About this stotra
The Śāradā Bhujaṅga Prayāta Aṣṭakam is an eight-verse hymn attributed to Ādi Śaṅkarācārya in praise of Goddess Śāradā, the presiding deity of wisdom, learning, and the arts. Composed in the serpentine bhujaṅga prayāta meter—whose rolling rhythm evokes the graceful movement of a serpent—each verse concludes with the refrain bhajē śāradāmbām ajasraṃ madambām, "I worship Śāradā, my Mother, unceasingly."
The hymn paints a luminous portrait of the Goddess: her face radiant as the full moon, her glance moist with compassion, her hand displaying the jñāna mudrā (gesture of knowledge), and an akṣamālā (rosary) adorning her fingers. She is described as the protector of devotees, the source of grace and accumulated merit, and the one worshipped by Brahmā himself. The verses celebrate her beauty, her arts, and her role as the awakener of wisdom in the heart.
This aṣṭakam is cherished by students, scholars, and seekers of knowledge, and is particularly recited during Navarātri and on occasions devoted to Sarasvatī. Regular recitation is said to bestow clarity of intellect, eloquence in speech, and the Goddess's unfailing grace.
Sharada Bhujangam lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
सुवक्षोजकुम्भां सुधापूर्णकुम्भां
प्रसादावलम्बां प्रपुण्यावलम्बाम् ।
सदास्येन्दुबिम्बां सदानोष्ठबिम्बां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम् ॥१॥
suvakṣojakumbhāṃ sudhāpūrṇakumbhāṃ
prasādāvalambāṃ prapuṇyāvalambām .
sadāsyendubimbāṃ sadānoṣṭhabimbāṃ
bhaje śāradāmbāmajasraṃ madambām ..1..
(Salutations to mother Sharada) whose beautiful bosom is filled with the pitcher of nectar, ...
inside which rests abundant grace (prasada) and auspiciousness (prapunya),
whose face always reflect the beauty of moon, over which her lips always shine like (reddish) bimba fruits,
I worship mother Sharada, who is my eternal mother.
Word by word
- सुवक्षोजकुम्भां (suvakṣojakumbhāṃ)
- with beautiful bosom (su:beautiful | vakṣoja:bosom | kumbhāṃ:with pitcher)
- सुधापूर्णकुम्भां (sudhāpūrṇakumbhāṃ)
- filled with nectar pitcher (sudhā:nectar | pūrṇa:filled | kumbhāṃ:with pitcher)
- प्रसादावलम्बां (prasādāvalambāṃ)
- taking refuge in grace (prasāda:grace | avalambāṃ:support, refuge)
- प्रपुण्यावलम्बाम् (prapuṇyāvalambām)
- taking refuge in merit (prapuṇya:merit, auspiciousness | avalambām:support, refuge)
- सदास्येन्दुबिम्बां (sadāsyendubimbāṃ)
- face like moon (sadā:always | asya:face | indu:moon | bimbāṃ:like)
- सदानोष्ठबिम्बां (sadānoṣṭhabimbāṃ)
- lips like bimba fruits (sadā:always | oṣṭha:lips | bimbāṃ:like bimba fruits)
- भजे (bhaje)
- I worship
- शारदाम्बाम् (śāradāmbām)
- mother Sharada (śāradā:Sharada | ambām:mother)
- अजस्रं (ajasraṃ)
- eternal
- मदम्बाम् (madambām)
- my mother (mad:my | ambām:mother)
॥ २ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 2
कटाक्षे दयार्द्रां करे ज्ञानमुद्रां
कलाभिर्विनिद्रां कलापैः सुभद्राम् ।
पुरस्त्रीं विनिद्रां पुरस्तुङ्गभद्रां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम् ॥२॥
kaṭākṣe dayārdrāṃ kare jñānamudrāṃ
kalābhirvinidrāṃ kalāpaiḥ subhadrām .
purastrīṃ vinidrāṃ purastuṅgabhadrāṃ
bhaje śāradāmbāmajasraṃ madambām ..2..
