kanakadhārā stotram

Sri Kanakadhara Stotram I bow to the one who is like the Mandara tree to his devotees, who is the root of Goddess Indira's (Lakshmi's) joy, who is beautiful with an abundance of immense bliss, and who has the face of an elephant (Ganesha).

May the side-glance of the Goddess of Auspiciousness (Lakshmi), which rests upon Hari (Vishnu) who wears horripilation as an ornament, just as a female bee rests upon the Tamala tree adorned with buds, and which encompasses all prosperity, bestow auspiciousness upon me. (1)

May the continuous string of glances from the Daughter of the Ocean (Lakshmi), which repeatedly and coyly comes and goes on the face of the enemy of Mura (Vishnu) with love and bashfulness, like a female bee hovering over a great blue lotus, grant me wealth. (2)

May the half-glance of Goddess Indira (Lakshmi), which is capable of conferring the status and glory of Indra, the lord of gods, and which brings immense joy even to the enemy of Mura (Vishnu), and which rivals the interior of a blue lotus, rest upon me for a moment. (3)

May the eyes of the consort of the one who sleeps on the serpent (Vishnu), whose pupils and eyelashes are half-closed in love, playfully gazing unblinkingly and joyfully at Mukunda, the root of bliss, bring me prosperity. (4)

May the garland of glances from the one who dwells in the lotus (Lakshmi), which fulfills the desires even of the Lord, and which shines like a necklace of blue sapphires on the chest of the conqueror of Madhu (Vishnu) where the Kaustubha gem rests, bring me auspiciousness. (5)

May the revered form of the daughter of Bhrigu (Lakshmi), the Mother of all the worlds, who flashes like a streak of lightning in the dark rain clouds on the beautiful chest of the enemy of Kaitabha (Vishnu) which resembles a dark cloud, grant me blessings. (6)

May that slow and languid half-glance of the daughter of the ocean (Lakshmi), by whose power Manmatha (the god of love) first attained his place in the auspicious slayer of Madhu (Vishnu), fall upon me here. (7)

May the rain-cloud of the eyes of the beloved of Narayana (Lakshmi), driven by the wind of compassion, shower the rain of wealth on this destitute and distressed little bird (me), dispelling the scorching heat of past bad karma far away forever. (8)

May the glance of the one seated on the lotus (Lakshmi), by whose compassion-drenched look even those of ordinary intellect easily attain the position of heaven, and whose brilliance matches the inside of a fully bloomed lotus, bestow my desired nourishment. (9)

Salutations to Her who is the beloved of the one Lord of the three worlds, who exists as the Goddess of Speech (Saraswati), as the beautiful consort of the one with the Garuda banner (Lakshmi), as Shakambhari (Durga), and as the beloved of the crescent-crested Lord (Parvati), playfully engaging in creation, preservation, and destruction. (10)

Salutations to Her who is Shruti (the Vedas) and the producer of the fruits of auspicious actions; salutations to Her who is Rati (Joy) and an ocean of delightful qualities. Salutations to Her who is Shakti (Power) and resides in the hundred-petaled lotus; salutations to Her who is Pushti (Nourishment) and the beloved of Purushottama. (11)

Salutations to Her whose face resembles a lotus. Salutations to Her whose birthplace is the milky ocean. Salutations to Her who is the sister of the moon and nectar. Salutations to Her who is the beloved of Narayana. (12)

O Mother with lotus-like eyes! O Venerable One! May my continuous prostrations to You, which bring wealth, delight all the senses, possess the power to grant kingdoms, and are ready to remove all sins, bless me unceasingly. (13)

I worship You with my speech, body, and mind, O Queen of Murari's heart, the practice of worshipping whose side-glance expands into all wealth and goals for the devotee. (14)

O Goddess who dwells in a lotus, who holds a lotus in Her hands, who is adorned with the whitest garments, fragrant sandalwood paste, and garlands! O Divine Mother, Beloved of Hari, captivating one who creates the prosperity of the three worlds, be pleased with me! (15)

I bow in the morning to the Mother of the worlds, the consort of the Lord of all universes, the daughter of the ocean of nectar, whose body is bathed by the directional elephants with the pure and beautiful waters of the celestial river poured from golden pitchers. (16)

O Kamala (Lakshmi)! Beloved of the lotus-eyed Lord! Please look upon me with your side-glances rippling with a flood of compassion, for I am the foremost among the destitute and the most natural recipient of your mercy. (17)

Those who praise Ramaa (Lakshmi), who is the embodiment of the three Vedas and the Mother of the three worlds, every day with these praises, become endowed with great virtues, partake in immense good fortune, and are revered by the wise on earth. (18)

Thus ends the Sri Kanakadhara Stotram composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya.