ଶ୍ରୀ ଗଣେଶ ନାମାଷ୍ଟକମ୍

• ଶ୍ରୀଗଣେଶନାମାଷ୍ଟକମ୍ (śrīgaṇeśanāmāṣṭakam)the eight names of Shri Ganesha

anvaya ଶ୍ରୀଗଣେଶନାମାଷ୍ଟକମ୍

chandas Prose, the title

ନାମାଷ୍ଟକ the eight names — Unlike most name-lists this one stops at each name and takes it apart, saying what the syllables mean and why the name fits.

note Vishnu is speaking to Parvati about her own son, and the hymn is as much a piece of word-explaining as it is praise.

• ଶ୍ରୀଵିଷ୍ଣୁଃ (śrīviṣṇuḥ)Shri Vishnu
• ଉଵାଚ (uvāca)said

anvaya ଶ୍ରୀଵିଷ୍ଣୁଃ ଉଵାଚ

chandas Prose, a speaker's line

note The words in brackets are a Hindi translation printed in the source.

• ଗଣେଶମ୍ (gaṇeśam)Ganesha
• ଏକଦନ୍ତମ୍ (ekadantam)Ekadanta
• ଚ (ca)and
• ହେରମ୍ବମ୍ (herambam)Heramba
• ଵିଘ୍ନନାଯକମ୍ (vighnanāyakam)Vighnanayaka
• ଲମ୍ବୋଦରମ୍ (lambodaram)Lambodara
• ଶୂର୍ପକର୍ଣମ୍ (śūrpakarṇam)Shurpakarna
• ଗଜଵକ୍ତ୍ରମ୍ (gajavaktram)Gajavaktra
• ଗୁହାଗ୍ରଜମ୍ (guhāgrajam)Guhagraja

anvaya ଗଣେଶମ୍ ଏକଦନ୍ତମ୍ ଚ ହେରମ୍ବମ୍ ଵିଘ୍ନନାଯକମ୍ ଲମ୍ବୋଦରମ୍ ଶୂର୍ପକର୍ଣମ୍ ଗଜଵକ୍ତ୍ରମ୍ ଗୁହାଗ୍ରଜମ୍

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

note The eight names are given first as a list; each is then taken up in its own verse.

• ନାମାଷ୍ଟାର୍ଥମ୍ (nāmāṣṭārtham)the meaning of the eight names
• ଚ (ca)and
• ପୁତ୍ରସ୍ଯ (putrasya)of your son
• ଶୃଣୁ (śṛṇu)hear
• ମାତଃ (mātaḥ)O mother
• ହରପ୍ରିଯେ (harapriye)O dear one of Hara
• ସ୍ତୋତ୍ରାଣାମ୍ (stotrāṇām)of hymns
• ସାରଭୂତମ୍ (sārabhūtam)the pith
• ଚ (ca)and
• ସର୍ଵଵିଘ୍ନହରମ୍ (sarvavighnaharam)which takes every obstacle away
• ପରମ୍ (param)the best

anvaya ମାତଃ ହରପ୍ରିଯେ ପୁତ୍ରସ୍ଯ ନାମାଷ୍ଟାର୍ଥମ୍ ଚ ଶୃଣୁ [ଏତତ୍] ସ୍ତୋତ୍ରାଣାମ୍ ସାରଭୂତମ୍ ଚ ସର୍ଵଵିଘ୍ନହରମ୍ ପରମ୍

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

• ଜ୍ଞାନାର୍ଥଵାଚକଃ (jñānārthavācakaḥ)standing for knowledge
• ଗଃ (gaḥ)the sound ga
• ଚ (ca)and
• ଣଃ (ṇaḥ)the sound na
• ଚ (ca)and
• ନିର୍ଵାଣଵାଚକଃ (nirvāṇavācakaḥ)standing for release
• ତଯୋଃ (tayoḥ)of those two
• ଈଶମ୍ (īśam)the lord
• ପରମ୍ (param)the highest
• ବ୍ରହ୍ମ (brahma)Brahman
• ଗଣେଶମ୍ (gaṇeśam)Ganesha
• ପ୍ରଣମାମି (praṇamāmi)I bow to
• ଅହମ୍ (aham)I

anvaya ଗଃ ଚ ଜ୍ଞାନାର୍ଥଵାଚକଃ ଣଃ ଚ ନିର୍ଵାଣଵାଚକଃ ତଯୋଃ ଈଶମ୍ ପରମ୍ ବ୍ରହ୍ମ ଗଣେଶମ୍ ଅହମ୍ ପ୍ରଣମାମି

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ନିର୍ଵାଣ release — Nirvana is a flame going out. Here it stands for the end of the round of birth, which is the other half of what the name holds.

note The hymn reads the name ga-na-isha as knowledge and release with a lord over both.