(Salutations to mother Sharada) whose glance is moist with compassion, and whose hand shows the gyana mudra (gesture of knowledge),
who is (ever) wakeful by her arts (which she showers), and who looks (ever) auspicious by her ornaments (which she is adorned with),
who is the ever awake mother goddess of the town (of sringeri), the blessed town (by the bank of) river tunga which is ever auspicious (by her presence),
I worship mother Sharada, who is my eternal mother.
Word by word
- कटाक्षे (kaṭākṣe)
- in the glance
- दयार्द्रां (dayārdrāṃ)
- moist with compassion
- करे (kare)
- in the hand
- ज्ञानमुद्रां (jñānamudrāṃ)
- gesture of knowledge (jñāna:knowledge | mudrāṃ:gesture)
- कलाभिः (kalābhiḥ)
- by the arts
- विनिद्रां (vinidrāṃ)
- ever wakeful
- कलापैः (kalāpaiḥ)
- by the ornaments
- सुभद्राम् (subhadrām)
- auspicious
- पुरस्त्रीं (purastrīṃ)
- mother goddess of the town (pura:town | strīṃ:goddess)
- विनिद्रां (vinidrāṃ)
- ever wakeful
- पुरस्तुङ्गभद्रां (purastuṅgabhadrāṃ)
- of the town Tunga (pura:town | tuṅga:Tunga | bhadrāṃ:auspicious)
- भजे (bhaje)
- I worship
- शारदाम्बाम् (śāradāmbām)
- mother Sharada (śārada:Sharada | ambām:mother)
- अजस्रं (ajasraṃ)
- eternal
- मदम्बाम् (madambām)
- my mother (mad:my | ambām:mother)
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
ललामाङ्कफालां लसद्गानलोलां
स्वभक्तैकपालां यशःश्रीकपोलाम् ।
करे त्वक्षमालां कनत्प्रत्नलोलां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम् ॥३॥
lalāmāṅkaphālāṃ lasadgānalolāṃ
svabhaktaikapālāṃ yaśaḥśrīkapolām .
kare tvakṣamālāṃ kanatpratnalolāṃ
bhaje śāradāmbāmajasraṃ madambām ..3..
(Salutations to mother Sharada) whose forehead is decorated with a beautiful curved mark, and who is moved by beautiful song and music (sung by the devotees),
who is the one refuge of her devotees, to whom she bestows glory and prosperity which radiates from the two cheeks (of her face),
who holds the beads of rosary in her hand, whose gentle movement moves the tradition (and ushers a new generation),
I worship mother Sharada, who is my eternal mother.
Word by word
- ललामाङ्कफालाम् (lalāmāṅkaphālām)
- forehead with a mark (lalāma:mark | aṅka:with | phālā:forehead)
- लसद्गानलोलाम् (lasadgānalolām)
- moved by beautiful song (lasat:shining | gāna:song | lolā:moved by)
- स्वभक्तैकपालाम् (svabhaktaikapālām)
- one refuge of her devotees (sva:her | bhakta:devotees | eka:one | pālā:refuge)
- यशःश्रीकपोलाम् (yaśaḥśrīkapolām)
- glory and prosperity cheeks (yaśaḥ:glory | śrī:prosperity | kapolā:cheeks)
- करे (kare)
- in the hand
- त्वक्षमालाम् (tvakṣamālām)
- rosary (tu:and | akṣa:bead | mālā:rosary)
- कनत्प्रत्नलोलाम् (kanatpratnalolām)
- delighting in ancient splendour (kanat:shining | pratna:ancient | lolā:fond of, delighting in)
- भजे (bhaje)
- I worship
- शारदाम्बाम् (śāradāmbām)
- mother Sharada (śāradā:Sharada | ambā:mother)
- अजस्रं (ajasraṃ)
- eternal
- मदम्बाम् (madambām)
- my mother (mad:my | ambā:mother)
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
सुसीमन्तवेणीं दृशा निर्जितैणीं
रमत्कीरवाणीं नमद्वज्रपाणीम् ।
सुधामन्थरास्यां मुदा चिन्त्यवेणीं
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम् ॥४॥
susīmantaveṇīṃ dṛśā nirjitaiṇīṃ
ramatkīravāṇīṃ namadvajrapāṇīm .
sudhāmantharāsyāṃ mudā cintyaveṇīṃ
bhaje śāradāmbāmajasraṃ madambām ..4..
