Suvrata's Childhood Devotion and His Hymn to Vishnu

Verse 1 (padma.2.21.1)

सूत उवाच- एकदा व्यास देवोऽसौ ब्रह्माणं जगतः पतिम् । सुव्रताख्यानकं सर्वं पप्रच्छातीव विस्मितः

sūta uvāca- ekadā vyāsa devo'sau brahmāṇaṁ jagataḥ patim suvratākhyānakaṁ sarvaṁ papracchātīva vismitaḥ

Suta said: Once, that divine Vyasa asked Brahma, lord of the universe, the whole story of Suvrata, in great astonishment.

Verse 2 (padma.2.21.2)

व्यास उवाच- लोकात्मँल्लोकविन्यास देवदेव महाप्रभो । सुव्रतस्याथ चरितं श्रोतुमिच्छामि सांप्रतम्

vyāsa uvāca- lokātma~llokavinyāsa devadeva mahāprabho suvratasyātha caritaṁ śrotumicchāmi sāṁpratam

Vyasa said: 'O Soul of the worlds, O arranger of the worlds, O god of gods, O great Lord — I now wish to hear the story of Suvrata.'

Verse 3 (padma.2.21.3)

ब्रह्मोवाच- पाराशर्यमहाभाग श्रूयतां पुण्यमुत्तमम् । सुव्रतस्य सुविप्रस्य तपश्चर्यासमन्वितम्

brahmovāca- pārāśaryamahābhāga śrūyatāṁ puṇyamuttamam suvratasya suviprasya tapaścaryāsamanvitam

Brahma said: 'O greatly fortunate son of Parashara, hear this supreme merit, joined with the austerity of the good brahmin Suvrata.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.21.4)

सुव्रतो नाम मेधावी बाल्यादपि स चिंतयन् । गर्भे नारायणं देवं दृष्टवान्पुरुषोत्तमम्

suvrato nāma medhāvī bālyādapi sa ciṁtayan garbhe nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ dṛṣṭavānpuruṣottamam

That wise one, named Suvrata, even from his very childhood in reflection, had beheld the god Narayana, Purushottama, while yet in the womb.

Verse 5 (padma.2.21.5)

स पूर्वकर्माभ्यासेन हरेर्ध्यानं गतस्तदा । शंखचक्रधरं देवं पद्मनाभं सुपुण्यदम्

sa pūrvakarmābhyāsena harerdhyānaṁ gatastadā śaṁkhacakradharaṁ devaṁ padmanābhaṁ supuṇyadam

Through the practice of his former deeds, he entered into meditation on Hari — that god bearing the conch and discus, lotus-naveled, bestower of great merit.

Verse 6 (padma.2.21.6)

ध्यायते चिंतयेत्सो हि गीते ज्ञाने प्रपाठने । एवं देवं हरिं ध्यायन्सदैव द्विजसत्तमः

dhyāyate ciṁtayetso hi gīte jñāne prapāṭhane evaṁ devaṁ hariṁ dhyāyansadaiva dvijasattamaḥ

He meditated upon and thought of him in song, in knowledge, and in study; thus that worthy brahmin ever meditated upon the god Hari.

Verse 7 (padma.2.21.7)

क्रीडत्येवं सदा डिंभैः सार्द्धं च बालकोत्तमः । बालकानां स्वकं नाम हरेश्चैव महात्मनः

krīḍatyevaṁ sadā ḍiṁbhaiḥ sārddhaṁ ca bālakottamaḥ bālakānāṁ svakaṁ nāma hareścaiva mahātmanaḥ

That excellent boy played always thus, together with other children; and for the children he gave his own name, and that of the great soul Hari—

Verse 8 (padma.2.21.8)

चकार स हि मेधावी पुण्यात्मा पुण्यवत्सलः । समाह्वयति वै मित्रं हरेर्नाम्ना महामतिः

cakāra sa hi medhāvī puṇyātmā puṇyavatsalaḥ samāhvayati vai mitraṁ harernāmnā mahāmatiḥ

—that wise, meritorious soul, devoted to merit, indeed did so; that great-minded one would call his friend by one of Hari's very names.

