Kanakadhara Stotram — Lyrics with Meaning
Kanakadhara Stotram was composed by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Goddess Lakshmi. Tradition says a poor woman gave the young Shankar her only amla fruit as alms; moved by her poverty he sang this hymn, and Lakshmi showered golden amlas. It is popularly recited on Fridays and Diwali.
Angam hareh pulaka-bhushanam ashrayanti bhringanganeva mukulabharanam tamalam | angikritakhila-vibhutir apanga-lila mangalyadastu mama mangala-devatayah ||1||
Mugdha muhur vidadhati vadane murareh prema-trapa-pranihitani gatagatani | mala drishor madhukariva mahotpale ya sa me shriyam dishatu sagara-sambhavayah ||2||
Vishvamarendra-pada-vibhrama-dana-daksham ananda-hetur adhikam muravidvisho'pi | ishan nishidatu mayi kshanam ikshanardham indivarodara-sahodaram indirayah ||3||
Amilitaksham adhigamya muda mukundam ananda-kandam animesham ananga-tantram | akekara-sthita-kaninika-pakshma-netram bhutyai bhaven mama bhujanga-shayanganayah ||4||
Bahvantare madhujitah shrita-kaustubhe ya haravaliva harinilamayi vibhati | kamaprada bhagavato'pi kataksha-mala kalyanam avahatu me kamalalayayah ||5||
Kalambudali-lalitorasi kaitabhareh dharadhare sphurati ya tadid-anganeva | matuh samasta-jagatam mahaniya-murtir bhadrani me dishatu bhargava-nandanayah ||6||
Praptam padam prathamatah kila yat-prabhavan mangalyabhaji madhumathini manmathena | mayyapatet tad iha mantharam ikshanardham mandalasam cha makaralaya-kanyakayah ||7||
Dadyad dayanupavano dravinambu-dharam asminn akinchana-vihanga-shishau vishanne | dushkarma-gharmam apaniya chiraya duram narayana-pranayini-nayanambuvahah ||8||
Ishta vishishta-matayo'pi yaya dayardra- drishtya trivishtapa-padam sulabham labhante | drishtih prahrishta-kamalodara-diptir ishtam pushtim krishishta mama pushkara-vishtarayah ||9||
Gir-devateti garuda-dhvaja-sundariti shakambhariti shashi-shekhara-vallabheti | srishti-sthiti-pralaya-kelishu samsthitayai tasyai namas tribhuvanaika-guros tarunyai ||10||
Shrutyai namo'stu shubha-karma-phala-prasutyai ratyai namo'stu ramaniya-gunarnavayai | shaktyai namo'stu shatapatra-niketanayai pushtyai namo'stu purushottama-vallabhayai ||11||
Namo'stu nalika-nibhananayai namo'stu dugdhodadhi-janma-bhutyai | namo'stu somamrita-sodarayai namo'stu narayana-vallabhayai ||12||
Namo'stu hemambuja-pithikayai namo'stu bhumandala-nayikayai | namo'stu devadi-dayaparayai namo'stu sharngayudha-vallabhayai ||13||
Namo'stu devyai bhrigu-nandanayai namo'stu vishnor urasi sthitayai | namo'stu lakshmyai kamalalayayai namo'stu damodara-vallabhayai ||14||
Namo'stu kantyai kamalekshanayai namo'stu bhutyai bhuvana-prasutyai | namo'stu devadibhir architayai namo'stu nandatmaja-vallabhayai ||15||
Sampatkarani sakalendriya-nandanani samrajya-dana-vibhavani saroruhakshi | tvad-vandanani duritaharanodyatani mam eva mataranisham kalayantu manye ||16||
Yat-kataksha-samupasana-vidhih sevakasya sakalartha-sampadah | santanoti vachananga-manasais tvam murari-hridayeshvarim bhaje ||17||
Sarasija-nilaye saroja-haste dhavalatamamshuka-gandha-malya-shobhe | bhagavati hari-vallabhe manojne tribhuvana-bhutikari prasida mahyam ||18||
Dig-ghastibhih kanaka-kumbha-mukhavasrishta- svarvahini-vimala-charu-jala-plutangim | pratar namami jagatam jananim ashesha- lokadhinatha-grihinim amritabdhi-putrim ||19||
Kamale kamalaksha-vallabhe tvam karuna-pura-tarangitair apangaih | avalokaya mam akinchananam prathamam patram akritrimam dayayah ||20||
Stuvanti ye stutibhir amubhir anvaham trayimayim tribhuvana-mataram ramam | gunadhika gurutara-bhagya-bhagino bhavanti te bhuvi budha-bhavitashayah ||21||
Meaning
Verse 1
Angam hareh pulaka-bhushanam ashrayanti bhringanganeva mukulabharanam tamalam | angikritakhila-vibhutir apanga-lila mangalyadastu mama mangala-devatayah ||1||
As a female bee rests on a tamal tree adorned with buds, Lakshmi's sidelong glance rests on Hari's body, thrilled with joy. May that glance of the goddess of all auspiciousness, which holds every splendour, bring me good fortune.
