Kanakadhara Stotram (कनकधारा स्तोत्रम्)
The Kanakadhara Stotram (कनकधारा स्तोत्रम्) is a legendary hymn composed by the young Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya when he was begging for alms as a Brahmachari. Moved to tears by an impoverished elderly woman who had nothing to eat yet offered him her last withered Amla (gooseberry) with pure devotion, Shankara spontaneously sang 21 exquisite verses praising Goddess Mahalakshmi. Overjoyed by his selfless compassion, the Divine Mother showered a torrent of pure golden gooseberries (Kanakadhara) into the poor woman's hut. Reciting this hymn eradicates generational financial debt and invites sustainable prosperity.
Daily Recitation & Round Tracker
Recommendation: 1 or 3 recitations every Friday. Tap the counter each time you finish a recitation.
॥ Dhyānam (Meditation Shloka) ॥
वन्दे पद्मकरां प्रसन्नवदनां सौभाग्यदां भाग्यदां हस्ताभ्यामभयप्रदां मणिकणैर्नानाविधैर्भूषिताम् । भक्ताभीष्टफलप्रदां हरिसखीं नीलोत्पलज्येष्ठिकां श्रीमद्भाग्यवतीं प्रसन्नहृदयां देवीं परां देवताम् ॥
Vande padma-karāṁ prasanna-vadanāṁ saubhāgyadāṁ bhāgyadāṁ Hastābhyām-abhaya-pradāṁ maṇi-gaṇair-nānā-vidhair-bhūṣitām | Bhaktābhīṣṭa-phala-pradāṁ hari-sakhīṁ nīlotpala-jyeṣṭhikāṁ Śrīmad-bhāgyavatīṁ prasanna-hṛdayāṁ devīṁ parāṁ devatām ||
I bow to Goddess Mahalakshmi, holding graceful lotus blossoms in Her hands, with an ever-cheerful and serene face, the bestower of all good fortune and prosperity, granting fearlessness with Her holy hands, adorned with multifaceted gem-studded ornaments, the fulfiller of all devotees' aspirations, the eternal beloved of Lord Hari, the supreme deity radiating pure compassion.
अङ्गं हरेः पुलकभूषणमाश्रयन्ती भृङ्गाङ्गनेव मुकुलाभरणं तमालम् । अङ्गीकृताखिलविभूतिरपाङ्गलीला माङ्गल्यदास्तु मम मङ्गलदेवतायाः ॥ १ ॥
Aṅgaṁ hareḥ pulaka-bhūṣaṇam-āśrayantī Bhṛṅgāṅganeva mukulābharaṇaṁ tamālam | Aṅgīkṛtākhila-vibhūtir-apāṅga-līlā Māṅgalyadāstu mama maṅgala-devatāyāḥ || 1 ||
Just as a female bee hovers around a dark Tamala tree adorned with fresh blossoming buds, similarly the glancing play of Her eyes rests upon the blissful limbs of Lord Hari; may that glance of Goddess Lakshmi, the personification of all auspiciousness and treasure, grant supreme blessings unto me.
मुग्धा मुहुर्विदधती वदने मुरारेः प्रेमत्रपाप्रणिहितानि गतागतानि । माला दृशोर्मधुकरीव महोत्पले या सा मे श्रियं दिशतु सागरसंभवायाः ॥ २ ॥
Mugdhā muhur-vidadhatī vadane murāreḥ Prema-trapā-praṇihitāni gatāgatāni | Mālā dṛśor-madhukarīva mahotpale yā Sā me śriyaṁ diśatu sāgara-sambhavāyāḥ || 2 ||
Gazing repeatedly at the face of Murari with bashful love, withdrawing and returning like a bee fluttering over a blooming blue lotus, may that captivating glance of Goddess Lakshmi, born of the cosmic milk ocean, bestow eternal wealth upon me.
आमीलिताक्षमधिगम्य मुदा मुकुन्दम् आनन्दकन्दमनिमेषमनङ्गतन्त्रम् । आकेकरस्थितकनीनिकपक्ष्मनेत्रं भूत्यै भवेन्मम भुजङ्गशयाङ्गनायाः ॥ ३ ॥
Āmīlitākṣam-adhigamya mudā mukundam Ānanda-kandam-animeṣam-anaṅga-tantram | Ākekara-sthita-kanīnika-pakṣma-netraṁ Bhūtyai bhaven-mama bhujaṅga-śayāṅganāyāḥ || 3 ||
Beholding Mukunda, the source of supreme bliss, who rests with half-closed eyes on the cosmic serpent Shesha, may the loving, tender glance emerging from the corner of the eyes of Lord Narayana's divine consort grant me unending prosperity.