Verse 9 (padma.2.21.9)

भोभोः केशव एह्येहि एहि माधवचक्रधृक् । क्रीडस्व च मया सार्धं त्वमेव पुरुषोत्तम

bhobhoḥ keśava ehyehi ehi mādhavacakradhṛk krīḍasva ca mayā sārdhaṁ tvameva puruṣottama

'O Keshava, come, come! Come, O Madhava, bearer of the discus! Play together with me, you who are indeed Purushottama!'

Verse 10 (padma.2.21.10)

सममेवं प्रगंतव्यमावाभ्यां मधुसूदन । एवमेव समाह्वानं नामभिश्च हरेर्द्विजः

samamevaṁ pragaṁtavyamāvābhyāṁ madhusūdana evameva samāhvānaṁ nāmabhiśca harerdvijaḥ

'Together, thus, we two must go, O Madhusudana.' In just this way did that brahmin call out, using the very names of Hari—

Verse 11 (padma.2.21.11)

क्रीडने पठने हास्ये शयने गीतप्रेक्षणे । याने च ह्यासने ध्याने मंत्रे ज्ञाने सुकर्मसु

krīḍane paṭhane hāsye śayane gītaprekṣaṇe yāne ca hyāsane dhyāne maṁtre jñāne sukarmasu

—in play, in study, in laughter, in resting, in song and in watching, in travel, in sitting, in meditation, in mantra, in knowledge, and in every good deed.

Verse 12 (padma.2.21.12)

पश्यत्येवं वदत्येवं जगन्नाथं जनार्दनम् । स ध्यायते तमेकं हि विश्वनाथं महेश्वरम्

paśyatyevaṁ vadatyevaṁ jagannāthaṁ janārdanam sa dhyāyate tamekaṁ hi viśvanāthaṁ maheśvaram

Thus did he see, and thus did he speak of, the Lord of the world, Janardana; he meditated upon that one alone, the Lord of the Universe, the Great Lord.

Verse 13 (padma.2.21.13)

तृणे काष्ठे च पाषाणे शुष्के सार्द्रे हि केशवम् । पश्यत्येवं स धर्मात्मा गोविंदं कमलेक्षणम्

tṛṇe kāṣṭhe ca pāṣāṇe śuṣke sārdre hi keśavam paśyatyevaṁ sa dharmātmā goviṁdaṁ kamalekṣaṇam

In grass and wood and stone, in the dry and in the moist, he saw Keshava; thus did that righteous soul see Govinda, the lotus-eyed.

Verse 14 (padma.2.21.14)

आकाशे भूमिमध्ये तु पर्वतेषु वनेषु च । जले स्थले च पाषाणे जीवेष्वेव महामतिः

ākāśe bhūmimadhye tu parvateṣu vaneṣu ca jale sthale ca pāṣāṇe jīveṣveva mahāmatiḥ

In the sky, in the midst of the earth, upon mountains and in forests, in water, on land, and in stone, that great-minded one—

Verse 15 (padma.2.21.15)

नृसिंहं पश्यते विप्रः सुव्रतः सुमनासुतः । बालक्रीडां समासाद्य रमत्येवं दिनेदिने

nṛsiṁhaṁ paśyate vipraḥ suvrataḥ sumanāsutaḥ bālakrīḍāṁ samāsādya ramatyevaṁ dinedine

—that brahmin, Suvrata, son of Sumana, beheld Narasimha in every living being; taking up childhood play, he rejoiced thus day after day.

Verse 16 (padma.2.21.16)

गीतैश्च गायते कृष्णं सुरागैर्मधुराक्षरैः । तालैर्लयसमायुक्तैः सुस्वरैर्मूर्च्छनान्वितैः

gītaiśca gāyate kṛṣṇaṁ surāgairmadhurākṣaraiḥ tālairlayasamāyuktaiḥ susvarairmūrcchanānvitaiḥ

He sang of Krishna with songs, with fine melodies, sweet-worded, joined with rhythm and tempo, with fine notes and their modulations.

