Kanakadhārā Stotram
Śrī Kanakadhārā Stotram is a celebrated hymn to Śrī Mahālakṣmī traditionally attributed to Ādi Śaṅkarācārya. Its poetry dwells especially upon the compassionate and auspicious sidelong glances of the Goddess as they rest lovingly upon Śrī Hari, and repeatedly prays that even a fraction of that grace may fall upon the devotee. The core recension transmitted in the Complete Works of Śaṅkarācārya contains eighteen verses. Many widely recited printed editions append four additional verses; those verses are included here as verses 19–22 and are clearly identified as additional. The traditional opening invocation is also retained separately.
वन्दे वन्दारुमन्दारम्
इन्दिरानन्दकन्दलम् ।
अमन्दानन्दसन्दोह
बन्धुरं सिन्धुराननम् ॥
vande vandāru-mandāram
indirānanda-kandalam
amandānanda-sandoha-
bandhuraṃ sindhurānanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I bow to the elephant-faced Lord, the wish-fulfilling celestial tree for all who bow before Him, beautiful with an overflowing abundance of bliss and a tender source of joy to Indirā.
अङ्गं हरेः पुलकभूषणम् आश्रयन्ती
भृङ्गाङ्गनेव मुकुलाभरणं तमालम् ।
अङ्गीकृताखिलविभूतिर् अपाङ्गलीला
माङ्गल्यदाऽस्तु मम मङ्गलदेवतायाः ॥ १ ॥
aṅgaṃ hareḥ pulaka-bhūṣaṇam āśrayantī
bhṛṅgāṅganeva mukulābharaṇaṃ tamālam
aṅgīkṛtākhila-vibhūtir apāṅga-līlā
māṅgalya-dā'stu mama maṅgala-devatāyāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Like a dark female bee resting upon a bud-laden tamāla tree, the playful sidelong glance of the Goddess of auspiciousness rests upon Hari's dark form and ornaments it with thrills of joy. May that glance of Her who has embraced all divine splendor bestow auspiciousness upon me.
मुग्धा मुहुर् विदधती वदने मुरारेः
प्रेमत्रपाप्रणिहितानि गतागतानि ।
माला दृशोर् मधुकरीव महोत्पले या
सा मे श्रियं दिशतु सागरसम्भवायाः ॥ २ ॥
mugdhā muhur vidadhatī vadane murāreḥ
prema-trapā-praṇihitāni gatāgatāni
mālā dṛśor madhukarīva mahotpale yā
sā me śriyaṃ diśatu sāgara-sambhavāyāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Again and again, love draws Her eyes toward Murāri's face while bashfulness turns them away. Those enchanting movements become a garland of glances, like a bee circling a great blue lotus. May that glance of the Daughter of the Ocean shower Śrī—grace and prosperity—upon me.
विश्वामरेन्द्रपदविभ्रमदानदक्षम्
आनन्दहेतुर् अधिकं मुरविद्विषोऽपि ।
ईषन् निषीदतु मयि क्षणम् ईक्षणार्धम्
इन्दीवरोदरसहोदरम् इन्दिरायाः ॥ ३ ॥
viśvāmarendra-pada-vibhrama-dāna-dakṣam
ānanda-hetur adhikaṃ mura-vidviṣo'pi
īṣan niṣīdatu mayi kṣaṇam īkṣaṇārdham
indīvarodara-sahodaram indirāyāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Her glance can effortlessly confer the majesty of Indra's throne, and it brings an added joy even to Murāri, who is Himself the abode of bliss. May even half a glance of Indirā—dark and lovely like the heart of a blue lotus—rest upon me for a single moment.
आमीलिताक्षम् अधिगम्य मुदा मुकुन्दम्
आनन्दकन्दम् अनिमेषम् अनङ्गतन्त्रम् ।
आकेकरस्थितकनीनिकपक्ष्मनेत्रं
भूत्यै भवेन् मम भुजङ्गशयाङ्गनायाः ॥ ४ ॥
āmīlitākṣam adhigamya mudā mukundam
ānanda-kandam animeṣam anaṅga-tantram
ākekara-sthita-kanīnika-pakṣma-netraṃ
bhūtyai bhaven mama bhujaṅga-śayāṅganāyāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Beholding Mukunda—the very root of bliss—with loving delight, Her half-open eyes linger upon Him without blinking, revealing the secret power of love itself. May those eyes of the divine Lady who shares the couch of the serpent-bed Lord become the source of my prosperity.
