Chathur Vyooha Stotram
By Kadathanattu Padmanabha Variar
Translated By P.R.Ramachander
This prayer is addressed top the four Gods who make four formations to protect us according to the Pancha Rathtra Agama. They are BalaRama protecting us when we are asleep, Pradhymna(son of Krishna) protecting us when we are dreaming, Anirudha(grand son of Kishna) protecting us when we are awake and Lord Krishna himself protecting us when we are in the holy state of Thureeya. Chathurvyuha is the 138th name in Vishnu Sahasranama. In the Brahma Samhitha, the fifth sloka discusses the Sveta Dwipa (white island) encircling Gokula which is divided in to four parts under the control of Vasudeva. Sangarshana, Pradyumna and Anirudha. It further says that that these abodes are four the four fold human requirements viz Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha and also by the four Vedas.
Samgarshanam, hala dharam, pranamami Ramam, Neelambaram sasi mrunala nibham muneedyam, Thalanga mabja nayanam dwividha pralambha, Suthelwalathmaja ripum phani pamsa jatham., 1
I salute Rama who is a revolutionary, who holds a plough,
Who wears blue silk, who is like the moon as well as the lotus,
Who is respected by sages, who has lotus like eyes,
The killer of Pralambha and Suta[1] and the enemy of Balwala</ref>Balwala was the asura who used to trouble sages in Naimisarnya.</ref>,
And the one who was the incarnation of the snake Adhisesha.
Vande tham vasudevam, tribhuvana kamanam, Nanda puthram pavithram, Neelambhodha meendi vara nayanam ajam, Rukhmani prana nadham Sri Vathsangam gadhayudha managhamaham, Devaki Garbha jatham, Geervandradhi sevyam muni gana vinutham, Gopika bhagya tharam., 2
Salutations to him who is the son of Vasudeva,
Who is prettiest in the three worlds,
Who is the holy son of Nandagopa.
Who is as blue as water rich cloud,
Who has eyes like the Indheevara flowers,
Who is the soul like consort of Rukhmani,
Who has Sri Vathsa mole on his body,
Who wields the mace, who is sinless,
Who was born to Devaki,
Who is served by Gandharwas, Indra and others,
Who is saluted by hoards of sages,
And who is the lucky star of the Gopis.
Rukhmani Nandanam, kamamsa sambhavam, Kama deva prabhum, sambarsyanthakam, Mayavathee patheem salwa darpanthakam, Krishnathmajam Bhaje Pradhyumna anwaham., 3
I sing daily about Pradhyumna, who is the son of Rukhmani,
Who is the part incarnation of Manmatha,
Who is the Lord who is the God of love,
Who killed Sambara, who is the husband of Mayavathi,
Who destroyed pride of Salwa and is the son of Krishna.
Vande rukmavathi puthram Anirudha musha pathim, Pradyumna nandanam Veeram manasaschadhi daivadam., 4
I salute Anirudha, the son of Rukhmavathi,
Who is the husband of Usha, son of Pradhyumna,
Who is valorous and the God of the mind.