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Ganesha Bhujangam Meaning — Line by Line

गणेशभुजङ्गम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. raṇat-kṣudra-ghaṇṭā-ninādābhirāmaṁ
  2. Verse 2. dhvani-dhvaṁsa-vīṇā-layollāsi-vaktraṁ
  3. Verse 3. prakāśaj-japā-rakta-ratna-prasūna-
  4. Verse 4. vichitra-sphurad-ratna-mālā-kirīṭaṁ
  5. Verse 5. udañchad-bhujā-vallarī-dṛśya-mūla-
  6. Verse 6. sphuran-niṣṭhurālola-piṅgākṣi-tāraṁ
  7. Verse 7. yam-ekākṣaraṁ nirmalaṁ nirvikalpaṁ
  8. Verse 8. chidānanda-sāndrāya śāntāya tubhyaṁ
  9. Verse 9. imaṁ sustavaṁ prātar-utthāya bhaktyā
Verse 1#

raṇat-kṣudra-ghaṇṭā-ninādābhirāmaṁ

रणत्क्षुद्रघण्टानिनादाभिरामं चलत्ताण्डवोद्दण्डवत्पद्मतालम्। लसत्तुन्दिलाङ्गोपरिव्यालहारं गणाधीशमीशानसूनुं तमीडे॥१॥

raṇat-kṣudra-ghaṇṭā-ninādābhirāmaṁ chalat-tāṇḍavoddaṇḍavat-padma-tālam। lasat-tundilāṅgopari-vyāla-hāraṁ gaṇādhīśam-īśāna-sūnuṁ tam-īḍe॥1॥

MeaningI praise Ganadhisha, the son of Ishana (Shiva): charming with the resonant tinkling of his little bells, keeping rhythm with uplifted lotus feet in his vigorous Tandava dance, his shining round belly wrapped with a serpent for a garland.

Verse 2#

dhvani-dhvaṁsa-vīṇā-layollāsi-vaktraṁ

ध्वनिध्वंसवीणालयोल्लासिवक्त्रं स्फुरच्छुण्डदण्डोल्लसद्बीजपूरम्। गलद्दर्पसौगन्ध्यलोलालिमालं गणाधीशमीशानसूनुं तमीडे॥२॥

dhvani-dhvaṁsa-vīṇā-layollāsi-vaktraṁ sphurach-chuṇḍa-daṇḍollasad-bīja-pūram। galad-darpa-saugandhya-lolāli-mālaṁ gaṇādhīśam-īśāna-sūnuṁ tam-īḍe॥2॥

MeaningI praise that Lord of the ganas: his face radiant as he plays the veena that drowns all other sound, his quivering trunk joyfully holding a pomegranate, a swarm of bees humming around the fragrance of his flowing rut.

Verse 3#

prakāśaj-japā-rakta-ratna-prasūna-

प्रकाशज्जपारक्तरत्नप्रसून- प्रवालप्रभातारुणज्योतिरेकम्। प्रलम्बोदरं वक्रतुण्डैकदन्तं गणाधीशमीशानसूनुं तमीडे॥३॥

prakāśaj-japā-rakta-ratna-prasūna- pravāla-prabhā-tāruṇa-jyotir-ekam। pralambodaraṁ vakra-tuṇḍaika-dantaṁ gaṇādhīśam-īśāna-sūnuṁ tam-īḍe॥3॥

MeaningI praise that son of Shiva, whose single radiance shines like a coral, the red hibiscus and a glowing ruby blossom at sunrise — the large-bellied, curved-trunked, single-tusked Lord.

Verse 4#

vichitra-sphurad-ratna-mālā-kirīṭaṁ

विचित्रस्फुरद्रत्नमालाकिरीटं किरीटोल्लसच्चन्द्ररेखाविभूषम्। विभूषैकभूषं भवध्वंसहेतुं गणाधीशमीशानसूनुं तमीडे॥४॥

vichitra-sphurad-ratna-mālā-kirīṭaṁ kirīṭollasach-chandra-rekhā-vibhūṣam। vibhūṣaika-bhūṣaṁ bhava-dhvaṁsa-hetuṁ gaṇādhīśam-īśāna-sūnuṁ tam-īḍe॥4॥

MeaningI praise Ganadhisha, wearing a crown set with sparkling jewel-garlands, adorned with the crescent-moon's streak gleaming upon it — He who is ornament of all ornaments and the very cause of the destruction of worldly bondage.

