Sri Ganesha Pancharatnam

Overview

The Ganesha Pancharatnam ("five gems") is a hymn of five verses composed by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Ganesha (Vinayaka), each verse a densely packed cluster of epithets celebrating his form, power, and grace. A sixth verse serves as the phalashruti, describing the benefits of daily recitation. It is set in a driving, alliterative meter (pañcacāmara) whose rhythm is often likened to the gait of an elephant. Because the verses are built almost entirely of compound words, a word-by-word breakdown is included alongside the overall meaning of each verse.

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Verse 1

मुदाकरात्तमोदकं सदा विमुक्तिसाधकं कलाधरावतंसकं विलासिलोकरक्षकम्। अनायकैकनायकं विनाशितेभदैत्यकं नताशुभाशुनाशकं नमामि तं विनायकम् ॥ १ ॥

mudākarāttamodakaṃ sadā vimuktisādhakaṃ kalādharāvataṃsakaṃ vilāsilokarakṣakam | anāyakaikanāyakaṃ vināśitebhadaityakaṃ natāśubhāśunāśakaṃ namāmi taṃ vināyakam || 1 ||

Overall meaning: I bow to that Vinayaka — who joyfully holds the modaka (sweet) in his hand and ever works toward his devotees' liberation; who wears the crescent moon as his ornament and playfully protects the world; who is the one master of the masterless, and who destroyed the elephant-demon Gajasura; who swiftly destroys the misfortunes of those who bow to him.

Word-by-word:

| Sanskrit segment | Meaning | |---|---| | मुदा-करात्त-मोदकं (mudā-karātta-modakam) | who joyfully (mudā) holds (karātta) the modaka sweet (modakam) | | सदा विमुक्ति-साधकं (sadā vimukti-sādhakam) | always (sadā) working toward liberation (vimukti-sādhakam) | | कलाधर-अवतंसकं (kalādhara-avataṃsakam) | who wears the moon's digit (kalādhara, "bearer of the crescent") as an ornament (avataṃsakam) | | विलासि-लोक-रक्षकम् (vilāsi-loka-rakṣakam) | the playful (vilāsi) protector (rakṣakam) of the world (loka) | | अनायक-एक-नायकं (anāyaka-eka-nāyakam) | the one (eka) master (nāyakam) of the masterless (anāyaka) | | विनाशित-इभ-दैत्यकं (vināśita-ibha-daityakam) | who destroyed (vināśita) the elephant-demon (ibha-daityakam, i.e. Gajasura) | | नत-अशुभ-आशु-नाशकं (nata-aśubha-āśu-nāśakam) | who swiftly (āśu) destroys (nāśakam) the misfortune (aśubha) of those who bow to him (nata) | | नमामि तं विनायकम् (namāmi taṃ vināyakam) | I bow (namāmi) to him (tam), Vinayaka |

Verse 2

नतेतरातिभीकरं नवोदितार्कभास्वरं नमत्सुरारिनिर्जरं नताधिकापदुद्धरम्। सुरेश्वरं निधीश्वरं गजेश्वरं गणेश्वरं महेश्वरं तमाश्रये परात्परं निरन्तरम् ॥ २ ॥

natetarātibhīkaraṃ navoditārkabhāsvaraṃ namatsurārinirjaraṃ natādhikāpaduddharam | sureśvaraṃ nidhīśvaraṃ gajeśvaraṃ gaṇeśvaraṃ maheśvaraṃ tamāśraye parātparaṃ nirantaram || 2 ||

Overall meaning: I continually take refuge in him — who is terrible to those who do not bow to him, yet radiant like the newly risen sun; who is saluted by the gods, ever undecaying, and who rescues from great calamity those who bow to him; the lord of the gods, the lord of treasures, the elephant-faced lord, the lord of the ganas, the great lord — higher than the highest.

Word-by-word:

| Sanskrit segment | Meaning | |---|---| | नत-इतर-अति-भीकरं (nata-itara-ati-bhīkaram) | extremely (ati) terrifying (bhīkaram) to those other than (itara) his devotees (nata, "those who bow") | | नव-उदित-अर्क-भास्वरं (nava-udita-arka-bhāsvaram) | radiant (bhāsvaram) like the newly (nava) risen (udita) sun (arka) | | नमत्-सुर-अरि-निर्जरं (namat-sura-ari-nirjaram) | ever undecaying (nirjaram); saluted (namat) by gods (sura) and their foes (ari) alike | | नत-अधिक-आपद्-उद्धरम् (nata-adhika-āpad-uddharam) | who rescues (uddharam) his devotees (nata) from great (adhika) calamity (āpad) | | सुर-ईश्वरं (sura-īśvaram) | lord (īśvaram) of the gods (sura) | | निधि-ईश्वरं (nidhi-īśvaram) | lord of treasures (nidhi) | | गज-ईश्वरं (gaja-īśvaram) | the elephant-faced (gaja) lord | | गण-ईश्वरं (gaṇa-īśvaram) | lord of the ganas (Shiva's attendants) | | महा-ईश्वरं (mahā-īśvaram) | the great (mahā) lord | | तम् आश्रये परात्परं निरन्तरम् (tam āśraye parātparaṃ nirantaram) | I continually (nirantaram) take refuge (āśraye) in him, who is higher than the highest (parātparam) |

