Chant Shri Skanda Panchakam and praise and worship Shri Skanda Deva who is the expounder of divine knowledge, a mighty warrior, whose vehicle is a divine peacock and who bears the responsibility of leading all other devatas on his robust shoulders. With his grace, one gets everything that one desires, name, fame, luxuries, power, valor and heaven.
मयूरारूढ़ं संकल्पदृढ़ं प्रचंडं अग्निनंदनम् पार्वतीसुतम् अत्यंतदृतं अखंडं देववंदनम् शंकरचारीं गगनधारीं वंदे त्वं रुद्रचंदनम् शिवसंभव देववैभव स्कंददेव भजाम्यहम् ||१||
Mayooraaroodham sankalpadrudham prachandam agninandanam Paarvateesutam atyantadrutam akhandam devavandanam Shankarachaareem gaganadhaareem vande twam rudrachandanam Shivasambhava devavaibhava skandadeva bhajaamyaham ||1||
You ride on a mighty peacock, your resolve is very strong and fierce, you are the son of Agnideva, son of Mata Parvati (Shri Skanda deva is the son of six Krutikas, hence “Karthikeya”, Agni deva, Mata Parvati, Mahadeva, Mata Ganga), you are extremely fast and eloquent, your power and resolve are ever unbroken and intact, the devatas praise you. You follow Lord Shankara's (Mahadeva) footsteps. You hold Gagana (Akasha or ether, which is the constituent element in Jana Loka), you are greatly worshiped, O the one born from the semen of Rudra. O the one created from Mahadeva, you increase the glory of the devatas, O Skanda deva ( the one whose strong shoulders bear the responsibility to lead devatas), I worship you! (1)
शक्रजेतां प्रभुर्नेतां षडाननं देवनायकम् गंगासूतं पराभूतं महात्मनं शौर्यदायकम् दीप्तशक्तिं शक्तभक्तिं वंदे त्वं दिव्यसायकम् शिवसंभव देववैभव स्कंददेव भजाम्यहम् ||२||
Shakrajetaam prabhurnetaam shadaananam devanaayakam Gangaasutam paraabhootam mahaatmanam shauryadaayakam Deeptashaktim shaktabhaktim vande twam divyasaayakam Shivasambhava devavaibhava skandadeva bhajaamyaham ||2||
You are victorious over Indradeva, you are the leader of all the devatas, you are six faced (born from six Krutikas and then became one, so six faces) hero of the devatas. O the son of Mata Ganga, you are beyond five elements, you are great and remembering you gives strength, bravery, efficiency and power. Your power is eternally blazing and your devotion is also strong. I worship you O the leader of the devatas. O Skanda deva, the one born from Mahadeva and who increases the glory of the devatas, I worship you! (2)
ब्रह्मवतां दुःखहर्तां वाचस्पतिं शिरप्रवीरम् श्रद्धायुक्तं सदामुक्तं सेनापतिं चिरसुधीरम् शक्तिधरं वीरवरं वंदे त्वं मीरप्राचीरम् शिवसंभव देववैभव स्कंददेव भजाम्यहम् ||३||
Brahmavataam dukhahartaam vaachaspatim shirapraveeram Shraddhaayuktam sadaamuktam senaapatim chirasudheeram Shaktidharam veeravaram vande twam meerapraacheeram Shivasambhava devavaibhava skandadeva bhajaamyaham ||3||
You are the speaker of Brahma Gyana, the one who takes away all the sorrows, you are the leader, speaker and head of the devatas in devaloka. O the one who is full of devotion, you are ever free, you are the commander of the devatas and the one who is always very calm and peaceful. You hold a lot of power, you are the mighty warrior, my salutations to the one who protects the devatas like a rampart (a strong wall)! O Skanda deva, the one born from Mahadeva and who increases the glory of the devatas, I worship you! (3)
वल्लीकान्तं कृपानन्तं परमं कृतिकासुतम् सुकुमारं तत्त्वसारं चरमं शंकरकृतम् दीप्तिमानं सनातनं वंदे त्वं देवतावृत्तम् शिवसंभव देववैभव स्कंददेव भजाम्यहम् ||४||
Valleekaantam krupaanantam paramam krutikaasutam Sukumaaram tattwasaaram charamam shankarakrutam Deeptimaanam sanaatanam vande twam devataavruttam Shivasambhava devavaibhava skandadeva bhajaamyaham ||4||
You are the husband of Valli, you are infinitely gracious, you are at the top and the son of the six Krutikas. You are the real prince, you are the essence of everything, you are highly knowledgeable and brilliant, you are the magnificent design of Lord Shiva. You are radiant, powerful, eternal, I worship you, the one who is always surrounded by the devatas! O Skanda deva, the one born from Mahadeva and who increases the glory of the devatas, I worship you! (4)
तारकारीं भालधारीं प्रत्यूषं कुक्कूटध्वजम् षष्ठीप्रियं सर्वश्रेयं प्रियेशं दिव्ययानजम् ऋषिकासुतं वचनामृतं वंदे त्वं गणेशाग्रजम् शिवसंभव देववैभव स्कंददेव भजाम्यहम् ||५||
Taarakaareem bhaaladhaareem pratyoosham kukkutadhwajam Shashteepriyam sarvasreyam priyesham divyayaanajam Rushikaasutam vachanaamrutam vande twam ganeshaagrajam Shivasambhava devavaibhava skandadeva bhajaamyaham ||5||
O the slayer of Tarakasura, the one who holds a spear in his hand, you are tender just like a sweet early morning. You have a divine hen in your flag, your wife is the sixth devi (as he is the sixth deva after Panchdevas, so his wife is called Shashti devi), you are the best, you are very dear to Mahadeva and your vehicle (peacock) is very divine. O the son of Rishikas(the six Krutikas are actually rishikas), the elder brother of Ganesha deva, your every word is nectar. O Skanda deva, the one born from Mahadeva and who increases the glory of the devatas, I worship you! (5)
न्यायप्रियं कृष्णप्रियं मातृप्रियं देवप्रियम् च ऋषिप्रियं शिवप्रियं वंदे देवं पार्वतीप्रियम् स्कंदस्तोत्रं इदं प्रोक्तं सश्रद्धया यः सदा पठेत् स्वर्गं कीर्तिं धनं शौर्यं सः लभेत् इदं न संशयः ||0||
Nyaayapriyam Krishnapriyam maatrupriyam devapriyam cha Rushipriyam shivapriyam vande devam paarvateepriyam Skandastotram idam proktam sashraddhayaa yah sadaa patheth Swargam keertim dhanam shauryam idam na sanshayah ||0||
You love justice, and you are loved by Lord Krishna, you are dear to your mother and you are dear to the devatas. You are dear to the sages, you are dear to Mahadeva. O the one dear to Parvati Mata, I worship you. Whoever recites this divine Skanda Stotram with devotion will get swarga (heaven), fame, wealth, bravery and every such desired thing, there is no doubt in this! (0)
इति श्री कृष्णदासः विरचित श्री स्कन्द पंचकम् सम्पूर्णम् ||