Ganga Stotram lyrics in Sanskrit & English, with meaning
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Shloka 1#
देवि सुरेश्वरि भगवति गङ्गे
त्रिभुवनतारिणि तरलतरङ्गे ।
शङ्करमौलिविहारिणि विमले
मम मतिरास्तां तव पदकमले ॥devi sureśvari bhagavati gaṅge
tribhuvanatāriṇi taralataraṅge |
śaṅkaramaulivihāriṇi vimale
mama matirāstāṃ tava padakamale ||हे देवी, देवताओं की ईश्वरी, भगवती गंगे, तीनों लोकों को तारने वाली, चंचल लहरों वाली, शंकर की जटाओं में विहार करने वाली निर्मल माँ — मेरी बुद्धि आपके चरणकमलों में लगी रहे।
O goddess, queen of the gods, blessed Ganga, saviour of the three worlds, with your rippling waves; pure one who plays in Shankara's hair — may my mind rest at your lotus feet.
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Shloka 2#
भागीरथि सुखदायिनि मात-
स्तव जलमहिमा निगमे ख्यातः ।
नाहं जाने तव महिमानं
पाहि कृपामयि मामज्ञानम् ॥bhāgīrathi sukhadāyini māta-
stava jalamahimā nigame khyātaḥ |
nāhaṃ jāne tava mahimānaṃ
pāhi kṛpāmayi māmajñānam ||हे भागीरथी, सुख देने वाली माता, आपके जल की महिमा वेदों में प्रसिद्ध है। मैं आपकी महिमा नहीं जानता; हे कृपामयी, मुझ अज्ञानी की रक्षा कीजिए।
O Bhagirathi, mother who gives happiness, the greatness of your waters is proclaimed in the Vedas. I do not know your greatness; O compassionate one, protect me in my ignorance.
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Shloka 3#
हरिपदपाद्यतरङ्गिणि गङ्गे
हिमविधुमुक्ताधवलतरङ्गे ।
दूरीकुरु मम दुष्कृतिभारं
कुरु कृपया भवसागरपारम् ॥haripadapādyataraṅgiṇi gaṅge
himavidhumuktādhavalataraṅge |
dūrīkuru mama duṣkṛtibhāraṃ
kuru kṛpayā bhavasāgarapāram ||हे हरि के चरणों के जल से बहने वाली गंगे, हिम, चन्द्रमा और मोती जैसी उज्ज्वल लहरों वाली — मेरे पापों का भार दूर कीजिए और कृपा करके मुझे भवसागर से पार कीजिए।
O Ganga, river that flows as the water that washed Hari's feet, with waves white as snow, the moon and pearls — remove the burden of my misdeeds, and in your mercy carry me across the ocean of worldly life.
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Shloka 4#
तव जलममलं येन निपीतं
परमपदं खलु तेन गृहीतम् ।
मातर्गङ्गे त्वयि यो भक्तः
किल तं द्रष्टुं न यमः शक्तः ॥tava jalamamalaṃ yena nipītaṃ
paramapadaṃ khalu tena gṛhītam |
mātargaṅge tvayi yo bhaktaḥ
kila taṃ draṣṭuṃ na yamaḥ śaktaḥ ||जिसने आपका निर्मल जल पी लिया, उसने निश्चय ही परमपद पा लिया। हे माँ गंगे, जो आपका भक्त है, यमराज उसकी ओर देख भी नहीं सकते।
Whoever has drunk your pure water has surely reached the supreme abode. O Mother Ganga, Yama cannot even look upon one who is devoted to you.
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Shloka 5#
पतितोद्धारिणि जाह्नवि गङ्गे
खण्डितगिरिवरमण्डितभङ्गे ।
भीष्मजननि हे मुनिवरकन्ये
पतितनिवारिणि त्रिभुवनधन्ये ॥patitoddhāriṇi jāhnavi gaṅge
khaṇḍitagirivaramaṇḍitabhaṅge |
bhīṣmajanani he munivarakanye
patitanivāriṇi tribhuvanadhanye ||हे पतितों का उद्धार करने वाली जाह्नवी गंगे, श्रेष्ठ पर्वतों को काटती हुई सुशोभित लहरों वाली, भीष्म की जननी, मुनिश्रेष्ठ जह्नु की कन्या, पतितों को बचाने वाली, तीनों लोकों में धन्य!
