śrī mahā gaṇēśa pañcharatnam is a five-jewel hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and giver of clarity. Each verse presents Ganesha through compact compounds: joyful holder of mōdaka, protector of worlds, leader of those without support, destroyer of arrogance, and the one-tusked Lord seated in the hearts of yogis.
Adi Shankaracharya's devotional hymns often make worship a preparation for knowledge. Here, he praises Ganesha not only as a deity who removes external obstacles but as the intelligence that removes inner obstruction: confusion, pride, fear, distraction, and dullness. That is why this hymn is often recited before study, travel, worship, writing, and important undertakings.
mudākarātta mōdakaṃ sadā vimukti sādhakam ।
kaḻādharāvataṃsakaṃ vilāsilōka rakṣakam ।
anāyakaika nāyakaṃ vināśitēbha daityakam ।
natāśubhāśu nāśakaṃ namāmi taṃ vināyakam ॥ 1 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
I bow to Vinayaka, who joyfully holds the sweet modaka, who always leads devotees toward liberation, who wears the crescent moon as an ornament, and who protects the radiant worlds. He is the sole guide of those who have no other protector, the destroyer of elephant-like demonic pride, and the swift remover of inauspiciousness for those who bow to him.
natētarāti bhīkaraṃ navōditārka bhāsvaram ।
namatsurāri nirjaraṃ natādhikāpaduddharam ।
surēśvaraṃ nidhīśvaraṃ gajēśvaraṃ gaṇēśvaram ।
mahēśvaraṃ tamāśrayē parātparaṃ nirantaram ॥ 2 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
I constantly take refuge in that Ganesha who is fearsome to arrogance, radiant like the newly risen sun, destroyer of the enemies of the gods, and rescuer of devotees from great danger. He is Lord of the gods, Lord of treasures, Lord with the elephant form, Lord of the gaNas, the great Lord, and the one beyond the highest.
samasta lōka śaṅkaraṃ nirasta daitya kuñjaram ।
darētarōdaraṃ varaṃ varēbha vaktramakṣaram ।
kṛpākaraṃ kṣamākaraṃ mudākaraṃ yaśaskaram ।
manaskaraṃ namaskṛtāṃ namaskarōmi bhāsvaram ॥ 3 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
I bow to the radiant Ganesha who brings auspiciousness to all worlds, removes elephant-like demonic force, has the great belly and noble elephant face, and is imperishable. He is the source of compassion, forgiveness, joy, good reputation, and right-mindedness for those who bow to him.
akiñchanārti mārjanaṃ chirantanōkti bhājanam ।
purāri pūrva nandanaṃ surāri garva charvaṇam ।
prapañcha nāśa bhīṣaṇaṃ dhanañjayādi bhūṣaṇam ।
kapōla dānavāraṇaṃ bhajē purāṇa vāraṇam ॥ 4 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
I adore the ancient elephant-faced Lord who wipes away the distress of those who have no support, who is worthy of ancient praise, who is Shiva's elder son, and who crushes the pride of the enemies of the gods. He is awesome at the dissolution of the manifest world, adorned with divine powers, and full like a noble elephant whose cheeks flow with ichor.
nitānta kānti danta kānti manta kānti kātmajam ।
achintya rūpamanta hīna mantarāya kṛntanam ।
hṛdantarē nirantaraṃ vasantamēva yōginām ।
tamēkadantamēva taṃ vichintayāmi santatam ॥ 5 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
I meditate constantly on that one-tusked Lord whose tusk shines with beauty, who is the son of Shiva, whose true form is beyond thought, who is endless, who cuts away obstacles, and who dwells without interruption in the hearts of yogis.
mahāgaṇēśa pañcharatnamādarēṇa yō'nvaham ।
prajalpati prabhātakē hṛdi smaraṇ gaṇēśvaram ।
arōgatāmadōṣatāṃ susāhitīṃ suputratām ।
samāhitāyu raṣṭabhūti mabhyupaiti sō'chirāt ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Whoever recites this Maha Ganesha Pancharatnam every morning with reverence, remembering Ganesha in the heart, soon attains health, freedom from defects, good learning and expression, worthy progeny or continuity, a composed life span, and eightfold prosperity.
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