Ganga Ashtakam is a sacred prayer glorifying the river and Goddess Ganga. It is believed that the holy devotee who reads this holy octet on Ganga, would become free of all sins and reach the world of Vishnu. The Ganga shloka in Sanskrit was composed by Adi Shankaracharya.
Ganga is the personification of the river Ganges and is glorified by Hindus as the goddess of sanctification and forgiveness. Known by many names, Ganga is often depicted as a fair, beautiful woman, riding a divine crocodile-like creature called the Makara.
Some of the earliest mentions of Ganga are uncovered in the Rigveda, where she is mentioned as the most sacred of the rivers.
Ganga Ashtakam Lyrics and Meaning Hindi English
श्रीगंगाष्टकम्
भगवति तव तीरे नीरमात्राशनोऽहं
विगतविषयतृष्णः कृष्णमाराधयामि ।
सकलकलुषभंगे स्वर्गसोपानगंगे
तरलतरतरंगे देवि गंगे प्रसीद ॥ १॥
हे देवि! तुम्हारे तीरपर केवल तुम्हारा जलपान करता हुआ, विषय तृष्णासे रहित हो, मैं श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रकी आराधना करूँ । हे सकल पापविनाशिनि स्वर्ग-सोपानरूपिणि ! तरलतरङ्गिणि ! देवि गङ्गे ! मुझपर प्रसन्न हो ॥ १ ॥
Bhagawathi thava theere neeramathrasanoham,
Vigatha vishaya thurshna krishnamaradhayami,
Sakala kalusha bhange swarga sopana sange,
Tharala thara tharange Devi gange praseedha. 1
Goddess, I came to your shore,
And sat there praying on Krishna,
And taking nothing else but water.
So Oh Ganga, who removes all dirt.
Who is the ladder to the heaven,
And who is full of spreading waves,
Be pleased with me.
भगवति भवलीलामौलिमाले तवांभः
कणमणुपरिमाणं प्राणिनो ये स्पृशन्ति ।
अमरनगरनारिचामरमरग्राहिणीनां
विगतकलिकलंकातंकमंके लुठन्ति ॥ २॥
हे भगवति ! तुम महादेवजीके मस्तककी लीलामयी माला हो, जो प्राणी तुम्हारे जलकणके अणुमात्रको भी स्पर्श करते हैं, वे कलिकलङ्कके भयको त्यागकर, देवपुरीकी चँवरधारिणी अप्सराओंकी गोदमें शयन करते हैं ॥ २ ॥
Bhgwathi bhava leela mouli male thavambha,
Kana manu parimaanam pranino yeesprusanthi,
Amara nagara naari chamara grahineenaam,
Vigatha kali kalamkatham kam anke lutanthi. 2
Oh, Goddess who is the garland on the head of Shiva,
And meant for his happiness,
Those beings, who are lucky,
To touch drops of your water,
Get relieved of all black sins,
And would enjoy the fondling,
In the laps of those maidens of heaven,
Who holds fans in their hands.
ब्रह्माण्डं खंडयन्ती हरशिरसि जटावल्लिमुल्लासयन्ती
खर्ल्लोकात् आपतन्ती कनकगिरिगुहागण्डशैलात् स्खलन्ती ।
क्षोणी पृष्ठे लुठन्ती दुरितचयचमूनिंर्भरं भर्त्सयन्ती
पाथोधिं पुरयन्ती सुरनगरसरित् पावनी नः पुनातु ॥ ३॥
ब्रह्माण्डको फोड़कर निकलनेवाली, महादेवजीकी जटा-लताको उल्लसित करती हुई, स्वर्गलोकसे गिरती हुई, सुमेरुकी गुफा और पर्वतमालासे झड़ती हुई, पृथ्वीपर लोटती हुई, पापसमूहकी सेनाको कड़ी फटकार देती हुई, समुद्रको भरती हुई, देवपुरीकी पवित्र नदी गङ्गा हमें पवित्र करे ॥ ३ ॥
Brahmandam ghandayanthi hara sirasi jata valli mullasayanthi,
Swarlokadha pathanthi kanaka giri guha ganda shailal skhalanthi,
Kshoni prushte lutanthi duritha chaya chamoo nirbharam bhathsayanthi,
Padhadheem poorayanthi sura nagara sarith pavani na punathu. 3
Let the pure waters of the Ganga of heaven,
Originating from the breaking of the universe into two,
Watering the hair curls of Lord Shiva’s head,
Falling from the heights of heaven,
Coming out of the sandalwood trees of the caves of Meru,
Falling torrentially on the earth,
Washing away the crowds of sins,
And making full the waters of the sea,
Take care of all of us.
