Sri Venkatesha Stotram

Overview

A hymn of eleven verses in praise of Lord Venkateswara (Balaji) of Tirumala, opening with the well-known line "Kamalakucha Chuchuka Kumkumato." It moves from physical description and salutation, through verses invoking Krishna and Rama as forms of the same Lord, to a closing prayer of surrender and forgiveness. It is traditionally recited daily at Tirupati as part of temple worship, alongside the Venkateswara Suprabhatam and Prapatti.

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Verse 1

Devanagari: कमलाकुच चूचुक कुङ्कमतो नियतारुणि तातुल नीलतनो । कमलायत लोचन लोकपते विजयीभव वेङ्कट शैलपते ॥

Telugu: కమలాకుచ చూచుక కుంకమతో నియతారుణి తాతుల నీలతనో । కమలాయత లోచన లోకపతే విజయీభవ వేంకట శైలపతే ॥

Kannada: ಕಮಲಾಕುಚ ಚೂಚುಕ ಕುಂಕಮತೋ ನಿಯತಾರುಣಿ ತಾತುಲ ನೀಲತನೋ । ಕಮಲಾಯತ ಲೋಚನ ಲೋಕಪತೇ ವಿಜಯೀಭವ ವೇಂಕಟ ಶೈಲಪತೇ ॥

Kamalakucha chuchuka kumkamato, niyataruni tatula nilatano, kamalayata lochana lokapate, vijayibhava venkata shailapate.

Meaning: O Lord, whose form is deep blue, ever tinged red as if with the kumkum from the bosom of Kamala (Lakshmi), whose eyes are wide as lotus petals, lord of all the worlds — be victorious, O Lord of the Venkata hill!

Note: The opening verse fixes attention on the Lord's physical beauty and cosmic sovereignty before moving into more personal appeals.

Verse 2

Devanagari: सचतुर्मुख षण्मुख पञ्चमुख प्रमुखाखिलदैवत मौळिमणे । शरणागत वत्सल सारनिधे परिपालय मां वृष शैलपते ॥

Telugu: సచతుర్ముఖ షణ్ముఖ పంచముఖ ప్రముఖా ఖిలదైవత మౌళిమణే । శరణాగత వత్సల సారనిధే పరిపాలయ మాం వృష శైలపతే ॥

Kannada: ಸಚತುರ್ಮುಖ ಷಣ್ಮುಖ ಪಂಚಮುಖ ಪ್ರಮುಖಾ ಖಿಲದೈವತ ಮೌಳಿಮಣೇ । ಶರಣಾಗತ ವತ್ಸಲ ಸಾರನಿಧೇ ಪರಿಪಾಲಯ ಮಾಂ ವೃಷ ಶೈಲಪತೇ ॥

Sachaturmukha shanmukha panchamukha, pramukhakhiladaivata maulimane, sharanagata vatsala saranidhe, paripalaya mam vrisha shailapate.

Meaning: You for whom the four-faced Brahma, six-faced Skanda, five-faced Shiva, and all the foremost gods are but jewels at your crown; ocean of compassion for those who take refuge in you — protect me, O Lord of the Vrsha hill!

Verse 3

Devanagari: अतिवेलतया तव दुर्विषहै- रनुवेलकृतैरपराधशतैः । भरितं त्वरितं वृष शैलपते परया कृपया परिपाहि हरे ॥

Telugu: అతివేలతయా తవ దుర్విషహై రను వేలకృతై రపరాధశతైః । భరితం త్వరితం వృష శైలపతే పరయా కృపయా పరిపాహి హరే ॥

Kannada: ಅತಿವೇಲತಯಾ ತವ ದುರ್ವಿಷಹೈ ರನು ವೇಲಕೃತೈ ರಪರಾಧಶತೈಃ । ಭರಿತಂ ತ್ವರಿತಂ ವೃಷ ಶೈಲಪತೇ ಪರಯಾ ಕೃಪಯಾ ಪರಿಪಾಹಿ ಹರೇ ॥

Ativelataya tava durvishairanuvelakritairaparadhashataih, bharitam tvaritam vrisha shailapate, paraya kripaya paripahi hare.

