The playful sidelong glance of Lakṣmī rests upon the thrilled, joy-flushed body of Hari — as a lady-bee alights on the budding blossoms of a tamāla tree. She who holds all splendour, the very deity of auspiciousness — may her glance bestow every blessing upon me.
Verse 3 — मुग्धा मुहुर्विदधती वदने मुरारेः…
मुग्धा मुहुर्विदधती वदने मुरारेः प्रेमत्रपाप्रणिहितानि गतागतानि । माला दृशोर्मधुकरीव महोत्पले या सा मे श्रियं दिशतु सागरसम्भवायाः
Again and again, with tender bashfulness and love, her eyes move to and fro across Murāri's face — like a garland of bees hovering over a great blue lotus. May that gaze of the ocean-born goddess grant me prosperity.
May the grace of her who reclines beside the serpent-couched Lord be mine — she whose half-opened eyes joyfully behold Mukunda, root of all bliss, unwinking and beyond Kāma's sway, her lashes lowered in a sidelong look.
Verse 5 — बाह्वन्तरे मधुजितः श्रितकौस्तुभे या हारावलीव…
बाह्वन्तरे मधुजितः श्रितकौस्तुभे या हारावलीव हरिनीलमयी विभाति । कामप्रदा भगवतोऽपि कटाक्षमाला कल्याणमावहतु मे कमलालयायाः
Upon the breast of the Slayer of Madhu, bright with the Kaustubha gem, she shines like a sapphire necklace. May the garland of sidelong glances of the lotus-dwelling goddess — bestowing wishes even upon the Lord himself — bring me all good fortune.
On the dark rain-cloud that is the breast of Kaiṭabha's foe she glimmers like a streak of lightning — the honoured form of the Mother of all the worlds. May the daughter of Bhṛgu grant me every blessing.
By whose power Kāma first won his exalted place with the auspicious Slayer of Madhu — may that slow, half-lidded, languid sidelong glance of the ocean's daughter fall upon me here.
Skilled at conferring even the sovereign station of Indra and the gods, a source of joy greater even to the foe of Mura — may that half-glance of Indirā, sister to the heart of the blue lotus, rest on me but for a moment.
By whose compassion-moistened gaze even the dull of wit easily attain the abode of heaven — may the glance of her who sits upon the lotus, radiant as a lotus-heart in bloom, work in me the prosperity I long for.
May the rain-cloud that is the eyes of Nārāyaṇa's beloved, driven by the breeze of her mercy, pour down a stream of wealth upon this poor, despondent fledgling — washing my ill deeds far away for all time.
To her who abides through the play of creation, preservation and dissolution — called Vāc, called the lovely consort of the Garuḍa-bannered Lord, called Śākambharī, called the beloved of the moon-crested Śiva — to her, the youthful sole preceptress of the three worlds, salutations.
Salutations to Śruti, who brings forth the fruit of auspicious deeds; to Rati, ocean of lovely virtues; to Śakti, who dwells in the hundred-petalled lotus; to Puṣṭi, the beloved of Puruṣottama.
Salutations to her whose face is like the lotus; to her born of the milk-ocean's splendour; to the sister of the moon and of ambrosia; to the beloved of Nārāyaṇa.
Salutations to her seated on the golden-lotus throne; to the sovereign lady of the earth; to her ever-compassionate toward gods and all beings; to the beloved of the wielder of the Śārṅga bow.
O lotus-eyed, honoured Mother — may your acts of salutation, which bring wealth and delight to every sense, which confer the glory of empire and are eager to lift one out of sin, ever attend upon me alone.
Whose worshipful adoration through even a single sidelong glance grants the devotee every treasure — I worship you, sovereign of Murāri's heart, in word, body and mind.
O you who dwell on the lotus, lotus in hand, resplendent with dazzling white robes, fragrance and garlands — Goddess, beloved of Hari, enchanting one, bringer of prosperity to the three worlds — be gracious to me.
At dawn I bow to the Mother of all the worlds, consort of the Lord of every realm, daughter of the nectar-ocean — her form bathed in the pure, lovely waters of the celestial river poured from golden pitchers held aloft by the elephants of the quarters.
O Kamalā, beloved of the lotus-eyed Lord — with your sidelong glances rippling with waves of compassion, look upon me, the foremost and most genuine vessel of your mercy among the destitute.
Be gracious, O Goddess, sovereign of the world, Mother of all, you of auspicious form, life-lord of the lotus-eyed Hari — look each day with merciful sidelong glances upon me, a refuge-seeker whose heart is gripped by the fear of poverty.
Verse 23 — स्तुवन्ति ये स्तुतिभिरमूभिरन्वहं त्रयीमयीं…
स्तुवन्ति ये स्तुतिभिरमूभिरन्वहं त्रयीमयीं त्रिभुवनमातरं रमाम् । गुणाधिका गुरुतरभाग्यभागिनो भवन्ति ते भुवि बुधभाविताशयाः
stuvanti ye stutibhiramūbhiranvahaṃ trayīmayīṃ tribhuvanamātaraṃ ramām | guṇādhikā gurutarabhāgyabhāgino bhavanti te bhuvi budhabhāvitāśayāḥ
Those who day after day praise with these hymns Ramā — embodiment of the three Vedas, Mother of the three worlds — become rich in virtue, blessed with abundant fortune, and honoured on earth as the wise.
About Kanakadhārā Stotra
Kanakadhārā Stotra is a Sanskrit stotra, composed by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, addressed to Lakshmi — a Stotra. It is presented here in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, each verse with its English meaning. Source text: Sanskrit Wikisource.
Also known as: Angam Hare, Kanakadhara Stotram.
The preeminent Advaita Vedānta ācārya and a prolific composer of devotional stotras revered across the Hindu traditions.
Kanakadhārā Stotra is a 22-verse hymn to Mahālakṣmī, the goddess of wealth, traditionally attributed to Ādi Śaṅkarācārya. It opens with the line "Aṅgaṃ Hare" and is recited to invoke prosperity and the goddess's grace.
Who wrote the Kanakadhara Stotram and why?
Tradition attributes Kanakadhārā Stotra to Ādi Śaṅkarācārya. The story runs that the young Śaṅkara, begging at the door of a poor Brahmin woman, saw her offer her last gooseberry, and in gratitude composed this hymn — whereupon Mahālakṣmī answered with a shower of golden gooseberries (kanakadhārā means "a stream of gold").
What is the meaning of Angam Hare?
"Aṅgaṃ Hare" is the opening phrase of Kanakadhārā Stotra: it addresses the goddess herself, praising the beauty of her body and form. It is the incipit by which the hymn is widely known and searched.
How do I read the Kanakadhara Stotram on Avabodhak?
Every verse of Kanakadhārā Stotra is shown in Devanagari, Roman (IAST) and English meaning, line by line. Free to read, no login required; the practice view replays the hymn for chanting or memorising.