Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ — the eighth of Madhvācārya's twelve Dvādaśa Stotras, sung with the recurring refrain: 'let us gladden Vāsudeva, the undivided ornament of the whole assembly of the gods.'
Worshipped by the entire host of the venerable, his broad shoulders anointed with sandal-paste, made radiant by Lakṣmī's restless sidelong glances, lifting Mount Mandara upon his rounded, upraised arms — him let us gladden, Vāsudeva, ornament of the gods.
Ever absorbed in the play of creation and dissolution, resplendent in a true form full of the six divine perfections, intent on destroying every wicked power, the refuge of the flourishing and most worthy — him let us gladden, Vāsudeva.
Fulfiller of all that the noble pray for, giver of unearthly bliss and of glorious refuge at his feet to the humble, the impeller of every creature according to its own disposition and deeds — 'what is he not?' the wise enquire — him let us gladden, Vāsudeva.
Verse 5 — विप्रमुख्यैः सदा वेदवादोन्मुखैः सुप्रतापैः…
Ever worshipped by the foremost brahmins intent on the word of the Veda and by mighty, righteous kings; of unfathomable and vast knowledge, stainless, luminous, unaging, the supreme form of bliss — him let us gladden, Vāsudeva.
Verse 6 — अत्ययो यस्य केनापि न क्वापि हि प्रत्ययो…
अत्ययो यस्य केनापि न क्वापि हि प्रत्ययो यद्गुणेषूत्तमानां परः । सत्यसङ्कल्प एको वरेण्यो वशी मत्यनूनैः सदा वेदवादोदितः । प्रीणयामो वासुदेवं देवतामण्डलाखण्डमण्डनं प्रीणयामो वासुदेवम् ॥
He who never declines anywhere, the highest ground of certainty regarding the virtues of the best, of unfailing resolve, the one, the most choiceworthy, the master, ever proclaimed by the flawless utterance of the Vedas — him let us gladden, Vāsudeva.
The uprooter of the long chain of sorrow for those who behold him — 'behold, behold!' — thus worshipped by the lord of the unborn; far off yet ever reaching all, self-abiding, coming of his own will to dwell among the good — him let us gladden, Vāsudeva.
He who brought forth the first-born, unborn Brahmā of foremost form; whose very body is all the divine qualities; of whom even fierce Rudra is descended; ever rightly held as the supreme deity — him let us gladden, Vāsudeva.
Verse 9 — अच्युतो यो गुणैर्नित्यमेवाखिलैः…
अच्युतो यो गुणैर्नित्यमेवाखिलैः प्रच्युतोऽशेषदोषैः सदा पूर्तितः । उच्यते सर्ववेदोरुवादैरजः स्वर्चितो ब्रह्मरुद्रेन्द्रपूर्वैः सदा । प्रीणयामो वासुदेवं देवतामण्डलाखण्डमण्डनं प्रीणयामो वासुदेवम् ॥
Acyuta, ever undecaying in all his perfections, forever free of the least flaw and ever complete, declared 'the unborn' by all the great words of the Veda, ever worshipped by Brahmā, Rudra, Indra and the rest — him let us gladden, Vāsudeva.
By whom the universe with Brahmā and all is upheld, who wards off every sorrow of those who meditate on him, by whom alone all is made possible that others cannot accomplish, and by whom all beings are ever set to their action — him let us gladden, Vāsudeva.
From constant remembrance of whom all the sins of the pure-hearted are utterly destroyed through devotion; the bestower of station upon Śiva, Bṛhaspati and the gods — for whose pleasure the good perform all their works — him let us gladden, Vāsudeva.
In whom, the Supreme, imperishable action is offered up; by whose very name all sorrows dissolve; the imperishable, the unaging, ever the nectar of the immortals, in whose belly the whole universe with Brahmā abides — him let us gladden, Vāsudeva.
The followers of Nanditīrtha (Madhva), bearers of the holy name and full of joy, fixing their minds ever on the blissful Lord, raised up by his reddish, gently smiling sidelong glance — with the whole bowing host of the gods, ever let us gladden Vāsudeva, the undivided ornament of the gods.
About Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ
Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ is a Sanskrit stotra, composed by Śrī Madhvācārya (Ānanda Tīrtha), addressed to Vishnu — a Dvadasha Stotra. It is presented here in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, each verse with its English meaning. Source text: sanskritdocuments.org.
Founder of the Dvaita (Tattvavāda) school of Vedānta and third of the great Vaiṣṇava ācāryas; author of the Sarvamūla works, including devotional stotras such as the Dvādaśa Stotra.
What is Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ and what does it mean?
Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ is a Sanskrit stotra (devotional hymn), composed by Śrī Madhvācārya (Ānanda Tīrtha), addressed to Vishnu, of 12 verses. On Avabodhak every verse is shown with its English meaning, so you can understand the text line by line as you read.
How do I pronounce Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ correctly?
Avabodhak presents Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada alongside IAST Roman transliteration that marks every long vowel (ā, ī, ū) and conjunct consonant. Reading the Devanagari text with the IAST line lets you follow the exact pronunciation syllable by syllable, and the guided practice mode replays it line by line.
What is the word-by-word meaning of Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ?
Avabodhak pairs each verse of Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ with its English meaning, and the practice view breaks lines into individual words — so you learn what each word means, not just the overall sense.
Who composed Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ?
Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ is attributed to Śrī Madhvācārya (Ānanda Tīrtha).
In which scripts can I read Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ?
Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ is available in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada on Avabodhak, each with English meaning and IAST transliteration.
Can I chant or practice Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ online?
Yes — Avabodhak offers a free reading view plus guided practice and word-puzzle modes to help you chant and memorise Prīṇayāmo Vāsudevaṃ.