Stotra · Lakshmi

Kanakadhara Stotram कनकधारा स्तोत्र

The "shower of gold" hymn to Lakshmi: eighteen verses praising her sidelong glance that rests on Vishnu and grants wealth and welfare, ending with salutations and the fruit of daily recitation. Tradition says Shankara sang it for a poor woman, and gold gooseberries rained down.

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Shloka 1

अङ्गं हरे पुलकभूषणमाश्रयन्तीaṅgaṃ hare pulakabhūṣaṇamāśrayantī

भृङ्गाङ्गनेव मुकुलाभरणं तमालम् ।bhṛṅgāṅganeva mukulābharaṇaṃ tamālam |

अङ्गीकृताखिलविभूतिरपाङ्गलीलाaṅgīkṛtākhilavibhūtirapāṅgalīlā

माङ्गल्यदास्तु मम मङ्गलदेवतायाः ॥ १ ॥māṅgalyadāstu mama maṅgaladevatāyāḥ || 1 ||

Meaning of this verse

As a female bee clings to the tamala tree adorned with buds, her playful side-glance rests on Hari's body, its hair thrilled with joy. May that glance of the goddess of auspiciousness, holding all splendour, bring me good fortune.

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Shloka 2

मुग्धा मुहुर्विदधती वदने मुरारेःmugdhā muhurvidadhatī vadane murāreḥ

प्रेमत्रपाप्रणिहितानि गतागतानि ।prematrapāpraṇihitāni gatāgatāni |

मालादृशोर्मधुकरीव महोत्पले याmālādṛśormadhukarīva mahotpale yā

सा मे श्रियं दिशतु सागरसम्भवायाः ॥ २ ॥sā me śriyaṃ diśatu sāgarasambhavāyāḥ || 2 ||

Meaning of this verse

Like a bee hovering over a great blue lotus, her enchanted gaze goes again and again to Murari's face and returns, guided by love and shyness. May that garland of glances of the ocean-born goddess grant me prosperity.

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Shloka 3

विश्वामरेन्द्रपदविभ्रमदानदक्ष-viśvāmarendrapadavibhramadānadakṣa-

मानन्दहेतुरधिकं मुरविद्विषोऽपि ।mānandaheturadhikaṃ muravidviṣo'pi |

ईषन्निषीदतु मयि क्षणमीक्षणार्द्ध-īṣanniṣīdatu mayi kṣaṇamīkṣaṇārddha-

मिन्दीवरोदरसहोदरमिन्दिरायाः ॥ ३ ॥mindīvarodarasahodaramindirāyāḥ || 3 ||

Meaning of this verse

May half a glance of Indira (Lakshmi), like the inside of a blue lotus, able to bestow the rank of Indra over all the gods and a source of great joy even to Vishnu, the foe of Mura, rest on me for a moment, even slightly.

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Shloka 4

आमीलिताक्षमधिगम्य मुदा मुकुन्द-āmīlitākṣamadhigamya mudā mukunda-

मानन्दकन्दमनिमेषमनङ्गतन्त्रम् ।mānandakandamanimeṣamanaṅgatantram |

आकेकरस्थितकनीनिकपक्ष्मनेत्रंākekarasthitakanīnikapakṣmanetraṃ

भूत्यै भवेन्मम भुजङ्गशयाङ्गनायाः ॥ ४ ॥bhūtyai bhavenmama bhujaṅgaśayāṅganāyāḥ || 4 ||

Meaning of this verse

Her eyes, half-closed in delight on reaching Mukunda, root of bliss, gaze unblinking under love's sway, the pupils and lashes held at their corners. May that eye of the consort of the serpent-reclining Vishnu be for my well-being.

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Shloka 5

बाह्वन्तरे मधुजितः श्रितकौस्तुभेयाbāhvantare madhujitaḥ śritakaustubheyā

हारावलीव हरिनीलमयी विभाति ।hārāvalīva harinīlamayī vibhāti |

कामप्रदा भगवतोऽपि कटाक्षमालाkāmapradā bhagavato'pi kaṭākṣamālā

कल्याणमावहतु मे कमलालयायाः ॥ ५ ॥kalyāṇamāvahatu me kamalālayāyāḥ || 5 ||

Meaning of this verse

Her garland of side-glances shines like a string of sapphires on the chest of Madhu's slayer, where the Kaustubha gem rests, and fulfils the wishes even of the Lord. May that glance of the lotus-dweller bring me well-being.

