Shani Stotram (Konontako Raudrayamo): Meaning
Shani, the planet Saturn, is the son of Surya (the Sun) and Chhaya, which is why this hymn's refrain calls him Ravi-nandana, "the Sun's son". As the slowest of the visible planets he is called Manda, "the slow one", and his difficult periods, such as the seven-and-a-half-year sade sati, are widely feared. The stotra's viniyoga names King Dasharatha as its seer and its colophon places it in the Brahmanda Purana. It praises Shani by his names, describes how all beings suffer when he is adversely placed, names the offerings that please him, and ends with the ten names praised by the sage Pippalada. The notes explain the names and the images.
अस्य श्रीशनैश्चरस्तोत्रस्य । दशरथ ऋषिः । शनैश्चरो देवता । त्रिष्टुप् छन्दः । शनैश्चरप्रीत्यर्थ जपे विनियोगः ॥
asya śrīśanaiścarastotrasya । daśaratha ṛṣiḥ । śanaiścaro devatā । triṣṭup chandaḥ । śanaiścaraprītyartha jape viniyogaḥ ॥
शनैश्चर śanaiścara the slow-moving one, Saturn त्रिष्टुप् triṣṭup a Vedic metre of eleven syllables per line इस शनैश्चर स्तोत्र के ऋषि दशरथ हैं, देवता शनैश्चर हैं, छंद त्रिष्टुप् है। शनैश्चर की प्रसन्नता के लिए इसका जप किया जाता है।
Of this Shanaishchara Stotra the seer is Dasharatha, the deity Shanaishchara, the metre Trishtubh. It is used in recitation for the pleasure of Shanaishchara.
The viniyoga: Dasharatha is the seer, Shanaishchara the deity, Trishtubh (eleven syllables to a line) the metre, and the hymn is recited to please Shanaishchara. The name means "the one who moves slowly".
कोणोऽन्तको रौद्रयमोऽथ बभ्रुः कृष्णः शनिः पिङ्गलमन्दसौरिः । नित्यं स्मृतो यो हरते च पीडां तस्मै नमः श्रीरविनन्दनाय ॥
koṇo'ntako raudrayamo'tha babhruḥ kṛṣṇaḥ śaniḥ piṅgalamandasauriḥ । nityaṃ smṛto yo harate ca pīḍāṃ tasmai namaḥ śrīravinandanāya ॥
अन्तक antaka the ender पिङ्गल piṅgala tawny सौरि sauri son of Surya रविनन्दनाय ravinandanāya to the son of Ravi (the Sun) कोण, अन्तक, रौद्र, यम, बभ्रु, कृष्ण, शनि, पिंगल, मन्द और सौरि: जो नित्य स्मरण किए जाने पर पीड़ा हर लेते हैं, उन सूर्यपुत्र को नमस्कार।
Kona, Antaka, Raudra, Yama, Babhru, Krishna, Shani, Pingala, Manda, Sauri: he who, remembered daily, takes away suffering, to him, the son of the Sun, salutation.
Ten names in one line: Kona (the angular one), Antaka (the ender), Raudra (the fierce), Yama (the restrainer, also the name of his half-brother, the god of death), Babhru (the brown one), Krishna (the dark one), Shani, Pingala (the tawny one), Manda (the slow one) and Sauri (son of Surya). The refrain "tasmai namah shri-ravi-nandanaya", "salutation to him, the son of the Sun", closes this and the next seven verses.
सुरासुराः किंपुरुषोरगेन्द्रा गन्धर्वविद्याधरपन्नगाश्च । पीड्यन्ति सर्वे विषमस्थितेन तस्मै नमः श्रीरविनन्दनाय ॥
surāsurāḥ kiṃpuruṣoragendrā gandharvavidyādharapannagāśca । pīḍyanti sarve viṣamasthitena tasmai namaḥ śrīravinandanāya ॥
विषमस्थितेन viṣamasthitena by him when adversely placed पीड्यन्ति pīḍyanti suffer, are afflicted देवता और असुर, किंपुरुष और बड़े नाग, गंधर्व, विद्याधर और पन्नग: जब वे विषम स्थान में होते हैं तो सब पीड़ित होते हैं; उन सूर्यपुत्र को नमस्कार।
Gods and demons, kimpurushas and great serpents, gandharvas, vidyadharas and nagas: all suffer when he stands in an adverse place; to him, the son of the Sun, salutation.
Verses 3 to 5 share a second line: "all suffer when he stands in an adverse place" (vishama-sthitena). This verse lists the heavenly beings: gods and asuras, kimpurushas, the great serpents, gandharvas (celestial musicians), vidyadharas and nagas.
