Subrahmanya Shodasanama Stotram Meaning — Line by Line

सुब्रह्मण्य षोडशनाम स्तोत्रम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Subrahmanya Shodasanama Stotram with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Verse 1#

ज्ञानशक्तिधरः स्कन्दो देवसेनापतिस्तथा । सुब्रह्मण्यो गजारूढः शरकाननसम्भवः ॥ १॥

jñānaśaktidharaḥ skando devasenāpatistathā | subrahmaṇyo gajārūḍhaḥ śarakānanasambhavaḥ || 1||

MeaningJnana-shakti-dhara (bearer of the spear of wisdom), Skanda, and likewise Deva-senapati (commander of the gods' army); Subrahmanya, Gajarudha (mounted on the elephant), Sharakanana-sambhava (born in the reed-forest);

Verse 2#

कार्तिकेयः कुमारश्च षण्मुखस्तारकान्तकः । सेनानीर्ब्रह्मशास्ता च वल्लीकल्याणसुन्दरः ॥ २॥

kārtikeyaḥ kumāraśca ṣaṇmukhastārakāntakaḥ | senānīrbrahmaśāstā ca vallīkalyāṇasundaraḥ || 2||

MeaningKartikeya, Kumara, Shanmukha (the six-faced), Tarakantaka (slayer of Taraka); Senani (the general), Brahma-shasta (instructor of Brahma), and Valli-kalyana-sundara (the handsome groom of Valli);

Verse 3#

बालश्च क्रौञ्चभेत्ता च शिखिवाहन एव च । एतानि स्वामिनामानि षोडश प्रत्यहं नरः ॥ ३॥

bālaśca krauñcabhettā ca śikhivāhana eva ca | etāni svāmināmāni ṣoḍaśa pratyahaṃ naraḥ || 3||

MeaningBala (the child), Krauncha-bhetta (splitter of Krauncha), and Shikhi-vahana (rider of the peacock) — these are the sixteen names of the Lord.

Verse 4#

यः पठेत्सर्वपापेभ्यः स मुच्यते महामुने ।

yaḥ paṭhetsarvapāpebhyaḥ sa mucyate mahāmune |

MeaningThe man who recites these sixteen names every day is freed from all sins, O great sage.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

ज्ञानशक्तिधरः

jñāna-śakti-dharaḥ

(1) the bearer of the power of wisdom — the Vel as the spear of knowledge

स्कन्दः

skandaḥ

(2) Skanda, who 'leaps forth' — the emanation of Shiva's power

देवसेनापतिः

deva-senāpatiḥ

(3) the commander of the army of the gods

सुब्रह्मण्यः

subrahmaṇyaḥ

(4) Subrahmanya, dear to the Brahman, the auspicious one

गजारूढः

gajārūḍhaḥ

(5) the one mounted on the elephant (in his Devasena aspect)

शरकाननसम्भवः

śara-kānana-sambhavaḥ

(6) born in the forest of reeds (Saravana)

कार्तिकेयः

kārtikeyaḥ

(7) Kartikeya, nursed by the six Krittika mothers

कुमारः

kumāraḥ

(8) Kumara, the ever-youthful divine child

षण्मुखः

ṣaṇmukhaḥ

(9) Shanmukha, the six-faced one

तारकान्तकः

tārakāntakaḥ

(10) the slayer of the demon Taraka

सेनानीः

senānīḥ

(11) the leader of armies, the general

ब्रह्मशास्ता

brahma-śāstā

(12) who instructed even Brahma (in the meaning of Pranava, Om)

वल्लीकल्याणसुन्दरः

vallī-kalyāṇa-sundaraḥ

(13) the handsome bridegroom of Valli

बालः

bālaḥ

(14) the child, in his youthful boy-form

क्रौञ्चभेत्ता

krauñca-bhettā

(15) the splitter of the Krauncha mountain (and slayer of the asura Krauncha)

शिखिवाहनः

śikhi-vāhanaḥ

(16) who rides the peacock (shikhin)

एतानि स्वामिनामानि षोडश

etāni svāmi-nāmāni ṣoḍaśa

these sixteen names of the Lord (Swami / Murugan)

प्रत्यहं यः पठेत्

pratyahaṃ yaḥ paṭhet

whoever recites them every day

सर्वपापेभ्यः स मुच्यते

sarva-pāpebhyaḥ sa mucyate

he is freed from all sins, O great sage (mahamune)

Origin & History

Source: Skanda Purana

Author: Traditional (from the Skanda Purana)

Period: Puranic

The Subrahmanya Shodasanama Stotram is drawn from the Skanda Purana and belongs to the cherished class of 'shodasa-nama' (sixteen-name) hymns. In a few compact verses it gathers sixteen of Lord Murugan's most beloved names, each one a doorway into his story — Jnana-shakti-dhara who bears the spear of wisdom, Skanda the leaping spark of Shiva's power, Sharakanana-sambhava born among the reeds, Tarakantaka and Krauncha-bhetta who slew the demons, Brahma-shasta who taught Brahma the meaning of Om, and Shikhi-vahana who rides the peacock. The hymn closes with the promise that the daily reciter is freed from all sin and blessed with wisdom and grace.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Subrahmanya Shodasanama Stotram?▼

It is a short hymn from the Skanda Purana that names the 'sixteen names' (shodasa-nama) of Lord Murugan (Subrahmanya / Skanda) — such as Jnana-shakti-dhara, Skanda, Shanmukha, Tarakantaka and Shikhi-vahana — followed by a phala-shruti praising the fruit of its daily recitation.

What are the sixteen names?▼

They are: Jnana-shakti-dhara, Skanda, Deva-senapati, Subrahmanya, Gajarudha, Sharakanana-sambhava, Kartikeya, Kumara, Shanmukha, Tarakantaka, Senani, Brahma-shasta, Valli-kalyana-sundara, Bala, Krauncha-bhetta, and Shikhi-vahana — each recalling a name, form or deed of Lord Murugan.

What is the benefit of reciting it?▼

The hymn's own phala-shruti states that one who recites these sixteen names every day is freed from all sins. Tradition adds that the devotee gains the wisdom of Brihaspati and the lustre of Brahman, and that his cherished desires are fulfilled.

When and how often should it be recited?▼

It is recited daily, and especially on Skanda Shashti, Tuesdays and Krittika nakshatra days. Because the names are short and easily memorised, devotees often repeat them sixteen or more times as a simple daily japa to Lord Murugan.

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