Sri Kanaka Dhara Stotram is the Slokam in praise of and as prayer to Sri Mahalakshmi, the Goddess of wealth.
As per the legend, as was customary in those days, Sri Adi Sankara was going around for bhiksha as a true sanyasi at various homes. He came to a home of a brahmin lady who was very poor.
On reaching the door, he recited “Bhavathi Bhiksham Dehi”, which means “please give me alms”, the poor lady told Him that she had only a small goose berry and nothing else to offer Sri Sankara. Sri Sankara had told her to offer the same to Him. She came out gladly and gave him that.
At that time, Sri Adi Sankara had composed and recited “Kanakadhara Stotram” in prayer to Sri Mahalakshmi. Sri Mahalakshmi was pleased with the prayers of Sri Adi Sankara and showered gold coins in front of the Brahmin lady’s house.
Kanakadhara means ‘’showering of gold”. It is still believed that sincere recitation of this Stotram brings in wealth.
The Slokam is presented in Devanagari and English Scripts with a simple English translation.
अङ्गं हरेः पुलकभूषणमाश्रयन्ती
भृङ्गाङ्गनेव मुकुलाभरणं तमालम्
अङ्गीकृताखिलविभूतिरपाङ्गलीला
माङ्गल्यदास्तु मम मङ्गलदेवतायाः (1)
anGgam hareh pulaka-bhooShaNam-aashrayanthee
bhrunGga-anGganaeva mukula-abharaNaM thamaalam
anGgee-krutha-akhila-vibhoothir-apaanGga-leelaa
maanGgalya-dhaastu mama manGgala-dhevathaayaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi, the God of auspiciousness and welfare. She adorns the body of Sri Narayana as the ornament of pure bliss and ecstasy. It is similar to the bees existing as jewels on the half flowered tamala tree. She contains the opulence of the entire universe in Her through Her divine gaze. May the delightful gaze bless auspiciousness in my life.
मुग्धा मुहुर्विदधती वदने मुरारेः
प्रेमत्रपाप्रणिहितानि गतागतानि
माला दृशोर्मधुकरीव महोत्पले या
सा मे श्रियं दिशतु सागरसम्भवायाः (2)
mugDhaa muhur-vidhaDhathee vadhanae muraareh
praema-thrapaa-praNihithaani gathaagathaani
maalaa dhrushor-madhukareeva mahothpalae yaa
saa me shriyaM dishathu saagara-sambhavaayaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi, the God of auspiciousness and welfare. She is fascinated by Sri Narayana. She keeps glancing at Him. Her glances are similar to the bees surrounding the mahathpala flower. She has risen from the ocean. May She bless me with good fortune.
विश्वामरेन्द्रपदविभ्रमदानदक्षम्
आनन्दहेतुरधिकं मुरविद्विषोऽपि
ईषन्निषीदतु मयि क्षणमीक्षणार्धम्
इन्दीवरोदरसहोदरमिन्दिरायाः (3)
vishva-amara-endhra-padha-vibhrama-dhaana-dhakSham
aanandha-haethur-aDhikam mura-vidhviSho[A]pi
iiShan-niShiidhathu mayi kShaNam-eekShaNa-arDham
indeevaro-audhara-sahodharam-indhiraayaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. She can grant the position of being the chief of Devas to Indra by merely wishing. She can bring abundant joy to Sri Murari, Sri Narayana. May the gracious glance of Sri Mahalakshmi fall on me even for a small moment. Her eyes resemble blue lotuses.
आमीलिताक्षमधिगम्य मुदा मुकुन्दम्
आनन्दकन्दमनिमेषमनङ्गतन्त्रम्
आकेकरस्थितकनीनिकपक्ष्मनेत्रं
भूत्यै भवेन्मम भुजङ्गशयाङ्गनायाः (4)
aameelitha-akSham-aDhigamya mudhaa mukundham
aanandha-kandham-animaeSham-ananGga-thanthram
aakaekara-sThitha-kaneenika-pakShma-naethraM
bhoothyai bhaven-mama bhujanGga-shaya-anGganaayaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. Her fully opened eyes had captured the happy form of Sri Mukundha. The eyes shower happiness with love. I pray that a ray of sideway glance from those eyes take a wing and come to me. She is the consort of Sri Maha Vishnu, who reclines on the Adi Sesha.