नरा नरेन्द्राः पशवो मृगेन्द्रा वन्याश्च ये कीटपतङ्गभृङ्गाः । पीड्यन्ति सर्वे विषमस्थितेन तस्मै नमः श्रीरविनन्दनाय ॥
narā narendrāḥ paśavo mṛgendrā vanyāśca ye kīṭapataṅgabhṛṅgāḥ । pīḍyanti sarve viṣamasthitena tasmai namaḥ śrīravinandanāya ॥
कीटपतङ्गभृङ्गाः kīṭapataṅgabhṛṅgāḥ insects, moths and bees मनुष्य और राजा, पशु और सिंह, और वन के जीव, कीड़े, पतंगे और भौंरे: जब वे विषम स्थान में होते हैं तो सब पीड़ित होते हैं; उन सूर्यपुत्र को नमस्कार।
Men and kings, cattle and lions, and the creatures of the forest, worms, moths and bees: all suffer when he stands in an adverse place; to him, the son of the Sun, salutation.
The list moves to the earth: men and kings, cattle and lions, forest creatures, insects, moths and bees. No creature is outside Shani's reach.
देशाश्च दुर्गाणि वनानि यत्र सेनानिवेशाः पुरपत्तनानि । पीड्यन्ति सर्वे विषमस्थितेन तस्मै नमः श्रीरविनन्दनाय ॥
deśāśca durgāṇi vanāni yatra senāniveśāḥ purapattanāni । pīḍyanti sarve viṣamasthitena tasmai namaḥ śrīravinandanāya ॥
सेनानिवेशाः senāniveśāḥ army camps पुरपत्तनानि purapattanāni towns and cities देश और दुर्ग, वन, सेनाओं के पड़ाव, पुर और नगर: जब वे विषम स्थान में होते हैं तो सब पीड़ित होते हैं; उन सूर्यपुत्र को नमस्कार।
Countries and forts, forests, army camps, towns and cities: all suffer when he stands in an adverse place; to him, the son of the Sun, salutation.
Even places suffer: countries, forts, forests, army camps, towns and cities.
तिलैर्यवैर्माषगुडान्नदानैर्लोहेन नीलाम्बरदानतो वा । प्रीणाति मन्त्रैर्निजवासरे च तस्मै नमः श्रीरविनन्दनाय ॥
tilairyavairmāṣaguḍānnadānairlohena nīlāmbaradānato vā । prīṇāti mantrairnijavāsare ca tasmai namaḥ śrīravinandanāya ॥
माष māṣa black gram (urad) नीलाम्बर nīlāmbara blue cloth निजवासरे nijavāsare on his own day जो अपने दिन तिल, जौ, उड़द, गुड़ और अन्न के दान से, लोहे से, नीले वस्त्र के दान से और मंत्रों से प्रसन्न होते हैं, उन सूर्यपुत्र को नमस्कार।
He is pleased on his own day by gifts of sesame, barley, black gram, jaggery and food, by iron, by the gift of blue cloth, and by mantras; to him, the son of the Sun, salutation.
The offerings that please Shani, made on his own day (Saturday): sesame, barley, black gram (urad), jaggery and food, iron and blue cloth, with mantras. These remain the customary offerings to Shani.
प्रयागकूले यमुनातटे च सरस्वतीपुण्यजले गुहायाम् । यो योगिनां ध्यानगतोऽपि सूक्ष्मस्तस्मै नमः श्रीरविनन्दनाय ॥
prayāgakūle yamunātaṭe ca sarasvatīpuṇyajale guhāyām । yo yogināṃ dhyānagato'pi sūkṣmastasmai namaḥ śrīravinandanāya ॥
ध्यानगतः dhyānagataḥ present in meditation सूक्ष्मः sūkṣmaḥ subtle प्रयाग के तट पर, यमुना के किनारे, सरस्वती के पवित्र जल में और गुफाओं में, जो योगियों के ध्यान में भी सूक्ष्म रूप से स्थित हैं, उन सूर्यपुत्र को नमस्कार।
On the bank at Prayag, on the shore of the Yamuna, in the holy waters of the Sarasvati and in caves, he is subtle even in the meditation of yogis; to him, the son of the Sun, salutation.
Sacred places where he is present: the bank at Prayag, the shore of the Yamuna (his half-sister, also a child of Surya), the holy waters of the Sarasvati, and caves; he is subtle, present even in the meditation of yogis.
अन्यप्रदेशात्स्वगृहं प्रविष्टस्तदीयवारे स नरः सुखी स्यात् । गृहाद् गतो यो न पुनः प्रयाति तस्मै नमः श्रीरविनन्दनाय ॥
anyapradeśātsvagṛhaṃ praviṣṭastadīyavāre sa naraḥ sukhī syāt । gṛhād gato yo na punaḥ prayāti tasmai namaḥ śrīravinandanāya ॥
तदीयवारे tadīyavāre on his day जो मनुष्य उनके दिन परदेस से अपने घर लौटता है वह सुखी होता है; जो उस दिन घर से जाता है वह फिर नहीं लौटता; उन सूर्यपुत्र को नमस्कार।
One who returns home from another land on his day is happy; one who leaves home on it may not return; to him, the son of the Sun, salutation.
A traditional belief about travel on Saturday: returning home on his day brings happiness, but setting out on it is ill-omened.
