About this stotra
Goddess Narmada is a revered river deity in Hindu tradition, considered one of the seven holy rivers in India. She is often invoked for her purifying and protective qualities, believed to wash away sins and bestow blessings upon her devotees.
The Narmada Ashtakam is a devotional hymn dedicated to Goddess Narmada, praising her divine attributes and seeking her blessings. The hymn describes the river's beauty and power, with her waves adorned with water droplets and her ability to purify sins. The first verse highlights her role in dispelling fear and offering protection, while the second verse emphasizes her significance as a divine provider and a remover of the burdens of the Goddess Kali Yuga. The third verse speaks of her deep waters that cleanse the earth of sins and provide refuge during times of great fear, referencing the protection she offers to devotees like the son of Mrikandu. The fourth verse promises that those who recite this hymn regularly will avoid misfortune and gain the rare honor of reaching the abode of Lord Shiva, escaping the cycle of rebirth. The concluding verse attributes the composition to the revered sage Shankaracharya, underscoring its spiritual significance. Overall, the hymn is a prayer for spiritual purification, protection, and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Narmada Ashtakam lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
सबिन्दुसिन्धुसुस्खलत्तरङ्गभङ्गरञ्जितं
द्विषत्सु पापजातजातकादिवारिसंयुतम् ।
कृतान्तदूतकालभूतभीतिहारिवर्मदे
त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं नमामि देवि नर्मदे ॥ १॥
sabindusindhususkhalattaraṅgabhaṅgarañjitaṃ
dviṣatsu pāpajātajātakādivārisaṃyutam .
kṛtāntadūtakālabhūtabhītihārivarmade
tvadīyapādapaṅkajaṃ namāmi devi narmade .. 1..
(Salutations to devi Narmada) your river-body illumined with sacred drops of water, flows with mischievous playfulness, bending with waves,
your sacred water has the divine power to transform those who are prone to hatred, the hatred born of sins,
you put an end to the fear of the messenger of death by giving your protective armour (of refuge),
O devi Narmada, I bow down to your lotus feet, please give me your refuge.
Word by word
- सबिन्दुसिन्धुसुस्खलत्तरङ्गभङ्गरञ्जितं (sabindusindhususkhalattaraṅgabhaṅgarañjitaṃ)
- adorned with playful waves (sa:with | bindu:drops | sindhu:river | suskhala:playful | taraṅga:waves | bhaṅga:bending | rañjita:adorned)
- द्विषत्सु (dviṣatsu)
- in those who hate
- पापजातजातकादिवारिसंयुतम् (pāpajātajātakādivārisaṃyutam)
- endowed with sin-born water (pāpa:sin | jāta:born | jāta:born | kādi:etc. | vāri:water | saṃyutam:endowed with)
- कृतान्तदूतकालभूतभीतिहारिवर्मदे (kṛtāntadūtakālabhūtabhītihārivarmade)
- remover of death's fear (kṛtānta:death | dūta:messenger | kāla:time | bhūta:being | bhīti:fear | hāri:remover | varma:armor | de:giver)
- त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं (tvadīyapādapaṅkajaṃ)
- your lotus feet (tvadīya:your | pāda:feet | paṅkaja:lotus)
- नमामि (namāmi)
- I bow down
- देवि (devi)
- O goddess
- नर्मदे (narmade)
- O Narmada
॥ २ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 2
त्वदम्बुलीनदीनमीनदिव्यसम्प्रदायकं
कलौ मलौघभारहारिसर्वतीर्थनायकम् ।
सुमच्छकच्छनक्रचक्रवाकचक्रशर्मदे
त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं नमामि देवि नर्मदे ॥ २॥
tvadambulīnadīnamīnadivyasampradāyakaṃ
kalau malaughabhārahārisarvatīrthanāyakam .
sumacchakacchanakracakravākacakraśarmade
tvadīyapādapaṅkajaṃ namāmi devi narmade .. 2..
(Salutations to devi Narmada) you confer your divine touch to the lowly fish merged in your holy waters,
you take away the weight of the sins in this age of Kali; and you are the foremost among all tirthas (Pilgrimage),
you confer happiness to the many fish, tortoises, crocodiles, geese and chakra birds dwelling in your water,
O devi Narmada, I bow down to your lotus feet, please give me your refuge.
Word by word
- त्वदम्बुलीन (tvadambulīna)
- merged in your waters (tvad:your | ambu:water | līna:merged)
- दीनमीन (dīnamīna)
- lowly fish (dīna:lowly | mīna:fish)
- दिव्यसम्प्रदायकं (divyasampradāyakaṃ)
- conferring divine touch (divya:divine | sampradāyaka:conferring)
- कलौ (kalau)
- in the age of Kali
- मलौघभारहारि (malaughabhārahāri)
- remover of sin's weight (mala:sin | augha:mass | bhāra:weight | hāri:remover)
- सर्वतीर्थनायकम् (sarvatīrthanāyakam)
- foremost among all tirthas (sarva:all | tīrtha:pilgrimage | nāyaka:foremost)
- सुमच्छकच्छनक्रचक्रवाकचक्रशर्मदे (sumacchakacchanakracakravākacakraśarmade)
- giver of happiness to creatures (su:good | maccha:fish | kaccha:tortoise | nakra:crocodile | cakravāka:geese | cakra:chakra birds | śarma:happiness | de:giver)
- त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं (tvadīyapādapaṅkajaṃ)
- your lotus feet (tvadīya:your | pāda:feet | paṅkaja:lotus)
- नमामि (namāmi)
- I bow down
- देवि (devi)
- O goddess
- नर्मदे (narmade)
- O Narmada
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
महागभीरनीरपूरपापधूतभूतलं
ध्वनत्समस्तपातकारिदारितापदाचलम् ।
जगल्लये महाभये मृकण्डुसूनुहर्म्यदे
त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं नमामि देवि नर्मदे ॥ ३ ॥
mahāgabhīranīrapūrapāpadhūtabhūtalaṃ
dhvanatsamastapātakāridāritāpadācalam .
jagallaye mahābhaye mṛkaṇḍusūnuharmyade
tvadīyapādapaṅkajaṃ namāmi devi narmade .. 3 ..
(Salutations to devi Narmada) your river-body is deep and overflowing, the waters of which remove the sins of the Earth, ...
and it flows with great force making a loud reverberating sound, splitting asunder mountains of distresses, the distresses which bring our downfall,
In the heat of this world, you provide the Place of rest and assure great fearlessness; you who gave the place of refuge at your banks to the son of rishi Mrikandu (rishi Markandeya was the son of rishi Mrikandu),
O devi Narmada, I bow down to your lotus feet, please give me your refuge.
Word by word
- महागभीरनीरपूरपापधूतभूतलम् (mahāgabhīranīrapūrapāpadhūtabhūtalam)
- deep water purifies the earth (mahā:great | gabhīra:deep | nīra:water | pūra:full | pāpa:sin | dhūta:removed | bhūtalam:earth)
- ध्वनत्समस्तपातकारिदारितापदाचलम् (dhvanatsamastapātakāridāritāpadācalam)
- sound splits mountains of distress (dhvanat:sounding | samasta:all | pātaka:sins | āri:enemy | dārita:split | āpada:distress | acalam:mountain)
- जगल्लये (jagallaye)
- in the world's dissolution (jagat:world | laya:dissolution)
- महाभये (mahābhaye)
- in great fear (mahā:great | bhaye:fear)
- मृकण्डुसूनुहर्म्यदे (mṛkaṇḍusūnuharmyade)
- to the refuge of Mrikandu's son (mṛkaṇḍu:Mrikandu | sūnu:son | harmya:refuge | de:to)
- त्वदीयपादपङ्कजम् (tvadīyapādapaṅkajam)
- your lotus feet (tvadīya:your | pāda:feet | paṅkajam:lotus)
- नमामि (namāmi)
- I bow
- देवि (devi)
- O goddess
- नर्मदे (narmade)
- O Narmada
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
गतं तदैव मे भयं त्वदम्बु वीक्षितं यदा
मृकण्डुसूनुशौनकासुरारिसेवितं सदा ।
पुनर्भवाब्धिजन्मजं भवाब्धिदुःखवर्मदे
त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं नमामि देवि नर्मदे ॥ ४॥
gataṃ tadaiva me bhayaṃ tvadambu vīkṣitaṃ yadā
mṛkaṇḍusūnuśaunakāsurārisevitaṃ sadā .
punarbhavābdhijanmajaṃ bhavābdhiduḥkhavarmade
tvadīyapādapaṅkajaṃ namāmi devi narmade .. 4..
