Kanakadhara Stotram

कनकधारा स्तोत्रम्

Kanakadhārā Stotram

All 21 verses

Verse 1

अङ्गं हरेः पुलकभूषणमाश्रयन्ती भृङ्गाङ्गनेव मुकुलाभरणं तमालम् । अङ्गीकृताखिलविभूतिरपाङ्गलीला माङ्गल्यदास्तु मम मङ्गलदेवतायाः ॥१॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

अङ्गं हरेः पुलकभूषणमाश्रयन्ती: resorting to Hari's body as an ornament of horripilation
भृङ्गाङ्गनेव मुकुलाभरणं तमालम् ।: like a female bee, the tamala tree as bud-ornament
अङ्गीकृताखिलविभूतिरपाङ्गलीला: whose sidelong sport has assumed all splendour
माङ्गल्यदास्तु मम मङ्गलदेवतायाः ॥१॥: may she grant auspiciousness, my auspicious goddess

Lakshmi's sidelong glance adorns Vishnu as the auspicious tremor of devotion. When the mind sees grace as inseparable from the Lord, abundance is recognized as the Self's own fullness rather than something added from outside.

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Verse 2

मुग्धा मुहुर्विदधती वदने मुरारेः प्रेमत्रपाप्रणिहितानि गतागतानि । मालादृशोर्मधुकरीव महोत्पले या सा मे श्रियं दिशतु सागरसम्भवायाः ॥२॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

मुग्धा मुहुर्विदधती वदने मुरारेः: shyly placing again and again on Murari's face
प्रेमत्रपाप्रणिहितानि गतागतानि ।: movements veiled by love and modesty, coming and going
मालादृशोर्मधुकरीव महोत्पले या: she who is like a bee on the great lotus of his garlanded eyes
सा मे श्रियं दिशतु सागरसम्भवायाः ॥२॥: may that daughter of the ocean grant me prosperity

The shy, returning glance is the play of consciousness delighting in its own reflection. Prosperity sought from Lakshmi is ultimately the inward wealth of joy that arises when the mind rests in the Lord.

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Verse 3

आमीलिताक्षमधिगम्य मुदा मुकुन्दम् आनन्दकन्दमनिमेषमनङ्गतन्त्रम् । आकेकरस्थितकनीनिकपक्ष्मनेत्रं भूत्यै भवन्मम भुजङ्गशयाङ्गनायाः ॥३॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

आमीलिताक्षमधिगम्य मुदा मुकुन्दम्: having beheld with joy the half-closed-eyed Mukunda
आनन्दकन्दमनिमेषमनङ्गतन्त्रम् ।: root of bliss, unwinking, the very thread of love
आकेकरस्थितकनीनिकपक्ष्मनेत्रं: with one eye resting on the edge of the eyelid and lashes
भूत्यै भवन्मम भुजङ्गशयाङ्गनायाः ॥३॥: may there be prosperity for me from the consort of the serpent-couch Lord

Half-closed eyes express absorbed love, the mind neither fully outward nor withdrawn. Bliss is the ground of being; when attention turns to the Lord within, worldly prosperity becomes a sign of inner abundance.

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Verse 4

बाह्वन्तरे मधुजितः श्रितकौस्तुभे या हारावलीव हरिनीलमयी विभाति । कामप्रदा भगवतोऽपि कटाक्षमाला कल्याणमावहतु मे कमलालयायाः ॥४॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

बाह्वन्तरे मधुजितः श्रितकौस्तुभे या: she who, within the arms of the conqueror of Madhu, rests on the Kaustubha
हारावलीव हरिनीलमयी विभाति ।: shines like a necklace of blue gems
कामप्रदा भगवतोऽपि कटाक्षमाला: a garland of glances that grants even the Lord's desires
कल्याणमावहतु मे कमलालयायाः ॥४॥: may the lotus-dweller bring welfare to me

Her glances on Vishnu's chest show that even the supreme Lord's fulfilment flows from the divine feminine power. Welfare arises when devotion recognizes the one reality shining through beauty and desire.

