śrī veṃkaṭeśa suprabhātam

The Auspicious Morning Hymn to Lord Venkatesha Accompanied by the Hymns of Morning Awakening, Solemn Surrender, and Auspicious Benediction || Unto the Divine Goddess of Grace and Fortune ||

Now begins the auspicious morning awakening hymn to the glorious Lord Venkatesha.

O Rama, the noble son of Kausalya! The morning twilight is unfolding in the East. Arise, O tiger among men! The daily divine rites must be performed.

Awake, arise, O Govinda! Arise, O Lord whose banner bears the emblem of Garuda! Arise, O Beloved of Lakshmi! Bestow auspiciousness upon all the three worlds.

O Mother of all the worlds, Who sports upon the chest of the enemy of Madhu and Kaitabha, O One of enchanting and divine form! O Supreme Goddess, whose very nature is to bestow cherished blessings upon those who seek refuge in You, O beloved Consort of Lord Venkatesha, may this dawn be gloriously auspicious to You.

May this be an auspicious and glorious dawn unto You, O lotus-eyed Goddess, whose countenance is as serene and radiant as the orb of the full moon. O You who are adored by the consorts of Brahma, Shiva, and Indra, O Beloved of the Lord of Vrishashaila, O Ocean of Compassion!

The seven sages, led by Atri, having performed their morning worship of the dawn, [bring] the captivatingly beautiful lotuses of the celestial Ganges. Bearing offerings to worship Your pair of feet, those who have surrendered have approached. O all-pervading Lord of the peak of Seshadri, a most auspicious dawn unto You!

The celestial gods, led by the five-faced Shiva, the lotus-born Brahma, the six-faced Kartikeya, and Indra, sing the glories of Your divine pastimes, beginning with Your cosmic deeds as Trivikrama. O Lord of the crest of Sheshadri! Brahma, the master of speech, stands nearby, reciting the auspiciousness of the day's astrological alignments. May this be a glorious dawn unto You.

Of the highly enchanting groves and gardens, adorned with gently blossoming lotuses, coconut palms, areca-nut trees, and other beautiful flora... The gentle breeze blows, bearing divine fragrances. O Lord of the summit of Sheshadri, may this dawn be auspicious unto Thee.

Opening their pair of eyes, those dwelling within exquisite cages [feed upon] the remnants of bananas and sweet milk-pudding left in the vessels... Having eaten with playful grace, the pet parrots now recite, "O Lord of the peak of Sheshadri, may this be a most auspicious dawn unto You."

Even the celestial sage Narada sings of Your infinite and boundless glories, playing upon his lute, the Vipanchi, which resonates with sweet and rapturous melodies produced by the exquisite vibration of its strings. Enriched with the absolute fullness of expressive language, and rendered enchanting by the repeated, graceful movements of the hands; O Lord of the crest of the Sheshadri hills, a glorious and auspicious dawn unto You.

And the swarms of bees, along with their humming songs steeped in the sweet essence of flower-nectar, have arrived to render their service. Emerging from the deep interiors of the lotuses in the adjacent lake, O omnipresent Lord of the peak of Seshadri, may it be an auspicious dawn unto Thee.

While the excellent curd is being churned by the groups of women, The intense, resounding sounds of curd-churning in the dwellings of the cowherd hamlets... The directions of the horizon and the water-pitchers are engaged in a dispute as if in anger. O all-pervading Lord of the crest of Seshadri, may this be an auspicious dawn unto You!

The swarms of bees, emerging from the lotuses opened by the sun, seek to steal the splendor of the blue water-lilies with the dark, lustrous beauty of their own bodies. Bearing a loud and resonant sound like the boom of a kettle-drum, O Lord of the summit of Seshadri, may this be an auspicious dawn unto You.

O glorious Lord, bestower of all cherished boons and the sole friend of all the worlds! O Lord Shrinivasa, the peerless ocean of infinite compassion for the entire universe! O Divine Form, whose chest is the sacred abode of Goddess Lakshmi! O Lord of the holy Venkata Hill, may this dawn be auspicious unto You.

