What are the benefits of reciting Kanakadhara Stotra?

Material prosperity and removal of debts; Lakshmi's grace — abundance in all forms; Success in business and trade; Removal of poverty and chronic financial difficulty; A stable, dignified livelihood; Said to be especially powerful when recited 108 times on a Friday.

How long does Kanakadhara Stotra take to recite?

Approximately 7 minutes at a steady pace.

Kanakadhara Stotra

Q: When should I recite Kanakadhara Stotra?

Best days: Friday. Best time: morning. Especially recited on: diwali, dhanteras, lakshmi-puja, kojagari-lakshmi-puja, varamahalakshmi.

कनकधारा स्तोत्र

Kanakadhārā Stotra

Deity

lakshmi

Verses

Recitation

~7 min

Best Day

Friday

About this stotra

The Kanakadhara Stotra ("the stream of gold") was composed by Adi Shankaracharya as a young brahmachari on his daily round of madhukari (begging for alms). He came to a home where a desperately poor old woman had nothing in her house but a single dried amalaka (gooseberry), which she still offered to the young sannyasin with great humility. Moved by her selflessness, Shankara composed and sang this hymn to Lakshmi — and at its conclusion, golden amalakas rained down upon the woman's home, lifting her family out of poverty forever.

The hymn invokes Lakshmi by twenty-one of her epithets and forms — Vishnu-Priya, Kamala, Sri, Padmavati, Indira, and others — beseeching her grace. It is recited daily by lakhs of devotees for material prosperity, business success, and removal of debts. It is especially recited on Fridays, on Lakshmi Puja day, and on Dhanteras and Diwali.

Benefits of recitation

Material prosperity and removal of debts
Lakshmi's grace — abundance in all forms
Success in business and trade
Removal of poverty and chronic financial difficulty
A stable, dignified livelihood
Said to be especially powerful when recited 108 times on a Friday

Verses

Shloka 1

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अङ्गं हरेः पुलकभूषणमाश्रयन्ती भृङ्गाङ्गनेव मुकुलाभरणं तमालम् । अङ्गीकृताखिलविभूतिरपाङ्गलीला माङ्गल्यदास्तु मम मङ्गलदेवतायाः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

aṅgaṃ hareḥ pulaka-bhūṣaṇam āśrayantī bhṛṅgāṅganeva mukulābharaṇaṃ tamālam aṅgīkṛtākhila-vibhūtir apāṅga-līlā māṅgalya-dāstu mama maṅgala-devatāyāḥ

English meaning

Resting against Lord Hari's body, adorned with thrills of joy at her touch — as a queen-bee clings to the bud-decked tamala tree — who, with the play of her side-glance, has accepted all opulence into herself: may the auspicious side-glance of that Goddess of auspiciousness bring me good fortune.

Shloka 2

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

मुग्धा मुहुर्विदधती वदने मुरारेः प्रेमत्रपाप्रणिहितानि गतागतानि । माला दृशोर्मधुकरीव महोत्पले या सा मे श्रियं दिशतु सागरसम्भवायाः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

mugdhā muhur vidadhatī vadane murāreḥ prema-trapā-praṇihitāni gatāgatāni mālā dṛśor madhu-karī-va mahotpale yā sā me śriyaṃ diśatu sāgara-sambhavāyāḥ

English meaning

Repeatedly casting tender, love-shy, coming-and-going glances upon the face of Murari — her eyes weave a garland of looks like a honey-bee circling the great blue lotus. May that ocean-born Goddess (Lakshmi) grant me her wealth.

Shloka 3

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

आमीलिताक्षमधिगम्य मुदा मुकुन्दम् आनन्दकन्दमनिमेषमनङ्गतन्त्रम् । आकेकरस्थितकनीनिकपक्ष्मनेत्रं भूत्यै भवेन्मम भुजङ्गशयाङ्गनायाः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

āmīlitākṣam adhigamya mudā mukundam ānanda-kandam animeṣam anaṅga-tantram ākekara-sthita-kanīnika-pakṣma-netraṃ bhūtyai bhaven mama bhujaṅga-śayāṅganāyāḥ

English meaning

Approaching with joy the slightly-closed eyes of Mukunda, Source of bliss — her unblinking, half-shy gaze, drawn back like the bow of Kama, her dark pupils nestled beneath fluttering lashes — may that consort of Him who reclines on the serpent (Sheshashayi) bring me prosperity.

Shloka 4

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

बाह्वन्तरे मधुजितः श्रितकौस्तुभे या हारावलीव हरिनीलमयी विभाति । कामप्रदा भगवतोऽपि कटाक्षमाला कल्याणमावहतु मे कमलालयायाः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

bāhv-antare madhujitaḥ śrita-kaustubhe yā hārāvalī-va hari-nīla-mayī vibhāti kāma-pradā bhagavato'pi kaṭākṣa-mālā kalyāṇam āvahatu me kamalālayāyāḥ

English meaning

Resting between the arms of the Slayer-of-Madhu, near the Kaustubha jewel — shining like a string of dark-blue sapphires — she who gives even the Lord his every wish, a garland of side-glances: may that lotus-dwelling Lakshmi bring me well-being.