(Salutations to mother Sharada) whose hair is beautifully parted and braided, and whose eyes have surpassed the doe in beauty,
(this is accompanied by) her delightful voice like a parrot, before which the one with vajra in hand (i.e. Indra deva) bows down,
she stirs up a play of nectar (of bliss) which should be meditated upon as a stream of joy (within the heart),
I worship mother Sharada, who is my eternal mother.
Word by word
- सुसीमन्तवेणीं (susīmantaveṇīṃ)
- with a beautiful braided hair (su:beautiful | sīmantaveṇīṃ:braided hair)
- दृशा (dṛśā)
- by sight
- निर्जितैणीं (nirjitaiṇīṃ)
- who has surpassed the doe (nirjita:surpassed | eṇīṃ:doe)
- रमत्कीरवाणीं (ramatkīravāṇīṃ)
- delightful parrot-like voice (ramat:delightful | kīra:parrot | vāṇīṃ:voice)
- नमद्वज्रपाणीम् (namadvajrapāṇīm)
- bowed by Indra (namat:bowed | vajra:thunderbolt | pāṇīm:hand)
- सुधामन्थरास्यां (sudhāmantharāsyāṃ)
- face as gracefully leisurely as ambrosia (sudhā:ambrosia | manthara:slow, leisurely | āsyāṃ:face)
- मुदा (mudā)
- with joy
- चिन्त्यवेणीं (cintyaveṇīṃ)
- meditated upon braid (cintya:meditated upon | veṇīṃ:braid)
- भजे (bhaje)
- I worship
- शारदाम्बाम् (śāradāmbām)
- mother Sharada (śārada:Sharada | ambām:mother)
- अजस्रं (ajasraṃ)
- eternal
- मदम्बाम् (madambām)
- my mother (mad:my | ambām:mother)
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
सुशान्तां सुदेहां दृगन्ते कचान्तां
लसत् सल्लताङ्गीमनन्तामचिन्त्याम् ।
स्मृतां तापसैः सर्गपूर्वस्थितां तां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम् ॥५॥
suśāntāṃ sudehāṃ dṛgante kacāntāṃ
lasat sallatāṅgīmanantāmacintyām .
smṛtāṃ tāpasaiḥ sargapūrvasthitāṃ tāṃ
bhaje śāradāmbāmajasraṃ madambām ..5..
(Salutations to mother Sharada) who is very calm with a beautiful form; and her hair extends (endlessly) till the end of sight (outer as well as inner),
(Similarly) her shining form like a creeper is endless and inconceivable,
(her divine form) is contemplated upon by the ascetics (within their hearts); that form which existed prior to creation,
I worship mother Sharada, who is my eternal mother.