Seekers of supreme spiritual well-being, led by Shiva, Brahma, Sanandana, and other divinities, whose bodies have been rendered spotlessly pure by bathing in the sacred waters of Swami Pushkarini... At Your gateway they stand, their heads gently touched by the staff of the gatekeeper; O Lord of the sacred Venkata Hill, a glorious and auspicious dawn unto Thee.

Foremost among the sacred hills of Sheshadri, Garudadri, Venkatadri, Narayanadri, Vrishabhadri, and Vrishadri... Incessantly chanting the name of Your divine abode, they pray: O Lord of the sacred Venkata Hill, may this dawn be auspicious unto You!

Lord Shiva, Indra—the ruler of the gods, Agni—the fire, Yama—the lord of justice, Nirriti, Varuna—the lord of the waters, Vayu—the wind, and Kubera—the lord of wealth, stand eagerly waiting, completely dedicated to Your divine service. With hands folded in deep reverence, resting radiantly upon their heads, O Lord of the sacred Venkata Hill, may this be a glorious and auspicious dawn unto Thee.

In Your majestic, swift processions, the King of Birds, the King of Beasts, the Sovereign of Serpents, the Monarch of Elephants, and the Lord of Horses... They pray for the enhancement of the glory of their respective offices and responsibilities. O Lord of the sacred Venkata Hill! May this be an auspicious dawn unto You.

The Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu, who are the foremost leaders of the assembly of the celestial gods... For us, who are the servants of the servants of Your servants, reaching to the ultimate limit of servitude, O Lord of the sacred Venkata Hill, may this dawn be auspicious unto You.

Those whose heads are radiant, adorned with the sacred dust of Your feet, and whose innermost hearts are utterly indifferent even to heaven and liberation. Filled with anxious expectancy at the anticipation of the arrival of the cosmic dawn, they experience a restless stir; O Lord of the sacred Venkata Hill, may Your morning be glorious and auspicious.

Beholding the topmost spires of Your temple gateways, they attain the supreme path of heaven and ultimate liberation. In this earthly realm, mortals anchor their minds in devotion and seek refuge in You. O Lord of the sacred Venkata Hill, may this be a glorious and auspicious dawn unto You.

O Lord of Sri and Bhumi, O Ocean of the nectar of compassion and all divine virtues, O God of gods, O Embodiment of the sole refuge of the entire universe. O glorious Lord, whose sacred feet are adored by Ananta, Garuda, and the celestial hosts! O Lord of the sacred Venkata Hill, may this dawn bring auspiciousness unto Thee.

O Lord Padmanabha, from whose navel springs the cosmic lotus; O Purushottama, the Supreme Divine Being; O Vasudeva, the all-pervading Lord; O Vaikuntha, Lord of the eternal realm; O Madhava, the beloved of Sri; O Janardana, the savior of humanity; O Chakrapani, who wields the divine discus in His hand! O Lord of the sacred Venkata Hill, who bears the divine mark of Shrivatsa upon Your chest, and who is the wish-fulfilling Parijata tree to those who seek refuge in You; may this dawn be auspicious unto You.

O One of exquisitely beautiful and divine form, who humbles the pride of Cupid; O Lord whose playful, longing glances rest upon the lotus-bud-like breasts of Your beloved. O Lord of divine renown, the boundless repository of auspicious and immaculate virtues! O Sovereign of the sacred Venkata Hill, may this morning be gloriously auspicious unto You.

O Supreme Lord, who assumed the form of the divine Fish, the Tortoise, the Boar, the Man-Lion, and the youthful celibate; O Master, who appeared as the great ascetic wielding the battle-axe, and as the noble Ramachandra; O Rama, manifested as a portion of the cosmic serpent Shesha, O beloved Joy of the Yadu dynasty, O Divine Lord in the form of Kalki, O Lord of the sacred Venkata Hill! May this dawn be gloriously auspicious unto You.

The divine, sacred water from the celestial river, filled to the brim in golden pitchers, and rendered exquisitely fragrant with cardamom, cloves, and camphor. Holding the sacred water-offerings, the great sages who are the crest-jewels of Vedic wisdom stand filled with supreme joy. O Lord of Venkatachala! May this be a glorious and auspicious dawn unto Thee.

