- ಶ್ರೀವಿನಾಯಕಾಷ್ಟಕಮ್ (śrīvināyakāṣṭakam)the Shri Vinayaka Ashtakam, the eight verses to Vinayaka
anvaya ಶ್ರೀವಿನಾಯಕಾಷ್ಟಕಮ್
ಅಷ್ಟಕಮ್ the eight verses — An ashtaka is a set of eight. Here each of the eight is built on one rhyming sound, and the sound changes when the verse does.
note The hymn is a feat of rhyme before it is anything else: within a verse every line closes on the same syllable.
ಶಿರಃಶ್ರೀಮದಿನ್ದುಂ ಶ್ರಿತಶ್ರೀಮುಕುನ್ದಮ್ ।
ಬೃಹಚ್ಚಾರುತುನ್ದಂ ಸ್ತುತಶ್ರೀಸನನ್ದಂ
ಜಟಾಹೀನ್ದ್ರಕುನ್ದಂ ಭಜೇಽಭೀಷ್ಟಸನ್ದಮ್ ॥ ೧॥
- ನಮದ್ದೇವವೃನ್ದಮ್ (namaddevavṛndam)before whom the host of gods bows
- ಲಸದ್ವೇದಕನ್ದಮ್ (lasadvedakandam)the shining root of the Veda
- ಶಿರಃಶ್ರೀಮದಿನ್ದುಮ್ (śiraḥśrīmadindum)with the fine moon on his head
- ಶ್ರಿತಶ್ರೀಮುಕುನ್ದಮ್ (śritaśrīmukundam)to whom Shri and Mukunda have come
- ಬೃಹಚ್ಚಾರುತುನ್ದಮ್ (bṛhaccārutundam)whose belly is big and handsome
- ಸ್ತುತಶ್ರೀಸನನ್ದಮ್ (stutaśrīsanandam)praised by the blessed Sanandana
- ಜಟಾಹೀನ್ದ್ರಕುನ್ದಮ್ (jaṭāhīndrakundam)with the king of snakes and jasmine in his matted hair
- ಭಜೇ (bhaje)I worship
- ಅಭೀಷ್ಟಸನ್ದಮ್ (abhīṣṭasandam)the giver of what is longed for
anvaya ನಮದ್ದೇವವೃನ್ದಮ್ ಲಸದ್ವೇದಕನ್ದಮ್ ಶಿರಃಶ್ರೀಮದಿನ್ದುಮ್ ಶ್ರಿತಶ್ರೀಮುಕುನ್ದಮ್ ಬೃಹಚ್ಚಾರುತುನ್ದಮ್ ಸ್ತುತಶ್ರೀಸನನ್ದಮ್ ಜಟಾಹೀನ್ದ್ರಕುನ್ದಮ್ ಅಭೀಷ್ಟಸನ್ದಮ್ ಭಜೇ
chandas Bhujaṅgaprayāta, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ವೇದಕನ್ದಮ್ the root of the Veda — Kanda is the bulb a plant grows from. The Veda is pictured as a plant and he as the bulb under it.
ಸನನ್ದಮ್ Sanandana — One of the four boy-sages born from Brahma's mind, who stayed children and knew everything.
note Every line of this verse ends in -ನ್ದಮ್.
