi |
agade dhanade shubhade varade ||
dhanadhaanyakare vimale kamale |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 1 ||

bhaya-paap-vilaap-rujaa-shamite |
amite makaraala-nivaas-sute ||
kara-ka.nj-padaabja-saroja-mukhe |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 2 ||

bhayahaariNi-kaamini-kaalagate |
bhavataariNi bhaamini shiil-shubhe ||
varadaayini yogini viShNupriye |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 3 ||

nava-paaTala-pa.nkaj-ratna-kare |
vijaye mati-GYaana-kalaa-nilaye ||
dhanadaayini rukmiNi lakshmi rame |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 4 ||

dukha-taapa-nivaariNi modini he |
mahi-maNDini taamas-khaNDini he ||
hari-ra.njini raama-hRRidiishwari he |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 5 ||

mati-GYaana-prade dhana-vaibhavade |
mudite mahi-maNDala-harSha-prade ||
jaya siddhi shubhe bhava-bhuuta-vibhe |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 6 ||

mati-preriNi keshini ruupiNi shrii |
mati-bhaava-gate jaya vedavati ||
mana-lobhini poShiNi ka.nja-mukhi |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 7 ||

mana-maanasa-shobhini buddhi-prade |
mRRidu-bhaaShiNi bhaaShak-bhaaShya-gate ||
suprabhe suvibhe muni-bhakt-priye ||
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 8 ||


MEANING

1) Salutations to You, Lalita, the artistic one, the desirable one, the One with a beautiful face, Who blesses us with medicine, wealth, prosperity, and boons, Who has wealth and prosperity in Her hands, and is without malice. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

2) Salutations to You, Who destroys fear, pain, grief, sin, and cries, is like a potion, and is daughter of the abode of crocodiles, i.e., Ocean (Lakshmi came out as a result of ocean-churning and is often referred as Ocean's daughter). Salutations to You, whose hands, feet, and face is like a blooming lotus. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

3) Salutations to You, Who is absolver of all fears, is enticing, is beyond the scope/reach of time, Who helps us cross the ocean of miseries and cycle of life and death, presents Herself again and again in the form of Woman, and is auspicious and serene. Salutations to You, Who blesses us with boons, is deft in yoga, and is dear to Vishnu. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

4) Salutations to You, Who has newly blooming red lotus and jewels in hands, Who cannot be won over, and is ultimate reservoir of wisdom, knowledge, and art. Salutations to You, Who bestows wealth to us, and appeared as Lakshmi, Rukmini, and Ramaa (Sitaa) (in different epochs). Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

5) Salutations to You, who gets rid of all our grief, heat and sorrows, and makes us happy, Who is the ornament of the earth, and is destroyer of evil forces and darkness. Salutations to You, Who pleases Hari and rules over the heart of Raam. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

6) Salutations to You, Who blesses us with Knowledge, wisdom, fame, and wealth, and Who is happiness and bliss (in every way), thereby pleasing this whole universe. Salutations to You, Who is skill and prosperity personified, and was existing before the
creation of this World. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

7) Salutations to You, Who inspires everyone into various deeds, Who has beautiful hairs, Who is enticingly beautiful, and is prosperity (in every way). Salutations to You, Who is beyond the scope of wisdom and emotions, and appeared in the incarnation of Vedavati, always attracts the world with Her creations and charms, nourishes everyone, and has a
beautiful otus like face. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

8) Salutations to You, Who is resplendent in our Maansarovar lake like heart, bestows us with wisdom, is soft spoken, and is beyond the description or scope of voice or spoken words. Salutations to You, Who is like beautiful light, Who brings prosperity, and is dear to saints and devotees. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

*****
chhanda = toTaka ({1 1 2} X 4)
ref to meter = jaya raam ramaa ramanaM samanaM (Ramcharitmanas, UttarkaaNDa)
kaarak = saMbodhana

On Poems, Meter, and Synchronous Bird Chirping

A beautiful incident prompted me to present this hymn to the blog-readers. One fine morning, I was playing a stuti named ``SankashtanaashanaM viShNustotraM,'' written in the bhuja.ngaprayaata-maatraa with two anuShTup-shloka marking beginning and end. The stuti has 11 natural pauses during poetry recitation, marking the end of a charaNa, or a feet, a widely known notion in Sanskrit poetry. After one or two charaNas, a bird, somewhere outside my window, started chirping at the end of every charaNa. I was startled by the synchrony between the bird and the rendition. After the hymn finished playing, I replayed it to hear the bird. But to my disappointment, I could not hear it again. This incident inspired me enough to present the beautiful piece of poetry in front of the intended listeners. The translation is done using iTrans scheme (visit www.aczoom.com).

sankaShTanaashanaM viShNustotraM

punar-daityaM samaayaataM

dRRiShTvaa devaaH savaasavaaH []
bhayaM prakaMpitaaH sarve

viShNuM stotuM prachakramuH [][]

namo matsya-kuurmaadi-naanaa-swaruupaiH

sadaa-bhakta-kaaryodyataay-aarti-hantre []

vidhaatraadi-sarga-sthiti-dhvans-kartre

gadaa-shankh-padmaari-hastaaya te-stu [] 1 []

ramaa-vallabhaayaa-suraaNaaM nihantre
bhujangaariyaanaay piitaaMbaraay []
makhaadi-kriyaa-paak-kartre-vikartre
sharaNyaay tasmai nataaH smo nataaH smaH [] 2 []

namo daitya-santaapitaamartya-dukhaa-
chala-dhvans-daMbholaye viShNave te []
bhujangesha-talpesh-yaayaarka-chandra-
dvinetraaya tasmai nataaH smo nataaH smaH [] 3 []

sankaShTanaashanaM naam

stotrametat-paThennaraH []
sa kadaachinna sankaShTaiH

piiDyate kRRipayaa hareH [] []

MEANING

After the demons attacked again on the demi-gods, everyone including Vaasav, i.e., Indra, got frightened and started praying to Lord Vishnu for rescue.

Salutations to You, Who take various forms like Matsya, the fish and Kuurma, the tortoise for the rescue of Your devotees. Salutations to You, Who is always enthusiastic about relieving Your devotees from the clutches of fear and finishing their work. Sautations to You, Who makes the destiny, stabilizes everything in this universe, and then destroys everything in the end as a liilaa-vinod, and is decorated with Mace, Shell, Lotus, and Chakra in hands. [] 1 []

We continuously salute You, Who is dear to Ramaa (Lakshmi), and destroys the demons again and again. We continuously salute You, Who has the snake-destroyer, i.e., Garuda, as Your vehicle, and is decorated with a beautiful yellow robe. We continuously salute You, Who accept or destroy the worth of a Yagya, a sacrifice, and other deeds, and are a refuge (for everything in this universe). [] 2 []

We continuously salute You, Who destroys the fear and sorrows of demi-Gods, oppressed brutally by the demons. We continuously salute You, O Vishnu, Who sleeps on a bed of Adi Shesha, the serpent, and has two eyes represting the Sun and the Moon. [] 3 []

Humans who sing this Sankasht-naashanaM stotra, i..e., problem-destroyer hymn, with devotion, they never face difficulties, or pain in their lives --- with the bliss from Shri Hari.

*****