ଯତୋ ଜାତଂ ଵିଶ୍ଵସ୍ଥିତିମପି ସଦା ଯତ୍ର ଵିଲଯଃ ସକୀଦୃଗ୍ଗୀର୍ଵାଣଃ ସୁନିଗମ ନୁତଃ ଶ୍ରୀଗଣପତିଃ ॥ 1 ॥
- ଅନିର୍ଵାଚ୍ଯମ୍ (anirvācyam)which cannot be put into words
- ରୂପମ୍ (rūpam)the form
- ସ୍ତଵନନିକରଃ (stavananikaraḥ)the whole heap of praise
- ଯତ୍ର (yatra)on which
- ଗଲିତଃ (galitaḥ)slips off
- ତଥା (tathā)even so
- ଵକ୍ଷ୍ଯେ (vakṣye)I shall speak
- ସ୍ତୋତ୍ରମ୍ (stotram)a hymn
- ପ୍ରଥମପୁରୁଷସ୍ଯ (prathamapuruṣasya)of the First Person
- ଅତ୍ର (atra)here
- ମହତଃ (mahataḥ)the great one
- ଯତଃ (yataḥ)from whom
- ଜାତମ୍ (jātam)is born
- ଵିଶ୍ଵସ୍ଥିତିମ୍ (viśvasthitim)the standing of the world
- ଅପି (api)as well
- ସଦା (sadā)always
- ଯତ୍ର (yatra)in whom
- ଵିଲଯଃ (vilayaḥ)the ending
- ସଃ (saḥ)he
- କୀଦୃକ୍ (kīdṛk)of what kind
- ଗୀର୍ଵାଣଃ (gīrvāṇaḥ)a god
- ସୁନିଗମନୁତଃ (sunigamanutaḥ)praised by the good scriptures
- ଶ୍ରୀଗଣପତିଃ (śrīgaṇapatiḥ)Shri Ganapati
anvaya ଯତ୍ର ସ୍ତଵନନିକରଃ ଗଲିତଃ [ତସ୍ଯ] ରୂପମ୍ ଅନିର୍ଵାଚ୍ଯମ୍ ତଥା ଅତ୍ର ମହତଃ ପ୍ରଥମପୁରୁଷସ୍ଯ ସ୍ତୋତ୍ରମ୍ ଵକ୍ଷ୍ଯେ ଯତଃ [ଵିଶ୍ଵମ୍] ଜାତମ୍ ଵିଶ୍ଵସ୍ଥିତିମ୍ ଅପି ଯତ୍ର ସଦା ଵିଲଯଃ ସୁନିଗମନୁତଃ ଶ୍ରୀଗଣପତିଃ ସଃ କୀଦୃକ୍ ଗୀର୍ଵାଣଃ
chandas Śikhariṇī, 17 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ପ୍ରଥମପୁରୁଷସ୍ଯ of the First Person — The one who was there before anything else. The hymn opens by putting Ganapati in that place.
ଗୀର୍ଵାଣଃ a god — Literally one whose arrow is speech. The gods are so called because their word alone does the work.
note Mahimna means greatness. The hymn spends its first four verses on the name itself, syllable by syllable, before it describes the god.
