About this stotra
Sri Adi Shankaracharya has written a song "Devi Suresvari Bhagavati Gange" and the Official Name for this song is "Sri Sri Ganga Stotram". In this song Sree Shankaracharya describes the glories of Sri Ganga. Goddess Ganga is a divine river from heaven, she has emancipated everyone who has faithfully prayed to her. She is known as Vishnu-padabja-sambhuta which means that she has emerged from the Lotus feet of Shri Vishnu. Whoever listens to Ganga Strotam can fulfill their desires and free themselves from sins they have committed.
Ganga stotram lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
देवि सुरेश्वरि भगवति गङ्गे त्रिभुवनतारिणि तरलतरङ्गे ।
शङ्करमौलिविहारिणि विमले मम मतिरास्तां तव पदकमले ॥१॥
devi sureśvari bhagavati gaṅge tribhuvanatāriṇi taralataraṅge .
śaṅkaramaulivihāriṇi vimale mama matirāstāṃ tava padakamale ..1..
Oh Devi Bhagavati Ganga, the goddess of the devas, You liberate the three worlds with the (merciful) waves of your liquid form,
The pure one who resides in the head of Shankara, may my devotion remain firmly established on your lotus feet.
Word by word
- देवि (devi)
- O goddess
- सुरेश्वरि (sureśvari)
- goddess of the devas (sura:devas | īśvari:goddess)
- भगवति (bhagavati)
- O divine one
- गङ्गे (gaṅge)
- O Ganga
- त्रिभुवनतारिणि (tribhuvanatāriṇi)
- liberator of three worlds (tri:three | bhuvana:worlds | tāriṇi:liberator)
- तरलतरङ्गे (taralataraṅge)
- with merciful waves (tarala:liquid/merciful | taraṅge:waves)
- शङ्करमौलिविहारिणि (śaṅkaramaulivihāriṇi)
- residing in Shankara's head (śaṅkara:Shankara | mauli:head | vihāriṇi:residing)
- विमले (vimale)
- O pure one
- मम (mama)
- my
- मतिरास्तां (matirāstāṃ)
- may my devotion remain (matiḥ:devotion | āstāṃ:may remain)
- तव (tava)
- your
- पदकमले (padakamale)
- on your lotus feet (pada:feet | kamale:lotus)
॥ २ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 2
भागीरथि सुखदायिनि मातस्तव जलमहिमा निगमे ख्यातः ।
नाहं जाने तव महिमानं पाहि कृपामयि मामज्ञानम् ॥२॥
bhāgīrathi sukhadāyini mātastava jalamahimā nigame khyātaḥ .
nāhaṃ jāne tava mahimānaṃ pāhi kṛpāmayi māmajñānam ..2..
Oh Mother Bhagirathi, you give joy to all, and the glory of your water is praised in the scriptures,
I do not know your glory fully, but inspite of my Ignorance, please protect me, O compassionate Mother.
Word by word
- भागीरथि (bhāgīrathi)
- Bhagirathi
- सुखदायिनि (sukhadāyini)
- giver of happiness (sukha:happiness | dāyini:giver)
- मातः (mātaḥ)
- O Mother
- तव (tava)
- your
- जलमहिमा (jalamahimā)
- glory of water (jala:water | mahimā:glory)
- निगमे (nigame)
- in the scriptures
- ख्यातः (khyātaḥ)
- is praised
- न (na)
- not
- अहम् (aham)
- I
- जाने (jāne)
- know
- तव (tava)
- your
- महिमानं (mahimānam)
- glory
- पाहि (pāhi)
- protect
- कृपामयि (kṛpāmayi)
- O compassionate one (kṛpā:compassion | mayi:one who is)
- माम् (mām)
- me
- अज्ञानम् (ajñānam)
- ignorance
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
हरिपदपाद्यतरङ्गिणि गङ्गे हिमविधुमुक्ताधवलतरङ्गे ।
दूरीकुरु मम दुष्कृतिभारं कुरु कृपया भवसागरपारम् ॥३॥
haripadapādyataraṅgiṇi gaṅge himavidhumuktādhavalataraṅge .
dūrīkuru mama duṣkṛtibhāraṃ kuru kṛpayā bhavasāgarapāram ..3..
