Dasavatara Sloka or Pralaya Payodhi or Hymn to the Ten Incarnations !
 

Pralaya-payodhi-jale dhruta vanasi vedam
Vihita-vahitra-charitramakhedam
Keshava dhruta-meena-sarira jaya jagadisa hare 1

Hail, O Lord
Lord of the Universe
Who became Fish
Protecting Vedas

Immersed as they were
In turbulent sea of deluge
From malefic influences
Protecing it like a boat !


Kshitirathi vipulatare tisthtati tava prushte
Dharani-dharana-kina-chakra-garishte ,
Keshava dhruta-kachapa-sarira jaya jagadisa hare 2

Tortoise Thou became
Making the mountain great
Rest on Thy back
Allowing it churn

Ocean like a wheel
Hail O Lord
Lord of Cosmos
To Thee our salutations !


Vasati dasana-sikhare dharani thava lagna
Sasini kalanka-kaleva nimagna
Keshava dhruta-sukara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare 3

Thou became Boar
In Thy Third Incarnation
Earth was drowned
Thou redeemed Earth

As the Boar Supernal
Earth rested on Thy Tusk
Hail O Lord, Lord of cosmos entire
To Thee our salutations !


Thava kara-kamala-vare nakha madbhuta-srngam
Dalita-hiranyakasipu-thanu-bhrngam
Keshava dhruta-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare 4

In Thy Fourth Incarnation
Thou became Lion,,
Half lion half man,
Thou tore into demon !

Hiranyakashipu, Ego
Obliterating him for ever
Hail, O Lord of Universe
To Thee our salutations !


Chalayasi vikramane balimadbhuta-vamana
Pada-nakha-nira-janita-jana-pavana
Keshava dhruta-vamana-rupa jaya jagadisa hare 5
 
Thou became a Dwarf
To chastise Bali
Bali, the righteous King
Who became arrogant

He was deceived by Thee !
The water emanating
From Thy Lotus Feet
Made all beings divine !

Mother Ganges originated,
From Thy Feet !
Hail O Lord of the Universe,
Accept our obeisances !

Kshatriya-rudhira-maye jagad-apagata-papam
Snapayasi payasi samita-bhava-tapam
Keshava dhruta-bhrgupati-rupa jaya jagadisa hare 6
 
Thou became warrior
Parasurama by name,
The Kshatriyas, of regal blood
Became arrogant and proud !

Thou taught them a lesson,
As Parasurama, the warrior sage,
Earth was bathed with blood,
Of the arrogant Kshatriyas 

Thou washed the sins of this world,
Hail, O Lord of the Universe
Accept our humble obeisances !
And redeem us from sin !

Vitarasi dikshu rane dik-pati-kamaniyam
Dasa-mukha-mauli-balim ramaniyam
Keshava dhruta-rama-sarira jaya jagadisa hare 7
 
Thou became Dharma Personified
As Lord Rama, Redeemer
Thou destroyed emblem of Ego
Ravana, with his ten heads.








Mighty Ego, ever at arms,
With the world tumultous,
Kidnapping mental peace,
Seeta, the Mother Divine,
In that war fierce,
Thou vanquished Ravana !
 
Hail, O Lord of the Universe
Accept our humble salutations !

Vahasi vapusi visade vasanam jaladabham
Hala-hati-bhiti-milita-yamunabham
Keshava dhruta-haladhara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare 8
 
Thou became Bala Rama
Brother of Lord Krishna
Hail, O Lord of the Universe
Accept our humble obeisances !

Nindasi yajna-vidher ahaha shruti-jatam
Sadaya-hrdaya darsita-pasu-ghatham
Keshava dhruta-buddha-sarira jaya jagadisa hare 9
 
Thou became Divine Man,
Buddha, the Enlightened,
In Thy Ninth Incarnation,
As the Awakened One !

This incarnations theory,
Depict Evolution human,
Evolution of the species,
Evolution of Consciousness !

Thou went against sacrifices,
Due to heart compassionate,
Hail, O Lord of the Universe,
Accept our humble obeisances !

Mleccha-nivaha-nidhane kalayasi karavalam
Dhumaketum iva kim api karalam
Keshava dhruta-kalki-sarira jaya jagadisa hare 10
 
Thou will become Kalki
Fierce warrior
To destroy Evil
Will appear like comet !
Establishing Cosmi Order,
Destroying barbarians !
Hail, O Lord of the Universe
Accept our humble obeisances !

These verses divine
Were composed by Jayadeva
Poet Laureate,Hearing these verses
Fills one with Bliss !

Blessed be Thy Tenfold Form !
 The Darling of Poets,
The Admiration of the new entrants,
As the Vishva or Universal Guru !

Sri-jayadeva-kaver idam uditam udaaram
Srunu sukha-dam subha-dam bhava-saram
Keshava dhruta-dasa-vidha-rupa jaya jagadisa hare 11

 
Translation By  Govind Kumar