Meaning: Though I am laden, beyond measure, with hundreds of unbearable transgressions committed again and again — quickly, O Lord of the Vrsha hill, protect me with your supreme compassion, O Hari!

Note: The tone shifts here from praise to personal confession, a pattern that recurs through the rest of the hymn.

Verse 4

Devanagari: अधि वेङ्कट शैल मुदारमते- र्जनताभिमताधिक दानरतात् । परदेवतया गदितानिगमैः कमलादयितान्न परङ्कलये ॥

Telugu: అధి వేంకట శైల ముదారమతే- ర్జనతాభి మతాధిక దానరతాత్ । పరదేవతయా గదితానిగమైః కమలాదయితాన్న పరంకలయే ॥

Kannada: ಅಧಿ ವೇಂಕಟ ಶೈಲ ಮುದಾರಮತೇ- ರ್ಜನತಾಭಿ ಮತಾಧಿಕ ದಾನರತಾತ್ । ಪರದೇವತಯಾ ಗದಿತಾನಿಗಮೈಃ ಕಮಲಾದಯಿತಾನ್ನ ಪರಂಕಲಯೇ ॥

Adhi venkata shaila mudaramaterjanatabhimatadhika danaratat, paradevataya gaditanigamaih, kamaladayitanna parankalaye.

Meaning: To the noble-minded Lord who dwells on Venkata hill and gives even more than what devotees desire, whom the Vedas themselves declare to be the Supreme Deity, the beloved of Kamala (Lakshmi) — I take refuge in none other.

Verse 5

Devanagari: कल वेणुरवावश गोपवधू- शत कोटि वृतात्स्मर कोटि समात् । प्रति पल्लविकाभिमतात्सुखदात् वसुदेव सुतान्न परङ्कलये ॥

Telugu: కల వేణుర వావశ గోపవధూ శత కోటి వృతాత్స్మర కోటి సమాత్ । ప్రతి పల్లవికాభి మతాత్-సుఖదాత్ వసుదేవ సుతాన్న పరంకలయే ॥

Kannada: ಕಲ ವೇಣುರ ವಾವಶ ಗೋಪವಧೂ ಶತ ಕೋಟಿ ವೃತಾತ್ಸ್ಮರ ಕೋಟಿ ಸಮಾತ್ । ಪ್ರತಿ ಪಲ್ಲವಿಕಾಭಿ ಮತಾತ್-ಸುಖದಾತ್ ವಸುದೇವ ಸುತಾನ್ನ ಪರಂಕಲಯೇ ॥

Kala venuravavasha gopavadhushata koti vritatsmara koti samat, prati pallavikabhimatatsukhadat, vasudeva sutanna parankalaye.

Meaning: To the one whose flute-music holds hundreds of millions of gopis spellbound, matching the beauty of millions of Cupids, who delights with every playful gesture — the son of Vasudeva — I take refuge in none other.

Note: Verses 4–5 identify Venkateshwara with Vishnu's supremacy and with Krishna's charm, before verses 6–8 turn to his form as Rama.

Verse 6

Devanagari: अभिराम गुणाकर दाशरधे जगदेक धनुर्धर धीरमते । रघुनायक राम रमेश विभो वरदो भव देव दया जलधे ॥

Telugu: అభిరామ గుణాకర దాశరధే జగదేక ధనుర్థర ధీరమతే । రఘునాయక రామ రమేశ విభో వరదో భవ దేవ దయా జలధే ॥

Kannada: ಅಭಿರಾಮ ಗುಣಾಕರ ದಾಶರಧೇ ಜಗದೇಕ ಧನುರ್ಥರ ಧೀರಮತೇ । ರಘುನಾಯಕ ರಾಮ ರಮೇಶ ವಿಭೋ ವರದೋ ಭವ ದೇವ ದಯಾ ಜಲಧೇ ॥

Abhirama gunakara dasharadhe, jagadeka dhanurdhara dhiramate, raghunayaka rama ramesha vibho, varado bhava deva daya jaladhe.