Word by word
- सुशान्ताम् (suśāntām)
- very calm
- सुदेहाम् (sudehām)
- with a beautiful form
- दृगन्ते (dṛgante)
- till the end of sight (dṛś:sight | ante:at the end)
- कचान्ताम् (kacāntām)
- hair extending (kaca:hair | antām:extending)
- लसत् (lasat)
- shining
- सल्लताङ्गीम् (sallatāṅgīm)
- form like a creeper (sallatā:creeper | aṅgīm:form)
- अनन्ताम् (anantām)
- endless
- अचिन्त्याम् (acintyām)
- inconceivable
- स्मृताम् (smṛtām)
- contemplated upon
- तापसैः (tāpasaiḥ)
- by the ascetics
- सर्गपूर्वस्थिताम् (sargapūrvasthitām)
- existed prior to creation (sarga:creation | pūrva:prior | sthitām:existed)
- ताम् (tām)
- that
- भजे (bhaje)
- I worship
- शारदाम्बाम् (śāradāmbām)
- mother Sharada (śāradā:Sharada | ambām:mother)
- अजस्रं (ajasraṃ)
- eternal
- मदम्बाम् (madambām)
- my mother (mad:my | ambām:mother)
॥ ६ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 6
कुरङ्गे तुरङ्गे मृगेन्द्रे खगेन्द्रे
मराले मदेभे महोक्षेऽधिरूढाम् ।
महत्यां नवम्यां सदा सामरूपां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम् ॥६॥
kuraṅge turaṅge mṛgendre khagendre
marāle madebhe mahokṣe'dhirūḍhām .
mahatyāṃ navamyāṃ sadā sāmarūpāṃ
bhaje śāradāmbāmajasraṃ madambām ..6..
(Salutations to mother Sharada) who rides on a deer (kuranga), who rides on a horse (turanga), who rides on the king of animals (lion) (mrigendra), who rides on the king of birds (eagle) (khagendra), ...
who rides on a swan (marala), who rides on an intoxicated elephant (mada iva), and who rides on a large bull (mahoksha),
worshipped on the great Navamī (the ninth night of Navarātri), she is always of tranquil form,
I worship mother Sharada, who is my eternal mother.
Word by word
- कुरङ्गे (kuraṅge)
- on a deer
- तुरङ्गे (turaṅge)
- on a horse
- मृगेन्द्रे (mṛgendre)
- on the king of animals (mṛga:animal | indra:king)
- खगेन्द्रे (khagendre)
- on the king of birds (khaga:bird | indra:king)
- मराले (marāle)
- on a swan
- मदेभे (madebhe)
- on an intoxicated elephant (mada:intoxicated | ibha:elephant)
- महोक्षे (mahokṣe)
- on a large bull (maha:large | ukṣa:bull)
- अधिरूढाम् (adhirūḍhām)
- mounted upon
- महत्यां (mahatyāṃ)
- great
- नवम्यां (navamyāṃ)
- ninth
- सदा (sadā)
- always
- सामरूपां (sāmarūpāṃ)
- tranquil form (sāma:tranquil | rūpā:form)
- भजे (bhaje)
- I worship
- शारदाम्बाम् (śāradāmbām)
- mother Sharada (śāradā:Sharada | ambā:mother)
- अजस्रं (ajasraṃ)
- eternal
- मदम्बाम् (madambām)
- my mother (mad:my | ambā:mother)
॥ ७ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 7
ज्वलत्कान्तिवह्निं जगन्मोहनाङ्गीं
भजन्मानसाम्भोजसुभ्रान्तभृङ्गीम् ।
निजस्तोत्रसङ्गीतनृत्यप्रभाङ्गी
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम् ॥७॥
jvalatkāntivahniṃ jaganmohanāṅgīṃ
bhajanmānasāmbhojasubhrāntabhṛṅgīm .
nijastotrasaṅgītanṛtyaprabhāṅgī
bhaje śāradāmbāmajasraṃ madambām ..7..
(Salutations to mother Sharada) whose form shines with the beauty of a blazing fire (jwalat kanti vahnim), which enchants the whole world (jagan mohana angim),
I worship (meditate) within the lotus of my mind (heart) that wondrous form which wanders like a bee (wandering over a lotus), ...
[that form] which shines with the glory of her own stotra set to the melody of music and dance,
I worship mother Sharada, who is my eternal mother.