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Verse 5

कालाम्बुदालिललितोरसि कैटभारेः धाराधरे स्फुरति या तटिदङ्गनेव । मातुस्समस्तजगतां महनीयमूर्तिः भद्राणि मे दिशतु भार्गवनन्दनायाः ॥५॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

कालाम्बुदालिललितोरसि कैटभारेः: on the dark, cloud-like, delightful chest of the slayer of Kaiṭabha
धाराधरे स्फुरति या तटिदङ्गनेव ।: she who flashes like a lightning-bodied woman on a rain-cloud
मातुस्समस्तजगतां महनीयमूर्तिः: mother of all worlds, of worshipful form
भद्राणि मे दिशतु भार्गवनन्दनायाः ॥५॥: may the daughter of Bhṛgu's descendant grant me blessings

Lightning on the rain-cloud images grace flashing on the dark ground of the Lord. The Mother of worlds is the power through which the one consciousness appears as protector and giver of good.

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Verse 6

प्राप्तं पदं प्रथमतः खलु यत्प्रभावात् माङ्गल्यभाजि मधुमाथिनि मन्मथेन । मय्यापतेत्तदिह मन्थरमीक्षणार्थं मन्दालसं च मकरालयकन्यकायाः ॥६॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

प्राप्तं पदं प्रथमतः खलु यत्प्रभावात्: the rank first attained indeed by the power of which
माङ्गल्यभाजि मधुमाथिनि मन्मथेन ।: by Manmatha upon the auspicious, Madhu-crushing Lord
मय्यापतेत्तदिह मन्थरमीक्षणार्थं: may that slow glance now fall upon me
मन्दालसं च मकरालयकन्यकायाः ॥६॥: and the languid grace of the daughter of the ocean-god

The glance that empowered Kāma shows divine power behind even desire. The devotee asks that the same gracious attention turn inward, melting the ego's restlessness into languid union with the Self.

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Verse 7

विश्वामरेन्द्रपदविभ्रमदानदक्षम् आनन्दहेतुरधिकं मुरविद्विषोऽपि । ईषन्निषीदतु मयि क्षणमीक्षणार्थं इन्दीवरोदरसहोदरमिन्दिरायाः ॥७॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

विश्वामरेन्द्रपदविभ्रमदानदक्षम्: skilled at granting the dignity of the lord of gods to the worlds
आनन्दहेतुरधिकं मुरविद्विषोऽपि ।: cause of joy exceeding even for the enemy of Mura
ईषन्निषीदतु मयि क्षणमीक्षणार्थं: may it dwell a little upon me for a moment's gaze
इन्दीवरोदरसहोदरमिन्दिरायाः ॥७॥: the dark-lotus-bellied sister of Indirā

Her glance dignifies even the gods and delights Vishnu, showing that bliss exceeds every object. A moment of true seeing reveals the Self as the source of honour and joy.

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Verse 8

इष्टाविशिष्टमतयोऽपि यया दयार्द्र- दृष्ट्या त्रिविष्टपपदं सुलभं लभन्ते । दृष्टिः प्रहृष्टकमलोदरदीप्तिरिष्टां पुष्टिं कृषीष्ट मम पुष्करविष्टरायाः ॥८॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

इष्टाविशिष्टमतयोऽपि यया दयार्द्र-: even those of exalted intent, by whose compassion-moist
दृष्ट्या त्रिविष्टपपदं सुलभं लभन्ते ।: glance the station of heaven becomes easily attained
दृष्टिः प्रहृष्टकमलोदरदीप्तिरिष्टां: may that glance, bright as a delighted lotus interior
पुष्टिं कृषीष्ट मम पुष्करविष्टरायाः ॥८॥: bestow desired nourishment upon me, O lotus-seated one

Compassion makes even heavenly attainment accessible, yet the devotee seeks nourishing fullness of being. True puṣṭi is the growth of consciousness into its own nature, fed by the glance of grace.