बाह्वन्तरे मधुजितः श्रितकौस्तुभे या
हारावलीव हरिनीलमयी विभाति ।
कामप्रदा भगवतोऽपि कटाक्षमाला
कल्याणम् आवहतु मे कमलालयायाः ॥ ५ ॥
bāhv-antare madhujitaḥ śrita-kaustubhe yā
hārāvalīva harinīla-mayī vibhāti
kāma-pradā bhagavato'pi kaṭākṣa-mālā
kalyāṇam āvahatu me kamalālayāyāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Upon the chest of the conqueror of Madhu, where the Kaustubha shines, Her succession of dark glances appears like a necklace of blue sapphires. That garland of glances fulfills even Bhagavān's loving desire. May the sidelong glance of the lotus-dwelling Goddess bring auspiciousness to me.
कालाम्बुदालिललितोरसि कैटभारेः
धाराधरे स्फुरति या तडिदङ्गनेव ।
मातुः समस्तजगतां महनीयमूर्तिः
भद्राणि मे दिशतु भार्गवनन्दनायाः ॥ ६ ॥
kālāmbudāli-lalitorasi kaiṭabhāreḥ
dhārādhare sphurati yā taḍid-aṅganeva
mātuḥ samasta-jagatāṃ mahanīya-mūrtiḥ
bhadrāṇi me diśatu bhārgava-nandanāyāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Upon the dark, cloud-like chest of the enemy of Kaiṭabha, She flashes like a radiant streak of lightning. May the glorious form of the Daughter of Bhṛgu, revered as Mother of all the worlds, grant me every auspicious blessing.
प्राप्तं पदं प्रथमतः खलु यत्प्रभावात्
माङ्गल्यभाजि मधुमाथिनि मन्मथेन ।
मय्य् आपतेत् तद् इह मन्थरम् ईक्षणार्धं
मन्दालसं च मकरालयकन्यकायाः ॥ ७ ॥
prāptaṃ padaṃ prathamataḥ khalu yat-prabhāvāt
māṅgalya-bhāji madhu-māthini manmathena
mayy āpatet tad iha mantharam īkṣaṇārdhaṃ
mandālasaṃ ca makarālaya-kanyakāyāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
It was through the power of Her glance that Manmatha first found entry into the heart of Madhusūdana, the abode of all auspiciousness. May that same slow, tender, languid half-glance of the Daughter of the Ocean fall upon me here.
दद्याद् दयानुपवनो द्रविणाम्बुधाराम्
अस्मिन्न् अकिञ्चनविहङ्गशिशौ विषण्णे ।
दुष्कर्मघर्मम् अपनीय चिराय दूरं
नारायणप्रणयिनीनयनाम्बुवाहः ॥ ८ ॥
dadyād dayānupavano draviṇāmbu-dhārām
asminn akiñcana-vihaṅga-śiśau viṣaṇṇe
duṣkarma-gharmam apanīya cirāya dūraṃ
nārāyaṇa-praṇayinī-nayanāmbuvāhaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May the raincloud of the eyes of Nārāyaṇa's beloved, moved by the gentle wind of compassion, pour down a stream of abundance upon me—this sorrowful, helpless little bird possessing nothing—and drive far away the burning heat of my past misdeeds.
इष्टाविशिष्टमतयोऽपि यया दयार्द्र
दृष्ट्या त्रिविष्टपपदं सुलभं लभन्ते ।
दृष्टिः प्रहृष्टकमलोदरदीप्तिर् इष्टां
पुष्टिं कृषीष्ट मम पुष्करविष्टरायाः ॥ ९ ॥
iṣṭāviśiṣṭa-matayo'pi yayā dayārdra-
dṛṣṭyā triviṣṭapa-padaṃ sulabhaṃ labhante
dṛṣṭiḥ prahṛṣṭa-kamalodara-dīptir iṣṭāṃ
puṣṭiṃ kṛṣīṣṭa mama puṣkara-viṣṭarāyāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Even those without exceptional sacrificial merit attain the heavenly state easily through Her compassion-moistened glance. May the gaze of the lotus-seated Goddess—radiant like the heart of a freshly opened lotus—cause the prosperity and flourishing I truly seek to grow within my life.
गीर्देवतेति गरुडध्वजसुन्दरीति
शाकम्भरीति शशिशेखरवल्लभेति ।
सृष्टिस्थितिप्रलयकेलिषु संस्थितायै
तस्यै नमस् त्रिभुवनैकगुरोः तरुण्यै ॥ १० ॥
gīr-devateti garuḍa-dhvaja-sundarīti
śākambharīti śaśi-śekhara-vallabheti
sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-keliṣu saṃsthitāyai
tasyai namas tri-bhuvanaika-guroḥ taruṇyai
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
She is praised as the Goddess of Speech, as the beautiful Lady of the Lord whose banner bears Garuḍa, as Śākambharī, and as the beloved of the moon-crested Lord. To that ever-youthful Divine Lady who abides within the cosmic play of creation, preservation, and dissolution—and who belongs to the one supreme Teacher of the three worlds—I offer my salutations.
