Shri Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam

Introduction to Shri Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam

Shri Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam - Lord Vishnu - माँ लक्ष्मी

The Shri Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam beginning with "Artanam Duhkhashamane" is a magnificent eight-verse hymn that celebrates the divine union of Lord Narayana and Goddess Lakshmi as the supreme cosmic couple. This ashtakam praises the Lord as the one who alleviates the suffering of the afflicted, always accompanied by His eternal consort Lakshmi.

In Hindu philosophy, Lakshmi and Narayana are inseparable — where Narayana represents the supreme consciousness and dharma, Lakshmi embodies His divine energy (shakti), prosperity, and grace. Together, they represent the complete divine principle that sustains and nourishes all of creation.

Reciting this ashtakam invokes the combined blessings of both Lakshmi and Narayana, making it exceptionally powerful for attaining both material prosperity and spiritual liberation. It is especially auspicious when chanted on Fridays, Ekadashi, during Diwali, and in the sacred month of Kartik.

Shri Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam: Sanskrit, English & Tamil Verses

॥ श्री लक्ष्मीनारायणाष्टकम् ॥

आर्तानां दुःखशमने दीक्षितं प्रभुमव्ययम्।
अशेषजगदाधारं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥1॥

अपारकरुणाम्भोधिं आपद्बान्धवमच्युतम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥2॥

भक्तानां वत्सलं भक्तिगम्यं सर्वगुणाकरम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥3॥

सुहृदं सर्वभूतानां सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥4॥

चिदचित्सर्वजन्तूनां आधारं वरदं परम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥5॥

शङ्खचक्रधरं देवं लोकनाथं दयानिधिम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥6॥

पीताम्बरधरं विष्णुं विलसत्सूत्रशोभितम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥7॥

हस्तेन दक्षिणेन यजं अभयप्रदमक्षरम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥8॥

यः पठेत् प्रातरुत्थाय लक्ष्मीनारायणाष्टकम्।
विमुक्तस्सर्वपापेभ्यः विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति॥

॥ इति श्रीलक्ष्मीनारायणाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
                        
॥ Shri Lakshminarayanaashtakam ॥

Aartaanaam Duhkhashamane Deekshitam Prabhumavyayam।
Asheshajagadaadhaaram Lakshminaraayanam Bhaje॥1॥

Apaarakarunaambhodhim Aapadbaandhavamachyutam।
Asheshaduhkhashaantyartham Lakshminaraayanam Bhaje॥2॥

Bhaktaanaam Vatsalam Bhaktigamyam Sarvagunaakaram।
Asheshaduhkhashaantyartham Lakshminaraayanam Bhaje॥3॥

Suhrudam Sarvabhootaanaam Sarvalakshansamyutam।
Asheshaduhkhashaantyartham Lakshminaraayanam Bhaje॥4॥

Chidachitsarvajantoonaam Aadhaaram Varadam Param।
Asheshaduhkhashaantyartham Lakshminaraayanam Bhaje॥5॥

Shankhachakradharam Devam Lokanaatham Dayaanidhim।
Asheshaduhkhashaantyartham Lakshminaraayanam Bhaje॥6॥

Peetaambaradharam Vishnum Vilasatsootrashobhitam।
Asheshaduhkhashaantyartham Lakshminaraayanam Bhaje॥7॥

Hastena Dakshinena Yajam Abhayapradamaksharam।
Asheshaduhkhashaantyartham Lakshminaraayanam Bhaje॥8॥

Yah Pathet Praatarutthaaya Lakshminarayanaashtakam।
Vimuktassarvapaapebhyah Vishnulokam Sa Gachchhati॥

