Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram
लक्ष्मीनृसिंह करावलम्ब स्तोत्र
Origin & Story
Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · c. 8th century CE
Lord Narasimha is the fourth avatar of Vishnu — half-man, half-lion — who burst forth from a pillar to slay the tyrant Hiranyakashipu and save his devotee-son Prahlada, becoming the supreme symbol of God's protection of His devotees. In this hymn the great teacher Adi Shankaracharya pictures the soul drowning in the ocean of samsara — beset by lust, envy, delusion and the fear of death — and in verse after verse stretches out his arms to Lakshmi-Narasimha with the same cry: 'give me the support of your hand.'
✦ As told in scripture
Narasimha appeared from a stone pillar at twilight — neither man nor beast, neither inside nor outside, neither by day nor night — to fulfil Brahma's boon and yet destroy the demon who had abused it, proving that the Lord will break through anything to protect one who takes refuge in Him. Devotees in fear, illness or calamity recite this Karavalamba Stotram as a direct cry for that same rescuing hand.
Complete Text with Meaning
श्रीमत्पयोनिधिनिकेतन चक्रपाणे भोगीन्द्रभोगमणिरञ्जितपुण्यमूर्ते । योगीश शाश्वत शरण्य भवाब्धिपोत लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥१॥
Shrimatpayonidhiniketana chakrapane Bhogindrabhogamaniranjitapunyamurte Yogisha shashvata sharanya bhavabdhipota Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O Lord who dwells in the glorious ocean of milk, holder of the discus; whose holy form is reddened by the gems on the hoods of Shesha, lord of serpents; O Lord of yogis, eternal, refuge of all, the boat that carries us across the ocean of worldly existence — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
ब्रह्मेन्द्ररुद्रमरुदर्ककिरीटकोटि सङ्घट्टिताङ्घ्रिकमलामलकान्तिकान्त । लक्ष्मीलसत्कुचसरोरुहराजहंस लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥२॥
Brahmendrarudramarudarkakiritakoti Sanghattitanghrikamalamalakantikanta Lakshmilasatkuchasaroruharajahamsa Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O Lord, the spotless radiance of whose lotus-feet is rendered beautiful by the touch of the millions of crowns of Brahma, Indra, Rudra, the Maruts and the Sun as they bow; O royal swan playing at the lotus-breast of Lakshmi — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
संसारघोरगहने चरतो मुरारे मारोग्रभीकरमृगप्रवरार्दितस्य । आर्तस्य मत्सरनिदाघनिपीडितस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥३॥
Samsaraghoragahane charato murare Marograbhikaramrigapravararditasya Artasya matsaranidaghanipiditasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O Murari! As I wander in the terrible dense forest of worldly existence, tormented by the fierce dreadful beast of lust, afflicted and scorched by the summer-heat of envy — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
संसारकूपमतिघोरमगाधमूलं सम्प्राप्य दुःखशतसर्पसमाकुलस्य । दीनस्य देव कृपणापदमागतस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥४॥
Samsarakupamatighoramagadhamulam Samprapya duhkhashatasarpasamakulasya Dinasya deva kripanapadamagatasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:Having fallen into the well of worldly existence — most terrible and bottomless — swarming with a hundred serpents of sorrow; wretched, O God, and come to pitiable calamity — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
संसारसागरविशालकरालकाल नक्रग्रहग्रसननिग्रहविग्रहस्य । व्यग्रस्य रागरसनोर्मिनिपीडितस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥५॥
Samsarasagaravishalakaralakala Nakragrahagrasananigrahavigrahasya Vyagrasya ragarasanorminipiditasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:In the vast and fearsome ocean of worldly existence, caught in the grip of the crocodile of Time, distressed and battered by the waves of the restless tongue of craving — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
संसारवृक्षमघबीजमनन्तकर्म शाखाशतं करणपत्रमनङ्गपुष्पम् । आरुह्य दुःखफलितं पततो दयालो लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥६॥
Samsaravrikshamaghabijamanantakarma Shakhashatam karanapatramanangapushpam Aruhya duhkhaphalitam patato dayalo Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O Compassionate One! Having climbed the tree of worldly existence — whose seed is sin, whose root is endless karma, whose hundred branches are the deeds, whose leaves are the senses and whose flower is desire — I am falling, for its fruit is sorrow — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
संसारसर्पघनवक्त्रभयोग्रतीव्र दंष्ट्राकरालविषदग्धविनष्टमूर्तेः । नागारिवाहन सुधाब्धिनिवास शौरे लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥७॥