श्रुत्यै नमोऽस्तु शुभकर्मफलप्रसूत्यै
रत्यै नमोऽस्तु रमणीयगुणार्णवायै ।
शक्त्यै नमोऽस्तु शतपत्रनिकेतनायै
पुष्ट्यै नमोऽस्तु पुरुषोत्तमवल्लभायै ॥ ११ ॥
śrutyai namo'stu śubha-karma-phala-prasūtyai
ratyai namo'stu ramaṇīya-guṇārṇavāyai
śaktyai namo'stu śata-patra-niketanāyai
puṣṭyai namo'stu puruṣottama-vallabhāyai
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Salutations to Her who is Śruti itself and who brings forth the fruits of righteous deeds. Salutations to Her who is delight, an ocean of enchanting virtues. Salutations to Śakti, dwelling in the hundred-petaled lotus. Salutations to Puṣṭi, the nourishing grace and beloved consort of Puruṣottama.
नमोऽस्तु नालीकनिभाननायै
नमोऽस्तु दुग्धोदधिजन्मभूम्यै ।
नमोऽस्तु सोमामृतसोदरायै
नमोऽस्तु नारायणवल्लभायै ॥ १२ ॥
namo'stu nālīka-nibhānanāyai
namo'stu dugdhodadhi-janma-bhūmyai
namo'stu somāmṛta-sodarāyai
namo'stu nārāyaṇa-vallabhāyai
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Salutations to Her whose face resembles a blossoming lotus. Salutations to Her who arose from the Ocean of Milk. Salutations to the sister who emerged with the Moon and immortal nectar. Salutations to the beloved consort of Nārāyaṇa.
सम्पत्कराणि सकलेन्द्रियनन्दनानि
साम्राज्यदानविभवानि सरोरुहाक्षि ।
त्वद्वन्दनानि दुरितोद्धरणोद्यतानि
माम् एव मातर् अनिशं कलयन्तु मान्ये ॥ १३ ॥
sampat-karāṇi sakalendriya-nandanāni
sāmrājya-dāna-vibhavāni saroruhākṣi
tvad-vandanāni duritoddharaṇodyatāni
mām eva mātar aniśaṃ kalayantu mānye
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
O lotus-eyed Mother, salutations offered to You create prosperity, delight every sense, possess the power to confer sovereignty, and stand ever ready to lift away misfortune. O venerable Mother, may such worship of You fill my life unceasingly.
यत्कटाक्षसमुपासनाविधिः
सेवकस्य सकलार्थसम्पदः ।
सन्तनोति वचनाङ्गमानसैस्
त्वां मुरारिहृदयेश्वरीं भजे ॥ १४ ॥
yat-kaṭākṣa-samupāsanā-vidhiḥ
sevakasya sakalārtha-sampadaḥ
santanoti vacanāṅga-mānasais
tvāṃ murāri-hṛdayeśvarīṃ bhaje
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The worship of Your sidelong glance causes every worthy prosperity of Your servant to flourish. With speech, body, and mind, I worship You—the sovereign Queen of Murāri's very heart.
सरसिजनिलये सरोजहस्ते
धवलतमांशुकगन्धमाल्यशोभे ।
भगवति हरिवल्लभे मनोज्ञे
त्रिभुवनभूतिकरि प्रसीद मह्यम् ॥ १५ ॥
sarasija-nilaye saroja-haste
dhavalatamāṃśuka-gandha-mālya-śobhe
bhagavati hari-vallabhe manojñe
tri-bhuvana-bhūti-kari prasīda mahyam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
O lotus-dwelling Goddess with a lotus in Your hand, resplendent in the purest white garments, fragrance, and garlands! O glorious and enchanting beloved of Hari, giver of prosperity to the three worlds—be gracious to me.
दिघस्तिभिः कनककुम्भमुखावसृष्ट
स्वर्वाहिनीविमलचारुजलप्लुताङ्गीम् ।
प्रातर् नमामि जगतां जननीम् अशेष
लोकाधिनाथगृहिणीम् अमृताब्धिपुत्रीम् ॥ १६ ॥
dig-hastibhiḥ kanaka-kumbha-mukhāvasṛṣṭa-
svar-vāhinī-vimala-cāru-jala-plutāṅgīm
prātar namāmi jagatāṃ jananīm aśeṣa-
lokādhinātha-gṛhiṇīm amṛtābdhi-putrīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
At dawn I bow to the Daughter of the Ocean of Nectar, Mother of all worlds and divine Consort of the Lord of every realm. The guardian elephants of the directions bathe Her with pure and beautiful waters of the heavenly Gaṅgā poured from golden vessels.
