murugankartikeyasubramanyaskanda

Skanda Shatkam (Skanda Shashthi Stotram)

Skanda Shatkam (Skanda Shashthi Stotram) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 6× repetitions·🕐 During Skanda Shashthi, on Tuesdays and Krittika nakshatra days, at dawn·📜 Traditional Sanskrit hymn to Lord Skanda (Subrahmanya)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Skanda Shatkam (also recited as a Skanda Shashthi stotram) is a compact six-verse Sanskrit hymn to Lord Skanda (Murugan / Kartikeya), each verse closing with the refrain 'Skandam vande Shivatmajam' — 'I bow to Skanda, the son of Shiva.' It adores him as the six-faced commander of the gods, slayer of Taraka, rider of the peacock and bearer of the Vel. Its closing verse promises that whoever recites or hears it gains all his desires and reaches the abode of Skanda.

Origin & Story

Traditional Sanskrit hymn to Lord Skanda (Subrahmanya) · Traditional · Classical / medieval

The Skanda Shatkam is a much-loved short Sanskrit stotram to Lord Skanda (Murugan), the warrior-son of Shiva and Parvati who was born to destroy the demon Taraka and who leads the army of the gods. In six tightly woven verses it gathers his great names and deeds — Shanmukha, the crusher of Krauncha, slayer of Taraka, rider of the peacock, bearer of the Vel, beloved of Valli — each sealed with the refrain 'I bow to Skanda, the son of Shiva.' Its brevity and completeness have made it a popular daily prayer and a favourite during the Skanda Shashthi observance.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees hold that this small hymn carries the full power of Skanda's name: its closing verse declares that the one who but reads or hears it swiftly gains his heart's desires and is finally led to Skandaloka, the very abode of the Lord.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

ṣaṇmukhaṃ pārvatīputraṃ krauñcaśailavimardanam। devasenāpatiṃ devaṃ skandaṃ vande śivātmajam॥ 1॥

Meaning:I bow to Skanda, the son of Shiva — the six-faced Lord, son of Parvati, crusher of the Krauncha mountain, the divine commander of the army of the gods.

Verse 2

tārakāsurahantāraṃ mayūrāsanasaṃsthitam। śaktipāṇiṃ ca deveśaṃ skandaṃ vande śivātmajam॥ 2॥

Meaning:I bow to Skanda, the son of Shiva — slayer of the demon Taraka, seated upon the peacock, the Lord of the gods who bears the Shakti (Vel) in his hand.

Verse 3

viśveśvarapriyaṃ devaṃ viśveśvaratanūdbhavam। kāmukaṃ kāmadaṃ kāntaṃ skandaṃ vande śivātmajam॥ 3॥

Meaning:I bow to Skanda, the son of Shiva — dear to Shiva the Lord of the universe and arisen from his very form, the desirable, the giver of desires, the beloved one.

Verse 4

kumāraṃ muniśārdūlamānasānandagocaram। vallīkāntaṃ jagadyoniṃ skandaṃ vande śivātmajam॥ 4॥

Meaning:I bow to Skanda, the son of Shiva — the eternal youth (Kumara), perceived in the heart of the foremost of sages, the beloved of Valli, the very source of the world.

Verse 5

pralayasthitikartāramādikartāramīśvaram। bhaktapriyaṃ madonmattaṃ skandaṃ vande śivātmajam॥ 5॥

Meaning:I bow to Skanda, the son of Shiva — the maker of dissolution, sustenance and creation, the Lord, dear to his devotees, joyously intoxicated (with grace).

Verse 6

viśākhaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ svāminaṃ kṛttikāsutam। sadābalaṃ jaṭādhāraṃ skandaṃ vande śivātmajam॥ 6॥

Meaning:I bow to Skanda, the son of Shiva — Vishakha, the master of all beings, the son of the Krittikas, ever-strong, wearing matted locks.

