Ganga Lahari (Opening Verses) Meaning — Line by Line

गंगालहरी

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Ganga Lahari (Opening Verses) with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Verse 1#

समृद्धं सौभाग्यं सकलवसुधायाः किमपि तन् महैश्वर्यं लीलाजनितजगतः खण्डपरशोः। श्रुतीनां सर्वस्वं सुकृतमथ मूर्तं सुमनसां सुधासोदर्यं ते सलिलमशिवं नः शमयतु॥

Samriddham Saubhagyam Sakala-Vasudhayah Kimapi Tan Mahaishvaryam Lila-Janita-Jagatah Khanda-Parashoh Shrutinam Sarvasvam Sukritam-Atha Murtam Sumanasam Sudha-Sodaryam Te Salilam-Ashivam Nah Shamayatu

MeaningMay your water — which is the abundant good fortune of the whole earth, some indescribable supreme majesty of Shiva (who in play created the worlds), the entire essence of the Vedas, the embodied merit of the noble, and the very sister of nectar — pacify all that is inauspicious for us.

Verse 2#

दरिद्राणां दैन्यं दुरितमथ दुर्वासनहृदां द्रुतं दूरीकुर्वन्सकृदपि गतो दृष्टिसरणिम्। अपि द्रागाविद्याद्रुमदलनदीक्षागुरुरिह प्रवाहस्ते वारां श्रियमयमपारां दिशतु नः॥

Daridranam Dainyam Duritam-Atha Durvasana-Hridam Drutam Durikurvan-Sakridapi Gato Drishti-Saranim Api Drag-Avidya-Druma-Dalana-Diksha-Gurur-Iha Pravahas-Te Varam Shriyam-Ayam-Aparam Dishatu Nah

MeaningSwiftly driving away the wretchedness of the poor, the sin and evil tendencies of hearts, the moment it comes even once within the path of one's sight; and being here the very guru initiated in cutting down the tree of ignorance — may your stream of waters bestow upon us boundless prosperity.

Verse 3#

उदञ्चन्मार्तण्डस्फुटकपटहेरम्बजननी- कटाक्षव्याक्षेपक्षणजनितसङ्क्षोभनिवहाः। भवन्तु त्वङ्गन्तो हरशिरसि गङ्गातनुभुव- स्तरङ्गाः प्रोत्तुङ्गा दुरितभयभङ्गाय भवताम्॥

Udanchan-Martanda-Sphuta-Kapata-Heramba-Janani- Kataksha-Vyakshepa-Kshana-Janita-Sankshobha-Nivahah Bhavantu Tvanganto Hara-Shirasi Ganga-Tanubhuva- starangah Prottunga Durita-Bhaya-Bhangaya Bhavatam

MeaningMay the surging, lofty waves born of Ganga's body — waves of agitation roused in an instant by the sidelong glance cast (in jealousy) by the mother of Heramba (Parvati), bright as the rising sun unmasked — leaping upon the head of Hara (Shiva), serve to break the fear of sin for you all.

Verse 4#

तवालम्बादम्ब स्फुरदलघुगर्वेण सहसा मया सर्वेऽवज्ञासरणिमथ नीताः सुरगणाः। इदानीमौदास्यं भजसि यदि भागीरथि तदा निराधारो हा रोदिमि कथय केषामिह पुरः॥

Tavalambad-Amba Sphurad-Alaghu-Garvena Sahasa Maya Sarve-Avajna-Saranim-Atha Nitah Sura-Ganah Idanim-Audasyam Bhajasi Yadi Bhagirathi Tada Niradharo Ha Rodimi Kathaya Kesham-Iha Purah

MeaningO Mother! Relying upon you, in sudden and no small pride, I treated all the hosts of gods with disdain. If now you turn indifferent, O Bhagirathi, then — without any support, alas, I weep — tell me, before whom shall I cry here?

