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Home › Mantras › Subramanya Bhujangam
Subramanya Subramanya Bhujangam: six-faced Murugan on his peacock at Tiruchendur as Adi Shankara sings on the shore
Shanmukha on his peacock by the sea at Tiruchendur, as Shankara sings on the shore
Mantra · Shankara's 33 serpent-metre verses to the Lord of the seashore

Subramanya Bhujangam

सदा बालरूपाऽपि विघ्नाद्रिहन्त्री महादन्तिवक्त्राऽपि पञ्चास्यमान्या । विधीन्द्रादिमृग्या गणेशाभिधा मे विधत्तां श्रियं काऽपि कल्याणमूर्तिः ॥

Also known as Sada Balarupapi

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

What the Subramanya Bhujangam is

The Subramanya Bhujangam is a Sanskrit hymn of 33 verses to Skanda, attributed to Adi Shankaracharya and addressed to him as the god who stands on the shore at Tiruchendur. Every verse is in bhujangaprayata, the 'serpent's gait', a metre built from groups of one short syllable followed by two long ones, and the hymn takes its title from it. Verse 1 is a salutation to Ganesha as a child who still breaks mountains of obstacles. In verse 2 the poet confesses he knows neither grammar nor prosody, yet a six-faced light speaks through him. Verses 4 to 8 describe the shrine: the sea, its waves, the Sugandha hill and its cave. Verses 9 to 18 move over the god's form from feet to crowns and end with the boy leaping from Parvati's lap to Shiva. Verses 20 to 22 ask him to come at the hour of death, and verse 33 is the phala shruti.

A shrine the waves keep pointing to

Unusually for a stotra, this one draws its setting into the verses. In verse 4 the god sits by the sea as if announcing that whoever reaches his presence has already crossed the ocean of worldly life. In verse 5 the rows of breaking waves become his sign: as tall waves die on the shore, so the troubles of those who serve him subside. Verse 7 places him in a cave of the Sugandha hill beside an ocean that carries sins away, and verse 31 salutes the sea and the seashore itself along with his peacock, spear, ram and rooster. Tradition reads all of this as the temple at Tiruchendur, where the sea beats close against the walls. The account of how Shankara came there is told in more than one way. Tiruchendur temple tradition says he fell ill in Gokarna, that Shiva sent him south, and that the hymn came unbidden at the first sight of the deity. Other tellings make it Murugan who called him in a dream, and give the illness as consumption or as stomach pain brought on by a rival's spell. Some add a vision of Adisesha spreading his hood over the god, which they connect with the serpent metre. Verse 25 ties the hymn to a living custom: the temple still gives its sacred ash folded in a leaf of the panneer tree.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiसदा बालरूपाऽपि विघ्नाद्रिहन्त्री महादन्तिवक्त्राऽपि पञ्चास्यमान्या । विधीन्द्रादिमृग्या गणेशाभिधा मे विधत्तां श्रियं काऽपि कल्याणमूर्तिः ॥
Tamilஸதா பாலரூபாபி விக்நாத்ரிஹந்த்ரீ மஹாதந்திவக்த்ராபி பஞ்சாஸ்யமாந்யா । விதீந்த்ராதிம்ருக்யா கணேஶாபிதா மே விதத்தாம் ஶ்ரியம் காபி கல்யாணமூர்திஃ ॥
Teluguసదా బాలరూపాఽపి విఘ్నాద్రిహన్త్రీ మహాదన్తివక్త్రాఽపి పఞ్చాస్యమాన్యా । విధీన్ద్రాదిమృగ్యా గణేశాభిధా మే విధత్తాం శ్రియం కాఽపి కల్యాణమూర్తిః ॥
Kannadaಸದಾ ಬಾಲರೂಪಾಽಪಿ ವಿಘ್ನಾದ್ರಿಹನ್ತ್ರೀ ಮಹಾದನ್ತಿವಕ್ತ್ರಾಽಪಿ ಪಞ್ಚಾಸ್ಯಮಾನ್ಯಾ । ವಿಧೀನ್ದ್ರಾದಿಮೃಗ್ಯಾ ಗಣೇಶಾಭಿಧಾ ಮೇ ವಿಧತ್ತಾಂ ಶ್ರಿಯಂ ಕಾಽಪಿ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಮೂರ್ತಿಃ ॥
Malayalamസദാ ബാലരൂപാഽപി വിഘ്നാദ്രിഹന്ത്രീ മഹാദന്തിവക്ത്രാഽപി പഞ്ചാസ്യമാന്യാ । വിധീന്ദ്രാദിമൃഗ്യാ ഗണേശാഭിധാ മേ വിധത്താം ശ്രിയം കാഽപി കല്യാണമൂര്തിഃ ॥
EnglishRoman transliterationsadā bālarūpā'pi vighnādrihantrī mahādantivaktrā'pi pañcāsyamānyā | vidhīndrādimṛgyā gaṇeśābhidhā me vidhattāṃ śriyaṃ kā'pi kalyāṇamūrtiḥ ||
“Though ever in the form of a child, he shatters mountains of obstacles; though elephant-faced, he is honoured even by five-faced Shiva. Sought by Brahma, Indra and the gods, may that wondrous auspicious form named Ganesha grant me prosperity.”
सदा
sadā — always
बालरूपाऽपि
bālarūpā'pi — though in a child's form
विघ्नाद्रिहन्त्री
vighnādrihantrī — breaker of mountains of obstacles
महादन्तिवक्त्राऽपि
mahādantivaktrā'pi — though elephant-faced
पञ्चास्यमान्या
pañcāsyamānyā — honoured by five-faced Shiva
विधीन्द्रादिमृग्या
vidhīndrādimṛgyā — sought by Brahma, Indra and others
गणेशाभिधा
gaṇeśābhidhā — named Ganesha
मे
me — to me
विधत्तां
vidhattāṃ — may it grant
श्रियं
śriyaṃ — prosperity
काऽपि
kā'pi — some wondrous
कल्याणमूर्तिः
kalyāṇamūrtiḥ — auspicious form

