ಷಡಕ್ಷರಂ ಕೃಪಾಸಿನ್ಧುಂ ನಮಾಮಿ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ॥ 1 ॥
- ಸ್ಮರಾಮಿ (smarāmi)I call to mind
- ದೇವದೇವೇಶಮ್ (devadeveśam)the lord of the lords of the gods
- ವಕ್ರತುಣ್ಡಮ್ (vakratuṇḍam)the one with the curving trunk
- ಮಹಾಬಲಮ್ (mahābalam)great in strength
- ಷಡಕ್ಷರಮ್ (ṣaḍakṣaram)the one of six syllables
- ಕೃಪಾಸಿನ್ಧುಮ್ (kṛpāsindhum)a sea of kindness
- ನಮಾಮಿ (namāmi)I bow
- ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ (ṛṇamuktaye)to be free of debt
anvaya ದೇವದೇವೇಶಮ್ ವಕ್ರತುಣ್ಡಮ್ ಮಹಾಬಲಮ್ ಷಡಕ್ಷರಮ್ ಕೃಪಾಸಿನ್ಧುಮ್ ಸ್ಮರಾಮಿ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ನಮಾಮಿ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಷಡಕ್ಷರಮ್ the one of six syllables — The six-syllable Ganapati mantra is वक्रतुण्डाय हुं, which is why the verse names the curving trunk in the line before.
ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ to be free of debt — Rina is what is owed, money first of all, but also the debts a person is born with, to the sages, the gods and the ancestors. The same word ends every verse of this hymn.
note The hymn is recited by people carrying debt. Eight of its nine verses end with the same half-line, ನಮಾಮಿ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ.
ಏಕಮೇವಾದ್ವಿತೀಯಂ ಚ ನಮಾಮಿ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ॥ 2 ॥
- ಏಕಾಕ್ಷರಮ್ (ekākṣaram)the single syllable
- ಹಿ (hi)indeed
- ಏಕದನ್ತಮ್ (ekadantam)the one with a single tusk
- ಏಕಮ್ (ekam)the one
- ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ (brahma)Brahman
- ಸನಾತನಮ್ (sanātanam)that has always been
- ಏಕಮ್ (ekam)one
- ಏವ (eva)only
- ಅದ್ವಿತೀಯಮ್ (advitīyam)with no second
- ಚ (ca)and
- ನಮಾಮಿ (namāmi)I bow
- ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ (ṛṇamuktaye)to be free of debt
anvaya ಏಕಾಕ್ಷರಮ್ ಹಿ ಏಕದನ್ತಮ್ ಏಕಮ್ ಸನಾತನಮ್ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಏಕಮ್ ಏವ ಚ ಅದ್ವಿತೀಯಮ್ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ನಮಾಮಿ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಏಕಮೇವಾದ್ವಿತೀಯಮ್ one only and with no second — The words come from the Chandogya Upanishad, where they describe what was there before anything else. The hymn hands them to Ganesha.
ಏಕಾಕ್ಷರಮ್ the single syllable — The syllable is गं, and the play is deliberate: one syllable, one tusk, one reality.
ಮಹಾವಿಘ್ನಹರಂ ಶಮ್ಭೋಃ ನಮಾಮಿ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ॥ 3 ॥
- ಮಹಾಗಣಪತಿಮ್ (mahāgaṇapatim)the great Ganapati
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ಮಹಾಸತ್ತ್ವಮ್ (mahāsattvam)of great courage
- ಮಹಾಬಲಮ್ (mahābalam)of great strength
- ಮಹಾವಿಘ್ನಹರಮ್ (mahāvighnaharam)who takes away the big obstacle
- ಶಮ್ಭೋಃ (śambhoḥ)of Shambhu
- ನಮಾಮಿ (namāmi)I bow
- ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ (ṛṇamuktaye)to be free of debt
anvaya ಮಹಾಸತ್ತ್ವಮ್ ಮಹಾಬಲಮ್ ಶಮ್ಭೋಃ ಮಹಾವಿಘ್ನಹರಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಮಹಾಗಣಪತಿಮ್ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ನಮಾಮಿ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಶಮ್ಭೋಃ of Shambhu — Shambhu is Shiva. The story behind the line is the burning of the three cities, when Shiva set out without saluting Ganesha and his chariot broke down.
note ಶಮ್ಭೋಃ can also be taken with ದೇವಮ್, making the line read 'the god who is Shambhu's son'.