Verse 3

समस्तलोकशंकरं निरस्तदैत्यकुञ्जरं दरेतरोदरं वरं वरेभवक्त्रमक्षरम्। कृपाकरं क्षमाकरं मुदाकरं यशस्करं मनस्करं नमस्कृतां नमस्करोमि भास्वरम् ॥ ३ ॥

samastalokaśaṃkaraṃ nirastadaityakuñjaraṃ daretarodaraṃ varaṃ varebhavaktramakṣaram | kṛpākaraṃ kṣamākaraṃ mudākaraṃ yaśaskaraṃ manaskaraṃ namaskṛtāṃ namaskaromi bhāsvaram || 3 ||

Overall meaning: I bow to that radiant one — who is the source of auspiciousness for all worlds, and who cast down the demon-elephant; whose large belly is itself excellent, whose face is that of the finest elephant, imperishable; who showers grace, forgiveness, joy, and glory; who grants wisdom to those who bow to him.

Word-by-word:

| Sanskrit segment | Meaning | |---|---| | समस्त-लोक-शंकरं (samasta-loka-śaṃkaram) | the source of well-being (śaṃkaram) for all (samasta) worlds (loka) | | निरस्त-दैत्य-कुञ्जरं (nirasta-daitya-kuñjaram) | who cast down (nirasta) the demon-elephant (daitya-kuñjaram, i.e. Gajasura) | | दरेतर-उदरं वरं (dara-itara-udaraṃ varam) | whose excellent (varam) large belly (udaram) is itself auspicious, not fearsome (dara-itara, "other than fear") | | वरेभ-वक्त्रम्-अक्षरम् (varebha-vaktram-akṣaram) | whose excellent (vara) elephant (ibha) face (vaktram) is imperishable (akṣaram) | | कृपाकरं (kṛpākaram) | who showers (karam) grace/compassion (kṛpā) | | क्षमाकरं (kṣamākaram) | who showers forgiveness (kṣamā) | | मुदाकरं (mudākaram) | who showers joy (mudā) | | यशस्करं (yaśaskaram) | who showers glory/fame (yaśas) | | मनस्करं (manaskaram) | who grants wisdom/good mind (manas) | | नमस्कृतां नमस्करोमि भास्वरम् (namaskṛtāṃ namaskaromi bhāsvaram) | I offer salutations (namaskaromi) to the radiant one (bhāsvaram), to whom others also bow (namaskṛtām) |

Verse 4

अकिंचनार्तिमार्जनं चिरन्तनोक्तिभाजनं पुरारिपूर्वनन्दनं सुरारिगर्वचर्वणम्। प्रपञ्चनाशभीषणं धनंजयादिभूषणम् कपोलदानवारणं भजे पुराणवारणम् ॥ ४ ॥

akiṃcanārtimārjanaṃ cirantanoktibhājanaṃ purāripūrvanandanaṃ surārigarvacarvaṇam | prapañcanāśabhīṣaṇaṃ dhanañjayādibhūṣaṇam kapoladānavāraṇaṃ bhaje purāṇavāraṇam || 4 ||

Overall meaning: I worship that ancient elephant-lord — who wipes away the suffering of the destitute, and who is praised in age-old scripture; the elder son of the destroyer of Tripura (Shiva), who crushes the pride of the enemies of the gods; who is fearsome enough to dissolve worldly delusion, yet adorned with the wealth of Dhananjaya (Kubera) and others; from whose cheeks flows the ichor of grace.

Word-by-word:

| Sanskrit segment | Meaning | |---|---| | अकिंचन-आर्ति-मार्जनं (akiṃcana-ārti-mārjanam) | who wipes away (mārjanam) the suffering (ārti) of the destitute (akiṃcana) | | चिरन्तन-उक्ति-भाजनं (cirantana-ukti-bhājanam) | who is the vessel (bhājanam) of ancient (cirantana) praise/words (ukti) | | पुरारि-पूर्व-नन्दनं (purāri-pūrva-nandanam) | the elder (pūrva) son (nandanam) of the destroyer of Tripura (purāri, i.e. Shiva) | | सुरारि-गर्व-चर्वणम् (surāri-garva-carvaṇam) | who crushes/chews up (carvaṇam) the pride (garva) of the enemies of the gods (surāri) | | प्रपञ्च-नाश-भीषणं (prapañca-nāśa-bhīṣaṇam) | fearsome (bhīṣaṇam) in dissolving (nāśa) worldly delusion (prapañca) | | धनंजय-आदि-भूषणम् (dhanañjaya-ādi-bhūṣaṇam) | adorned (bhūṣaṇam) by Dhananjaya (a name of Kubera, lord of wealth) and others (ādi) | | कपोल-दान-वारणम् (kapola-dāna-vāraṇam) | the elephant-lord (vāraṇam) from whose cheeks (kapola) flows the ichor of grace (dāna) | | भजे पुराण-वारणम् (bhaje purāṇa-vāraṇam) | I worship (bhaje) the ancient (purāṇa) elephant-lord (vāraṇam) |