Subramanya Bhujangam lyrics in full

All thirty-three verses: a salutation to Ganesha, thirty-one to Skanda, and the closing phala shruti.

All 33 verses, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Subramanya Bhujangam PDFAll 33 verses with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.

Verse 1

सदा बालरूपाऽपि विघ्नाद्रिहन्त्री महादन्तिवक्त्राऽपि पञ्चास्यमान्या ।
विधीन्द्रादिमृग्या गणेशाभिधा मे विधत्तां श्रियं काऽपि कल्याणमूर्तिः ॥

Though ever in the form of a child, he shatters mountains of obstacles; though elephant-faced, he is honoured even by five-faced Shiva. Sought by Brahma, Indra and the gods, may that wondrous auspicious form named Ganesha grant me prosperity.

Verse 2

न जानामि शब्दं न जानामि चार्थं न जानामि पद्यं न जानामि गद्यम् ।
चिदेका षडास्या हृदि द्योतते मे मुखान्निःसरन्ते गिरश्चापि चित्रम् ॥

I do not know sound or meaning, nor verse nor prose. Yet a single six-faced light of consciousness shines in my heart, and wonderful words pour out of my mouth.

Verse 3

मयूराधिरूढं महावाक्यगूढं मनोहारिदेहं महच्चित्तगेहम् ।
महीदेवदेवं महावेदभावं महादेवबालं भजे लोकपालम् ॥

I worship the son of Mahadeva, the protector of the worlds: he who rides the peacock, who is hidden in the great Vedic sayings, whose form is enchanting, who dwells in the hearts of the great, the god of the learned and the very meaning of the Vedas.

