Sudarshana Ashtakam

प्रतिभटश्रेणिभीषण वरगुणस्तोमभूषण।
जनिभयस्थानतारण जगदवस्थानकारण।
निखिलदुष्कर्मकर्षण निगमसद्धर्मदर्शन।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।

This opening verse sets the tone. It praises the holy discus. Lord Vishnu holds this weapon. The weapon terrifies cruel enemies. It holds many noble qualities. It saves us from worldly fears. Life is full of struggles. Sudarshana helps us cross them. It sustains the entire universe. It removes our bad karmas. Past actions bind us tightly. The discus cuts these heavy chains. It reveals the true path. It shows the Vedic dharma. Victory to Lord Sudarshana. Sudarshana is a living divine power. It removes all deep inner obstacles. It brings deep spiritual clarity. Fear arises from pure ignorance. The sharp wheel destroys this ignorance. True safety lies in divine grace. Total surrender brings lasting peace.

शुभजगद्रूपमण्डन सुरगणत्रासखण्डन।
शतमखब्रह्मवन्दित शतपथब्रह्मनन्दित।
प्रथितविद्वत्सपक्षित भजदहिर्बुध्न्यलक्षित।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।

Notice how the verse presents beauty. The holy discus adorns the universe. It removes fears of the devas. Good beings face many threats. Sudarshana destroys these dark threats. Indra and Brahma worship it. Holy texts sing its glory. The Shatapatha Brahmana praises it highly. Learned scholars seek its safe shelter. Lord Shiva also meditates on it. Victory to Lord Sudarshana. True power is deeply beautiful. Strength does not mean blind cruelty. Sudarshana protects the vast cosmic order. Great gods rely on this power. Even highest beings bow down deeply. Total knowledge and pure power merge. Wise people recognize this deep truth. Supreme power brings perfect cosmic harmony. Pure strength protects all life completely.

स्फुटतटिज्जालपिञ्जर पृथुतरज्वालपञ्जर।
परिगतप्रत्नविग्रह परिमितप्रज्ञदुर्ग्रह।
प्रहरणग्राममण्डित परिजनत्राणपण्डित।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।

This verse describes its fiery form. The wheel shines like bright lightning. It forms a vast flaming cage. It holds an ancient eternal form. People with little wisdom miss it. Small minds cannot grasp divine truth. It carries many small sharp weapons. It excels in saving its devotees. Victory to Lord Sudarshana. The divine form is pure light. Ignorant minds cannot see this truth. God uses many tools for safety. The holy fire burns away sins. It purifies the entire surrounding space. The flame protects the good inside. It only burns the wicked outside. It stands as a fiery guard. Divine light acts as an ultimate shield. It keeps the sincere seeker completely safe.

निजपदप्रीतसद्गण निरुपधिस्फीतषड्गुण।
निगमनिर्व्यूढवैभव निजपरव्यूहवैभव।
हरिहयद्वेषिदारण हरपुरप्लोषकारण।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।

The teaching points directly to divine qualities. Good people love its holy feet. It has six endless great qualities. Knowledge and strength are two qualities. Rule and power are two more. Energy and glory complete the six. The Vedas confirm its immense power. It shows power in all forms. It rules the highest spiritual realms. It also acts in this world. It destroys the enemies of gods. It caused the burning of Kashi. Victory to Lord Sudarshana. God acts through this special power. Sudarshana holds all supreme traits fully. It removes arrogance from mighty beings. It restores balance to the universe. Divine qualities exist to guide us. They destroy evil and protect lasting peace.

दनुजविस्तारकर्तन जनितमिस्राविकर्तन।
दनुजविद्यानिकर्तन भजदविद्यानिवर्तन।
अमरदृष्टस्वविक्रम समरजुष्टभ्रमिक्रम।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।

What exactly is being pointed out here? The wheel cuts down demon armies. It acts like a bright sun. It destroys dark magic of demons. It removes the ignorance of devotees. The gods witness its great valor. It spins fiercely in the battlefield. Victory to Lord Sudarshana. Demons represent our inner bad habits. Dark magic represents false worldly illusions. The spinning wheel destroys these illusions. Light always conquers deep dark shadows. Sun dispels the gloom of night. Sudarshana dispels the gloom of mind. True knowledge cuts through false beliefs. The spinning motion shows constant active grace. Inner darkness cannot survive divine bright light. Truth always shatters all heavy false illusions.

