Meaning of Sri Venkatesha Prapatti - Part 1

ईशानां जगतोऽस्य वेङ्कटपतेर्विष्णोः परां प्रेयसीं तद्वक्षस्स्थलनित्यवासरसिकां तत्क्षान्तिसंवर्धिनीम्। पद्मालङ्कृतपाणिपल्लवयुगां पद्मासनस्थां श्रियं वात्सल्यादिगुणोज्ज्वलां भगवतीं वन्दे जगन्मातरम् ॥ १॥

You are the dearest of Venkatapathi, Lord Vishnu. You are the empress of the universe. You enjoy your stay on the vaksha sthala of the Lord and you increase his kshanti – tolerance. You make him kinder, softer, and gentler whenever you are with him. You hold two lotuses in your two hands. You are seated on a lotus. Your gunas, such as motherly affection, are brilliant. Oh Bhagavati, I offer my pranama to you, oh mother of the universe.

श्रीमन् कृपाजलनिधे कृतसर्वलोक सर्वज्ञ शक्त नतवत्सल सर्वशेषिन्। स्वामिन् सुशील सुलभाश्रितपारिजात श्रीवेङ्कटेशचरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ २॥

You are an ocean of kindness. You are the creator, all-knowing, all-powerful, and the savior of all. You are Swami, the Lord of great conduct, easily accessible, and the all-wish-granting Parijata tree for your devotees. Oh Venkatesha, I take refuge at your feet.

आनूपुरार्पित सुजात सुगन्धिपुष्प सौरभ्य सौरभकरौ सम सन्निवेशौ। सौम्यौ सदाऽनुभवनेऽपि नवानुभाव्यौ श्रीवेङ्कटेशचरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ३॥

Your feet are covered up to the ankle with fragrant flowers, but their fragrance is suddenly enhanced by the fact that they are at your feet. Those feet are very benevolent. I have experienced it, but still, there is a lot more left to be experienced. I take refuge at your feet.

सद्योविकासि समुदित्वर सान्द्रराग- सौरभ्य निर्भर सरोरुह साम्यवार्ताम्। सम्यक्षु साहसपदेषु विलेखयन्तौ श्रीवेङ्कटेशचरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ४॥

Your feet resemble newly blossomed lotuses, and moreover, they are fragrant. They themselves have poetry in them. They can elicit beautiful poetry even out of an ordinary person who is watching them. That much is their beauty. I take refuge in them.

रेखामय ध्वज सुधाकलशातपत्र वज्राङ्कुशा म्बुरुहकल्पक शङ्खचक्रैः। भव्यैरलङ्कृततलौ परतत्व चिन्हैः श्रीवेङ्कटेशचरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ५॥

The soles of your feet have all the auspicious marks – dhwaja, amrita kumbha, umbrella, diamond, ankusha, shankha, and chakra. All these signs indicate supremacy, signs of an emperor, emperor of the universe, the para tatva, paramatma, parabrahma. They adorn the soles of your feet. I take refuge in them.

ताम्रोदरद्युति पराजित पद्मरागौ बाह्यैर्महोभिरभिभूत महेन्द्रनीलौ। उद्यन्नखांशुभिरुदस्त शशाङ्क भासौ श्रीवेङ्कटेशचरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ६॥

The reddish hue of the soles of your feet defeats ruby. The color of your feet on the top outshines blue sapphire. The luster of your nails rises up in the sky, and the moonlight is humbled by it. I take refuge at your feet.

सप्रेमभीति कमला करपल्लवाभ्यां संवाहनेऽपि सपदि क्लममादधानौ। कान्ताव वाङ्ग्मनसगोचर सौकुमार्यौ श्रीवेङ्कटेशचरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ७॥

Goddess Lakshmi is massaging your feet with great care and affection with her tender hands. She is very cautious, yet your feet are so tender that even after taking so much care, it looks like she is hurting them. Their beauty is unfathomable by the mind, beyond words. I take refuge in them.

लक्ष्मी मही तदनुरूपनिजानुभाव- नीलादि दिव्यमहिषी करपल्लवानाम्। आरुण्य सङ्क्रमणतः किल सान्द्ररागौ श्रीवेङ्कटेशचरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ८॥

Not only Lakshmi Devi but also Bhudevi and Neeladevi are massaging your feet. It looks like the redness of all their hands has transferred onto your feet. I take refuge in them.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi