Trivikrama Stotram
त्रिविक्रम स्तोत्रम्
What is the Trivikrama Stotram?
Trivikrama The Trivikrama Stotram is an 18-verse Sanskrit hymn composed by the 16th-century Dvaita saint Vadiraja Tirtha, praising Vishnu in his cosmic Trivikrama form, the three-strided figure who covered the earth, the sky and finally Bali's own head to reclaim the three worlds. It is preserved in the Brihatstotraratnakara anthology and is linked to the Sri Rama-Trivikrama temple Vadiraja himself founded at Sonda, Karnataka.
When Vishnu grew from the dwarf Vamana into a form vast enough to span the universe, the tradition gave that towering figure a name of its own: Trivikrama, the one of three strides. This stotram does not retell that story from the outside, it speaks to Trivikrama directly, verse after verse of praise from a devotee standing before the deity. It was composed by Vadiraja Tirtha, a Dvaita philosopher-saint who also established the Trivikrama shrine at Sonda where this very form is still worshipped today. The eighteen verses move between cosmic imagery, the stride that swallowed the three worlds, the Ganga springing from his toe, and grounded temple devotion, incense, lamps, food offerings, music, making it as much a temple hymn as a philosophical praise-poem.
Trivikrama Stotram Lyrics in Sanskrit and English Transliteration
This is the complete 18-verse text as preserved in the Brihatstotraratnakara anthology, composed by Vadiraja Tirtha (c. 1480-1600 CE) and closing with his own signed colophon. Each verse pairs a Devanagari line with a simple, diacritic-free transliteration so it can be read and chanted without prior training in Sanskrit script.
Vidarita ari sanghatam padakranta jagattrayam
Gada chakra dharam dhiram sada vande Trivikramam
विदारितारिसंघातं पदाक्रान्तजगत्त्रयम्
गदाचक्रधरं धीरं सदा वन्दे त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
I bow always to Trivikrama, the steady one who tore apart every host of enemies, who covered the three worlds with a single stride, and who carries the mace and the discus.
Shankha ambhoja karadvandva hunkara ardita danava
Shankaa-tanka-hara aham te kinkaro’smi Trivikrama
शङ्खाम्भोजकरद्वन्द्व हुङ्कारार्दितदानव
शङ्कातङ्कहर अहं ते किङ्करोऽस्मि त्रिविक्रम
Meaning
Your two hands hold the conch and the lotus, and your battle roar alone was enough to torment the demons. O remover of doubt and fear, I am your servant, Trivikrama.
Kshamakara ullasat chakram kripa vipula lochanam
Apara suguna stomam upaase tam Trivikramam
क्षमाकरोल्लसच्चक्रं कृपाविपुललोचनम्
अपारसुगुणस्तोमम् उपासे तं त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
I worship that Trivikrama whose discus gleams like a wellspring of forbearance, whose wide eyes overflow with compassion, and whose store of virtues has no end.
Rama dhara ashlishta parshvam samasta sura sevitam
Bhramaadi dosha haram tam namami Trivikramam
रमाधराश्लिष्टपार्श्वं समस्तसुरसेवितम्
भ्रमादिदोषहरं तं नमामि त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
Embraced on either side by Lakshmi and by Mother Earth, and served by every god, he removes delusion and every other fault. I bow to that Trivikrama.
Yogaad angam ajasram akshid gangaam angushthato srijat
Tungaa amara chayaa tungam tangayaami Trivikramam
योगादङ्गमजस्रादक्षीद्गङ्गामङ्गुष्ठतोऽसृजत्
तुङ्गामरचयातुङ्गं तङ्गयामि त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
Through his cosmic stride he let the Ganga spring forth, ceaselessly, from his own toe. Praised by the loftiest hosts of the immortals, I extol that exalted Trivikrama.
Nana alankara bharitam pina avayava mohanam
Gyaana ananda mayam vande Shrinatham tam Trivikramam
नानालङ्कारभरितं पीनावयवमोहनम्
ज्ञानानन्दमयं वन्दे श्रीनाथं तं त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
Adorned with every kind of ornament, captivating in each well-formed limb, and made wholly of knowledge and bliss, I salute that Trivikrama, the Lord of Shri.
Vrindaarakendra vandya anghrim Nanditirtha muneh priyam
Kandarpa koti lavanyam tam dhyayami Trivikramam
वृन्दारकेन्द्रवन्द्याङ्घ्रिं नन्दितीर्थमुनेः प्रियम्
कन्दर्पकोटिलावण्यं तं ध्यायामि त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
His feet are worshipped by Indra, chief of the gods, and he is dear to the sage Nanditirtha. His beauty outshines a million gods of love. On that Trivikrama I meditate.
Sudha kunda indu dhavalam adhahkrita chara acharam
Udaaram aadara dvandve tridhaamaanam Trivikramam
सुधाकुन्देन्दुधवलमधःकृतचराचरम्
उदारमादरद्वन्द्वे त्रिधामानं त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
Radiant white as nectar, jasmine and the moon, he has placed every moving and unmoving being beneath his feet. Generous and gracious, Trivikrama holds the three worlds as his own three domains.