॥ Iti Shrilakshminarayanaashtakam Sampoornam ॥
                        
॥ ஶ்ரீ லக்ஷ்மீநாராயணாஷ்டகம் ॥
ஆர்தானாம் துःகஶமனே தீக்ஷிதம் ப்ரபுமவ்யயம்।

அஶேஷஜகதாதாரம் லக்ஷ்மீநாராயணம் பஜே॥1॥

அபாரகருணாம்போதிம் ஆபத்பாந்தவமச்யுதம்।

அஶேஷதுःகஶாந்த்யர்தம் லக்ஷ்மீநாராயணம் பஜே॥2॥

பக்தானாம் வத்ஸலம் பக்திகம்யம் ஸர்வகுணாகரம்।

அஶேஷதுःகஶாந்த்யர்தம் லக்ஷ்மீநாராயணம் பஜே॥3॥

ஸுஹ்ருதம் ஸர்வபூதானாம் ஸர்வலக்ஷணஸம்யுதம்।

அஶேஷதுःகஶாந்த்யர்தம் லக்ஷ்மீநாராயணம் பஜே॥4॥

சிதசித்ஸர்வஜந்தூனாம் ஆதாரம் வரதம் பரம்।

அஶேஷதுःகஶாந்த்யர்தம் லக்ஷ்மீநாராயணம் பஜே॥5॥

ஶங்கசக்ரதரம் தேவம் லோகநாதம் தயாநிதிம்।

அஶேஷதுःகஶாந்த்யர்தம் லக்ஷ்மீநாராயணம் பஜே॥6॥

பீதாம்பரதரம் விஷ்ணும் விலஸத்ஸூத்ரஶோபிதம்।

அஶேஷதுःகஶாந்த்யர்தம் லக்ஷ்மீநாராயணம் பஜே॥7॥

ஹஸ்தேன தக்ஷிணேன யஜம் அபயப்ரதமக்ஷரம்।

அஶேஷதுःகஶாந்த்யர்தம் லக்ஷ்மீநாராயணம் பஜே॥8॥

யः படேத் ப்ராதருத்தாய லக்ஷ்மீநாராயணாஷ்டகம்।

விமுக்தஸ்ஸர்வபாபேப்யः விஷ்ணுலோகம் ஸ கச்சதி॥

॥ இதி ஶ்ரீலக்ஷ்மீநாராயணாஷ்டகம் ஸம்பூர்ணம் ॥
                        
॥ శ్రీ లక్ష్మీనారాయణాష్టకం ॥
ఆర్తానాం దుఃఖశమనే దీక్షితం ప్రభుమవ్యయం।

అశేషజగదాధారం లక్ష్మీనారాయణం భజే॥1॥

అపారకరుణాంభోధిం ఆపద్బాంధవమచ్యుతం।

అశేషదుఃఖశాంత్యర్థం లక్ష్మీనారాయణం భజే॥2॥

భక్తానాం వత్సలం భక్తిగమ్యం సర్వగుణాకరం।

అశేషదుఃఖశాంత్యర్థం లక్ష్మీనారాయణం భజే॥3॥

సుహృదం సర్వభూతానాం సర్వలక్షణసంయుతం।

అశేషదుఃఖశాంత్యర్థం లక్ష్మీనారాయణం భజే॥4॥

చిదచిత్సర్వజంతూనాం ఆధారం వరదం పరం।

అశేషదుఃఖశాంత్యర్థం లక్ష్మీనారాయణం భజే॥5॥

శంఖచక్రధరం దేవం లోకనాథం దయానిధిం।

అశేషదుఃఖశాంత్యర్థం లక్ష్మీనారాయణం భజే॥6॥

పీతాంబరధరం విష్ణుం విలసత్సూత్రశోభితం।

అశేషదుఃఖశాంత్యర్థం లక్ష్మీనారాయణం భజే॥7॥

హస్తేన దక్షిణేన యజం అభయప్రదమక్షరం।

అశేషదుఃఖశాంత్యర్థం లక్ష్మీనారాయణం భజే॥8॥

యః పఠేత్ ప్రాతరుత్థాయ లక్ష్మీనారాయణాష్టకం।

విముక్తస్సర్వపాపేభ్యః విష్ణులోకం స గచ్ఛతి॥

॥ ఇతి శ్రీలక్ష్మీనారాయణాష్టకం సంపూర్ణం ॥
                        

Verse-by-Verse Meaning of Shri Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam

1 First Verse

आर्तानां दुःखशमने दीक्षितं प्रभुमव्ययम्।
अशेषजगदाधारं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥
Word Meanings: Artanam = of the afflicted / distressed; Duhkha-shamane = in the alleviation of suffering; Dikshitam = consecrated / vowed; Prabhum = the Lord / master; Avyayam = the imperishable / inexhaustible; Ashesha-jagat-adharam = the support of the entire universe (ashesha = without remainder; jagat = world; adhara = foundation); Lakshmi-Narayanam = Lord Narayana together with Goddess Lakshmi; Bhaje = I worship / adore.
Translation: I worship Lakshmi-Narayana, the imperishable Lord who has taken a sacred vow to alleviate the suffering of the afflicted, and who is the very foundation upon which the entire universe rests.

