Bhaktamara Stotra Meaning — Line by Line

भक्तामर स्तोत्र

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Bhaktamara Stotra with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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Verse 1. Bhaktamara-praṇata-mauli-maṇi-prabhāṇā-
Verse 2. Yaḥ saṁstutaḥ sakala-vāṅmaya-tattva-bodhā-
Verse 3. Buddhyā vināpi vibudhārchita-pāda-pīṭha!
Verse 4. Vaktuṁ guṇān guṇa-samudra! śaśāṅka-kāntān
Verse 5. So'haṁ tathāpi tava bhakti-vaśānmunīśa!
Verse 6. Oṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ ṛṣabhadevāya namaḥ॥

Verse 1#

भक्तामर-प्रणत-मौलि-मणि-प्रभाणा- मुद्योतकं दलित-पाप-तमो-वितानम्। सम्यक् प्रणम्य जिन-पाद-युगं युगादा- वालम्बनं भव-जले पततां जनानाम्॥

Bhaktamara-praṇata-mauli-maṇi-prabhāṇā- mudyotakaṁ dalita-pāpa-tamo-vitānam। Samyak praṇamya jina-pāda-yugaṁ yugādā- vālambanaṁ bhava-jale patatāṁ janānām॥

MeaningHaving rightly bowed to the pair of feet of the Jina — feet that further brighten the lustre of the crest-jewels upon the crowns of the prostrating gods, and that destroy the dense darkness of sin — feet that are the very support of beings sinking in the ocean of worldly existence since the dawn of the age:

Verse 2#

यः संस्तुतः सकल-वाङ्मय-तत्त्व-बोधा- दुद्भूत-बुद्धि-पटुभिः सुर-लोक-नाथैः। स्तोत्रैर्जगत्-त्रितय-चित्त-हरैरुदारैः स्तोष्ये किलाहमपि तं प्रथमं जिनेन्द्रम्॥

Yaḥ saṁstutaḥ sakala-vāṅmaya-tattva-bodhā- dudbhūta-buddhi-paṭubhiḥ sura-loka-nāthaiḥ। Stotrairjagat-tritaya-chitta-harairudāraiḥ stoṣye kilāhamapi taṁ prathamaṁ jinendram॥

MeaningThat first Lord of the Jinas, who has been hymned by the lords of heaven — masters of eloquence sharpened by knowledge of all scripture, in noble hymns that captivate the minds of the three worlds — Him, that First Tirthankara, even I shall now venture to praise.

Verse 3#

बुद्ध्या विनापि विबुधार्चित-पाद-पीठ! स्तोतुं समुद्यत-मतिर्विगत-त्रपोऽहम्। बालं विहाय जल-संस्थित-मिन्दु-बिम्ब- मन्यः क इच्छति जनः सहसा ग्रहीतुम्॥

Buddhyā vināpi vibudhārchita-pāda-pīṭha! stotuṁ samudyata-matirvigata-trapo'ham। Bālaṁ vihāya jala-saṁsthita-mindu-bimba- manyaḥ ka ichchhati janaḥ sahasā grahītum॥

MeaningO Lord whose footstool is worshipped by the wise! Though wanting in true wisdom, I, casting off shame, have set my mind to praise You. For who but a child would rashly reach out to seize the disc of the moon reflected in water?

Verse 4#

वक्तुं गुणान् गुण-समुद्र! शशाङ्क-कान्तान् कस्ते क्षमः सुर-गुरु-प्रतिमोऽपि बुद्ध्या। कल्पान्त-काल-पवनोद्धत-नक्र-चक्रं को वा तरीतुमलमम्बु-निधिं भुजाभ्याम्॥

Vaktuṁ guṇān guṇa-samudra! śaśāṅka-kāntān kaste kṣamaḥ sura-guru-pratimo'pi buddhyā। Kalpānta-kāla-pavanoddhata-nakra-chakraṁ ko vā tarītumalamambu-nidhiṁ bhujābhyām॥

MeaningO Ocean of virtues! Who is able to recount your moon-bright qualities — even one with the intellect of Brihaspati, preceptor of the gods? Who can swim across the ocean, churning with crocodiles stirred up by the storm-winds of the age's end, with his two arms alone?