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Verse 9

दद्याद्दयानुपवनो द्रविणाम्बुधारां अस्मिन्नकिञ्चनविहङ्गशिशौ विषण्णे । दुष्कर्मघर्ममपनीय चिराय दूरं नारायणप्रणयिनी नयनाम्बुवाहः ॥९॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

दद्याद्दयानुपवनो द्रविणाम्बुधारां: may the breeze of compassion give a shower of wealth
अस्मिन्नकिञ्चनविहङ्गशिशौ विषण्णे ।: to this helpless, dejected fledgling among the poor
दुष्कर्मघर्ममपनीय चिराय दूरं: removing far away for long the heat of evil deeds
नारायणप्रणयिनी नयनाम्बुवाहः ॥९॥: O beloved of Nārāyaṇa, O cloud of eye-waters

The famous plea asks the rain-cloud eyes to cool the heat of karma. When the mind admits its helplessness, grace flows as naturally as rain, dissolving the burning of past action in the waters of devotion.

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Verse 10

गीर्देवतेति गरुडध्वजसुन्दरीति शाकम्भरीति शशिशेखरवल्लभेति । सृष्टिस्थितिप्रलयकेलिषु संस्थितायै तस्यै नमस्त्रिभुवनैकगुरोस्तरुण्यै ॥१०॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

गीर्देवतेति गरुडध्वजसुन्दरीति: as goddess of speech, as fair consort of Garuḍa-bannered Lord
शाकम्भरीति शशिशेखरवल्लभेति ।: as Śākambharī, as consort of the moon-crested Lord
सृष्टिस्थितिप्रलयकेलिषु संस्थितायै: to her established in the sport of creation, preservation, and dissolution
तस्यै नमस्त्रिभुवनैकगुरोस्तरुण्यै ॥१०॥: salutations to that youthful consort of the sole Guru of the three worlds

Many names converge in one power present through creation, preservation, and dissolution. The Goddess as Guru's consort points to śakti as the living teaching through which the world is known and transcended.

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Verse 11

श्रुत्यै नमोऽस्तु शुभकर्मफलप्रसूत्यै रत्यै नमोऽस्तु रमणीयगुणार्णवायै । शक्त्यै नमोऽस्तु शतपत्रनिकेतनायै पुष्ट्यै नमोऽस्तु पुरुषोत्तमवल्लभायै ॥११॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

श्रुत्यै नमोऽस्तु शुभकर्मफलप्रसूत्यै: salutations to her who gives birth to the fruit of good deeds called the Veda
रत्यै नमोऽस्तु रमणीयगुणार्णवायै ।: salutations to her who is an ocean of delightful qualities, Rati
शक्त्यै नमोऽस्तु शतपत्रनिकेतनायै: salutations to her whose abode is the hundred-petalled lotus, Śakti
पुष्ट्यै नमोऽस्तु पुरुषोत्तमवल्लभायै ॥११॥: salutations to her who is consort of Puruṣottama, Puṣṭi

She is praised as revelation, delight, power, nourishment, and Viṣṇu's beloved. These are not separate goddesses but aspects of the one śakti through which the Self is known as fullness.

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Verse 12

नमोऽस्तु नालीकनिभाननायै नमोऽस्तु दुग्धोदधिजन्मभूम्यै । नमोऽस्तु सोमामृतसोदरायै नमोऽस्तु नारायणवल्लभायै ॥१२॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

नमोऽस्तु नालीकनिभाननायै: salutations to her whose face is like the blue lotus
नमोऽस्तु दुग्धोदधिजन्मभूम्यै ।: salutations to her who is birthplace from the ocean of milk
नमोऽस्तु सोमामृतसोदरायै: salutations to her whose brother is the moon and nectar
नमोऽस्तु नारायणवल्लभायै ॥१२॥: salutations to her who is consort of Nārāyaṇa

Beauty, cosmic origin, and union with the Lord are one in Lakshmi. Birth from the milk-ocean symbolizes consciousness emerging from the undivided absolute yet remaining the Lord's own power.