Verse 4

यदा सन्निधानं गता मानवा मे भवाम्भोधिपारं गतास्ते तदैव ।
इति व्यञ्जयन्सिन्धुतीरे य आस्ते तमीडे पवित्रं पराशक्तिपुत्रम् ॥

I praise the pure son of Parashakti who stays on the seashore as if to declare: 'Whoever comes into my presence has at that very moment crossed the ocean of worldly existence.'

Verse 5

यथाब्धेस्तरङ्गा लयं यान्ति तुङ्गास्तथैवापदः सन्निधौ सेवतां मे ।
इतीवोर्मिपङ्क्तीर्नृणां दर्शयन्तं सदा भावये हृत्सरोजे गुहं तम् ॥

I always meditate in the lotus of my heart on that Guha who shows people the rows of waves, as if to say: 'Just as the tall waves of the sea subside on the shore, so do the troubles of those who serve me in my presence.'

Verse 6

गिरौ मन्निवासे नरा येऽधिरूढास्तदा पर्वते राजते तेऽधिरूढाः ।
इतीव ब्रुवन्गन्धशैलाधिरूढः स देवो मुदे मे सदा षण्मुखोऽस्तु ॥

May that six-faced god, who stands on the Gandha (Sugandha) hill as if saying, 'Those who climb this hill where I dwell have truly climbed the king of mountains, Kailasa,' always give me joy.

Verse 7

महाम्भोधितीरे महापापचोरे मुनीन्द्रानुकूले सुगन्धाख्यशैले ।
गुहायां वसन्तं स्वभासा लसन्तं जनार्तिं हरन्तं श्रयामो गुहं तम् ॥

We take refuge in Guha, who dwells in the cave of the Sugandha hill on the shore of the great ocean that steals away great sins, a place dear to the great sages; he shines with his own light and removes the suffering of people.

Verse 8

लसत्स्वर्णगेहे नृणां कामदोहे सुमस्तोमसञ्छन्नमाणिक्यमञ्चे ।
समुद्यत्सहस्रार्कतुल्यप्रकाशं सदा भावये कार्तिकेयं सुरेशम् ॥

I always meditate on Kartikeya, lord of the gods, seated in a shining golden hall that grants people their wishes, on a ruby couch covered with heaps of flowers, his radiance equal to a thousand rising suns.

Verse 9

रणद्धंसके मञ्जुलेऽत्यन्तशोणे मनोहारिलावण्यपीयूषपूर्णे ।
मनःषट्पदो मे भवक्लेशतप्तः सदा मोदतां स्कन्द ते पादपद्मे ॥

O Skanda, may the bee of my mind, scorched by the troubles of worldly life, always delight in your lotus feet, which are graceful, deep red, tinkling with anklets and full of the nectar of enchanting beauty.

Verse 10

सुवर्णाभदिव्याम्बरैर्भासमानां क्वणत्किङ्किणीमेखलाशोभमानाम् ।
लसद्धेमपट्टेन विद्योतमानां कटिं भावये स्कन्द ते दीप्यमानाम् ॥

O Skanda, I meditate on your radiant waist, gleaming with divine gold-coloured garments, beautiful with a girdle of tinkling bells, and shining with a bright golden band.

Verse 11

पुलिन्देशकन्याघनाभोगतुङ्गस्तनालिङ्गनासक्तकाश्मीररागम् ।
नमस्याम्यहं तारकारे तवोरः स्वभक्तावने सर्वदा सानुरागम् ॥

O slayer of Taraka, I bow to your chest, reddened with the saffron from embracing the full breasts of the hunter chief's daughter Valli, and always full of love for protecting your devotees.

Verse 12

विधौ कॢप्तदण्डान् स्वलीलाधृताण्डान्निरस्तेभशुण्डान् द्विषत्कालदण्डान् ।
हतेन्द्रारिषण्डाञ्जगत्त्राणशौण्डान् सदा ते प्रचण्डान् श्रये बाहुदण्डान् ॥

I always take refuge in your mighty arms, which punished Brahma, which hold the worlds in play, which threw back the trunks of elephants, which are the rod of death to enemies, which killed the hosts of Indra's foes, and which are skilled at saving the world.

