Original text
मुदा करात्तमोदकं सदा विमुक्तिसाधकं कलाधरावतंसकं विलासिलोकरक्षकम् । अनायकैकनायकं विनाशितेभदैत्यकं नताशुभाशुनाशकं नमामि तं विनायकम् ॥ १ ॥ नतेतरातिभीकरं नवोदितार्कभास्वरं नमत्सुरारिनिर्जरं नताधिकापदुद्धरम् । सुरेश्वरं निधीश्वरं गजेश्वरं गणेश्वरं महेश्वरं तमाश्रये परात्परं निरन्तरम् ॥ २ ॥ समस्तलोकशङ्करं निरस्तदैत्यकुञ्जरं दरेतरोदरं वरं वरेभवक्त्रमक्षरम् । कृपाकरं क्षमाकरं मुदाकरं यशस्करं मनस्करं नमस्कृतां नमस्करोमि भास्वरम् ॥ ३ ॥ अकिञ्चनार्तिमार्जनं चिरन्तनोक्तिभाजनं पुरारिपूर्वनन्दनं सुरारिगर्वचर्वणम् । प्रपञ्चनाशभीषणं धनञ्जयादिभूषणं कपोलदानवारणं भजे पुराणवारणम् ॥ ४ ॥ नितान्तकान्तदन्तकान्तिमन्तकान्तकात्मजं अचिन्त्यरूपमन्तहीनमन्तरायकृन्तनम् । हृदन्तरे निरन्तरं वसन्तमेव योगिनां तमेकदन्तमेव तं विचिन्तयामि सन्ततम् ॥ ५ ॥ महागणेशपञ्चरत्नमादरेण योऽन्वहं प्रजल्पति प्रभातके हृदि स्मरन्गणेश्वरम् । अरोगतामदोषतां सुसाहितीं सुपुत्रतां समाहितायुरष्टभूतिमभ्युपैति सोऽचिरात् ॥ ६ ॥ ॥ इति श्रीमच्छङ्कराचार्यविरचितं श्रीमहागणेशपञ्चरत्नं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration
Muda karattamodakam sada vimuktisadhakam Kaladharavatansakam vilasilokarakshakam Anayakaikanayakam vinashitebhadaityakam Natashubhashunashakam namami tam vinayakam ||1|| Natetaratibhikaram navoditarkabhasvaram Namatsurarinirjaram natadhikapaduddharam Sureshvaram nidhishvaram gajeshvaram ganeshvaram Maheshvaram tamashraye paratparam nirantaram ||2|| Samastalokashankaram nirastadaityakunjaram Daretarodaram varam varebhavaktramaksharam Kripakaram kshamakaram mudakaram yashaskaram Manaskaram namaskritam namaskaromi bhasvaram ||3|| Akinchanartimarjanam chirantanoktibhajanam Puraripurvanandanam surarigarvacharvanam Prapanchanashabhishanam dhananjayadibhushanam Kapoladanavaranam bhaje puranavaranam ||4|| Nitantakantadantakantimantakantakatmajam Achintyarupamantahinamantarayakrintanam Hridantare nirantaram vasantameva yoginam Tamekadantameva tam vichintayami santatam ||5|| Mahaganeshapancharatnamadarena yo'nvaham Prajalpati prabhatake hridi smaranganeshvaram Arogatamadoshatam susahitim suputratam Samahitayurashtabhutimabhyupaiti so'chirat ||6|| Iti shrimachchhankaracharyavirachitam shrimahaganeshapancharatnam sampurnam ||
Five jewels
Pancharatnam means "five jewels": five verses in praise of Ganesh, plus a sixth that gives the fruit of reciting them. Tradition attributes it to Adi Shankaracharya. It is in a quick, bouncing metre — pancha-chamara, every line alternating short and long syllables — which makes it one of the first stotras children learn, and one of the most enjoyable to chant in a group.
What the verses say
- "Mudakaratta modakam": I bow to Vinayaka, who joyfully holds a modaka in his hand, who always grants liberation, who wears the crescent moon as an ornament, protector of the world; the one leader of those who have no leader, destroyer of the elephant-demon, who quickly removes misfortune from those who bow.
- Lord of everything: terrifying to those who do not bow, shining like the newly risen sun, honoured by gods and demons alike, rescuer from great calamity — Sureshvara, Nidhishvara, Gajeshvara, Ganeshvara, Maheshvara. "I take refuge in him, the highest of the high, always."
- Bringer of good: the one who does good to all worlds, who destroyed the demon-elephant, big-bellied, the best, elephant-faced, imperishable; compassionate, forgiving, joyful, glorious — "to that radiant one I bow".
- Ancient: wiper of the sorrow of the poor, home of ancient sayings, Shiva's first son, who crushes the pride of the gods' enemies, fearsome at the dissolution of the world, wearing Dhananjaya and the serpents as ornaments — "I worship the ancient elephant".
- Ekadanta: son of Shiva, the destroyer of Antaka (Death), whose tusk shines with exceeding loveliness; whose form is inconceivable and endless, who cuts through every obstacle, and who dwells always in the hearts of yogis — "on that one-tusked one alone I meditate, always".
The sixth verse is the phalashruti: whoever recites this Maha-Ganesha Pancharatnam with respect every morning, remembering Ganesh in the heart, soon gains health, freedom from faults, good learning, good children, a long life and the eight kinds of prosperity.
When to recite it
- Every morning — the phalashruti says prabhatake, at dawn.
- Ganesh Chaturthi and the ten days that follow; monthly Sankashti Chaturthi; Wednesdays.
- Before beginning study, a journey or any new undertaking.
Offer durva grass, red flowers and modakas, and recite it once or three times. It pairs naturally with Vakratunda Mahakaya and the Sankat Nashan Ganesh Stotra.
Frequently asked questions
Who composed the Ganesha Pancharatnam?
Adi Shankaracharya, according to tradition.
Why is it called "Pancharatnam"?
Because its five verses are offered as "five jewels" to Ganesh; a sixth verse gives the phalashruti.
What are the benefits mentioned in the stotra?
Health, freedom from faults, good learning, good children, long life and the eight forms of prosperity, for those who recite it each morning.
Is it good for children to learn?
Yes. Its short, rhythmic lines make it one of the first stotras taught to children.
When should it be recited?
Each morning, and especially on Ganesh Chaturthi, Sankashti Chaturthi and Wednesdays.
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