हे स्वामिनाथ करुणाकर दीनबन्धो,
About this stotra
The Subrahmanya Ashtakam, also known as the Subrahmanya Karavalamba Stotram, is a heartfelt eight-verse prayer to Lord Subrahmanya (Kartikeya/Muruga) asking him to extend his hand of support — karaavalamba — to the devotee in distress. Each verse lovingly describes the Lord's attributes — his compassion, divine parentage, victory over Taraka, weapons and coronation — before ending with the plea 'O Lord of Valli, lend me your hand!'
This stotram is especially dear in South Indian Shaiva-Shakta traditions and is recited on Tuesdays and during Skanda Sashti for the Lord's protection.Phalashruti: Those who recite this Karavalamba attain liberation by the grace of Subrahmanya.
हे स्वामिनाथ करुणाकर दीनबन्धो,
श्रीपार्वतीशमुखपङ्कज पद्मबन्धो ।
श्रीशादिदेवगणपूजितपादपद्म,
वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 1 ॥
hē svāminātha karuṇākara dīnabandhō,
śrīpārvatīśamukhapaṅkaja padmabandhō ।
śrīśādidēvagaṇapūjitapādapadma,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 1 ॥
O Swaminatha, compassionate one, friend of the humble — O son of Parvati and Ishvara, whose lotus feet are worshipped by Vishnu and other gods — O Lord of Valli and Devasena, lend me your hand!
देवादिदेवनुत देवगणाधिनाथ,
देवेन्द्रवन्द्य मृदुपङ्कजमञ्जुपाद ।
देवर्षिनारदमुनीन्द्रसुगीतकीर्ते,
वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 2 ॥
dēvādidēvanuta dēvagaṇādhinātha,
dēvēndravandya mṛdupaṅkajamañjupāda ।
dēvarṣināradamunīndrasugītakīrtē,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 2 ॥
O Lord praised by the foremost among gods, chief of the divine hosts — whose tender lotus feet are revered by Indra — whose glory is melodiously sung by divine sages such as Narada — O Lord of Valli, lend me your hand!
नित्यान्नदान निरताखिल रोगहारिन्,
तस्मात्प्रदान परिपूरितभक्तकाम ।
शृत्यागमप्रणववाच्यनिजस्वरूप,
वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 3 ॥
nityānnadāna niratākhila rōgahārin,
tasmātpradāna paripūritabhaktakāma ।
śṛtyāgamapraṇavavāchyanijasvarūpa,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 3 ॥
O one ever engaged in giving food, destroyer of all diseases — fulfiller of all the desires of your devotees — whose true nature is proclaimed by the Vedas and Agamas as the very OM itself — O Lord of Valli, lend me your hand!
क्रौञ्चासुरेन्द्र परिखण्डन शक्तिशूल,
पाशादिशस्त्रपरिमण्डितदिव्यपाणे ।
श्रीकुण्डलीश धृततुण्ड शिखीन्द्रवाह,
वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 4 ॥
krauñchāsurēndra parikhaṇḍana śaktiśūla,
pāśādiśastraparimaṇḍitadivyapāṇē ।
śrīkuṇḍalīśa dhṛtatuṇḍa śikhīndravāha,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 4 ॥
O wielder of the shakti-spear that shattered the Krauncha mountain — O divine hand adorned with the pasha (noose) and other weapons — O rider of the peacock, who bears the serpent Kundalisha — O Lord of Valli, lend me your hand!
देवादिदेव रथमण्डल मध्य वेद्य,
देवेन्द्र पीठनगरं दृढचापहस्तम् ।
शूरं निहत्य सुरकोटिभिरीड्यमान,
वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 5 ॥
dēvādidēva rathamaṇḍala madhya vēdya,
dēvēndra pīṭhanagaraṃ dṛḍhachāpahastam ।
śūraṃ nihatya surakōṭibhirīḍyamāna,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 5 ॥
O one venerated in the midst of the divine chariot-circle — who holds the mighty bow, having slain the demon Sura, praised by crores of gods — O Lord of Valli, lend me your hand!
हारादिरत्नमणियुक्तकिरीटहार,
केयूरकुण्डललसत्कवचाभिराम ।
हे वीर तारक जयाऽमरबृन्दवन्द्य,
वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 6 ॥
hārādiratnamaṇiyuktakirīṭahāra,
kēyūrakuṇḍalalasatkavachābhirāma ।
hē vīra tāraka jayā'marabṛndavandya,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 6 ॥
Adorned with a crown and necklace of precious gems, wearing armlets, earrings, and a splendid armor — O heroic one, victor over Taraka, revered by hosts of immortals — O Lord of Valli, lend me your hand!
पञ्चाक्षरादिमनुमन्त्रित गाङ्गतोयैः,
पञ्चामृतैः प्रमुदितेन्द्रमुखैर्मुनीन्द्रैः ।
पट्टाभिषिक्त हरियुक्त परासनाथ,
वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 7 ॥
pañchākṣarādimanumantrita gāṅgatōyaiḥ,
pañchāmṛtaiḥ pramuditēndramukhairmunīndraiḥ ।
paṭṭābhiṣikta hariyukta parāsanātha,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 7 ॥
O one ceremonially bathed with sacred Ganga water charged with the Panchakshara and other mantras, anointed with the five nectars by Indra and the leading sages — O Lord of Valli, lend me your hand!
श्रीकार्तिकेय करुणामृतपूर्णदृष्ट्या,
कामादिरोगकलुषीकृतदुष्टचित्तम् ।
भक्त्वा तु मामवकलाधर कान्तिकान्त्या,
वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 8 ॥
śrīkārtikēya karuṇāmṛtapūrṇadṛṣṭyā,
kāmādirōgakaluṣīkṛtaduṣṭachittam ।
bhaktvā tu māmavakaḻādhara kāntikāntyā,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 8 ॥
O Kartikeya, with your glance brimming with the nectar of compassion — purify my wretched mind corrupted by lust and other vices — I come to you with devotion, O one radiant with brilliant divine luster — O Lord of Valli, lend me your hand!
सुब्रह्मण्य करावलम्बं पुण्यं ये पठन्ति द्विजोत्तमाः ।
ते सर्वे मुक्ति मायान्ति सुब्रह्मण्य प्रसादतः ।
सुब्रह्मण्य करावलम्बमिदं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत् ।
कोटिजन्मकृतं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति ॥
subrahmaṇya karāvalambaṃ puṇyaṃ yē paṭhanti dvijōttamāḥ ।
tē sarvē mukti māyānti subrahmaṇya prasādataḥ ।
subrahmaṇya karāvalambamidaṃ prātarutthāya yaḥ paṭhēt ।
kōṭijanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ tatkṣaṇādēva naśyati ॥
Those learned ones who recite this Subrahmanya Karavalamba attain liberation by the grace of Subrahmanya. May Subrahmanya grant us his grace. (Phalashruti)