Verse 17 (padma.2.21.17)

सुव्रत उवाच- ध्यायंति वेदविदुषः सततं सुरारिं यस्यांगमध्ये सकलं हि विश्वम् । योगेश्वरं सकलपापविनाशनं च व्रजामि शरणं मधुसूदनस्य

suvrata uvāca- dhyāyaṁti vedaviduṣaḥ satataṁ surāriṁ yasyāṁgamadhye sakalaṁ hi viśvam yogeśvaraṁ sakalapāpavināśanaṁ ca vrajāmi śaraṇaṁ madhusūdanasya

Suvrata said: 'Those learned in the Veda ever meditate upon the enemy of the demons, within whose very body dwells the entire universe — the lord of yoga, the destroyer of every sin; I go for refuge to Madhusudana.'

Verse 18 (padma.2.21.18)

लोकेषु यो हि सकलेष्वनुवर्तते यो लोकाश्च यस्मिन्निवसंति सर्वे । दोषैर्विहीनमखिलैः परमेश्वरं तं तस्यैव पादयुगलं सततं नमामि

lokeṣu yo hi sakaleṣvanuvartate yo lokāśca yasminnivasaṁti sarve doṣairvihīnamakhilaiḥ parameśvaraṁ taṁ tasyaiva pādayugalaṁ satataṁ namāmi

'He who pervades every world, and in whom all the worlds themselves dwell, that Supreme Lord free of every fault — to his very pair of feet I bow constantly.'

Verse 19 (padma.2.21.19)

नारायणं गुणनिधानमनंतवीर्यं वेदांतशुद्धमतयः प्रपठंति नित्यम् । संसारसागरमनंतमगाधदुर्गमुत्तारणार्थमखिलं शरणं प्रपद्ये

nārāyaṇaṁ guṇanidhānamanaṁtavīryaṁ vedāṁtaśuddhamatayaḥ prapaṭhaṁti nityam saṁsārasāgaramanaṁtamagādhadurgamuttāraṇārthamakhilaṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye

'Narayana, the treasury of every virtue, of infinite might, whom those of minds purified by Vedanta ever recite — to cross this endless, unfathomable, impassable ocean of transmigration, I go wholly for refuge to him.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.21.20)

योगींद्र मानससरोवरराजहंसं शुद्धं प्रभावमखिलं सततं हि यस्य । तस्यैव पादयुगलं विमलं विशालं दीनस्य मेऽसुररिपो कुरु तस्य रक्षाम्

yogīṁdra mānasasarovararājahaṁsaṁ śuddhaṁ prabhāvamakhilaṁ satataṁ hi yasya tasyaiva pādayugalaṁ vimalaṁ viśālaṁ dīnasya me'suraripo kuru tasya rakṣām

'O lord of yogis, the royal swan upon the lake of the mind, pure, of whole and constant power — grant your protection, O enemy of the asuras, to me, wretched as I am, at your own spotless, vast pair of feet.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.21.21)

ध्यायेऽखिलस्य भुवनं स्वपतिं च देवं दुःखांधकारदलनार्थमिहैव चंद्रम् । लोकस्य पालनकृते परिणीतधर्मं सत्यान्वितं सकललोकगुरुं सुरेशम्

dhyāye'khilasya bhuvanaṁ svapatiṁ ca devaṁ duḥkhāṁdhakāradalanārthamihaiva caṁdram lokasya pālanakṛte pariṇītadharmaṁ satyānvitaṁ sakalalokaguruṁ sureśam

'I meditate upon that god, lord of the whole universe, its own master, who here alone is the very moon to dispel the darkness of sorrow; who, for the protection of the world, has wedded dharma itself, joined with truth, the teacher of every world, the lord of the gods.'