ସ ଚେଶଶ୍ଚୋତ୍ପତ୍ତି ସ୍ଥିତି ଲଯ କରୋଯଂ ପ୍ରମଥକୋ ଯତୋଭୂତଂ ଭଵ୍ଯଂ ଭଵତି ପତିରୀଶୋ ଗଣପତିଃ ॥ 2 ॥
- ଗକାରଃ (gakāraḥ)the syllable ga
- ହେରମ୍ବଃ (herambaḥ)is Heramba
- ସଗୁଣଃ (saguṇaḥ)having qualities
- ଇତି (iti)so
- ପୁମ୍ (pum)the Person
- ନିର୍ଗୁଣମଯଃ (nirguṇamayaḥ)made of what has no qualities
- ଦ୍ଵିଧା (dvidhā)in two
- ଅପି (api)though
- ଏକଃ (ekaḥ)one
- ଜାତଃ (jātaḥ)was born
- ପ୍ରକୃତିପୁରୁଷଃ (prakṛtipuruṣaḥ)nature and person together
- ବ୍ରହ୍ମ (brahma)Brahman
- ହି (hi)indeed
- ଗଣଃ (gaṇaḥ)is gana
- ସଃ (saḥ)he
- ଚ (ca)and
- ଈଶଃ (īśaḥ)the lord
- ଚ (ca)and
- ଉତ୍ପତ୍ତିସ୍ଥିତିଲଯକରଃ (utpattisthitilayakaraḥ)who makes the rising, the standing and the ending
- ଅଯମ୍ (ayam)this one
- ପ୍ରମଥକଃ (pramathakaḥ)the one who crushes
- ଯତଃ (yataḥ)since from him
- ଭୂତମ୍ (bhūtam)what has been
- ଭଵ୍ଯମ୍ (bhavyam)what is to be
- ଭଵତି (bhavati)comes to be
- ପତିଃ (patiḥ)the master
- ଈଶଃ (īśaḥ)the lord
- ଗଣପତିଃ (gaṇapatiḥ)Ganapati
anvaya ଗକାରଃ ସଗୁଣଃ ହେରମ୍ବଃ ଇତି ପୁମ୍ ନିର୍ଗୁଣମଯଃ ଦ୍ଵିଧା ଅପି ଏକଃ ଜାତଃ ପ୍ରକୃତିପୁରୁଷଃ ବ୍ରହ୍ମ ହି ଗଣଃ ସଃ ଚ ଈଶଃ ଚ ଅଯମ୍ ଉତ୍ପତ୍ତିସ୍ଥିତିଲଯକରଃ ପ୍ରମଥକଃ ଯତଃ ଭୂତମ୍ ଭଵ୍ଯମ୍ ଭଵତି [ସଃ] ପତିଃ ଈଶଃ ଗଣପତିଃ
chandas Śikhariṇī, 17 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ସଗୁଣ having qualities — Saguna is god with form and quality, the one who can be pictured and served; nirguna is the same reality with nothing said of it.
ପ୍ରମଥକଃ the one who crushes — Pramatha is also the name of Shiva's rough band of followers. Read that way, the word makes him their chief.
note The name is split: ga stands for the god with qualities, na for the one without, and gana for the two held together.
ଅଧୋଭାଵଃ କଟ୍ଯାଂ ଚରଣ ଇତି ହୀଶୋସ୍ଯ ଚ ତମଃ ଵିଭାତୀତ୍ଥଂ ନାମ ତ୍ରିଭୁଵନ ସମଂ ଭୂ ର୍ଭୁଵ ସ୍ସୁଵଃ ॥ 3 ॥
- ଗକାରଃ (gakāraḥ)the syllable ga
- କଣ୍ଠୋର୍ଧ୍ଵମ୍ (kaṇṭhordhvam)above the neck
- ଗଜମୁଖସମଃ (gajamukhasamaḥ)shaped like an elephant's face
- ମର୍ତ୍ଯସଦୃଶଃ (martyasadṛśaḥ)like a man
- ଣକାରଃ (ṇakāraḥ)the syllable na
- କଣ୍ଠାଧଃ (kaṇṭhādhaḥ)below the neck
- ଜଠରସଦୃଶାକାରଃ (jaṭharasadṛśākāraḥ)shaped like the belly
- ଇତି (iti)so
- ଚ (ca)and
- ଅଧୋଭାଵଃ (adhobhāvaḥ)what lies lower
- କଟ୍ଯାମ୍ (kaṭyām)at the hips
- ଚରଣଃ (caraṇaḥ)the feet
- ଇତି (iti)so
- ହି (hi)indeed
- ଈଶଃ (īśaḥ)the lord
- ଅସ୍ଯ (asya)his
- ଚ (ca)and
- ତମଃ (tamaḥ)darkness
- ଵିଭାତି (vibhāti)shines out
- ଇତ୍ଥମ୍ (ittham)in this way
- ନାମ (nāma)the name
- ତ୍ରିଭୁଵନସମମ୍ (tribhuvanasamam)matching the three worlds
- ଭୂଃ (bhūḥ)earth
- ଭୁଵଃ (bhuvaḥ)the air between
- ସୁଵଃ (suvaḥ)heaven
anvaya ଗକାରଃ କଣ୍ଠୋର୍ଧ୍ଵମ୍ ଗଜମୁଖସମଃ ଣକାରଃ କଣ୍ଠାଧଃ ମର୍ତ୍ଯସଦୃଶଃ ଜଠରସଦୃଶାକାରଃ ଇତି ଚ ଅଧୋଭାଵଃ କଟ୍ଯାମ୍ ଚରଣଃ ଇତି ହି ଅସ୍ଯ ଈଶଃ ଚ ତମଃ ଇତ୍ଥମ୍ ନାମ ତ୍ରିଭୁଵନସମମ୍ ଭୂଃ ଭୁଵଃ ସୁଵଃ ଵିଭାତି
chandas Śikhariṇī, 17 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ଭୂର୍ଭୁଵସ୍ସୁଵଃ earth, the air between, and heaven — The three calls of the Gayatri. The verse maps the god's body onto them: head, trunk and legs.
