Subramanya Bhujangam — Word-by-Word Meaning
सुब्रह्मण्य भुजङ्गम्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
सदा बालरूपाऽपि विघ्नाद्रिहन्त्री
महादन्तिवक्त्राऽपि पञ्चास्यमान्या ।
विधीन्द्रादिमृग्या गणेशाभिधा मे
विधत्तां श्रियं काऽपि कल्याणमूर्तिः ॥ १॥
sadā bālarūpā'pi vighnādrihantrī
mahādantivaktrā'pi pañcāsyamānyā |
vidhīndrādimṛgyā gaṇeśābhidhā me
vidhattāṃ śriyaṃ kā'pi kalyāṇamūrtiḥ || 1||
Though ever child-like in form, He shatters the mountains of obstacles; though elephant-faced, He is honoured even by His five-faced father Shiva; sought by Brahma, Indra and all the gods — may that Ganesha of auspicious form and boundless glory grant me prosperity. (The opening invocation of Ganesha.)
न जानामि शब्दं न जानामि चार्थं
न जानामि पद्यं न जानामि गद्यम् ।
चिदेका षडास्या हृदि द्योतते मे
मुखान्निःसरन्ते गिरश्चापि चित्रम् ॥ २॥
na jānāmi śabdaṃ na jānāmi cārthaṃ
na jānāmi padyaṃ na jānāmi gadyam |
cidekā ṣaḍāsyā hṛdi dyotate me
mukhānniḥsarante giraścāpi citram || 2||
I know not the science of sound, nor the meaning of texts, nor verse, nor prose; yet a single effulgence of six faces shines within my heart, and from my mouth, wondrously, words pour forth. (Shankaracharya’s humility before Lord Subrahmanya.)
मयूराधिरूढं महावाक्यगूढं
मनोहारिदेहं महच्चित्तगेहम् ।
महीदेवदेवं महावेदभावं
महादेवबालं भजे लोकपालम् ॥ ३॥
mayūrādhirūḍhaṃ mahāvākyagūḍhaṃ
manohāridehaṃ mahaccittageham |
mahīdevadevaṃ mahāvedabhāvaṃ
mahādevabālaṃ bhaje lokapālam || 3||
I worship the Protector of the worlds — mounted upon the peacock, hidden within the great Vedic sayings (maha-vakya), of enchanting form, enshrined in the hearts of the great; God of the gods, the very essence of the great Vedas, the son of Mahadeva (Shiva).
भुजङ्गाख्यवृत्तेन कॢप्तं स्तवं यः
पठेद्भक्तियुक्तो गुहं सम्प्रणम्य ।
सुपुत्रान्कलत्रं धनं दीर्घमायु-
र्लभेत्स्कन्दसायुज्यमन्ते नरः सः ॥ ३३॥
bhujaṅgākhyavṛttena kḷptaṃ stavaṃ yaḥ
paṭhedbhaktiyukto guhaṃ sampraṇamya |
suputrānkalatraṃ dhanaṃ dīrghamāyu-
rlabhetskandasāyujyamante naraḥ saḥ || 33||
Whoever, filled with devotion, recites this hymn set in the Bhujanga metre and bows low to Guha (Murugan), obtains noble sons, a good spouse, wealth and long life — and at the last, union with Skanda himself (Skanda-sayujya). (The closing phala-shruti.)
Complete Translation
The Subramanya Bhujangam is a celebrated hymn to Lord Subrahmanya (Murugan, Kartikeya, the six-faced Shanmukha) composed by Adi Shankaracharya at Tiruchendur. Tradition holds that, meditating upon the Lord, Shankara became aware of a self-luminous six-faced light shining in his heart, and the verses poured from his lips extempore in the undulating Bhujanga ("serpent") metre — said to have been inspired by the sight of Adishesha himself worshipping the Lord. It opens with an invocation of Ganesha and a famous verse of the Acharya’s own humility ("I know not sound, nor sense, nor verse, nor prose…"), then pours forth praise of Murugan’s beauty, His vel (spear) and peacock, His compassion and His feet — closing as a plea for refuge. It is among the most beloved Murugan hymns of South India and is held to grant health, protection and the removal of fear and disease.
Origin & History
Source: Composed by Adi Shankaracharya at Tiruchendur
Author: Adi Shankaracharya
Period: Classical (Shankaracharya, c. 8th century, by tradition)
By tradition Adi Shankaracharya composed the Subramanya Bhujangam at the seashore shrine of Tiruchendur. Meditating upon Lord Subrahmanya, he became aware of a self-luminous six-faced light shining within his heart, and the verses flowed from his lips extempore in the Bhujanga metre — it is said he then beheld Adishesha himself worshipping the Lord, and adopted that serpentine metre. The hymn opens, remarkably, with the great Acharya’s own confession of humility before the Lord.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Subramanya Bhujangam?▼
It is a hymn of 33 verses to Lord Subrahmanya (Murugan / Kartikeya, the six-faced Shanmukha), composed by Adi Shankaracharya at Tiruchendur in the undulating Bhujanga ("serpent") metre. It praises the Lord’s form, His vel and peacock, and His grace, and ends as a plea for refuge.
Who wrote it, and why is it called "Bhujangam"?▼
It was composed by Adi Shankaracharya. "Bhujanga" means serpent; the hymn is in the Bhujanga-prayata metre, whose flowing rhythm resembles a serpent’s movement — said to have been inspired by the sight of Adishesha worshipping the Lord.
What are the benefits of reciting it?▼
It is recited for the grace and protection of Lord Murugan — for courage, health, and the removal of fear, disease and affliction. It is held especially powerful on Skanda Shashti, on Tuesdays and on Krittika nakshatra days.
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