Narmada Ashtakam
Narmada Ashtakam in English · English
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✦ Meaning
The Narmada Ashtakam is a famous eight-verse hymn by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of the holy river-goddess Narmada, each verse closing with the refrain 'Tvadiya-pada-pankajam namami devi narmade' — 'I bow to your lotus-feet, O Goddess Narmada.' It celebrates her as the purifier of sins, the remover of the fear of death, the giver of both enjoyment and liberation, and the river born of Shiva's grace. The closing verse promises that those who recite it at the three sandhyas never meet a wretched fate or rebirth.
Origin & Story
Traditional Sanskrit stotra literature (Shaiva / Shakta devotional tradition) · Adi Shankaracharya (attributed) · c. 8th century CE
The Narmada Ashtakam belongs to the tradition of river hymns through which sages personified India's great rivers as goddesses. The Narmada, flowing westward through the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, is held to have emerged from the body of Lord Shiva, and is the only river whose full circumambulation (parikrama) is a recognised lifelong vow. Adi Shankaracharya, who travelled across the subcontinent establishing the worship of the divine, is credited with this eight-verse hymn celebrating her power to destroy sin and bestow liberation. The hymn echoes the Puranic teaching that the very darshan of the Narmada purifies, and that sage Markandeya and others attained refuge on her banks.
✦ As told in scripture
It is traditionally told that when the cosmic deluge (pralaya) threatened all creation, sage Markandeya found unfailing refuge on the banks of the Narmada, which the sixth and third verses commemorate; and pilgrims on the Narmada Parikrama recount that those who complete the circumambulation reciting her praises are freed of lifetimes of karma and never see the hell of Raurava, as the closing verse declares.
Complete Text with Meaning
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Sabindu-sindhu-suskhalat-taranga-bhanga-ranjitam Dvisatsu papa-jata-jata-kari-vari-samyutam Kritanta-duta-kala-bhuta-bhiti-hari varmade Tvadiya-pada-pankajam namami devi narmade
Meaning:I bow to your lotus-feet, O Goddess Narmada — radiant with gently rolling waves of countless sacred droplets, whose waters destroy the sins of those who are hostile, who removes the fear of the messengers of Death and of evil spirits, the bestower of protective armour.
Tvad-ambu-lina-dina-mina-divya-sampradayakam Kalau malaugha-bhara-hari sarva-tirtha-nayakam Su-matsya-kachha-nakra-chakra-vaka-sharmade Tvadiya-pada-pankajam namami devi narmade
Meaning:I bow to your lotus-feet, O Goddess Narmada — who lovingly grants a divine refuge to the humble little fish dwelling in your waters, who in the Kali age carries away the heavy burden of impurities, the chief of all holy waters, the giver of joy to fish, tortoises, crocodiles and chakravaka birds.
Maha-gabhira-nira-pura-papa-dhuta-bhutalam Dhvanat-samasta-pataka-ri-darit-apad-achalam Jagallaye maha-bhaye mrikandu-sunu-harmyade Tvadiya-pada-pankajam namami devi narmade
Meaning:I bow to your lotus-feet, O Goddess Narmada — whose deep, vast flood of waters washes away the sins of the whole earth, whose roar shatters the mountains of calamity caused by all sinners, who became the very mansion of refuge for Markandeya even in the great deluge of cosmic dissolution.
Gatam tadaiva me bhayam tvad-ambu vikshitam yada Mrikandu-sunu-shaunaka-surari-sevi-sarvada Punar-bhavabdhi-janmajam bhavabdhi-duhkha-varmade Tvadiya-pada-pankajam namami devi narmade
Meaning:I bow to your lotus-feet, O Goddess Narmada — the moment I beheld your waters my fear was gone; ever served by Markandeya, by Shaunaka and even by the foes of the gods, you give protective armour against the sorrows of the ocean of repeated births.
Alakshya-laksha-kinnar-amar-asur-adi-pujitam Su-laksha-nira-tira-dhira-pakshi-laksha-kujitam Vasishtha-sishta-pippal-adi-kardam-adi-sharmade Tvadiya-pada-pankajam namami devi narmade
Meaning:I bow to your lotus-feet, O Goddess Narmada — worshipped by Kinnaras, gods, demons and others, where countless steadfast birds warble along your auspicious banks, the bestower of blessings upon Vasishtha, the righteous, Pippalada, Kardama and other sages.
Sanat-kumara-nachiketa-kashyap-adi-shatpadaih Dhritam svakiya-manaseshu narad-adi-shatpadaih Ravindra-rantideva-deva-raja-karma-sharmade Tvadiya-pada-pankajam namami devi narmade
Meaning:I bow to your lotus-feet, O Goddess Narmada — held within their hearts like bees by sages such as Sanatkumara, Nachiketa and Kashyapa, and by Narada and others; you grant the merit of the deeds of the Sun, Indu, Rantideva and the king of the gods.
Alaksha-laksha-laksha-papa-laksha-sara-sayudham Tatastu jiva-jantu-tantu-bhukti-mukti-dayakam Viranchi-vishnu-shankara-svakiya-dhama-varmade Tvadiya-pada-pankajam namami devi narmade
Meaning:I bow to your lotus-feet, O Goddess Narmada — armed as it were with countless lotus-arrows that destroy the countless sins of beings; you bestow upon every living creature, woven into the web of existence, both enjoyment and liberation, and grant Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva the armour of their own abodes.
Aho-amritam svanam shrutam mahesha-kesha-jat-tate Kirata-suta-vadaveshu pandite shathe nate Duranta-papa-tapa-hari sarva-jantu-sharmade Tvadiya-pada-pankajam namami devi narmade
Meaning:I bow to your lotus-feet, O Goddess Narmada — Ah! your sweet, nectar-like murmur is heard along the banks descending from the matted locks of Shiva; to hunters, charioteers, brahmins, scholars, the wicked and the actor alike you remove endless sin and suffering and bring joy to all beings.
Idam tu narmadashtakam tri-kalam eva ye sada Pathanti te nirantaram na yanti durgatim kada Sulabhya-deha-durlabham mahesha-dhama-gauravam Punar-bhava nara na vai vilokayanti rauravam
Meaning:Those who recite this Narmada Ashtakam ever at the three junctions of the day never fall into a wretched state; attaining the rare glory of Shiva's abode though they have human bodies, such people are not born again, nor do they ever behold the hell named Raurava.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Narmada Ashtakam
Washes away accumulated sins and purifies the mind, as promised in every verse
Removes the fear of death, of Yama's messengers, and of evil spirits
Grants both worldly well-being (bhukti) and liberation (mukti)
Brings the spiritual merit of a pilgrimage to the sacred Narmada
Recitation at the three sandhyas (dawn, noon, dusk) protects from a wretched destiny and rebirth
Bestows peace, courage and Shiva's grace, since the Narmada flows from his matted locks
Especially powerful for those living near, bathing in, or doing parikrama of the Narmada
How to Chant Narmada Ashtakam
Sit facing the river or an image of Devi Narmada, or simply visualize her cool, clear waters. Recite all eight verses with devotion, letting the refrain 'Tvadiya-pada-pankajam namami devi narmade' bring the feeling of bowing at her feet. Traditionally chanted three times daily (trikalam). Pilgrims performing the Narmada Parikrama recite it along the banks. Conclude with the ninth phala-shruti verse describing the fruits of recitation.
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