Word-by-Word Breakdown

समृद्धं सौभाग्यं

Samriddham Saubhagyam

The full, abundant good fortune

सकलवसुधायाः

Sakala-Vasudhayah

Of the entire earth

खण्डपरशोः

Khanda-Parashoh

Of Shiva (the bearer of the axe / wielder of the broken axe)

श्रुतीनां सर्वस्वं

Shrutinam Sarvasvam

The very essence / whole treasure of the Vedas

सुधासोदर्यं

Sudha-Sodaryam

Born of the same source as nectar (sister of amrita)

ते सलिलम्

Te Salilam

Your water

अशिवं नः शमयतु

Ashivam Nah Shamayatu

May it pacify / remove all that is inauspicious for us

दरिद्राणां दैन्यं

Daridranam Dainyam

The misery of the poor

दुरितम्

Duritam

Sin, evil

दृष्टिसरणिम् गतः

Drishti-Saranim Gatah

Having come within the path of (one's) sight

अविद्याद्रुम

Avidya-Druma

The tree of ignorance

दलनदीक्षागुरुः

Dalana-Diksha-Guruh

The guru initiated in the art of cutting it down

प्रवाहस्ते वारां

Pravahas-Te Varam

Your stream of waters

श्रियम् अपाराम् दिशतु

Shriyam Aparam Dishatu

May it bestow boundless prosperity

हेरम्बजननी

Heramba-Janani

The mother of Heramba (Ganesha), i.e. Parvati

कटाक्षव्याक्षेप

Kataksha-Vyakshepa

The casting of a sidelong (jealous) glance

हरशिरसि

Hara-Shirasi

Upon the head of Hara (Shiva)

गङ्गातनुभुवः तरङ्गाः

Ganga-Tanubhuvah Tarangah

The waves born of Ganga's body

दुरितभयभङ्गाय

Durita-Bhaya-Bhangaya

For the breaking of the fear of sin

तवालम्बात् अम्ब

Tavalambat Amba

Relying upon you, O Mother

औदास्यं भजसि यदि

Audasyam Bhajasi Yadi

If you become indifferent

भागीरथि

Bhagirathi

O Bhagirathi (Ganga, brought down by Bhagiratha)

निराधारो हा रोदिमि

Niradharo Ha Rodimi

Without support, alas, I weep

Origin & History

Source: Ganga Lahari (Piyusha Lahari), a stotra-kavya by Jagannatha Panditaraja

Author: Jagannatha Panditaraja (Panditaraja Jagannatha)

Period: 17th century CE

The Ganga Lahari was composed by Jagannatha Panditaraja, the great poet-laureate of his age. According to the well-loved tradition, the poet — sorrowful and rejected by orthodox society — came to the ghats of the Ganga at Varanasi and poured out his heart in these verses. With the recitation of each verse the sacred river rose by one step to meet him, and at the last verse Ganga surged up, embraced him, and bore him away to liberation — a testimony to the saving power of surrender to the Mother.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ganga Lahari?▼

The Ganga Lahari ('Waves / Stream of the Ganga') is a famous Sanskrit stotra-kavya of devotional verses in praise of the river-goddess Ganga, composed by the renowned poet Jagannatha Panditaraja in the 17th century. It is admired both as great poetry and as a heartfelt prayer of surrender to Mother Ganga.

Who was Jagannatha Panditaraja?▼

Jagannatha Panditaraja was a celebrated 17th-century Sanskrit poet and scholar, honoured at the Mughal court. He is the author of several lyrical works; the Ganga Lahari is his most beloved devotional composition, sung to the goddess Ganga.

What is the legend behind the Ganga Lahari?▼

Tradition holds that Jagannatha, in distress, sat upon the steps of the Ganga at Kashi and sang these verses. As he recited each verse, the river is said to have risen one step higher, until at the final verse Ganga rose and lovingly took him into her embrace, granting him liberation.

Are these all the verses of the Ganga Lahari?▼

No. The complete Ganga Lahari consists of many more verses (traditionally counted as around fifty-two). Presented here are its celebrated opening verses, which are themselves often recited as a complete devotional offering to Mother Ganga.

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