कारण्डवसमाकीर्णं राजहंसोपशोभितम्
Filled with kāraṇḍava ducks and adorned by royal swans,
कमलैः शतपत्रैश्च काञ्चनैः समलङ्कृतम्
Embellished with golden lotuses and hundred-petaled lilies,
गुल्मैः कीचकवेणूनां समन्तात् परिवेष्टितम्
Encircled on all sides by clusters of bamboo and reeds,
आसीद् ग्राहो गजेन्द्राणां रिपुराकेकरेक्षमः
There dwelled a crocodile, the fierce enemy of elephants, ever watchful for prey.
मदस्रावी जलाकाङ्क्षी पादचारीव पर्वतः
Dripping with rut, longing for water, he moved slowly like a mountain on foot.
गजो ह्यञ्जनसंकाशो मदाच्चलितलोचनः
The elephant, dark as collyrium, his eyes unsteady from intoxication,
सलीलः पङ्कजवने यूथमध्यगतश्चरन्
Wandered in the lotus-filled marsh, moving amidst his herd.
पश्यन्तीनां करेणूनां क्रोशन्तीनां च दारुणम्
While the she-elephants watched and cried out in distress,
वारुणैः संयतः पाशैर्निष्प्रयत्नगतिः कृतः
He was bound by the snares of the water-dwellers, rendered helpless in his movement.
विस्फूर्य च यथाशक्ति विक्रोसंश्च महारवान्
He struggled with all his might, trumpeting loudly and fiercely.
परमापदमापन्नो मनसाचिन्तयद्धरिम्
Having reached the utmost danger, he contemplated Hari in his mind.
तमेव शरणं देवं गतः सर्वात्मना तदा
Then, with his whole being, he sought refuge in that very Lord.
जन्मजन्मान्तराभ्यासात् भक्तिमान् गरुडध्वजे
Through practice over countless births, devoted to the bearer of Garuḍa's banner,
मथितामृतफेनाभं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्
He beheld Him, bearing conch, discus, and mace, shining like the foam of churned nectar.
आपद्विमोक्षमन्विच्छन् गजः स्तोत्रमुदीरयत्
Desiring deliverance from peril, the elephant began to recite a hymn.
अनाश्रिताय देवाय निःस्पृहाय नमो ऽस्तु ते
Homage to You, O God, who takes no refuge, who is free from desire.
अन्तराय चैकाय अव्यक्ताय नमो नमः
Homage, again and again, to the One within, the sole, the unmanifest.
अप्रर्क्याप्रमेयाय अतुलाय नमो नमः
Homage, again and again, to the immeasurable, the unfathomable, the incomparable.
सनातनाय पूर्वाय पुराणाय नमो नमः
Salutations again and again to the eternal, the ancient, the primeval one.
नमो जगत्प्रतिष्ठाय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः
Salutations again and again to Govinda, the foundation of the universe.
विश्वेश्वराय देवाय शिवाय हरये नमः
Salutations to the Lord of the universe, the divine one, Shiva, and Hari.
नारायणाय विश्वाय देवानां परमात्मने
To Nārāyaṇa, who is the universe, the supreme self of the gods.
श्रीशार्ङ्गचक्रासिगदाधराय नमो ऽस्तु तस्मै पुरुषोत्तमाय
Salutations to that supreme person, the bearer of the bow, discus, sword, and mace.
ब्रह्मेन्द्ररुद्रमुनिचारणसंस्तुताय देवोत्तमाय वरदाय नमो ऽच्युताय
Salutations to Acyuta, the best of gods, the granter of boons, praised by Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, sages, and celestial beings.
पीताम्बराय मधुकैटभनाशनाय विश्वाय चारुमुकुटाय नमो ऽजराय
Salutations to the ageless one, clad in yellow garments, destroyer of Madhu and Kaiṭabha, the universe, with a beautiful crown.
नानाविचित्रमुकुटाङ्गदभूषणाय सर्वेश्वराय वरदाय नमो वराय
Salutations to the bestower of boons, the supreme lord, adorned with various wondrous crowns and armlets.
देवेन्द्रविघ्नशमनोद्यतपौरुषाय योगेश्वराय विरजाय नमो वराय
Salutations to the bestower of boons, the lord of yogis, pure, whose valor is ever ready to remove obstacles for the lord of gods.
नारायणायात्महितायनाय महावराहाय नमस्करोमि
I bow to Nārāyaṇa, whose actions are for the benefit of the self, the great Boar.
युगान्तशेषं पुरुषं पुराणं तं देवदेवं शरणं प्रपद्ये
I take refuge in that god of gods, the ancient person, the one who remains at the end of the ages.
क्षेत्रज्ञमात्मप्रभवं वरेण्यं तं वासुदेवं शरणं प्रपद्य
I take refuge in Vāsudeva, the knower of the field, the source of the self, the most excellent.