Annapurna Stotram: Meaning
Annapurna, "full of food", is the form of Parvati who nourishes all beings. Her temple in Varanasi (Kashi) stands near Kashi Vishvanath, and she is often shown giving alms of food to Shiva, who holds out a begging bowl; in one well-known story, when Shiva called the material world an illusion, Parvati withdrew and the world starved until she reappeared in Kashi feeding everyone. This stotra, which its editions attribute to Adi Shankaracharya, praises her in ten long verses in the shardula-vikridita metre, each ending with the same plea, "bhiksham dehi kripavalambanakari mata Annapurneshvari": "Give me alms, Mother Annapurneshvari, you who give the support of your grace." The notes explain the epithets and the closing verses.
नित्यानन्दकरी वराभयकरी सौन्दर्यरत्नाकरी निर्धूताखिलघोरपावनकरी प्रत्यक्षमाहेश्वरी । प्रालेयाचलवंशपावनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥
nityānandakarī varābhayakarī saundaryaratnākarī nirdhūtākhilaghorapāvanakarī pratyakṣamāheśvarī । prāleyācalavaṃśapāvanakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī bhikṣāṃ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī ॥
वराभयकरी varābhayakarī whose hands give boons and fearlessness प्रालेयाचलवंश prāleyācalavaṃśa the line of the snowy mountain (Himalaya) भिक्षां देहि bhikṣāṃ dehi give alms नित्य आनंद देने वाली, वर और अभय देने वाली, सौंदर्य रूपी रत्नों की सागर, सब भयंकर पापों को धोकर पवित्र करने वाली, साक्षात् महेश्वरी, हिमालय के वंश को पवित्र करने वाली, काशीपुरी की अधीश्वरी: हे कृपा का सहारा देने वाली माता अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी, मुझे भिक्षा दीजिए।
You who give eternal bliss, who grant boons and freedom from fear, an ocean of the jewels of beauty, who wash away every dreadful sin and purify, the great goddess made visible, who sanctify the line of the snowy Himalaya, ruler of the city of Kashi: give me alms, Mother Annapurna, who gives the support of your grace.
She gives eternal joy and the gestures of boon and fearlessness; she is an ocean of beauty, purifies the terrible sins, is Maheshvari made visible, and sanctifies the Himalaya's line. The refrain names her queen of Kashi and asks for alms.
नानारत्नविचित्रभूषणकरी हेमाम्बराडम्बरी मुक्ताहारविलम्बमान-विलसद्वक्षोजकुम्भान्तरी । काश्मीरागरुवासिताङ्गरुचिरे काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥
nānāratnavicitrabhūṣaṇakarī hemāmbarāḍambarī muktāhāravilambamāna-vilasadvakṣojakumbhāntarī । kāśmīrāgaruvāsitāṅgarucire kāśīpurādhīśvarī bhikṣāṃ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī ॥
हेमाम्बराडम्बरी hemāmbarāḍambarī splendid in golden garments काश्मीर kāśmīra saffron अनेक प्रकार के रत्नों से जड़े आभूषण पहनने वाली, सुनहरे वस्त्रों से सुशोभित, जिनके वक्ष पर मोतियों के हार लटकते और चमकते हैं, केसर और अगर से सुगंधित अंगों वाली, काशीपुरी की अधीश्वरी: हे कृपा का सहारा देने वाली माता अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी, मुझे भिक्षा दीजिए।
You who wear ornaments set with many kinds of jewels, splendid in golden garments, with strings of pearls hanging and shining over your breast, your body fragrant with saffron and aloe-wood, ruler of the city of Kashi: Give me alms, Mother Annapurna, who gives the support of your grace.
Her ornaments of many jewels, her garment of gold, the pearl necklace on her breast, her body fragrant with saffron and aguru.
