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murugankartikeyasubramanyaskanda

𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦 𑌷𑌟𑍍𑌕𑌮𑍍 (𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦 𑌷𑌷𑍍𑌠𑍀 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍)

स्कन्द षट्कम् (स्कन्द षष्ठी स्तोत्रम्) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ 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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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.

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

𑌷𑌣𑍍𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑍍𑌰𑍗𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌶𑍈𑌲𑌵𑌿𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌮𑍍। 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌸𑍇𑌨𑌾𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌜𑌮𑍍॥ ௧॥

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

Meaning:मैं शिवपुत्र स्कन्द को प्रणाम करता हूँ — षण्मुख (छह मुख वाले), पार्वतीपुत्र, क्रौञ्च पर्वत का मर्दन करने वाले, देवताओं की सेना के दिव्य सेनापति को।

Verse 2

𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌹𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌮𑌯𑍂𑌰𑌾𑌸𑌨𑌸𑌂𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍। 𑌶𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌪𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌂 𑌚 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍇𑌶𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌜𑌮𑍍॥ ௨॥

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

Meaning:मैं शिवपुत्र स्कन्द को प्रणाम करता हूँ — तारकासुर का वध करने वाले, मयूर पर विराजमान, हाथ में शक्ति (वेल) धारण करने वाले देवेश को।

Verse 3

𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌂 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌤𑌨𑍂𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌮𑍍। 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌕𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌦𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌜𑌮𑍍॥ ௩॥

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

Meaning:मैं शिवपुत्र स्कन्द को प्रणाम करता हूँ — विश्वेश्वर (शिव) के प्रिय एवं उन्हीं के स्वरूप से उत्पन्न, कमनीय, कामनाओं को देने वाले, कान्त (मनोहर) को।

Verse 4

𑌕𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌮𑍁𑌨𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍂𑌲𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌸𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌗𑍋𑌚𑌰𑌮𑍍। 𑌵𑌲𑍍𑌲𑍀𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌨𑌿𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌜𑌮𑍍॥ ௪॥

kumāraṃ muniśārdūlamānasānandagocaram। vallīkāntaṃ jagadyoniṃ skandaṃ vande śivātmajam॥ 4॥

Meaning:मैं शिवपुत्र स्कन्द को प्रणाम करता हूँ — कुमार (नित्य बालक), मुनिश्रेष्ठों के मानस में गोचर होने वाले, वल्ली के प्रियतम, जगत् के मूल कारण को।

Verse 5

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌲𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌮𑍍। 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌂 𑌮𑌦𑍋𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌜𑌮𑍍॥ ௫॥

pralayasthitikartāramādikartāramīśvaram। bhaktapriyaṃ madonmattaṃ skandaṃ vande śivātmajam॥ 5॥

Meaning:मैं शिवपुत्र स्कन्द को प्रणाम करता हूँ — प्रलय, स्थिति एवं सृष्टि के कर्ता, आदिकर्ता ईश्वर, भक्तों के प्रिय, आनन्द से उन्मत्त को।

Verse 6

𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌖𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌨𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌮𑍍। 𑌸𑌦𑌾𑌬𑌲𑌂 𑌜𑌟𑌾𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌜𑌮𑍍॥ ௬॥

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

Meaning:मैं शिवपुत्र स्कन्द को प्रणाम करता हूँ — विशाख, समस्त भूतों के स्वामी, कृत्तिकाओं के पुत्र, सदा बलवान्, जटाधारी को।

Verse 7

𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌷𑌟𑍍𑌕𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌠𑍇𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍃𑌣𑍁𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌰𑌃। 𑌵𑌾𑌞𑍍𑌛𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌲𑌭𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍇𑌤𑍍॥ ௭॥

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

Meaning:जो मनुष्य इस स्कन्द षट्क (स्कन्द की छह श्लोकों वाली स्तुति) का पाठ करता है या सुनता है, वह तत्काल अपनी समस्त कामनाएँ प्राप्त करता है और अन्त में स्कन्दलोक को प्राप्त होता है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌷𑌣𑍍𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌂🔊ṣaṇmukhaṃThe six-faced one (Shanmukha) — Murugan with his six divine faces
𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂🔊pārvatīputraṃThe son of Parvati
𑌕𑍍𑌰𑍗𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌶𑍈𑌲𑌵𑌿𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊krauñcaśailavimardanamThe crusher of the Krauncha mountain (and the demon Krauncha)
𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌸𑍇𑌨𑌾𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂🔊devasenāpatiṃThe commander-in-chief of the army of the gods
𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌜𑌮𑍍🔊skandaṃ vande śivātmajamI bow to Skanda, the son (atmaja) of Shiva — the refrain of every verse
𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌹𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌂🔊tārakāsurahantāraṃThe slayer of the demon Taraka
𑌮𑌯𑍂𑌰𑌾𑌸𑌨𑌸𑌂𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍🔊mayūrāsanasaṃsthitamSeated upon the peacock as his throne (vehicle)
𑌶𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌪𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌂🔊śaktipāṇiṃBearing the Shakti (the Vel, divine spear) in his hand
𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍇𑌶𑌂🔊deveśaṃThe Lord of the gods
𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌂🔊viśveśvarapriyaṃDear to Vishveshvara (Shiva, the Lord of the universe)
𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌤𑌨𑍂𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌮𑍍🔊viśveśvaratanūdbhavamBorn from the body (energy) of the Lord of the universe
𑌕𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌰𑌂🔊kumāraṃThe eternal youth (Kumara), the ever-young prince
𑌵𑌲𑍍𑌲𑍀𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌂🔊vallīkāntaṃThe beloved of Valli (his consort)
𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌨𑌿𑌂🔊jagadyoniṃThe source (womb) of the world
𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌖𑌂🔊viśākhaṃVishakha — a name of Skanda associated with his birth-star and his six-formed nature
𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌮𑍍🔊kṛttikāsutamThe son of the Krittikas (the six mothers who nursed him)
𑌵𑌾𑌞𑍍𑌛𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌲𑌭𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌃🔊vāñchitān labhate sadyaḥQuickly obtains all that he desires — the fruit (phala) of recitation
𑌅𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍇𑌤𑍍🔊ante skandapuraṃ vrajetAnd at the end attains the abode of Skanda (Skandaloka)

Benefits of Chanting स्कन्द षट्कम् (स्कन्द षष्ठी स्तोत्रम्)

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Chant स्कन्द षट्कम् (स्कन्द षष्ठी स्तोत्रम्)

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 स्कन्द षट्कम् (स्कन्द षष्ठी स्तोत्रम्) 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.
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.

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