Oh Mother Ganga, You originate from the feet of Hari, and your waves are white like the snow, moon, and pearls,
Oh Mother, Please wash away my sins and help me cross the ocean of mundane existance.
Word by word
- हरिपदपाद्यतरङ्गिणि (haripadapādyataraṅgiṇi)
- originating from Hari's feet (hari:Hari | pada:feet | pādya:originating from | taraṅgiṇi:waves)
- गङ्गे (gaṅge)
- O Ganga
- हिमविधुमुक्ताधवलतरङ्गे (himavidhumuktādhavalataraṅge)
- waves white like snow, moon, pearls (hima:snow | vidhu:moon | muktā:pearls | dhavala:white | taraṅge:waves)
- दूरीकुरु (dūrīkuru)
- remove
- मम (mama)
- my
- दुष्कृतिभारं (duṣkṛtibhāraṃ)
- burden of sins (duṣkṛti:sins | bhāraṃ:burden)
- कुरु (kuru)
- do
- कृपया (kṛpayā)
- with compassion
- भवसागरपारम् (bhavasāgarapāram)
- cross the ocean of existence (bhava:existence | sāgara:ocean | pāram:cross)
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
तव जलममलं येन निपीतं परमपदं खलु तेन गृहीतम् ।
मातर्गङ्गे त्वयि यो भक्तः किल तं द्रष्टुं न यमः शक्तः ॥४॥
tava jalamamalaṃ yena nipītaṃ paramapadaṃ khalu tena gṛhītam .
mātargaṅge tvayi yo bhaktaḥ kila taṃ draṣṭuṃ na yamaḥ śaktaḥ ..4..
Oh Mother! those who partake of your pure waters, definitely attains the highest state
Oh Goddess Ganga! Yama the Lord of Death cannot harm your devotees
Word by word
- तव (tava)
- your
- जलममलं (jalamamalaṃ)
- pure water (jala:water | amalaṃ:pure)
- येन (yena)
- by whom
- निपीतं (nipītaṃ)
- drunk
- परमपदं (paramapadaṃ)
- highest state (parama:highest | padaṃ:state)
- खलु (khalu)
- indeed
- तेन (tena)
- by him
- गृहीतम् (gṛhītam)
- attained
- मातर् (mātar)
- mother
- गङ्गे (gaṅge)
- Ganga
- त्वयि (tvayi)
- in you
- यः (yaḥ)
- who
- भक्तः (bhaktaḥ)
- devotee
- किल (kila)
- indeed
- तं (taṃ)
- him
- द्रष्टुं (draṣṭuṃ)
- to see
- न (na)
- not
- यमः (yamaḥ)
- Yama
- शक्तः (śaktaḥ)
- able
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
पतितोद्धारिणि जाह्नवि गङ्गे खण्डितगिरिवरमण्डितभङ्गे ।
भीष्मजननि हे मुनिवरकन्ये पतितनिवारिणि त्रिभुवनधन्ये ॥५॥
patitoddhāriṇi jāhnavi gaṅge khaṇḍitagirivaramaṇḍitabhaṅge .
bhīṣmajanani he munivarakanye patitanivāriṇi tribhuvanadhanye ..5..
Oh Jahnavi Ganga, You are the uplifter of the fallen, and you flow meandering through the great mountains (of Himalayas), cutting through them and adorning them,
Oh the Mother of Bhisma and the daughter of the great Jahnu muni, you save the fallen and bring prosperity to the three Worlds.