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Verse 13

नमोऽस्तु हेमाम्बुजपीठिकायै नमोऽस्तु भूमण्डलनायिकायै । नमोऽस्तु देवादिदयापरायै नमोऽस्तु शार्ङ्गायुधवल्लभायै ॥१३॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

नमोऽस्तु हेमाम्बुजपीठिकायै: salutations to her whose seat is the golden lotus
नमोऽस्तु भूमण्डलनायिकायै ।: salutations to her who is sovereign of the earth-sphere
नमोऽस्तु देवादिदयापरायै: salutations to her who is supreme in mercy to the gods
नमोऽस्तु शार्ङ्गायुधवल्लभायै ॥१३॥: salutations to her who is consort of the bow-bearing Lord

Golden lotus, earthly sovereignty, and divine mercy describe the one Goddess who rules manifestation. Her favour extends even to the gods because she is the splendour of Brahman appearing as the world's order.

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Verse 14

नमोऽस्तु देव्यै भृगुनन्दनायै नमोऽस्तु विष्णोरुरसि स्थितायै । नमोऽस्तु लक्ष्म्यै कमलालयायै नमोऽस्तु दामोदरवल्लभायै ॥१४॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

नमोऽस्तु देव्यै भृगुनन्दनायै: salutations to the Goddess, daughter of Bhṛgu's lineage
नमोऽस्तु विष्णोरुरसि स्थितायै ।: salutations to her who dwells on Viṣṇu's chest
नमोऽस्तु लक्ष्म्यै कमलालयायै: salutations to Lakshmi, abode of the lotus
नमोऽस्तु दामोदरवल्लभायै ॥१४॥: salutations to her who is consort of Dāmodara

Lineage, lotus-home, and place on Viṣṇu's heart unite in one salutation. To honor her on the Lord's chest is to see the non-duality of being and its manifesting glory.

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Verse 15

नमोऽस्तु कान्त्यै कमलेक्षणायै नमोऽस्तु भूत्यै भुवनप्रसूत्यै । नमोऽस्तु देवादिभिरर्चितायै नमोऽस्तु नन्दात्मजवल्लभायै ॥१५॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

नमोऽस्तु कान्त्यै कमलेक्षणायै: salutations to her who is splendour, lotus-eyed
नमोऽस्तु भूत्यै भुवनप्रसूत्यै ।: salutations to her who is prosperity, mother of worlds
नमोऽस्तु देवादिभिरर्चितायै: salutations to her worshipped by the gods and others
नमोऽस्तु नन्दात्मजवल्लभायै ॥१५॥: salutations to her who is consort of Nanda's son

Radiance, world-generativity, and worship by the gods gather in one litany. She who mothers the worlds is the creative aspect of consciousness itself, not a power apart from the Self.

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Verse 16

सम्पत्कराणि सकलेन्द्रियनन्दनानि साम्राज्यदानविभवानि सरोरुहाक्षि । त्वद्वन्दनानि दुरिताहरणोद्यतानि मामेव मातरनिशं कलयन्तु मान्ये ॥१६॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

सम्पत्कराणि सकलेन्द्रियनन्दनानि: O lotus-eyed one, may your salutations, givers of wealth
साम्राज्यदानविभवानि सरोरुहाक्षि ।: delighters of all senses, bestowers of imperial glory
त्वद्वन्दनानि दुरिताहरणोद्यतानि: ready to remove sins
मामेव मातरनिशं कलयन्तु मान्ये ॥१६॥: O honoured mother, reckon them upon me alone, continually

The poet asks that salutation itself become the discipline that removes harm and matures prosperity. When worship unites word, sense, and intent, every act of praise turns the mind toward the Self as the source of wealth.

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Verse 17

यत्कटाक्षसमुपासनाविधिः सेवकस्य सकलार्थसम्पदः । सन्तनोति वचनाङ्गमानसैस्त्वां मुरारिहृदयेश्वरीं भजे ॥१७॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

यत्कटाक्षसमुपासनाविधिः सेवकस्य सकलार्थसम्पदः ।: the method of worship through whose sidelong glance a servant's complete wealth of aims increases
सन्तनोति वचनाङ्गमानसैस्त्वां: I worship you with speech, body, and mind
मुरारिहृदयेश्वरीं भजे ॥१७॥: O sovereign of Murāri's heart

Wholehearted worship through glance, word, and mind integrates the devotee's being. The Goddess as sovereign of Vishnu's heart is the inward ruler in whom all puruṣārthas find their fulfilment.

