Venkateswara Suprabhatam — Word-by-Word Meaning
वेंकटेश्वर सुप्रभातम्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वासंध्या प्रवर्तते ।
उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकं ॥ 1 ॥
Kausalya Supraja Rama Purvasandhya Pravartate |
Uttishtha Narashardula Kartavyam Daivamahnikam || 1 ||
O Rama, noble son of Kausalya — the eastern dawn is breaking; arise, O lion among men, the daily duties to the gods must now be done. (The awakening verse, from the Ramayana.)
उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ गोविंद उत्तिष्ठ गरुडध्वज ।
उत्तिष्ठ कमलाकांत त्रैलोक्यं मंगळं कुरु ॥ 2 ॥
Uttishthottishtha Govinda Uttishtha Garudadhvaja |
Uttishtha Kamalakanta Trailokyam Mangal̤am Kuru || 2 ||
Arise, arise O Govinda; arise, O You whose banner bears Garuda; arise, O beloved of Kamala (Lakshmi) — make the three worlds auspicious.
मातस्समस्त जगतां मधुकैटभारेः
वक्षोविहारिणि मनोहर दिव्यमूर्ते ।
श्रीस्वामिनि श्रितजनप्रिय दानशीले
श्री वेंकटेश दयिते तव सुप्रभातं ॥ 3 ॥
Matassamasta Jagatam Madhukaitabhareh
Vakshoviharini Manohara Divyamurte |
Shrisvamini Shritajanapriya Danashile
Shri Venkatesha Dayite Tava Suprabhatam || 3 ||
O Mother of all the worlds, who dwell upon the chest of the foe of Madhu and Kaitabha, of enchanting divine form; O mistress Sri, dear to those who take refuge and generous of gift — O beloved of Sri Venkatesa, may the dawn be blessed for You.
तव सुप्रभातमरविंद लोचने
भवतु प्रसन्नमुख चंद्रमंडले ।
विधि शंकरेंद्र वनिताभिरर्चिते
वृश शैलनाथ दयिते दयानिधे ॥ 4 ॥
Tava Suprabhatamaravinda Locane
Bhavatu Prasannamukha Candramamdale |
Vidhi Shankarendra Vanitabhirarcite
Vrisha Shailanatha Dayite Dayanidhe || 4 ||
May the dawn be auspicious for You, O lotus-eyed One of serene moon-bright face, worshipped by the consorts of Brahma, Shankara and Indra — O Lord of the Vrisha hill, beloved and ocean of compassion.
अत्र्यादि सप्त ऋषयस्समुपास्य संध्यां
आकाश सिंधु कमलानि मनोहराणि ।
आदाय पादयुग मर्चयितुं प्रपन्नाः
शेषाद्रि शेखर विभो तव सुप्रभातं ॥ 5 ॥
Atryadi Sapta Rishayassamupasya Sandhyam
Akasha Sindhu Kamalani Manoharani |
Adaya Padayuga Marcayitum Prapannah
Sheshadri Shekhara Vibho Tava Suprabhatam || 5 ||
The seven sages, Atri and the rest, having finished their twilight prayers, draw near bearing the lovely lotuses of the celestial Ganga to worship Your feet — O Lord crowning the Sheshadri hill, may Your dawn be blessed.
Complete Translation
The Venkateswara Suprabhatam is the morning "awakening" hymn of Lord Venkateswara (Balaji) of Tirumala — sung every dawn at the Tirumala Tirupati temple to rouse the Lord from sleep. It opens with the celebrated verse from the Ramayana with which the sage Vishwamitra awakens Rama — "Kausalya supraja Rama, the dawn is breaking; arise, O best of men" — and then, verse upon verse, calls upon Srinivasa to awaken: the sages stand ready with the lotuses of the celestial Ganga, the gods and their consorts wait to worship His feet, the birds sing and the lamps are lit. Composed by Prativadi Bhayankara Annangaracharya, it is among the most beloved devotional dawn-songs of South India, recited daily by countless devotees to begin the day with the Lord.
Origin & History
Source: Sri Venkatesha Suprabhatam — sung daily at the Tirumala Tirupati temple
Author: Prativadi Bhayankara Annangaracharya (15th century)
Period: Medieval (c. 15th century)
The Venkateswara Suprabhatam was composed by Prativadi Bhayankara Annangaracharya, a great Vaishnava preceptor, to awaken Lord Venkateswara each morning at Tirumala. It opens by borrowing the very verse with which the sage Vishwamitra woke Sri Rama in the Ramayana, and has been sung as the first service of the day at the temple for centuries — the dawn-song on the lips of every Tirupati pilgrim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Venkateswara Suprabhatam?▼
It is the morning "awakening" (suprabhatam) hymn of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala (Tirupati Balaji), sung at the temple every dawn to rouse the Lord. It opens with the famous Ramayana verse "Kausalya supraja Rama" and was composed by Prativadi Bhayankara Annangaracharya.
When is the Suprabhatam recited?▼
At dawn (Brahma Muhurta) to begin the day, after bathing, before an image of Balaji — and especially on Saturdays, the day of Venkateswara. It is sung daily at the Tirumala temple as the first service of the morning.
What does "Kausalya supraja Rama" mean?▼
It is the verse with which the sage Vishwamitra awakens Rama in the Ramayana: "O Rama, noble son of Kausalya, the dawn is breaking in the east; arise, O best of men, the daily duties to the gods must be performed." The Suprabhatam borrows it to awaken Venkateswara.
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