Word by word
- पतितोद्धारिणि (patitoddhāriṇi)
- uplifter of the fallen (patita:fallen | uddhāriṇi:uplifter)
- जाह्नवि (jāhnavi)
- daughter of Jahnu
- गङ्गे (gaṅge)
- O Ganga
- खण्डितगिरिवरमण्डितभङ्गे (khaṇḍitagirivaramaṇḍitabhaṅge)
- adorned by broken mountains (khaṇḍita:broken | giri:mountain | vara:great | maṇḍita:adorned | bhaṅge:in the form)
- भीष्मजननि (bhīṣmajanani)
- mother of Bhisma (bhīṣma:Bhisma | janani:mother)
- हे (he)
- O
- मुनिवरकन्ये (munivarakanye)
- daughter of the great sage (muni:sage | vara:great | kanye:daughter)
- पतितनिवारिणि (patitanivāriṇi)
- saver of the fallen (patita:fallen | nivāriṇi:saver)
- त्रिभुवनधन्ये (tribhuvanadhanye)
- prosperous in three worlds (tri:three | bhuvana:worlds | dhanye:prosperous)
॥ ६ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 6
कल्पलतामिव फलदां लोके प्रणमति यस्त्वां न पतति शोके ।
पारावारविहारिणि गङ्गे विमुखयुवतिकृततरलापाङ्गे ॥६॥
kalpalatāmiva phaladāṃ loke praṇamati yastvāṃ na patati śoke .
pārāvāravihāriṇi gaṅge vimukhayuvatikṛtataralāpāṅge ..6..
You bestow fruits to the worlds like the Kalpalata (Wish-Fulfilling creeper); He who reverentially bows down to you does not fall into grief,
Oh Mother Ganga, You flow into the ocean with the sportiveness of a young maiden turning away with side glances.
Word by word
- कल्पलतामिव (kalpalatāmiva)
- like the wish-fulfilling creeper (kalpa:wish-fulfilling | latām:creeper | iva:like)
- फलदां (phaladām)
- bestowing fruits (phala:fruits | dām:bestowing)
- लोके (loke)
- in the world
- प्रणमति (praṇamati)
- bows down
- यः (yaḥ)
- who
- त्वां (tvām)
- you
- न (na)
- not
- पतति (patati)
- falls
- शोके (śoke)
- into grief
- पारावारविहारिणि (pārāvāravihāriṇi)
- sportive in the ocean (pārāvāra:ocean | vihāriṇi:sportive)
- गङ्गे (gaṅge)
- O Ganga
- विमुखयुवतिकृततरलापाङ्गे (vimukhayuvatikṛtataralāpāṅge)
- with side glances of a young maiden (vimukha:side glances | yuvati:young maiden | kṛta:made | tarala:playful | āpāṅge:glances)
॥ ७ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 7
तव चेन्मातः स्रोतःस्नातः पुनरपि जठरे सोऽपि न जातः ।
नरकनिवारिणि जाह्नवि गङ्गे कलुषविनाशिनि महिमोत्तुङ्गे ॥७॥
tava cenmātaḥ srotaḥsnātaḥ punarapi jaṭhare so'pi na jātaḥ .
narakanivāriṇi jāhnavi gaṅge kaluṣavināśini mahimottuṅge ..7..
Oh Mother, he who has bathed in the flow of your pure water, he will not again take birth from the womb of a mother (i.e. have rebirth),
Oh Jahnavi Ganga, You save people from falling in the Naraka (Hell) and destroy their impurities; Oh Mother Ganga, Your greatness stands high.
Word by word
- तव (tava)
- your
- चेत् (cet)
- if
- मातः (mātaḥ)
- O Mother
- स्रोतःस्नातः (srotaḥsnātaḥ)
- bathed in the stream (srotaḥ:stream | snātaḥ:bathed)
- पुनरपि (punarapi)
- again
- जठरे (jaṭhare)
- in the womb
- सः (saḥ)
- he
- अपि (api)
- also
- न (na)
- not
- जातः (jātaḥ)
- born
- नरकनिवारिणि (narakanivāriṇi)
- remover of hell (naraka:hell | nivāriṇi:remover)
- जाह्नवि (jāhnavi)
- O Jahnavi
- गङ्गे (gaṅge)
- O Ganga
- कलुषविनाशिनि (kaluṣavināśini)
- destroyer of impurities (kaluṣa:impurities | vināśini:destroyer)
- महिमोत्तुङ्गे (mahimottuṅge)
- greatness stands high (mahima:greatness | uttuṅge:stands high)
॥ ८ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 8
पुनरसदङ्गे पुण्यतरङ्गे जय जय जाह्नवि करुणापाङ्गे ।
इन्द्रमुकुटमणिराजितचरणे सुखदे शुभदे भृत्यशरण्ये ॥८॥
punarasadaṅge puṇyataraṅge jaya jaya jāhnavi karuṇāpāṅge .
