Ardra (आर्द्रा)

Ardra covers verses 21 to 24 of the stotram, one for each of its four padas.

Pada 1 · Verse 21

मरीचिर्दमनो हंसः सुपर्णो भुजगोत्तमः ।

हिरण्यनाभस्सुतपाः पद्मनाभः प्रजापतिः ॥ २१ ॥

marīcirdamanō haṃsaḥ suparṇō bhujagōttamaḥ |

hiraṇyanābhassutapāḥ padmanābhaḥ prajāpatiḥ || 21 ||

He shows His blemishless form to His devotees and relieves them of the sufferings of samsara. As the swan with beautiful wings, He carries them towards Sri Vaikuntham. He reclines on Adisesha, the best of serpents, and from His beautiful navel rises the lotus that bears Brahma. His knowledge protects all, and He is Brahma's father.

Pada 2 · Verse 22

अमृत्युस्सर्वदृक् सिंहः सन्धाता सन्धिमान् स्थिरः ।

अजो दुर्मर्षणश्शास्ता विश्रुतात्मा सुरारिहा ॥ २२ ॥

amṛtyussarvadṛk siṃhaḥ sandhātā sandhimān sthiraḥ |

ajō durmarṣaṇaśśāstā viśrutātmā surārihā || 22 ||

As Narasimha, He is death to death itself, impartial to all, the magnificent man-lion. He unites Himself with sincere devotees like Prahlada and never lets a gap come between them, standing firm even when they err. Born from a pillar, unbearable to His enemies, He punishes evil and tore apart Hiranyakashipu. His story, heard with wonder, purifies all.

Pada 3 · Verse 23

गुरुर्गुरुतमो धाम सत्यस्सत्यपराक्रमः ।

निमिषोऽनिमिषस्स्रग्वी वाचस्पतिरुदारधीः ॥ २३ ॥

gururgurutamō dhāma satyassatyaparākramaḥ |

nimiṣō’nimiṣassragvī vācaspatirudāradhīḥ || 23 ||

As Matsya, He is the teacher even of Brahma, and the boat that carried the seeds of life through the deluge. He was true to the good, like Manu, and His valour never failed. He looks away from those opposed to His devotees, and, like a fish that never closes its eyes, watches over them always. Wearing the Vaijayanti garland, He taught the Vedas, the Lord of noble wisdom.

Pada 4 · Verse 24

अग्रणीर्ग्रामणीः श्रीमान् न्यायो नेता समीरणः ।

सहस्रमूर्धा विश्वात्मा सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात् ॥ २४ ॥

agraṇīrgrāmaṇīḥ śrīmān nyāyō nētā samīraṇaḥ |

sahasramūrdhā viśvātmā sahasrākṣaḥ sahasrapāt || 24 ||

He leads His devotees forward to Paramapadam and leads the hosts of the nityasuris. He is beautiful even as the fish, does what is right for His devotees, listens to their needs, and dived deep to recover the Vedas. With a thousand heads, eyes and feet, He is the soul of the universe, knowing and reaching all.