Verse 22 (padma.2.21.22)

गायाम्यहं सुरसगीतकतालमानैः श्रीरंगमेकमनिशं भुवनस्य देवम् । अज्ञाननाशकमलं च दिनेशतुल्यमानंदकंदमखिलं महिमा समेतम्

gāyāmyahaṁ surasagītakatālamānaiḥ śrīraṁgamekamaniśaṁ bhuvanasya devam ajñānanāśakamalaṁ ca dineśatulyamānaṁdakaṁdamakhilaṁ mahimā sametam

'I sing, with sweet songs, rhythm, and measure, ceaselessly, of that one god of Shri Ranga, god of the whole universe; the destroyer of ignorance, spotless, equal to the sun, the very root of all bliss, joined with every glory.'

Verse 23 (padma.2.21.23)

संपूर्णमेवममृतस्यकलानिधानं तं गीतकौशलमनन्यरसैः प्रगाये । युक्तं स्वयोगकरणैः परमार्थदृष्टिं विश्वं स पश्यति चराचरमेव नित्यम्

saṁpūrṇamevamamṛtasyakalānidhānaṁ taṁ gītakauśalamananyarasaiḥ pragāye yuktaṁ svayogakaraṇaiḥ paramārthadṛṣṭiṁ viśvaṁ sa paśyati carācarameva nityam

'That one, wholly complete, the very treasury of the nectar of immortality — him I sing with skill in song, with unrivaled feeling; joined with the very instruments of his own yoga, of supreme insight, he ever beholds this whole universe, moving and unmoving.'

Verse 24 (padma.2.21.24)

पश्यंति नैव यमिहाथ सुपापलोकास्तं केशवं शरणमेवमुपैति नित्यम्

paśyaṁti naiva yamihātha supāpalokāstaṁ keśavaṁ śaraṇamevamupaiti nityam

'Whom the greatly sinful people of this world never truly see — to that very Keshava he ever goes for refuge.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.21.25)

कराभ्यां वाद्यमानस्तु तालं तालसमन्वितम् । गीतेनगायते कृष्णं बालकैः सह मोदते

karābhyāṁ vādyamānastu tālaṁ tālasamanvitam gītenagāyate kṛṣṇaṁ bālakaiḥ saha modate

Clapping the rhythm with both his hands, joined with proper time, he sang of Krishna with song, and rejoiced together with the other boys.

Verse 26 (padma.2.21.26)

एवं क्रीडारतो नित्यं बालभावेन वै तदा । सुव्रतः सुमनापुत्रो विष्णुध्यानपरायणः

evaṁ krīḍārato nityaṁ bālabhāvena vai tadā suvrataḥ sumanāputro viṣṇudhyānaparāyaṇaḥ

Thus, ever devoted to play in his childlike way, Suvrata, son of Sumana, remained wholly devoted to meditation on Vishnu.

Verse 27 (padma.2.21.27)

क्रीडमानं प्राह माता सुव्रतं चारुलक्षणम् । भोजनं कुरु मे वत्स क्षुधा त्वां परिपीडयेत्

krīḍamānaṁ prāha mātā suvrataṁ cārulakṣaṇam bhojanaṁ kuru me vatsa kṣudhā tvāṁ paripīḍayet

His mother said to Suvrata, of lovely marks, as he played: 'Eat your food, my son; hunger will torment you.'

Verse 28 (padma.2.21.28)

तामुवाच पुनः प्राज्ञः सुमना मातरं पुनः । महामृतेन तृप्तोस्मि हरिध्यानरसेन वै

tāmuvāca punaḥ prājñaḥ sumanā mātaraṁ punaḥ mahāmṛtena tṛptosmi haridhyānarasena vai

That wise Suvrata replied again to his mother, Sumana: 'I am satisfied indeed by the great nectar of the essence of meditation on Hari.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.21.29)

भोजनासनमारूढो मिष्टमन्नं प्रपश्यति । इदमन्नं स्वयं विष्णुरात्मा ह्यन्नं समाश्रितः

bhojanāsanamārūḍho miṣṭamannaṁ prapaśyati idamannaṁ svayaṁ viṣṇurātmā hyannaṁ samāśritaḥ