ಕೃಷ್ಣಸರ್ಪೋಪವೀತಂ ಚ ನಮಾಮಿ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ॥ 4 ॥
- ಕೃಷ್ಣಾಮ್ಬರಮ್ (kṛṣṇāmbaram)dressed in black
- ಕೃಷ್ಣವರ್ಣಮ್ (kṛṣṇavarṇam)dark of body
- ಕೃಷ್ಣಗನ್ಧಾನುಲೇಪನಮ್ (kṛṣṇagandhānulepanam)smeared with dark scented paste
- ಕೃಷ್ಣಸರ್ಪೋಪವೀತಮ್ (kṛṣṇasarpopavītam)wearing a black snake as his sacred thread
- ಚ (ca)and
- ನಮಾಮಿ (namāmi)I bow
- ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ (ṛṇamuktaye)to be free of debt
anvaya ಕೃಷ್ಣಾಮ್ಬರಮ್ ಕೃಷ್ಣವರ್ಣಮ್ ಕೃಷ್ಣಗನ್ಧಾನುಲೇಪನಮ್ ಕೃಷ್ಣಸರ್ಪೋಪವೀತಮ್ ಚ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ನಮಾಮಿ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note Four verses in a row change only the colour: black here, then red, then yellow, then the grey of smoke. The reciter holds each picture in turn.
ರಕ್ತಪುಷ್ಪಪ್ರಿಯಂ ದೇವಂ ನಮಾಮಿ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ॥ 5 ॥
- ರಕ್ತಾಮ್ಬರಮ್ (raktāmbaram)dressed in red
- ರಕ್ತವರ್ಣಮ್ (raktavarṇam)red of body
- ರಕ್ತಗನ್ಧಾನುಲೇಪನಮ್ (raktagandhānulepanam)smeared with red scented paste
- ರಕ್ತಪುಷ್ಪಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ (raktapuṣpapriyam)who loves red flowers
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ನಮಾಮಿ (namāmi)I bow
- ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ (ṛṇamuktaye)to be free of debt
anvaya ರಕ್ತಾಮ್ಬರಮ್ ರಕ್ತವರ್ಣಮ್ ರಕ್ತಗನ್ಧಾನುಲೇಪನಮ್ ರಕ್ತಪುಷ್ಪಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ನಮಾಮಿ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ರಕ್ತಪುಷ್ಪ red flowers — Red hibiscus above all, the flower given to Ganesha as it is to his mother.
ಪೀತಪುಷ್ಪಪ್ರಿಯಂ ದೇವಂ ನಮಾಮಿ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ॥ 6 ॥
- ಪೀತಾಮ್ಬರಮ್ (pītāmbaram)dressed in yellow
- ಪೀತವರ್ಣಮ್ (pītavarṇam)yellow of body
- ಪೀತಗನ್ಧಾನುಲೇಪನಮ್ (pītagandhānulepanam)smeared with yellow scented paste
- ಪೀತಪುಷ್ಪಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ (pītapuṣpapriyam)who loves yellow flowers
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ನಮಾಮಿ (namāmi)I bow
- ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ (ṛṇamuktaye)to be free of debt
anvaya ಪೀತಾಮ್ಬರಮ್ ಪೀತವರ್ಣಮ್ ಪೀತಗನ್ಧಾನುಲೇಪನಮ್ ಪೀತಪುಷ್ಪಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ನಮಾಮಿ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಹೋಮಧೂಮಪ್ರಿಯಂ ದೇವಂ ನಮಾಮಿ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ॥ 7 ॥
- ಧೂಮ್ರಾಮ್ಬರಮ್ (dhūmrāmbaram)dressed in smoke-grey
- ಧೂಮ್ರವರ್ಣಮ್ (dhūmravarṇam)grey of body
- ಧೂಮ್ರಗನ್ಧಾನುಲೇಪನಮ್ (dhūmragandhānulepanam)smeared with grey scented paste
- ಹೋಮಧೂಮಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ (homadhūmapriyam)who loves the smoke of the offering fire
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ನಮಾಮಿ (namāmi)I bow
- ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ (ṛṇamuktaye)to be free of debt
anvaya ಧೂಮ್ರಾಮ್ಬರಮ್ ಧೂಮ್ರವರ್ಣಮ್ ಧೂಮ್ರಗನ್ಧಾನುಲೇಪನಮ್ ಹೋಮಧೂಮಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ನಮಾಮಿ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಹೋಮಧೂಮ the smoke of the offering fire — Homa is the offering poured into fire. The colour of this verse is the colour of that smoke, which is why the fourth line changes from flowers to smoke.