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Shloka 6

कालाम्बुदालिललितोरसि कैटभारे-kālāmbudālilalitorasi kaiṭabhāre-

र्धाराधरे स्फुरति यत्तटिदङ्गनेव ।rdhārādhare sphurati yattaṭidaṅganeva |

मातुः समस्तजगता महनीयमूर्ति-mātuḥ samastajagatā mahanīyamūrti-

र्भद्राणि मे दिशतु भार्गवनन्दनायाः ॥ ६ ॥rbhadrāṇi me diśatu bhārgavanandanāyāḥ || 6 ||

Meaning of this verse

She flashes like lightning on a rain cloud upon the chest of Kaitabha's slayer, dark and lovely as a row of clouds. May the revered form of Bhrigu's daughter, mother of all the worlds, grant me what is good.

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Shloka 7

प्राप्तं पदं प्रथमतः खलु यत्प्रभावा-prāptaṃ padaṃ prathamataḥ khalu yatprabhāvā-

न्माङ्गल्यभाजि मधुमाथिनि मन्मथेन ।nmāṅgalyabhāji madhumāthini manmathena |

मय्यापतेत्तदिह मन्थरमीक्षणार्धंmayyāpatettadiha mantharamīkṣaṇārdhaṃ

मन्दालसं मकरालयकन्यकायाः ॥ ७ ॥mandālasaṃ makarālayakanyakāyāḥ || 7 ||

Meaning of this verse

By the power of her glance, Kama the god of love first gained a place in Vishnu, Madhu's slayer, abode of auspiciousness. May that slow, languid half-glance of the ocean's daughter fall upon me here.

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Shloka 8

दद्याद्दयानुपवनो द्रविणाम्बुधारा-dadyāddayānupavano draviṇāmbudhārā-

मस्मिन्न किञ्चन विहंगशिशौ विषण्णे ।masminna kiñcana vihaṃgaśiśau viṣaṇṇe |

दुष्कर्मधर्ममपनीय चिराय दूरंduṣkarmadharmamapanīya cirāya dūraṃ

नारायणप्रणयिनीनयनाम्बुवाहः ॥ ८ ॥nārāyaṇapraṇayinīnayanāmbuvāhaḥ || 8 ||

Meaning of this verse

May the rain cloud that is the eye of Narayana's beloved, driven by the wind of compassion, drive my past misdeeds far away for good and pour a stream of wealth on me, a forlorn, helpless fledgling bird.

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Shloka 9

इष्टाविशिष्टमतयोऽपि यया दयार्द्र-iṣṭāviśiṣṭamatayo'pi yayā dayārdra-

दृष्ट्या त्रिविष्टपपदं सुलभं लभन्ते ।dṛṣṭyā triviṣṭapapadaṃ sulabhaṃ labhante |

दृष्टिः प्रहृष्टकमलोदरदीप्तिरिष्टांdṛṣṭiḥ prahṛṣṭakamalodaradīptiriṣṭāṃ

पुष्टिं कृषीष्ट मम पुष्करविष्टरायाः ॥ ९ ॥puṣṭiṃ kṛṣīṣṭa mama puṣkaraviṣṭarāyāḥ || 9 ||

Meaning of this verse

By her glance moist with compassion, even people of ordinary understanding easily reach heaven. May the glance of the lotus-seated goddess, bright as the inside of a blooming lotus, give me the nourishment I seek.

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Shloka 10

गीर्देवतेति गरुडध्वजसुन्दरीतिgīrdevateti garuḍadhvajasundarīti

शाकम्भरीति शशिशेखरवल्लभेति ।śākambharīti śaśiśekharavallabheti |

सृष्टिस्थितिप्रलयकेलिषु संस्थितायैsṛṣṭisthitipralayakeliṣu saṃsthitāyai

तस्यै नमस्त्रिभुवनैकगुरोस्तरुण्यै ॥ १० ॥tasyai namastribhuvanaikagurostaruṇyai || 10 ||

Meaning of this verse

She is called goddess of speech, beauty of the Garuda-bannered Vishnu, Shakambhari, and beloved of the moon-crested Shiva. Salutation to her, present in the play of creation, preservation and dissolution, young consort of the one teacher of the three worlds.