योगानन्दकरी रिपुक्षयकरी धर्मार्थनिष्ठाकरी चन्द्रार्कानलभासमानलहरी त्रैलोक्यरक्षाकरी । सर्वैश्वर्यसमस्तवाञ्छितकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥
yogānandakarī ripukṣayakarī dharmārthaniṣṭhākarī candrārkānalabhāsamānalaharī trailokyarakṣākarī । sarvaiśvaryasamastavāñchitakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī bhikṣāṃ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī ॥
रिपुक्षयकरी ripukṣayakarī destroyer of enemies योग का आनंद देने वाली, शत्रुओं का नाश करने वाली, धर्म और अर्थ में निष्ठा देने वाली, चंद्रमा, सूर्य और अग्नि जैसी चमकती लहरों वाली, तीनों लोकों की रक्षा करने वाली, सब ऐश्वर्य और सब मनोकामनाएँ देने वाली, काशीपुरी की अधीश्वरी: हे कृपा का सहारा देने वाली माता अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी, मुझे भिक्षा दीजिए।
You who give the bliss of yoga, destroy enemies and make us steadfast in dharma and in wealth, whose waves shine like the moon, sun and fire, who protect the three worlds, who grant all prosperity and every wish, ruler of the city of Kashi: Give me alms, Mother Annapurna, who gives the support of your grace.
She gives the bliss of yoga, destroys enemies, makes people steadfast in dharma and wealth, shines with the light of moon, sun and fire, protects the three worlds and grants every wish.
कैलासाचलकन्दरालयकरी गौरी उमा शङ्करी कौमारी निगमार्थगोचरकरी ओङ्कारबीजाक्षरी । मोक्षद्वारकपाटपाटनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥
kailāsācalakandarālayakarī gaurī umā śaṅkarī kaumārī nigamārthagocarakarī oṅkārabījākṣarī । mokṣadvārakapāṭapāṭanakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī bhikṣāṃ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī ॥
मोक्षद्वारकपाटपाटनकरी mokṣadvārakapāṭapāṭanakarī who opens the doors of liberation कैलास पर्वत की गुफाओं में निवास करने वाली, गौरी, उमा, शंकरी, कौमारी, वेदों का अर्थ प्रकट करने वाली, ओंकार जिनका बीजाक्षर है, मोक्ष के द्वार के किवाड़ खोलने वाली, काशीपुरी की अधीश्वरी: हे कृपा का सहारा देने वाली माता अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी, मुझे भिक्षा दीजिए।
You who dwell in the caves of Mount Kailasa, Gauri, Uma, Shankari, Kaumari, who make the meaning of the Vedas known, whose seed-syllable is Om, who break open the doors of the gate of liberation, ruler of the city of Kashi: Give me alms, Mother Annapurna, who gives the support of your grace.
Dwelling in the caves of Kailasa, she is Gauri, Uma, Shankari and Kaumari; she reveals the meaning of the Vedas, is the seed-syllable Om, and opens the doors of liberation.
दृश्यादृश्यविभूतिवाहनकरी ब्रह्माण्डभाण्डोदरी लीलानाटकसूत्रभेदनकरी विज्ञानदीपाङ्कुरी । श्रीविश्वेशमनःप्रसादनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥
dṛśyādṛśyavibhūtivāhanakarī brahmāṇḍabhāṇḍodarī līlānāṭakasūtrabhedanakarī vijñānadīpāṅkurī । śrīviśveśamanaḥprasādanakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī bhikṣāṃ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī ॥
ब्रह्माण्डभाण्डोदरी brahmāṇḍabhāṇḍodarī whose belly is the vessel of the universe विज्ञानदीपाङ्कुरी vijñānadīpāṅkurī who kindles the lamp of knowledge दृश्य और अदृश्य विभूतियों को धारण करने वाली, ब्रह्मांड को अपने उदर में रखने वाली, संसार रूपी लीला-नाटक के सूत्र को काटने वाली, ज्ञान के दीपक की लौ, श्री विश्वेश्वर के मन को प्रसन्न करने वाली, काशीपुरी की अधीश्वरी: हे कृपा का सहारा देने वाली माता अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी, मुझे भिक्षा दीजिए।
You who carry the seen and unseen glories, who hold the universe in your womb, who cut the thread of the play of the world, the sprouting flame of the lamp of wisdom, who gladden the heart of Lord Vishveshvara, ruler of the city of Kashi: Give me alms, Mother Annapurna, who gives the support of your grace.
She carries the seen and unseen powers, holds the universe in her belly like a pot, cuts the thread of this play-drama of the world, kindles the lamp of knowledge, and pleases the mind of Vishvesha (Shiva of Kashi).