ಚಾಮರಾಲಙ್ಕೃತಂ ದೇವಂ ನಮಾಮಿ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ॥ 8 ॥
- ಫಾಲನೇತ್ರಮ್ (phālanetram)with an eye in the forehead
- ಫಾಲಚನ್ದ್ರಮ್ (phālacandram)with the moon on the forehead
- ಪಾಶಾಙ್ಕುಶಧರಮ್ (pāśāṅkuśadharam)holding the noose and the goad
- ವಿಭುಮ್ (vibhum)present everywhere
- ಚಾಮರಾಲಙ್ಕೃತಮ್ (cāmarālaṅkṛtam)set off by the whisk
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ನಮಾಮಿ (namāmi)I bow
- ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ (ṛṇamuktaye)to be free of debt
anvaya ಫಾಲನೇತ್ರಮ್ ಫಾಲಚನ್ದ್ರಮ್ ಪಾಶಾಙ್ಕುಶಧರಮ್ ವಿಭುಮ್ ಚಾಮರಾಲಙ್ಕೃತಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಯೇ ನಮಾಮಿ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಪಾಶಾಙ್ಕುಶ the noose and the goad — Two of the four things Ganapati holds. The noose draws the devotee in; the goad, the tool a mahout uses, turns the mind where it should go.
ಚಾಮರ the whisk — A yak-tail fan waved beside a king or an image, a mark of service rather than an ornament.
note ಫಾಲ is a spelling of ಭಾಲ, the forehead.
ಷಣ್ಮಾಸಾಭ್ಯನ್ತರೇಣೈವ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತೋ ಭವಿಷ್ಯತಿ ॥ 9 ॥
- ಇದಮ್ (idam)this
- ತು (tu)and
- ಋಣಹರಮ್ (ṛṇaharam)debt-clearing
- ಸ್ತೋತ್ರಮ್ (stotram)hymn
- ಸನ್ಧ್ಯಾಯಾಮ್ (sandhyāyām)at the turn of day and night
- ಯಃ (yaḥ)whoever
- ಪಠೇತ್ (paṭhet)recites
- ನರಃ (naraḥ)a man
- ಷಣ್ಮಾಸಾಭ್ಯನ್ತರೇಣ (ṣaṇmāsābhyantareṇa)within six months
- ಏವ (eva)itself
- ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಃ (ṛṇamuktaḥ)free of debt
- ಭವಿಷ್ಯತಿ (bhaviṣyati)will be
anvaya ಯಃ ನರಃ ಇದಮ್ ತು ಋಣಹರಮ್ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರಮ್ ಸನ್ಧ್ಯಾಯಾಮ್ ಪಠೇತ್ [ಸಃ] ಷಣ್ಮಾಸಾಭ್ಯನ್ತರೇಣ ಏವ ಋಣಮುಕ್ತಃ ಭವಿಷ್ಯತಿ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಸನ್ಧ್ಯಾಯಾಮ್ at the turn of day and night — Sandhya is the joint between day and night, dawn or dusk, the hour kept for prayer.
note The closing verse gives the time and the term: at sandhya, for six months.