प्रतिमुखालीढबन्धुर पृथुमहाहेतिदन्तुर।
विकटमायाबहिष्कृत विविधमालापरिष्कृत।
स्थिरमहायन्त्रतन्त्रित दृढदयातन्त्रयन्त्रित।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।

After establishing the earlier idea, this verse now shifts. It describes the beautiful warrior pose. The wheel has sharp jagged edges. It is surrounded by large weapons. It easily destroys terrible false illusions. It wears many beautiful flower garlands. It is bound by sacred yantras. It is controlled by deep compassion. Victory to Lord Sudarshana. The fierce form has a soft heart. It carries weapons to stop evil. It wears flowers to show grace. Power without compassion is just violence. Divine power is always extremely kind. Compassion drives all fierce divine actions. God fights only to save sincere love. True power rests in deep pure kindness. Love directs the greatest ultimate protective force.

महितसम्पत्सदक्षर विहितसम्पत्षडक्षर।
षडरचक्रप्रतिष्ठित सकलतत्त्वप्रतिष्ठित।
विविधसङ्कल्पकल्पक विबुधसङ्कल्पकल्पक।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।

This moment in the teaching shows mystical secrets. It highlights a glorious sacred syllable. The six-letter mantra brings great wealth. It sits in a six-spoked wheel. It holds all universal core elements. It fulfills our many good desires. It fulfills the wishes of gods. Victory to Lord Sudarshana. Mantras carry actual pure divine energy. Sound is the source of power. The six spokes represent cosmic geometry. Everything rests inside this sacred wheel. Desires become pure near the divine. God gives both material and spiritual wealth. The highest wealth is deep inner peace. Sacred sounds unlock deep hidden grace. Focused devotion fulfills every pure noble wish.

भुवननेत्रत्रयीमय सवनतेजस्त्रयीमय।
निरवधिस्वादुचिन्मय निखिलशक्ते जगन्मय।
अमितविश्वक्रियामय शमितविश्वग्भयामय।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।

The description here highlights pure totality. It acts as the world's eye. It forms the three sacred Vedas. It is the holy sacrificial fire. It is endless sweet pure consciousness. It holds all power in creation. It performs all actions everywhere continually. It destroys all fears and diseases. Victory to Lord Sudarshana. The wheel is the universe itself. It is the true source of knowledge. All action and energy come from it. It is not just a small tool. It is the Supreme Lord himself. Fear and disease stem from spiritual separation. Realizing this oneness cures all deep pain. The ultimate reality is boundless sweet joy. Seeing God everywhere removes all sudden panic.

द्विचतुष्कमिदं प्रभूतसारं
पठतां वेङ्कटनायकप्रणीतम्।
विषमेऽपि मनोरथः प्रधावन्
न विहन्येत रथाङ्गधुर्यगुप्तः।

This line explains the final fruit. Sri Vedanta Desika wrote these verses. It contains eight highly powerful stanzas. It holds immense deep spiritual essence. A devotee should chant this regularly. Desires will be fulfilled despite obstacles. The Lord of the wheel protects completely. This acts as the final promise. It shows the reward of prayer. Divine grace removes the hardest earthly blocks. Total trust in God smooths the path. Life throws many terrible sudden challenges. The Lord guides the chariot safely. Even impossible dreams succeed with grace. Protection is guaranteed for pure sincere hearts. Sincere prayer brings assured supreme lasting victory. Divine protection never fails a true devotee.