O Jahnavi, Ganga, who lifts up the fallen, whose waves are adorned as they break upon the great mountains; mother of Bhishma, daughter of the great sage (Jahnu), who saves the fallen, blessed in the three worlds!
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Shloka 6#
कल्पलतामिव फलदां लोके
प्रणमति यस्त्वां न पतति शोके ।
पारावारविहारिणि गङ्गे
विमुखयुवतिकृततरलापाङ्गे ॥kalpalatāmiva phaladāṃ loke
praṇamati yastvāṃ na patati śoke |
pārāvāravihāriṇi gaṅge
vimukhayuvatikṛtataralāpāṅge ||जो आपको — संसार में कल्पलता के समान फल देने वाली को — प्रणाम करता है, वह शोक में नहीं पड़ता। हे सागर में विहार करने वाली गंगे, मुँह फेरती युवती के समान चंचल कटाक्ष वाली!
Whoever bows to you, who grant fruit in this world like the wish-fulfilling creeper, does not fall into sorrow. O Ganga, who flows to play in the ocean, with glances as restless as a young woman turning away!
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Shloka 7#
तव चेन्मातः स्रोतःस्नातः
पुनरपि जठरे सोऽपि न जातः ।
नरकनिवारिणि जाह्नवि गङ्गे
कलुषविनाशिनि महिमोत्तुङ्गे ॥tava cenmātaḥ srotaḥsnātaḥ
punarapi jaṭhare so'pi na jātaḥ |
narakanivāriṇi jāhnavi gaṅge
kaluṣavināśini mahimottuṅge ||हे माता, जिसने आपकी धारा में स्नान कर लिया, वह फिर किसी गर्भ में जन्म नहीं लेता। हे नरक से बचाने वाली जाह्नवी गंगे, पापों का नाश करने वाली, महिमा में ऊँची!
O Mother, one who has bathed in your stream is not born again in a womb. O Jahnavi, Ganga, who saves from hell, destroyer of impurity, exalted in greatness!
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Shloka 8#
पुनरसदङ्गे पुण्यतरङ्गे
जय जय जाह्नवि करुणापाङ्गे ।
इन्द्रमुकुटमणिराजितचरणे
सुखदे शुभदे भृत्यशरण्ये ॥punarasadaṅge puṇyataraṅge
jaya jaya jāhnavi karuṇāpāṅge |
indramukuṭamaṇirājitacaraṇe
sukhade śubhade bhṛtyaśaraṇye ||हे अपवित्र अंगों को फिर से पवित्र करने वाली पुण्य तरंगों वाली, करुणामय कटाक्ष वाली जाह्नवी, आपकी जय हो, जय हो! इन्द्र के मुकुट की मणियों से सुशोभित चरणों वाली, सुख और शुभ देने वाली, सेवकों की शरण!
You whose holy waves purify the impure, victory, victory to you, Jahnavi of compassionate glance! Whose feet shine with the jewels of Indra's crown, giver of happiness and good, refuge of your servants!
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Shloka 9#
रोगं शोकं तापं पापं
हर मे भगवति कुमतिकलापम् ।
त्रिभुवनसारे वसुधाहारे
त्वमसि गतिर्मम खलु संसारे ॥rogaṃ śokaṃ tāpaṃ pāpaṃ
hara me bhagavati kumatikalāpam |
tribhuvanasāre vasudhāhāre
tvamasi gatirmama khalu saṃsāre ||हे भगवती, मेरे रोग, शोक, ताप, पाप और कुबुद्धि के समूह को हर लीजिए। हे तीनों लोकों की सार, पृथ्वी के हार, इस संसार में आप ही मेरी गति हैं।
O blessed one, take away my illness, grief, distress and sin, and all my wrong thinking. Essence of the three worlds, necklace of the earth — you alone are my refuge in this world.