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Verse 18

सरसिजनिलये सरोजहस्ते धवलतमांशुकगन्धमाल्यशोभे । भगवति हरिवल्लभे मनोज्ञे त्रिभुवनभूतिकरि प्रसीदमह्यम् ॥१८॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

सरसिजनिलये सरोजहस्ते: O lotus-dweller, lotus-handed
धवलतमांशुकगन्धमाल्यशोभे ।: adorned with white garment, fragrance, and garland
भगवति हरिवल्लभे मनोज्ञे: O blessed one, charming consort of Hari
त्रिभुवनभूतिकरि प्रसीदमह्यम् ॥१८॥: giver of welfare to the three worlds, be gracious to me

The direct prayer addresses Lakshmi as beauty and world-welfare in one form. Grace from the divine feminine is the recognition that the Self alone is the prosperity sought in all three worlds.

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Verse 19

दिग्घस्तिभिः कनककुम्भमुखावसृष्ट- स्वर्वाहिनीविमलचारुजलाप्लुताङ्गीम् । प्रातर्नमामि जगतां जननीमशेष- लोकाधिनाथगृहिणीममृताब्धिपुत्रीम् ॥१९॥

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Word breakdown

दिग्घस्तिभिः कनककुम्भमुखावसृष्ट-: with limbs bathed by the pure, lovely waters of the heavenly river poured from golden pitchers by the elephants of the quarters
स्वर्वाहिनीविमलचारुजलाप्लुताङ्गीम् ।: I salute at dawn the mother of the worlds
प्रातर्नमामि जगतां जननीमशेष-: consort of the Lord of all worlds
लोकाधिनाथगृहिणीममृताब्धिपुत्रीम् ॥१९॥: daughter of the ocean of nectar

Morning abhiṣeka by the directional elephants images the cosmos honouring its source. She who is mother, consort, and ocean-born daughter is the one consciousness appearing as the world's sustaining grace.

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Verse 20

कमले कमलाक्षवल्लभे त्वं करुणापूरतरङ्गितैरपाङ्गैः । अवलोकय मामकिञ्चनानां प्रथमं पात्रमकृतिमं दयायाः ॥२०॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

कमले कमलाक्षवल्लभे त्वं: O lotus, consort of the lotus-eyed Lord
करुणापूरतरङ्गितैरपाङ्गैः ।: with sidelong glances rippling with a flood of compassion
अवलोकय मामकिञ्चनानां: look upon me among the destitute
प्रथमं पात्रमकृतिमं दयायाः ॥२०॥: the first, unfeigned vessel of your mercy

Poverty offered without pretence becomes the fit vessel for compassion. The destitute devotee discovers that emptiness of ego is precisely what opens the heart to the glance of the Self.

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Verse 21

देवि प्रसीद जगदीश्वरि लोकमातः कल्याणगात्रि कमलेक्षणजीवनाथे । दारिद्र्यभीतिहृदयं शरणागतं मां आलोकय प्रतिदिनं सदयैरपाङ्गैः ॥२१॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

देवि प्रसीद जगदीश्वरि लोकमातः: O Goddess, be gracious, O sovereign of the world, mother of the people
कल्याणगात्रि कमलेक्षणजीवनाथे ।: O auspicious-bodied one, life-lord of the lotus-eyed
दारिद्र्यभीतिहृदयं शरणागतं मां: me whose heart is afflicted by poverty and fear, who have come for refuge
आलोकय प्रतिदिनं सदयैरपाङ्गैः ॥२१॥: look upon me daily with compassionate sidelong glances

The closing prayer seeks a daily compassionate gaze upon a heart troubled by lack and fear. Refuge in the world-mother is the turning of attention to the Self that was never truly poor or afraid.

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