ତମଃ darkness — Tamas is the heavy, dark strand of nature. It sits at the bottom of the body as it sits at the bottom of the world.
ଵରାନୀଶୋ ଢୁଣ୍ଢିର୍ଗଜଵଦନ ନାମା ଶିଵସୁତୋ ମଯୂରେଶୋ ଗୌରୀତନଯ ଇତି ନାମାନି ପଠତି ॥ 4 ॥
- ଗଣାଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷଃ (gaṇādhyakṣaḥ)overseer of the ganas
- ଜ୍ଯେଷ୍ଠଃ (jyeṣṭhaḥ)the eldest
- କପିଲଃ (kapilaḥ)the tawny one
- ଅପରଃ (aparaḥ)and again
- ମଙ୍ଗଲନିଧିଃ (maṅgalanidhiḥ)the store of good fortune
- ଦଯାଲୁଃ (dayāluḥ)the kind one
- ହେରମ୍ବଃ (herambaḥ)Heramba
- ଵରଦଃ (varadaḥ)giver of boons
- ଇତି (iti)so
- ଚିନ୍ତାମଣିଃ (cintāmaṇiḥ)the wishing gem
- ଅଜଃ (ajaḥ)the unborn
- ଵରାନୀଶଃ (varānīśaḥ)lord of boons
- ଢୁଣ୍ଢିଃ (ḍhuṇḍhiḥ)Dhundhi
- ଗଜଵଦନନାମା (gajavadananāmā)he whose name is Elephant-face
- ଶିଵସୁତଃ (śivasutaḥ)son of Shiva
- ମଯୂରେଶଃ (mayūreśaḥ)Mayuresha
- ଗୌରୀତନଯଃ (gaurītanayaḥ)son of Gauri
- ଇତି (iti)these
- ନାମାନି (nāmāni)names
- ପଠତି (paṭhati)one recites
anvaya ଗଣାଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷଃ ଜ୍ଯେଷ୍ଠଃ କପିଲଃ ଅପରଃ ମଙ୍ଗଲନିଧିଃ ଦଯାଲୁଃ ହେରମ୍ବଃ ଵରଦଃ ଇତି ଚିନ୍ତାମଣିଃ ଅଜଃ ଵରାନୀଶଃ ଢୁଣ୍ଢିଃ ଗଜଵଦନନାମା ଶିଵସୁତଃ ମଯୂରେଶଃ ଗୌରୀତନଯଃ ଇତି ନାମାନି ପଠତି
chandas Śikhariṇī, 17 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ଚିନ୍ତାମଣିଃ the wishing gem — The stone that gives whatever is thought of. It is also the name of the Ganesha at Theur, one of the eight in Maharashtra.
ଢୁଣ୍ଢିଃ Dhundhi — The name of the Ganesha who stands at the door of the Vishvanatha temple in Kashi. It carries the sense of the one who is searched for.