कमले कमलाक्षवल्लभे त्वं
करुणापूरतरङ्गितैर् अपाङ्गैः ।
अवलोकय माम् अकिञ्चनानां
प्रथमं पात्रम् अकृत्रिमं दयायाः ॥ १७ ॥
kamale kamalākṣa-vallabhe tvaṃ
karuṇā-pūra-taraṅgitair apāṅgaiḥ
avalokaya mām akiñcanānāṃ
prathamaṃ pātram akṛtrimaṃ dayāyāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
O Kamalā, beloved of the lotus-eyed Lord! Look upon me with sidelong glances surging with a flood of compassion. Among those who possess nothing, I am surely a foremost and genuine vessel for Your mercy.
स्तुवन्ति ये स्तुतिभिर् अमीभिर् अन्वहं
त्रयीमयीं त्रिभुवनमातरं रमाम् ।
गुणाधिका गुरुतरभाग्यभाजिनो
भवन्ति ते भुवि बुधभाविताशयाः ॥ १८ ॥
stuvanti ye stutibhir amībhir anvahaṃ
trayī-mayīṃ tri-bhuvana-mātaraṃ ramām
guṇādhikā guru-tara-bhāgya-bhājino
bhavanti te bhuvi budha-bhāvitāśayāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those who day after day praise Ramā—the embodiment of the threefold Veda and Mother of the three worlds—with these verses become rich in noble virtues and extraordinary good fortune; their hearts are honored even by the wise.
नमोऽस्तु हेमाम्बुजपीठिकायै
नमोऽस्तु भूमण्डलनायिकायै ।
नमोऽस्तु देवादिदयापरायै
नमोऽस्तु शार्ङ्गायुधवल्लभायै ॥ १९ ॥
namo'stu hemāmbuja-pīṭhikāyai
namo'stu bhū-maṇḍala-nāyikāyai
namo'stu devādi-dayā-parāyai
namo'stu śārṅgāyudha-vallabhāyai
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Salutations to Her whose throne is a golden lotus; salutations to the sovereign Lady of the earthly sphere; salutations to Her whose compassion extends to the devas and all beings; salutations to the beloved of the Lord who bears the Śārṅga bow.
नमोऽस्तु देव्यै भृगुनन्दनायै
नमोऽस्तु विष्णोर् उरसि स्थितायै ।
नमोऽस्तु लक्ष्म्यै कमलालयायै
नमोऽस्तु दामोदरवल्लभायै ॥ २० ॥
namo'stu devyai bhṛgu-nandanāyai
namo'stu viṣṇor urasi sthitāyai
namo'stu lakṣmyai kamalālayāyai
namo'stu dāmodara-vallabhāyai
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Salutations to the Goddess, the beloved Daughter of Bhṛgu. Salutations to Her who eternally abides upon Viṣṇu's chest. Salutations to Lakṣmī, whose abode is the lotus. Salutations to the beloved consort of Dāmodara.
नमोऽस्तु कान्त्यै कमलेक्षणायै
नमोऽस्तु भूत्यै भुवनप्रसूत्यै ।
नमोऽस्तु देवादिभिर् अर्चितायै
नमोऽस्तु नन्दात्मजवल्लभायै ॥ २१ ॥
namo'stu kāntyai kamalekṣaṇāyai
namo'stu bhūtyai bhuvana-prasūtyai
namo'stu devādibhir arcitāyai
namo'stu nandātmaja-vallabhāyai
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Salutations to radiant Beauty Herself, whose eyes are lotuses. Salutations to divine prosperity, the Mother from whom the worlds arise. Salutations to Her worshiped by the devas and the rest. Salutations to the beloved consort of Nanda's Son.
देवि प्रसीद जगदीश्वरि लोकमातः
कल्याणगात्रि कमलेक्षणजीवनाथे ।
दारिद्र्यभीतिहृदयं शरणागतं माम्
आलोकय प्रतिदिनं सदयैर् अपाङ्गैः ॥ २२ ॥
devi prasīda jagadīśvari loka-mātaḥ
kalyāṇa-gātri kamalekṣaṇa-jīvanāthe
dāridrya-bhīti-hṛdayaṃ śaraṇāgataṃ mām
ālokaya pratidinaṃ sadayair apāṅgaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
O Goddess, be gracious! O sovereign Lady of the universe and Mother of all, auspicious in every limb, beloved life of the lotus-eyed Lord! My heart trembles at deprivation, and I have come to You for refuge. Look upon me every day with Your compassionate sidelong glances.
