Sri Datta Stavam

Overview

The Sri Datta Stavam is a 9-verse hymn to Lord Dattatreya, composed by Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati (Tembe Swami), a well-known 19th–20th century saint of the Datta tradition. It is one of the most popular short Datta stotras, often chanted repeatedly (traditionally in multiples such as 9 times) for protection, relief from suffering, and blessings. The first eight verses each praise a particular quality or role of Dattatreya — protector, refuge of the helpless, healer, liberator — and close with the same refrain: vande smartṛgāmī sa no'vatu, "I bow to him; he comes to whoever simply remembers him; may he protect us." The ninth verse is a phalashruti, describing the fruits of reciting the hymn.

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Verse 1

दत्तात्रेयं महात्मानं वरदं भक्तवत्सलं । प्रपन्नार्तिहरं वन्दे स्मर्तृगामि सनोवतु ॥ १ ॥

dattātreyaṃ mahātmānaṃ varadaṃ bhaktavatsalaṃ | prapannārtiharaṃ vande smartṛgāmī sa no'vatu || 1 ||

Meaning: I bow to Dattatreya, the great soul, the granter of boons, affectionate toward his devotees, who removes the suffering of those who surrender to him. He comes to whoever merely remembers him — may he protect us.

Verse 2

दीनबन्धुं कृपासिन्धुं सर्वकारणकारणं । सर्वरक्षाकरं वन्दे स्मर्तृगामि सनोवतु ॥ २ ॥

dīnabandhuṃ kṛpāsindhuṃ sarvakāraṇakāraṇam | sarvarakṣākaraṃ vande smartṛgāmī sa no'vatu || 2 ||

Meaning: I bow to him who is the friend of the helpless, the ocean of compassion, the cause of all causes, and the protector of all.

Verse 3

शरणागतदीनार्त परित्राणपरायणं । नारायणं विभुं वन्दे स्मर्तृगामि सनोवतु ॥ ३ ॥

śaraṇāgatadīnārta paritrāṇaparāyaṇam | nārāyaṇaṃ vibhuṃ vande smartṛgāmī sa no'vatu || 3 ||

Meaning: I bow to him who is devoted to rescuing the helpless and afflicted who take refuge in him — the all-pervading Narayana himself.

Verse 4

सर्वानर्थहरं देवं सर्वमंगलमंगलं । सर्वक्लेशहरं वन्दे स्मर्तृगामि सनोवतु ॥ ४ ॥

sarvānarthaharaṃ devaṃ sarvamaṅgalamaṅgalam | sarvakleśaharaṃ vande smartṛgāmī sa no'vatu || 4 ||

Meaning: I bow to the god who removes all misfortune, who is the auspiciousness within all that is auspicious, and who removes every form of affliction.

Verse 5

ब्रह्मण्यं धर्मतत्त्वज्ञं भक्तकीर्तिविवर्धनं । भक्ताभीष्टप्रदं वन्दे स्मर्तृगामि सनोवतु ॥ ५ ॥

brahmaṇyaṃ dharmatattvajñaṃ bhaktakīrtivivardhanam | bhaktābhīṣṭapradaṃ vande smartṛgāmī sa no'vatu || 5 ||

Meaning: I bow to him who is devoted to Brahman, who knows the true nature of dharma, who increases the glory of his devotees, and who grants their wishes.

Verse 6

शोषणं पापपंकस्य दीपनं ज्ञानतेजसः । तापप्रशमनं वन्दे स्मर्तृगामि सनोवतु ॥ ६ ॥

śoṣaṇaṃ pāpapaṅkasya dīpanaṃ jñānatejasaḥ | tāpapraśamanaṃ vande smartṛgāmī sa no'vatu || 6 ||

Meaning: I bow to him who dries up the mire of sin, who kindles the light of knowledge, and who pacifies the burning distress of worldly suffering.

Verse 7

सर्वरोगप्रशमनं सर्वपीडानिवारणं । विपदुद्धरणं वन्दे स्मर्तृगामि सनोवतु ॥ ७ ॥

sarvarogapraśamanaṃ sarvapīḍānivāraṇam | vipaduddharaṇaṃ vande smartṛgāmī sa no'vatu || 7 ||

Meaning: I bow to him who cures all disease, who wards off all suffering, and who lifts one out of calamity.

Verse 8

जन्मसंसारबन्धघ्नं स्वरूपानन्ददायकं । निःश्रेयसपदं वन्दे स्मर्तृगामि सनोवतु ॥ ८ ॥

janmasaṃsārabandhaghnaṃ svarūpānandadāyakam | niḥśreyasapadaṃ vande smartṛgāmī sa no'vatu || 8 ||

Meaning: I bow to him who breaks the bondage of birth and worldly existence, who bestows the bliss of one's own true nature, and who grants the state of ultimate well-being (liberation).

Verse 9 (Phalashruti)

जयलाभयशस्कामदातुर्दत्तस्य यः स्तवं । भोगमोक्षप्रदस्येमं प्रपठेत् सुकृती भवेत् ॥ ९ ॥

jayalābhayaśaskāmadāturdattasya yaḥ stavam | bhogamokṣapradasyemaṃ prapaṭhet sukṛtī bhavet || 9 ||

Meaning: Whoever recites this hymn to Datta — the giver of victory, gain, fame, and fulfillment of desires, who bestows both worldly enjoyment and liberation — becomes blessed and fortunate.

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Structure at a glance: verses 1–4 praise Dattatreya's compassion and protective nature; verses 5–7 praise his role as spiritual guide and remover of both moral and physical affliction; verse 8 praises his power to grant ultimate liberation; verse 9 promises both worldly and spiritual fruits to whoever recites the hymn.