Verse 5

नितान्तकान्तदन्तकान्तिमन्तकान्तकात्मजं अचिन्त्यरूपमन्तहीनमन्तरायकृन्तनम्। हृदन्तरे निरन्तरं वसन्तमेव योगिनां तमेकदन्तमेव तं विचिन्तयामि सन्ततम् ॥ ५ ॥

nitāntakāntadantakāntimantakāntakātmajaṃ acintyarūpamantahīnamantarāyakṛntanam | hṛdantare nirantaraṃ vasantam eva yogināṃ tam ekadantam eva taṃ vicintayāmi santatam || 5 ||

Overall meaning: I constantly meditate upon that Ekadanta (single-tusked one) — whose tusk's beauty is deeply enchanting, son of him who restrained Antaka (Yama, i.e., Shiva); whose form is inconceivable and boundless, who cuts through obstacles; who dwells forever within the hearts of yogis.

Word-by-word:

| Sanskrit segment | Meaning | |---|---| | नितान्त-कान्त-दन्त-कान्ति (nitānta-kānta-danta-kānti) | whose tusk's (danta) beauty (kānti) is exceedingly (nitānta) enchanting (kānta) | | अन्तक-अन्तक-आत्मजं (antaka-antaka-ātmajam) | son (ātmajam) of him who restrained/conquered (antaka, "ender") Death itself (antaka = Yama) — i.e. son of Shiva | | अचिन्त्य-रूपम् (acintya-rūpam) | whose form (rūpam) is inconceivable (acintya) | | अन्त-हीनम् (anta-hīnam) | without (hīnam) end (anta) — limitless | | अन्तराय-कृन्तनम् (antarāya-kṛntanam) | who cuts through (kṛntanam) obstacles (antarāya) | | हृदन्तरे निरन्तरं वसन्तम् (hṛdantare nirantaraṃ vasantam) | who dwells (vasantam) continuously (nirantaram) within the heart (hṛt-antare) | | एव योगिनां (eva yogīnām) | indeed (eva), of the yogis (yogīnām) | | तम् एकदन्तम् एव तं विचिन्तयामि सन्ततम् (tam ekadantam eva taṃ vicintayāmi santatam) | I constantly (santatam) meditate upon (vicintayāmi) him — Ekadanta, the single-tusked one |

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Phalashruti — Verse 6

महागणेशपञ्चरत्नमादरेण योऽन्वहं प्रजल्पति प्रभातके हृदि स्मरन् गणेश्वरम्। अरोगतामदोषतां सुसाहितीं सुपुत्रतां समाहितायुरष्टभूतिमभ्युपैति सोऽचिरात् ॥ ६ ॥

mahāgaṇeśapañcaratnam ādareṇa yo'nvahaṃ prajalpati prabhātake hṛdi smaran gaṇeśvaram | arogatām adoṣatāṃ susāhitīṃ suputratāṃ samāhitāyur aṣṭabhūtim abhyupaiti so'cirāt || 6 ||

Overall meaning: Whoever recites this Maha-Ganesha-Pancharatnam with devotion every day at dawn, remembering Ganeshvara in the heart, quickly attains freedom from disease and fault, good learning, good children, a well-composed life, and the eight siddhis (supernatural attainments).

Word-by-word:

| Sanskrit segment | Meaning | |---|---| | महागणेशपञ्चरत्नम् (mahā-gaṇeśa-pañcaratnam) | this great (mahā) "five gems" (pañcaratnam) hymn of Ganesha | | आदरेण योऽन्वहं (ādareṇa yo'nvaham) | whoever (yaḥ), daily (anvaham), with reverence (ādareṇa) | | प्रजल्पति प्रभातके (prajalpati prabhātake) | recites (prajalpati) at dawn (prabhātake) | | हृदि स्मरन् गणेश्वरम् (hṛdi smaran gaṇeśvaram) | remembering (smaran) Ganeshvara in the heart (hṛdi) | | अरोगतां अदोषतां (arogatāṃ adoṣatām) | freedom from disease (arogatām) and from fault (adoṣatām) | | सुसाहितीं सुपुत्रतां (susāhitīṃ suputratām) | good learning (susāhitīm) and good progeny (suputratām) | | समाहितायुः (samāhita-āyuḥ) | a well-ordered, settled lifespan (samāhita-āyuḥ) | | अष्टभूतिम् अभ्युपैति सोऽचिरात् (aṣṭabhūtim abhyupaiti so'cirāt) | quickly (acirāt) attains (abhyupaiti) the eight great attainments/siddhis (aṣṭabhūtim) |

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Structure at a glance: verses 1–5 are the five "gems," each a dense cluster of epithets praising Ganesha's form, deeds, and grace, composed in the driving pañcacāmara meter; verse 6 is the phalashruti, describing the fruits of daily recitation at dawn.