Chitra (चित्रा)

Chitra covers verses 53 to 56 of the stotram, one for each of its four padas.

Pada 1 · Verse 53

उत्तरो गोपतिर्गोप्ता ज्ञानगम्यः पुरातनः ।

शरीरभूतभृद्भोक्ता कपीन्द्रो भूरिदक्षिणः ॥ ५३ ॥

uttarō gōpatirgōptā jñānagamyaḥ purātanaḥ |

śarīrabhūtabhṛdbhōktā kapīndrō bhūridakṣiṇaḥ || 53 ||

As Hayagriva, He rescued Brahma and the Vedas from the asuras. He is the master of all speech and the protector of all knowledge, reached through knowledge, revealing it in every kalpa. He bears all the tattvas as His body and accepts the offerings to the devas and ancestors. He is the Lord of the vanaras, and as Rama He performed many sacrifices with liberal gifts.

Pada 2 · Verse 54

सोमपोऽमृतपः सोमः पुरुजित्पुरुसत्तमः ।

विनयो जयः सत्यसन्धो दाशार्हः सात्वतां पतिः ॥ ५४ ॥

sōmapō’mṛtapaḥ sōmaḥ purujitpurusattamaḥ |

vinayō jayaḥ satyasandhō dāśārhaḥ sātvatāṃ patiḥ || 54 ||

As Rama, He drank the soma at His sacrifices, and He drinks the nectar of all offerings, sharing the nectar of His company with His devotees. He is sweet as nectar and conquers all, yet stays with devotees like Hanuman. He subdued Maricha, Kumbhakarna and Ravana, yet lets Himself be won over by those who take refuge in Him. His promises always hold. He receives His devotees' very selves, and is the Lord of the Saatvatas.

Pada 3 · Verse 55

जीवो विनयिता साक्षी मुकुन्दोऽमितविक्रमः ।

अम्भोनिधिरनन्तात्मा महोदधिशयोऽन्तकः ॥ ५५ ॥

jīvō vinayitā sākṣī mukundō’mitavikramaḥ |

ambhōnidhiranantātmā mahōdadhiśayō’ntakaḥ || 55 ||

He gives true life to His devotees, cares for them like princes, and watches over them closely. He grants release to those who seek Him alone. His power supports prakruti. As the tortoise beneath the waters, He bears the universe, is the inner self of Adisesha, reclines on him in the ocean at the deluge, and brings all things to their end.

Pada 4 · Verse 56

अजो महार्हः स्वाभाव्यो जितामित्रः प्रमोदनः ।

आनन्दो नन्दनो नन्दः सत्यधर्मा त्रिविक्रमः ॥ ५६ ॥

ajō mahārhaḥ svābhāvyō jitāmitraḥ pramōdanaḥ |

ānandō nandanō nandaḥ satyadharmā trivikramaḥ || 56 ||

He is meant by the letter "a" at the head of the Pranava, worthy of the offering of one's own self, and to be meditated on by all, who are His own. He conquers our inner enemies, ego and desire, and gives the joy of their defeat. As Kapila, His bliss is beyond word and thought, and He gives it to the released souls. Abundant in delights, He is upright to His devotees all the way to the end, and pervades the three Vedas.