Vṛtrāsura's Prayers (Catuḥ-ślokī)
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.11.24–27 — Vṛtrāsura's prayers on the battlefield
O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, will I again be able to be a servant of Your eternal servants who find shelter only at Your lotus feet? O Lord of my life, may I again become their servant so that my mind may always think of Your transcendental attributes, my words always glorify those attributes, and my body always engage in the loving service of Your Lordship?
O my Lord, source of all opportunities, I do not desire to enjoy in Dhruvaloka, the heavenly planets or the planet where Lord Brahmā resides, nor do I want to be the supreme ruler of all the earthly planets or the lower planetary systems. I do not desire to be master of the powers of mystic yoga, nor do I want liberation if I have to give up Your lotus feet.
O lotus-eyed Lord, as baby birds that have not yet developed their wings always look for their mother to return and feed them, as small calves tied with ropes await anxiously the time of milking, when they will be allowed to drink the milk of their mothers, or as a morose wife whose husband is away from home always longs for him to return and satisfy her in all respects, I always yearn for the opportunity to render direct service unto You.
O my Lord, my master, I am wandering throughout this material world as a result of my fruitive activities. Therefore I simply seek friendship in the association of Your pious and enlightened devotees. My attachment to my body, wife, children and home is continuing by the spell of Your external energy, but I wish to be attached to them no longer. Let my mind, my consciousness and everything I have be attached only to You.
About Vṛtrāsura's Prayers (Catuḥ-ślokī)
Vṛtrāsura speaks these four verses in the middle of his battle with Indra, knowing he is about to die. Born as a demon, he had been King Citraketu in his previous life, a great devotee cursed by Pārvatī. He asks only to be a servant of the Lord's servants in birth after birth, and in verse 26 he longs for the Lord as unfledged birds wait for their mother, as hungry calves wait for milk, and as a wife waits for her husband to come home.
- Composer
- Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa
- Songbook
- Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Prayers
- Mood
- Verses
- 4
Frequently asked
Who wrote Vṛtrāsura's Prayers (Catuḥ-ślokī)?
Vṛtrāsura's Prayers (Catuḥ-ślokī) was composed by Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa. It appears in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Prayers.
What is the meaning of Vṛtrāsura's Prayers (Catuḥ-ślokī)?
O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, will I again be able to be a servant of Your eternal servants who find shelter only at Your lotus feet? O Lord of my life, may I again become their servant so that my mind may always think of Your transcendental attributes, my words always glorify those attributes, and my body always engage in the loving service of Your Lordship?
How many verses does Vṛtrāsura's Prayers (Catuḥ-ślokī) have?
Vṛtrāsura's Prayers (Catuḥ-ślokī) has 4 verses.
Can I download Vṛtrāsura's Prayers (Catuḥ-ślokī) as a PPT or PDF?
Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Vṛtrāsura's Prayers (Catuḥ-ślokī) — verse and translation on each slide — is available to download in both PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF formats from this page, for use in kirtan or temple programs.