Subramanya Ashtakam (Karavalamba Stotram)
सुब्रह्मण्याष्टकम् (करावलम्ब स्तोत्र)
Origin & Story
A traditional hymn to Lord Subrahmanya (Murugan) · Traditional
The Subrahmanya Ashtakam, or Karavalamba Stotram, is among the most beloved hymns to Lord Murugan (Kartikeya / Subrahmanya), the warrior-son of Shiva who rides the peacock and wields the Vel. In nine impassioned verses it adores the Lord — destroyer of the demons Taraka, Krauncha and Surapadma, commander of the gods, worshipped by Vishnu, Indra and the sages — and each verse ends with the same surrendering plea: 'Vallisha-natha mama dehi karavalambam', 'O Lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand'. Its closing verse promises that reciting it at dawn dissolves the sins of countless births. It is cherished above all during the six days of Skanda Shashti.
Complete Text with Meaning
हे स्वामिनाथ करुणाकर दीनबन्धो श्रीपार्वतीशमुखपङ्कजपद्मबन्धो । श्रीशादिदेवगणपूजितपादपद्म वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ १॥
he svāminātha karuṇākara dīnabandho śrīpārvatīśamukhapaṅkajapadmabandho | śrīśādidevagaṇapūjitapādapadma vallīśanātha mama dehi karāvalambam || 1||
Meaning:O Swaminatha, ocean of compassion, friend of the helpless; O kinsman who arose from the lotus-face of Shiva, the lord of Parvati; O you whose lotus-feet are worshipped by Vishnu and all the gods — O Lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand.
देवाधिदेवसुत देवगणाधिनाथ देवेन्द्रवन्द्यमृदुपङ्कजमञ्जुपाद । देवर्षिनारदमुनीन्द्रसुगीतकीर्ते वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ २॥
devādhidevasuta devagaṇādhinātha devendravandyamṛdupaṅkajamañjupāda | devarṣināradamunīndrasugītakīrte vallīśanātha mama dehi karāvalambam || 2||
Meaning:O son of the God of gods (Shiva), O supreme lord of the hosts of heaven; O you whose soft lotus-feet are saluted by Indra; O you whose glory is sweetly sung by the divine sage Narada and the foremost of munis — O Lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand.
नित्यान्नदाननिरताखिलरोगहारिन् भाग्यप्रदानपरिपूरितभक्तकाम । श्रुत्यागमप्रणववाच्यनिजस्वरूप वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ ३॥
nityānnadānaniratākhilarogahārin bhāgyapradānaparipūritabhaktakāma | śrutyāgamapraṇavavācyanijasvarūpa vallīśanātha mama dehi karāvalambam || 3||
Meaning:O you ever devoted to the giving of food, remover of every disease; O fulfiller of your devotees' desires by the gift of good fortune; O you whose very nature is declared by the Vedas, the Agamas and the Pranava (Om) — O Lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand.
क्रौञ्चासुरेन्द्रपरिखण्डन शक्तिशूलचापादिशस्त्रपरिमण्डितदिव्यपाणे । श्रीकुण्डलीशधरतुण्डशिखीन्द्रवाह वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ ४॥
krauñcāsurendraparikhaṇḍana śaktiśūlacāpādiśastraparimaṇḍitadivyapāṇe | śrīkuṇḍalīśadharatuṇḍaśikhīndravāha vallīśanātha mama dehi karāvalambam || 4||
Meaning:O destroyer of Krauncha, the lord of demons; O you whose divine hands are adorned with the Shakti-spear (Vel), trident, bow and other weapons; O you who ride the great peacock, king of birds, that holds the serpent in its beak — O Lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand.
देवाधिदेवरथमण्डलमध्यवेऽद्य देवेन्द्रपीठनकरं दृढचापहस्तम् । शूरं निहत्य सुरकोटिभिरीड्यमान वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ ५॥
devādhidevarathamaṇḍalamadhyave’dya devendrapīṭhanakaraṃ dṛḍhacāpahastam | śūraṃ nihatya surakoṭibhirīḍyamāna vallīśanātha mama dehi karāvalambam || 5||
Meaning:O you who, amid the array of the gods' chariots, firm bow in hand, slew the demon (Surapadma) and stand extolled by millions of gods — O Lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand.
