Aslesha (आश्लेषा)

Aslesha covers verses 33 to 36 of the stotram, one for each of its four padas.

Pada 1 · Verse 33

युगादिकृद्युगावर्तो नैकमायो महाशनः ।

अदृश्यो व्यक्तरूपश्च सहस्रजिदनन्तजित् ॥ ३३ ॥

yugādikṛdyugāvartō naikamāyō mahāśanaḥ |

adṛśyō vyaktarūpaśca sahasrajidanantajit || 33 ||

As the child on the banyan leaf, He begins each new yuga and turns the yugas round. His wonders are countless: He swallows the universe at the deluge and lies on a leaf with no support. His ways are beyond understanding, yet sages like Markandeya see His form. He outlasts thousands of yugas, and His greatness is without end.

Pada 2 · Verse 34

इष्टोऽविशिष्टश्शिष्टेष्टः शिखण्डी नहुषो वृषः ।

क्रोधहा क्रोधकृत्कर्ता विश्वबाहुर्महीधरः ॥ ३४ ॥

iṣṭō’viśiṣṭaśśiṣṭēṣṭaḥ śikhaṇḍī nahuṣō vṛṣaḥ |

krōdhahā krōdhakṛtkartā viśvabāhurmahīdharaḥ || 34 ||

Everyone loves Him as they love a child, and He treats all beings equally, dear to the wise. Even as an infant, He wears the crest of lordship. He binds souls with His maayaa, yet consoles those weary of samsara. As Parasurama, He showed His anger against the evil kings, gave it up at Kasyapa's request, and with His arms freed the earth from its burden.

Pada 3 · Verse 35

अच्युतः प्रथितः प्राणः प्राणदो वासवानुजः ।

अपान्निधि रधिष्ठानमप्रमत्तः प्रतिष्ठितः ॥ ३५ ॥

acyutaḥ prathitaḥ prāṇaḥ prāṇadō vāsavānujaḥ |

apānnidhi radhiṣṭhānamapramattaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ || 35 ||

He never falls from His supreme status and is the sole repository of fame. He is the life of those who resort to Him. As the tortoise, He gave the devas strength to churn the ocean, was born as Indra's brother to win the nectar, sustained the ocean and bore the Mandara mountain, ever careful in protecting those in distress.

Pada 4 · Verse 36

स्कन्दस्स्कन्दधरो धुर्यो वरदो वायुवाहनः ।

वासुदेवो बृहद्भानुरादिदेवः पुरन्दरः ॥ ३६ ॥

skandasskandadharō dhuryō varadō vāyuvāhanaḥ |

vāsudēvō bṛhadbhānurādidēvaḥ purandaraḥ || 36 ||

He destroys the asuras, supports Skanda, the commander of the devas, bears the world's burden, and grants boons to those who run it. He drives the wind. As Vasudeva, He lives in all things and shelters them as a mother bird shelters its young. He shines with the radiance of Sri Vaikuntham, sports with the worlds, and removes the troubles that come from forces beyond our control.