Kartikeya Stotram
कार्तिकेय स्तोत्रम्
What is the Kartikeya Stotram?
Kartikeya Stotram The Kartikeya Stotram usually means the Subrahmanya Ashtakam, an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya that praises Kartikeya, the warrior son of Shiva and Parvati known also as Skanda, Murugan and Subrahmanya. Each verse ends with the same plea, vallishanatha mama dehi karavalambam, asking him to extend the support of his hand. It is chanted for courage, for relief from Mars-related (Kuja) troubles, and for victory over obstacles, and is especially popular on Tuesdays and during Skanda Shashti.
The Kartikeya Stotram most people search for is the Subrahmanya Ashtakam, eight short Sanskrit verses that Adi Shankaracharya is traditionally credited with composing in praise of Kartikeya, Shiva and Parvati’s warrior son, known across India as Skanda, Murugan and Subrahmanya. Every verse closes on the same line, a direct request for his hand: vallishanatha mama dehi karavalambam, lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand.It is a stotram people reach for before something hard: an exam, an interview, a fight they did not go looking for. Reciters keep it close to Skanda Shashti and to Tuesdays, and quite a few also use it to steady a difficult Mars placement in their chart. Below you will find the Sanskrit in Devanagari and simple roman transliteration, a plain-English meaning for each verse, and a short guide on how and when to chant it for victory over whatever is standing in front of you.
Kartikeya Stotram Lyrics (Sanskrit & English)
This is the Subrahmanya Ashtakam, also known as the Subrahmanya Karavalamba Stotram, an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. The text below follows the Brihatstotraratnakara (Madras, 1927 edition, page 88) as proofread and hosted on sanskritdocuments.org, matched against the versions carried by Stotra Nidhi and Vaidika Vignanam. It is a separate work from the longer Subrahmanya Bhujangam (which opens 'na janami shabdam') and from the shorter, differently-refrained five-verse Kartikeya Karavalamba Stotram.
He Swaminatha, karuna kara, deenabandho
Shri Parvatisha mukha pankaja padma bandho
Shrishadi deva gana pujita pada padma
Vallishanatha mama dehi karavalambam
हे स्वामिनाथ! करुणाकर दीनबन्धो
श्रीपार्वतीशमुखपङ्कजपद्मबन्धो । श्रीशादिदेवगणपूजितपादपद्म
वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ १॥
Meaning
Kartikeya is called Swaminatha here, an ocean of compassion and a friend to the helpless, one as close to Shiva's lotus face as a bee is to its lotus, whose feet are honoured by Vishnu and the whole assembly of gods. The ask is simple and direct: lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand.
Devadhideva suta, deva ganadhinatha
Devendra vandya, mridu pankaja manju pada
Devarshi Narada munindra sugita keerte
Vallishanatha mama dehi karavalambam
देवाधिदेवसुत देवगणाधिनाथ
देवेन्द्रवन्द्यमृदुपङ्कजमञ्जुपाद । देवर्षिनारदमुनीन्द्रसुगीतकीर्ते
वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ २॥
Meaning
He is the son of the god of gods and the ruler over every host of celestials, whose gentle lotus feet Indra himself bows before, and whose glory the sage Narada sings among the great rishis. If Indra and Narada both turn to him, the devotee asks for that same steadying hand too.
Nityanna dana nirata, akhila roga harin
Bhagya pradana paripurita bhakta kama
Shrutyagama pranava vachya nija swarupa
Vallishanatha mama dehi karavalambam
नित्यान्नदाननिरताखिलरोगहारिन्
भाग्यप्रदानपरिपूरितभक्तकाम । शृत्यागमप्रणववाच्यनिजस्वरूप
वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ ३॥
Meaning
This verse shows the giving side of Kartikeya: he feeds without pause, lifts disease from those who come to him, and grants enough good fortune to satisfy a devotee's every wish. His true nature, it says, is the sacred syllable Om spoken of in the Vedas and the Agamas.
Kraunchasurendra parikhandana, shakti shula chapadi shastra parimandita divya pane
Shri kundalisha dhara tunda shikhindra vaha
Vallishanatha mama dehi karavalambam
क्रौञ्चासुरेन्द्रपरिखण्डन शक्तिशूलचापादिशस्त्रपरिमण्डितदिव्यपाणे
श्रीकुण्डलीशधरतुण्डशिखीन्द्रवाह
वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ ४॥
Meaning
Here Kartikeya is the one who cut down the demon king Krauncha, his divine hands full of the Shakti spear and bow, his ears bright with kundala rings, riding the peacock king beneath him. It is the martial, protective face of the god being called on in this verse.