उर्वीसर्वजनेश्वरी भगवती मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी वेणीनीलसमानकुन्तलहरी नित्यान्नदानेश्वरी । सर्वानन्दकरी सदा शुभकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥
urvīsarvajaneśvarī bhagavatī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī veṇīnīlasamānakuntalaharī nityānnadāneśvarī । sarvānandakarī sadā śubhakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī bhikṣāṃ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī ॥
नित्यान्नदानेश्वरी nityānnadāneśvarī goddess of the daily gift of food पृथ्वी के सब लोगों की ईश्वरी, भगवती, माता अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी, वेणी जैसे नीले लहराते केशों वाली, नित्य अन्नदान करने वाली, सबको आनंद देने वाली, सदा कल्याण करने वाली, काशीपुरी की अधीश्वरी: हे कृपा का सहारा देने वाली माता अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी, मुझे भिक्षा दीजिए।
Goddess of all the people of the earth, Bhagavati, Mother Annapurna, with dark braided hair like flowing waves, ever the giver of food, who gives all joy and always brings good, ruler of the city of Kashi: Give me alms, Mother Annapurna, who gives the support of your grace.
Queen of all the people of the earth, with hair dark as a braid of blue, she is the goddess of the daily gift of food.
आदिक्षान्तसमस्तवर्णनकरी शम्भोस्त्रिभावाकरी काश्मीरात्रिजलेश्वरी त्रिलहरी नित्याङ्कुरा शर्वरी । कामाकाङ्क्षकरी जनोदयकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥
ādikṣāntasamastavarṇanakarī śambhostribhāvākarī kāśmīrātrijaleśvarī trilaharī nityāṅkurā śarvarī । kāmākāṅkṣakarī janodayakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī bhikṣāṃ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī ॥
'अ' से 'क्ष' तक सभी वर्णों को प्रकट करने वाली, शंभु के तीन भावों की खान, काश्मीर और तीन जलों की ईश्वरी, तीन लहरों वाली, नित्य अंकुरित होने वाली, शर्वरी, कामनाएँ पूरी करने वाली, लोगों का उदय करने वाली, काशीपुरी की अधीश्वरी: हे कृपा का सहारा देने वाली माता अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी, मुझे भिक्षा दीजिए।
You who reveal all the letters from A to Ksha, source of Shambhu's three aspects, goddess of Kashmir and of the three waters, of three waves, the ever-sprouting, the night, who fulfil desires and raise up the people, ruler of the city of Kashi: Give me alms, Mother Annapurna, who gives the support of your grace.
देवी सर्वविचित्ररत्नरचिता दाक्षायणी सुन्दरी वामं स्वादुपयोधरप्रियकरी सौभाग्यमाहेश्वरी । भक्ताभीष्टकरी सदा शुभकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥
devī sarvavicitraratnaracitā dākṣāyaṇī sundarī vāmaṃ svādupayodharapriyakarī saubhāgyamāheśvarī । bhaktābhīṣṭakarī sadā śubhakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī bhikṣāṃ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī ॥
सब प्रकार के अद्भुत रत्नों से सजी देवी, दाक्षायणी, सुंदरी, सौभाग्य देने वाली माहेश्वरी, भक्तों की मनोकामना पूरी करने वाली, सदा कल्याण करने वाली, काशीपुरी की अधीश्वरी: हे कृपा का सहारा देने वाली माता अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी, मुझे भिक्षा दीजिए।
Goddess adorned with every wonderful jewel, Dakshayani, the beautiful, who bestows the good fortune of Maheshvari, who fulfil your devotees' wishes and always bring good, ruler of the city of Kashi: Give me alms, Mother Annapurna, who gives the support of your grace.
