Shloka 2

The Hymn to Gaṇapati (Gaṇa-aṣṭaka) and Its Merit

Devanagari script

एकदंतं महाकायं तप्तकांचनसन्निभम् । लंबोदरं विशालाक्षं वंदेहं गणनायकं

Transliteration

ekadaṃtaṃ mahākāyaṃ taptakāṃcanasannibham | laṃbodaraṃ viśālākṣaṃ vaṃdehaṃ gaṇanāyakaṃ

Translation

Eu reverencio Gaṇanāyaka (Gaṇeśa): o de uma só presa, o Senhor de corpo imenso, radiante como ouro em fusão; de ventre amplo e olhos vastos.

Word by Word

• ekadantam: one-tusked
• ekadantam: Karma (Object of vande/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + danta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• mahākāyam: huge-bodied
• mahākāyam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• taptakāñcanasannibham: resembling heated gold
• taptakāñcanasannibham: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• lambodaram: pot-bellied
• lambodaram: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lamba (प्रातिपदिक) + udara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• viśālākṣam: large-eyed
• viśālākṣam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśāla (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• vande: I worship/salute
• vande: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vand (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (1st person singular)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Pronoun, Nominative, Singular)

• gaṇanāyakam: leader of the gaṇas
• gaṇanāyakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + nāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

Speaker

Narratorial/Devotional invocation (stuti) within the text; specific dialogue-speaker not explicit from the single verse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: vaṃdehaṃ = vande + aham

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇanāyaka (Gaṇeśa)

FAQs

Who is praised in this verse and why is it significant?

The verse praises Gaṇanāyaka (Gaṇeśa), invoking him with classic epithets (Ekadanta, Lambodara, Viśālākṣa). Such invocations function as auspicious openings (maṅgalācaraṇa), seeking the removal of obstacles and the smooth completion of the recitation or teaching.

What do the epithets “Ekadanta” and “Lambodara” convey philosophically?

“Ekadanta” points to Gaṇeśa’s distinctive form and is traditionally read as symbolizing focused discernment (retaining the essential). “Lambodara” suggests the capacity to contain and digest the universe’s experiences—an image of spiritual assimilation and steadiness.

Is this verse about a tīrtha or geography as found elsewhere in the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa?

No. This is a devotional praise-verse centered on Gaṇeśa’s iconographic qualities rather than a description of sacred geography. In context, it most likely serves as an auspicious invocation within the chapter.