The Dashavatara refers to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Vishnu is said to descend in the form of an avatar to restore cosmic order.
Recently, I had come across this chanting and fell in love with it immediately. Below is an attempt to translate the stanzas based on my understanding of each avatar.
I am neither a Sanskrit scholar nor an English expert, so hope you understand the limitations.
Here is a link to the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNCXO2SyheQ [recommend you listen to this for phonetics]
Some background before we jump right into it ..
The Dashavatara refers to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Vishnu is said to descend in the form of an avatar to restore cosmic order. The word Dashavatara is made up of daśa, meaning ‘ten’, and avatar (avatāra), means ‘incarnation’.
The order of the ancient concept of Dashavataras has been interpreted to be reflective of modern Darwinian evolution – it is the theory of evolution told as a story, written between 12,000 and 14,000 years ago. It describes the cycle of human evolution beginning in water as Matsya the fish, on to the amphibious phase (half land and water) as Koorma, the tortoise, on to begin firmly established on land as the wild boar Varaha, then Narsimha (half man–half animal), followed by Vamana, the Dwarf man, on to Parashurama, the emotionally volatile man, on to Rama, king of Ayodhya, then Krishna, a loving man, followed by Buddha, the meditative man, who is said to be succeeded by the final incarnation of Vishnu till now, and the last stage of evolution as Kalki, the Destroyer of Adharma (Kali). This is thus also a description of the evolution of consciousness. [source: wikipedia]
This stotram consists of 10 stanzas and this one repeats with each avatara.
!! ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane, Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare !!
Hare Rama ! Hare Krishna! Lord of universe! The chanting of your name alone other than anything in this world, gives me a sense of fulfilment ,helps me cross the sea of rebirth towards salvation . I would chant your names always.
for each Avatara :
Matsyavatara | Vedodhara vicharamathe , somakadanava samharane Meenakara sareera namo , bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!I offer my prayers to you, who with the intention to save Vedas, took the shape of a fish and killed Somaka the asura.I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!) |
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Koormavatara | Mandhanachala dharanahetho , devasura paripala vibho Koormakara sareera namo , bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!I offer my prayers to you, who the care taker of Devas and Asuras, supported the huge mountain called mandhana in the form of a tortoise on your back /the carapace to churn the ocean. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!) |
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Varahavatara | Bhoochorakahara punyamathe, krodhodhrutha bhoodhevahare Krodakara sareera namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!I offer my prayers to you, who in the form of a hog killed the snatcher of the earth. You are angered yet a merciful God. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!) |
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Narasimhavatara | Hiranyakasipuchednatho, prahlada bhayadhayakahetho Naarasimhachutyaroopa namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
I offer my prayers to you, who in the form of Narasimha and Achyuta together, killed Hiranyakashyap with a reason to contain him and save Prahlada, the asura. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!) |
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Vaamanavatara | Bhava bandhannaa vithatamate, padodaka vihataghatate
vatupatuvesha manojyna namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
I offer my prayers to you, who in the form of an enchanting young lad with a thought to stop Bali perform a sacrifice, occupied the universe in a measure of two feet. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!) |
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Parusaramavatara | Kshitipativamsa kshyakaramurthe, khshtipati kartha hara murthe bhrugukularama paresa namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
I offer my prayers to you, who was born as Rama in a dynasty of kings and rescued the clan of kings standing unruffled. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!) |
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Ramavatara | Sita vallabha dasaradhe, dasarathanandana loka guro
ravanamardhana rama namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
I offer my prayers to you, who killed Ravana, the Rama, the beloved of mother Sita, son of Dasaradha and mentor of the universe . I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!) |
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Krishanvatara | Krishnananta krupajaladhe, kamsare kamalesa hare,
kaaliyamardhana lokaguro, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
I offer my prayers to you, who killed Kans, the Krushna, the everlasting source of happiness, an ocean of mercy, the dearest of goddess Lakshmi and trampled on the hoods of Kaliya the serpant. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. |
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Budhavatara | Danavapati manapahara, tripuravijaya mardana roopa
Buddhagynayacha boudha namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
I offer my prayers to you who left the town and the virtuous wife to end the sorrow of humans. You won over the cities by the form of speech with great wisdom. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!) |
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Kalkiavatara | Shistajanavana dushtahara, khagaturagothama vaahanathe kalkiroopaparipala namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
I offer my prayers to you, who comes riding on a horse holding a sword to punish the wicked and save the innocent. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!) |