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कनकधारास्तोत्रम्
Devi · Lakshmi · stotra · 21 verses
Adi Shankaracharya
Madhaviya Shankaravijaya — Adi Shankaracharya — Kanakadhara Stotra
The Kanakadhara Stotra — the Hymn That Rained Gold — is a 21-verse praise of Lakshmi composed by the young Adi Shankaracharya in response to a poor woman's gift. The stotra's imagery centres on Lakshmi's relationship with Vishnu (Hari/Murari): her glances like bees circling a lotus, her half-closed eyes reaching toward Mukunda. The final verse promises that those who praise Lakshmi with these verses daily gain virtues and are held in high regard by the wise.
Composed by the young Shankara as a brahmacharya student when a poor woman had only a single dried amla (gooseberry) fruit to offer him. Moved by her devotion, Shankara praised Lakshmi, who responded by raining gold (kanaka-dhara) upon the woman's hut.
Key verses shown (4 of 21 total). Full verse text to be added.
अङ्गं हरेः पुलकभूषणमाश्रयन्ती भृङ्गाङ्गनेव मुकुलाभरणं तमालम्।
अङ्गीकृताखिलविभूतिरपाङ्गलीला माङ्गल्यदास्तु मम मङ्गलदेवतायाः॥
aṅgaṃ hareḥ pulaka-bhūṣaṇam-āśrayantī bhṛṅgāṅganeva mukulābharaṇaṃ tamālam।
aṅgīkṛtākhila-vibhūtir-apāṅga-līlā māṅgalya-dāstu mama maṅgala-devatāyāḥ॥
Resting on the body of Hari (thrilled with rapture), like a bee-woman on a tamala tree adorned with buds, encompassing all wealth — may the auspicious sidelong glance of the goddess of auspiciousness be a giver of welfare to me.
मुग्धा मुहुर्विदधती वदने मुरारेः प्रेमत्रपाप्रणिहितानि गतागतानि।
माला दृशोर्मधुकरीव महोत्पले या सा मे श्रियं दिशतु सागरसम्भवायाः॥
mugdhā muhur-vidadhatī vadane murāreḥ prema-trapā-praṇihitāni gatāgatāni।
mālā dṛśor-madhukarīva mahotpale yā sā me śriyaṃ diśatu sāgara-sambhavāyāḥ॥
Her glances — charming, repeatedly going and returning to the face of Murari — bashful with love, like a bee around a great lotus: may that wreath-of-glances of her, born of the ocean, bestow prosperity on me.
आमीलिताक्षमधिगम्य मुदा मुकुन्दमानन्दकन्दमनिमेषमनङ्गतन्त्रम्।
आकेकरस्थितकनीनिकपक्ष्मनेत्रं भूत्यै भवेन्मम भुजङ्गशयाङ्गनायाः॥
āmīlitākṣam-adhigamya mudā mukundam-ānanda-kandam-animeṣam-anaṅga-tantram।
ākekara-sthita-kanīnika-pakṣma-netraṃ bhūtyai bhaven-mama bhujaṅga-śayāṅga-nāyāḥ॥
Reaching with joy the half-closed eyes of Mukunda (root of bliss), unblinking, an instrument of love; with eyes whose lashes are slightly inclined: may the consort of him who reposes on Shesha-naga be for my well-being.
स्तुवन्ति ये स्तुतिभिरमीभिरन्वहं त्रयीमयीं त्रिभुवनमातरं रमाम्।
गुणाधिका गुरुतरभाग्यभागिनो भवन्ति ते भुवि बुधभाविताशयाः॥
stuvanti ye stutibhir-amībhir-anvahaṃ trayī-mayīṃ tri-bhuvana-mātaraṃ ramām।
guṇādhikā gurutara-bhāgya-bhāgino bhavanti te bhuvi budha-bhāvitāśayāḥ॥
Those who, day by day, praise with these hymns the Mother of the three worlds, embodiment of the three Vedas, Rama (Lakshmi) — they become endowed with virtues, fortunate, and held in high regard by the wise on this earth.
Sources: Madhaviya Shankaravijaya — Adi Shankaracharya — Kanakadhara Stotra. Awaiting scholar verification.