Subrahmanya Bhujangam

सदा बालरूपाऽपि विघ्नाद्रिहन्त्री

Sadā bālarūpā'pi vighnādrihantrī

Ever a child in form, yet the shatterer of the mountain of obstacles;

महादन्तिवक्त्राऽपि पञ्चास्यमान्या ।

Mahādantivaktrā'pi pañcāsyamānyā |

great elephant's face, yet honoured by the five-faced Lord;

विधीन्द्रादिमृग्या गणेशाभिधा मे

Vidhīndrādimṛgyā gaṇeśābhidhā me

sought after by Brahma, Indra and the rest, and called Ganesha:

विधत्तां श्रियं काऽपि कल्याणमूर्तिः

Vidhattāṃ śriyaṃ kā'pi kalyāṇamūrtiḥ

may that indescribable auspicious Form grant me prosperity.

न जानामि शब्दं न जानामि चार्थं

Na jānāmi śabdaṃ na jānāmi cārthaṃ

I know nothing of words, nothing of their meanings,

न जानामि पद्यं न जानामि गद्यम् ।

Na jānāmi padyaṃ na jānāmi gadyam |

nothing of verse, nothing of prose.

चिदेका षडास्या हृदि द्योतते मे

Cidekā ṣaḍāsyā hṛdi dyotate me

Yet one Consciousness, six-faced, shines within my heart,

मुखान्निःसरन्ते गिरश्चापि चित्रम्

Mukhānniḥsarante giraścāpi citram

and, wonder of it, words come pouring from my mouth.

मयूराधिरूढं महावाक्यगूढं

Mayūrādhirūḍhaṃ mahāvākyagūḍhaṃ

Mounted upon the peacock, hidden within the great utterances of the Vedas,

मनोहारिदेहं महच्चित्तगेहम् ।

Manohāridehaṃ mahaccittageham |

with a body that captivates the mind, dwelling in the hearts of the great,

महीदेवदेवं महावेदभावं

Mahīdevadevaṃ mahāvedabhāvaṃ

God of the gods on earth, the very substance of the great Vedas,

महादेवबालं भजे लोकपालम्

Mahādevabālaṃ bhaje lokapālam

the child of Mahadeva, guardian of the worlds: Him I worship.

यदा सन्निधानं गता मानवा मे

Yadā sannidhānaṃ gatā mānavā me

'When people come into My presence,

भवाम्भोधिपारं गतास्ते तदैव ।

Bhavāmbhodhipāraṃ gatāste tadaiva |

at that very moment they have reached the far shore of the ocean of birth and death.'

इति व्यञ्जयन्सिन्धुतीरे य आस्ते

Iti vyañjayansindhutīre ya āste

As though declaring this, He abides on the ocean shore:

तमीडे पवित्रं पराशक्तिपुत्रम्

Tamīḍe pavitraṃ parāśaktiputram

that pure son of the Supreme Power I praise.

यथाब्धेस्तरङ्गा लयं यान्ति तुङ्गा

Yathābdhestaraṅgā layaṃ yānti tuṅgā

'As the towering waves of the ocean sink and dissolve,

स्तथैवापदः सन्निधौ सेवतां मे ।

Stathaivāpadaḥ sannidhau sevatāṃ me |

so do the calamities of those who serve in My presence.'

इतीवोर्मिपङ्क्तीर्नृणां दर्शयन्तं

Itīvormipaṅktīrnṛṇāṃ darśayantaṃ

As if showing people the ranks of waves to say this,

सदा भावये हृत्सरोजे गुहं तम्

Sadā bhāvaye hṛtsaroje guhaṃ tam

that Guha I contemplate always in the lotus of my heart.

गिरौ मन्निवासे नरा येऽधिरूढा

Girau mannivāse narā ye'dhirūḍhā

'Those who climb the hill where I dwell

स्तदा पर्वते राजते तेऽधिरूढाः ।

Stadā parvate rājate te'dhirūḍhāḥ |

have by that very act climbed the shining silver mountain.'

