narmadariver-goddessashtakamshankaracharya

𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍

Narmada Ashtakam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 At the three sandhyas (sunrise, midday and sunset); especially on Narmada Jayanti (Magha Shukla Saptami) and while bathing in or doing parikrama of the river·📜 Traditional Sanskrit stotra literature (Shaiva / Shakta devotional tradition)

Read in your language / script

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

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.

0all time

Complete Text with Meaning

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

Verse 1

𑌸𑌬𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍁𑌸𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍁𑌸𑍁𑌸𑍍𑌖𑌲𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌭𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌰𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍁 𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌜𑌾𑌤𑌜𑌾𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌸𑌂𑌯𑍁𑌤𑌮𑍍। 𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌦𑍂𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌭𑍀𑌤𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇॥

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.

Verse 2

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌲𑍀𑌨𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌮𑍀𑌨𑌦𑌿𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌕𑌲𑍗 𑌮𑌲𑍗𑌘𑌭𑌾𑌰𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌮𑍍। 𑌸𑍁𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌕𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌨𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌾𑌕𑌶𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇॥

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.

Verse 3

𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌗𑌭𑍀𑌰𑌨𑍀𑌰𑌪𑍂𑌰𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌧𑍂𑌤𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌲𑌂 𑌧𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌪𑌾𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌪𑌦𑌾𑌚𑌲𑌮𑍍। 𑌜𑌗𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌯𑍇 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌭𑌯𑍇 𑌮𑍃𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌡𑍁𑌸𑍂𑌨𑍁𑌹𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌦𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇॥

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.

Verse 4

𑌗𑌤𑌂 𑌤𑌦𑍈𑌵 𑌮𑍇 𑌭𑌯𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁 𑌵𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌯𑌦𑌾 𑌮𑍃𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌡𑍁𑌸𑍂𑌨𑍁𑌶𑍗𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌿𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌦𑌾। 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌜𑌂 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇॥

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.

Verse 5

𑌅𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌕𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌰𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌪𑍂𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌨𑍀𑌰𑌤𑍀𑌰𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌪𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌕𑍂𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍। 𑌵𑌸𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌸𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌪𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌪𑌲𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌶𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇॥

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.

Verse 6

𑌸𑌨𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌰𑌨𑌾𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌕𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌷𑌟𑍍𑌪𑌦𑍈𑌃 𑌧𑍃𑌤𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌕𑍀𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌸𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌷𑌟𑍍𑌪𑌦𑍈𑌃। 𑌰𑌵𑍀𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌶𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇॥

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.

Verse 7

𑌅𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌸𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌧𑌂 𑌤𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌤𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌭𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌮𑍍। 𑌵𑌿𑌰𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌕𑍀𑌯𑌧𑌾𑌮𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇॥

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.

Verse 8

𑌅𑌹𑍋𑌽𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑍇𑌶𑌕𑍇𑌶𑌜𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌟𑍇 𑌕𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌤𑌸𑍂𑌤𑌵𑌾𑌡𑌵𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌪𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌤𑍇 𑌶𑌠𑍇 𑌨𑌟𑍇। 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌤𑌾𑌪𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌶𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇॥

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.

Verse 9

𑌇𑌦𑌂 𑌤𑍁 𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍇𑌵 𑌯𑍇 𑌸𑌦𑌾 𑌪𑌠𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌤𑍇 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌂 𑌨 𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌦𑌾। 𑌸𑍁𑌲𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌲𑌭𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑍇𑌶𑌧𑌾𑌮𑌗𑍗𑌰𑌵𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌾 𑌨𑌰𑌾 𑌨 𑌵𑍈 𑌵𑌿𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌰𑍗𑌰𑌵𑌮𑍍॥

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

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

𑌸𑌬𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍁𑌸𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍁🔊Sabindu-sindhuTogether with the sea of countless droplets (of sacred water)

𑌸𑍁𑌸𑍍𑌖𑌲𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌭𑌙𑍍𑌗🔊Suskhalat-taranga-bhangaBeautified by gently flowing waves and their breaking ripples

𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌦𑍂𑌤🔊Kritanta-dutaThe messengers of Yama (the god of death)

𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌭𑍀𑌤𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿🔊Kala-bhuta-bhiti-hariRemover of the fear of Death (Kala) and evil spirits

𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇🔊VarmadeO bestower of protective armour

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑍀𑌯𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌂🔊Tvadiya-pada-pankajamYour lotus-feet

𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿🔊NamamiI bow / I offer obeisance

𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌦𑍇🔊Devi NarmadeO Goddess Narmada

𑌕𑌲𑍗 𑌮𑌲𑍗𑌘𑌭𑌾𑌰𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿🔊Kalau malaugha-bhara-hariIn the Kali age, remover of the great burden of accumulated impurities

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊Sarva-tirtha-nayakamThe foremost (leader) of all holy pilgrimage waters

𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌗𑌭𑍀𑌰𑌨𑍀𑌰𑌪𑍂𑌰🔊Maha-gabhira-nira-puraWith a great, deep flood of waters

𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌧𑍂𑌤𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌲𑌂🔊Papa-dhuta-bhutalamWhich washes away the sins of the whole earth

𑌗𑌤𑌂 𑌤𑌦𑍈𑌵 𑌮𑍇 𑌭𑌯𑌂🔊Gatam tadaiva me bhayamMy fear vanished that very moment

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁 𑌵𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌯𑌦𑌾🔊Tvad-ambu vikshitam yadaWhen your waters were beheld

𑌮𑍃𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌡𑍁𑌸𑍂𑌨𑍁🔊Mrikandu-sunuThe son of Mrikandu (i.e. sage Markandeya)

𑌕𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌰𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌪𑍂𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌂🔊Kinnar-amar-asur-adi-pujitamWorshipped by Kinnaras, gods, demons and others

𑌭𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊Bhukti-mukti-dayakamBestower of both worldly enjoyment and liberation

𑌵𑌿𑌰𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰🔊Viranchi-vishnu-shankaraBrahma, Vishnu and Shiva

𑌦𑍁𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌤𑌾𑌪𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿🔊Duranta-papa-tapa-hariRemover of endless sins and afflictions

𑌨 𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌦𑌾🔊Na yanti durgatim kadaThey never fall into an evil state / wretched destiny

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

Repetitions3times

Best TimeAt the three sandhyas (sunrise, midday and sunset); especially on Narmada Jayanti (Magha Shukla Saptami) and while bathing in or doing parikrama of the river

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Narmada Ashtakam 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.

It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE), the great Advaita master, who composed many devotional ashtakams to deities and sacred rivers. The colophon credits 'Shrimat-Shankara-Bhagavatah'.

The Narmada is one of India's holiest rivers, said to have sprung from Lord Shiva himself. It is so sacred that, unlike other rivers which require bathing to purify, the mere sight (darshan) of the Narmada is believed to cleanse sin. Every pebble (bana-linga) from its bed is worshipped as a Shiva Linga.

Every verse ends with 'Tvadiya-pada-pankajam namami devi narmade', meaning 'O Goddess Narmada, I bow to your lotus-feet.' This repeated surrender is the heart of the hymn, expressing complete devotion to the river-goddess.

It is ideally recited three times a day (trikala), at dawn, noon and dusk, and especially on Narmada Jayanti and during the Narmada Parikrama pilgrimage. The final verse states that those who recite it at the three sandhyas never suffer a wretched fate.