• ଏକଶବ୍ଦଃ (ekaśabdaḥ)the word one
• ପ୍ରଧାନାର୍ଥଃ (pradhānārthaḥ)means what comes first
• ଦନ୍ତଃ (dantaḥ)tusk
• ଚ (ca)and
• ବଲଵାଚକଃ (balavācakaḥ)stands for strength
• ବଲମ୍ (balam)strength
• ପ୍ରଧାନମ୍ (pradhānam)comes first
• ସର୍ଵସ୍ମାତ୍ (sarvasmāt)of everything
• ଏକଦନ୍ତମ୍ (ekadantam)Ekadanta
• ନମାମି (namāmi)I bow to
• ଅହମ୍ (aham)I

anvaya ଏକଶବ୍ଦଃ ପ୍ରଧାନାର୍ଥଃ ଦନ୍ତଃ ଚ ବଲଵାଚକଃ ସର୍ଵସ୍ମାତ୍ ବଲମ୍ ପ୍ରଧାନମ୍ [ଅତଃ] ଅହମ୍ ଏକଦନ୍ତମ୍ ନମାମି

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

• ଦୀନାର୍ଥଵାଚକଃ (dīnārthavācakaḥ)standing for the helpless
• ହେ (he)the sound he
• ଚ (ca)and
• ରମ୍ବଃ (rambaḥ)the sound ramba
• ପାଲକଵାଚକଃ (pālakavācakaḥ)standing for the one who keeps them
• ଦୀନାନାମ୍ (dīnānām)of the helpless
• ପରିପାଲକମ୍ (paripālakam)the keeper
• ହେରମ୍ବମ୍ (herambam)Heramba
• ପ୍ରଣମାମି (praṇamāmi)I bow to
• ଅହମ୍ (aham)I

anvaya ଦୀନାର୍ଥଵାଚକଃ ହେ ଚ ରମ୍ବଃ ପାଲକଵାଚକଃ ଦୀନାନାମ୍ ପରିପାଲକମ୍ ହେରମ୍ବମ୍ ପ୍ରଣମାମି ଅହମ୍

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ଦୀନ the helpless — Dina is a person with nothing left to fall back on. It is the word used in Sanskrit for the poor and the beaten.

• ଵିପତ୍ତିଵାଚକଃ (vipattivācakaḥ)standing for misfortune
• ଵିଘ୍ନଃ (vighnaḥ)the word vighna
• ନାଯକଃ (nāyakaḥ)nayaka
• ଖଣ୍ଡନାର୍ଥକଃ (khaṇḍanārthakaḥ)means breaking
• ଵିପତ୍ଖଣ୍ଡନକାରକମ୍ (vipatkhaṇḍanakārakam)the one who breaks misfortune apart
• ନମାମି (namāmi)I bow to
• ଵିଘ୍ନନାଯକମ୍ (vighnanāyakam)Vighnanayaka

anvaya ଵିଘ୍ନଃ ଵିପତ୍ତିଵାଚକଃ ନାଯକଃ ଖଣ୍ଡନାର୍ଥକଃ ଵିପତ୍ଖଣ୍ଡନକାରକମ୍ ଵିଘ୍ନନାଯକମ୍ ନମାମି

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

note Nayaka usually means a leader. The hymn takes it in its other sense, from the root that means to break, so that the name says what he does to trouble rather than what he is over.