Verse 2
Mugdha muhur vidadhati vadane murareh prema-trapa-pranihitani gatagatani | mala drishor madhukariva mahotpale ya sa me shriyam dishatu sagara-sambhavayah ||2||
Full of love and shyness, Lakshmi's gaze goes again and again to Hari's face and returns, like a bee hovering over a great blue lotus. May that gaze of the ocean-born goddess grant me prosperity.
Verse 3
Vishvamarendra-pada-vibhrama-dana-daksham ananda-hetur adhikam muravidvisho'pi | ishan nishidatu mayi kshanam ikshanardham indivarodara-sahodaram indirayah ||3||
That glance which can grant even the throne of Indra and gives great joy to Hari himself — may Indira's half-glance, like the heart of a blue lotus, rest on me a little, even for a moment.
Verse 4
Amilitaksham adhigamya muda mukundam ananda-kandam animesham ananga-tantram | akekara-sthita-kaninika-pakshma-netram bhutyai bhaven mama bhujanga-shayanganayah ||4||
Gazing with joy and without blinking at Mukund, the root of bliss, whose eyes are half-closed in love — may that sideways glance of the consort of the one who rests on the serpent bring me prosperity.
Verse 5
Bahvantare madhujitah shrita-kaustubhe ya haravaliva harinilamayi vibhati | kamaprada bhagavato'pi kataksha-mala kalyanam avahatu me kamalalayayah ||5||
That string of glances which shines like a sapphire necklace on the Kaustubha-adorned chest of Vishnu, and fulfils even the Lord's wishes — may it bring me well-being, O lotus-dwelling Lakshmi.
Verse 6
Kalambudali-lalitorasi kaitabhareh dharadhare sphurati ya tadid-anganeva | matuh samasta-jagatam mahaniya-murtir bhadrani me dishatu bhargava-nandanayah ||6||
She who flashes like lightning on Vishnu's chest, lovely as a dark rain cloud — may that adorable mother of all the worlds, daughter of Bhrigu, grant me all that is good.
Verse 7
Praptam padam prathamatah kila yat-prabhavan mangalyabhaji madhumathini manmathena | mayyapatet tad iha mantharam ikshanardham mandalasam cha makaralaya-kanyakayah ||7||
By the power of that glance, the god of love first found a place in the heart of Madhusudan. May that slow, languid half-glance of the ocean's daughter fall on me here.
Verse 8
Dadyad dayanupavano dravinambu-dharam asminn akinchana-vihanga-shishau vishanne | dushkarma-gharmam apaniya chiraya duram narayana-pranayini-nayanambuvahah ||8||
The eyes of Narayan's beloved are like rain clouds driven by the breeze of compassion. Driving the heat of my past wrongs far away for good, may they pour a stream of wealth on me, a sad and penniless young bird.
Verse 9
Ishta vishishta-matayo'pi yaya dayardra- drishtya trivishtapa-padam sulabham labhante | drishtih prahrishta-kamalodara-diptir ishtam pushtim krishishta mama pushkara-vishtarayah ||9||
By her glance, moist with kindness, the wise easily attain even heaven. May that glance of the lotus-seated goddess, bright as the heart of a blooming lotus, give me the abundance I wish for.
Verse 10
Gir-devateti garuda-dhvaja-sundariti shakambhariti shashi-shekhara-vallabheti | srishti-sthiti-pralaya-kelishu samsthitayai tasyai namas tribhuvanaika-guros tarunyai ||10||
She who, in the play of creation, preservation and dissolution, appears as Saraswati, as Lakshmi the beauty of Vishnu, as Shakambhari and as Shiv's beloved Parvati — salutations to that youthful consort of the one teacher of the three worlds.
Verse 11
Shrutyai namo'stu shubha-karma-phala-prasutyai ratyai namo'stu ramaniya-gunarnavayai | shaktyai namo'stu shatapatra-niketanayai pushtyai namo'stu purushottama-vallabhayai ||11||
Salutations to her who is the Veda, giver of the fruit of good deeds; to her who is delight, an ocean of lovely virtues. Salutations to her who is power, dwelling in the lotus; to her who is nourishment, beloved of Purushottam.