indramukuṭamaṇirājitacaraṇe sukhade śubhade bhṛtyaśaraṇye ..8..
Oh Jahnavi Ganga, You make the impure body pure again by your holy wWaves and compassionate glance,
Oh Mother Ganga, Your feet is adorned with the crown-jewel of Indra; You give joy and bestow auspiciousness to the servant who takes your refuge.
Word by word
- पुनः (punaḥ)
- again
- असदङ्गे (asadaṅge)
- impure body (asat:impure | aṅge:body)
- पुण्यतरङ्गे (puṇyataraṅge)
- holy waves (puṇya:holy | taraṅge:waves)
- जय (jaya)
- victory
- जय (jaya)
- victory
- जाह्नवि (jāhnavi)
- Jahnavi (Ganga)
- करुणापाङ्गे (karuṇāpāṅge)
- compassionate glance (karuṇa:compassionate | āpāṅge:glance)
- इन्द्रमुकुटमणिराजितचरणे (indramukuṭamaṇirājitacaraṇe)
- feet adorned with Indra's crown-jewel (indra:Indra | mukuṭa:crown | maṇi:jewel | rājita:adorned | caraṇe:feet)
- सुखदे (sukhade)
- giver of joy (sukha:joy | de:giver)
- शुभदे (śubhade)
- bestower of auspiciousness (śubha:auspiciousness | de:bestower)
- भृत्यशरण्ये (bhṛtyaśaraṇye)
- refuge of servants (bhṛtya:servant | śaraṇye:refuge)
॥ ९ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 9
रोगं शोकं तापं पापं हर मे भगवति कुमतिकलापम् ।
त्रिभुवनसारे वसुधाहारे त्वमसि गतिर्मम खलु संसारे ॥९॥
rogaṃ śokaṃ tāpaṃ pāpaṃ hara me bhagavati kumatikalāpam .
tribhuvanasāre vasudhāhāre tvamasi gatirmama khalu saṃsāre ..9..
Oh Bhagavati Ganga, Please take away my diseases, sorrows, afflictions and sins & evil-tendencies from my mind,
Oh Mother Ganga, You are the prosperity of the three worlds and the garland of the earth. You verily are my refuge in the Samsara (Worldly Existence).
Word by word
- रोगं (rogaṃ)
- disease
- शोकं (śokaṃ)
- sorrow
- तापं (tāpaṃ)
- affliction
- पापं (pāpaṃ)
- sin
- हर (hara)
- take away
- मे (me)
- my
- भगवति (bhagavati)
- O Goddess
- कुमतिकलापम् (kumatikalāpam)
- evil tendencies (kumati:evil mind | kalāpam:bundle)
- त्रिभुवनसारे (tribhuvanasāre)
- prosperity of three worlds (tri:three | bhuvana:worlds | sāre:essence/prosperity)
- वसुधाहारे (vasudhāhāre)
- garland of the earth (vasudhā:earth | hāre:garland)
- त्वम् (tvam)
- you
- असि (asi)
- are
- गतिः (gatiḥ)
- refuge
- मम (mama)
- my
- खलु (khalu)
- indeed
- संसारे (saṃsāre)
- in worldly existence
॥ १० ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 10
अलकानन्दे परमानन्दे कुरु करुणामयि कातरवन्द्ये ।
तव तटनिकटे यस्य निवासः खलु वैकुण्ठे तस्य निवासः ॥१०॥
alakānande paramānande kuru karuṇāmayi kātaravandye .
tava taṭanikaṭe yasya nivāsaḥ khalu vaikuṇṭhe tasya nivāsaḥ ..10..