ಸದಾನನ್ದಮಾತ್ರಂ ಮಹಾಭಕ್ತಮಿತ್ರಮ್ ।
ಶರಚ್ಚನ್ದ್ರವಕ್ತ್ರಂ ತ್ರಯೀಪೂತಪಾತ್ರಂ
ಸಮಸ್ತಾರ್ತ್ತಿದಾತ್ರಂ ಭಜೇ ಶಕ್ತಿಪುತ್ರಮ್ ॥ ೨॥
- ಕಿಲದ್ದೇವಗೋತ್ರಮ್ (kiladdevagotram)around whom the family of gods is glad
- ಕನದ್ಧೇಮಗಾತ್ರಮ್ (kanaddhemagātram)whose body shines like gold
- ಸದಾನನ್ದಮಾತ್ರಮ್ (sadānandamātram)who is nothing but unending joy
- ಮಹಾಭಕ್ತಮಿತ್ರಮ್ (mahābhaktamitram)friend to those who love him most
- ಶರಚ್ಚನ್ದ್ರವಕ್ತ್ರಮ್ (śaraccandravaktram)whose face is the autumn moon
- ತ್ರಯೀಪೂತಪಾತ್ರಮ್ (trayīpūtapātram)the vessel the three Vedas have made clean
- ಸಮಸ್ತಾರ್ತ್ತಿದಾತ್ರಮ್ (samastārttidātram)the sickle that cuts down every pain
- ಭಜೇ (bhaje)I worship
- ಶಕ್ತಿಪುತ್ರಮ್ (śaktiputram)the son of Shakti
anvaya ಕಿಲದ್ದೇವಗೋತ್ರಮ್ ಕನದ್ಧೇಮಗಾತ್ರಮ್ ಸದಾನನ್ದಮಾತ್ರಮ್ ಮಹಾಭಕ್ತಮಿತ್ರಮ್ ಶರಚ್ಚನ್ದ್ರವಕ್ತ್ರಮ್ ತ್ರಯೀಪೂತಪಾತ್ರಮ್ ಸಮಸ್ತಾರ್ತ್ತಿದಾತ್ರಮ್ ಶಕ್ತಿಪುತ್ರಮ್ ಭಜೇ
chandas Bhujaṅgaprayāta, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ದಾತ್ರಮ್ a sickle — Datra is the curved blade used for reaping. The same spelling can be read as giver, but a sickle for pain is what fits the line.
ತ್ರಯೀ the three Vedas — Rig, Yajus and Saman together, called simply the three.
note Every line of this verse ends in -ತ್ರಮ್.
ಗಲಾಮ್ಭೋದಕಾಲಂ ಸದಾ ದಾನಶೀಲಮ್ ।
ಸುರಾರಾತಿಕಾಲಂ ಮಹೇಶಾತ್ಮಬಾಲಂ
ಲಸತ್ಪುಣ್ಡ್ರಭಾಲಂ ಭಜೇ ಲೋಕಮೂಲಮ್ ॥ ೩॥
- ಗಲದ್ದಾನಮಾಲಮ್ (galaddānamālam)down whom the must runs in a line
- ಚಲದ್ಭೋಗಿಮಾಲಮ್ (caladbhogimālam)on whom a garland of snakes moves
- ಗಲಾಮ್ಭೋದಕಾಲಮ್ (galāmbhodakālam)whose throat is dark as a rain cloud
- ಸದಾ (sadā)always
- ದಾನಶೀಲಮ್ (dānaśīlam)given to giving
- ಸುರಾರಾತಿಕಾಲಮ್ (surārātikālam)death to the enemies of the gods
- ಮಹೇಶಾತ್ಮಬಾಲಮ್ (maheśātmabālam)the very child of Mahesha
- ಲಸತ್ಪುಣ್ಡ್ರಭಾಲಮ್ (lasatpuṇḍrabhālam)with a bright mark on his brow
- ಭಜೇ (bhaje)I worship
- ಲೋಕಮೂಲಮ್ (lokamūlam)the root of the world
anvaya ಗಲದ್ದಾನಮಾಲಮ್ ಚಲದ್ಭೋಗಿಮಾಲಮ್ ಗಲಾಮ್ಭೋದಕಾಲಮ್ ಸದಾ ದಾನಶೀಲಮ್ ಸುರಾರಾತಿಕಾಲಮ್ ಮಹೇಶಾತ್ಮಬಾಲಮ್ ಲಸತ್ಪುಣ್ಡ್ರಭಾಲಮ್ ಲೋಕಮೂಲಮ್ ಭಜೇ
chandas Bhujaṅgaprayāta, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ದಾನ must, and giving — Dana is both the fluid that runs from an elephant's temples and the act of giving. The verse uses it in both senses two lines apart, and means the pun.
note Every line of this verse ends in -ಲಮ್.