Meaning: O lovely one, ocean of virtues, son of Dasharatha, unrivaled archer in all the worlds, steadfast of mind, leader of the Raghu clan, Rama, lord of Lakshmi — be my boon-giver, O ocean of compassion.

Verse 7

Devanagari: अवनी तनया कमनीय करं रजनीकर चारु मुखाम्बुरुहम् । रजनीचर राजतमोमिहिरं महनीय महं रघुराममये ॥

Telugu: అవనీ తనయా కమనీయ కరం రజనీకర చారు ముఖాంబురుహమ్ । రజనీచర రాజత మోమి హిరం మహనీయ మహం రఘురామమయే ॥

Kannada: ಅವನೀ ತನಯಾ ಕಮನೀಯ ಕರಂ ರಜನೀಕರ ಚಾರು ಮುಖಾಂಬುರುಹಮ್ । ರಜನೀಚರ ರಾಜತ ಮೋಮಿ ಹಿರಂ ಮಹನೀಯ ಮಹಂ ರಘುರಾಮಮಯೇ ॥

Avani tanaya kamaniya karam, rajanikara charu mukhamburuham, rajanichara rajatamomiharam, mahaniya maham raghuramamaye.

Meaning: He who holds the lovely hand of Sita, daughter of the Earth, whose face is beautiful as the moon-lotus, radiant among the demon hosts of the night, of glorious majesty — I bow to that greatness which is Raghurama.

Verse 8

Devanagari: सुमुखं सुहृदं सुलभं सुखदं स्वनुजं च सुकायम मोघशरम् । अपहाय रघूद्वय मन्यमहं न कथञ्चन कञ्चन जातुभजे ॥

Telugu: సుముఖం సుహృదం సులభం సుఖదం స్వనుజం చ సుకాయమ మోఘశరమ్ । అపహాయ రఘూద్వయ మన్యమహం న కథంచన కంచన జాతుభజే ॥

Kannada: ಸುಮುಖಂ ಸುಹೃದಂ ಸುಲಭಂ ಸುಖದಂ ಸ್ವನುಜಂ ಚ ಸುಕಾಯಮ ಮೋಘಶರಮ್ । ಅಪಹಾಯ ರಘೂದ್ವಯ ಮನ್ಯಮಹಂ ನ ಕಥಂಚನ ಕಂಚನ ಜಾತುಭಜೇ ॥

Sumukham suhridam sulabham sukhadam, svanujam cha sukayama moghasharam, apahaya raghudvaya manyamaham, na kathanchana kanchana jatubhaje.

Meaning: Of pleasant countenance, a true friend, easily approached, giver of joy, together with his good-natured younger brother, of unfailing arrows — apart from these two of the Raghu line, I never, in any way, worship anyone else.

Note: This verse marks the hymn's turn from description to a vow of exclusive devotion, preparing for the direct pleas that follow.

Verse 9

Devanagari: विना वेङ्कटेशं न नाथो न नाथः सदा वेङ्कटेशं स्मरामि स्मरामि । हरे वेङ्कटेश प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रियं वेङ्कटेश प्रयच्छ प्रयच्छ ॥

Telugu: వినా వేంకటేశం న నాథో న నాథః సదా వేంకటేశం స్మరామి స్మరామి । హరే వేంకటేశ ప్రసీద ప్రసీద ప్రియం వేంకటెశ ప్రయచ్ఛ ప్రయచ్ఛ ॥

Kannada: ವಿನಾ ವೇಂಕಟೇಶಂ ನ ನಾಥೋ ನ ನಾಥಃ ಸದಾ ವೇಂಕಟೇಶಂ ಸ್ಮರಾಮಿ ಸ್ಮರಾಮಿ । ಹರೇ ವೇಂಕಟೇಶ ಪ್ರಸೀದ ಪ್ರಸೀದ ಪ್ರಿಯಂ ವೇಂಕಟೆಶ ಪ್ರಯಚ್ಛ ಪ್ರಯಚ್ಛ ॥

Vina venkatesham na natho na nathah, sada venkatesham smarami smarami, hare venkatesha prasida prasida, priyam venkatesha prayachCha prayachCha.