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Shloka 10#
अलकानन्दे परमानन्दे
कुरु करुणामयि कातरवन्द्ये ।
तव तटनिकटे यस्य निवासः
खलु वैकुण्ठे तस्य निवासः ॥alakānande paramānande
kuru karuṇāmayi kātaravandye |
tava taṭanikaṭe yasya nivāsaḥ
khalu vaikuṇṭhe tasya nivāsaḥ ||हे अलकनन्दा, परमानन्दस्वरूपा, करुणामयी, दुखियों द्वारा वन्दित, कृपा कीजिए। जिसका निवास आपके तट के पास है, उसका निवास निश्चय ही वैकुण्ठ में है।
O Alakananda, supreme bliss, compassionate one, revered by the distressed, be merciful. Whoever lives near your banks surely lives in Vaikuntha.
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Shloka 11#
वरमिह नीरे कमठो मीनः
किं वा तीरे शरटः क्षीणः ।
अथवा श्वपचो मलिनो दीन-
स्तव न हि दूरे नृपतिकुलीनः ॥varamiha nīre kamaṭho mīnaḥ
kiṃ vā tīre śaraṭaḥ kṣīṇaḥ |
athavā śvapaco malino dīna-
stava na hi dūre nṛpatikulīnaḥ ||आपके जल में कछुआ या मछली होना, या तट पर दुबली छिपकली होना, या आपके पास रहने वाला मलिन, दीन चाण्डाल होना भी श्रेष्ठ है — पर आपसे दूर रहने वाला कुलीन राजा होना नहीं।
Better to be a turtle or a fish in your water, or a feeble lizard on your bank, or even a poor and humble outcaste near you — than a king of noble birth far from you.
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Phalashruti#
भो भुवनेश्वरि पुण्ये धन्ये
देवि द्रवमयि मुनिवरकन्ये ।
गङ्गास्तवमिममलममलं नित्यं
पठति नरो यः स जयति सत्यम् ॥bho bhuvaneśvari puṇye dhanye
devi dravamayi munivarakanye |
gaṅgāstavamimamalamamalaṃ nityaṃ
paṭhati naro yaḥ sa jayati satyam ||हे भुवनेश्वरी, पवित्र और धन्य, जलरूपिणी देवी, मुनिश्रेष्ठ की कन्या — जो मनुष्य इस निर्मल गंगा-स्तव का नित्य पाठ करता है, वह सचमुच विजयी होता है।
O sovereign of the world, holy and blessed, goddess in the form of flowing water, daughter of the great sage — whoever recites this pure hymn to Ganga every day is truly victorious.
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Phalashruti#
येषां हृदये गङ्गाभक्ति-
स्तेषां भवति सदा सुखमुक्तिः ।
मधुराकान्तापज्झटिकाभिः
परमानन्दकलितललिताभिः ॥yeṣāṃ hṛdaye gaṅgābhakti-
steṣāṃ bhavati sadā sukhamuktiḥ |
madhurākāntāpajjhaṭikābhiḥ
paramānandakalitalalitābhiḥ ||जिनके हृदय में गंगा की भक्ति है, उन्हें सदा सुख और मुक्ति मिलती है — (इस स्तोत्र की) मधुर, मनोहर, परमानन्द से भरी, ललित पज्झटिका छन्द वाली पंक्तियों द्वारा।
Those who have devotion to Ganga in their hearts always gain happiness and liberation — (through this hymn) in sweet, lovely pajjhatika verses, graceful and full of supreme joy.