The luminous sun is rising, the lotuses are blooming, And the birds fill all the directions with their songs. O Lord of Venkata! May this dawn be gloriously auspicious to You, whose sacred abode is sought as the ultimate refuge by the devout Sri Vaishnavas, who constantly pray for supreme auspiciousness.

Brahma and the other supreme divinities, along with the great sages, the virtuous saints led by Sanandana, and the foremost among yogis... Indeed, near Your divine abode, they stand holding auspicious offerings in their hands; O Lord of Mount Venkata, may this be a glorious dawn to You.

O Abode of Goddess Lakshmi, O sole ocean of flawless virtues, O ultimate bridge to cross over the vast ocean of worldly existence! O Lord of the sacred Venkata Hill, who is realized through the ultimate truth of Vedanta, whose sovereign majesty is innate and infinite, and who is the supreme bliss experienced by Your devotees— may this dawn be auspicious unto You.

Thus, those humans who, in this world, engage themselves daily in reciting this auspicious morning hymn of the Lord of Vrishachala... For those embodied souls, the remembrance of the Lord at the sacred hour of dawn awakens supreme and ultimate wisdom, which effortlessly bestows the highest spiritual goal.

Thus ends the Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa Suprabhātam.

Thus begins the sacred hymn of adoration to Lord Venkatesha.

O Lord of matchless blue form, Perpetually crimsoned by the saffron paste From the tips of the breasts of Goddess Kamala, O Lotus-eyed Lord, Sovereign of the worlds, May You be victorious, O Lord of the Venkata Hill!

O supreme Crest-Jewel upon the crowns of all the divinities, foremost among whom are the four-faced Brahma, the six-faced Shanmukha, and the five-faced Shiva! O deeply affectionate protector of those who seek refuge, O boundless reservoir of all supreme essence, Sustain and guard me completely, O Lord of the Vrishabha Hill.

By the hundreds of unbearable offenses, committed against You incessantly at every moment, which have transgressed all boundaries... O Lord of the Vrishabha Hill, O Hari! With Your supreme compassion, swiftly and completely protect me.

Upon the Venkata Hill, from the One of magnanimous mind, who is ever-intent on bestowing far more than what is desired by the multitudes of people... I recognize no reality superior to the Beloved of Kamala, who is proclaimed by the Vedas as the Supreme Divinity.

Who is surrounded by billions of cowherd maidens helplessly captivated by the sweet melody of His flute, and who equals tens of millions of Cupids in His divine beauty. I know of no supreme reality higher than the son of Vasudeva, who is the bestower of supreme bliss and the beloved of every cowherd maiden.

O Son of Dasharatha, the treasury of enchanting virtues, The sole peerless archer of the universe, of steadfast and resolute mind. O Leader of the Raghu Dynasty, O Rama, O Lord of Lakshmi, O All-Pervading One! O Divine Sovereign, O Ocean of Compassion, be the bestower of boons.

He who holds the beautiful, beloved hand of the Earth’s daughter, Whose lotus-face is as lovely as the moon. I seek refuge in the worshipful Lord Rama of the Raghu dynasty, who is the brilliant Sun that dispels the darkness of the king of the night-roaming demons.

He of the most gracious and radiant countenance, the compassionate friend of all, easily accessible, and the bestower of supreme bliss; accompanied by His noble younger brother, possessing a divinely beautiful form, and wielding arrows that never fail. Leaving aside the preeminent descendant of the Raghu dynasty, I shall never, under any circumstances, at any time, worship any other.

Without Venkatesha, there is no lord, no savior; Always do I remember Venkatesha, ever do I remember Him. O Hari! O Lord Venkatesha! Be pleased, be gracious! O Lord Venkatesha! Bestow, oh bestow upon me that which is dear and beneficial!

Having come from afar with the yearning to prostrate before the pair of Your lotus feet, I offer my service unto You. O Lord Venkatesha! Through a single act of devotion, bestow, pray bestow, the fruit of eternal service.

O Hari, all faults and transgressions, without exception, have been committed by me, an ignorant soul. Forgive, O Lord, please forgive, You who are the crest-jewel of the Seshachala Hill.