Seated at his meal, seeing the sweet food before him, he would think: 'This food is Vishnu himself; the Self indeed abides within this food.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.21.30)

आत्मरूपेण यो विष्णुरनेनान्नेन तृप्यतु । क्षीरसागरसंवासो यस्यैव परिसंस्थितः

ātmarūpeṇa yo viṣṇuranenānnena tṛpyatu kṣīrasāgarasaṁvāso yasyaiva parisaṁsthitaḥ

'May Vishnu, who is himself the very form of the Self, be satisfied by this food — he whose own abode is established in the ocean of milk.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.21.31)

जलेनानेन पुण्येन तृप्तिमायातु केशवः । तांबूलचंदनैर्गंधैरेभिः पुष्पैर्मनोहरैः

jalenānena puṇyena tṛptimāyātu keśavaḥ tāṁbūlacaṁdanairgaṁdhairebhiḥ puṣpairmanoharaiḥ

'May Keshava attain satisfaction through this meritorious water.' With betel, sandal-paste, fragrances, and these lovely flowers—

Verse 32 (padma.2.21.32)

आत्मस्वरूपेण तृप्तस्तृप्तिमायातु केशवः । शयने याति धर्मात्मा तदा कृष्णं प्रचिंतयेत्

ātmasvarūpeṇa tṛptastṛptimāyātu keśavaḥ śayane yāti dharmātmā tadā kṛṣṇaṁ praciṁtayet

—'may Keshava, satisfied in his very form as the Self, come to full contentment.' When that righteous soul went to lie down, he would then think constantly of Krishna—

Verse 33 (padma.2.21.33)

योगनिद्रान्वितं कृष्णं तमहं शरणं गतः । भोजनाच्छादनेष्वेवमासने शयने द्विजः

yoganidrānvitaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ tamahaṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ bhojanācchādaneṣvevamāsane śayane dvijaḥ

—'I have gone for refuge to that Krishna, joined with yogic sleep.' In eating, in clothing, in sitting, in lying down, that brahmin, in just this way—

Verse 34 (padma.2.21.34)

चिंतयेद्वासुदेवं तं तस्मै सर्वं प्रकल्पयेत् । तारुण्यं प्राप्य धर्मात्मा कामभोगान्विहाय वै

ciṁtayedvāsudevaṁ taṁ tasmai sarvaṁ prakalpayet tāruṇyaṁ prāpya dharmātmā kāmabhogānvihāya vai

—thought constantly of that Vasudeva, and dedicated everything to him. Having reached youth, that righteous soul, forsaking every sensual pleasure—

Verse 35 (padma.2.21.35)

स युक्तः केशवध्याने वैडूर्यपर्वतोत्तमे । यत्र सिद्धेश्वरं लिंगं वैष्णवं पापनाशनम्

sa yuktaḥ keśavadhyāne vaiḍūryaparvatottame yatra siddheśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ pāpanāśanam

—remained joined in meditation on Keshava, on the excellent mountain of Vaidurya, where stood the linga of Siddheshvara, sacred to Vishnu, destroyer of sin—

Verse 36 (padma.2.21.36)

रुद्रमोंकारसंज्ञं च ध्यात्वा चैव महेश्वरम् । ब्रह्मणा वर्द्धितं देवं नर्मदादक्षिणे तटे

rudramoṁkārasaṁjñaṁ ca dhyātvā caiva maheśvaram brahmaṇā varddhitaṁ devaṁ narmadādakṣiṇe taṭe

—meditating upon Rudra, named Omkara, that very Great Lord, that god magnified by Brahma himself, upon the southern bank of the Narmada—

Verse 37 (padma.2.21.37)

सिद्धेश्वरं समाश्रित्य तपोभावं व्यचिंतयत्

siddheśvaraṁ samāśritya tapobhāvaṁ vyaciṁtayat

—taking refuge at Siddheshvara, he resolved upon the practice of austerity.