हारादिरत्नमणियुक्तकिरीटहार केयूरकुण्डललसत्कवचाभिरामम् । हे वीर तारकजयामरवृन्दवन्द्य वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ ६॥
hārādiratnamaṇiyuktakirīṭahāra keyūrakuṇḍalalasatkavacābhirāmam | he vīra tārakajayāmaravṛndavandya vallīśanātha mama dehi karāvalambam || 6||
Meaning:O you resplendent in a crown set with rows of jewels and gems, beautiful with armlets, earrings and gleaming armour; O hero, conqueror of the demon Taraka, saluted by the whole host of the immortals — O Lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand.
पञ्चाक्षरादिमनुमन्त्रितगाङ्गतोयैः पञ्चामृतैः प्रमुदितेन्द्रमुखैर्मुनीन्द्रैः । पट्टाभिषिक्तहरियुक्त परासनाथ वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ ७॥
pañcākṣarādimanumantritagāṅgatoyaiḥ pañcāmṛtaiḥ pramuditendramukhairmunīndraiḥ | paṭṭābhiṣiktahariyukta parāsanātha vallīśanātha mama dehi karāvalambam || 7||
Meaning:O you who were consecrated with Ganga-water hallowed by the five-syllabled and other sacred mantras, and with the five nectars, amid the rejoicing of Indra and the foremost of sages; O supreme and anointed Lord — O Lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand.
श्रीकार्तिकेय करुणामृतपूर्णदृष्ट्या कामादिरोगकलुषीकृतदुष्टचित्तम् । सिक्त्वा तु मामव कलाधरकान्तिकान्त्या वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ ८॥
śrīkārtikeya karuṇāmṛtapūrṇadṛṣṭyā kāmādirogakaluṣīkṛtaduṣṭacittam | siktvā tu māmava kalādharakāntikāntyā vallīśanātha mama dehi karāvalambam || 8||
Meaning:O blessed Kartikeya, with your glance brimming with the nectar of compassion, and with the cooling loveliness of your moon-like radiance, sprinkle and protect me, whose mind is defiled by the diseases of lust and the rest — O Lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand.
सुब्रह्मण्याष्टकं पुण्यं ये पठन्ति द्विजोत्तमाः । ते सर्वे मुक्तिमायान्ति सुब्रह्मण्यप्रसादतः । सुब्रह्मण्याष्टकं इदं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत् । कोटिजन्मकृतं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति ॥
subrahmaṇyāṣṭakaṃ puṇyaṃ ye paṭhanti dvijottamāḥ | te sarve muktimāyānti subrahmaṇyaprasādataḥ | subrahmaṇyāṣṭakaṃ idaṃ prātarutthāya yaḥ paṭhet | koṭijanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati ||
Meaning:The noble twice-born who recite this holy Subrahmanya Ashtakam all attain liberation by the grace of Subrahmanya. Whoever recites it on rising at dawn — the sins of ten million births are destroyed that very instant.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Subramanya Ashtakam (Karavalamba Stotram)
Murugan's signature hymn — a nine-verse Subrahmanya Ashtakam, also called the Karavalamba Stotram, beginning 'He Swaminatha Karunakara Dheenabandho'
Each verse adores Lord Murugan (Kartikeya / Subrahmanya) and ends with the plea 'Vallisha-natha mama dehi karavalambam' — 'O Lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand'
Its closing verse promises that reciting it at dawn destroys the sins of ten million births and leads to liberation by Murugan's grace
Recited especially on Skanda Shashti, on Tuesdays and Krittika nakshatra days, and at Murugan temples such as Tiruchendur and Palani
Invoked for the removal of disease, the cooling of the 'fevers' of lust and ego, courage, and the protecting grace of the Lord's hand
A heartfelt prayer of surrender, calling on Murugan to take the devotee by the hand
How to Chant Subramanya Ashtakam (Karavalamba Stotram)
Recite at dawn after a bath, before an image of Lord Murugan with his Vel (spear). Chant all eight verses with the refrain 'Vallisha-natha mama dehi karavalambam', then the closing phala-shruti. It is a prayer of surrender — recite it slowly, dwelling on the plea for the Lord to take you by the hand, and it is especially honoured during the six days of Skanda Shashti.