Verse 13

सदा शारदाः षण्मृगाङ्का यदि स्युः समुद्यन्त एव स्थिताश्चेत्समन्तात् ।
सदा पूर्णबिम्बाः कलङ्कैश्च हीनास्तदा त्वन्मुखानां ब्रुवे स्कन्द साम्यम् ॥

O Skanda, only if there were six autumn moons, rising and standing on every side, always full and free of blemishes, could I speak of them as equal to your faces.

Verse 14

स्फुरन्मन्दहासैः सहंसानि चञ्चत्कटाक्षावलीभृङ्गसङ्घोज्ज्वलानि ।
सुधास्यन्दिबिम्बाधराणीशसूनो तवालोकये षण्मुखाम्भोरुहाणि ॥

O son of Shiva, I behold your six lotus faces, with swans of bright gentle smiles, shining with swarms of bees that are your darting glances, and with bimba-red lips flowing with nectar.

Verse 15

विशालेषु कर्णान्तदीर्घेष्वजस्रं दयास्यन्दिषु द्वादशस्वीक्षणेषु ।
मयीषत्कटाक्षः सकृत्पातितश्चेद्भवेत्ते दयाशील का नाम हानिः ॥

Your twelve eyes are wide, long to the ears, and ever flowing with compassion. O merciful one, if a small side-glance fell on me even once, what would you lose?

Verse 16

सुताङ्गोद्भवो मेऽसि जीवेति षड्धा जपन्मन्त्रमीशो मुदा जिघ्रते यान् ।
जगद्भारभृद्भ्यो जगन्नाथ तेभ्यः किरीटोज्ज्वलेभ्यो नमो मस्तकेभ्यः ॥

O lord of the world, I bow to your six crowned heads that bear the burden of the world, which Shiva joyfully kissed while saying six times the mantra, 'You are born from my body; live, my son.'

Verse 17

स्फुरद्रत्नकेयूरहाराभिरामश्चलत्कुण्डलश्रीलसद्गण्डभागः ।
कटौ पीतवासाः करे चारुशक्तिः पुरस्तान्ममास्तां पुरारेस्तनूजः ॥

May the son of Shiva, slayer of Tripura, stand before me: lovely with gem-studded armlets and necklaces, his cheeks shining with swinging earrings, wearing yellow cloth at the waist and holding a beautiful spear in his hand.

Verse 18

इहायाहि वत्सेति हस्तान्प्रसार्याह्वयत्यादराच्छङ्करे मातुरङ्कात् ।
समुत्पत्य तातं श्रयन्तं कुमारं हराश्लिष्टगात्रं भजे बालमूर्तिम् ॥

I worship the child-form Kumara who, when Shankara stretched out his hands and lovingly called, 'Come here, child,' leapt from his mother's lap to his father and was held in Shiva's embrace.

Verse 19

कुमारेशसूनो गुह स्कन्द सेनापते शक्तिपाणे मयूराधिरूढ ।
पुलिन्दात्मजाकान्त भक्तार्तिहारिन् प्रभो तारकारे सदा रक्ष मां त्वम् ॥

O son of Shiva, Guha, Skanda, commander of the army, bearer of the spear, rider of the peacock, beloved of the hunter's daughter, remover of devotees' distress, lord, slayer of Taraka: always protect me.

Verse 20

प्रशान्तेन्द्रिये नष्टसंज्ञे विचेष्टे कफोद्गारिवक्त्रे भयोत्कम्पिगात्रे ।
प्रयाणोन्मुखे मय्यनाथे तदानीं द्रुतं मे दयालो भवाग्रे गुह त्वम् ॥

When my senses have stilled, my awareness is lost and I cannot move, when phlegm rises from my mouth and my body trembles with fear, when I am about to depart and have no one, then, O compassionate Guha, come quickly before me.