चन्द्रार्कानलकोटिकोटिसदृशा चन्द्रांशुबिम्बाधरी चन्द्रार्काग्निसमानकुन्तलधरी चन्द्रार्कवर्णेश्वरी । मालापुस्तकपाशसाङ्कुशधरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥
candrārkānalakoṭikoṭisadṛśā candrāṃśubimbādharī candrārkāgnisamānakuntaladharī candrārkavarṇeśvarī । mālāpustakapāśasāṅkuśadharī kāśīpurādhīśvarī bhikṣāṃ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī ॥
मालापुस्तकपाशसाङ्कुशधरी mālāpustakapāśasāṅkuśadharī holding rosary, book, noose and goad करोड़ों चंद्रमा, सूर्य और अग्नि के समान तेज वाली, चंद्र-किरणों के बिंब जैसे होंठों वाली, चंद्र और सूर्य जैसे वर्ण वाली, माला, पुस्तक, पाश और अंकुश धारण करने वाली, काशीपुरी की अधीश्वरी: हे कृपा का सहारा देने वाली माता अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी, मुझे भिक्षा दीजिए।
You who shine like millions of moons, suns and fires, with lips red like the orb of the moon's rays, the colour of moon and sun, who hold the rosary, the book, the noose and the goad, ruler of the city of Kashi: Give me alms, Mother Annapurna, who gives the support of your grace.
Bright as millions of moons, suns and fires, she holds the rosary, book, noose and goad.
क्षत्रत्राणकरी महाऽभयकरी माता कृपासागरी साक्षान्मोक्षकरी सदा शिवकरी विश्वेश्वरश्रीधरी । दक्षाक्रन्दकरी निरामयकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥
kṣatratrāṇakarī mahā'bhayakarī mātā kṛpāsāgarī sākṣānmokṣakarī sadā śivakarī viśveśvaraśrīdharī । dakṣākrandakarī nirāmayakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī bhikṣāṃ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī ॥
दक्षाक्रन्दकरी dakṣākrandakarī who made Daksha cry out क्षत्रियों की रक्षा करने वाली, महान अभय देने वाली, कृपा की सागर माता, साक्षात् मोक्ष देने वाली, सदा कल्याण करने वाली, विश्वेश्वर की श्री, दक्ष को रुलाने वाली, सब रोगों से मुक्त करने वाली, काशीपुरी की अधीश्वरी: हे कृपा का सहारा देने वाली माता अन्नपूर्णेश्वरी, मुझे भिक्षा दीजिए।
You who protect the warriors and grant great fearlessness, the Mother, an ocean of compassion, who give liberation directly, who always bring good, the glory of Vishveshvara, who made Daksha cry out, who free from all illness, ruler of the city of Kashi: Give me alms, Mother Annapurna, who gives the support of your grace.
She protects the warrior, grants great fearlessness, is an ocean of mercy and gives liberation directly; she made Daksha weep (at his ruined sacrifice) and heals all disease.
अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शङ्करप्राणवल्लभे । ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहि च पार्वति ॥
annapūrṇe sadāpūrṇe śaṅkaraprāṇavallabhe । jñānavairāgyasiddhyarthaṃ bhikṣāṃ dehi ca pārvati ॥
ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थम् jñānavairāgyasiddhyartham for the attainment of knowledge and detachment हे अन्नपूर्णे, सदा पूर्ण रहने वाली, शंकर की प्राणप्रिया: हे पार्वती, ज्ञान और वैराग्य की सिद्धि के लिए मुझे भिक्षा दीजिए।
O Annapurna, ever full, beloved of Shankara as his very life: O Parvati, give me alms, so that I may attain knowledge and detachment.
The best-known verse, often recited before meals: "O Annapurna, ever full, beloved of Shankara's life, give me alms, Parvati, so that I may attain knowledge and detachment." The alms asked for are not food but wisdom.
माता च पार्वती देवी पिता देवो महेश्वरः । बान्धवाः शिवभक्ताश्च स्वदेशो भुवनत्रयम् ॥
mātā ca pārvatī devī pitā devo maheśvaraḥ । bāndhavāḥ śivabhaktāśca svadeśo bhuvanatrayam ॥
स्वदेशः svadeśaḥ one's own country भुवनत्रयम् bhuvanatrayam the three worlds मेरी माता देवी पार्वती हैं, पिता देव महेश्वर हैं, शिव के भक्त मेरे बंधु हैं, और तीनों लोक मेरा अपना देश है।
My mother is the goddess Parvati, my father is the god Maheshvara, my kin are the devotees of Shiva, and my homeland is the three worlds.
A closing verse of belonging: my mother is the goddess Parvati, my father the god Maheshvara, my kin the devotees of Shiva, and my homeland the three worlds.
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- Sources
- Annapurna (goddess), Wikipedia (2026)
- Adi Shankara, Wikipedia (2026)