इतीव ब्रुवन्गन्धशैलाधिरूढः

Itīva bruvangandhaśailādhirūḍhaḥ

As though saying this, He is seated upon the Fragrant Hill:

स देवो मुदे मे सदा षण्मुखोऽस्तु

Sa devo mude me sadā ṣaṇmukho'stu

may that six-faced Lord be always my delight.

महाम्भोधितीरे महापापचोरे

Mahāmbhodhitīre mahāpāpacore

On the shore of the great ocean, on the hill called Fragrant,

मुनीन्द्रानुकूले सुगन्धाख्यशैले ।

Munīndrānukūle sugandhākhyaśaile |

which steals away great sins and is kind to the foremost of sages,

गुहायां वसन्तं स्वभासा लसन्तं

Guhāyāṃ vasantaṃ svabhāsā lasantaṃ

He dwells in a cave, shining with His own light,

जनार्तिं हरन्तं श्रयामो गुहं तम्

Janārtiṃ harantaṃ śrayāmo guhaṃ tam

carrying away the pain of the people: in that Guha we take refuge.

लसत्स्वर्णगेहे नृणां कामदोहे

Lasatsvarṇagehe nṛṇāṃ kāmadohe

In a gleaming golden shrine that yields men all they desire,

सुमस्तोमसञ्छन्नमाणिक्यमञ्चे ।

Sumastomasañchannamāṇikyamañce |

on a ruby couch heaped over with flowers,

समुद्यत्सहस्रार्कतुल्यप्रकाशं

Samudyatsahasrārkatulyaprakāśaṃ

shining like a thousand suns rising at once:

सदा भावये कार्तिकेयं सुरेशम्

Sadā bhāvaye kārtikeyaṃ sureśam

on that Kartikeya, Lord of the gods, I meditate always.

रणद्धंसके मञ्जुलेऽत्यन्तशोणे

Raṇaddhaṃsake mañjule'tyantaśoṇe

On feet where anklets ring, lovely and deeply crimson,

मनोहारिलावण्यपीयूषपूर्णे ।

Manohārilāvaṇyapīyūṣapūrṇe |

brimming with the nectar of a beauty that captivates the mind:

मनःषट्पदो मे भवक्लेशतप्तः

Manaḥṣaṭpado me bhavakleśataptaḥ

may my mind, a bee scorched by the torments of worldly life,

सदा मोदतां स्कन्द ते पादपद्मे

Sadā modatāṃ skanda te pādapadme

for ever find its delight at Your lotus feet, O Skanda.

सुवर्णाभदिव्याम्बरैर्भासमानां

Suvarṇābhadivyāmbarairbhāsamānāṃ

Shining with divine garments of a golden gleam,

क्वणत्किङ्किणीमेखलाशोभमानाम् ।

Kvaṇatkiṅkiṇīmekhalāśobhamānām |

graced by a girdle of softly ringing bells,

लसद्धेमपट्टेन विद्योतमानां

Lasaddhemapaṭṭena vidyotamānāṃ

brilliant with a band of glittering gold:

कटिं भावये स्कन्द ते दीप्यमानाम्

Kaṭiṃ bhāvaye skanda te dīpyamānām

on that radiant waist of Yours, O Skanda, I meditate.

पुलिन्देशकन्याघनाभोगतुङ्ग

Pulindeśakanyāghanābhogatuṅga

The forest chieftain's daughter, with full and high

स्तनालिङ्गनासक्तकाश्मीररागम् ।

Stanāliṅganāsaktakāśmīrarāgam |

breasts embraced it, and the saffron of that embrace still clings there:

नमस्याम्यहं तारकारे तवोरः

Namasyāmyahaṃ tārakāre tavoraḥ

O slayer of Taraka, I bow to that chest of Yours,

स्वभक्तावने सर्वदा सानुरागम्

Svabhaktāvane sarvadā sānurāgam

for ever tender with love in guarding Your devotees.