(Salutations to devi Narmada) O devi, after I have seen your divine water, my attachment to the worldly life has indeed vanished, ...
Your water, which is revered by the son of rishi Mrikandu, rishi Shaunaka, and the enemies of the asuras (i.e. devas),
Your water which is a protective shield against the sorrows of the ocean of worldly Existence, caused by repeated births in this ocean of samsara (worldly existence),
O devi Narmada, I bow down to your lotus feet, please give me your refuge.
Word by word
- गतं (gataṃ)
- gone
- तदैव (tadaiva)
- at that very moment
- मे (me)
- my
- भयं (bhayaṃ)
- fear
- त्वदम्बु (tvadambu)
- your water (tvad:your | ambu:water)
- वीक्षितं (vīkṣitaṃ)
- seen
- यदा (yadā)
- when
- मृकण्डुसूनुशौनकासुरारिसेवितं (mṛkaṇḍusūnuśaunakāsurārisevitaṃ)
- served by Mrikaṇḍu's son, Shaunaka, and devas (mṛkaṇḍusūnu:Mrikaṇḍu's son | śaunaka:Shaunaka | asura:demons | ari:enemies | sevitaṃ:served)
- सदा (sadā)
- always
- पुनर्भवाब्धिजन्मजं (punarbhavābdhijanmajaṃ)
- born from the ocean of rebirth (punar:again | bhava:existence | abdhi:ocean | janmajaṃ:born from)
- भवाब्धिदुःखवर्मदे (bhavābdhiduḥkhavarmade)
- shield against ocean of sorrow (bhava:existence | abdhi:ocean | duḥkha:sorrow | varma:shield | de:giver)
- त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं (tvadīyapādapaṅkajaṃ)
- your lotus feet (tvadīya:your | pāda:feet | paṅkajaṃ:lotus)
- नमामि (namāmi)
- I bow
- देवि (devi)
- O goddess
- नर्मदे (narmade)
- O Narmada
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
अलक्ष्यलक्षकिन्नरामरासुरादिपूजितं
सुलक्षनीरतीरधीरपक्षिलक्षकूजितम् ।
वसिष्ठशिष्टपिप्पलादिकर्दमादिशर्मदे
त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं नमामि देवि नर्मदे ॥ ५॥
alakṣyalakṣakinnarāmarāsurādipūjitaṃ
sulakṣanīratīradhīrapakṣilakṣakūjitam .
vasiṣṭhaśiṣṭapippalādikardamādiśarmade
tvadīyapādapaṅkajaṃ namāmi devi narmade .. 5..
(Salutations to devi Narmada) you are worshipped by lakhs of invisible celestial beings like Kinnaras (celestial musicians), amaras (devas), and also asuras and others,
your river-body with auspicious waters, as well as your river-banks which are calm and composed, are filled with the sweet sounds of lakhs of cooing birds,
you confer happiness to great sages like Vashistha, Sista, Pippala, Kardama and others,
O devi Narmada, I bow down to your lotus feet, please give me your refuge.