बाह्वन्तरे मधुजितः श्रितकौस्तुभे या हारावलीव हरिनीलमयी विभाति । कामप्रदा भगवतोऽपि कटाक्षमाला कल्याणमावहतु मे कमलालयायाः ॥ ४ ॥
Bāhv-antare madhu-jitaḥ śrita-kaustubhe yā Hārāvalīva hari-nīla-mayī vibhāti | Kāma-pradā bhagavato'pi kaṭākṣa-mālā Kalyāṇam-āvahatu me kamalālayāyāḥ || 4 ||
Gleaming like a garland of sapphires upon the Kaustubha-adorned chest of Lord Madhusudana, evoking divine love even in the Supreme Lord Himself, may that side-glance of Goddess Kamalalaya bestow all auspiciousness upon me.
कालाम्बुदालिललितोरसि कैटभारेर्- धाराधरे स्फुरति या तडिदङ्गनेव । मातुः समस्तजगतां महनीयमूर्तिर्- भद्राणि मे दिशतु भार्గवनन्दनायाः ॥ ५ ॥
Kālāmbu-dāli-lalitorasi kaiṭabhārer- -dhārā-dhare sphurati yā taḍid-aṅganeva | Mātuḥ samasta-jagatāṁ mahanīya-mūrtir- -bhadrāṇi me diśatu bhārgava-nandanāyāḥ || 5 ||
Flashing like a golden streak of lightning across the dark raincloud chest of Lord Vishnu, may the venerable and benevolent form of the Mother of all universes, the daughter of Sage Bhrigu, bless me with auspiciousness.
प्राप्तं पदं प्रथमतः खलु यत्प्रभावात् माङ्गल्यभाजि मधुमाथिनि मन्मथेन । मय्यापतेत्तदिह मन्थरमीक्षणार्धं मन्दालसं च मकरालयकन्यकायाः ॥ ६ ॥
Prāptaṁ padaṁ prathamataḥ khalu yat-prabhāvāt Māṅgalya-bhāji madhu-māthini manmathena | Mayy-āpatet-tad-iha mantharam-īkṣaṇārdhaṁ Mandālasaṁ ca makarālaya-kanyakāyāḥ || 6 ||
By whose wondrous grace Kamadeva attained his supreme dominion over the heart of Lord Madhusudana, may that gentle, serene, half-glance of the Ocean's daughter fall upon me.
विश्वामरेन्द्रपदविभ्रमदानदक्षम् आनन्दहेतुरधिकं मुरविद्विषोऽपि । ईषन्निषीदतु मयि क्षणमीक्षणार्धम् इन्दीवरोदरसहोदरमिन्दिरायाः ॥ ७ ॥
Viśvāmarendra-pada-vibhrama-dāna-dakṣam Ānanda-hetur-adhikaṁ mura-vidviṣo'pi | Īṣan-niṣīdatu mayi kṣaṇam-īkṣaṇārdham Indīvarodara-sahodaram-indirāyāḥ || 7 ||
Capable of granting the celestial throne of Indra and supreme glory, and ever the source of supreme bliss to Lord Krishna, may the lotus-petal gaze of Goddess Indira rest upon me for a single moment.
इष्टा विशिष्टमतयोऽपि यया दयार्द्र- दृष्ट्या त्रिविष्टपपदं सुलभं लभन्ते । दृष्टिः प्रहृष्टकमलोदरदीप्तिरिष्टां पुष्टिं कृषीष्ट मम पुष्करविष्टरायाः ॥ ८ ॥
Iṣṭā viśiṣṭa-matayo'pi yayā dayārdra- -dṛṣṭyā triviṣṭapa-padaṁ sulabhaṁ labhante | Dṛṣṭiḥ prahṛṣṭa-kamalodara-dīptir-iṣṭāṁ Puṣṭiṁ kṛṣīṣṭa mama puṣkara-viṣṭarāyāḥ || 8 ||
By whose compassionate glance even high-minded ascetics easily attain the heavenly realm, may the blooming lotus-like gaze of Goddess Kamalalaya bestow all cherished abundance upon me.
दद्याद् दयानुपवनो द्रविणाम्बुधाराम् अस्मिन्नकिञ्चनविहङ्गशिशौ विषण्णे । दुष्कर्मघर्ममपनीय चिराय दूरं नारायणप्रणयिनीनयनाम्बुवाहः ॥ ९ ॥
Dadyād dayānu-pavano draviṇāmbu-dhārām Asminn-akiñcana-vihaṅga-śiśau viṣaṇṇe | Duṣkarma-gharmam-apanīya cirāya dūraṁ Nārāyaṇa-praṇayinī-nayanāmbu-vāhaḥ || 9 ||
Just as rainclouds bring life to a parched fledgling bird, may the cloud-like eyes of Lord Narayana's consort, moved by the wind of compassion, wash away the scorch of my past karma with a torrential shower of divine wealth!
