vishnuvaradarajakanchipuramvairagya

𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌕𑌮𑍍

Vairagya Panchakam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 5× repetitions·🕐 Morning, or any time the mind is troubled by worry over wealth and dependence on others·📜 Vairagya Panchakam (five verses on dispassion)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Vairagya Panchakam (five verses on dispassion) · Vedanta Desika (Venkatanatha) · 13th-14th century CE

Swami Vedanta Desika lived in Kanchipuram in great simplicity, sustaining himself by unchavritti — gathering fallen grain. When a king, impressed by his fame, sent an emissary to summon him to court with the promise of riches, Desika composed and sent back these five verses instead. In them he refuses to flatter or beg petty rulers, holds up the Lord's enriching of poor Sudama, and proclaims that his sole, unfailing wealth is Lord Varadaraja of Hastigiri — the Lord who lifted Govardhana. The hymn became a classic statement of Sri Vaishnava vairagya and self-respect.

✦ As told in scripture

The same Lord praised here as the devotee's only wealth is remembered for transforming the fortunes of the destitute Sudama (Kuchela): when the boyhood friend came to Dvaraka with nothing but a handful of beaten rice, Krishna received him with love and silently bestowed upon him boundless riches — a sign, says Desika, that one who clings to the Lord alone never truly wants for anything.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍋𑌣𑍀𑌕𑍋𑌣𑌶𑌤𑌾𑌂𑌶𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌨𑌕𑌲𑌦𑍍𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌲- 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌨𑌰𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌚𑌾𑌟𑍁𑌰𑌚𑌨𑌾𑌧𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌨 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌹𑍇 । 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍁𑌮𑍇𑌵 𑌨𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍁𑌮𑌹𑍇 𑌯𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍗 𑌦𑌯𑌾𑌲𑍁𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾 𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌚𑍇 𑌕𑍁𑌚𑍇𑌲𑌮𑍁𑌨𑌯𑍇 𑌦𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑍍𑌮 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌶𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௧ ॥

kṣoṇīkoṇaśatāṃśapālanakaladdurvāragarvānala- kṣubhyatkṣudranarendracāṭuracanādhanyānna manyāmahe | devaṃ sevitumeva niścinumahe yo'sau dayāluḥ purā dānāmuṣṭimuce kucelamunaye datte sma vitteśatām || 1 ||

Meaning:We do not count blessed the composing of flattery to petty kings — kings swollen with the irresistible fire of pride at ruling a mere hundredth part of a corner of the earth. We resolve to serve only the Lord, that compassionate one who long ago granted the status of the lord of wealth (Kubera) to the poor sage Kuchela (Sudama), who could offer Him but a fistful of beaten rice.

Verse 2

𑌶𑌿𑌲𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌮𑌨𑌲𑌂 𑌭𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌨𑌲𑌮𑍗𑌦𑌰𑌂 𑌬𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌤𑍁𑌂 𑌪𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍃𑌤𑌿𑌪𑍂𑌰𑌕𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌮𑍁 𑌨 𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌂 𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌸𑌮𑍍 । 𑌅𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌮𑌲𑌮𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌕𑌂 𑌪𑌥𑌿 𑌪𑌟𑌚𑍍𑌚𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑌚𑍍𑌚𑌰𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌬𑍁𑌧𑌾 𑌮𑍁𑌧𑌾 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑌹𑌹 𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌃 ॥ ௨ ॥

śilaṃ kimanalaṃ bhavedanalamaudaraṃ bādhituṃ payaḥ prasṛtipūrakaṃ kimu na dhārakaṃ sārasam | ayatnamalamalpakaṃ pathi paṭaccaraṃ kaccaraṃ bhajanti vibudhā mudhā hyahaha kukṣitaḥ kukṣitaḥ || 2 ||

Meaning:Would gleaning fallen grain not be enough to quell the fire of the belly? Is the water of the lotus-ponds not enough to sustain one's thirst? Are not soiled rags, picked up effortlessly along the road, enough to cover the body? Alas, alas — the learned serve (kings) in vain, only for the belly, for the belly!

Verse 3

𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌲𑌤𑍁 𑌜𑌲𑌧𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌡𑌕𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌡𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍃𑌪𑍀𑌡𑌭𑌵𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑌾- 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌭𑌟𑌪𑌟𑍁𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌲𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌾𑌕𑍁𑌲𑍋 𑌜𑌠𑌰𑌾𑌨𑌲𑌃 । 𑌤𑍃𑌣𑌮𑌪𑌿 𑌵𑌯𑌂 𑌸𑌾𑌯𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌫𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌮𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌿𑌮𑌤𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌾- 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌮𑌲𑌮𑍁𑌚𑌾 𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌾 𑌯𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌮𑌹𑍇 𑌨 𑌮𑌹𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍 ॥ ௩ ॥

jvalatu jaladhikroḍakrīḍatkṛpīḍabhavaprabhā- pratibhaṭapaṭujvālāmālākulo jaṭharānalaḥ | tṛṇamapi vayaṃ sāyaṃ samphullamallimatallikā- parimalamucā vācā yācāmahe na mahīśvarān || 3 ||

Meaning:Let the fire of the stomach blaze like the submarine fire that plays in the ocean's depths, with its fierce, rising garland of flames! Even so, with speech fragrant as fully-blossomed jasmine, we will not beg the lords of the earth even for a blade of grass.