बाह्वन्तरे मधुजितः श्रितकौस्तुभे या
हारावलीव हरिनीलमयी विभाति
कामप्रदा भगवतोऽपि कटाक्षमाला
कल्याणमावहतु मे कमलालयायाः (5)
baah-vantharae madhu-jithah shrita-kausthubhae yaa
haaraavaleeva hari-neelamayee vibhaathi
kaama-pradhaa bhagavathoapi kataakSha-maalaa
kalyaaNam-aavahathu mae kamala-alayaayaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. She stays between the arms of Sri Narayana who had defeated the demon Madhu. She resides near the Kausthuba mani of Sri Vishnu. She shines on Him as a string of bluish yellow pearls. She rises the compassion of Sri Bhagvan through the series of Her sidelong glances. May such benevolent sidelong glances be cast on me to bless me with auspiciousness by the Goddess who resides in the lotus.
कालाम्बुदालिललितोरसि कैटभारेर्
धाराधरे स्फुरति या तडिदङ्गनेव
मातुः समस्तजगतां महनीयमूर्तिर्
भद्राणि मे दिशतु भार्गवनन्दनायाः (6)
kaala-ambu-dha-ali-lalithao-rasi kaitaBha-arer
DhaaraaDharae sphurathi yaa thaddid-anGga-naeva
maathuh samastha-jagathaaM mahaneeya-moorthir
bhadhraaNi mae dishathu bhaargava-nandhanaayaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. Sri Vishnu who had diminished the demon Kaitabha appears like the rain laden black cloud. Sri Lakshmi appears as the lightning on Him. She is as playful as the bee on the bosom of Sri Vishnu. She is the mother. Her form is the most glorious in the entire universe. I sincerely pray to the gladness of the Bhargava clan to kindly bless and bestow me with auspiciousness.
प्राप्तं पदं प्रथमतः किल यत्प्रभावान्
माङ्गल्यभाजि मधुमाथिनि मन्मथेन
मय्यापतेत्तदिह मन्थरमीक्षणार्धं
मन्दालसं च मकरालयकन्यकायाः (7)
praapthaM padhaM praThamathah kila yath-prabhaavaan
maanGgalya-bhaaji maDhu-maaThini manmaThaena
mayyaa-patheth-thadh-iha manTharam-eekSsaNa-arDhaM
mandha-alasaM cha makaraalaya-kanyakaayaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. It is only due to Her prowess the Deity of love manmadha had found a place for himself. Sri Narayana, the destroyer of the demon Madhu is always with Sri Mahalakshmi who constantly confers happiness. I sincerely pray that the blissful, soft and gentle glances from the half-opened eyes of Her grace me. She is the daughter of the ocean.
दद्याद् दयानुपवनो द्रविणाम्बुधाराम्
अस्मिन्नकिञ्चनविहङ्गशिशौ विषण्णे
दुष्कर्मघर्ममपनीय चिराय दूरं
नारायणप्रणयिनीनयनाम्बुवाहः (8)
dhadhyaadh dhaya-anupavano dhraviNa-ambu-Dhaaraam
asminn-akinchana-vihanGga-shishau vissaNNae
duShkarma-gharmam-apaneeya chiraaya dhooraM
naaraayaNa-praNayinee-nayana-ambu-vaahah
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. I sincerely pray to Her to bless and bestow me with the wind of Her compassion and shower wealth to this poor, destitute and down-trodden person. I pray that the heat of sinful activities in my life be doused by the shower of mercy from the beloved of Sri Hari.