Oh Alakananda, the giver of great joy! Please listen to my prayers and be gracious to me, Oh the merciful one who is adored by the helpless,
He, who resides near your river bank, is indeed residing in Vaikuntha.
Word by word
- अलकानन्दे (alakānande)
- Oh Alakananda (alaka:Alaka | ānande:in joy)
- परमानन्दे (paramānande)
- Oh great joy (parama:great | ānande:in joy)
- कुरु (kuru)
- please do
- करुणामयि (karuṇāmaye)
- Oh merciful one (karuṇa:mercy | mayi:full of)
- कातरवन्द्ये (kātaravandye)
- adored by the helpless (kātara:helpless | vandye:adored)
- तव (tava)
- your
- तटनिकटे (taṭanikaṭe)
- near the river bank (taṭa:bank | nikaṭe:near)
- यस्य (yasya)
- whose
- निवासः (nivāsaḥ)
- residence
- खलु (khalu)
- indeed
- वैकुण्ठे (vaikuṇṭhe)
- in Vaikuntha
- तस्य (tasya)
- his
- निवासः (nivāsaḥ)
- residence
॥ ११ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 11
वरमिह नीरे कमठो मीनः किं वा तीरे शरटः क्षीणः ।
अथवा श्वपचो मलिनो दीनस्तव न हि दूरे नृपतिकुलीनः ॥११॥
varamiha nīre kamaṭho mīnaḥ kiṃ vā tīre śaraṭaḥ kṣīṇaḥ .
athavā śvapaco malino dīnastava na hi dūre nṛpatikulīnaḥ ..11..
Oh Mother, It is better to live in your waters like a tortoise or fish, or in your river bank like a feeble chameleon,
Or be an unclean and miserable low born (but living near you), rather than be a King or high born but being far away from you.
Word by word
- वरम् (varam)
- better
- इह (iha)
- here
- नीरे (nīre)
- in the water
- कमठः (kamaṭhaḥ)
- tortoise
- मीनः (mīnaḥ)
- fish
- किं (kiṃ)
- or
- वा (vā)
- or
- तीरे (tīre)
- on the bank
- शरटः (śaraṭaḥ)
- chameleon
- क्षीणः (kṣīṇaḥ)
- feeble
- अथवा (athavā)
- or
- श्वपचः (śvapacaḥ)
- low born
- मलिनः (malinaḥ)
- unclean
- दीनः (dīnaḥ)
- miserable
- तव (tava)
- your
- न (na)
- not
- हि (hi)
- indeed
- दूरे (dūre)
- far away
- नृपतिकुलीनः (nṛpatikulīnaḥ)
- high born king (nṛpati:king | kulīnaḥ:high born)
॥ १२ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 12
भो भुवनेश्वरि पुण्ये धन्ये देवि द्रवमयि मुनिवरकन्ये ।
गङ्गास्तवमिमममलं नित्यं पठति नरो यः स जयति सत्यम् ॥१२॥
bho bhuvaneśvari puṇye dhanye devi dravamayi munivarakanye .
gaṅgāstavamimamamalaṃ nityaṃ paṭhati naro yaḥ sa jayati satyam ..12..
Oh Bhuvaneswari (goddess of the world), You are the bestower of holiness and prosperity; Oh Devi, You are the daughter of the great Jahnu Muni in liquid form,
He who regularly recites this pure Ganga Stava (Hymn), he truly becomes successful.
