Universal Prayer Poem by Narayana Guru

DAIVA DASAKAM
(Universal Prayer)

This Malayalam prayer in the Anustup metre was written by Guru for use in the daily evening prayers of the orphans staying at the Sivagiri Mutt at Varkala. This can be recited by all, irrespective of religion, caste or creed. This short poem is believed to have been composed in 1914.

1
O God, keep watch on us here
From over there, never
Letting loose your fast hold;
You are the captain of the steamer
For crossing the ocean of becoming,
And the mighty ship is
None other than your feet.

2
Counting all the countables
One after another, when
Everything is reckoned and finished with,
They disappear and continue
To exist in the seeing mind.
In like manner, let this mind
Attain rest pulsationless in you.

3
Food and clothes and such other daily needs,
Providing us ever with no lapse,
You make our lives generously blessed
You alone are our sole Master.

4
Like ocean, waves, wind and depth,
Are ourselves, maya, your glory and you.
Let me inwardly have
Such an awareness of this scheme.

5
You are the creation, the creator too,
As also the myriad of created things,
You, again, O God, are the substance
Of which all creation is made.

6
You indeed are maya,
The maker of it too,
As also the enjoyer thereof.
You are even the noble one who can
Remove the very same maya
To grant us the state of Supreme Union.

7
You are the Existence, Consciousness and Value;
You are the present, and the past
And the future are no other than you.
Even this spoken word, well- considered,
Is nothing other than you.

8
Filling totally both inside and outside
Is the state of your grandeur,
That state we hail.
O God, success be yours!

9
Success be your, O Great Lord Divine,
Ever intent on saving those in mystery
Success be yours, O the one
Consciousness and Bliss in essence,
O the ocean of mercy,
Success be yours!

10
In the deep ocean of your Glory
Let us all become immersed;
There to dwell, dwell for ever
In Felicity Supreme!

Translated by Muni Narayana Prasad
Narayanagurukula Varkala India