Thus concludes the Venkatesha Stotram.

Now begins the seeking of refuge in Lord Venkatesha.

The sovereign Queen of this universe, the supreme beloved of Vishnu, the Lord of Venkata; She who delights in eternally dwelling upon His chest, and who ever nurtures His divine mercy and forgiveness. I bow to the divine Goddess Shri, the Mother of the Universe, Who is seated upon a lotus throne, Whose pair of tender, sprout-like hands is adorned with lotuses, And who shines radiantly with maternal affection and other divine virtues.

O glorious Lord of Sri, Ocean of Compassion, Creator of all the worlds, O Omniscient, All-Powerful, tenderly affectionate to those who surrender to You, O Supreme Master of all existence. O Lord, of sublime disposition, Who are the wish-fulfilling celestial tree easily accessible to those who seek refuge in You! I take ultimate refuge at the divine feet of Lord Sri Venkatesha.

Perfectly and symmetrically proportioned, Your two feet enhance the very fragrance of the exquisite, sweet-smelling flowers offered up to Your anklets. I take refuge at the twin feet of Lord Sri Venkatesha, which are eternally gentle, and though constantly experienced, remain ever-fresh, yielding new and profound bliss at every moment.

The claim of resemblance to a lotus—one that is freshly blooming, radiant with a surging, deep crimson glow, and brimming with exquisite fragrance... I take refuge at the twin feet of Lord Venkatesha, which perfectly engrave their divine and protective marks upon the paths of supreme courage.

By the auspicious marks, formed of sacred lines, of the banner, the vessel of nectar, the royal parasol, the thunderbolt, the elephant-goad, the lotus, the wish-fulfilling tree, the conch, and the discus... I take refuge at the sacred feet of Lord Venkatesha, whose divine soles are adorned with the auspicious symbols of the Supreme Truth.

Those two feet, which have surpassed the beauty of rubies by the coppery-red luster of their soles, And have completely eclipsed the splendor of sapphires by their outer radiance. I take refuge in the divine feet of Lord Sri Venkatesha, which, by the radiant rays of their rising nails, eclipse the splendor of the moon.

Those two feet of Yours, which instantly experience fatigue even when gently massaged with a blend of deep love and reverent awe by the tender, sprout-like hands of Goddess Lakshmi... I take refuge in the two feet of Lord Sri Venkatesha, which are supremely beautiful and endowed with an exquisite tenderness that transcends the reach of both speech and mind.

Of the tender, sprout-like hands of the divine consorts—Lakshmi, Bhudevi, and Nila, along with others—who possess their own inherent, majestic glory matching Your own divine nature... I seek refuge in the two feet of Lord Venkatesha, which indeed possess an intense rosy glow, as if the very crimson radiance of dawn has been transferred onto them.

By the surging rays of splendor emanating from the brilliant nine gems embedded in the crests of the crowns of Brahma, Shiva, and the other gods, who are eternally bowing down... I take refuge at the two feet of Lord Venkatesha, which graciously accept the grand and magnificent ritual offering of sacred lights.

Those two [feet] which are highly extolled in the sacred scriptures as abiding "in the supreme step of Vishnu," and which are also experienced as "the spring of sweet nectar" due to their supreme, blissful enjoyability... I take refuge at the sacred feet of Lord Sri Venkatesha, which are pointed to by the palm of Your hand, as if repeatedly declaring, "Seek shelter in this very manner."

Those two feet of Yours, which were revealed by You Yourself, acting as a charioteer truly worthy of Partha, with the command, "Seek refuge in them"— Once again, in this world, I surrender to those two feet of Yours, O Lord Venkatesha, which are pointed out to me by Your own hand as my ultimate refuge.

Upon my own head, upon the hoods of the serpent Kaliya, Within the dense and formidable wilderness, Upon the sacred summit of the Venkata Hill, And atop the crown of the Vedas... I take refuge at the two feet of Lord Venkatesha, which are perfectly established in the hearts of those whose minds are devoted to Him alone with undivided attention.

Those two feet, upon which unfading flowers are strewn by the ecstatic, rejoicing earth, And which shine as the ultimate crown-ornament upon the peak of the sacred Venkata Hill. I take refuge in these two feet of Yours, O Lord Venkatesha, which bring supreme bliss to the minds and eyes of all.