Verse 5#

सोऽहं तथापि तव भक्ति-वशान्मुनीश! कर्तुं स्तवं विगत-शक्तिरपि प्रवृत्तः। प्रीत्यात्म-वीर्यमविचार्य मृगो मृगेन्द्रं नाभ्येति किं निज-शिशोः परिपालनार्थम्॥

So'haṁ tathāpi tava bhakti-vaśānmunīśa! kartuṁ stavaṁ vigata-śaktirapi pravṛttaḥ। Prītyātma-vīryamavichārya mṛgo mṛgendraṁ nābhyeti kiṁ nija-śiśoḥ paripālanārtham॥

MeaningYet even so, O Lord of sages, though devoid of power, I am moved by devotion to compose your praise. For out of love, not measuring its own strength, does not even a doe turn to face the lion to protect her little fawn?

Verse 6#

ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं ऋषभदेवाय नमः॥

Oṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ ṛṣabhadevāya namaḥ॥

MeaningOm Hrim Shrim — salutations to Lord Rishabhadeva.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

भक्तामर

bhakta-amara

the devoted celestial beings (gods who are devotees)

प्रणत

praṇata

bowed down, prostrated

मौलि-मणि-प्रभाणाम्

mauli-maṇi-prabhāṇām

of the radiance of the crest-jewels (on their crowns)

उद्योतकम्

udyotakam

that which illumines / brightens further

दलित-पाप-तमो-वितानम्

dalita-pāpa-tamo-vitānam

which destroys the spreading darkness of sin

सम्यक् प्रणम्य

samyak praṇamya

having bowed down rightly and properly

जिन-पाद-युगम्

jina-pāda-yugam

the pair of feet of the Jina (Tirthankara)

युगादौ

yugādau

at the beginning of the age / of the era

आलम्बनम्

ālambanam

the support, the refuge

भव-जले पतताम्

bhava-jale patatām

for those falling into the ocean of worldly existence

जनानाम्

janānām

of the people, of beings

यः संस्तुतः

yaḥ saṁstutaḥ

He who has been praised / well-eulogized

सुर-लोक-नाथैः

sura-loka-nāthaiḥ

by the lords of the heavenly realms (Indra and the gods)

प्रथमं जिनेन्द्रम्

prathamaṁ jinendram

the first Jinendra (Rishabhadeva / Adinatha, the first Tirthankara)

स्तोष्ये

stoṣye

I shall praise / I shall eulogize

विगत-त्रपः अहम्

vigata-trapaḥ aham

I, having set aside shyness / shame

इन्दु-बिम्बम्

indu-bimbam

the reflected disc of the moon

गुण-समुद्र

guṇa-samudra

O ocean of virtues (an epithet of the Tirthankara)

मृगो मृगेन्द्रम्

mṛgo mṛgendram

a deer towards a lion (king of beasts)

निज-शिशोः परिपालनार्थम्

nija-śiśoḥ paripālanārtham

for the sake of protecting its own young one

ऋषभदेवाय नमः

ṛṣabhadevāya namaḥ

salutations to Lord Rishabhadeva (Adinatha)

Origin & History

Source: Bhaktamara Stotra (Jain devotional literature)

Author: Acharya Manatunga

Period: c. 6th–7th century CE

Acharya Manatunga, a great Jain monk, composed the Bhaktamara Stotra as a paean to Adinatha, the first Tirthankara. According to the most popular legend, a king imprisoned him in chains to challenge the power of his devotion. Manatunga began reciting verses in praise of the Jina, and with the completion of each verse a fetter snapped, until he stepped forth wholly unbound. The hymn has since been cherished as a source of protection and liberation across both Shvetambara and Digambara traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who composed the Bhaktamara Stotra and to whom is it addressed?▼

It was composed by Acharya Manatunga (around the 6th–7th century CE) in praise of Rishabhanatha, also called Adinatha — the first of the twenty-four Tirthankaras in Jainism.

Why is it called 'Bhaktamara'?▼

The hymn opens with the word 'Bhaktamara', meaning the devoted immortals — the gods (devas) who bow at the Tirthankara's feet. By tradition, hymns are often named after their first word.

What is the famous story behind this stotra?▼

Tradition relates that King Bhoja (or in some accounts another king) had Manatunga bound in chains to test the power of Jain faith. As Manatunga recited each verse of the Bhaktamara, one lock or chain fell away, until he was completely freed — showing the stotra's power to break bondage.

How many verses are in the complete Bhaktamara Stotra?▼

The Shvetambara tradition counts 44 verses and the Digambara tradition 48. This entry presents the celebrated opening verses; the full text is widely recited in both traditions.

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