Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotra
Adi Shankaracharya
Stotra Ratnavali (Shankara corpus)
Seventeen verses, each ending with the refrain 'sri:-lakshmi:-nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam' — 'O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.' One of the most-recited stotras in any Sri: Vaishnava household; invoked at moments of crisis.
Sanskrit
श्रीमत्पयोनिधिनिकेतन चक्रपाणे भोगीन्द्रभोगमणिराजितपुण्यमूर्ते । योगीश शाश्वत शरण्य भवाब्धिपोत लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
sri:math payo nidhi niketana cakra pa:ne: bhogi:ndra bhoga mani ra:jitha punya mu:rthe: | yo:gi:sa sa:svatha saranya bhava:bdhi pota lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
O dweller in the milky ocean! O wielder of the discus! O sacred form gleaming with the jewels of Adisesha's hood! Lord of yogis, eternal refuge, ferry across the sea of samsa:ra — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
ब्रह्मेन्द्ररुद्रमरुदर्ककिरीटकोटि सङ्घट्टिताङ्घ्रिकमलामलकान्तिकान्त । लक्ष्मीलसत्कुचसरोरुहराजहंस लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
brahmendra rudra marud arka kiri:ta koti sanghattitha:nghri kamala: mala ka:nthi ka:ntha | lakshmi: lasat kuca saroruha ra:ja hamsa lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
Whose lotus-feet are polished by the crowns of Bramha, Indra, Rudra, the Maruts, and the Sun; royal swan playing among the lotuses of Lakshmi's bosom — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
संसारघोरगहने चरतो मुरारे मारोग्रभीकरमृगप्रवरार्दितस्य । आर्तस्य मत्स्यपतिवाहन माश्रयार्थं लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
samsa:ra ghora gahane carato mura:re: ma:ro:gra bhi:kara mriga pravara:rdhithasya | a:rthasya matsya pati va:hana ma:sraya:rtham lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
As I wander through the terrible thicket of samsa:ra, slayer of Mura, harried by the fearsome beasts of desire and wrath — to one in distress, O rider of the king of fishes, for refuge — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
संसारकूपमतिघोरमगाधमूलं सम्प्राप्य दुःखशतसर्पसमाकुलस्य । दीनस्य देव कृपणापदमागतस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
samsa:ra ku:pam ati ghoram aga:dha mu:lam sampra:pya dhuhkha satha sarpa sama:kulasya | di:nasya deva krupana:padam a:gathasya lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
Fallen into the bottomless, terrible well of samsa:ra, beset by a hundred serpents of sorrow — wretched, Lord, brought to a piteous pass — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
संसारसागरविशालकरालकाल नक्रग्रहग्रसननिग्रहविग्रहस्य । व्यग्रस्य रागनिचयोर्मिनिपीडितस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
samsa:ra sa:gara visa:la kara:la ka:la nakra graha grasana nigraha vigrahasya | vyagrasya ra:ga nicayormi nipi:dithasya lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
In the vast and terrible ocean of samsa:ra, gripped by the crocodile of time, body seized and held — distracted, crushed by the surging waves of attachment — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
संसारवृक्षमघबीजमनन्तकर्म शाखाशतं करणपत्रमनङ्गपुष्पम् । आरुह्य दुःखफलितं चकितं दयालो लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
samsa:ra vriksham agha bi:jam ananta karma sa:kha: satham karana patram ananga pushpam | a:ruhya dhuhkha phalitham cakitham daya:lo: lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
Climbed upon the tree of samsa:ra — its seed is sin, its hundred branches are endless karma, its leaves are the senses, its flower is desire — and trembling at the bitter fruit it bears, O compassionate one — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
संसारसर्पघनवक्त्रभयोग्रतीव्र दंष्ट्राकरालविषदग्धविनष्टमूर्तेः । नागारिवाहन सुधाब्धिनिवास शौरे लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
samsa:ra sarpa ghana vaktra bhayogra thi:vra dhamshtra: kara:la visha dagdha vinashta mu:rtheh | na:ga:ri va:hana sudha:bdhi niva:sa saure lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
Of one whose body is destroyed and burned by the cruel poison of the sharp fangs in the dense, fearsome jaws of the samsa:ra-serpent — O rider of the serpent's enemy (Garuda), dweller in the ocean of nectar, hero — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
