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Ganadhipa Stotram (Ganadhipati Ashtakam) Meaning — Line by Line

गणाधिप स्तोत्रम् (गणाधिपताष्टकम्)

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Ganadhipa Stotram (Ganadhipati Ashtakam) with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. śriyam anapāyinīṁ pradiśatu śrita-kalpataruḥ
  2. Verse 2. dvirada-mukho dhunotu duritāni duranta-mada-
  3. Verse 3. gaja-vadano dhinotu dhiyam ādhi-payodhi-vala-
  4. Verse 4. atula-balo'ti-velam aghavan-mati-darpa-hara-
  5. Verse 5. haratu vipattim eṣa bhagavān sakalāpad-udāra-
  6. Verse 6. jagati vibhūtayaḥ sakala-siddhi-vidhāyi-gaṇā-
  7. Verse 7. paṭhatu gaṇādhipāṣṭakam idaṁ su-jano'nudinaṁ
Verse 1#

śriyam anapāyinīṁ pradiśatu śrita-kalpataruḥ

श्रियमनपायिनीं प्रदिशतु श्रितकल्पतरुः शिवतनयः शिरोविधृतशीतमयूखशिशुः सकलसुरासुरादिशरणीकरणीयपदः करटिमुखः करोतु करुणाजलधिः कुशलम् ॥१॥

śriyam anapāyinīṁ pradiśatu śrita-kalpataruḥ śiva-tanayaḥ śiro-vidhṛta-śīta-mayūkha-śiśuḥ । sakala-surāsurādi-śaraṇī-karaṇīya-padaḥ karaṭi-mukhaḥ karotu karuṇā-jaladhiḥ kuśalam ॥1॥

MeaningMay the son of Shiva grant unfailing prosperity — He who is a wish-fulfilling tree to those who take refuge in Him, who bears the cool-rayed infant moon upon His head, whose feet are worthy of being the refuge of all gods and demons; may the elephant-faced One, an ocean of compassion, bestow well-being.

Verse 2#

dvirada-mukho dhunotu duritāni duranta-mada-

द्विरदमुखो धुनोतु दुरितानि दुरन्तमद- त्रिदशविरोधियूथकुमुदाकरतिग्मकरः कलुषमपाकरोतु कृपया कलभेन्द्रमुखः कुलगिरिनन्दिनीकुतुकदोहनसंहननः ॥२॥

dvirada-mukho dhunotu duritāni duranta-mada- tridaśa-virodhi-yūtha-kumudākara-tigma-karaḥ । kaluṣam apākarotu kṛpayā kalabhendra-mukhaḥ kula-giri-nandinī-kutuka-dohana-saṁhananaḥ ॥2॥

MeaningMay the elephant-faced One shake away our sins — He who is like the fierce sun to the night-lotus-cluster of the rutting enemies of the gods; may He of the young-elephant's face, born of the embrace of the daughter of the great mountain (Parvati), in His compassion wash away our impurity.

Verse 3#

gaja-vadano dhinotu dhiyam ādhi-payodhi-vala-

गजवदनो धिनोतु धियमाधिपयोधिवल- त्सुजनमनःप्लवायितपदाम्बुरुहोऽविरतम् दिशतु शतक्रतुप्रभृतिनिर्जरतर्जनकृ- द्दितिजचमूचमूरुमृगराडिभराजमुखः ॥३॥

gaja-vadano dhinotu dhiyam ādhi-payodhi-vala- t su-jana-manaḥ-plavāyita-padāmburuho'viratam । diśatu śata-kratu-prabhṛti-nirjara-tarjana-kṛ- d ditija-chamū-chamūru-mṛga-rāḍ ibha-rāja-mukhaḥ ॥3॥

MeaningMay the elephant-faced One ever gladden our intellect — He whose lotus-feet float like a raft for the minds of the good across the ocean of anxiety; may He whose face is that of the king of elephants, the terror of the demon hordes and the rebuker of Indra's foes, grant us our desire.