Word by word
- अलक्ष्यलक्ष (alakṣyalakṣa)
- invisible lakhs (alakṣya:invisible | lakṣa:lakhs)
- किन्नर (kinnara)
- celestial musicians
- अमर (amara)
- devas
- असुर (asura)
- demons
- आदि (ādi)
- and others
- पूजितं (pūjitaṃ)
- worshipped
- सुलक्ष (sulakṣa)
- auspicious
- नीर (nīra)
- waters
- तीर (tīra)
- river-banks
- धीर (dhīra)
- calm
- पक्षि (pakṣi)
- birds
- लक्ष (lakṣa)
- lakhs
- कूजितम् (kūjitam)
- cooing
- वसिष्ठ (vasiṣṭha)
- Vashistha
- शिष्ट (śiṣṭa)
- Sista
- पिप्पल (pippala)
- Pippala
- आदि (ādi)
- and others
- कर्दम (kardama)
- Kardama
- आदि (ādi)
- and others
- शर्म (śarma)
- happiness
- दे (de)
- give
- त्वदीय (tvadīya)
- your
- पाद (pāda)
- feet
- पङ्कजं (paṅkajaṃ)
- lotus
- नमामि (namāmi)
- I bow down
- देवि (devi)
- O goddess
- नर्मदे (narmade)
- Narmada
॥ ६ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 6
सनत्कुमारनाचिकेतकश्यपात्रिषत्पदैः
धृतं स्वकीयमानसेषु नारदादिषतपदैः ।
रवीन्दुरन्तिदेवदेवराजकर्मशर्मदे
त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं नमामि देवि नर्मदे ॥ ६॥
sanatkumāranāciketakaśyapātriṣatpadaiḥ
dhṛtaṃ svakīyamānaseṣu nāradādiṣatapadaiḥ .
ravīndurantidevadevarājakarmaśarmade
tvadīyapādapaṅkajaṃ namāmi devi narmade .. 6..
(Salutations to devi Narmada) by rishis Sanatkumara, Nachiketa, Kashyapa and others who are like the six-feeted (bee) (since they seek the honey of divine communion), ...
Is held (your lotus feet) in their heart; and also by bee-like sages Narada and others (is held your lotus feet in their heart),
you confer happiness to Ravi (Sun), Indu (Moon), Ranti deva and Devaraja (Indra) by making their works successful,
O devi Narmada, I bow down to your lotus feet, please give me your refuge.
Word by word
- सनत्कुमार (sanatkumāra)
- Sanatkumara
- नाचिकेत (nāciketa)
- Nachiketa
- कश्यप (kaśyapa)
- Kashyapa
- अत्रिषत्पदैः (atriṣatpadaiḥ)
- by six-feeted (bee) (atri:six | ṣatpadaiḥ:feeted)
- धृतं (dhṛtaṃ)
- held
- स्वकीयमानसेषु (svakīyamānaseṣu)
- in their hearts (svakīya:their own | mānaseṣu:in hearts)
- नारद (nārada)
- Narada
- आदि (ādi)
- and others
- षतपदैः (ṣatapadaiḥ)
- by bee-like (ṣata:hundred | padaiḥ:feet)
- रवीन्दु (ravīndu)
- Sun and Moon (ravi:Sun | indu:Moon)
- रन्तिदेव (rantideva)
- Rantideva
- देवराज (devarāja)
- Indra
- कर्मशर्मदे (karmaśarmade)
- making works successful (karma:works | śarmade:giving happiness)
- त्वदीय (tvadīya)
- your
- पादपङ्कजं (pādapaṅkajaṃ)
- lotus feet (pāda:feet | paṅkajaṃ:lotus)
- नमामि (namāmi)
- I bow down
- देवि (devi)
- O goddess
- नर्मदे (narmade)
- Narmada
॥ ७ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 7
अलक्षलक्षलक्षपापलक्षसारसायुधं
ततस्तु जीवजन्तुतन्तुभुक्तिमुक्तिदायकम् ।
विरिञ्चिविष्णुशंकरस्वकीयधामवर्मदे
त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं नमामि देवि नर्मदे ॥ ७॥
alakṣalakṣalakṣapāpalakṣasārasāyudhaṃ
tatastu jīvajantutantubhuktimuktidāyakam .
viriñciviṣṇuśaṃkarasvakīyadhāmavarmade
tvadīyapādapaṅkajaṃ namāmi devi narmade .. 7..