Meaning: Without Venkatesha, there is no other lord, no other lord; I remember, I remember Venkatesha always. O Hari Venkatesha, be gracious, be gracious; grant, grant me your love, O Venkatesha.

Note: The repeated words ("no other lord... no other lord," "be gracious, be gracious") are a hallmark of this verse's urgency and devotional intensity.

Verse 10

Devanagari: अहं दूरदस्ते पदां भोजयुग्म प्रणामेच्छया गत्य सेवां करोमि । सकृत्सेवया नित्य सेवाफलं त्वं प्रयच्छ पयच्छ प्रभो वेङ्कटेश ॥

Telugu: అహం దూరదస్తే పదాం భోజయుగ్మ ప్రణామేచ్ఛయా గత్య సేవాం కరోమి । సకృత్సేవయా నిత్య సేవాఫలం త్వం ప్రయచ్ఛ పయచ్ఛ ప్రభో వేంకటేశ ॥

Kannada: ಅಹಂ ದೂರದಸ್ತೇ ಪದಾಂ ಭೋಜಯುಗ್ಮ ಪ್ರಣಾಮೇಚ್ಛಯಾ ಗತ್ಯ ಸೇವಾಂ ಕರೋಮಿ । ಸಕೃತ್ಸೇವಯಾ ನಿತ್ಯ ಸೇವಾಫಲಂ ತ್ವಂ ಪ್ರಯಚ್ಛ ಪಯಚ್ಛ ಪ್ರಭೋ ವೇಂಕಟೇಶ ॥

Aham duradaste padam bhojayugma pranamechChaya gatya sevam karomi, sakritsevaya nitya sevaphalam tvam, prayachCha payachCha prabho venkatesha.

Meaning: I am far from your lotus feet, yet with the wish to bow before them I come and offer this service. Even from a single act of service, grant me, grant me the fruit of unceasing service, O Lord Venkatesha.

Verse 11

Devanagari: अज्ञानिना मया दोषा न शेषान्विहितान् हरे । क्षमस्व त्वं क्षमस्व त्वं शेषशैल शिखामणे ॥

Telugu: అజ్ఞానినా మయా దోషా న శేషాన్విహితాన్ హరే । క్షమస్వ త్వం క్షమస్వ త్వం శేషశైల శిఖామణే ॥

Kannada: ಅಜ್ಞಾನಿನಾ ಮಯಾ ದೋಷಾ ನ ಶೇಷಾನ್ವಿಹಿತಾನ್ ಹರೇ । ಕ್ಷಮಸ್ವ ತ್ವಂ ಕ್ಷಮಸ್ವ ತ್ವಂ ಶೇಷಶೈಲ ಶಿಖಾಮಣೇ ॥

Ajnanina maya dosha na sheshanvihitan hare, kshamasva tvam kshamasva tvam sheshashaila shikhamane.

Meaning: Whatever countless faults I, in ignorance, have committed, O Hari — forgive them, forgive them, O crest-jewel of the Shesha hill!

Note: The hymn closes, as it began, addressing the Lord by his hilltop epithet — moving full circle from praise of his majesty to a final, humble plea for forgiveness.

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Structure at a glance: salutation and cosmic praise (verses 1–2) → confession and plea for mercy (verse 3) → identification with Vishnu's supremacy and Krishna's charm (verses 4–5) → praise as Rama (verses 6–8) → vow of exclusive devotion and urgent plea (verse 9) → offering of service (verse 10) → closing plea for forgiveness (verse 11).