विधौ कॢप्तदण्डान् स्वलीलाधृताण्डा

Vidhau kḷptadaṇḍān svalīlādhṛtāṇḍā

They set a punishment upon Brahma, and hold up the cosmic egg in play,

न्निरस्तेभशुण्डान् द्विषत्कालदण्डान् ।

Nnirastebhaśuṇḍān dviṣatkāladaṇḍān |

they outdo the elephant's trunk, and are Death's own rod to the hostile,

हतेन्द्रारिषण्डाञ्जगत्त्राणशौण्डान्

Hatendrāriṣaṇḍāñjagattrāṇaśauṇḍān

they destroyed the ranks of Indra's enemies, and are skilled in sheltering the world:

सदा ते प्रचण्डान् श्रये बाहुदण्डान्

Sadā te pracaṇḍān śraye bāhudaṇḍān

in those fierce staff-like arms of Yours I take refuge always.

सदा शारदाः षण्मृगाङ्का यदि स्युः

Sadā śāradāḥ ṣaṇmṛgāṅkā yadi syuḥ

If there were six autumn moons,

समुद्यन्त एव स्थिताश्चेत्समन्तात् ।

Samudyanta eva sthitāścetsamantāt |

all risen together and standing on every side,

सदा पूर्णबिम्बाः कलङ्कैश्च हीना

Sadā pūrṇabimbāḥ kalaṅkaiśca hīnā

ever at the full and without a single blemish,

स्तदा त्वन्मुखानां ब्रुवे स्कन्द साम्यम्

Stadā tvanmukhānāṃ bruve skanda sāmyam

then, O Skanda, I might call them like Your faces.

स्फुरन्मन्दहासैः सहंसानि चञ्च

Sphuranmandahāsaiḥ sahaṃsāni cañca

With flashing gentle smiles they are lotuses graced by swans,

त्कटाक्षावलीभृङ्गसङ्घोज्ज्वलानि ।

Tkaṭākṣāvalībhṛṅgasaṅghojjvalāni |

bright with the swarm of bees that are Your darting sidelong glances,

सुधास्यन्दिबिम्बाधराणीशसूनो

Sudhāsyandibimbādharāṇīśasūno

their bimba-red lips dripping nectar, O son of the Lord:

तवालोकये षण्मुखाम्भोरुहाणि

Tavālokaye ṣaṇmukhāmbhoruhāṇi

these six lotus-faces of Yours I behold.

विशालेषु कर्णान्तदीर्घेष्वजस्रं

Viśāleṣu karṇāntadīrgheṣvajasraṃ

Your twelve eyes are wide, long as the reach of the ears,

दयास्यन्दिषु द्वादशस्वीक्षणेषु ।

Dayāsyandiṣu dvādaśasvīkṣaṇeṣu |

and ceaselessly pouring out compassion.

मयीषत्कटाक्षः सकृत्पातितश्चे

Mayīṣatkaṭākṣaḥ sakṛtpātitaśce

If from them one slight sidelong glance were cast on me but once,

द्भवेत्ते दयाशील का नाम हानिः

Dbhavette dayāśīla kā nāma hāniḥ

what loss, O compassionate One, would that be to You?

सुताङ्गोद्भवो मेऽसि जीवेति षड्धा

Sutāṅgodbhavo me'si jīveti ṣaḍdhā

'You are sprung from my own body, my child; live long' -

जपन्मन्त्रमीशो मुदा जिघ्रते यान् ।

Japanmantramīśo mudā jighrate yān |

so Ishvara joyfully repeats the mantra six times and breathes in their fragrance.

जगद्भारभृद्भ्यो जगन्नाथ तेभ्यः

Jagadbhārabhṛdbhyo jagannātha tebhyaḥ

O Lord of the world, to those heads that carry the world's burden,

किरीटोज्ज्वलेभ्यो नमो मस्तकेभ्यः

Kirīṭojjvalebhyo namo mastakebhyaḥ

brilliant with their crowns, I offer my salutation.

स्फुरद्रत्नकेयूरहाराभिराम

Sphuradratnakeyūrahārābhirāma

Lovely with sparkling jewelled armlets and necklaces,

श्चलत्कुण्डलश्रीलसद्गण्डभागः ।

Ścalatkuṇḍalaśrīlasadgaṇḍabhāgaḥ |

His cheeks aglow with the beauty of swinging earrings,

कटौ पीतवासाः करे चारुशक्तिः

Kaṭau pītavāsāḥ kare cāruśaktiḥ

yellow silk about His waist, the graceful spear in His hand:

पुरस्तान्ममास्तां पुरारेस्तनूजः

Purastānmamāstāṃ purārestanūjaḥ

may the son of the destroyer of the three cities stand before me.