स्रष्टा स्वयंभूर्भुवनत्रयस्य त्राता हरीशो हरते पिनाकी । एकस्त्रिधा ऋग्यजुःसाममूर्तिस्तस्मै नमः श्रीरविनन्दनाय ॥
sraṣṭā svayaṃbhūrbhuvanatrayasya trātā harīśo harate pinākī । ekastridhā ṛgyajuḥsāmamūrtistasmai namaḥ śrīravinandanāya ॥
पिनाकी pinākī bearer of the Pinaka bow, Shiva एकस्त्रिधा ekastridhā one, in three ways जो स्वयंभू ब्रह्मा के रूप में तीनों लोकों के रचयिता, हरि के रूप में रक्षक और पिनाकधारी शिव के रूप में संहारक हैं; एक होकर भी तीन रूपों वाले, ऋक्, यजुः और साम की मूर्ति; उन सूर्यपुत्र को नमस्कार।
As self-born Brahma the creator of the three worlds, as Hari their protector, as Shiva with the Pinaka bow who takes them away: one in three forms, embodied in the Rig, Yajur and Sama; to him, the son of the Sun, salutation.
Shani is praised as the one power behind the three gods: Brahma who creates, Hari (Vishnu) who protects and Shiva, bearer of the Pinaka bow, who withdraws the world; one in three forms, embodied in the three Vedas, Rig, Yajur and Sama.
शन्यष्टकं यः प्रयतः प्रभाते नित्यं सुपुत्रैः पशुबान्धवैश्च । पठेत्तु सौख्यं भुवि भोगयुक्तः प्राप्नोति निर्वाणपदं तदन्ते ॥
śanyaṣṭakaṃ yaḥ prayataḥ prabhāte nityaṃ suputraiḥ paśubāndhavaiśca । paṭhettu saukhyaṃ bhuvi bhogayuktaḥ prāpnoti nirvāṇapadaṃ tadante ॥
शन्यष्टकम् śanyaṣṭakam the eight verses on Shani निर्वाणपदम् nirvāṇapadam the state of liberation जो संयमी होकर प्रतिदिन प्रातः इस शनि-अष्टक का पाठ करता है, वह अच्छे पुत्रों, पशुओं और बंधुओं के साथ पृथ्वी पर सुख और भोग पाता है और अंत में निर्वाण पद प्राप्त करता है।
Whoever, self-controlled, recites this Shani Ashtaka every morning, with good sons, cattle and kin, enjoys happiness and pleasures on earth and at the end attains liberation.
The phalashruti calls the eight preceding verses a Shani-ashtaka. Recited each morning with self-control, it brings happiness with children, cattle and kin in this life and liberation (nirvana-pada) at its end.
कोणस्थः पिङ्गलो बभ्रुः कृष्णो रौद्रोऽन्तको यमः । सौरिः शनैश्चरो मन्दः पिप्पलादेन संस्तुतः ॥
koṇasthaḥ piṅgalo babhruḥ kṛṣṇo raudro'ntako yamaḥ । sauriḥ śanaiścaro mandaḥ pippalādena saṃstutaḥ ॥
कोणस्थः koṇasthaḥ the one standing in the corner (angle) पिप्पलादेन pippalādena by the sage Pippalada कोणस्थ, पिंगल, बभ्रु, कृष्ण, रौद्र, अन्तक, यम, सौरि, शनैश्चर और मन्द: इस प्रकार पिप्पलाद ने उनकी स्तुति की।
Konastha, Pingala, Babhru, Krishna, Raudra, Antaka, Yama, Sauri, Shanaishchara and Manda: so was he praised by Pippalada.
The ten names again, now as the sage Pippalada praised them: Konastha, Pingala, Babhru, Krishna, Raudra, Antaka, Yama, Sauri, Shanaishchara and Manda. In the Puranic accounts Pippalada met Shani and asked him for ways to protect people from his harsh influence; these ten names are recited in that spirit.
एतानि दश नामानि प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत् । शनैश्चरकृता पीडा न कदाचिद्भविष्यति ॥
etāni daśa nāmāni prātarutthāya yaḥ paṭhet । śanaiścarakṛtā pīḍā na kadācidbhaviṣyati ॥
प्रातरुत्थाय prātarutthāya on rising in the morning जो प्रातः उठकर इन दस नामों का पाठ करता है, उसे शनि से होने वाली पीड़ा कभी नहीं होगी।
Whoever recites these ten names on rising in the morning will never suffer the affliction caused by Shani.
Whoever recites these ten names on rising will never suffer affliction caused by Shani. These two closing verses are often recited on their own each morning.
Sources & checks
- Commentary by
- Sanatanshala editorial process
- Checked by
- Sanatanshala editorial process
- Sources
- Shani, Wikipedia (2026)
- Sade Sati, Wikipedia (2026)
- Pippalada, Wikipedia (2026)
- Brahmanda Purana, Wikipedia (2026)