गीर्देवतेति गरुडध्वजसुन्दरीति शाकम्भरीति शशिशेखरवल्लभेति । सृष्टिस्थितिप्रलयकेलिषु संस्थितायै तस्यै नमस्त्रिभुवनैकगुरोस्तरुण्यै ॥ १० ॥
Gīr-devateti garuḍa-dhvaja-sundarīti Śākambharīti śaśi-śekhara-vallabheti | Sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-keliṣu saṁsthitāyai Tasyai namas-tribhuvanaika-guros-taruṇyai || 10 ||
Worshipped as Saraswati during creation, as Lakshmi during preservation, as Shakambhari during sustenance, and as Parvati during dissolution; salutations to that eternal maiden consort of the Teacher of the three worlds!
श्रुत्यै नमोऽस्तु शुभकर्मफलप्रसूत्यै रत्यै नमोऽस्तु रमणीयगुणार्णवायै । शक्त्यै नमोऽस्तु शतपत्रनिकेतनायै पुष्ट्यै नमोऽस्तु पुरुषोत्तमवल्लभायै ॥ ११ ॥
Śrutyai namo'stu śubha-karma-phala-prasūtyai Ratyai namo'stu ramaṇīya-guṇārṇavāyai | Śaktyai namo'stu śata-patra-niketanāyai Puṣṭyai namo'stu puruṣottama-vallabhāyai || 11 ||
Salutations to You who are the Vedas and the mother of auspicious karmic fruits! Salutations to the ocean of delightful virtues! Salutations to the supreme power dwelling in the lotus! Salutations to the beloved nourisher of Lord Purushottama!
नमोऽस्तु नालीकनिभाननायै नमोऽस्तु दुग्धोदधिजन्मभूम्यै । नमोऽस्तु सोमामृतसोदरायै नमोऽस्तु नारायणवल्लभायै ॥ १२ ॥
Namo'stu nālīka-nibhānanāyai Namo'stu dugdhodadhi-janma-bhūmyai | Namo'stu somāmṛta-sodarāyai Namo'stu nārāyaṇa-vallabhāyai || 12 ||
Salutations to the One whose face is fair as a blossoming lotus! Salutations to Her whose birthplace is the Ocean of Milk! Salutations to the sister of the Moon and Amrita! Salutations to the eternal beloved of Lord Narayana!
नमोऽस्तु हेमाम्बुजपीठिकायै नमोऽस्तु भूमण्डलनायिकायै । नमोऽस्तु देवादिदयापरायै नमोऽस्तु शार्ङ्गायुधवल्लभायै ॥ १३ ॥
Namo'stu hemāmbuja-pīṭhikāyai Namo'stu bhū-maṇḍala-nāyikāyai | Namo'stu devādi-dayā-parāyai Namo'stu śārṅgāyudha-vallabhāyai || 13 ||
Salutations to Her who is seated on a golden lotus! Salutations to the sovereign Queen of the terrestrial orb! Salutations to the compassionate savior of celestial beings! Salutations to the consort of the Wielder of the Sharnga bow!
नमोऽस्तु देव्यै भृगुनन्दनायै नमोऽस्तु विष्णोरुरसि स्थितायै । नमोऽस्तु लक्ष्म्यै कमलालयायै नमोऽस्तु दामोदरवल्लभायै ॥ १४ ॥
Namo'stu devyai bhṛgu-nandanāyai Namo'stu viṣṇor-urasi sthitāyai | Namo'stu lakṣmyai kamalālayāyai Namo'stu dāmodara-vallabhāyai || 14 ||
Salutations to Goddess Bhrigunandana! Salutations to Her who rests upon the chest of Lord Vishnu! Salutations to Lakshmi residing in the lotus! Salutations to the beloved of Lord Damodara!
नमोऽस्तु कान्त्यै कमलेक्षणायै नमोऽस्तु भूत्यै भुवनप्रसूत्यै । नमोऽस्तु देवादिभिरर्चितायै नमोऽस्तु नन्दात्मजवल्लभायै ॥ १५ ॥
Namo'stu kāntyai kamalekṣaṇāyai Namo'stu bhūtyai bhuvana-prasūtyai | Namo'stu devādibhir-arcitāyai Namo'stu nandātmaja-vallabhāyai || 15 ||
Salutations to Her who is radiant beauty with lotus eyes! Salutations to the source of cosmic abundance and mother of all universes! Salutations to Her adored by the gods! Salutations to the beloved of the son of Nanda!