(Salutations to devi Narmada) you cleanse lakhs of invisible and visible sins with your river-body, the banks of which are beautifully decorated with lakhs of Sarasas(cranes or swans),
In that holy place (i.e. in your river banks), you give both bhukti (worldly prosperity) as well as Mukti (liberation) to the series of living beings including animals (who take your shelter),
The presence of Brahma, Vishnu and Shankara in your holy dhama (i.e. river body) provides a protective shield (of blessings to the devotees),
O devi Narmada, I bow down to your lotus feet, please give me your refuge.
Word by word
- अलक्षलक्षलक्षपापलक्षसारसायुधं (alakṣalakṣalakṣapāpalakṣasārasāyudham)
- you whose weapon/instrument is (composed of) lakhs of cranes and the destruction of lakhs of invisible and visible sins (alakṣa:invisible | lakṣa:visible | lakṣa:lakhs | pāpa:sins | lakṣa:lakhs | sārasa:cranes or swans | āyudham:weapon)
- ततस्तु (tatas tu)
- then indeed
- जीवजन्तुतन्तुभुक्तिमुक्तिदायकम् (jīvajantutantubhuktimuktidāyakam)
- giver of prosperity and liberation (jīva:living beings | jantu:creatures | tantu:series | bhukti:prosperity | mukti:liberation | dāyakam:giver)
- विरिञ्चिविष्णुशंकरस्वकीयधामवर्मदे (viriñciviṣṇuśaṃkarasvakīyadhāmavarmade)
- null (viriñci:Brahma | viṣṇu:Vishnu | śaṃkara:Shankara | svakīya:own | dhāma:abode | varma:shield | de:give)
- त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं (tvadīyapādapaṅkajam)
- your lotus feet (tvadīya:your | pāda:feet | paṅkajam:lotus)
- नमामि (namāmi)
- I bow down
- देवि (devi)
- O goddess
- नर्मदे (narmade)
- Narmada
॥ ८ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 8
अहो धृतं स्वनं श्रुतं महेशिकेशजातटे
किरातसूतबाडबेषु पण्डिते शठे नटे ।
दुरन्तपापतापहारि सर्वजन्तुशर्मदे
त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं नमामि देवि नर्मदे ॥ ८॥
aho dhṛtaṃ svanaṃ śrutaṃ maheśikeśajātaṭe
kirātasūtabāḍabeṣu paṇḍite śaṭhe naṭe .
durantapāpatāpahāri sarvajantuśarmade
tvadīyapādapaṅkajaṃ namāmi devi narmade .. 8..
(Salutations to devi Narmada) O, I only hear the sound of immortality, flowing down as your river-body, originating from the matted hairs of Shankara, and filling Your river banks,
On your river banks, everyone Kirata (mountain-tribe), Suta (charioteer), Vaddava (brahmin), Pandita (learned and wise) or Shattha (deceitful) gets purified by your flowing waters,
By vigourously removing Papa (sins) and Tapa (heat of the miseries of life) of all animals (including man), you confer that happiness (born of purification),
O Devi Narmada, I bow down to your lotus feet, please give me refuge.
Word by word
- अहो (aho)
- O
- धृतं (dhṛtaṃ)
- held
- स्वनं (svanaṃ)
- sound
- श्रुतं (śrutaṃ)
- heard
- महेशिकेशजातटे (maheśikeśajātaṭe)
- from Shankara's matted hair (maheśa:Shankara | keśa:hair | jātaṭe:matted)
- किरातसूतबाडबेषु (kirātasūtabāḍabeṣu)
- among Kirata, Suta, Vaddava (kirāta:Kirata | sūta:Suta | bāḍaba:Vaddava)
- पण्डिते (paṇḍite)
- learned
- शठे (śaṭhe)
- deceitful
- नटे (naṭe)
- actor
- दुरन्तपापतापहारि (durantapāpatāpahāri)
- remover of sins and miseries (duranta:difficult | pāpa:sins | tāpa:miseries | hāri:remover)
- सर्वजन्तुशर्मदे (sarvajantuśarmade)
- giver of happiness to all beings (sarva:all | jantu:beings | śarma:happiness | de:giver)
- त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं (tvadīyapādapaṅkajaṃ)
- your lotus feet (tvadīya:your | pāda:feet | paṅkaja:lotus)
- नमामि (namāmi)
- I bow down
- देवि (devi)
- O Devi
- नर्मदे (narmade)
- O Narmada
॥ ९ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 9
इदं तु नर्मदाष्टकं त्रिकालमेव ये सदा
पठन्ति ते निरन्तरं न यान्ति दुर्गतिं कदा ।
सुलभ्यदेहदुर्लभं महेशधामगौरवं
पुनर्भवा नरा न वै विलोकयन्ति रौरवम् ॥ ९॥
idaṃ tu narmadāṣṭakaṃ trikālameva ye sadā
paṭhanti te nirantaraṃ na yānti durgatiṃ kadā .