ಸುರಶ್ರೀವಿಚಾರಂ ಹೃತಾರ್ತ್ತಾರಿಭಾರಮ್ ।
ಕಟೇ ದಾನಪೂರಂ ಜಟಾಭೋಗಿಪೂರಂ
ಕಲಾಬಿನ್ದುತಾರಂ ಭಜೇ ಶೈವವೀರಮ್ ॥ ೪॥
- ಉರಸ್ತಾರಹಾರಮ್ (urastārahāram)with a string of pearls on his chest
- ಶರಚ್ಚನ್ದ್ರಹೀರಮ್ (śaraccandrahīram)with a diamond like the autumn moon
- ಸುರಶ್ರೀವಿಚಾರಮ್ (suraśrīvicāram)who watches over the welfare of the gods
- ಹೃತಾರ್ತ್ತಾರಿಭಾರಮ್ (hṛtārttāribhāram)who has carried off the weight of pain and of enemies
- ಕಟೇ (kaṭe)on his temples
- ದಾನಪೂರಮ್ (dānapūram)a flood of must
- ಜಟಾಭೋಗಿಪೂರಮ್ (jaṭābhogipūram)a flood of snakes in his matted hair
- ಕಲಾಬಿನ್ದುತಾರಮ್ (kalābindutāram)holding the crescent, the point and the pupil
- ಭಜೇ (bhaje)I worship
- ಶೈವವೀರಮ್ (śaivavīram)the hero of Shiva
anvaya ಉರಸ್ತಾರಹಾರಮ್ ಶರಚ್ಚನ್ದ್ರಹೀರಮ್ ಸುರಶ್ರೀವಿಚಾರಮ್ ಹೃತಾರ್ತ್ತಾರಿಭಾರಮ್ ಕಟೇ ದಾನಪೂರಮ್ ಜಟಾಭೋಗಿಪೂರಮ್ ಕಲಾಬಿನ್ದುತಾರಮ್ ಶೈವವೀರಮ್ ಭಜೇ
chandas Bhujaṅgaprayāta, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಕಲಾಬಿನ್ದುತಾರಮ್ the crescent, the point and the pupil — The crescent and the dot are the two marks written above Om, and tara is both a star and the dark of the eye. One word holds all three.
note Every line of this verse ends in -ರಮ್.
ಚಲತ್ಸಾರಸಾಕ್ಷಂ ಪರಾಶಕ್ತಿಪಕ್ಷಮ್ ।
ಶ್ರಿತಾಮರ್ತ್ಯವೃಕ್ಷಂ ಸುರಾರಿದ್ರುತಕ್ಷಂ
ಪರಾನನ್ದಪಕ್ಷಂ ಭಜೇ ಶ್ರೀಶಿವಾಕ್ಷಮ್ ॥ ೫॥
- ಕರಾರೂಢಮೋಕ್ಷಮ್ (karārūḍhamokṣam)in whose hand liberation sits
- ವಿಪದ್ಭಙ್ಗದಕ್ಷಮ್ (vipadbhaṅgadakṣam)quick at breaking trouble
- ಚಲತ್ಸಾರಸಾಕ್ಷಮ್ (calatsārasākṣam)whose eyes move like lotuses
- ಪರಾಶಕ್ತಿಪಕ್ಷಮ್ (parāśaktipakṣam)who stands on the side of the highest power
- ಶ್ರಿತಾಮರ್ತ್ಯವೃಕ್ಷಮ್ (śritāmartyavṛkṣam)the wishing-tree for those who come to him
- ಸುರಾರಿದ್ರುತಕ್ಷಮ್ (surāridrutakṣam)who cuts down the enemies of the gods at once
- ಪರಾನನ್ದಪಕ್ಷಮ್ (parānandapakṣam)whose side is the joy beyond all joy
- ಭಜೇ (bhaje)I worship
- ಶ್ರೀಶಿವಾಕ್ಷಮ್ (śrīśivākṣam)him who is Shiva's own eye
anvaya ಕರಾರೂಢಮೋಕ್ಷಮ್ ವಿಪದ್ಭಙ್ಗದಕ್ಷಮ್ ಚಲತ್ಸಾರಸಾಕ್ಷಮ್ ಪರಾಶಕ್ತಿಪಕ್ಷಮ್ ಶ್ರಿತಾಮರ್ತ್ಯವೃಕ್ಷಮ್ ಸುರಾರಿದ್ರುತಕ್ಷಮ್ ಪರಾನನ್ದಪಕ್ಷಮ್ ಶ್ರೀಶಿವಾಕ್ಷಮ್ ಭಜೇ
chandas Bhujaṅgaprayāta, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಅಮರ್ತ್ಯವೃಕ್ಷಮ್ the wishing-tree — The deathless tree of heaven, which gives whatever is asked of it.
note Every line of this verse ends in -ಕ್ಷಮ್.
