The present paper describes the effect of surface roughness orientation pattern on the nonlinear transient response of symmetric two lobe capillary compensated hole entry hybrid journal bearing. Nonlinear equations of motion have been solved with the Runge-Kutta method. The stability of the journal bearing system has been studied by obtaining the journal center motion trajectories. The results of the study reveal that the surface roughness pattern significantly changes the stability of capillary compensated two lobe hole entry hybrid journal bearing. Hence, from the bearing stability point of view, a proper selection of the surface roughness pattern and bearing geometry is essential.