Verse 4

𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌬𑌹𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌕𑌾- 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌸𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌯𑍈 𑌰𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌯𑌮𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌲𑌿𑌃 । 𑌯𑌦𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌨𑌾𑌭𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌪𑌾𑌯𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑍇 𑌧𑌨𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌣𑌂 𑌧𑌨𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௪ ॥

durīśvaradvārabahirvitardikā- durāsikāyai racito'yamañjaliḥ | yadañcanābhaṃ nirapāyamasti me dhanañjayasyandanabhūṣaṇaṃ dhanam || 4 ||

Meaning:This is my folded-hand farewell to the misery of sitting upon the platform outside the gate of some wretched king — for I possess an unfailing wealth, dark as collyrium: the Lord who was the very ornament of Arjuna's chariot.

Verse 5

𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌪𑌤𑌨𑌾𑌵𑌧𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑍁𑌨𑌿𑌷𑍇𑌵𑌣𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌨𑌾- 𑌦𑌬𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌨𑌧𑌨𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌯𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌶𑌮𑌦𑌂 𑌧𑌨𑌂 𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌶𑍂𑌕𑌮𑍍 । 𑌧𑌨𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌯𑌵𑌿𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌨𑌂 𑌧𑌨𑌮𑍁𑌦𑍂𑌢𑌗𑍋𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌸𑌾𑌧𑌨𑌮𑌬𑌾𑌧𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌮𑌨𑌸𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌨𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௫ ॥

śarīrapatanāvadhi prabhuniṣevaṇāpādanā- dabindhanadhanañjayapraśamadaṃ dhanaṃ dandaśūkam | dhanañjayavivardhanaṃ dhanamudūḍhagovardhanaṃ susādhanamabādhanaṃ sumanasāṃ samārādhanam || 5 ||

Meaning:That wealth which, by yielding the service of the Lord until the fall of this body, quells the fire of poverty without need of any fuel; that wealth which is a serpent (venomous) to poverty yet ever-increasing in true riches; that wealth who lifted Mount Govardhana — the excellent, unobstructed means, the perfect object of worship for all noble souls — that alone is my wealth.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍋𑌣𑍀𑌕𑍋𑌣𑌶𑌤𑌾𑌂𑌶𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌨🔊kṣoṇīkoṇaśatāṃśapālanaruling a hundredth part of a corner of the earth

𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌲🔊durvāragarvānala(swollen with) the irresistible fire of pride

𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌨𑌰𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌚𑌾𑌟𑍁𑌰𑌚𑌨𑌾🔊kṣudranarendracāṭuracanāthe composing of flattery to petty kings

𑌧𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌨 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌹𑍇🔊dhanyān na manyāmahewe do not consider (it) worthwhile / blessed

𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌮𑍍 𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍁𑌮𑍍 𑌏𑌵 𑌨𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍁𑌮𑌹𑍇🔊devam sevitum eva niścinumahewe resolve to serve the Lord alone

𑌯𑌃 𑌅𑌸𑍗 𑌦𑌯𑌾𑌲𑍁𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾🔊yaḥ asau dayāluḥ purāHe, the compassionate one, who of old

𑌕𑍁𑌚𑍇𑌲𑌮𑍁𑌨𑌯𑍇 𑌦𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑍍𑌮 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌶𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊kucelamunaye datte sma vitteśatāmgranted to the sage Kuchela (Sudama) the lordship of wealth (Kubera's status)

𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌚𑍇🔊dānāmuṣṭimucewho offered (only) a fistful of beaten rice

𑌶𑌿𑌲𑌮𑍍 𑌕𑌿𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌨𑌲𑌮𑍍 𑌭𑌵𑍇𑌤𑍍🔊śilam kim analam bhavetwould gleaning (fallen grain) not be enough?

𑌔𑌦𑌰𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌨𑌲𑌮𑍍 𑌬𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌤𑍁𑌮𑍍🔊audaram analam bādhitumto quell the fire of the belly (hunger)

𑌪𑌯𑌃 𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌸𑌮𑍍🔊payaḥ sārasamthe water of lakes / lotus-ponds

𑌕𑌿𑌮𑍍 𑌨 𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊kim na dhārakamis it not sustaining (enough to drink)?