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Shloka 11

श्रुत्यै नमोऽस्तु शुभकर्मफलप्रसूत्यैśrutyai namo'stu śubhakarmaphalaprasūtyai

रत्यै नमोऽस्तु रमणीयगुणार्णवायै ।ratyai namo'stu ramaṇīyaguṇārṇavāyai |

शक्त्यै नमोऽस्तु शतपत्रनिकेतनायैśaktyai namo'stu śatapatraniketanāyai

पुष्ट्यै नमोऽस्तु पुरुषोत्तमवल्लभायै ॥ ११ ॥puṣṭyai namo'stu puruṣottamavallabhāyai || 11 ||

Meaning of this verse

Salutation to her as Shruti, the Veda, who yields the fruit of good deeds; to Rati, ocean of lovely qualities; to Shakti, who dwells in the hundred-petalled lotus; to Pushti, nourishment, beloved of Purushottama.

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Shloka 12

नमोऽस्तु नालीकनिभाननायैnamo'stu nālīkanibhānanāyai

नमोऽस्तु दुग्धोदधिजन्मभूम्यै ।namo'stu dugdhodadhijanmabhūmyai |

नमोऽस्तु सोमामृतसोदरायैnamo'stu somāmṛtasodarāyai

नमोऽस्तु नारायणवल्लभायै ॥ १२ ॥namo'stu nārāyaṇavallabhāyai || 12 ||

Meaning of this verse

Salutation to her whose face is like a lotus; to her whose birthplace is the ocean of milk; to the sister of the moon and of nectar; to the beloved of Narayana.

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Shloka 13

सपत्कराणि सकलेन्द्रियनन्दनानिsapatkarāṇi sakalendriyanandanāni

साम्राज्यदानविभवानि सरोरुहाक्षि ।sāmrājyadānavibhavāni saroruhākṣi |

त्वद्वन्दनानि दुरिताहरणोद्यतानिtvadvandanāni duritāharaṇodyatāni

मामेव मातरनिशं कलयन्तु मान्ये ॥ १३ ॥māmeva mātaraniśaṃ kalayantu mānye || 13 ||

Meaning of this verse

O lotus-eyed, honoured Mother, may my salutations to you, which bring wealth, delight all the senses, confer sovereignty and are ready to take away wrongdoing, ever be with me.

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Shloka 14

यत्कटाक्षसमुपासनाविधिःyatkaṭākṣasamupāsanāvidhiḥ

सेवकस्य सकलार्थसम्पदः ।sevakasya sakalārthasampadaḥ |

संतनोति वचनाङ्गमानसै-saṃtanoti vacanāṅgamānasai-

स्त्वां मुरारिहृदयेश्वरीं भजे ॥ १४ ॥stvāṃ murārihṛdayeśvarīṃ bhaje || 14 ||

Meaning of this verse

With speech, body and mind I worship you, queen of Murari's heart, the worship of whose side-glance brings the servant every aim and all riches.

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Shloka 15

सरसिजनिलये सरोजहस्तेsarasijanilaye sarojahaste

धवलतमांशुकगन्धमाल्यशोभे ।dhavalatamāṃśukagandhamālyaśobhe |

भगवति हरिवल्लभे मनोज्ञेbhagavati harivallabhe manojñe

त्रिभुवनभूतिकरि प्रसीद मह्यम् ॥ १५ ॥tribhuvanabhūtikari prasīda mahyam || 15 ||

Meaning of this verse

O you who dwell in the lotus and hold a lotus, shining in the whitest garments, with fragrance and garlands; blessed goddess, beloved of Hari, charming one, giver of prosperity to the three worlds, be gracious to me.

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Shloka 16

दिग्हस्तिभिः कनककुम्भमुखावसृष्टdighastibhiḥ kanakakumbhamukhāvasṛṣṭa

स्वर्वाहिनीविमलचारुजलाप्लुताङ्गीम् ।svarvāhinīvimalacārujalāplutāṅgīm |

प्रातर्नमामि जगता जननीमशेषprātarnamāmi jagatā jananīmaśeṣa

लोकाधिनाथगृहिणीममृताब्धिपुत्रीम् ॥ १६ ॥lokādhināthagṛhiṇīmamṛtābdhiputrīm || 16 ||

Meaning of this verse

At dawn I bow to the mother of the world, wife of the lord of all worlds, daughter of the ocean of nectar, whose body is bathed in the pure, lovely water of the heavenly river poured from golden pots by the elephants of the quarters.