ನಿದಾನೋದ್ಭವಂ ಶಾಙ್ಕರಪ್ರೇಮಕೋಶಮ್ ।
ಧೃತಶ್ರೀನಿಶೇಶಂ ಲಸದ್ದನ್ತಕೋಶಂ
ಚಲಚ್ಛೂಲಪಾಶಂ ಭಜೇ ಕೃತ್ತಪಾಶಮ್ ॥ ೬॥
- ಸದಾಶಮ್ (sadāśam)ever the lord
- ಸುರೇಶಮ್ (sureśam)lord of the gods
- ಸದಾ (sadā)always
- ಪಾತುಮ್ (pātum)to protect
- ಈಶಮ್ (īśam)able
- ನಿದಾನೋದ್ಭವಮ್ (nidānodbhavam)risen from the first cause
- ಶಾಙ್ಕರಪ್ರೇಮಕೋಶಮ್ (śāṅkarapremakośam)the store of Shankara's love
- ಧೃತಶ್ರೀನಿಶೇಶಮ್ (dhṛtaśrīniśeśam)wearing the lord of night
- ಲಸದ್ದನ್ತಕೋಶಮ್ (lasaddantakośam)whose tusk shines in its sheath
- ಚಲಚ್ಛೂಲಪಾಶಮ್ (calacchūlapāśam)whose trident and noose are never still
- ಭಜೇ (bhaje)I worship
- ಕೃತ್ತಪಾಶಮ್ (kṛttapāśam)the one who cuts the noose
anvaya ಸದಾಶಮ್ ಸುರೇಶಮ್ ಸದಾ ಪಾತುಮ್ ಈಶಮ್ ನಿದಾನೋದ್ಭವಮ್ ಶಾಙ್ಕರಪ್ರೇಮಕೋಶಮ್ ಧೃತಶ್ರೀನಿಶೇಶಮ್ ಲಸದ್ದನ್ತಕೋಶಮ್ ಚಲಚ್ಛೂಲಪಾಶಮ್ ಕೃತ್ತಪಾಶಮ್ ಭಜೇ
chandas Bhujaṅgaprayāta, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ನಿಶೇಶಮ್ the lord of night — The moon, which he wears as his father does.
ಪಾಶ the noose — He holds a noose and he cuts one: the noose he holds draws the devotee in, the noose he cuts is what binds a person to being born again.
note Every line of this verse ends in -ಶಮ್. The compressed ಸದಾಶಂ is read ಸದಾ with ಈಶಮ್, which the rhyme has pulled together.