Word by word
- ज्वलत्कान्तिवह्निं (jvalatkāntivahniṃ)
- blazing beauty fire (jvalat:blazing | kānti:beauty | vahniṃ:fire)
- जगन्मोहनाङ्गीं (jaganmohanāṅgīṃ)
- enchanting world form (jagat:world | mohana:enchanting | aṅgīṃ:form)
- भजन्मानसाम्भोजसुभ्रान्तभृङ्गीम् (bhajanmānasāmbhojasubhrāntabhṛṅgīm)
- wandering bee in mind lotus (bhajan:worship | mānasa:mind | ambhoja:lotus | subhrānta:wandering | bhṛṅgīm:bee)
- निजस्तोत्रसङ्गीतनृत्यप्रभाङ्गी (nijastotrasaṅgītanṛtyaprabhāṅgī)
- own hymn music dance glory (nija:own | stotra:hymn | saṅgīta:music | nṛtya:dance | prabhāṅgī:glory)
- भजे (bhaje)
- I worship
- शारदाम्बाम् (śāradāmbām)
- mother Sharada (śāradā:Sharada | ambām:mother)
- अजस्रं (ajasraṃ)
- eternal
- मदम्बाम् (madambām)
- my mother (mad:my | ambām:mother)
॥ ८ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 8
भवाम्भोजनेत्राजसम्पूज्यमानां
लसन्मन्दहासप्रभावक्त्रचिह्नाम् ।
चलच्चञ्चलाचारुताटङ्ककर्णां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम् ॥८॥
bhavāmbhojanetrājasampūjyamānāṃ
lasanmandahāsaprabhāvaktracihnām .
calaccañcalācārutāṭaṅkakarṇāṃ
bhaje śāradāmbāmajasraṃ madambām ..8..
(Salutations to mother Sharada) who is ceaselessly worshipped by Brahmā (aja) of lotus-eyes — the very creator who bows to the goddess of wisdom,
whose shining face is marked by a gentle smile (playing over it),
whose ears are adorned with beautiful ear-rings, moving (with the movement of her beautiful face),
I worship mother Sharada, who is my eternal mother.
Word by word
- भवाम्भोजनेत्राज (bhavāmbhojanetrāja)
- worshipped by Brahmā of lotus-eyes (bhava:world | ambhoja:lotus | netra:eyes | aja:Brahmā)
- सम्पूज्यमानां (sampūjyamānāṃ)
- being worshipped
- लसन्मन्दहासप्रभावक्त्रचिह्नाम् (lasanmandahāsaprabhāvaktracihnām)
- marked by gentle smile (lasan:shining | manda:gentle | hāsa:smile | prabhā:radiance | vaktra:face | cihnām:marked by)
- चलच्चञ्चलाचारुताटङ्ककर्णां (calaccañcalācārutāṭaṅkakarṇāṃ)
- ears adorned with earrings (calat:moving | cañcala:swaying | cāru:beautiful | tāṭaṅka:earrings | karṇāṃ:ears)
- भजे (bhaje)
- I worship
- शारदाम्बाम् (śāradāmbām)
- mother Sharada (śārada:Sharada | ambām:mother)
- अजस्रं (ajasraṃ)
- eternal
- मदम्बाम् (madambām)
- my mother (mad:my | ambām:mother)
॥ ९ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 9
॥ इति श्रीमच्छङ्कराचार्यविरचिता श्री शारदा भुजङ्ग प्रयाताष्टकम् ॥
iti śrīmacChaṅkarācāryaviracitā śrī śāradā bhujaṅga prayātāṣṭakam
Thus ends the Śāradā Bhujanga Prayāta Aṣṭakam composed by Śrī Śaṅkarācārya.
Word by word
- इति (iti)
- thus ends
- श्रीमच्छङ्कराचार्यविरचिता (śrīmacChaṅkarācāryaviracitā)
- composed by Śrī Śaṅkarācārya (śrīmat:revered | Śaṅkarācārya:Shankaracharya | viracitā:composed by)
- श्री शारदा भुजङ्ग प्रयाताष्टकम् (śrī śāradā bhujaṅga prayātāṣṭakam)
- the Śāradā Bhujanga Prayāta Aṣṭakam (śāradā:Sharada | bhujaṅga prayāta:serpentine meter | aṣṭakam:eight-verse hymn)
ॐ