• ଵିଷ୍ଣୁଦତ୍ତୈଃ (viṣṇudattaiḥ)given by Vishnu
• ଚ (ca)and
• ନୈଵେଦ୍ଯୈଃ (naivedyaiḥ)with offerings of food
• ଯସ୍ଯ (yasya)whose
• ଲମ୍ବୋଦରମ୍ (lambodaram)the hanging belly
• ପୁରା (purā)long ago
• ପିତ୍ରା (pitrā)by his father
• ଦତ୍ତୈଃ (dattaiḥ)given
• ଚ (ca)and
• ଵିଵିଧୈଃ (vividhaiḥ)of many kinds
• ଵନ୍ଦେ (vande)I bow to
• ଲମ୍ବୋଦରମ୍ (lambodaram)Lambodara
• ଚ (ca)and
• ତମ୍ (tam)him

anvaya ପୁରା ଵିଷ୍ଣୁଦତ୍ତୈଃ ନୈଵେଦ୍ଯୈଃ ଚ ପିତ୍ରା ଦତ୍ତୈଃ ଵିଵିଧୈଃ ଚ ଯସ୍ଯ ଲମ୍ବୋଦରମ୍ [ଅଭଵତ୍] ତମ୍ ଲମ୍ବୋଦରମ୍ ଚ ଵନ୍ଦେ

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

• ଶୂର୍ପାକାରୌ (śūrpākārau)shaped like winnowing baskets
• ଚ (ca)and
• ଯତ୍କର୍ଣୌ (yatkarṇau)whose two ears
• ଵିଘ୍ନଵାରଣକାରଣୌ (vighnavāraṇakāraṇau)which keep obstacles off
• ସମ୍ପଦୌ (sampadau)wealth itself
• ଜ୍ଞାନରୂପୌ (jñānarūpau)knowledge itself
• ଚ (ca)and
• ଶୂର୍ପକର୍ଣମ୍ (śūrpakarṇam)Shurpakarna
• ନମାମି (namāmi)I bow to
• ଅହମ୍ (aham)I

anvaya ଯତ୍କର୍ଣୌ ଶୂର୍ପାକାରୌ ଚ ଵିଘ୍ନଵାରଣକାରଣୌ ସମ୍ପଦୌ ଜ୍ଞାନରୂପୌ ଚ [ତମ୍] ଶୂର୍ପକର୍ଣମ୍ ଅହମ୍ ନମାମି

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ଶୂର୍ପ a winnowing basket — The flat cane tray that lets the chaff blow off and keeps the grain. Ears of that shape keep what is worth keeping.

• ଵିଷ୍ଣୁପ୍ରସାଦପୁଷ୍ପମ୍ (viṣṇuprasādapuṣpam)the flower that had been offered to Vishnu
• ଚ (ca)and
• ଯନ୍ମୂର୍ଧ୍ନି (yanmūrdhni)on whose head
• ମୁନିଦତ୍ତକମ୍ (munidattakam)given by the sages
• ତମ୍ (tam)him
• ଗଜେନ୍ଦ୍ରଵକ୍ତ୍ରଯୁକ୍ତମ୍ (gajendravaktrayuktam)whose face is the face of the best of elephants
• ଗଜଵକ୍ତ୍ରମ୍ (gajavaktram)Gajavaktra
• ନମାମି (namāmi)I bow to
• ଅହମ୍ (aham)I

anvaya ଯନ୍ମୂର୍ଧ୍ନି ମୁନିଦତ୍ତକମ୍ ଵିଷ୍ଣୁପ୍ରସାଦପୁଷ୍ପମ୍ ଚ [ଆସୀତ୍] ତମ୍ ଗଜେନ୍ଦ୍ରଵକ୍ତ୍ରଯୁକ୍ତମ୍ ଗଜଵକ୍ତ୍ରମ୍ ଅହମ୍ ନମାମି

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ପ୍ରସାଦ what has been offered — Prasada is what is given back after being offered. To put it on someone's head is the plainest blessing there is.

• ଗୁହସ୍ଯ (guhasya)of Guha
• ଅଗ୍ରେ (agre)before
• ଚ (ca)and
• ଜାତଃ (jātaḥ)born
• ଅଯମ୍ (ayam)this one
• ଆଵିର୍ଭୂତଃ (āvirbhūtaḥ)appearing
• ହରାଲଯେ (harālaye)in Hara's house
• ଵନ୍ଦେ (vande)I bow to
• ଗୁହାଗ୍ରଜମ୍ (guhāgrajam)Guhagraja
• ଦେଵମ୍ (devam)the god
• ସର୍ଵଦେଵାଗ୍ରପୂଜିତମ୍ (sarvadevāgrapūjitam)who is worshipped before all the gods

anvaya ଅଯମ୍ ଗୁହସ୍ଯ ଅଗ୍ରେ ଜାତଃ ଚ ହରାଲଯେ ଆଵିର୍ଭୂତଃ ସର୍ଵଦେଵାଗ୍ରପୂଜିତମ୍ ଦେଵମ୍ ଗୁହାଗ୍ରଜମ୍ ଵନ୍ଦେ

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ଗୁହ Guha — A name of Kartikeya, the one who was hidden. Agraja is the one born first, so the name places the two brothers in order.