Shloka 5

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

कालाम्बुदालिललितोरसि कैटभारेर् धाराधरे स्फुरति या तडिदङ्गनेव । मातुस्समस्तजगतां महनीयमूर्तिर् भद्राणि मे दिशतु भार्गवनन्दनायाः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

kālāmbu-dāli-lalitorasi kaiṭabhārer dhārā-dhare sphurati yā taḍid-aṅganeva mātus samasta-jagatāṃ mahanīya-mūrtir bhadrāṇi me diśatu bhārgava-nandanāyāḥ

English meaning

On the dark-cloud-graced chest of the slayer of Kaitabha — she shines like a bride of lightning upon a rain-cloud. The venerable form of the Mother of all worlds — may that daughter of Sage Bhṛgu grant me every blessing.

Shloka 6

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

प्राप्तं पदं प्रथमतः खलु यत्प्रभावाद् माङ्गल्यभाजि मधुमाथिनि मन्मथेन । मय्यापतेत्तदिह मन्थरमीक्षणार्धं मन्दालसं च मकरालयकन्यकायाः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

prāptaṃ padaṃ prathamataḥ khalu yat-prabhāvād māṅgalya-bhāji madhu-māthini manmathena mayyāpatet tad iha mantharam īkṣaṇārdhaṃ mandālasaṃ ca makarālaya-kanyakāyāḥ

English meaning

By whose grace Kamadeva first attained his place — beside the auspicious Slayer-of-Madhu — may that same slow, slumbrous, half-glance of the Daughter of the Ocean (Lakshmi) fall here, even now, upon me.

Shloka 7

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

विश्वामरेन्द्रपदविभ्रमदानदक्षम् आनन्दहेतुरधिकं मुरविद्विषोऽपि । ईषन्निषीदतु मयि क्षणमीक्षणार्धम् इन्दीवरोदरसहोदरमिन्दिरायाः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

viśvāmarendra-pada-vibhrama-dāna-dakṣam ānanda-hetur adhikaṃ mura-vidviṣo'pi īṣan niṣīdatu mayi kṣaṇam īkṣaṇārdham indīvarodara-saho-daram indirāyāḥ

English meaning

Capable of bestowing even the throne of the cosmic king of gods, the supreme cause of joy even to the Foe-of-Mura (Vishnu) — may even half a momentary glance of Indira (Lakshmi), sister-like to the heart of the blue lotus, alight on me a moment.

Shloka 8

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

इष्टा विशिष्टमतयोऽपि यया दयार्द्र- दृष्ट्या त्रिविष्टपपदं सुलभं लभन्ते । दृष्टिः प्रहृष्टकमलोदरदीप्तिरिष्टां पुष्टिं कृषीष्ट मम पुष्करविष्टरायाः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

iṣṭā viśiṣṭa-matayo'pi yayā dayārdra- dṛṣṭyā tri-viṣṭapa-padaṃ sulabhaṃ labhante dṛṣṭiḥ prahṛṣṭa-kamalodara-dīptir iṣṭāṃ puṣṭiṃ kṛṣīṣṭa mama puṣkara-viṣṭarāyāḥ

English meaning

By whose compassion-soaked gaze even noble seekers easily attain heaven — may that gaze, glowing like the heart of a fully-bloomed lotus, of her seated upon the lotus-throne (Lakshmi), bestow upon me the prosperity I desire.

Shloka 9

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

दद्याद्दयानुपवनो द्रविणाम्बुधाराम् अस्मिन्नकिञ्चनविहङ्गशिशौ विषण्णे । दुष्कर्मघर्ममपनीय चिराय दूरं नारायणप्रणयिनीनयनाम्बुवाहः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

dadyād dayānupavano draviṇāmbu-dhārām asmin akiñcana-vihaṅga-śiśau viṣaṇṇe duṣ-karma-gharmam apanīya cirāya dūraṃ nārāyaṇa-praṇayinī-nayanāmbu-vāhaḥ

English meaning

May the cloud — driven by compassion-breeze, the cloud which is the eye-glance of Narayana's beloved — pour the rain-shower of wealth on this little despondent fledgling-bird (myself, having nothing), banishing the heat of bad karma far away for a long time.