sulabhyadehadurlabhaṃ maheśadhāmagauravaṃ
punarbhavā narā na vai vilokayanti rauravam .. 9..
(Salutations to devi Narmada) This Narmadashtakam, those who recite thrice a day ...
They do not ever undergo misfortune,
It becomes easy to obtain the great privilege of going to the abode of Mahesha, which is very difficult for an embodied being to attain,
And those persons do not have to see the fearful world again (by taking birth).
Word by word
- इदं (idaṃ)
- this
- तु (tu)
- but
- नर्मदाष्टकं (narmadāṣṭakaṃ)
- Narmadashtakam (narmadā:Narmada | aṣṭakaṃ:eight verses)
- त्रिकालमेव (trikālameva)
- thrice a day (tri:three | kāla:times | eva:indeed)
- ये (ye)
- those who
- सदा (sadā)
- always
- पठन्ति (paṭhanti)
- recite
- ते (te)
- they
- निरन्तरं (nirantaraṃ)
- continuously
- न (na)
- not
- यान्ति (yānti)
- go
- दुर्गतिं (durgatiṃ)
- misfortune
- कदा (kadā)
- ever
- सुलभ्यदेहदुर्लभं (sulabhyadehadurlabhaṃ)
- easy yet rare to obtain (sulabhya:easy to obtain | deha:body | durlabhaṃ:rare)
- महेशधामगौरवं (maheśadhāmagauravaṃ)
- great privilege of Mahesha's abode (maheśa:Mahesha | dhāma:abode | gauravaṃ:privilege)
- पुनर्भवा (punarbhavā)
- rebirth
- नरा (narā)
- men
- न (na)
- not
- वै (vai)
- indeed
- विलोकयन्ति (vilokayanti)
- see
- रौरवम् (rauravam)
- fearful world
॥ १० ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 10
इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य
श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य
श्रीमच्छंकरभगवतः कृतौ
नर्मदाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
iti śrīmatparamahaṃsaparivrājakācāryasya
śrīgovindabhagavatpūjyapādaśiṣyasya
śrīmacchaṃkarabhagavataḥ kṛtau
narmadāṣṭakaṃ sampūrṇam ..
iti shriimat paramahamsa parivraajaka aachaaryasya
shrii govinda bhagavat puujya paada shishyasya
shriimat shamkara bhagavatah kritau
narmadaashtakam sampuurnam ..
Word by word
- इति (iti)
- thus
- श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य (śrīmatparamahaṁsaparivrājakācāryasya)
- of the revered wandering ascetic (श्रीमत्:revered | परमहंस:supreme swan (ascetic) | परिव्राजक:wandering | आचार्यस्य:of the teacher)
- श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य (śrīgovindabhagavatpūjyapādaśiṣyasya)
- of the disciple of Govinda Bhagavatpāda (श्रीगोविन्द:Govinda | भगवत्:divine | पूज्यपाद:revered feet | शिष्यस्य:of the disciple)
- श्रीमच्छंकरभगवतः (śrīmacchaṅkarabhagavataḥ)
- of the revered Śaṅkara (श्रीमद्:revered | शंकर:Śaṅkara | भगवतः:of the divine)
- कृतौ (kṛtau)
- composed
- नर्मदाष्टकं (narmadāṣṭakaṁ)
- eight verses on Narmada (नर्मदा:Narmada | अष्टकं:eight verses)
- सम्पूर्णम् (sampūrṇam)
- complete
ॐ