Verse 7

skandaṣaṭkaṃ stotramidaṃ yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyānnaraḥ। vāñchitān labhate sadyaścānte skandapuraṃ vrajet॥ 7॥

Meaning:The man who reads or hears this Skanda Shatkam (sextet hymn to Skanda) at once obtains all that he desires, and at the end attains the abode of Skanda.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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ṣaṇmukhaṃ🔊The six-faced one (Shanmukha) — Murugan with his six divine faces

pārvatīputraṃ🔊The son of Parvati

krauñcaśailavimardanam🔊The crusher of the Krauncha mountain (and the demon Krauncha)

devasenāpatiṃ🔊The commander-in-chief of the army of the gods

skandaṃ vande śivātmajam🔊I bow to Skanda, the son (atmaja) of Shiva — the refrain of every verse

tārakāsurahantāraṃ🔊The slayer of the demon Taraka

mayūrāsanasaṃsthitam🔊Seated upon the peacock as his throne (vehicle)

śaktipāṇiṃ🔊Bearing the Shakti (the Vel, divine spear) in his hand

deveśaṃ🔊The Lord of the gods

viśveśvarapriyaṃ🔊Dear to Vishveshvara (Shiva, the Lord of the universe)

viśveśvaratanūdbhavam🔊Born from the body (energy) of the Lord of the universe

kumāraṃ🔊The eternal youth (Kumara), the ever-young prince

vallīkāntaṃ🔊The beloved of Valli (his consort)

jagadyoniṃ🔊The source (womb) of the world

viśākhaṃ🔊Vishakha — a name of Skanda associated with his birth-star and his six-formed nature

kṛttikāsutam🔊The son of the Krittikas (the six mothers who nursed him)

vāñchitān labhate sadyaḥ🔊Quickly obtains all that he desires — the fruit (phala) of recitation

ante skandapuraṃ vrajet🔊And at the end attains the abode of Skanda (Skandaloka)

Benefits of Chanting Skanda Shatkam (Skanda Shashthi Stotram)

✦

A short, easily memorised six-verse hymn that gives a complete adoration of Lord Murugan (Skanda / Kartikeya)

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Each verse ends with 'Skandam vande Shivatmajam', fixing the mind on Skanda as the son of Shiva

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Its phala-shruti promises that the reciter quickly attains his desires (vanchitan labhate sadyah)

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Traditionally recited during Skanda Shashthi, on Tuesdays and on Krittika nakshatra days

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Invokes Murugan as slayer of Taraka and Krauncha — a prayer for victory over inner and outer enemies

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Said to lead the devotee finally to Skandaloka, the abode of Skanda

How to Chant Skanda Shatkam (Skanda Shashthi Stotram)

Repetitions6times

Best TimeDuring Skanda Shashthi, on Tuesdays and Krittika nakshatra days, at dawn

Bathe and sit facing east before an image of Lord Murugan with his Vel and peacock. Recite all six verses with devotion, dwelling on the refrain 'Skandam vande Shivatmajam' at the close of each, then the seventh phala-shruti verse. Because it is short, it is well suited to daily recitation and is chanted especially over the six days of Skanda Shashthi.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Skanda Shatkam (Skanda Shashthi Stotram) written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

The Skanda Shatkam ('sextet on Skanda') is a Sanskrit hymn of six verses to Lord Skanda (Murugan / Kartikeya), followed by a phala-shruti verse. Each of the six verses ends with the refrain 'Skandam vande Shivatmajam' — 'I bow to Skanda, the son of Shiva' — praising him as the six-faced commander of the gods, slayer of Taraka, rider of the peacock and wielder of the Vel.

Shashthi (the sixth lunar day) is sacred to Skanda, and Skanda Shashthi celebrates Murugan's victory over the demon Surapadma. This short, complete hymn is therefore favoured for recitation during the six days of Skanda Shashthi, as well as on Tuesdays and Krittika nakshatra days.

Its final (seventh) verse states that whoever reads or hears the Skanda Shatkam at once obtains all that he desires (vanchitan labhate sadyah) and, at the end, attains Skandapuram — the abode of Skanda.

Skanda — also called Murugan, Kartikeya, Subrahmanya, Kumara and Shanmukha — is the son of Shiva and Parvati and the younger brother of Ganesha. The commander of the army of the gods, he rides the peacock, wields the Vel (divine spear) and slew the demons Taraka, Krauncha and Surapadma.