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Shloka 17

कमले कमलाक्षवल्लभे त्वंkamale kamalākṣavallabhe tvaṃ

करुणापूरतरङ्गितैरपाङ्गैः ।karuṇāpūrataraṅgitairapāṅgaiḥ |

अवलोकय मामकिञ्चनानांavalokaya māmakiñcanānāṃ

प्रथमं पात्रमकृत्रिमं दयायाः ॥ १७ ॥prathamaṃ pātramakṛtrimaṃ dayāyāḥ || 17 ||

Meaning of this verse

O Kamala, beloved of the lotus-eyed Vishnu, look upon me with side-glances rippling with a flood of compassion, for among the destitute I am the first and truest recipient of your mercy.

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Shloka 18

स्तुवन्ति ये स्तुतिभिरमीभिरन्वहंstuvanti ye stutibhiramībhiranvahaṃ

त्रयीमयीं त्रिभुवनमातरं रमाम् ।trayīmayīṃ tribhuvanamātaraṃ ramām |

गुणाधिका गुरुतरभाग्यभाजिनोguṇādhikā gurutarabhāgyabhājino

भवन्ति ते भुवि बुधभाविताशयाः ॥ १८ ॥bhavanti te bhuvi budhabhāvitāśayāḥ || 18 ||

Meaning of this verse

Those who praise Rama (Lakshmi), embodiment of the three Vedas and mother of the three worlds, every day with these hymns become rich in virtues, partakers of great fortune, their minds esteemed by the wise (the text's traditional statement of benefit).

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19

इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य श्रीगोविंदभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य श्रीमच्छङ्करभगवतः कृतौ कनकधारास्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥iti śrīmatparamahaṃsaparivrājakācāryasya śrīgoviṃdabhagavatpūjyapādaśiṣyasya śrīmacchaṅkarabhagavataḥ kṛtau kanakadhārāstotraṃ sampūrṇam ||

Meaning of this verse

Thus ends the Kanakadhara Stotram, the work of Shri Shankara Bhagavat, the paramahamsa wandering teacher and disciple of the revered Shri Govinda Bhagavatpada.

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Read in another script: ગુજરાતી বাংলা தமிழ் తెలుగు ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ

Text: The Works of Sri Sankaracharya, vol. 18 (Stotras, part 2), Sri Vani Vilas Press, Srirangam, printed pp. 70–74 = scan pages 82–86, validated on Sanskrit Wikisource (https://sa.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%3A%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BF_%28%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83%29.pdf/%E0%A5%AE%E0%A5%A8&oldid=288201 … https://sa.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%3A%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BF_%28%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83%29.pdf/%E0%A5%AE%E0%A5%AC&oldid=288205); 18 verses and colophon. Verified on 11 November 2026 by half-verse with cmp.py --loose against (B) Sanskrit Wikisource main page कनकधारास्तोत्रम् (https://sa.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D&oldid=399053; 22 verses): 21 identical, 15 differing, 0 only in edition, 0 only in witness; letter agreement 99.2% over the 36 edition half-verses matched to it, 8 witness half-verses (its extra verses) unmatched; and (C) Brihat Stotra Ratnakara, Nirnaya Sagar 1912, no. 76 श्रीकनक(लक्ष्मी)स्तवः, OCR layer, djvu 177–179 (https://sa.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%3ABrihat_Stotra_Ratnakara_1912.djvu/%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AD%E0%A5%AD&oldid=377855; 16 verses in a different order): 3 identical, 23 differing, 10 only in edition, 0 only in witness; letter agreement 66.4% over the matched half-verses, 6 witness half-verses unmatched. Uncorrected edition vs B: 20 identical, 16 differing, 0 only in edition, 0 only in witness; letter agreement 99.1%. Corrections: v.5 बाह्यन्तरे मधुजितः → बाह्वन्तरे मधुजितः (transcription slip: the print reads बाह्वन्तरे, as do both witnesses); v.7 मय्यापतेतदिह → मय्यापतेत्तदिह (transcription slip: the print reads मय्यापतेत्तदिह, as do both witnesses); v.6 कालाम्बुदालिललितारसि → कालाम्बुदालिललितोरसि (majority reading: the print itself has ललितारसि, a misprint for the sandhi form ललित+उरसि that both witnesses give). Pages 83, 85 and 86 of the scan were read at 1280–1920 px to settle these. Edition readings kept: v.1 अङ्गं हरे (B, C हरेः); v.3 placed third (C has it seventh); v.13 सपत्कराणि as printed (B सम्पत्कराणि; C lacks the verse); v.16 दिग्हस्तिभिः and जलाप्लुताङ्गीम् (B दिग्घस्तिभिः, जलप्लुताङ्गीम्); v.6 and v.16 जगता (so printed, without anusvara; B जगतां); the ASCII pipe keyed for the danda in v.18 was replaced by ।; v.18 भाग्यभाजिनो (B, C भागिनो), भुवि बुधभाविताशयाः (C भवमनु भाविताशयाः); v.4 आमीलिताक्षम् (C आमीलितार्द्धम्), v.8 विषण्णे (C निषण्णे), v.9 इष्टाविशिष्टमतयोऽपि यया दयार्द्रदृष्ट्या (C …नरा यया द्राग्दृष्टास्त्रिविष्टपसदश्च पदं भजन्ते), v.10 गरुडध्वजसुन्दरीति, प्रलयकेलिषु (C गरुडजभामिनीति, प्रलयसिद्धिषु), v.11 गुणार्णवायै (C गुणाश्रयायै). B's extra verses (नमोऽस्तु हेमाम्बुजपीठिकायै, नमोऽस्तु देव्यै भृगुनन्दनायै, नमोऽस्तु कान्त्यै, देवि प्रसीद जगदीश्वरि) and C's three extra नमोऽस्तु verses are not in this edition and are described under variants. The Vani Vilas colophon is kept as prose. Verse-by-verse meanings: an in-house paraphrase by the Udyog Jyotish editorial team, not a translation.