इहायाहि वत्सेति हस्तान्प्रसार्या

Ihāyāhi vatseti hastānprasāryā

When Shankara stretches out His hands and calls fondly,

ह्वयत्यादराच्छङ्करे मातुरङ्कात् ।

Hvayatyādarācchaṅkare māturaṅkāt |

'Come here, my child!' - then from His mother's lap

समुत्पत्य तातं श्रयन्तं कुमारं

Samutpatya tātaṃ śrayantaṃ kumāraṃ

the boy leaps up and runs to His father,

हराश्लिष्टगात्रं भजे बालमूर्तिम्

Harāśliṣṭagātraṃ bhaje bālamūrtim

and Hara folds Him in His arms: that child-form I worship.

कुमारेशसूनो गुह स्कन्द सेना

Kumāreśasūno guha skanda senā

O Kumara, son of the Lord, Guha, Skanda, commander

पते शक्तिपाणे मयूराधिरूढ ।

Pate śaktipāṇe mayūrādhirūḍha |

of the celestial army, spear in hand, rider of the peacock,

पुलिन्दात्मजाकान्त भक्तार्तिहारिन्

Pulindātmajākānta bhaktārtihārin

beloved of the forest girl, taker-away of Your devotees' distress,

प्रभो तारकारे सदा रक्ष मां त्वम्

Prabho tārakāre sadā rakṣa māṃ tvam

Lord, slayer of Taraka: protect me always.

प्रशान्तेन्द्रिये नष्टसंज्ञे विचेष्टे

Praśāntendriye naṣṭasaṃjñe viceṣṭe

When my senses have fallen silent, my awareness lost, my body still,

कफोद्गारिवक्त्रे भयोत्कम्पिगात्रे ।

Kaphodgārivaktre bhayotkampigātre |

my mouth throwing up phlegm, my limbs shaking with fear,

प्रयाणोन्मुखे मय्यनाथे तदानीं

Prayāṇonmukhe mayyanāthe tadānīṃ

when I, helpless, am turned toward departure - at that hour,

द्रुतं मे दयालो भवाग्रे गुह त्वम्

Drutaṃ me dayālo bhavāgre guha tvam

come swiftly, O merciful Guha, and stand before me.

कृतान्तस्य दूतेषु चण्डेषु कोपा

Kṛtāntasya dūteṣu caṇḍeṣu kopā

When the fierce messengers of Death, in their fury,

द्दह च्छिन्द्धि भिन्द्धीति मां तर्जयत्सु ।

Ddaha cchinddhi bhinddhīti māṃ tarjayatsu |

threaten me with cries of 'Burn him! Cut him down! Tear him apart!' -

मयूरं समारुह्य मा भैरिति त्वं

Mayūraṃ samāruhya mā bhairiti tvaṃ

mount Your peacock, say 'Do not be afraid,'

पुरः शक्तिपाणिर्ममायाहि शीघ्रम्

Puraḥ śaktipāṇirmamāyāhi śīghram

and come swiftly before me, spear in hand.

प्रणम्यासकृत्पादयोस्ते पतित्वा

Praṇamyāsakṛtpādayoste patitvā

Bowing again and again, falling at Your feet,

प्रसाद्य प्रभो प्रार्थयेऽनेकवारम् ।

Prasādya prabho prārthaye'nekavāram |

winning Your favour, O Lord, I entreat You many times over:

न वक्तुं क्षमोऽहं तदानीं कृपाब्धे

Na vaktuṃ kṣamo'haṃ tadānīṃ kṛpābdhe

at that hour I shall not be able to speak. O ocean of mercy,

न कार्यान्तकाले मनागप्युपेक्षा

Na kāryāntakāle manāgapyupekṣā

at the time of the end let there be not the least neglect.