ମଯୂରେଶଃ Mayuresha — The Ganesha of Morgaon, who rides a peacock in that story.
note ଚିନ୍ତାମଣି ରଜଃ is printed with a break; it is read ଚିନ୍ତାମଣିଃ ଅଜଃ. ଵରାନୀଶଃ is read ଵରାନ୍ ଈଶଃ, lord of boons; copies differ here.
କୁଜସ୍ତାରଃ ଶୁକ୍ରୋ ପୁରୁରୁଡୁ ବୁଧୋଗୁଚ୍ଚ ଧନଦୋ ଯମଃ ପାଶୀ କାଵ୍ଯଃ ଶନିରଖିଲ ରୂପୋ ଗଣପତିଃ ॥5 ॥
- ମହେଶଃ (maheśaḥ)Mahesha
- ଅଯମ୍ (ayam)he
- ଵିଷ୍ଣୁଃ (viṣṇuḥ)Vishnu
- ସଃ (saḥ)he
- କଵିଃ (kaviḥ)the seer
- ରଵିଃ (raviḥ)the sun
- ଇନ୍ଦୁଃ (induḥ)the moon
- କମଲଜଃ (kamalajaḥ)the lotus-born, Brahma
- କ୍ଷିତିଃ (kṣitiḥ)earth
- ତୋଯମ୍ (toyam)water
- ଵହ୍ନିଃ (vahniḥ)fire
- ଶ୍ଵସନଃ (śvasanaḥ)wind
- ଇତି (iti)and
- ଖମ୍ (kham)space
- ତୁ (tu)too
- ଅଦ୍ରିଃ (adriḥ)the mountain
- ଉଦଧିଃ (udadhiḥ)the sea
- କୁଜଃ (kujaḥ)Mars
- ତାରଃ (tāraḥ)the stars
- ଶୁକ୍ରଃ (śukraḥ)Venus
- ଗୁରୁଃ (guruḥ)Jupiter
- ଉଡୁ (uḍu)the constellations
- ବୁଧଃ (budhaḥ)Mercury
- ଚ (ca)and
- ଧନଦଃ (dhanadaḥ)the giver of wealth, Kubera
- ଯମଃ (yamaḥ)Yama
- ପାଶୀ (pāśī)the one with the noose
- କାଵ୍ଯଃ (kāvyaḥ)Shukra
- ଶନିଃ (śaniḥ)Shani
- ଅଖିଲରୂପଃ (akhilarūpaḥ)having the form of everything
- ଗଣପତିଃ (gaṇapatiḥ)Ganapati
anvaya ଅଯମ୍ ମହେଶଃ ଵିଷ୍ଣୁଃ ସଃ କଵିଃ ରଵିଃ ଇନ୍ଦୁଃ କମଲଜଃ କ୍ଷିତିଃ ତୋଯମ୍ ଵହ୍ନିଃ ଶ୍ଵସନଃ ଇତି ଖମ୍ ତୁ ଅଦ୍ରିଃ ଉଦଧିଃ କୁଜଃ ତାରଃ ଶୁକ୍ରଃ ଗୁରୁଃ ଉଡୁ ବୁଧଃ ଚ ଧନଦଃ ଯମଃ ପାଶୀ କାଵ୍ଯଃ ଶନିଃ [ଇତି] ଗଣପତିଃ ଅଖିଲରୂପଃ
chandas Śikhariṇī, 17 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ପାଶୀ the one with the noose — Varuna, who binds with his noose. He guards the west.
କାଵ୍ଯଃ Shukra — The son of Kavi Ushanas, teacher of the asuras, who is also the planet Venus.
note The third line is printed unevenly. ପୁରୁରୁଡୁ is read ଗୁରୁରୁଡୁ, Jupiter and the constellations, and one syllable after ବୁଧୋ is garbled past reading, so it is left unglossed.