Samsarasarpaghanavaktrabhayogrativra Damshtrakaralavishadagdhavinashtamurteh Nagarivahana sudhabdhinivasa shaure Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O Shauri, who rides the enemy of serpents (Garuda) and dwells in the ocean of nectar! My very form is destroyed, burnt by the dreadful venom of the cruel, terrible fangs in the dense mouth of the serpent of samsara — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
संसारदावदहनातुरभीकरोरु ज्वालावलीभिरतिदग्धतनूरुहस्य । त्वत्पादपद्मसरसीशरणागतस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥८॥
Samsaradavadahanaturabhikaroru Jvalavalibhiratidagdhatanuruhasya Tvatpadapadmasarasisharanagatasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:The very hairs of my body are scorched by the dreadful, vast rows of flames of the forest-fire of worldly existence; distressed, I have taken refuge in the lake of your lotus-feet — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
संसारजालपतितस्य जगन्निवास सर्वेन्द्रियार्तवडिशार्थझषोपमस्य । प्रोत्खण्डितप्रचुरतालुकमस्तकस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥९॥
Samsarajalapatitasya jagannivasa Sarvendriyartavadisharthajhashopamasya Protkhanditaprachuratalukamastakasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O Abode of the universe! I have fallen into the net of worldly existence, like a fish caught on the baited hook of the sense-objects, my palate and head torn through — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
संसारभीकरकरीन्द्रकराभिघात निष्पिष्टमर्मवपुषः सकलार्तिनाश । प्राणप्रयाणभवभीतिसमाकुलस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥१०॥
Samsarabhikarakarindrakarabhighata Nishpishtamarmavapushah sakalartinasha Pranaprayanabhavabhitisamakulasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O Destroyer of all affliction! My vital frame is crushed by the blow of the trunk of the dreadful elephant of samsara, and I am overwhelmed by the terror of death and rebirth as my life-breath departs — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
अन्धस्य मे हृतविवेकमहाधनस्य चोरैः प्रभो बलिभिरिन्द्रियनामधेयैः । मोहान्धकूपकुहरे विनिपातितस्य लक्ष्मीनृसिंह मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥११॥
Andhasya me hritavivekamahadhanasya Choraih prabho balibhirindriyanamadheyaih Mohandhakupakuhare vinipatitasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Meaning:O Lord! I am blind, the great wealth of my discrimination stolen by the mighty thieves named the senses, and I am cast down into the dark hollow-pit of delusion — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.
लक्ष्मीपते कमलनाभ सुरेश विष्णो वैकुण्ठ कृष्ण मधुसूदन पुष्कराक्ष । ब्रह्मण्य केशव जनार्दन वासुदेव देवेश देहि कृपणस्य करावलम्बम् ॥१२॥
Lakshmipate kamalanabha suresha vishno Vaikuntha krishna madhusudana pushkaraksha Brahmanya keshava janardana vasudeva Devesha dehi kripanasya karavalambam
Meaning:O Consort of Lakshmi, lotus-naveled, Lord of the gods, Vishnu; Vaikuntha, Krishna, slayer of Madhu, lotus-eyed; well-wisher of the holy, Keshava, Janardana, Vasudeva — O Lord of gods, give this wretched one the support of your hand.
यन्माययोर्जितवपुःप्रचुरप्रवाह मग्नार्थमत्र निवहोरुकरावलम्बम् । लक्ष्मीनृसिंहचरणाब्जमधुव्रतेन स्तोत्रं कृतं सुखकरं भुवि शङ्करेण ॥१३॥
Yanmayayorjitavapuhprachurapravaha Magnarthamatra nivahorukaravalambam Lakshminrisimhacharanabjamadhuvratena Stotram kritam sukhakaram bhuvi shankarena
Meaning:This blissful hymn was composed on earth by Shankara — a honey-bee at the lotus-feet of Lakshmi-Narasimha — as a great supporting hand for the multitude drowning in the abundant flood of births wrought by His maya.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram
A heartfelt prayer of total surrender (sharanagati) to Lord Narasimha, asking for His hand to lift the devotee out of the ocean of worldly suffering.
Traditionally recited for protection from fear, danger, enemies, illness and untimely death — Narasimha is the supreme protector who appears for His devotees.
Said to dissolve the terrors of samsara — lust, anger, envy, delusion and the fear of death — described vividly in its thirteen verses.
Brings courage, refuge and inner steadiness to those overwhelmed by calamity, grief or crippling anxiety.
Composed by Adi Shankaracharya; recited daily, on Saturdays, and especially on Narasimha Jayanti.
Each verse ends with the same surrendered plea — 'O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand' — making it a powerful refrain for japa and meditation.
How to Chant Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram
After bathing, sit before an image of Bhagavan Narasimha (ideally Lakshmi-Narasimha). Light a lamp, and recite the thirteen verses slowly and with feeling, dwelling on the refrain 'Lakshmi-Narasimha mama dehi karavalambam' as a prayer of complete surrender. It may be read once daily, or its single verses repeated as japa in times of fear or distress.