Vedanta vedita gunam bodha pradam ahar nisham
Aadhaaram naumi jagataam Shridhamanam Trivikramam
वेदान्तवेदितगुणं बोधप्रदमहर्निशम्
आधारं नौमि जगतां श्रीधामानं त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
His true qualities are known only through the Vedanta, and he grants understanding day and night. I praise Trivikrama, the very foundation of the worlds and the abode of all glory.
Anuyagena balina manuna mananena cha
Dine dine architam vande manasa tam Trivikramam
अनुयागेन बलिना मनुना मननेन च
दिने दिनेऽर्चितं वन्दे मनसा तं त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
Worshipped day after day through sacrifice, by Bali, by Manu, and through deep contemplation, I salute that Trivikrama in my own heart.
Sarpih paayasa naivedyair bhakshyaishcha vividhaih sada
Nritya vaaditra geetaishcha tarpayami Trivikramam
सर्पिःपायसनैवेद्यैर्भक्ष्यैश्च विविधैः सदा
नृत्यवादित्रगीतैश्च तर्पयामि त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
With offerings of ghee and sweet payasam, with food of every kind, and with dance, music and song, I ever delight Trivikrama.
Vadirajendra varadam Sodapura nivasinam
Moda pradam sada vande Madhavam tam Trivikramam
वादिराजेन्द्रवरदं सोदापुरनिवासिनम्
मोदप्रदं सदा वन्दे माधवं तं त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
Granter of boons to the great Vadiraja, dweller of the town of Sonda, ever the giver of joy, I salute that Trivikrama, the Lord Madhava.
Dhupair gandha anulepaishcha deepair api manahpriyaih
Tapasaih pujitam vande Shripatim tam Trivikramam
धूपैर्गन्धानुलेपैश्च दीपैरपि मनःप्रियैः
तापसैः पूजितं वन्दे श्रीपतिं तं त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
Worshipped by ascetics with incense, fragrant sandal paste and lamps that gladden the heart, I salute that Trivikrama, the consort of Shri.
Yo’sau dhavala gangayah parshve tishthati sarvada
Deshe deshe cha vikhyatam aseve tam Trivikramam
योऽसौ धवलगङ्गायाः पार्श्वे तिष्ठति सर्वदा
देशे देशे च विख्यातमासेवे तं त्रिविक्रमम्
Meaning
I worship that Trivikrama who forever stands beside the pale waters of the Ganga, known and honored in land after land.
Agre nidhaya Shridevim prishthe parshve cha sajjanan
Svargibhih paritah sevya madhye bhati Trivikramah
अग्रे निधाय श्रीदेवीं पृष्ठे पार्श्वे च सज्जनान्
स्वर्गिभिः परितः सेव्या मध्ये भाति त्रिविक्रमः
Meaning
With Shri Devi set before him, and virtuous devotees behind and beside him, served on every side by the dwellers of heaven, Trivikrama shines in their midst.
Shilamayai ramyatama shala valabhi mandapaih
Kalashaishcha ullasad devalaye bhati Trivikramah
शिलामयै रम्यतमशालावलभिमण्डपैः
कलशैश्चोल्लसद्देवालये भाति त्रिविक्रमः
Meaning
In a temple graced with the loveliest stone halls, roofs and pavilions, crowned with gleaming pinnacles, Trivikrama shines in splendor.
Yavach chandrashcha suryashcha yavat tishthati medini
Tavat Trivikramah so’yam pujyas tishthatu sajjanaih
यावच्चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च यावत्तिष्ठति मेदिनी
तावत्त्रिविक्रमः सोऽयं पूज्यस्तिष्ठतु सज्जनैः
Meaning
As long as the sun and the moon endure, as long as the earth itself remains, may this Trivikrama continue to be worshipped by the righteous.
Idam stotram Vadirajo mude sajjana santateh
Vyadhatta tena prito’stu sada Shridas Trivikramah
इदं स्तोत्रं वादिराजो मुदे सज्जनसन्ततेः
व्यधत्त तेन प्रीतोऽस्तु सदा श्रीदस्त्रिविक्रमः
Meaning
This hymn Vadiraja composed for the joy of the righteous through the ages. May Trivikrama, giver of every fortune, always be pleased by it.
What Do the Three Strides of Trivikrama Mean?
The name Trivikrama literally means “three strides.” When the demon-king Bali refused to yield the three worlds back to the gods, Vishnu approached him in the small, humble form of Vamana and asked for only as much land as he could cover in three steps. The moment Bali agreed, that dwarf form expanded until it filled the sky, verse 1 of this stotram calls it directly, padakranta jagattrayam, “the three worlds covered by his stride.” With the first step Trivikrama claimed the earth, with the second he claimed the heavens, and finding no space left for a third, Bali offered his own head, an act of surrender that is remembered as much as the stride itself.