Word by word
- भो (bho)
- Oh
- भुवनेश्वरि (bhuvaneśvari)
- goddess of the world
- पुण्ये (puṇye)
- holy
- धन्ये (dhanye)
- prosperous
- देवि (devi)
- goddess
- द्रवमयि (dravamayi)
- in liquid form
- मुनिवरकन्ये (munivarakanye)
- daughter of the great sage (muni:sage | vara:great | kanye:daughter)
- गङ्गास्तवम् (gaṅgāstavam)
- Ganga hymn (gaṅgā:Ganga | stavam:hymn)
- इमम् (imam)
- this
- अमलम् (amalam)
- pure
- नित्यं (nityaṃ)
- regularly
- पठति (paṭhati)
- recites
- नरः (naraḥ)
- man
- यः (yaḥ)
- who
- स (sa)
- he
- जयति (jayati)
- becomes successful
- सत्यम् (satyam)
- truly
॥ १३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 13
येषां हृदये गङ्गाभक्तिस्तेषां भवति सदा सुखमुक्तिः ।
मधुराकान्तापज्झटिकाभिः परमानन्दकलितललिताभिः ॥१३॥
yeṣāṃ hṛdaye gaṅgābhaktisteṣāṃ bhavati sadā sukhamuktiḥ .
madhurākāntāpajjhaṭikābhiḥ paramānandakalitalalitābhiḥ ..13..
He who fills his Heart with devotion to Devi Ganga, he always feels the joy of freedom (within his heart),
This Ganga Stotram which is sweet and pleasing is composed in Pajjhatika meter; It is like a great joy formed with artless innocence (of Devotion).
Word by word
- येषां (yeṣām)
- whose
- हृदये (hṛdaye)
- in the heart
- गङ्गाभक्तिः (gaṅgābhaktiḥ)
- devotion to Ganga (gaṅgā:Ganga | bhaktiḥ:devotion)
- तेषां (teṣām)
- their
- भवति (bhavati)
- becomes
- सदा (sadā)
- always
- सुखमुक्तिः (sukhamuktiḥ)
- joy of freedom (sukha:joy | muktiḥ:freedom)
- मधुराकान्तापज्झटिकाभिः (madhurākāntāpajjhaṭikābhiḥ)
- sweet and pleasing (madhura:sweet | kāntā:pleasing | pajjhaṭikābhiḥ:with Pajjhatika meter)
- परमानन्दकलितललिताभिः (paramānandakalitalalitābhiḥ)
- great joy with innocence (paramānanda:great joy | kalita:formed | lalitābhiḥ:with innocence)
॥ १४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 14
गङ्गास्तोत्रमिदं भवसारं वाञ्छितफलदं विमलं सारम् ।
शङ्करसेवकशङ्कररचितं पठति सुखी स्तव इति च समाप्तः ॥१४॥
gaṅgāstotramidaṃ bhavasāraṃ vāñchitaphaladaṃ vimalaṃ sāram .
śaṅkarasevakaśaṅkararacitaṃ paṭhati sukhī stava iti ca samāptaḥ ..14..
This Ganga Stotram is the true substance in this samsara, giving desired fruits, and is the essence of purity,
This hymn is composed by Shankara (Adi Shankaracharya), the servant of Shankara (Shiva); those who read it will be filled with joy; thus ends this Stava (Hymn) (with good wishes for all).
Word by word
- गङ्गास्तोत्रम् (gaṅgāstotram)
- Ganga hymn (gaṅgā:Ganga | stotram:hymn)
- इदं (idaṃ)
- this
- भवसारं (bhavasāram)
- essence of samsara (bhava:samsara | sāram:essence)
- वाञ्छितफलदं (vāñchitaphaladaṃ)
- giving desired fruits (vāñchita:desired | phaladam:giving fruits)
- विमलं (vimalaṃ)
- pure
- सारम् (sāram)
- essence
- शङ्करसेवकशङ्कररचितं (śaṅkarasevakaśaṅkararacitaṃ)
- composed by Shankara's servant (śaṅkara:Shankara | sevaka:servant | śaṅkara:Shankara | racitaṃ:composed)
- पठति (paṭhati)
- reads
- सुखी (sukhī)
- happy
- स्तव (stava)
- hymn
- इति (iti)
- thus
- च (ca)
- and
- समाप्तः (samāptaḥ)
- ended
ॐ