Verse 12
Namo'stu nalika-nibhananayai namo'stu dugdhodadhi-janma-bhutyai | namo'stu somamrita-sodarayai namo'stu narayana-vallabhayai ||12||
Salutations to her whose face is like a lotus; to the wealth born of the milk ocean. Salutations to the sister of the moon and of nectar; to the beloved of Narayan.
Verse 13
Namo'stu hemambuja-pithikayai namo'stu bhumandala-nayikayai | namo'stu devadi-dayaparayai namo'stu sharngayudha-vallabhayai ||13||
Salutations to her seated on a golden lotus; to the queen of the whole earth. Salutations to her who is kind to the gods and all; to the beloved of Vishnu who bears the Sharnga bow.
Verse 14
Namo'stu devyai bhrigu-nandanayai namo'stu vishnor urasi sthitayai | namo'stu lakshmyai kamalalayayai namo'stu damodara-vallabhayai ||14||
Salutations to the goddess, daughter of Bhrigu; to her who lives on Vishnu's chest. Salutations to Lakshmi who dwells in the lotus; to the beloved of Damodar.
Verse 15
Namo'stu kantyai kamalekshanayai namo'stu bhutyai bhuvana-prasutyai | namo'stu devadibhir architayai namo'stu nandatmaja-vallabhayai ||15||
Salutations to her who is radiance, with lotus eyes; to the prosperity that gives birth to the worlds. Salutations to her worshipped by the gods; to the beloved of Nanda's son, Krishna.
Verse 16
Sampatkarani sakalendriya-nandanani samrajya-dana-vibhavani saroruhakshi | tvad-vandanani duritaharanodyatani mam eva mataranisham kalayantu manye ||16||
O lotus-eyed, honoured Mother! Worship of you brings prosperity, delights every sense, can grant even a kingdom and is ready to remove all wrongs — may such worship of you always stay with me.
Verse 17
Yat-kataksha-samupasana-vidhih sevakasya sakalartha-sampadah | santanoti vachananga-manasais tvam murari-hridayeshvarim bhaje ||17||
Worshipping your gracious glance brings every kind of wealth to your servant. I worship you, queen of Murari's heart, with my words, body and mind.
Verse 18
Sarasija-nilaye saroja-haste dhavalatamamshuka-gandha-malya-shobhe | bhagavati hari-vallabhe manojne tribhuvana-bhutikari prasida mahyam ||18||
O goddess dwelling in the lotus, lotus in hand, adorned with the whitest garments, sandal and garlands, beloved of Hari, charming one! Giver of prosperity to the three worlds, be gracious to me.
Verse 19
Dig-ghastibhih kanaka-kumbha-mukhavasrishta- svarvahini-vimala-charu-jala-plutangim | pratar namami jagatam jananim ashesha- lokadhinatha-grihinim amritabdhi-putrim ||19||
She is bathed by the elephants of the directions with pure, lovely water of the heavenly Ganga poured from golden pots. Each morning I bow to her — mother of the worlds, wife of the lord of all worlds, daughter of the ocean of nectar.
Verse 20
Kamale kamalaksha-vallabhe tvam karuna-pura-tarangitair apangaih | avalokaya mam akinchananam prathamam patram akritrimam dayayah ||20||
O Kamala, beloved of lotus-eyed Vishnu! Look at me with your sidelong glances overflowing with waves of compassion — I am first among the poor and a true vessel for your mercy.
Verse 21
Stuvanti ye stutibhir amubhir anvaham trayimayim tribhuvana-mataram ramam | gunadhika gurutara-bhagya-bhagino bhavanti te bhuvi budha-bhavitashayah ||21||
Those who praise Rama (Lakshmi), the embodiment of the Vedas and mother of the three worlds, every day with these hymns, become rich in virtue, very fortunate and respected by the wise on this earth — so the hymn says.
Meanings written in simple language by the KathaMantra team.
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Frequently asked questions
When should Kanakadhara Stotram be recited?
Fridays, Diwali, Dhanteras, Akshaya Tritiya and full moon days are considered especially good. Many devotees recite it daily during morning or evening Lakshmi worship.
How should I recite Kanakadhara Stotram?
After bathing, light a ghee lamp before Lakshmi, offer flowers and recite the whole hymn calmly. Traditionally it is read once or three times a day; keep compassion for others in your heart, as its story teaches.
Who wrote Kanakadhara Stotram?
It was composed by Adi Shankaracharya. Kanakadhara means stream of gold — the story says golden amlas rained on a poor Brahmin family's home after this hymn. Some editions differ slightly in the number and order of verses.