କରୌ ଶୁକ୍ରଃ କଟ୍ଯାମଵନିରୁଦରଂ ଭାତି ଦଶନଂ ଗଣେଶସ୍ଯାସନ୍ ଵୈ କ୍ରତୁମଯ ଵପୁ ଶ୍ଚୈଵ ସକଲମ୍ ॥ 6 ॥
- ମୁଖମ୍ (mukham)the mouth
- ଵହ୍ନିଃ (vahniḥ)fire
- ପାଦୌ (pādau)the two feet
- ହରିଃ (hariḥ)Hari
- ଅସି (asi)you are
- ଵିଧାତା (vidhātā)the maker
- ପ୍ରଜନନମ୍ (prajananam)the power to bring forth
- ରଵିଃ (raviḥ)the sun
- ନେତ୍ରେ (netre)the two eyes
- ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରଃ (candraḥ)the moon
- ହୃଦଯମ୍ (hṛdayam)the heart
- ଅପି (api)as well
- କାମଃ (kāmaḥ)longing
- ଅସ୍ଯ (asya)his
- ମଦନଃ (madanaḥ)Madana
- କରୌ (karau)the two hands
- ଶୁକ୍ରଃ (śukraḥ)Venus
- କଟ୍ଯାମ୍ (kaṭyām)at the hips
- ଅଵନିଃ (avaniḥ)the earth
- ଉଦରମ୍ (udaram)the belly
- ଭାତି (bhāti)shines
- ଦଶନମ୍ (daśanam)the tusk
- ଗଣେଶସ୍ଯ (gaṇeśasya)of Ganesha
- ଆସନ୍ (āsan)were
- ଵୈ (vai)indeed
- କ୍ରତୁମଯମ୍ (kratumayam)made of sacrifice
- ଵପୁଃ (vapuḥ)the body
- ଚ (ca)and
- ଏଵ (eva)itself
- ସକଲମ୍ (sakalam)the whole of it
anvaya ମୁଖମ୍ ଵହ୍ନିଃ ପାଦୌ ହରିଃ ଅସି ଵିଧାତା ପ୍ରଜନନମ୍ ରଵିଃ ନେତ୍ରେ ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରଃ ହୃଦଯମ୍ ଅପି ଅସ୍ଯ କାମଃ ମଦନଃ କରୌ ଶୁକ୍ରଃ କଟ୍ଯାମ୍ ଅଵନିଃ ଉଦରମ୍ ଦଶନମ୍ ଚ ଭାତି ଏଵ ସକଲମ୍ କ୍ରତୁମଯମ୍ ଵପୁଃ ଵୈ ଗଣେଶସ୍ଯ ଆସନ୍
chandas Śikhariṇī, 17 syllables in each of 4 pādas
କ୍ରତୁମଯମ୍ made of sacrifice — Kratu is the rite itself. The line follows the Purusha Sukta, where the world is built out of one offering.
ମଦନଃ Madana — The god of desire, Kama, who is longing given a body.
note The verse takes the old Vedic picture of the cosmic Person and gives the body to Ganesha.
ସମର୍ଚତ୍ଯୁତ୍ସାହଃ ପ୍ରଭଵତି ମହାନ୍ ସର୍ଵସଦନେ ଵିଲୋକ୍ଯାନନ୍ଦସ୍ତାଂ ପ୍ରଭଵତି ନୃଣାଂ ଵିସ୍ମଯ ଇତି ॥7 ॥
- ସିତେ (site)in the bright fortnight
- ଭାଦ୍ରେ (bhādre)of Bhadrapada
- ମାସେ (māse)in the month
- ପ୍ରତିଶରଦି (pratiśaradi)year after year
- ମଧ୍ଯାହ୍ନସମଯେ (madhyāhnasamaye)at midday
- ମୃଦଃ (mṛdaḥ)of clay
- ମୂର୍ତିମ୍ (mūrtim)an image
- କୃତ୍ଵା (kṛtvā)having made
- ଗଣପତିତିଥୌ (gaṇapatitithau)on Ganapati's day
- ଢୁଣ୍ଢିସଦୃଶୀମ୍ (ḍhuṇḍhisadṛśīm)in Dhundhi's likeness
