Kumara Ashtakam
Sri Kumarashtakam
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
[Kumara meaning lad is a name of Lord Subrahmanya. Here is a rare stotra
addressed to Him.]
1. Nijananda roopam, nirmala guna vikasam,
Gajanujam, karthikeyam, guham,
Prajapathim parvathi prana puthram,
Bhaje sada Shanmuka pada pankajam
I always sing about the lotus like feet of the six faced one,
Who has the form of true joy, who is personification of pure characters,
Who is the brother of Ganesha, who is brought up by Karthika maidens, Who is
guha,
Who is the leader of men and is the darling son of Parvathi.
2. Pranavopadesa prathyaksha guru moorthim,
Kirana koti Basakara lavanyam,
Saranagatha sadhu jana samrakshakam,
Pranamamyaham Kumara charanaravindham.
I salute the lotus like feet of Lord Kumara,
Who is the personal teacher who taught the meaning of om,
Who has the prettiness of sun with billions of rays,
And who protects the good who surrender to Him.
3. Bhaktha vathsala prabhum tharakarim,
Thaptha kanchana deham, daya samudhram,
Sakthi hastham Ahankara asuranthakam.,
Nithyam vandhe Subramanya pada pangeruham.
I daily salute the twin lotus like feet of Subramanya,
Who is the lord dear to his devotees, Who is the killer of Tharaka,
Who has a body of the colour of molten gold, who is the sea of mercy,
Who holds Sakthi in his hand and is the killer of egoistic asuras.
4. Karunamrutha varshitha dwishan nethram,
Saranagatha Dheena bandhum, sarva jana poshakam.,
Tharuni mani Valli deva sebna nayakam,
Saranam, saranam Sankara kumara charanaravindham.
I surrender, surrender to the lotus like feet of Kumara,
Who has the twelve eyes showering the nectar like mercy,
Who is the friend of the lowly ones who surrender,
Who is the one who looks after all the people,
And who is the Lord of gem like ladies Valli and devasena.
5. Nija baktha mano vasinam, nirvikalpa sukha dayinam,
Ajagaja akhila charachara swaroopam guham,
Bujaga bhooshanam purari priya nandanam,
Bhajare vali nadha pada pankajam.
Hey sing about the lotus like feet of Lord of Valli,
Who lives in the mind of his true devotees,
Who gves the pleasure of Nirvikalpa samadhi,
Who is Guha who has the form of all beings,
Which move as well as those which are immobile from goat to elephant,
Who decorates himself with a snake and is the darling son of the destroyer of
cities.
6. Aasa pasa shad varga vairim, adhi brahma swaroopam,
Kesadhi padantha sundara sukumaram suresam,
Daasarchitha Pada kamala shobitha bahuleyam,
Sri saathi poojithangri yugalam sirasam namami.
I bow with my head at the pair of feet worshipped by Goddess Lakahmi and others,
Who is the enemy of the six qualities of attachment, who has the form of
primeval of Brahmam,
Who is the lord of devas and is pretty from head to foot,
And who is the God with shining arms and whose feet are worshipped by his
devotees.
7. Parvatha vaasinam, parvathi kara kamala lalitha sukumaram,
Durvishaya rahithm, Durjana sikshana danda panm,
Sarva vyapakam, chathur veda sara omkara nadham,
Garvee soora padmathi nasana pada padmam sadaa rakshathu
Let me be protected by the lotus like feet of Him who destroyed the proud Soora
Padma,
And Who lives on the mountain, Who is the pretty one fondled by the lotus like
hands of Parvathi,
Who doe not have anything bad, Who is the holder of staff who punishes bad
people,
Who is spread everywhere and who is the Sound ot om, the essence of four vedas.
8. Icha sakthi, kriya sakthi, jnana sakthi daram Kumaram,
Nischanchala hrudaya vasam, Nithyananda bhava pradham,
Paschath dushta vairi samharam, pranavopi nesa panditham,
Uchadana manthram sadaa Om sarvana bhavam Tharakam.
Let me repeat the chant "Om sarvana Bhava" of the great God,
Who is the lad with power of desire, action and wisdom,
Who lives in stable minds, who grants ever living joy of salvation,
Who kills his bad enemies and is the wise one dearer than the soul.
Phala Sruthi
Effect of reading
9. Kumarashtakam midham punyam, guru badhaopadesakam,
Yapadeth budhiman nithyam sarva papa vimochanam,
Anthe Shanmuga Padabja Kaivalya pada vasinam,
Sadaa kaalam Subramanya namamrutha panam padeth.
This octet praising Lord Kumara as taught by my teacher,
If read by the wise one daily would lead to destruction of all sins,
And in the end will grant salvation at the lotus feet of the six faced one,
And so please read always this and drink the nectar of the names of Subramanya.
10. Yad pada smaranena soka moha bhayapaham,
That sri Shanmuga padabhjam sadaa rakshathu Manava,
Roopathyatham klesa nasanam nama japam moksha dayakam,
Sarva pooja phalam prapthi videha mukthi dayakam.
Just the remembrance of his feet would remove sorrow, attachment and fear,
For the lotus feet of the six faced one will always protect man,
Give him pretty form, end his troubles and chanting his names would lead to
salvation,
And a complete worship of him leads to salvation when we loose this body.