ಬುಧಶ್ರೀಕರನ್ತಂ ಗಜಾಸ್ಯಂ ವಿಭಾನ್ತಮ್ ।
ಕರಾತ್ಮೀಯದನ್ತಂ ತ್ರಿಲೋಕಕೈಕವೃನ್ತಂ
ಸುಮನ್ದಂ ಪರನ್ತಂ ಭಜೇಽಹಂ ಭವನ್ತಮ್ ॥ ೭॥
- ತತಾನೇಕಸನ್ತಮ್ (tatānekasantam)who has spread himself out as many beings
- ಸದಾ (sadā)always
- ದಾನವನ್ತಮ್ (dānavantam)giving
- ಬುಧಶ್ರೀಕರನ್ತಮ್ (budhaśrīkarantam)who makes the learned prosper
- ಗಜಾಸ್ಯಮ್ (gajāsyam)with the face of an elephant
- ವಿಭಾನ್ತಮ್ (vibhāntam)shining
- ಕರಾತ್ಮೀಯದನ್ತಮ್ (karātmīyadantam)with his own tusk in his hand
- ತ್ರಿಲೋಕಕೈಕವೃನ್ತಮ್ (trilokakaikavṛntam)the single stalk on which the three worlds are set
- ಸುಮನ್ದಮ್ (sumandam)slow-moving and gentle
- ಪರನ್ತಮ್ (parantam)beyond all of it
- ಭಜೇ (bhaje)I worship
- ಅಹಮ್ (aham)I
- ಭವನ್ತಮ್ (bhavantam)you
anvaya ತತಾನೇಕಸನ್ತಮ್ ಸದಾ ದಾನವನ್ತಮ್ ಬುಧಶ್ರೀಕರನ್ತಮ್ ಗಜಾಸ್ಯಮ್ ವಿಭಾನ್ತಮ್ ಕರಾತ್ಮೀಯದನ್ತಮ್ ತ್ರಿಲೋಕಕೈಕವೃನ್ತಮ್ ಸುಮನ್ದಮ್ ಪರನ್ತಮ್ ಭವನ್ತಮ್ ಅಹಮ್ ಭಜೇ
chandas Bhujaṅgaprayāta, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ವೃನ್ತಮ್ the stalk — The stalk that holds a fruit to the tree. The three worlds hang from him as a fruit from its stalk.
note Every line of this verse ends in -ನ್ತಮ್, and the last word turns from him to you.
ಲಸದ್ದನ್ತಖಣ್ಡಂ ಸದಾನನ್ದಪೂರ್ಣಮ್ ।
ವಿವರ್ಣಪ್ರಭಾಸ್ಯಂ ಧೃತಸ್ವರ್ಣಭಾಣ್ಡಂ
ಚಲಚ್ಚಾರುಶುಣ್ಡಂ ಭಜೇ ದನ್ತಿತುಣ್ಡಮ್ ॥ ೮॥
- ಶಿವಪ್ರೇಮಪಿಣ್ಡಮ್ (śivapremapiṇḍam)a lump of Shiva's own love
- ಪರಮ್ (param)the supreme
- ಸ್ವರ್ಣವರ್ಣಮ್ (svarṇavarṇam)the colour of gold
- ಲಸದ್ದನ್ತಖಣ್ಡಮ್ (lasaddantakhaṇḍam)out of whom a piece of tusk shines
- ಸದಾನನ್ದಪೂರ್ಣಮ್ (sadānandapūrṇam)filled with joy that does not end
- ವಿವರ್ಣಪ್ರಭಾಸ್ಯಮ್ (vivarṇaprabhāsyam)whose face shines past all colour
- ಧೃತಸ್ವರ್ಣಭಾಣ್ಡಮ್ (dhṛtasvarṇabhāṇḍam)holding a golden pot
- ಚಲಚ್ಚಾರುಶುಣ್ಡಮ್ (calaccāruśuṇḍam)whose lovely trunk is always moving
- ಭಜೇ (bhaje)I worship
- ದನ್ತಿತುಣ್ಡಮ್ (dantituṇḍam)the tusker's trunk
anvaya ಶಿವಪ್ರೇಮಪಿಣ್ಡಮ್ ಪರಮ್ ಸ್ವರ್ಣವರ್ಣಮ್ ಲಸದ್ದನ್ತಖಣ್ಡಮ್ ಸದಾನನ್ದಪೂರ್ಣಮ್ ವಿವರ್ಣಪ್ರಭಾಸ್ಯಮ್ ಧೃತಸ್ವರ್ಣಭಾಣ್ಡಮ್ ಚಲಚ್ಚಾರುಶುಣ್ಡಮ್ ದನ್ತಿತುಣ್ಡಮ್ ಭಜೇ
chandas Bhujaṅgaprayāta, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಪಿಣ್ಡಮ್ a lump — Pinda is a rounded mass, the word used of the ball of rice offered to the ancestors. To call him a lump of Shiva's love is to say the love took a body.
note The last verse lets the rhyme slip: three lines end in -ಣ್ಡಮ್ and the others do not.