Shloka 10

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

गीर्देवतेति गरुडध्वजसुन्दरीति शाकम्भरीति शशिशेखरवल्लभेति । सृष्टिस्थितिप्रलयकेलिषु संस्थितायै तस्यै नमस्त्रिभुवनैकगुरोस्तरुण्यै ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

gīr-devateti garuḍa-dhvaja-sundarīti śākambharīti śaśi-śekhara-vallabheti sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-keliṣu saṃsthitāyai tasyai namas tribhuvanaika-guros taruṇyai

English meaning

The Goddess of speech (Saraswati), the lovely consort of the Garuda-bannered (Lakshmi), the food-bringing Shakambhari, and the beloved of the Moon-crested (Parvati): to Her who abides in all the divine play of creation, sustenance, and dissolution — salutations to the youthful Spouse of the One Guru of the three worlds.

Shloka 11

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

श्रुत्यै नमोऽस्तु शुभकर्मफलप्रसूत्यै रत्यै नमोऽस्तु रमणीयगुणार्णवायै । शक्त्यै नमोऽस्तु शतपत्रनिकेतनायै पुष्ट्यै नमोऽस्तु पुरुषोत्तमवल्लभायै ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

śrutyai namo'stu śubha-karma-phala-prasūtyai ratyai namo'stu ramaṇīya-guṇārṇavāyai śaktyai namo'stu śata-patra-niketanāyai puṣṭyai namo'stu puruṣottama-vallabhāyai

English meaning

Salutations to the Goddess of revealed knowledge, mother of the fruits of good deeds. Salutations to Rati, the ocean of lovable virtues. Salutations to Shakti, who dwells in the hundred-petalled lotus. Salutations to Pushti (Nourishment), beloved of the Supreme Person (Vishnu).

Shloka 12

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

नमोऽस्तु नालीकनिभाननायै नमोऽस्तु दुग्धोदधिजन्मभूम्यै । नमोऽस्तु सोमामृतसोदरायै नमोऽस्तु नारायणवल्लभायै ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

namo'stu nālīka-nibhānanāyai namo'stu dugdhodadhi-janma-bhūmyai namo'stu somāmṛta-sodarāyai namo'stu nārāyaṇa-vallabhāyai

English meaning

Salutations to her of lotus-like face. Salutations to her whose birthplace is the Ocean of Milk. Salutations to the sister of the Moon and of Amrita. Salutations to the beloved of Narayana.

Shloka 13

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

सम्पत्कराणि सकलेन्द्रियनन्दनानि साम्राज्यदानविभवानि सरोरुहाक्षि । त्वद्वन्दनानि दुरिताहरणोद्यतानि मामेव मातरनिशं कलयन्तु मान्ये ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

sampat-karāṇi sakalendriya-nandanāni sāmrājya-dāna-vibhavāni saroruhākṣi tvad-vandanāni duritāharaṇodyatāni mām eva mātar aniśaṃ kalayantu mānye

English meaning

Wealth-giving, delighting all senses, bestowing the splendour of empire — O lotus-eyed One — eager to remove every misfortune: O honoured Mother, may these salutations to you ever embrace me unceasingly.

Shloka 14

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

यत्कटाक्षसमुपासनाविधिः सेवकस्य सकलार्थसम्पदः । सन्तनोति वचनाङ्गमानसैः त्वां मुरारिहृदयेश्वरीं भजे ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

yat-kaṭākṣa-samupāsanā-vidhiḥ sevakasya sakalārtha-sampadaḥ santanoti vacanāṅga-mānasaiḥ tvāṃ murāri-hṛdayeśvarīṃ bhaje

English meaning

Whose mere worship of side-glance bestows on the devotee the wealth of every desire — with speech, body, and mind I worship you, O Mistress of the heart of the Foe-of-Mura.

Shloka 15

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

सरसिजनिलये सरोजहस्ते धवलतमांशुकगन्धमाल्यशोभे । भगवति हरिवल्लभे मनोज्ञे त्रिभुवनभूतिकरि प्रसीद मह्यम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

sarasija-nilaye saroja-haste dhavalatamāṃśuka-gandha-mālya-śobhe bhagavati hari-vallabhe manojñe tri-bhuvana-bhūti-kari prasīda mahyam

English meaning

O You who dwell in the lotus, holding a lotus in your hand, shining in pure-white silken robes, fragrant garlands and ornaments, O Goddess, beloved of Hari, lovely-minded, bestower of the prosperity of the three worlds — be gracious to me.

Sources verified against

Adi Shankaracharya — Kanakadhārā Stotra
Gita Press, Gorakhpur — Stotraratnāvalī
Sringeri Sharada Peetham edition with commentary

Frequently asked questions

When should I recite Kanakadhara Stotra?

Best days: Friday. Best time: morning.

What language is this stotra in?

The original is in Sanskrit (or Awadhi for the Hanuman Chalisa). We provide it in Devanagari script, IAST transliteration for pronunciation, and English meaning for understanding.

How accurate is the text?

Each stotra is cross-validated against multiple published authoritative sources, listed on this page under "Sources verified against". If you spot any discrepancy from your tradition, please let us know.

How long does it take to recite?

Approximately 7 minutes at a steady, devotional pace.

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