• ଫଲଶ୍ରୁତିଃ (phalaśrutiḥ)the account of what it gives

anvaya ଫଲଶ୍ରୁତିଃ

chandas Prose, a heading

• ଏତତ୍ (etat)this
• ନାମାଷ୍ଟକମ୍ (nāmāṣṭakam)hymn of eight names
• ସ୍ତୋତ୍ରମ୍ (stotram)hymn
• ନାନାର୍ଥସମ୍ଯୁତମ୍ (nānārthasamyutam)with all its meanings
• ଶୁଭମ୍ (śubham)good
• ତ୍ରିସନ୍ଧ୍ଯମ୍ (trisandhyam)at the three turns of the day
• ଯଃ (yaḥ)whoever
• ପଠେତ୍ (paṭhet)recites
• ନିତ୍ଯମ୍ (nityam)every day
• ସଃ (saḥ)he
• ସୁଖୀ (sukhī)happy
• ସର୍ଵତଃ (sarvataḥ)on every side
• ଜଯୀ (jayī)winning

anvaya ଯଃ ଏତତ୍ ନାନାର୍ଥସମ୍ଯୁତମ୍ ଶୁଭମ୍ ନାମାଷ୍ଟକମ୍ ସ୍ତୋତ୍ରମ୍ ନିତ୍ଯମ୍ ତ୍ରିସନ୍ଧ୍ଯମ୍ ପଠେତ୍ ସଃ ସୁଖୀ ସର୍ଵତଃ ଜଯୀ

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

• ତତଃ (tataḥ)then
• ଵିଘ୍ନାଃ (vighnāḥ)obstacles
• ପଲାଯନ୍ତେ (palāyante)run away
• ଵୈନତେଯାତ୍ (vainateyāt)from Garuda
• ଯଥା (yathā)as
• ଉରଗାଃ (uragāḥ)snakes
• ଗଣେଶ୍ଵରପ୍ରସାଦେନ (gaṇeśvaraprasādena)by the grace of Ganeshvara
• ମହାଜ୍ଞାନୀ (mahājñānī)a man of great knowledge
• ଭଵେତ୍ (bhavet)he becomes
• ଧ୍ରୁଵମ୍ (dhruvam)certainly

anvaya ତତଃ ଵିଘ୍ନାଃ ପଲାଯନ୍ତେ ଯଥା ଵୈନତେଯାତ୍ ଉରଗାଃ ଗଣେଶ୍ଵରପ୍ରସାଦେନ ଧ୍ରୁଵମ୍ ମହାଜ୍ଞାନୀ ଭଵେତ୍

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ଵୈନତେଯ Garuda — The son of Vinata, the eagle who eats snakes. Nothing scatters faster than a snake at his shadow.

• ପୁତ୍ରାର୍ଥୀ (putrārthī)a man who wants a son
• ଲଭତେ (labhate)gets
• ପୁତ୍ରମ୍ (putram)a son
• ଭାର୍ଯାର୍ଥୀ (bhāryārthī)a man who wants a wife
• ଵିପୁଲାମ୍ (vipulām)fine
• ସ୍ତ୍ରିଯମ୍ (striyam)a woman
• ମହାଜଡଃ (mahājaḍaḥ)the dullest of men
• କଵୀନ୍ଦ୍ରଃ (kavīndraḥ)a prince of poets
• ଚ (ca)and
• ଵିଦ୍ଯାଵାନ୍ (vidyāvān)a man of learning
• ଚ (ca)and
• ଭଵେତ୍ (bhavet)becomes
• ଧ୍ରୁଵମ୍ (dhruvam)without fail

anvaya ପୁତ୍ରାର୍ଥୀ ପୁତ୍ରମ୍ ଲଭତେ ଭାର୍ଯାର୍ଥୀ ଵିପୁଲାମ୍ ସ୍ତ୍ରିଯମ୍ [ଲଭତେ] ମହାଜଡଃ ଚ କଵୀନ୍ଦ୍ରଃ ଵିଦ୍ଯାଵାନ୍ ଚ ଧ୍ରୁଵମ୍ ଭଵେତ୍

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

note The promise made to the dull-witted is the one most often quoted from this hymn.