Verily, like a mother’s breasts that yield life-giving nectar to her infant, they are the very first sanctuary to be sought and immersed in by the multitude of surrendered souls. I seek refuge in those two feet of Lord Sri Venkatesha, which, being incomparable to anything else in the universe, find comparison only in each other, and are utterly peerless in their supreme glory.

By Him whose lotus feet are eternally adored by those supreme in purity and goodness, And whose sidelong glance, moist with tender compassion, delivers souls from the ocean of worldly existence. I surrender and take refuge at those two feet of Lord Sri Venkatesha, which were revealed to me by the revered sage Saumya Upayantri.

O Lord of Lakshmi! When You assume the role of the Means to salvation, Lakshmi acts as the mediator who unites us with You; and when You are realized as the ultimate Goal to be attained, She Herself shines resplendently as that very Goal. O Lord of Vrishagiri! May I forever be a servant unto You—who are the eternal refuge of Goddess Lakshmi and the possessor of flawless, divine attributes—and may I never, at any time, exist for my own sake.

Thus concludes the absolute self-surrender to Lord Venkatesha.

Now begins the sacred invocation of auspiciousness unto Lord Venkatesha.

May all auspicious glory be unto Lord Srinivasa— the beloved of Sri, the eternal treasure-house of all auspiciousness, the ultimate treasury for all who seek refuge, who dwells upon the sacred Venkata Hill.

To Him whose eyes are filled with playful delight, captivated by the loving glances and the graceful movement of the beautiful eyebrows of Goddess Lakshmi, To Him who is Himself the supreme eye of all the worlds—may all auspiciousness and glory be unto Lord Venkatesha.

May all auspicious glory be unto Lord Srinivasa, Who is the eternal abode of all auspiciousness, And whose divine feet are the most sacred ornament Adorning the highest peak of the venerable Venkata Hill.

May there be eternal auspiciousness and glory to Lord Venkatesha, who, by the boundless wealth of beauty of all His divine limbs, forever captivates the minds and hearts of all beings.

May all auspiciousness be unto the glorious Lord Venkatesha, Who is eternal, flawless, and the embodiment of Truth, Consciousness, and Bliss, The indwelling Self of all beings.

To Him who is inherently all-knowing, omnipotent, and the ultimate Master of all existence, To Him who is easily accessible and of the most gracious and noble disposition—may all auspiciousness and glory be unto Lord Venkatesha.

To the Supreme Brahman, whose every desire is eternally fulfilled, who is the Supreme Self and the Ultimate Truth—unto Lord Venkatesha, I offer my auspicious adoration.

May all auspiciousness be unto Lord Venkatesha, whose form is the insatiable nectar of immortality to those realized souls who, tirelessly and for all eternity, contemplate and behold Him.

May all auspiciousness be unto the glorious Lord Venkatesha, who, out of supreme compassion, points with His hand toward His own feet, revealing them to humanity as the ultimate refuge.

May all auspiciousness be unto Lord Venkatesha, who bathes the entire universe with His cool side-glances, which are like the soothing waves of a river of the nectar of compassion.

May all auspiciousness be unto Lord Venkatesha, the pacifier of all distress and suffering, whose sublimely beautiful form imparts splendor to the very garlands, ornaments, garments, and weapons that adorn Him.

May all auspiciousness be unto Lord Venkatesha, who, choosing to leave His supreme abode of Sri Vaikuntha, sports in divine bliss with Goddess Lakshmi on the banks of the sacred Swami Pushkarini lake.

May all auspiciousness be unto Lord Srinivasa—the supreme abode of Lakshmi, who dwells eternally in the heart of the glorious sage Sundara Jamatri, and who is Himself the ultimate sanctuary of all the worlds.

May all auspiciousness be unto Her, who is deeply revered by all the ancient spiritual masters, led by my own preceptors, who are eternally dedicated to offering auspicious blessings and singing Her divine glories.

Thus concludes the sacred offering of auspicious benediction unto Lord Venkatesha.

Om. That is the Supreme Reality.