2 Second Verse

अपारकरुणाम्भोधिं आपद्बान्धवमच्युतम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥
Word Meanings: Apara-karuna-ambodhim = the ocean of boundless compassion (apara = limitless; karuna = mercy; ambodhi = ocean); Aapad-bandhavam = kinsman / friend in times of calamity; Achyutam = the infallible one (who never fails His devotees); Ashesha-duhkha-shantyartham = for the cessation of all sorrows (ashesha = all; duhkha = suffering; shanti = peace; artham = for the purpose of).
Translation: I worship Lakshmi-Narayana, the limitless ocean of compassion, the unfailing kinsman in times of adversity, the infallible Lord, for the complete cessation of all sorrows.

3 Third Verse

भक्तानां वत्सलं भक्तिगम्यं सर्वगुणाकरम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥
Word Meanings: Bhaktanam = of the devotees; Vatsalam = affectionate / loving (like a mother cow to her calf); Bhakti-gamyam = attainable through devotion alone; Sarva-guna-akaram = the mine / repository of all virtues (sarva = all; guna = qualities; akara = mine/source).
Translation: I worship Lakshmi-Narayana, who is deeply affectionate towards His devotees, who is attainable only through pure devotion, and who is the inexhaustible repository of all divine virtues, for the complete cessation of all sorrows.

4 Fourth Verse

सुहृदं सर्वभूतानां सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥
Word Meanings: Suhrudam = the benevolent friend / well-wisher; Sarva-bhutanam = of all living beings; Sarva-lakshana-samyutam = endowed with all auspicious marks / possessing all noble characteristics (lakshana = marks/signs; samyutam = endowed with).
Translation: I worship Lakshmi-Narayana, the benevolent well-wisher of all living beings, who is endowed with all auspicious marks and noble characteristics, for the complete cessation of all sorrows.

5 Fifth Verse

चिदचित्सर्वजन्तूनां आधारं वरदं परम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥
Word Meanings: Chit-achit = sentient and insentient (conscious and unconscious); Sarva-jantoonam = of all creatures; Adharam = the support / substratum; Varadam = the bestower of boons; Param = the supreme / transcendent.
Translation: I worship Lakshmi-Narayana, the supreme bestower of boons, who is the foundational support of all sentient and insentient beings in creation, for the complete cessation of all sorrows.

6 Sixth Verse

शङ्खचक्रधरं देवं लोकनाथं दयानिधिम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥
Word Meanings: Shankha-chakra-dharam = the bearer of the conch (Panchajanya) and discus (Sudarshana); Devam = the effulgent divine one; Loka-natham = the Lord of all the worlds; Daya-nidhim = the very treasure-house of compassion (daya = mercy; nidhi = treasure).
Translation: I worship Lakshmi-Narayana, the radiant divine Lord who bears the sacred conch and discus, the sovereign Lord of all worlds, the very treasure-house of compassion, for the complete cessation of all sorrows.

7 Seventh Verse

पीताम्बरधरं विष्णुं विलसत्सूत्रशोभितम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥
Word Meanings: Peetambara-dharam = the wearer of yellow / golden silk garments (peeta = yellow; ambara = garment); Vishnum = Lord Vishnu, the all-pervading one; Vilasat-sutra-shobhitam = adorned with a resplendent sacred thread (vilasat = shining / glittering; sutra = sacred thread; shobhitam = adorned / beautified).
Translation: I worship Lakshmi-Narayana, Lord Vishnu resplendent in golden yellow garments and beautifully adorned with a radiant sacred thread (yajnopavita), for the complete cessation of all sorrows.

8 Eighth Verse

हस्तेन दक्षिणेन यजं अभयप्रदमक्षरम्।
अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे॥
Word Meanings: Hastena = with the hand; Dakshinena = right; Abhaya-pradam = the bestower of fearlessness (showing the abhaya mudra, the gesture of protection); Aksharam = the imperishable / eternal / indestructible one.
Translation: I worship Lakshmi-Narayana, the imperishable Lord who with His right hand displays the abhaya mudra — the gesture of fearlessness and divine protection — for the complete cessation of all sorrows.

Phala Shruti (Fruits of Recitation)

यः पठेत् प्रातरुत्थाय लक्ष्मीनारायणाष्टकम्।
विमुक्तस्सर्वपापेभ्यः विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति॥
Word Meanings: Yah = whoever; Pathet = recites; Pratah-utthaaya = rising early in the morning; Lakshmi-Narayana-ashtakam = this Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam; Vimuktah = freed / liberated; Sarva-papebhyah = from all sins; Vishnu-lokam = to the abode of Lord Vishnu (Vaikuntha); Sah = he; Gachchhati = goes / attains.
Translation: Whoever rises early in the morning and recites this Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam is completely freed from all accumulated sins and attains Vishnu-loka — the supreme eternal abode of Lord Vishnu (Vaikuntha).