मज्जनमातंगकुंभच्युतमदमदिरामोदमत्तालिजालं
स्नानंः सिद्धांगनानां कुचयुगविगलत् कुंकुमासंगपिंगम् ।
सायंप्रातर्मुनीनां कुशकुसुमचयैः छन्नतीरस्थनीरं
पाय न्नो गांगमंभः करिकलभकराक्रान्तरं हस्तरंगम् ॥ ४॥
स्नान करते हुए हाथियोंके कुम्भस्थलसे झरते हुए मदरूपी मदिराकी गन्धके कारण मधुपवृन्द जिससे मतवाले हो रहे हैं, सिद्धोंकी स्त्रियोंके स्तनोंसे बहे हुए कुङ्कुमके मिलनेसे जो पिङ्गलवर्ण हो रहा है तथा सायं प्रातः मुनियोंद्वारा अर्पित कुश और पुष्पोंक समूहसे जो किनारेपर ढका हुआ है, हाथियोंके बच्चोंकी सूँड़ोंसे जिनकी तरङ्गोंका वेग आक्रान्त हो रहा है, वह गङ्गाजल हमारा कल्याण करे ॥ ४ ॥
Majja mathanga kumbhachyuthamadhira moda mathali jaalam,
Snanai sidhangananaam kucha yuga vigalath kanku masangapingam,
Sayam prathar muneenaam kusa kusuma chayai channatheerasthaneeram,
Payanno gangamamba karikalabhakaraakrantharamhastharagam, 4
Let this waters of Ganga,
Which is full of several crowds of bees rushing to drink,
The water coming out of the bathing elephants,
Which is fully red because of the saffron-colored water,
Flowing from the head through the busts of holy ladies,
Which is full of different types of floating grasses and flowers,
After the dawn and dusk salutations done by saints in the morn and evening,
And which is full of waves created by the playful elephants and calves,
Because of their beating the water with their trunks,
Save all of us.
आदावादि पितामहस्य नियमव्यापारपात्रे जलं
पश्चात् पन्नगशायिनो भगवतः पादोदकं पावनम् ।
भूयः शंभुजटाविभूषणमणिः जहनोर्महर्षेरियं
कन्या कल्मषनाशिनी भगवती भागीरथी दृश्यते ॥ ५॥
जह्नु महर्षिकी कन्या, पापनाशिनी भगवती भागीरथी, पहले ब्रह्माके कमण्डलुमें जलरूपसे, फिर शेषशायी भगवान्के पवित्र चरणोदकरूपसे और तदनन्तर महादेवजीकी जटाको सुशोभित करनेवाली मणिरूपसे दीख रही है ॥ ५ ॥
Aadhaavaadhi pithamahasya niyama vyapara pathrejalam,
Paschath pannaga sayino bhagwatha padhodhakam pavanam,
Bhooya shambhu jata vibhooshana mani jjahnor maharsheriyam,
Kanya kalmasha nasini bhagwathi bhagiradhi drusyathe. 5
This Goddess was brought down by King Bhageerath,
Was initially seen as the water of worship from the pot of Brahma,
Later it became the purest holy water washing the feet of Vishnu,
And then became an ornamental gem on the head of Lord Shiva,
And then later was born as the daughter of sage Jahnu.
शैलेन्द्रात् अवतारिणी निजजले मज्जत् जनोत्तारिणी
पारावारविहारिणी भवभयश्रेणी समुत्सारिणी ।
शेषाहेरनुकारिणी हरशिरोवल्लिदलाकारिणी
काशीप्रान्तविहारिणी विजयते गंगा मनूहारिणो ॥ ६॥
हिमालयसे उतरनेवाली, अपने जलमें गोता लगानेवालोंका उद्धार करनेवाली, समुद्रविहारिणी, संसार-संकटोंका नाश करनेवाली, [विस्तारमें] शेषनागका अनुकरण करनेवाली, शिवजीके मस्तकपर लताके समान सुशोभित, काशीक्षेत्रमें बहनेवाली, मनोहारिणी गङ्गाजी विजयिनी हो रही हैं ॥ ६ ॥
Shailendra deva tharini nijjale majja jjanotharinee,
Paaravaara viharinee bhava bhaya sreni samuthsarini,
Seshaheanukarini harasirovallidalakaarini,
Kasi prantha viharini, vijayathe ganga manoharini. 6
Victory to that pretty Ganga, who took birth from the king of mountains,
Who makes people who dip in her waters cross the ocean of life,
Who reaches and plays in the ocean,
Who completely uproots sorrows from life,
Who imitates Adhisesha and bends and flows,
Who appears like leaves on the hairs of Lord Shiva,
And who flows very near the city of Kasi.