संसारदावदहनातुरभीकरोरु ज्वालावलीभिरतिदग्धतनूरुहस्य । त्वत्पादपद्मसरसीशरणागतस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
samsa:ra dha:va dahana:thura bhi:karo:ru jva:la:vali:bhir ati dagdha thanu:ruhasya | tvat pa:da padma sarasi: sarana:gathasya lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
Of one whose body-hairs are scorched by the lines of terrible flame in the forest-fire of samsa:ra, who has come for refuge to the lotus-pool of your feet — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
संसारजालपतितस्य जगन्निवास सर्वेन्द्रियार्थबडिशार्थझषोपमस्य । प्रोत्खण्डितप्रचुरतालुकमस्तकस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
samsa:ra ja:la patitasya jagan niva:sa sarve:ndriya:rtha badisa:rtha jhashopamasya | prothkhanditha pracura tha:luka mastakasya lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
Of one fallen into the net of samsa:ra, O dweller in the worlds — like a fish hooked by the bait of all the sense-objects, palate and head torn through — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
संसारभीकरकरीन्द्रकराभिघात निष्पीड्यमानवपुषः सकलार्तिनाश । प्राणप्रयाणभवभीतिसमाकुलस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
samsa:ra bhi:kara kari:ndra kara:bhigha:tha nishpi:dyama:na vapushah sakala:rthi na:sa | pra:na praya:na bhava bhi:thi sama:kulasya lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
Of one whose body is being crushed by the trunk-blow of the terrible elephant-king of samsa:ra, O destroyer of every distress — overwhelmed by the dread of the going-forth of the breath and of rebirth — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
अन्धस्य मे हृतविवेकमहाधनस्य चोरैः प्रभो बलिभिरिन्द्रियनामधेयैः । मोहान्धकूपकुहरे विनिपातितस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
andhasya me hritha viveka maha: dhanasya coraih prabho balibhir indriya na:madhe:yaih | mo:ha:ndha ku:pa kuhare vinipa:thithasya lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
Blind, my great wealth of discrimination stolen, O Lord, by the powerful thieves whose names are 'the senses' — flung down into the dark hollow of the well of delusion — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
लक्ष्मीपते कमलनाभ सुरेश विष्णो वैकुण्ठ कृष्ण मधुसूदन पुष्कराक्ष । ब्रह्मण्य केशव जनार्दन चक्रपाणे लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
lakshmi: pate kamala na:bha suresa vishno vaikuntha krishna madhusu:dana pushkara:ksha | bramhanya kesava jana:rdana cakra pa:ne: lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
Lord of Lakshmi, lotus-naveled, lord of the gods, Vishnu! Vaikuntha, Krishna, slayer of Madhu, lotus-eyed! Lover of bramhanas, Keshava, Janardana, wielder of the discus — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
एकेन चक्रमपरेण करेण शङ्ख मन्येन सिन्धुतनयामवलम्ब्य तिष्ठन् । वामेतरेण वरदाभयपद्मचिह्नं लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥
IAST
ekena cakram aparena karena sankham anyena sindhu thanaya:m avalambya thishthan | va:me:thare:na vara dha:bhaya padma cihnam lakshmi: nrisimha mama dehi kara:valambam ||
Translation
Standing — with one hand the discus, with another the conch, with another supporting the daughter of the ocean (Lakshmi); with the right hand the marks of boon-giving, fearlessness, and the lotus — Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
Sanskrit
यन्माययोर्जितवपुःप्रचुरप्रवाह मग्नार्थमत्र निवहोरुकरावलम्बम् । लक्ष्मीनृसिंहचरणाब्जमधुव्रतेन स्तोत्रं कृतं सुखकरं भुवि शङ्करेण ॥
IAST
yan ma:yayo:rjitha vapuh pracura prava:ha magna:rtham atra nivahoru kara:valambam | lakshmi: nrisimha chara:na:bja madhu vratena sthothram kritham sukha karam bhuvi sankarena ||
Translation
For one drowned by the great current of bodily existence raised up by his ma:ya:, this support of the upraised arm is given. The honey-bee at the lotus-feet of Lakshmi-Narasimha — Shankara — has made this stotra in the world for its joy.
How to chant · Best recited daily after the morning sandhya, ideally before a Lakshmi-Narasimha vigraha or salagrama. The refrain alone may be repeated when time is short.