Sri Pandurangashtakam is the Slokam in praise of and as prayer to Sri Pandu Ranga, the manifestation of Lord Vishnu.
Sri Pandurangashtakam was composed by Sri Adi Sankaracharya. It has eight stanzas with an additional stanza on phalasruthi which mentions the benefits of chanting.
Sri Pandurangashtakam dwells on the attributes of Sri Pandu Ranga, the presiding Deity at Pandharpur, Maharashtra. Pandharpur is one of the Divya Desams. This is the only Divya Desam temple where Bhakts are allowed to touch the feet of Sri Pandu Ranga with the head.
The sight of Sri Pandu Ranga standing with His two hands on His hip wearing Makara Kundal in the ears is the mesmerizing sight. He wears dhoti in the shorter form as a kid ready to run to help others.
Sri Adi Shankara had seen Sri Pandu Ranga as the symbol of Para Brahma Swaroopam, the basic divinity from which all the Deities appeared.
The Devanagari and the English scripts with a simple English translation are provided in this narrative.
महा योग पीठे तटे भीमरथ्यां
वरं पुण्डरीकाय दातुं मुनीन्द्रैः
समागत्य तिष्ठन्तमानन्द कन्दं
परब्रह्म लिङ्गं भजे पाण्डु रङ्गम् (1)
mahaa yoaga peeTe thatae Bheema-raThyaam
varam puNdareekaaya dhaathum munee-indhraih
samaagathya thiShTantham-aanandha kandham
parabrahma linGgam Bhajae paaNdu ranGgam
Humble salutations to Sri Pandu Ranga.
He is at the seat of Maha Yoga, the supreme level. He had come to the bank of the river Bheemarthi (Chandra Bhaga). He had granted boons to His Bhakt Pundarika. He had come to Pandharpur with revered Sages. He blesses by being in the standing position. He is the crux of the eternal bliss.
He is the form and substance of the Para Brahmam, the ultimate divinity; I ardently worship Sri Pandu Ranga.
तडिद्वाससं नीलमेघाव भासं
रमा मन्दिरं सुन्दरं चित्प्रकाशम्
वरं त्विष्टि कायां समन्यस्त पादं
परब्रह्म लिङ्गं भजे पाण्डु रङ्गम् (2)
thadidh-vaasasam neela-meghaava Bhaasam
ramaa mandhiram sundharam chith-prakaasham
varam thviSTi kaayaam sama-nyastha paadham
parabrahma linGgam Bhajae paaNdu ranGgam
Humble salutations to Sri Pandu Ranga.
His dresses dazzle like lightning on His blue colored resplendent form. His appearance is the temple for Sri Ramaa, His consort. His appearance is beautiful and it showcases the brilliance of the consciousness. His form itself is the personification of the blessing of the boons to the devout Bhakts. However, he has put both His feet equally on a brick (for His devotees to touch with their heads).
He is the form and substance of the Para Brahmam, the ultimate divinity; I ardently worship Sri Pandu Ranga.
प्रमाणं भवाब्धेरिदं माम कानां
नितम्बः कराभ्यां धृतो येन तस्मात्
विधातुर्वसत्यै धृतो नाभि कोशः
परब्रह्म लिङ्गं भजे पाण्डु रङ्गम् (3)
pramaaNam Bhava-abDher-idham maama kaanaam
nithamBhah karaaBhyaam Dhruto yaena thasmaath
viDhaathur-vasathyai Dhrutho naaBhi koshah
parabrahma linGgam Bhajae paaNdu ranGgam
Humble salutations to Sri Pandu Ranga.
He holds His waist with His hands. This posture appear to suggest that the level of the worldly life of His devotees is only upto His waist. He is Sri Maha Vishnu who holds the stem of the lotus on which even Sri Brahma has to live.
He is the form and substance of the Para Brahmam, the ultimate divinity; I ardently worship Sri Pandu Ranga.
स्फुरत्कौस्तुभालङ्कृतं कण्ठदेशे
श्रिया जुष्ट केयूरकं श्रीनिवासम्
शिवं शान्तमीड्यं वरं लोकपालं
परब्रह्म लिङ्गं भजे पाण्डु रङ्गम् (4)
sphurath-kausthuBha-alangkrtham kaNTa-dhaeshae
shriyaa juShta keyoorakam shree-nivaasam
shivam shaanthameeDyam varam loakapaalam
parabrahma linGgam Bhajae paaNdu ranGgam
Humble salutations to Sri Pandu Ranga.
His neck is decorated with the glittering Kaushthubha gemstone. His arm ornaments are loved by Sri, His consort Mahalakshmi. He himself is the dwelling place of Sri, Mahalakshmi. He is acclaimed for being calm and auspiciously serene. He also bestows boons to protect the universe.