Verse 5#

udañchad-bhujā-vallarī-dṛśya-mūla-

उदञ्चद्भुजावल्लरीदृश्यमूल- श्चलद्भ्रूलताविभ्रमभ्राजदक्षम्। मरुत्सुन्दरीचामरैः सेव्यमानं गणाधीशमीशानसूनुं तमीडे॥५॥

udañchad-bhujā-vallarī-dṛśya-mūla- ś-chalad-bhrū-latā-vibhrama-bhrājad-akṣam। marut-sundarī-chāmaraiḥ sevyamānaṁ gaṇādhīśam-īśāna-sūnuṁ tam-īḍe॥5॥

MeaningI praise that Lord whose raised arms are like creepers revealing his form, his dancing eyebrows lending grace to his face, attended by celestial maidens waving fly-whisks.

Verse 6#

sphuran-niṣṭhurālola-piṅgākṣi-tāraṁ

स्फुरन्निष्ठुरालोलपिङ्गाक्षितारं कृपाकोमलोदारलीलावतारम्। कलाबिन्दुगं गीयते योगिवर्यै- र्गणाधीशमीशानसूनुं तमीडे॥६॥

sphuran-niṣṭhurālola-piṅgākṣi-tāraṁ kṛpā-komalodāra-līlāvatāram। kalā-bindu-gaṁ gīyate yogi-varyair- gaṇādhīśam-īśāna-sūnuṁ tam-īḍe॥6॥

MeaningI praise Ganadhisha, whose fixed eyes are tawny-red and rolling, whose very incarnation is a sport of tender and boundless compassion, whom the foremost yogis sing of as residing in the subtle point of the Bindu and Kala.

Verse 7#

yam-ekākṣaraṁ nirmalaṁ nirvikalpaṁ

यमेकाक्षरं निर्मलं निर्विकल्पं गुणातीतमानन्दमाकारशून्यम्। परं परतरं ब्रह्म वेदान्तवेद्यं वदन्ति प्रगल्भं पुराणं तमीडे॥७॥

yam-ekākṣaraṁ nirmalaṁ nirvikalpaṁ guṇātītam-ānandam-ākāra-śūnyam। paraṁ parataraṁ brahma vedānta-vedyaṁ vadanti pragalbhaṁ purāṇaṁ tam-īḍe॥7॥

MeaningI praise Him whom the wise and ancient sages declare to be the one imperishable syllable — pure, beyond all distinction, transcending the gunas, blissful, formless, the supreme Brahman beyond the highest, knowable only through Vedanta.

Verse 8#

chidānanda-sāndrāya śāntāya tubhyaṁ

चिदानन्दसान्द्राय शान्ताय तुभ्यं नमो विश्वकर्त्रे हर्त्रे तुभ्यम्। नमोऽनन्तलीलाय कैवल्यभासे नमो विश्वबीज प्रसीदेशसूनो॥८॥

chidānanda-sāndrāya śāntāya tubhyaṁ namo viśva-kartre cha hartre cha tubhyam। namo'nanta-līlāya kaivalya-bhāse namo viśva-bīja prasīdeśa-sūno॥8॥

MeaningSalutations to You, the embodiment of dense consciousness and bliss, the ever-peaceful; salutations to You, creator and destroyer of the universe; salutations to You of endless divine play, the radiance of liberation; salutations to You, the seed of the cosmos — be gracious, O son of Ishana!

Verse 9#

imaṁ sustavaṁ prātar-utthāya bhaktyā

इमं सुस्तवं प्रातरुत्थाय भक्त्या पठेद्यस्तु मर्त्यो लभेत्सर्वकामान्। गणेशप्रसादेन सिध्यन्ति वाचो गणेशे विभौ दुर्लभं किं प्रसन्ने॥९॥

imaṁ sustavaṁ prātar-utthāya bhaktyā paṭhed-yas-tu martyo labhet-sarva-kāmān। gaṇeśa-prasādena sidhyanti vācho gaṇeśe vibhau durlabhaṁ kiṁ prasanne॥9॥

MeaningWhatever mortal rises at dawn and recites this excellent hymn with devotion obtains all his desires. By the grace of Ganesha his speech attains fulfilment — for when the all-pervading Ganesha is pleased, what indeed remains hard to obtain?

