Sudarsana-sata-nama stotra

[gokulkr]

 

 

Sudarsana-sata-nama stotra

 

 

Lord Nrsimha is so exalted that even His nails are glorified by the Vaishnava acharyas! In the Sudarsana-sata-nama stotra of the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya, it is said that Lord Narayana's Sudarshana Chakra descended as the tusk of Varaha, the axe of Parasurama, and the nails of Nrsimha. In this way, the nails of Nrsimha accompany the Lord in His various avatars.

Sri Madhavacharya worships the power of Lord Nrsimha's nails in his Nakha-Stuti. What follows is the Sanskrit, a word-for-word meaning, and English translation by Madhusudana Rao. (Note: The English translation as it appears here has been partially edited.)

 

Nakha-Stuti - First Sloka

pantu asman puruhuuta vairi balavat

matanga madhyat ghata kumbi uchadri

vipatana adikapatu pratyeka vajrayitabr

"O Sri Nrsimha, who is omnipresent, may your nails protect me and others at all times. Just as a lion attacks powerful elephant groups and splits apart their heads with its nails and the vajrayudha (Indra's defense weapon) splits the highest mountains, in the similar way, the Asuras (who through the blessings of Sri Brahma, Rudra and the demigods) are like powerful exhilarating elephants who are easily killed by each of Sri Nrsimha's nails which are precious and powerful."

 

Second Sloka

prathatha shrimadkanteravasya sunakhara

darita arati duura pradvastha dvanta shanta

pravitata mansa bhavitah buribhagai

"All demigods are devoted to and praying to this nail, which eliminates all bad elements in this world. They are very [devoted to] this nail as it will give all six senses of a brahman or devataas. This nail will even give complete knowledge and the gods will come out of the darkness (of ignorance). By praying to this nail, they will get peace and knowledge of all the qualities of Sri Hari."

 

Third Sloka

lakshmiikanta samantata kalayan opi

eshita te samam pashyami naiv yah

uttamavastu ataratah astama rasaha.

"O Sri Nrsimha, who has Sri Lakshmi, there is no body equal to you. If there is any thing which is equal, it is 'astama rasa' the famous six essences. Similarly, there is nobody equal or uttama [more excellent] than you."

 

Fourth Sloka

yad roksha roksha utkara daksha netra

kutila prant opita agni spurat khadhyotopama

vishpulinga basita brahm esha shakra otkara

"There are many Brahma's, many Rudra's, many Indra's and all of these and other demigods became ashes because of your smallest vision. Your vision is like the smallest firefly [a twinkling insect which glows in night], yet it has the brightness of the sun's rays."