Verse 4#

atula-balo'ti-velam aghavan-mati-darpa-hara-

अतुलबलोऽतिवेलमघवन्मतिदर्पहर- स्फुरदहितापकारिमहिमा वपुषीढविधुः निजरदशूलपाशनवशालिशिरोरिगदा- कुवलयमातुलुङ्गकमलेक्षुशरासकरः ॥४॥

atula-balo'ti-velam aghavan-mati-darpa-hara- sphurad-ahitāpakāri-mahimā vapuṣīḍha-vidhuḥ । nija-rada-śūla-pāśa-nava-śāli-śiro'ri-gadā- kuvalaya-mātuluṅga-kamalekṣu-śarāsa-karaḥ ॥4॥

MeaningHe of incomparable strength, who utterly humbles the pride of the wicked, whose majesty shines forth against all who do harm, whose body outshines the moon — bearing in His hands His own tusk, the trident, the noose, the fresh sprout of grain, the severed head of the foe, the mace, the blue lotus, the citron, the lotus and the sugar-cane bow.

Verse 5#

haratu vipattim eṣa bhagavān sakalāpad-udāra-

हरतु विपत्तिमेष भगवान् सकलापदुदार- श्रवणसुधाधुनीमुदितमानसकैरवकः रचयतु संपदः सपदि देवशिखामणिर- प्यनुदिनमुन्नतिं वितनुतां वरकुञ्जरवक्त्रः ॥५॥

haratu vipattim eṣa bhagavān sakalāpad-udāra- śravaṇa-sudhā-dhunī-mudita-mānasa-kairavakaḥ । rachayatu saṁpadaḥ sapadi deva-śikhā-maṇir- apy anu-dinam unnatiṁ vitanutāṁ vara-kuñjara-vaktraḥ ॥5॥

MeaningMay this Lord remove all adversity — He the noble One in every calamity, whose mind blossoms like a night-lily at the nectar-stream of His devotees' praise; may this crest-jewel of the gods, the One of the noble elephant-face, swiftly fashion riches and day by day increase our prosperity.

Verse 6#

jagati vibhūtayaḥ sakala-siddhi-vidhāyi-gaṇā-

जगति विभूतयः सकलसिद्धिविधायि-गणा- धिपपदपङ्कजस्मरणमात्रत एव नृणाम् प्रभवति यस्य तस्य परमेश्वरमेकमजं शरणमुपास्महे जगति सर्वहितैकपरम् ॥६॥

jagati vibhūtayaḥ sakala-siddhi-vidhāyi-gaṇā- dhipa-pada-paṅkaja-smaraṇa-mātrata eva nṛṇām । prabhavati yasya tasya parameśvaram ekam ajaṁ śaraṇam upāsmahe jagati sarva-hitaika-param ॥6॥

MeaningFor that man, by the mere remembrance of the lotus-feet of Ganadhipa — the bestower of every accomplishment — all glories in the world arise; Him, the one unborn Supreme Lord, solely intent on the good of all, do we worship as our refuge in this world.

Verse 7#

paṭhatu gaṇādhipāṣṭakam idaṁ su-jano'nudinaṁ

पठतु गणाधिपाष्टकमिदं सुजनोऽनुदिनं कठिनशुचाकुठावलिकठोरकुठारवरम् विमतपराभवोद्भटनिदाघनवीनघनं विमलवचोविलासकमलाकरबालरविम् ॥७॥

paṭhatu gaṇādhipāṣṭakam idaṁ su-jano'nudinaṁ kaṭhina-śuchā-kuṭhāvali-kaṭhora-kuṭhāra-varam । vimata-parābhavod-bhaṭa-nidāgha-navīna-ghanaṁ vimala-vacho-vilāsa-kamalākara-bāla-ravim ॥7॥

MeaningLet the good person recite daily this Ganadhipa Ashtakam — a sharp axe to the dense thicket of hard sorrow, a fresh rain-cloud to the fierce summer-heat that is the defeat of foes, and an infant sun to the lotus-pond that is the play of pure speech.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