इष्टा विशिष्टमतयोऽपि यया दयार्द्र
दृष्ट्या त्रिविष्टपपदं सुलभं लभन्ते
दृष्टिः प्रहृष्टकमलोदरदीप्तिरिष्टां
पुष्टिं कृषीष्ट मम पुष्करविष्टरायाः (9)
iSstaa vishiShhta-matha-yo(a)pi yayaa dhaya-ardhra
druShtyaa thriviShtapa-padhaM sulabhaM labhanthae
dhruShtih prahruShta-kamaloadhara-dheepthi-riShtaaM
puShtiM kruSheeShta mama puShkara-viShtaraayaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. With the merciful compassionate glance from Her, even the most desired and difficult position in heaven is made possible easily. Her glances are as splendorous as the inside of the blossoming lotus. May the compassionate glances of the mother who sits on the lotus fulfill my wishes.
गीर्देवतेति गरुडध्वजसुन्दरीति
शाकम्भरीति शशिशेखरवल्लभेति
सृष्टिस्थितिप्रलयकेलिषु संस्थितायै
तस्यै नमस्त्रिभुवनैकगुरोस्तरुण्यै (10)
geer-dhevathaethi garuda-Dhvaja-sundhareethi
shaakambhareethi shashi-shekhara-vallabhaethi
sruShti-sThithi-pralaya-kaeliShu saMsThithaayai
thasyai namas-thri-bhuvanaika-guros-tharuNyai
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. She is the Goddess of speech. She has garuda in Her flag. She is beautiful. She gives livelihood to all with vegetables, fruits and food. She is the beloved of the God who wears the crescent moon on His head. She abides by the divine duties of creation, protection and destruction. She is ever youthful and the three worlds always salute to Her reverentially.
श्रुत्यै नमोऽस्तु शुभकर्मफलप्रसूत्यै
रत्यै नमोऽस्तु रमणीयगुणार्णवायै
शक्त्यै नमोऽस्तु शतपत्रनिकेतनायै
पुष्ट्यै नमोऽस्तु पुरुषोत्तमवल्लभायै (11)
shruthyai namo(a)sthu shubha-karma-phala-prasoothyai
rathyai namo(a)sthu ramaNeeya-guNa-arNavaayai
shakthyai namo(a)sthu shatha-pathra-nikethanaayai
puShtyai namo(a)sthu puruShoththama-vallabhaayai
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. She is Sri Sruthi who bestows auspiciousness in the lives. She is Sri Rathi, the sea of splendid qualities. She is Sri Sakthi who resides in the abode of hundred petals of Kundalini. She is the beloved of Sri Vishnu, the Purushothama and She grants nourishment to the universe.
नमोऽस्तु नालीकनिभाननायै
नमोऽस्तु दुग्धोदधिजन्मभूत्यै
नमोऽस्तु सोमामृतसोदरायै
नमोऽस्तु नारायणवल्लभायै (12)
namo(a)sthu naaleeka-nibha-ananaayai
namo(a)sthu dhugDhoa-dhaDhi-janma-bhoothyai
namo(a)sthu soma-amrutha-sodharaayai
namo(a)sthu naaraayaNa-vallabhaayai
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi who has the face similar to lotus. Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi who was born in the cosmic ocean. Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi who exists in the nectar of the moon. Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi who is the beloved of Sri Hari, Narayana.
सम्पत्कराणि सकलेन्द्रियनन्दनानि
साम्राज्यदानविभवानि सरोरुहाक्षि
त्वद्वन्दनानि दुरिताहरणोद्यतानि
मामेव मातरनिशं कलयन्तु मान्ये (13)
sampath-karaaNi sakala-indhriya-nandhanaani
saamraajya-dhaana-vibhavaani saroruha-akShi
thvadh-vandhanaani dhurithaa-haraNoa-dhyathaani
maam-eva maathar-anishaM kalayanthu maanyae
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi who has lotus eyes which bless and bestow prosperity. She is the cause of the joy in all the senses. Her glances from Her lotus eyes are powerful to bless and bestow kingdoms. Praising Her glories removes the difficulties and the sinful thoughts from our lives. May I always be blessed to sing Your glories and be of service to You.