कुतो वीचिर्वीचिस्तव यदि गता लोचनपथं
त्वमापीता पीतांबरपुग्निवासं वितरसि ।
त्वदुत्संगे गंगे पतति यदि कायस्तनुभृतां
तदा मातः शातक्रतवपदलाभोऽप्यतिलघुः ॥ ७॥
यदि तुम्हारी तरङ्ग नेत्रोंके सामने आ जाय, तो फिर संसारकी तरङ्ग कहाँ रह सकती है ? तुम अपना जलपान करनेपर वैकुण्ठलोकमें निवास देती हो, हे गङ्गे ! यदि जीवोंका शरीर तुम्हारी गोदमें छूट जाता है, तो हे मातः ! उस समय इन्द्रपदकी प्राप्ति भी अत्यन्त तुच्छ मालूम होती है ॥ ७ ॥
Kutho veechir veechisthava yadhi gatha lochanapadham,
Thwamaapeethaa peethambarapuranivasam vitharasi,
Twaduthsange gange pathathi yadhi kayasthanubrutham,
Thadha maatha shathakratha vapadhalaabhopyathi laghu. 7
Hey river Ganga, Where are the pains of hell to him,
Whose eyes see at least one of your waves?
Hey Ganga, You give to anyone taking a sip of your water,
Permanent residence in Vaikunta,
And Oh, mother, to any being whose body falls on you,
Even the post of Indra becomes worthless
गंगे त्रैलोक्यसारे सकलसुरवधूधौतविस्तीर्णतोये
पूर्णब्रह्मस्वरूपे हरिचरणरजोहारिणि स्वर्गमार्गे ।
प्रायश्चितं यदि स्यात् तव जलकाणिक्रा ब्रह्महत्यादिपापे
कस्त्वां स्तोतुं समर्थः त्रिजगदघहरे देवि गंगे प्रसीद ॥ ८॥
तीनों लोकोंकी सार, सर्वदेवाङ्गनाएँ जिसमें स्नान करती हैं, ऐसे विस्तृत जलवाली, पूर्ण ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी, स्वर्ग-मार्गम भगवान्के चरणोंकी धूलि धोनेवाली, हे गङ्गे ! जब तुम्हारे जलका एक कणमात्र ही ब्रह्महत्यादि पापोंका प्रायश्चित्त है तो हे त्रैलोक्यपापनाशिनि ! तुम्हारी स्तुति करनेमें कौन समर्थ है ? हे देवि गङ्गे ! प्रसन्न हो ॥ ८ ॥
Gange trilokya sare sakala sura vadhoodhowtha vistheerna thoye,
Poorna brahma swaroope haricharanajoharini swarga margay,
.Prayachitham yadhi syathava jala kanika brahma hathyadhi pape,
Kasthwam sthothum samartha trijagadagahare devi gange praseedha. 8
Hey Ganga, who is most important in all the three worlds,
Who is so wide and big that all women of heaven dip and bathe in you,
Who is having the full form of the eternal truth,
Who flows carrying the dust of the feet of Lord Vishnu,
Who flows in the paths of heaven,
And whose one drop is the only cure for sins like the killing of Brahmana,
Hey Ganga, who can be capable of praying for you adequately.?
And who is more capable of washing any sin in the three worlds,
Be pleased with me.
मातर्जाह्नवी शंभुसंगवलिते मौलै निधायाञ्जलिं
त्वत्तीरे वपुषोऽवसानसमये नारायणांध्रिद्वयम् ।
सानन्दं स्मरतो भविष्यति मम प्राणप्रयाणोत्सवे
भूयात् भक्तिरविच्युता हरिहरद्वैतात्मिका शाश्वती ॥ ९॥
हे शिवकी संगिनी मातः गङ्गे ! शरीर शान्त होनेके समय प्राण-यात्राके उत्सवमें, तुम्हारे तीरपर, सिर नवाकर हाथ जोड़े हुए, आनन्दसे भगवान्के चरणयुगलका स्मरण करते हुए मेरी अविचल भावसे हरि-हरमें अभेदात्मिका नित्य भक्ति बनी रहे ॥ ९ ॥
Matha Jahnavi shambhu sanga valithe moulou nidhayanjaleem,
Thwathere vapushavasana samaye na rayanangri dhwayam,
Saa anandam smaratha bhavishyathi may prana prayanathsavo,
Bhooyath bhakthi ravichutha hari haradwaithathmika saswathi. 9
Hey mother Jahnavi, at the end of my wanderings devoted to search
For the company of Lord Shiva, the end celebration of my travel of the soul,
Would happen in your bank, while I would be meditating,
Holding my two hands in salute over my head,
With happiness, on the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu.
Let my devotion to Vishnu and Shiva be permanent, Oh Goddess.
गंगाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेत् प्रयतो नरः ।
सर्वपापविनिर्भुक्तो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ॥ १०॥
जो पुरुष शुद्ध होकर इस पवित्र गङ्गाष्टकका पाठ करता है; वह सब पापोंसे मुक्त होकर वैकुण्ठलोकमें जाता है ।॥ १० ॥
Gangashtakamidhampunyam ya padeth prayatho nara,
Sarva papavinirmuktho Vishnu lokam sa gachathi. 10
That holy devotee who reads this holy octet on Ganga,
Would become free of all sins and reach the world of Vishnu.
इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्य श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादस्यशिष्या
श्रीमच्छङ्करभगवतः कृतौ गङ्गाष्टकस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ।