𑌪𑌟𑌚𑍍𑌚𑌰𑌮𑍍 𑌕𑌚𑍍𑌚𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊paṭaccaram kaccaramworn-out, soiled rags (on the road)

𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌃🔊kukṣitaḥ kukṣitaḥ(merely) for the belly, for the belly! (alas, the wise serve kings in vain)

𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌲𑌤𑍁 𑌜𑌠𑌰𑌾𑌨𑌲𑌃🔊jvalatu jaṭharānalaḥlet the fire of the stomach (hunger) blaze

𑌤𑍃𑌣𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌪𑌿 𑌵𑌯𑌮𑍍 𑌨 𑌯𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌮𑌹𑍇🔊tṛṇam api vayaṃ na yācāmahewe will not beg (kings) even for a blade of grass

𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌫𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌮𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌿𑌮𑌤𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌮𑌲𑌮𑍁𑌚𑌾 𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌾🔊samphullamallimatallikāparimalamucā vācāwith speech fragrant as fully-blossomed jasmine (i.e. pure, free speech)

𑌨 𑌮𑌹𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍🔊na mahīśvarānnot (from) the lords of the earth (kings)

𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌬𑌹𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌕𑌾🔊durīśvaradvārabahirvitardikāthe raised platform outside the gate of a wretched lord (king)

𑌦𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌸𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌯𑍈 𑌰𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌃 𑌅𑌯𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌲𑌿𑌃🔊durāsikāyai racito'yam añjaliḥthis joining of palms (folded hands of farewell) to the misery of sitting there

𑌯𑌤𑍍 𑌅𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌨𑌾𑌭𑌮𑍍 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌪𑌾𑌯𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑍇 𑌧𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊yad añcanābhaṃ nirapāyam asti me dhanamfor I have unfailing wealth, dark like collyrium (the Lord)

𑌧𑌨𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊dhanañjayasyandanabhūṣaṇamwho was the ornament of Arjuna's (Dhananjaya's) chariot — Lord Krishna/Vishnu

𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌪𑌤𑌨𑌾𑌵𑌧𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑍁𑌨𑌿𑌷𑍇𑌵𑌣🔊śarīrapatanāvadhi prabhuniṣevaṇathe service of the Lord until the very fall of the body

𑌉𑌦𑍂𑌢𑌗𑍋𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌨𑌮𑍍 𑌧𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊udūḍhagovardhanaṃ dhanamthe wealth (that is the Lord) who lifted Mount Govardhana

𑌸𑍁𑌮𑌨𑌸𑌾𑌮𑍍 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊sumanasāṃ samārādhanamthe perfect object of worship for the noble-hearted (the gods / the good)

Benefits of Chanting Vairagya Panchakam

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Instils true vairagya (dispassion) and contentment, freeing the mind from craving wealth and patronage

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Affirms that the Lord alone is the soul's real, unfailing wealth (dhana)

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Strengthens self-respect and independence — the resolve never to flatter or beg the powerful

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Recalls how the Lord enriched poor Sudama, inspiring faith that He cares for His devotees' needs

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A favourite recitation for those seeking the spirit of renunciation while living in the world

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Short and rhythmic, easy to learn, and powerful in shaping the right attitude toward money

How to Chant Vairagya Panchakam

Repetitions5times

Best TimeMorning, or any time the mind is troubled by worry over wealth and dependence on others

Sit quietly and recite the five verses slowly, reflecting on their meaning — that the Lord alone is one's true wealth and refuge. It is especially helpful to contemplate this hymn whenever one feels tempted to compromise one's principles for money or favour. Conclude by turning the mind to Lord Varadaraja / Vishnu with gratitude and contentment.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Vairagya Panchakam written in the Grantha 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.

Tradition relates that the king of Vijayanagara (or a local ruler), hearing of Swami Vedanta Desika's greatness, sent a minister to invite him to court with promises of wealth and honour. Desika, who lived simply by unchavritti (gleaning grain), declined the offer and sent back these five verses declaring that the Lord of Kanchi is his only wealth and that he would never demean himself before kings.

Swami Desika weaves brilliant wordplay (shlesha) around 'dhana' throughout the hymn — especially in the fifth verse, where it appears many times with different shades of meaning. The point is to redefine 'wealth': true wealth is not the gold of kings but the Lord Himself and the service of His feet.

It is the Lord — described as dark like collyrium (anjana) and as 'the ornament of Arjuna's chariot,' i.e. Krishna / Vishnu. For Desika this refers above all to Lord Varadaraja (Devaraja) of Hastigiri in Kanchipuram, his cherished deity.

Contentment, dispassion and surrender to God alone. A blade of grass need not be begged from kings; simple food, water and clothing suffice for the body, while the soul's only real and inexhaustible treasure is the Lord. It is a manifesto of dignified renunciation.