प्रतिभटश्रेणिभीषण वरगुणस्तोमभूषण।
जनिभयस्थानतारण जगदवस्थानकारण।
निखिलदुष्कर्मकर्षण निगमसद्धर्मदर्शन।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।
शुभजगद्रूपमण्डन सुरगणत्रासखण्डन।
शतमखब्रह्मवन्दित शतपथब्रह्मनन्दित।
प्रथितविद्वत्सपक्षित भजदहिर्बुध्न्यलक्षित।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।
स्फुटतटिज्जालपिञ्जर पृथुतरज्वालपञ्जर।
परिगतप्रत्नविग्रह परिमितप्रज्ञदुर्ग्रह।
प्रहरणग्राममण्डित परिजनत्राणपण्डित।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।
निजपदप्रीतसद्गण निरुपधिस्फीतषड्गुण।
निगमनिर्व्यूढवैभव निजपरव्यूहवैभव।
हरिहयद्वेषिदारण हरपुरप्लोषकारण।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।
दनुजविस्तारकर्तन जनितमिस्राविकर्तन।
दनुजविद्यानिकर्तन भजदविद्यानिवर्तन।
अमरदृष्टस्वविक्रम समरजुष्टभ्रमिक्रम।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।
प्रतिमुखालीढबन्धुर पृथुमहाहेतिदन्तुर।
विकटमायाबहिष्कृत विविधमालापरिष्कृत।
स्थिरमहायन्त्रतन्त्रित दृढदयातन्त्रयन्त्रित।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।
महितसम्पत्सदक्षर विहितसम्पत्षडक्षर।
षडरचक्रप्रतिष्ठित सकलतत्त्वप्रतिष्ठित।
विविधसङ्कल्पकल्पक विबुधसङ्कल्पकल्पक।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।
भुवननेत्रत्रयीमय सवनतेजस्त्रयीमय।
निरवधिस्वादुचिन्मय निखिलशक्ते जगन्मय।
अमितविश्वक्रियामय शमितविश्वग्भयामय।
जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन जय जय श्रीसुदर्शन।
द्विचतुष्कमिदं प्रभूतसारं
पठतां वेङ्कटनायकप्रणीतम्।
विषमेऽपि मनोरथः प्रधावन्
न विहन्येत रथाङ्गधुर्यगुप्तः।

pratibhat'ashrenibheeshana varagunastomabhooshana.
janibhayasthaanataarana jagadavasthaanakaarana.
nikhiladushkarmakarshana nigamasaddharmadarshana.
jaya jaya shreesudarshana jaya jaya shreesudarshana.
shubhajagadroopamand'ana suraganatraasakhand'ana.
shatamakhabrahmavandita shatapathabrahmanandita.
prathitavidvatsapakshita bhajadahirbudhnyalakshita.
jaya jaya shreesudarshana jaya jaya shreesudarshana.
sphut'atat'ijjaalapinjara pri'thutarajvaalapanjara.
parigatapratnavigraha parimitaprajnyadurgraha.
praharanagraamamand'ita parijanatraanapand'ita.
jaya jaya shreesudarshana jaya jaya shreesudarshana.
nijapadapreetasadgana nirupadhispheetashad'guna.
nigamanirvyood'havaibhava nijaparavyoohavaibhava.
harihayadveshidaarana harapuraploshakaarana.
jaya jaya shreesudarshana jaya jaya shreesudarshana.
danujavistaarakartana janitamisraavikartana.
danujavidyaanikartana bhajadavidyaanivartana.
amaradri'sht'asvavikrama samarajusht'abhramikrama.
jaya jaya shreesudarshana jaya jaya shreesudarshana.
pratimukhaaleed'habandhura pri'thumahaahetidantura.
vikat'amaayaabahishkri'ta vividhamaalaaparishkri'ta.
sthiramahaayantratantrita dri'd'hadayaatantrayantrita.
jaya jaya shreesudarshana jaya jaya shreesudarshana.
mahitasampatsadakshara vihitasampatshad'akshara.
shad'arachakrapratisht'hita sakalatattvapratisht'hita.
vividhasankalpakalpaka vibudhasankalpakalpaka.
jaya jaya shreesudarshana jaya jaya shreesudarshana.
bhuvananetratrayeemaya savanatejastrayeemaya.
niravadhisvaaduchinmaya nikhilashakte jaganmaya.
amitavishvakriyaamaya shamitavishvagbhayaamaya.
jaya jaya shreesudarshana jaya jaya shreesudarshana.
dvichatushkamidam prabhootasaaram
pat'hataam venkat'anaayakapraneetam.
vishame'pi manorathah' pradhaavan
na vihanyeta rathaangadhuryaguptah'.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi

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