Verse 21

कृतान्तस्य दूतेषु चण्डेषु कोपाद्दह च्छिन्द्धि भिन्द्धीति मां तर्जयत्सु ।
मयूरं समारुह्य मा भैरिति त्वं पुरः शक्तिपाणिर्ममायाहि शीघ्रम् ॥

When the fierce messengers of Yama angrily threaten me, crying 'Burn, cut, pierce,' come quickly before me on your peacock, spear in hand, saying 'Do not fear.'

Verse 22

प्रणम्यासकृत्पादयोस्ते पतित्वा प्रसाद्य प्रभो प्रार्थयेऽनेकवारम् ।
न वक्तुं क्षमोऽहं तदानीं कृपाब्धे न कार्यान्तकाले मनागप्युपेक्षा ॥

Bowing again and again and falling at your feet, I plead with you, Lord, many times: O ocean of mercy, at that final hour I will not be able to speak, so do not neglect me even a little then.

Verse 23

सहस्राण्डभोक्ता त्वया शूरनामा हतस्तारकः सिंहवक्त्रश्च दैत्यः ।
ममान्तर्हृदिस्थं मनःक्लेशमेकं न हंसि प्रभो किं करोमि क्व यामि ॥

You slew Shura, who ruled a thousand worlds, Taraka, and the lion-faced demon. Yet you do not destroy the one anguish that sits deep in my heart. Lord, what shall I do, where shall I go?

Verse 24

अहं सर्वदा दुःखभारावसन्नो भवान्दीनबन्धुस्त्वदन्यं न याचे ।
भवद्भक्तिरोधं सदा कॢप्तबाधं ममाधिं द्रुतं नाशयोमासुत त्वम् ॥

I am always weighed down by burdens of sorrow; you are the friend of the helpless, and I ask no one but you. O son of Uma, quickly destroy my anguish, which blocks my devotion to you and keeps afflicting me.

Verse 25

अपस्मारकुष्ठक्षयार्शः प्रमेहज्वरोन्मादगुल्मादिरोगा महान्तः ।
पिशाचाश्च सर्वे भवत्पत्रभूतिं विलोक्य क्षणात्तारकारे द्रवन्ते ॥

The verse says that epilepsy, leprosy, consumption, piles, diabetes, fever, madness, abdominal tumours and other great diseases, and all evil spirits, flee in an instant, O slayer of Taraka, on seeing the sacred ash given on your leaf.

Verse 26

दृशि स्कन्दमूर्तिः श्रुतौ स्कन्दकीर्तिर्मुखे मे पवित्रं सदा तच्चरित्रम् ।
करे तस्य कृत्यं वपुस्तस्य भृत्यं गुहे सन्तु लीना ममाशेषभावाः ॥

May Skanda's form be in my eyes, his fame in my ears, his pure story always in my mouth, his service in my hands and my body his servant; may all my feelings be absorbed in Guha.

Verse 27

मुनीनामुताहो नृणां भक्तिभाजामभीष्टप्रदाः सन्ति सर्वत्र देवाः ।
नृणामन्त्यजानामपि स्वार्थदाने गुहाद्देवमन्यं न जाने न जाने ॥

There are gods everywhere who grant the wishes of sages and of devoted people, but for giving their desire even to the lowest outcastes, I know no god other than Guha, I know none.

Verse 28

कलत्रं सुता बन्धुवर्गः पशुर्वा नरो वाथ नारी गृहे ये मदीयाः ।
यजन्तो नमन्तः स्तुवन्तो भवन्तं स्मरन्तश्च ते सन्तु सर्वे कुमार ॥

O Kumara, may my wife, children, relatives, cattle, and every man and woman in my home all worship you, bow to you, praise you and remember you.

