Sri Karthikeya Ashtakam
This ashtakam extols the virtues and powers of Lord Kartikeya, seeking his divine grace and guidance.
श्री सुब्रह्मण्य स्तोत्राणि
agastya uvāca
Salutations to the lotus feet of the revered Brindaraka,
अगस्त्य उवाच ।
namō:'stu br̥ndārakabr̥ndavandya- -pādāravindāya sudhākarāya
To the moon-like one, the six-faced one of immense valor,
नमोऽस्तु बृन्दारकबृन्दवन्द्य-
ṣaḍānanāyāmitavikramāya gaurīhr̥dānandasamudbhavāya
Born from the bliss of Gauri's heart,
-पादारविन्दाय सुधाकराय ।
namō:'stu tubhyaṁ praṇatārtihantrē kartrē samastasya manōrathānām
Salutations to you, O remover of the troubles of the humble,
षडाननायामितविक्रमाय
dātrē rathānāṁ paratārakasya hantrē pracaṇḍāsuratārakasya
To the creator of all desires,
गौरीहृदानन्दसमुद्भवाय ॥ १ ॥
amūrtamūrtāya sahasramūrtayē guṇāya gaṇyāya parātparāya
To the giver of the supreme chariot,
नमोऽस्तु तुभ्यं प्रणतार्तिहन्त्रे
apārapārāya parāparāya namō:'stu tubhyaṁ śikhivāhanāya
To the destroyer of the fierce demon,
कर्त्रे समस्तस्य मनोरथानाम् ।
namō:'stu tē brahmavidāṁ varāya digambarāyāmbarasaṁsthitāya
To the formless form, the one with a thousand forms,
दात्रे रथानां परतारकस्य
hiraṇyavarṇāya hiraṇyabāhavē namō hiraṇyāya hiraṇyarētasē
To the one who is worthy of qualities, the supreme being,
हन्त्रे प्रचण्डासुरतारकस्य ॥ २ ॥
tapaḥ svarūpāya tapōdhanāya tapaḥ phalānāṁ pratipādakāya
To the one beyond all limits, the ultimate reality,
अमूर्तमूर्ताय सहस्रमूर्तये
sadā kumārāya himāramāriṇē tr̥ṇīkr̥taiśvarya virāgiṇē namaḥ
Salutations to you, O one who rides the peacock,
गुणाय गण्याय परात्पराय ।
namō:'stu tubhyaṁ śarajanmanē vibhō prabhātasūryāruṇadantapaṅktayē
Salutations to you, O best among the knower of Brahman,
अपारपाराय परापराय
bālāya cābālaparākramāya ṣā- -ṇmāturāyālamanāturāya
To the one who is clad in the sky,
नमोऽस्तु तुभ्यं शिखिवाहनाय ॥ ३ ॥
mīḍhuṣṭamāyōttaramīḍhuṣē namō namō gaṇānāṁ patayē gaṇāya
To the one of golden hue and golden arms,
नमोऽस्तु ते ब्रह्मविदां वराय
namō:'stu tē janmajarātigāya namō viśākhāya suśaktipāṇayē
Salutations to the golden one, the one with golden essence,
दिगम्बरायाम्बरसंस्थिताय ।
sarvasya nāthasya kumārakāya krauñcārayē tārakamārakāya
To the embodiment of austerity, the one who is wealth of penance,
हिरण्यवर्णाय हिरण्यबाहवे
svāhēya gāṅgēya ca kārtikēya śaivēya tubhyaṁ satataṁ namō:'stu
To the one who grants the fruits of austerity,
नमो हिरण्याय हिरण्यरेतसे ॥ ४ ॥
iti śrīskāndē mahāpurāṇē kāśīkhaṇḍē pañcaviṁśatitamō:'dhyāyē śrī kārtikēyāṣṭakam
Always to the son, the slayer of the snow-lion,