Devadhideva ratha mandala madhya vedya
Devendra peethana karam dridha chapa hastam
Shuram nihatya sura kotibhir eedyamana
Vallishanatha mama dehi karavalambam
देवाधिदेवरथमण्डलमध्यवेऽद्य
देवेन्द्रपीठनकरं दृढचापहस्तम् । शूरं निहत्य सुरकोटिभिरीड्यमान
वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ ५॥
Meaning
The scene moves to the battlefield: Kartikeya rides at the centre of Indra's own chariot, bow drawn firm, having struck down a powerful demon while crores of gods look on and praise him. The devotee is really asking for a share of that same battle-won strength.
Haradi ratna mani yukta kireeta hara
Keyura kundala lasat kavachabhi ramam
He veera Taraka jayamara vrinda vandya
Vallishanatha mama dehi karavalambam
हारादिरत्नमणियुक्तकिरीटहार
केयूरकुण्डललसत्कवचाभिरामम् । हे वीर तारकजयामरवृन्दवन्द्य
वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ ६॥
Meaning
Decked in a jewelled crown, gem-studded garlands, armlets, earrings and gleaming armour, this verse hails him as the hero who overcame the demon Taraka and is worshipped by the gathered immortals. Beauty and hard-won victory sit side by side in this picture of him.
Panchakshara adi manu mantrita ganga toyaih
Panchamritaih pramudita indra mukhair munindraih
Pattabhishikta hari yukta para asa natha
Vallishanatha mama dehi karavalambam
पञ्चाक्षरादिमनुमन्त्रितगाङ्गतोयैः
पञ्चामृतैः प्रमुदितेन्द्रमुखैर्मुनीन्द्रैः । पट्टाभिषिक्तहरियुक्त परासनाथ
वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ ७॥
Meaning
This verse describes his consecration: Ganga water charged with the Panchakshari and other mantras, poured along with the five nectars, while a joyful Indra and the greatest sages look on. Anointed and seated beside Hari, he is addressed here as the supreme lord.
Shri Kartikeya, karunamrita purna drishtya
Kamadi roga kalushi krita dushta chittam
Siktva tu mam ava kaladhara kanti kantya
Vallishanatha mama dehi karavalambam
श्रीकार्तिकेय करुणामृतपूर्णदृष्ट्या
कामादिरोगकलुषीकृतदुष्टचित्तम् । सिक्त्वा तु मामव कलाधरकान्तिकान्त्या
वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ ८॥
Meaning
A closing appeal made in full honesty: my mind has been muddied by desire and the ailments it drags in. Shower me with the cool moonlight of your glance, Kartikeya, whose eyes are brimming with the nectar of compassion, and hold out your steadying hand, lord of Valli.
Phalashruti
Subrahmanyashtakam punyam ye pathanti dvijottamah
Te sarve muktim ayanti Subrahmanya prasadatah
Subrahmanyashtakam idam pratar utthaya yah pathet
Koti janma kritam papam tat kshanad eva nashyati
सुब्रह्मण्याष्टकं पुण्यं ये पठन्ति द्विजोत्तमाः । ते सर्वे मुक्तिमायान्ति सुब्रह्मण्यप्रसादतः ॥ सुब्रह्मण्याष्टकमिदं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत् । कोटिजन्मकृतं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति ॥
Meaning
The closing lines promise that reciting this Ashtakam earns liberation through Kartikeya's grace, and that whoever chants it right after waking burns away the weight of sins carried across countless past births, in that very moment.
Meaning & Significance
Read straight through, the eight verses move from Kartikeya’s family ties and gentleness, to his role as healer and giver, to his weapons and his battles against the demons Krauncha and Taraka, to his royal ornaments, to his consecration alongside Indra, and finally to a personal request in the eighth verse: let your compassionate glance wash the anger and craving out of my mind. The stotram is as much about steadying the self as it is about asking a god for a favour, which is probably why it still gets chanted before anything that calls for both courage and a clear head.
How to Chant the Kartikeya Stotram
- Bathe and sit facing east – A short wash and a few quiet minutes facing east or north, on a clean mat or cloth, settle the mind before you begin.