Verse 29

मृगाः पक्षिणो दंशका ये च दुष्टास्तथा व्याधयो बाधका ये मदङ्गे ।
भवच्छक्तितीक्ष्णाग्रभिन्नाः सुदूरे विनश्यन्तु ते चूर्णितक्रौञ्चशैल ॥

O you who shattered the Krauncha mountain, may beasts, birds, biting insects that are harmful, and the diseases that afflict my body, be pierced by the sharp tip of your spear and perish far away.

Verse 30

जनित्री पिता च स्वपुत्रापराधं सहेते न किं देवसेनाधिनाथ ।
अहं चातिबालो भवान् लोकतातः क्षमस्वापराधं समस्तं महेश ॥

O lord of the divine army, do not a mother and father bear with the faults of their own child? I am a mere child and you are the father of the world; O great lord, forgive all my faults.

Verse 31

नमः केकिने शक्तये चापि तुभ्यं नमश्छाग तुभ्यं नमः कुक्कुटाय ।
नमः सिन्धवे सिन्धुदेशाय तुभ्यं पुनः स्कन्दमूर्ते नमस्ते नमोऽस्तु ॥

Salutations to your peacock and to your spear; salutations to your ram and to your rooster; salutations to the sea and to the seashore place that are yours; again and again, O form of Skanda, salutations to you.

Verse 32

जयानन्दभूमञ्जयापारधामञ्जयामोघकीर्ते जयानन्दमूर्ते ।
जयानन्दसिन्धो जयाशेषबन्धो जय त्वं सदा मुक्तिदानेशसूनो ॥

Victory to you, abode of bliss, boundless light, whose fame never fails, embodiment of bliss; victory, ocean of bliss, friend of all; victory always to you, son of the lord who grants liberation.

Verse 33

भुजङ्गाख्यवृत्तेन कॢप्तं स्तवं यः पठेद्भक्तियुक्तो गुहं सम्प्रणम्य ।
सुपुत्रान्कलत्रं धनं दीर्घमायुर्लभेत्स्कन्दसायुज्यमन्ते नरः सः ॥

The verse says that whoever reads with devotion this hymn composed in the bhujanga metre, bowing to Guha, will gain good sons, a wife, wealth and long life, and at the end will attain union with Skanda.

The syllable people get wrong

Verse 33 calls the hymn kḷptaṃ, 'composed', and the same root returns in verses 12 and 24. The ḷ is a vowel, not a consonant cluster: say KLRIP-tam, with a light 'lri' in the middle, never 'kalp-tam' or 'klup-tam'.

When the Subramanya Bhujangam is chanted

Weekday. Tuesday

Questions

The name comes from the metre, not from a serpent deity. Verse 33 itself says the hymn was made in the metre called bhujanga, short for bhujangaprayata, 'the gait of a serpent'. Each quarter-line has twelve syllables in four groups of short-long-long, so the recitation rises and falls like a moving snake. Not one verse of the 33 departs from that pattern, from the salutation to Ganesha to the closing promise.
Verse 25 lists epilepsy, consumption, fevers, madness and other illnesses, along with evil spirits, and says they flee the moment they see the god's patra-bhuti, ash given on a leaf. At Tiruchendur the vibhuti prasadam is handed out on a panneer leaf, and temple tradition sees the twelve veins of the leaf as the twelve arms of Murugan. Tradition reads the verse as a praise of that prasadam; it is not a medical claim.
Verses 20 to 22. Verse 20 pictures the senses failing and the body shaking, and asks Guha to come quickly. Verse 21 imagines Yama's messengers shouting 'burn, cut, pierce' and asks him to arrive on the peacock, spear in hand, saying 'do not fear'. Verse 22 explains why the plea is made now: at that hour the speaker will not be able to speak.
No. Books in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada script print the same 33 Sanskrit verses with a translation alongside. Readings differ only in small places. In the last verse, for instance, most printed editions read suputran, 'good sons', while the Vani Vilas printing of 1910 reads sa putran. It is also a separate work from the Subramanya Karavalamba Stotram, which is in a different metre and asks for the god's helping hand.
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