सहस्राण्डभोक्ता त्वया शूरनामा

Sahasrāṇḍabhoktā tvayā śūranāmā

You slew Shura, who ruled a thousand worlds,

हतस्तारकः सिंहवक्त्रश्च दैत्यः ।

Hatastārakaḥ siṃhavaktraśca daityaḥ |

and Taraka, and the demon with the lion's face;

ममान्तर्हृदिस्थं मनःक्लेशमेकं

Mamāntarhṛdisthaṃ manaḥkleśamekaṃ

yet the single torment of mind lodged in my heart

न हंसि प्रभो किं करोमि क्व यामि

Na haṃsi prabho kiṃ karomi kva yāmi

You do not destroy. Lord, what am I to do? Where am I to go?

अहं सर्वदा दुःखभारावसन्नो

Ahaṃ sarvadā duḥkhabhārāvasanno

I am always sunk beneath a weight of sorrow,

भवान्दीनबन्धुस्त्वदन्यं न याचे ।

Bhavāndīnabandhustvadanyaṃ na yāce |

and You are the friend of the helpless; I ask of no one but You.

भवद्भक्तिरोधं सदा कॢप्तबाधं

Bhavadbhaktirodhaṃ sadā kḷptabādhaṃ

My anguish blocks my devotion to You and torments me without pause:

ममाधिं द्रुतं नाशयोमासुत त्वम्

Mamādhiṃ drutaṃ nāśayomāsuta tvam

destroy it swiftly, O son of Uma.

अपस्मारकुष्ठक्षयार्शः प्रमेह

Apasmārakuṣṭhakṣayārśaḥ prameha

Epilepsy, leprosy, consumption, piles, diabetes,

ज्वरोन्मादगुल्मादिरोगा महान्तः ।

Jvaronmādagulmādirogā mahāntaḥ |

fever, madness, tumours and other grievous diseases,

पिशाचाश्च सर्वे भवत्पत्रभूतिं

Piśācāśca sarve bhavatpatrabhūtiṃ

and every evil spirit, on seeing the sacred ash from Your shrine,

विलोक्य क्षणात्तारकारे द्रवन्ते

Vilokya kṣaṇāttārakāre dravante

flee away in an instant, O slayer of Taraka.

दृशि स्कन्दमूर्तिः श्रुतौ स्कन्दकीर्ति

Dṛśi skandamūrtiḥ śrutau skandakīrti

In my eyes, Skanda's form; in my ears, Skanda's glory;

र्मुखे मे पवित्रं सदा तच्चरित्रम् ।

Rmukhe me pavitraṃ sadā taccaritram |

on my lips always that holy story of His;

करे तस्य कृत्यं वपुस्तस्य भृत्यं

Kare tasya kṛtyaṃ vapustasya bhṛtyaṃ

in my hands, His work; my body, His servant:

गुहे सन्तु लीना ममाशेषभावाः

Guhe santu līnā mamāśeṣabhāvāḥ

may every state of my being be absorbed in Guha.

मुनीनामुताहो नृणां भक्तिभाजा

Munīnāmutāho nṛṇāṃ bhaktibhājā

For sages, and indeed for devoted men,

मभीष्टप्रदाः सन्ति सर्वत्र देवाः ।

Mabhīṣṭapradāḥ santi sarvatra devāḥ |

there are gods everywhere who grant what is wished for.

नृणामन्त्यजानामपि स्वार्थदाने

Nṛṇāmantyajānāmapi svārthadāne

But for giving their good even to the lowliest of people,

गुहाद्देवमन्यं न जाने न जाने

Guhāddevamanyaṃ na jāne na jāne

I know no god other than Guha, I know of none.

कलत्रं सुता बन्धुवर्गः पशुर्वा

Kalatraṃ sutā bandhuvargaḥ paśurvā

Wife, children, the circle of kin, or the cattle,

नरो वाथ नारि गृहे ये मदीयाः ।

Naro vātha nāri gṛhe ye madīyāḥ |

man or woman, all who are mine in my house:

यजन्तो नमन्तः स्तुवन्तो भवन्तं

Yajanto namantaḥ stuvanto bhavantaṃ

may they all be those who worship You, bow to You, praise You,

स्मरन्तश्च ते सन्तु सर्वे कुमार

Smarantaśca te santu sarve kumāra

and hold You in remembrance, O Kumara.