सम्पत्कराणि सकलेन्द्रियनन्दनानि साम्राज्यदाननिरतानि सरोरुहाक्षि । त्वद्वन्दनानि दुरिताहरणोद्यतानि मामेव मातुरनिशं कलयन्तु मान्ये ॥ १६ ॥
Sampat-karāṇi sakalendriya-nandanāni Sāmrājya-dāna-niratāni saroruhākṣi | Tvad-vandanāni duritāharaṇodyatāni Mām-eva mātur-aniśaṁ kalayantu mānye || 16 ||
O Lotus-Eyed Mother! Salutations to You bring boundless prosperity, delight all the senses, confer earthly and heavenly empires, and dissolve all misfortune. May my heart ever remain devoted to Your worship!
यत्कटाक्षसमुपासनाविधिः सेवकस्य सकलार्थसम्पदः । संतनोति वचनाङ्गमानसैस्- त्वां मुरारिहृदयेश्वरीं भजे ॥ १७ ॥
Yat-kaṭākṣa-samupāsanā-vidhiḥ Sevakasya sakalārtha-sampadaḥ | Saṁtanoti vacanāṅga-mānasais- -tvāṁ murāri-hṛdayeśvarīṁ bhaje || 17 ||
The worship of whose gracious glance bestows upon the devotee all four goals of human life (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha); I worship You, the Queen of Murari's heart, with body, speech, and mind!
सरसिजनिलये सरोजहस्ते धवलतमांशुकगन्धमाल्यशोभे । भगवति हरिवल्लभे मनोज्ञे त्रिभुवनभूतिकरि प्रसीद मह्यम् ॥ १८ ॥
Sarāsija-nilaye saroja-haste Dhavalatām-aṁśuka-gandha-mālya-śobhe | Bhagavati hari-vallabhe manojñe Tribhuvana-bhūtikari prasīda mahyam || 18 ||
Dwelling in the lotus, holding lotuses in Your hands, adorned in purest white robes and fragrant garlands; O Divine Consort of Hari, enchanting Mother who bestows prosperity on all three worlds, be gracious unto me!
दिङ्मातङ्गैः कनककलशामर्जितास्वच्छतोयैर्- आसूक्ताभिः स्वजनिरमणीं भूरिमायूरकौपीम् । प्रातर्लक्ष्मीं जलधिकुलपुत्रीं विष्णुपत्नीं लोकामातुः प्रणमत जननीं मङ्गलं मङ्गलानाम् ॥ १९ ॥
Diṅ-mātaṅgaiḥ kanaka-kalaśām-arjitā-svaccha-toyoer- -āsūktābhiḥ sva-jani-ramaṇīṁ bhūri-māyūra-kaupīm | Prātar-lakṣmīṁ jaladhi-kula-putrīṁ viṣṇu-patnīṁ Lokā-mātuḥ praṇamata jananīṁ maṅgalaṁ maṅgalānām || 19 ||
Whom the celestial guardian elephants bathe at dawn with clear waters poured from golden urns; the ocean's noble daughter, the divine consort of Lord Vishnu, the supreme auspiciousness among all that is sacred, salutations to the Mother of the worlds!
कमले कमलावतांसकाङ्क्षी करुणाम्भोजसहोदराक्षिपद्मे । कमलासनवन्दिताङ्घ्रिपद्मे कमलानिधिं कुरु मे कृपारसेन ॥ २० ॥
Kamale kamalāvatāṁsa-kāṅkṣī Karuṇāmbhoja-sahodarākṣi-padme | Kamalāsana-vanditāṅghri-padme Kamalānidhiṁ kuru me kṛpā-rasena || 20 ||
O Dweller of the Lotus, whose eyes overflow with lotus-like compassion, whose lotus feet are worshipped by Lord Brahma; by the nectar of Your mercy, make me a vessel of boundless spiritual and material abundance!
स्तुवन्ति ये स्तुतिभिरमूमन्वहं त्रयीमयीं त्रिभुवनमातरं रमाम् । गुणाधिका गुरुतरभाग्यभागिनो भवन्ति ते भुवि भुवि भोगशालिनः ॥ २१ ॥
Stuvanti ye stutibhir-amūm-anvahaṁ Trayī-mayīṁ tribhuvana-mātaraṁ ramām | Guṇādhikā gurutara-bhāgya-bhāgino Bhavanti te bhuvi bhuvi bhoga-śālinaḥ || 21 ||
Those who daily extol Goddess Rama, the Mother of the three worlds and embodiment of the triple Vedas, through these sacred hymns, become endowed with supreme virtues, exceedingly fortunate, and enjoy supreme prosperity on this earth!
Phalaśruti (Sacred Fruits of Recitation)
Goddess Lakshmi, touched by the supreme compassion of young Adi Shankara, manifested golden gooseberries immediately. Tradition holds that whoever recites this hymn three times daily with a generous heart will never experience poverty or hunger.
Chant Sri Suktam for Wealth
Deepen your Friday Lakshmi sadhana by reading the authentic Rigvedic Sri Suktam alongside Kanakadhara.
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