- ସମର୍ଚତି (samarcati)worships it
- ଉତ୍ସାହଃ (utsāhaḥ)high spirits
- ପ୍ରଭଵତି (prabhavati)rise
- ମହାନ୍ (mahān)great
- ସର୍ଵସଦନେ (sarvasadane)in every house
- ଵିଲୋକ୍ଯ (vilokya)on seeing
- ଆନନ୍ଦଃ (ānandaḥ)joy
- ତାମ୍ (tām)at it
- ପ୍ରଭଵତି (prabhavati)rises
- ନୃଣାମ୍ (nṛṇām)in people
- ଵିସ୍ମଯଃ (vismayaḥ)wonder
- ଇତି (iti)so
anvaya ପ୍ରତିଶରଦି ଭାଦ୍ରେ ମାସେ ସିତେ ଗଣପତିତିଥୌ ମଧ୍ଯାହ୍ନସମଯେ ମୃଦଃ ଢୁଣ୍ଢିସଦୃଶୀମ୍ ମୂର୍ତିମ୍ କୃତ୍ଵା ସମର୍ଚତି [ତଦା] ସର୍ଵସଦନେ ମହାନ୍ ଉତ୍ସାହଃ ପ୍ରଭଵତି ତାମ୍ ଵିଲୋକ୍ଯ ନୃଣାମ୍ ଆନନ୍ଦଃ ଵିସ୍ମଯଃ ଇତି ପ୍ରଭଵତି
chandas Śikhariṇī, 17 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ଗଣପତିତିଥୌ on Ganapati's day — The fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada, kept as Ganesh Chaturthi.
ମୃଦଃ of clay — The image is made of earth so that it can be given back to the water at the end of the days of worship.
note The festival described here is the one still kept every year, with the clay image, the midday worship, and the crowds who come to look.
କ୍ଲେଶା ଲଯଂ ଯାନ୍ତି ଲଭେଚ୍ଚ ଶୀଘ୍ରଂ ଶ୍ରୀପୁତ୍ତ୍ର ଵିଦ୍ଯାର୍ଥି ଗୃହଂ ଚ ମୁକ୍ତିମ୍ ॥ 8 ॥
- ଗଣେଶଦେଵସ୍ଯ (gaṇeśadevasya)of lord Ganesha
- ମାହାତ୍ମ୍ଯମ୍ (māhātmyam)the greatness
- ଏତତ୍ (etat)this
- ଯଃ (yaḥ)whoever
- ଶ୍ରାଵଯେତ୍ (śrāvayet)reads it aloud for others
- ଵା (vā)or
- ଅପି (api)even
- ପଠେତ୍ (paṭhet)reads it
- ଚ (ca)and
- ତସ୍ଯ (tasya)his
- କ୍ଲେଶାଃ (kleśāḥ)troubles
- ଲଯମ୍ (layam)an end
- ଯାନ୍ତି (yānti)come to
- ଲଭେତ୍ (labhet)he gains
- ଚ (ca)and
- ଶୀଘ୍ରମ୍ (śīghram)soon
- ଶ୍ରୀପୁତ୍ରଵିଦ୍ଯାର୍ଥଗୃହମ୍ (śrīputravidyārthagṛham)wealth, children, learning, means and a home
- ଚ (ca)and
- ମୁକ୍ତିମ୍ (muktim)freedom
anvaya ଯଃ ଗଣେଶଦେଵସ୍ଯ ଏତତ୍ ମାହାତ୍ମ୍ଯମ୍ ଶ୍ରାଵଯେତ୍ ଵା ଅପି ପଠେତ୍ ଚ ତସ୍ଯ କ୍ଲେଶାଃ ଲଯମ୍ ଯାନ୍ତି ଶୀଘ୍ରମ୍ ଚ ଶ୍ରୀପୁତ୍ରଵିଦ୍ଯାର୍ଥଗୃହମ୍ ଚ ମୁକ୍ତିମ୍ ଲଭେତ୍
chandas Upajāti, 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note The metre changes for the closing verse, as it often does. ଶ୍ରୀପୁତ୍ତ୍ର ଵିଦ୍ଯାର୍ଥି ଗୃହଂ is printed with breaks; it is read as one compound.