मृगाः पक्षिणो दंशका ये च दुष्टा

Mṛgāḥ pakṣiṇo daṃśakā ye ca duṣṭā

Wild beasts, birds, stinging creatures and whatever is harmful,

स्तथा व्याधयो बाधका ये मदङ्गे ।

Stathā vyādhayo bādhakā ye madaṅge |

and the diseases that trouble my body:

भवच्छक्तितीक्ष्णाग्रभिन्नाः सुदूरे

Bhavacchaktitīkṣṇāgrabhinnāḥ sudūre

pierced by the sharp point of Your spear, far away

विनश्यन्तु ते चूर्णितक्रौञ्चशैल

Vinaśyantu te cūrṇitakrauñcaśaila

let them all perish, O crusher of the Krauncha mountain.

जनित्री पिता च स्वपुत्रापराधं

Janitrī pitā ca svaputrāparādhaṃ

Do not a mother and a father bear with their own child's faults,

सहेते न किं देवसेनाधिनाथ ।

Sahete na kiṃ devasenādhinātha |

O Lord of the celestial army?

अहं चातिबालो भवान् लोकतातः

Ahaṃ cātibālo bhavān lokatātaḥ

I am only a small child, and You are the Father of all the worlds:

क्षमस्वापराधं समस्तं महेश

Kṣamasvāparādhaṃ samastaṃ maheśa

forgive every offence of mine, O great Lord.

नमः केकिने शक्तये चापि तुभ्यं

Namaḥ kekine śaktaye cāpi tubhyaṃ

Salutation to Your peacock, and to Your spear as well;

नमश्छाग तुभ्यं नमः कुक्कुटाय ।

Namaśchāga tubhyaṃ namaḥ kukkuṭāya |

salutation to the goat that is Yours, salutation to the cock of Your banner;

नमः सिन्धवे सिन्धुदेशाय तुभ्यं

Namaḥ sindhave sindhudeśāya tubhyaṃ

salutation to the sea and to the sea-country that is Yours;

पुनः स्कन्दमूर्ते नमस्ते नमोऽस्तु

Punaḥ skandamūrte namaste namo'stu

and again, O form of Skanda, salutation to You, salutation.

जयानन्दभूमञ्जयापारधाम

Jayānandabhūmañjayāpāradhāma

Victory to You, ground of all bliss! Victory, abode beyond all bounds!

ञ्जयामोघकीर्ते जयानन्दमूर्ते ।

Ñjayāmoghakīrte jayānandamūrte |

Victory, You of unfailing fame! Victory, embodiment of bliss!

जयानन्दसिन्धो जयाशेषबन्धो

Jayānandasindho jayāśeṣabandho

Victory, ocean of bliss! Victory, friend of every being!

जय त्वं सदा मुक्तिदानेशसूनो

Jaya tvaṃ sadā muktidāneśasūno

Victory to You always, giver of liberation, son of the Lord!

भुजङ्गाख्यवृत्तेन कॢप्तं स्तवं यः

Bhujaṅgākhyavṛttena kḷptaṃ stavaṃ yaḥ

Whoever recites this hymn, composed in the metre called Bhujanga,

पठेद्भक्तियुक्तो गुहं सम्प्रणम्य ।

Paṭhedbhaktiyukto guhaṃ sampraṇamya |

with devotion, after bowing low before Guha,

सुपुत्रान्कलत्रं धनं दीर्घमायु

Suputrānkalatraṃ dhanaṃ dīrghamāyu

gains good children, a wife, wealth and long life,

र्लभेत्स्कन्दसायुज्यमन्ते नरः सः

Rlabhetskandasāyujyamante naraḥ saḥ

and at the end that person attains union with Skanda.

इति श्रीमच्छङ्करभगवतः कृतौ श्रीसुब्रह्मण्यभुजङ्गं सम्पूर्णम्॥

Iti śrīmacchaṅkarabhagavataḥ kṛtau śrīsubrahmaṇyabhujaṅgaṃ sampūrṇam

Thus is completed the Shri Subrahmanya Bhujangam, composed by the venerable Shankara Bhagavatpada.