Adi Sankaracharya’s Kanaka Dhara Stotra

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Introduction

Adi Sankara was possibly one of the great saints of his time.He was born in a poor Brahmin family in Kerala. After brahmopadesa, as is usual during those times, he was asked to beg alms for his lunch. One day when he went to a Brahmin house, the lady of the house was so poor that she did not have anything to give him. She searched hard and found one small fruit of gooseberry, which she gave to Sankara the boy. He was so touched by her gesture that he sang these 21 mellifluous hymns on Goddess Lakshmi, who poured golden goose berries as rain to the poor woman’s house. Even today it is believed that poverty would be banished by singing this hymn.

1
Angam hare pulaka bhooshanamasrayanthi,
Bhringanga neva mukulabharanam thamalam,
Angikrithakhila vibhuthirapanga leela,
Mangalyadasthu mama mangala devathaya.

To the Hari who wears supreme happiness as Ornament,
The Goddess Lakshmi is attracted,
Like the black bees getting attracted,
To the unopened buds of black Tamala[1] tree,
Let her who is the Goddess of all good things,
Grant me a glance that will bring prosperity.

2
Mugdha muhurvidhadhadathi vadhane Murare,
Premathrapapranihithani gathagathani,
Mala dhrishotmadhukareeva maheth pale ya,
Sa ne sriyam dhisathu sagarasambhavaya.

Again and again return ,those glances,
Filled with hesitation and love,
Of her who is born to the ocean of milk,
To the face of Murari[2],
Like the honey bees to the pretty blue lotus,
And let those glances shower me with wealth.

3
Ameelithaksha madhigamya mudha Mukundam
Anandakandamanimeshamananga thanthram,
Akekara stiththa kaninika pashma nethram,
Bhoothyai bhavenmama bhjangasayananganaya.

With half closed eyes stares she on Mukunda[3],
Filled with happiness , shyness and the science of love,
On the ecstasy filled face with closed eyes of her Lord,
And let her , who is the wife of Him who sleeps on the snake,
Shower me with wealth.

4
Bahwanthare madhujitha srithakausthube ya,
Haravaleeva nari neela mayi vibhathi,
Kamapradha bhagavatho api kadaksha mala,
Kalyanamavahathu me kamalalayaya

He who has won over Madhu[4],
Wears the Kousthuba[5] as ornament,
And also the garland of glances, of blue Indraneela[6],
Filled with love to protect and grant wishes to Him,
Of her who lives on the lotus,
And let those also fall on me,
And grant me all that is good..

5
Kalambudhaalithorasi kaida bhare,
Dharaadhare sphurathi yaa thadinganeva,
Mathu samastha jagatham mahaneeya murthy,
Badrani me dhisathu bhargava nandanaya

Like the streak of lightning in black dark cloud,
She is shining on the dark , broad chest,
Of He who killed Kaidaba[7],
And let the eyes of the great mother of all universe,
Who is the daughter of Sage Bharghava[8],
Fallon me lightly and bring me prosperity.

6
Praptham padam pradhamatha khalu yat prabhavath,
Mangalyabhaji madhu madhini manamathena,
Mayyapadetha mathara meekshanardham,
Manthalasam cha makaralaya kanyakaya.

The God of love could only reach ,
The killer of Madhu[9],
Through the power of her kind glances,
Loaded with love and blessing
And let that side glance ,
Which is auspicious and indolent,
Fall on me.

7
Viswamarendra padhavee bramadhana dhaksham,
Ananda hethu radhikam madhu vishwoapi,
Eshanna sheedhathu mayi kshanameekshanartham,
Indhivarodhara sahodharamidhiraya

Capable of making one as king of Devas in this world,
Her side long glance of a moment,
Made Indra[10] regain his kingdom,
And is making Him who killed Madhu [11] supremely happy.
And let her with her blue lotus eyes glance me a little.