Spiritual Benefits of Reciting Shri Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam

  • Double Blessings: Invokes both Lakshmi and Narayana simultaneously
  • Grants Prosperity: Attracts wealth, abundance, and good fortune
  • Removes Suffering: Alleviates pain and worldly afflictions
  • Blesses Marriage: Strengthens marital harmony and love
  • Spiritual Growth: Balances material and spiritual progress
  • Purifies Home: Fills the household with divine energy
  • Removes Poverty: Eliminates financial distress and scarcity
  • Grants Liberation: Leads to moksha through the divine couple's grace

Chanting Instructions

  • Sit in a clean, quiet place facing east or north
  • Light a lamp and incense before images of Lakshmi-Narayana
  • Offer tulsi leaves, lotus flowers, or water to the divine couple
  • Chant with devotion, visualizing Lakshmi and Narayana together
  • Ideal times: Brahma Muhurta, Fridays, Ekadashi, Diwali, Kartik month
  • Recite 1, 3, or 11 times for maximum spiritual benefit
  • Conclude with prayers for both spiritual wisdom and worldly well-being

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam

What is the Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam?

The Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam is a sacred eight-verse Sanskrit hymn that celebrates the divine union of Lord Narayana and Goddess Lakshmi. Beginning with "आर्तानां दुःखशमने" (Artanam Duhkhashamane), it praises the supreme Lord as the one consecrated to alleviating the suffering of the afflicted. Each verse ends with the refrain "अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं लक्ष्मीनारायणं भजे" — "I worship Lakshmi-Narayana for the cessation of all sorrows."

What is the significance of worshipping Lakshmi and Narayana together?

In Hindu philosophy, Lakshmi and Narayana represent the inseparable divine couple — Narayana is the supreme consciousness (Purusha) and Lakshmi is His eternal divine energy (Shakti/Prakriti). Together they represent the complete divine principle: Narayana embodies dharma, wisdom, and liberation, while Lakshmi embodies prosperity, grace, and nourishment. Worshipping them together invokes both spiritual liberation (moksha) and material well-being simultaneously.

What does the repeated refrain "अशेषदुःखशान्त्यर्थं" mean?

The phrase "Ashesha-duhkha-shantyartham" means "for the complete cessation of all sorrows without remainder." Breaking it down: अशेष (ashesha) = without remainder / all; दुःख (duhkha) = suffering / sorrow; शान्ति (shanti) = peace / cessation; अर्थम् (artham) = for the purpose of. This refrain appears in every verse, emphasizing that the primary purpose of this hymn is the total removal of all forms of suffering.

What benefits does reciting this ashtakam bestow?

According to the Phala Shruti, whoever rises early and recites this ashtakam is freed from all accumulated sins and attains Vishnu-loka (Vaikuntha). The hymn invokes the combined blessings of both Lakshmi and Narayana — granting prosperity, removal of poverty, protection in adversity, spiritual wisdom, marital harmony, and ultimate liberation. It is considered doubly powerful as it draws grace from both the Lord and His consort.

When is the best time to recite the Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam?

The Phala Shruti itself prescribes morning recitation (प्रातरुत्थाय / Pratah-utthaaya). The most auspicious times include Brahma Muhurta (pre-dawn), Fridays (sacred to Lakshmi), Ekadashi (sacred to Vishnu), during Diwali and Lakshmi Puja, in the month of Kartik, and during any Vishnu or Lakshmi festivals. It is also highly beneficial during financial hardships or when seeking marital harmony.

Can anyone recite the Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam?

Yes, this ashtakam is open to all devotees regardless of age, gender, or spiritual background. No special initiation (diksha) is required. The Vaishnava tradition holds that Lord Narayana and Goddess Lakshmi are accessible to all who approach them with sincere devotion. Even listening to this hymn with faith brings spiritual merit. It is an ideal prayer for householders seeking both material prosperity and spiritual growth.

Is Shri Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam available in Tamil lyrics?

Yes. This page includes Shri Lakshmi Narayana Ashtakam in Tamil (தமிழ்) script along with Sanskrit and English transliteration for easier chanting.