Word-by-Word Breakdown

रणत्क्षुद्रघण्टा
raṇat-kṣudra-ghaṇṭā
with tinkling small bells (on his anklets/ornaments)
निनादाभिरामम्
ninādābhirāmam
charming with their resonant sound
चलत्ताण्डव
chalat-tāṇḍava
performing the dynamic Tandava dance
उद्दण्डवत्पद्मतालम्
uddaṇḍavat-padma-tālam
keeping rhythm with uplifted lotus-soft feet
लसत्तुन्दिलाङ्ग
lasat-tundilāṅga
with a shining, rounded pot-belly
उपरिव्यालहारम्
upari-vyāla-hāram
wearing a serpent as a garland upon his body
गणाधीशम्
gaṇādhīśam
the Lord of the ganas (celestial hosts)
ईशानसूनुम्
īśāna-sūnum
the son of Ishana (Lord Shiva)
तम् ईडे
tam īḍe
I praise / I extol Him (the refrain of every verse)
स्फुरच्छुण्डदण्ड
sphurach-chuṇḍa-daṇḍa
with a quivering, raised trunk
उल्लसद्बीजपूरम्
ullasad-bīja-pūram
joyfully holding a pomegranate (bijapura) fruit
वक्रतुण्डैकदन्तम्
vakra-tuṇḍaika-dantam
the curved-trunked, single-tusked one
प्रलम्बोदरम्
pralambodaram
having a large, hanging belly
रत्नमालाकिरीटम्
ratna-mālā-kirīṭam
wearing a crown studded with jewel garlands
चन्द्ररेखाविभूषम्
chandra-rekhā-vibhūṣam
adorned with the crescent-moon streak
भवध्वंसहेतुम्
bhava-dhvaṁsa-hetum
the cause of the destruction of worldly bondage (samsara)
मरुत्सुन्दरीचामरैः
marut-sundarī-chāmaraiḥ
by the celestial damsels with fly-whisks
सेव्यमानम्
sevyamānam
being attended upon / served
कृपाकोमलोदारलीलावतारम्
kṛpā-komalodāra-līlāvatāram
whose incarnation is a play of tender, generous compassion
एकाक्षरम्
ekākṣaram
the single syllable (the primordial Om / the imperishable)
निर्विकल्पम्
nirvikalpam
free of all distinctions, beyond thought
गुणातीतम्
guṇātītam
transcending the three gunas of nature
ब्रह्म वेदान्तवेद्यम्
brahma vedānta-vedyam
the Brahman knowable through the Vedanta
चिदानन्दसान्द्राय
chidānanda-sāndrāya
to Him who is dense with consciousness and bliss
विश्वकर्त्रे च हर्त्रे च
viśva-kartre cha hartre cha
to the creator and the dissolver of the universe
इमं सुस्तवं प्रातरुत्थाय
imaṁ sustavaṁ prātar-utthāya
rising at dawn (and reciting) this beautiful hymn
लभेत्सर्वकामान्
labhet-sarva-kāmān
obtains all his desires
सिध्यन्ति वाचः
sidhyanti vāchaḥ
his words come true (Vak-Siddhi is attained)

Origin & History

Source: Stotra attributed to the works of Adi Shankaracharya (Shankaracharya Stotra collection)

Author: Adi Shankaracharya

Period: Traditionally 8th century CE

The Ganesha Bhujangam belongs to Adi Shankaracharya's celebrated series of 'Bhujanga' hymns, in which he poured devotion into a swaying, song-like metre. Where the philosopher-Acharya elsewhere expounds the formless Absolute, here he first delights in the most tangible and joyful image of God — the elephant-faced Ganesha dancing the Tandava, bells ringing, trunk swirling. Verse by verse he ascends from this enchanting form to the realisation that the same Ganesha is the imperishable Om, the supreme Brahman beyond the gunas, thus uniting bhakti (devotion) and jnana (knowledge) in a single short hymn.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'Bhujangam' mean in Ganesha Bhujangam?
Bhujangam refers to the 'bhujanga-prayata' metre — a flowing Sanskrit metre of four feet of laghu-guru syllables whose rhythm sways like the movement of a serpent (bhujanga). Shankaracharya used the same metre for his Subramanya Bhujangam and Shiva Bhujangam, which is why these hymns feel musical and continuous when chanted.
Who composed the Ganesha Bhujangam?
It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century philosopher-saint. It appears in collections of his stotras and shares his characteristic movement from describing the deity's beautiful form to declaring the formless Brahman in the closing verses.
Which form of Ganesha does this hymn describe?
It primarily celebrates Nritya Ganapati — Ganesha as the cosmic dancer. The opening verse describes him keeping rhythm with lotus feet in the vigorous Tandava, his anklet bells tinkling, which is why the hymn is often associated with grace, art and joyful devotion.
What is the special benefit promised in the last verse?
The phalashruti declares that a person who rises at dawn and recites this hymn with devotion obtains all desires and that 'his words become accomplished' (Vak-Siddhi). For this reason it is favoured by students, poets, singers and public speakers.

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