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Phalashruti#
गङ्गास्तोत्रमिदं भवसारं
वाञ्छितफलदं विमलं सारम् ।
शङ्करसेवकशङ्कररचितं
पठति सुखी स्तव इति च समाप्तः ॥gaṅgāstotramidaṃ bhavasāraṃ
vāñchitaphaladaṃ vimalaṃ sāram |
śaṅkarasevakaśaṅkararacitaṃ
paṭhati sukhī stava iti ca samāptaḥ ||यह गंगा-स्तोत्र संसार का सार है, मनोवांछित फल देने वाला, निर्मल और सारभूत है। शंकर (शिव) के सेवक शंकर द्वारा रचित इसका पाठ करने वाला सुखी होता है। इस प्रकार स्तोत्र समाप्त हुआ।
This Ganga Stotram is the essence of worldly life, pure and essential, granting what one desires. Composed by Shankara, the servant of Shankara (Shiva) — whoever recites it is happy. Thus the hymn ends.
Completed your Ganga Stotram path?
Count it below, light a diya, or share it with family.
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What Ganga Stotram means
In Hindu tradition Ganga is both a river and a goddess. She flows from the feet of Vishnu, is caught in Shiva's matted hair, and was brought down to earth by King Bhagiratha to free his ancestors. The stotram calls her by these names — Bhagirathi, Jahnavi, Alakananda, mother of Bhishma — and asks her to wash away sin and carry the devotee across the ocean of rebirth.
Verse 11 is famous: better to be a fish or a lizard near Ganga than a king far from her.
How to chant Ganga Stotram
- WhenGanga Dussehra, Ganga Saptami, Kartik Purnima, before a holy dip, evening Ganga aarti
- TimeAbout 4 minutes
- Often withOm Jai Gange Mata, Gange cha Yamune snan mantra
- Face the river or a vessel of water. At home, a lota of water with a few drops of Ganga jal is enough.
- Recite or sing. The pajjhatika metre has an easy, song-like rhythm.
- Offer a lamp or flowers. Float a diya on the river, or offer flowers to the water.
Please keep rivers clean — offer flowers and lamps made of natural materials, and take home anything plastic.
Where Ganga Stotram comes from
The stotram is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya; its last verse names "Shankara, the servant of Shankara". It is sung daily at the ghats of Varanasi and Haridwar.
About Ganga Stotram
Devi sureshvari bhagavati gange — Shankaracharya's song to the river goddess who flows from Vishnu's feet through Shiva's hair. Sung on the ghats at Ganga aarti, on Ganga Dussehra and at every holy dip. It was composed by Adi Shankaracharya, 8th century CE. The text is in Sanskrit.
Sanskrit text: Sanskrit Wikisource. Transliteration and meanings by The Hindu Book.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote Ganga Stotram?
Ganga Stotram was composed by Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE).
Where can I read Ganga Stotram lyrics in English?
This page has the full Ganga Stotram in Sanskrit (Devanagari) with the English transliteration under every verse, and the meaning of each verse in Hindi and English. Use the Chant and Meaning buttons above the verses to show only what you need.
गङ्गास्तोत्रम् का अर्थ क्या है?
इस पेज पर गङ्गास्तोत्रम् के हर पद के नीचे उसका सरल हिंदी अर्थ और अंग्रेज़ी अर्थ दिया गया है।
How many verses are there in Ganga Stotram?
Ganga Stotram has 14 verses as given on this page.
In which language is Ganga Stotram?
Ganga Stotram is in Sanskrit. This page gives the original text in Devanagari with Roman transliteration and meaning in Hindi and English.
How long does it take to recite Ganga Stotram?
A full recitation takes about 4 min.
To whom is Ganga Stotram dedicated?
Ganga Stotram is dedicated to Ganga. Devi sureshvari bhagavati gange — Shankaracharya's song to the river goddess who flows from Vishnu's feet through Shiva's hair. Sung on the ghats at Ganga aarti, on Ganga Dussehra and at every holy dip.
Why is Ganga called Jahnavi?
The sage Jahnu swallowed the Ganga when she flooded his hermitage and released her from his ear; she became known as his daughter, Jahnavi.
Why is Ganga called the mother of Bhishma?
In the Mahabharata, Ganga married King Shantanu, and Bhishma was their son.