He is the form and substance of the Para Brahmam, the ultimate divinity; I ardently worship Sri Pandu Ranga.
शरच्चन्द्र बिम्बाननं चारुहासं
लसत्कुण्डलाक्रान्त गण्डस्थलाङ्गम्
जपा रागबिम्बाधरं कञ्जनेत्रं
परब्रह्म लिङ्गं भजे पाण्डु रङ्गम् (5)
sharach-chandhra bimba-ananam chaaru-haasam
lasath-kuNDala-akraantha gaNDa-sThala-anggam
japaa raaga-bimba-aDharam kanja-naethram
parabrahma linGgam Bhajae paaNdu ranGgam
Humble salutations to Sri Pandu Ranga.
His face is splendorous with the reflection of the autumn moon. His smile is enthralling. His cheeks have the beauty of His ear ornaments darting over them. His lips are of the color of hibiscus flowers and they look like bimba fruits. His eyes are as attractive as the lotuses.
He is the form and substance of the Para Brahmam, the ultimate divinity; I ardently worship Sri Pandu Ranga.
किरीटोज्ज्वलत्सर्व दिक्प्रान्त भागं
सुरैरर्चितं दिव्यरत्नैरनर्घैः
त्रिभङ्गाकृतिं बर्ह माल्यावतंसं
परब्रह्म लिङ्गं भजे पाण्डु रङ्गम् (6)
kireeToa-ujjvalath-sarva dhik-praantha bhaagam
surair-architham dhivya-rathnair-anarGhaih
thribhanGga-akrthim barha maalya-avathamsam
parabrahma linGgam Bhajae paaNdu ranGgam
Humble salutations to Sri Pandu Ranga.
His glittering crown sends radiant illumination to all the directions. He is worshipped with precious divine gems by the Devas. He stands in the handsome standing position bent in three places. He adorns peacock feathers and garlands.
He is the form and substance of the Para Brahmam, the ultimate divinity; I ardently worship Sri Pandu Ranga.
विभुं वेणु नादं चरन्तं दुरन्तं
स्वयं लीलया गोपवेषं दधानम्
गवां वृन्दकानन्ददं चारुहासं
परब्रह्म लिङ्गं भजे पाण्डु रङ्गम् (7)
viBhum vaeNu naadham charantham dhurantham
svayam leelayaa goapa-vaeSham dhaDhaanam
gavaam vrundhaka-anandhadham chaaru-haasam
parabrahma linGgam Bhajae paaNdu ranGgam
Humble salutations to Sri Pandu Ranga.
He manifests Himself into any form of His own will; However, He is omni-present. The melody of the songs from His flute also pervades wherever He is present. On His own divine decision, He took the form of the cowherd. He enthralled the cows and the other cowherds with the melodious playing of His flute. His smile is captivating.
He is the form and substance of the Para Brahmam, the ultimate divinity; I ardently worship Sri Pandu Ranga.
अजं रुक्मिणी प्राणसञ्जीवनं तं
परं धाम कैवल्यमेकं तुरीयम्
प्रसन्नं प्रपन्नार्तिहं देव देवं
परब्रह्म लिङ्गं भजे पाण्डु रङ्गम् (8)
ajam rukmiNee praaNa-sanjeevanam tham
param Dhaama kaivalyamaekam thureeyam
prasannam prapanna-arthihan dheva dhevam
parabrahma linGgam Bhajae paaNdu ranGgam
Humble salutations to Sri Pandu Ranga.
He is without and beyond birth. He invigorates the life of Sri Rukmani Devi, His consort. He is the supreme dwelling place for solitude of Thuriyam, the fourth state for the soul to reach. He is genial to His ardent devotees. He annihilates the troubles of those who seek His protection. He is the God of the Gods.
He is the form and substance of the Para Brahmam, the ultimate divinity; I ardently worship Sri Pandu Ranga.
स्तवं पाण्डुरङ्गस्य वै पुण्यदं ये
पठन्त्येकचित्तेन भक्त्या च नित्यम्
भवाम्भोनिधिं तेऽपि तीर्त्वान्त काले
हरेरालयं शाश्वतं प्राप्नुवन्ति (9)
sthavam paaNDu-ranGgasya vai puNya-dham ye
paTanthyae-eka-chiththaena Bhakthyaa cha nithyam
Bhava-amBhoniDhim thae-api theerthva-antha kaale
harer-aalayam shaashvatham praapnuvanthi
Humble salutations to Sri Pandu Ranga.
Sincere reading and reciting of this eulogy of Sri Pandu Ranga confers auspiciousness and piety. The person who reads and recites this with ardent devotion on daily basis shall easily cross the ocean of worldly life and attain the ever-eternal loka of Sri Hari.