Verse 5 preserves another famous detail of the story: as Trivikrama’s foot rose past the edge of the universe, it grazed the outer shell of the cosmic egg, and the Ganga is said to have sprung from his toe at that moment, later descending to earth as the sacred river. Later verses turn from myth to worship, incense, lamps, food offerings, music, describing how the same cosmic figure is honored in daily temple ritual, most directly at the Sonda temple that Vadiraja Tirtha himself established. Read together, the eighteen verses hold both ideas at once: a god vast enough to measure the universe in two steps, and a deity close enough to be served with a lamp and a plate of food.
When to Chant the Trivikrama Stotram
- – Sit facing east or north in a clean, quiet space, ideally before an image of Vishnu, Vamana or Trivikrama.
- – Light a lamp and offer a simple item, water, a flower or incense, as a mark of respect before beginning.
- – Read the transliteration aloud slowly at first, verse by verse, until the Sanskrit sounds start to feel natural.
- – Chant all eighteen verses in sequence at a steady, unhurried pace rather than rushing to finish.
- – Close by reading verse 18 with attention, since it is the composer's own closing prayer, then sit quietly for a moment before rising.
- – On Vamana Jayanti or Onam, pair the recitation with a simple offering of food, echoing the naivedya described in verse 11.
Benefits of Chanting the Trivikrama Stotram
Traditional stotra literature frames devotional recitation as a way of steadying the mind on a chosen form of the divine, not as a guaranteed formula for specific outcomes. Within that understanding, this hymn to Trivikrama is associated with the following:
- : Encourages humility, since the underlying story centers on Bali's willing surrender rather than on the god's power alone.
- : Fixes the mind on a single vivid image, the world-spanning stride, which many practitioners find useful as a focus for meditation.
- : Connects the reciter to a specific place of worship, the Sonda Trivikrama temple, giving the practice a concrete anchor rather than an abstract one.
- : Offers a structured close to daily worship, since the verses move naturally from praise to ritual offering to a closing blessing.
- : Is traditionally recited for courage and steadiness in the face of loss, drawing on Bali's example of keeping his word even at great personal cost.
- : Provides a shorter, self-contained alternative to longer Vishnu stotras for those who want a complete but compact daily recitation.
Origin of the Trivikrama Stotram
This stotram was composed by Vadiraja Tirtha, a saint-scholar of the Dvaita Vedanta tradition who lived roughly between 1480 and 1600 CE. Vadiraja was a prolific author of short devotional hymns to Vishnu’s many forms, and tradition holds that in 1582 CE he personally established the Sri Rama-Trivikrama temple at Sonda (also spelled Sode), in present-day Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, where the deity is still worshipped today. The stotram’s own verses reflect that connection directly: verse 12 names Vadiraja and the town of Sonda by name, and verses 14 through 16 describe the temple itself, its setting beside a river and its stone halls and pavilions.
The text has come down through the Brihatstotraratnakara, a printed anthology of Sanskrit stotras compiled by Narayana Ram Acharya and published by the Nirnayasagar Press, where it appears as entry 225. It closes with Vadiraja’s own signed colophon, iti shri vadiraja krtam trivikrama stotram sampurnam, “thus concludes the Trivikrama Stotram composed by the venerable Vadiraja.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Trivikrama?
Trivikrama is the name given to Vishnu at the moment his dwarf form, Vamana, expanded to a size vast enough to cross the entire universe in three strides, reclaiming the three worlds from the demon-king Bali. The name literally means "the one of three strides."
Who composed the Trivikrama Stotram?
It was composed by Vadiraja Tirtha, a 16th-century Dvaita Vedanta saint who also founded the Sri Rama-Trivikrama temple at Sonda, Karnataka, the deity described in several of the stotram's verses.
How many verses does the Trivikrama Stotram have?
This stotram has eighteen verses, closing with the composer's own signed colophon in the final verse.
What is the difference between Vamana and Trivikrama?
Vamana is the compact, dwarf-brahmin form Vishnu first takes to approach Bali, while Trivikrama is the name for the same being once that form has expanded to span the three worlds. They refer to two moments of the same avatar story rather than two separate incarnations.
What is the story behind the three steps?
Bali, having gained control of the three worlds, refused to return them to the gods. Vishnu, as the small Vamana, asked Bali for only as much land as he could cover in three steps. Once granted, he grew immense, covering the earth with the first stride and the heavens with the second, and Bali offered his own head for the third.
When should the Trivikrama Stotram be chanted?
It is most traditionally chanted on Vamana Jayanti and during Onam, both tied to the Vamana-Bali story, and can also be recited on Thursdays or Ekadashi as part of regular Vishnu worship.
Where is Trivikrama worshipped today?
The Sri Rama-Trivikrama temple at Sonda (Sode) in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district, founded by Vadiraja Tirtha in 1582 CE, remains a major center of Trivikrama worship and is directly referenced within this stotram.
Can beginners chant this stotram without knowing Sanskrit?
Yes. The transliteration provided alongside the Devanagari text uses simple, diacritic-free spelling so it can be read phonetically, though listening to a correct recitation first is recommended before chanting aloud.
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