The Roman line is IAST transliteration derived from the Devanagari (ā = long a, ṃ = anusvara, ḥ = visarga, ś/ṣ = sh sounds, c = ch as in “church”). In Hindi, Awadhi and Braj texts the silent final “a” is dropped. Transliteration does not show Vedic accents.

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Questions

What is Kanakadhara Stotram?

The "shower of gold" hymn to Lakshmi: eighteen verses praising her sidelong glance that rests on Vishnu and grants wealth and welfare, ending with salutations and the fruit of daily recitation. Tradition says Shankara sang it for a poor woman, and gold gooseberries rained down.

Who is Kanakadhara Stotram associated with?

Kanakadhara Stotram is associated with Lakshmi. Goddess of prosperity, well-being and auspiciousness, consort of Vishnu; worshipped especially on Diwali and on Fridays.

What does Kanakadhara Stotram mean?

A short paraphrase, not a translation. May the goddess of auspiciousness, who rests on Hari's thrilled body like a bee on a budding tamala tree, grant me good fortune. May the glance of the ocean-born, which plays shyly on Murari's face like a bee on a lotus, bestow prosperity on me. May the half-glance of Indira, blue as the lotus heart, rest on me for a moment; it gives even the gods their thrones and delights Vishnu himself. Her gaze fixed on Mukunda, her lotus-lidded eyes half closed in love, her necklace of glances on Vishnu's breast — may these bring me welfare. Like lightning on a da…

What is the source of Kanakadhara Stotram?

The Works of Sri Sankaracharya, vol. 18 — Sri Vani Vilas Press, Srirangam — Vol. 18, printed pp. 70–74 (scan pages 82–86). Tradition: Smarta.

Are there different versions of Kanakadhara Stotram?

The hymn circulates in 18-, 21- and 22-verse forms. The Vani Vilas text (18 verses) is followed here. The Sanskrit Wikisource transcription adds नमोऽस्तु हेमाम्बुजपीठिकायै, नमोऽस्तु देव्यै भृगुनन्दनायै, नमोऽस्तु कान्त्यै कमलेक्षणायै after verse 12 and देवि प्रसीद जगदीश्वरि before the last verse; the 1912 Brihat Stotra Ratnakara prints a 16-verse "Kanaka (Lakshmi) Stava" with the three extra नमोऽस्तु verses, without verses 13–17 of this edition, and with verses 3, 8 and 9 in other positions and several different readings (आमीलितार्द्धम्, निषण्णे, गरुडजभामिनीति, प्रलयसिद्धिषु, गुणाश्रयायै, भवमनु भाविताशयाः). Small variants: अङ्गं हरे / हरेः, सपत्कराणि / सम्पत्कराणि, दिग्हस्तिभिः / दिग्घस्तिभिः, भाग्यभाजिनो / भागिनो.

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