- Keep Kartikeya in view – A picture of the six-faced god on his peacock, spear in hand, or simply picturing him in the mind, gives the chant something to hold onto.
- Chant the eight verses at an even pace – Say each verse clearly rather than quickly, and let the refrain, vallishanatha mama dehi karavalambam, land fully before moving to the next verse.
- Close with the phalashruti – The last two lines are the traditional close, recited once after all eight verses to complete the stotram.
- Sit for a minute before rising – A minute of stillness afterward lets whatever you came to ask for settle, instead of rushing straight back into the day.
What Are the Benefits of Chanting?
People chant the Kartikeya Stotram for reasons that are as practical as they are devotional. A few of the most common:
- Courage before a hard task: Kartikeya is the general of the gods, and this stotram is often recited before exams, interviews, surgeries, or any moment that calls for nerve.
- Relief from Kuja dosha: Since Kartikeya is closely linked to Mars in Vedic astrology, the stotram is a common remedy suggested for a difficult Kuja (Mars) placement in a horoscope.
- A calmer, less agitated mind: The eighth verse asks directly for the mind's stains, caused by desire and anger, to be washed clean, which is why many chant it more for peace than for protection.
- Support during Skanda Shashti and Kartika month: It is one of the stotras recited daily through Skanda Shashti and across the month of Kartika, alongside other seasonal prayers to Kartikeya.
- A short, realistic daily practice: At eight verses plus two closing lines, it takes only a few minutes, which makes it practical to chant every morning rather than saving it for special occasions.
Who Composed This Stotram?
The text used here comes from the Brihatstotraratnakara, a large compiled anthology of Sanskrit stotras printed in Madras in 1927, where it appears on page 88 as the Subrahmanya Ashtakam, also titled the Subrahmanya Karavalamba Stotram. Sanskritdocuments.org has proofread and hosted this exact recension for years, and the same eight verses, in the same order, with the same refrain, also appear on Stotra Nidhi, Vaidika Vignanam and several other stotra archives, which is a good sign that this is the standard, widely circulated version rather than a modern rewrite.
Authorship is traditionally credited to Adi Shankaracharya, though as with several stotras carrying his name, no independent manuscript trail confirms it beyond the attribution passed down through later collections. Two other Kartikeya hymns get confused with this one fairly often: the Subrahmanya Bhujangam, a longer thirty three verse work also linked to Shankara that opens with na janami shabdam, and a separate five verse Kartikeya Karavalamba Stotram carrying its own, different refrain. This page keeps to the eight verse Ashtakam, since it is the version most commonly meant when someone searches for the Kartikeya Stotram.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kartikeya Stotram called in Sanskrit?
It is best known as the Subrahmanya Ashtakam, also called the Subrahmanya Karavalamba Stotram, because each of its eight verses ends on the same line, vallishanatha mama dehi karavalambam, lord of Valli, give me the support of your hand.
Who wrote the Kartikeya Stotram?
Tradition credits the eight verse Subrahmanya Ashtakam to Adi Shankaracharya. The text on this page follows the Brihatstotraratnakara, a stotra collection printed in Madras in 1927, and is proofread and hosted at sanskritdocuments.org.
When should I chant the Kartikeya Stotram?
Tuesday is Kartikeya's day, and the stotram is chanted widely during Skanda Shashti, Thai Pusam and the month of Kartika. Many also recite it every morning, since the closing verses specifically promise that chanting it at sunrise clears away old burdens for the day ahead.
What are the benefits of chanting this stotram?
Devotees turn to it for courage before a difficult task, for easing Mars related, or Kuja dosha, troubles in a horoscope, and for a settled mind, since the eighth verse directly asks Kartikeya to wash away the agitation caused by desire and anger.
Is the Kartikeya Stotram the same as the Subrahmanya Bhujangam?
No. The Subrahmanya Bhujangam is a longer, thirty three verse hymn also attributed to Adi Shankara that opens with na janami shabdam, na janami cha artham. The Subrahmanya Ashtakam on this page is a separate, shorter, eight verse composition with its own refrain, though both praise the same deity and both remain popular, especially across South India.
Can beginners chant this stotram without knowing Sanskrit well?
Yes. The verses are short and the same refrain repeats after every stanza, so the rhythm becomes familiar quickly. Reading the roman transliteration alongside the Devanagari here, and starting at a slow pace, is usually enough to build confidence within a few sittings.
॥ ॐ शरवणभवाय नमः ॥