Sri Venkatesa Prapatti

isanam jagato 'sya venkatapater visnoh param preyasim
tad-vaksassthala-nityavasa rasikam tatsantisamvardhinim,
padmalankrta-panipallava-yugam padmasanastham sriyam
vatsalyadi-gunojjyalam bhagavatim vande jaganmataram

I salute Goddess Lakshmi, who is the Queen of the Universe, who is the most beloved of Vishnu, the Lord of Venkatachala, who is fond of dwelling on His (Vishnu's) chest, who is the promoter of His forgiving nature, who has hands decorated with lotuses, who is seated on a lotus in the posture of a lotus (called padmasana), who shines with virtues like mercy and who is the Mother of the Universe

sriman!krpa-jalanidhe!krta-sarvaloka!
sarvajna! sakta! nata-vatsala! Sarvasesin
svamin!susila-sulabhasrita parijata!
sri-venkatesa! charanau saranam prapadye

One who possesses Sri (wealth)! Ocean of Compassion! Creator of the whole Universe! The Omniscient! The Almighty! Affectionate to those that bow to Thee! The Principal of the animate and inanimate world! Easily attainable by persons of good conduct! the Divine tree (parijata)
to those who seek refuge! Venkatesa! I stay at Thy feet

anupurarpita-sujata-sugandhi-puspa-
saurabhya-saurabha-karausama-sannivesau,
saumyau sadanubhavane'pi navanu-bhavyau
sri-venkatesa-charanau saranam prapadye

I seek refuge at Venkatesa's feet which add fragrance to the scent of the sweet-smelling flowers which decorate His feet up to His anklets, which are well-placed and handsome, which are always enjoyable even though they are ever seen

sadyo-vikasi-samuditvara-sandraraga-
saurabhya-nirbhara-saroruha-samya-vartam,
samyaksu sahasa-padesu vilekhayantau
sri-venkatesa-charanau saranam prapadye

I seek refuge at Sri Venkatesa's feet, and it induces us to compare His beautiful feet with lotuses that have just blossomed and emanate fragrance and red colour. This comparison is hasty and not right as the feet of the Lord are several times superior to lotuses

rekhamaya-dhvaja sudha-kalasatapatra-
vajrankusamburuha-kalpaka-sankha-chakraih,
bhavyair alankrta-talau paratattva-chihnaih
sri-venkatesa charanau saranam prapadye

I seek refuge at Venkatesa's feet whose soles bear marks of the Supreme Spirit like the Banner, Pot of Ambrosia, Umbrella, Thunderbolt, Lotus, Divine Tree (Kalpa vrksa), Conch and the Disc which can be seen in the form of auspicious lines

suprema-bhiti kamala-karapallavabhyam
samvahane'pi sapadi klamam adadhanau
kantay avan-manasa-gochara-saukumaryau
sri venkatesa-charanau saranam prapadye

I seek refuge at Venkatesa's feet which, though massaged with love and apprehension by the hands of Lakshmi, are experiencing fatigue, and are yet very charming, the tenderness of which is not within the scope of speech or mind

laksmi-mahi-tadanurupa-nijanubhava-
niladi-divya-mahisi-kara-pallavanam,
arunya-sankramanatah kila sandraragau
sri venkatesa charanau saranam prapadye

I seek refuge at Venkatesa's feet which have become extremely red on account of the union with the redness of the hands of the Divine queens like Sridevi, Bhudevi and Niladevi

nityanamad-vidhi-siadi-kiritakoti-
pratyupta-dipta-navaratna-mahah-prarohaih
nirajanavidhim udaramupadadhanau
sri-venkatesa-charanau saranam prapadye

I seek refuge at Venkatesa's feet which receives as it were, the grand nirajana (harati), through the lustre of the nine gems studded on the crowns of Brahma, Siva and others who bow their heads every day before Him

visnoh pade parama ity udita-prasamsau
yau madhva utsa iti bhogyatayapy upattau,
bhuyas tatheti tava panitala-pradistau
sri venkatesa! charanau sarnam prapadye

Venkatesa! I seek refuge at Thy feet which are extolled (in the Rig Veda I.154.5) as 'Vishnu parame pade' (meaning 'in the most exalted abode of Vishnu); as 'madhava utsah' (meaning 'the fountain of honey'); as extremely enjoyable; and which are indicated as such by the direction in which Thy palm points

parthaya tatsadrsa-sarathina tvayaiva
yau darsitau svacharanau sarnam vrajeti
bhuyo'pi mahyam iha tau karadarsitau te
sri-venkatesa! charanau sarnam prapadye

Venkatesa! I seek refuge at Thy feet which were shown (in your incarnation as Krishna) to the worthy charioteer, Arjuna, for him to seek refuge, and which, now on Venkatadri, are again pointed out by Thy hand for me to seek refuge

manmurdhni kaliyaphane vikatatavisu
sri-venkatadri-sikhare sirasi srutinam,
chittepy ananya-manasam samam ahitau te
sri-venkatesa! charanau saranam prapadye

Venkatesa! I seek refuge at Thy feet which are placed in the same way: on my sinner's head, on the hood of the serpent Kaliya, in the thick forests, on the peak of Venkatachala, in the Upanishads and in the hearts of the sages who meditate on God. (It means Venkatesa is omnipresent)

amlana-hrsyad-avanitala-kirna-puspau
sri-venkatdri-sikharabharanayamanau,
ananditakhila-mano-nayanau-tavaitau
sri-venkatesa! charanau saranam prapadye

Venkatesa! I seek refuge at Thy feet around which the scattered flowers remain fresh and unwithered. Thy feet which are an ornament of Venkatachala, delight the hearts and eyes of all

prayahprapanna-janata-prathamavagahyau
matuh stanaviva sisor mrtayamanau
praptau paraspara-tulam atulantarau te
sri-venkatesa! charanau saranam prapadye

Venkatesa! I seek refuge at Thy feet which are to be seen at first by people who pay obeisance to them often; which are nectar like mother's milk to her child; which can be compared with each other, but incomparable with anything else

satvottarais-satata-sevya-padambujena
samsara-taraka-dayardra-drganchalena,
saumyopayantr-munina mama darsitau te
sri-venkatesa! charanau saranam prapadye

Venkatesa! I seek refuge at Thy feet which are shown to me by the sage Manavala, the sage whose feet are always worshipped by Sattvic people (men of sattva guna) and whose mind and merciful glances enable mankind to cross the ocean of transmigration (samsara)

srisa! sriya ghatikaya tvadupayabhave
prapye tvayi svayam upeyatavasphurantya,
nityasritaya niravadya-gunaya tubhyam
syam kinakaro vrsagirisa! na jatu mahyam

Srinivasa! When Thou art a means i.e., upaya (to the devotees for attainment of the Supreme Abode, i.e. Liberation), Lakshmi brings about this. When Thou becometh the object of attainment (prapya), Lakshmi appears to be so resorting to Thee always. Thou art of pure faultless qualities. I become servant to Thee and not to myself at any time