श्रियम् अनपायिनीम्
śriyam anapāyinīm
Unfailing, never-departing prosperity (Lakshmi)
श्रितकल्पतरुः
śrita-kalpataruḥ
The wish-fulfilling tree for those who take refuge in Him
शिवतनयः
śiva-tanayaḥ
The son of Shiva
शिरोविधृतशीतमयूखशिशुः
śiro-vidhṛta-śīta-mayūkha-śiśuḥ
Bearing the infant (crescent) moon of cool rays upon His head
करटिमुखः
karaṭi-mukhaḥ
The elephant-faced one
करुणाजलधिः
karuṇā-jaladhiḥ
An ocean of compassion
करोतु कुशलम्
karotu kuśalam
May He grant well-being / auspiciousness
द्विरदमुखः
dvirada-mukhaḥ
The two-tusked (elephant) faced one
धुनोतु दुरितानि
dhunotu duritāni
May He shake off / destroy (our) sins
कलभेन्द्रमुखः
kalabhendra-mukhaḥ
Faced like the lord of young elephants
कुलगिरिनन्दिनी
kula-giri-nandinī
The daughter of the great mountain (Parvati, daughter of Himavan)
गजवदनः
gaja-vadanaḥ
The elephant-faced one
धिनोतु धियम्
dhinotu dhiyam
May He gladden and strengthen our intellect
अतुलबलः
atula-balaḥ
Of incomparable strength
मतिदर्पहरः
mati-darpa-haraḥ
The destroyer of (the demons') pride and arrogance
हरतु विपत्तिम्
haratu vipattim
May He remove (our) calamity / misfortune
रचयतु संपदः
rachayatu saṁpadaḥ
May He bring about prosperity / riches
गणाधिपपदपङ्कजस्मरणमात्रतः
gaṇādhipa-pada-paṅkaja-smaraṇa-mātrataḥ
By the mere remembrance of the lotus-feet of Ganadhipa
शरणम् उपास्महे
śaraṇam upāsmahe
We worship and take refuge (in Him)
गणाधिपाष्टकम् इदं पठतु
gaṇādhipāṣṭakam idaṁ paṭhatu
Let the good person recite this Ganadhipa Ashtakam daily

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Sanskrit stotra (Ganadhipati Ashtakam), attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

Author: Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

Period: Classical (traditionally 8th century CE)

This Ashtakam belongs to the rich tradition of devotional hymns ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya, who is said to have praised every major deity in flawless Sanskrit verse. Composed in an ornate metre dense with alliteration, it portrays Ganesha as Shiva's son and the leader of the ganas — the elephant-faced ocean of compassion who, by His mere remembrance, showers prosperity, wisdom and protection upon His devotees, and who bears in His many hands the emblems of His sovereignty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ganadhipa Stotram?
It is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn to Ganesha, beginning 'Shriyam anapayinim pradishatu', also called the Ganadhipati Ashtakam. Traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, it is famed for its ornate poetic imagery and prays to the elephant-faced Lord for prosperity, protection and wisdom.
What does 'Ganadhipa' mean?
Ganadhipa (Gana-adhipa) means 'Lord / chief of the ganas', the hosts of Shiva's attendants. It is a name of Ganesha, who was appointed by Shiva as the leader of these ganas — hence also Ganapati and Ganesha, all meaning 'Lord of the ganas'.
Who composed the Ganadhipati Ashtakam?
By tradition it is ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya, the great 8th-century Advaita teacher and hymn-composer. Its sophisticated metre and imagery are characteristic of the classical stotra style associated with him.
What does each verse of the hymn ask for?
Successively it prays that Ganesha grant unfailing prosperity, shake away our sins, gladden the intellect, humble the wicked while protecting devotees, remove all calamity and bestow riches, and finally affirms that remembering His feet brings every glory — closing by extolling the hymn's own power.

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