यत्कटाक्षसमुपासनाविधिः
सेवकस्य सकलार्थसम्पदः
संतनोति वचनाङ्गमानसैस्
त्वां मुरारिहृदयेश्वरीं भजे (14)
yath-kataakSha-samupaasanaa-viDhih
sevakasya sakala-artha-sampadhah
samthanoathi vachana-anGga-maanasais
thvaaM muraari-hrudhayae-shvareeM bhaje
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. Praying to and worshipping Her glances sum up the entire ardent devotion to Her. May my mind, body, soul and speech be enveloped by my worshipping of Her. She is the beloved of Sri Murari and She resides in His heart.
सरसिजनिलये सरोजहस्ते
धवलतमांशुकगन्धमाल्यशोभे
भगवति हरिवल्लभे मनोज्ञे
त्रिभुवनभूतिकरि प्रसीद मह्यम् (15)
sarasija-nilayae saroja-hasthae
Dhavalathama-aMshuka-ganDha-maalya-shobhae
bhagavathi hari-vallabhae manojnyae
thri-bhuvana-bhoothi-kari praseedha mahyam
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. She resides in the lotus and has lotuses in Her hands. She wears dazzling garments and is decorated with the most fragrant garlands. She is the most beloved of Sri Hari. She is the source of well-being and prosperity for all the three worlds. I sincerely pray to Her to be gracious to me.
दिग्घस्तिभिः कनककुम्भमुखावसृष्ट
स्वर्वाहिनीविमलचारुजलप्लुताङ्गीम्
प्रातर्नमामि जगतां जननीमशेष_
लोकाधिनाथगृहिणीममृताब्धिपुत्रीम् (16)
dhig-ghasthibhih kanaka-kumbha-mukha-avasruShta
svar-vaahinee-vimala-chaaru-jala-plutha-anGgeem
praathar-namaami jagathaaM jananeem-asheSha
loaka-aDhinaaTha-gruhiNeem-amrutha-abDhi-puthreem
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. The elephants sprinkle water on Her as shower through golden pitchers. The showered water is pure and without any blemish. Her appearance is dazzling and resplendent. In the early morning, I humbly salute and pray to this eternal mother of the universe. She is the daughter of the cosmic ocean and the consort of the Supreme Lord of the Universe.
कमले कमलाक्षवल्लभे
त्वं करुणापूरतरङ्गितैरपाङ्गैः
अवलोकय मामकिञ्चनानां
प्रथमं पात्रमकृत्रिमं दयायाः
kamalae kamala-akSha-vallabhae
thvaM karuNaa-poora-tharanGgithair-apaanGgaih
avalokaya maam-akinjchanaanaaM
prathamam paathram-akrthrimam dhayaayaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. She is the mother lotus. She is the beloved of the lotus eyed Sri Hari. I pray to Her to shower Her glances filled with compassion towards me. I am utterly destitute and deserve Her unreserved mercy and compassion.
स्तुवन्ति ये स्तुतिभिरमूभिरन्वहं
त्रयीमयीं त्रिभुवनमातरं रमाम्
गुणाधिका गुरुतरभाग्यभागिनो
भवन्ति ते भुवि बुधभाविताशयाः(18)
sthuvanthi yae sthuthibhir-amoobhir-anvahaM
thrayeemayeeM thri-bhuvana-maatharam ramaam
guNa-aDhikaa guruthara-bhaagya-bhaagino
bhavanthi thae bhuvi buDha-bhaavithaa-shayaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Mahalakshmi. The persons who sincerely and devoutly read and recite this Slokam glorifying the attributes of Sri Mahalakshmi who is the embodiment of the Vedas shall be blessed and bestowed with enhanced wisdom, wealth and abundant virtues.
