वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ । निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥
Vakratunda Mahakaya
Va-kra-tun-da Ma-ha-ka-ya Sur-ya-ko-ti Sa-ma-pra-bha, Nir-vigh-nam Ku-ru Me De-va Sar-va-kar-ye-shu Sar-va-da
"O curved-trunk, mighty-bodied one, radiant as ten million suns — make my path free of obstacles"
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Meaning & Translation
Sanskrit
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ । निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥
Transliteration
Va-kra-tun-da Ma-ha-ka-ya Sur-ya-ko-ti Sa-ma-pra-bha, Nir-vigh-nam Ku-ru Me De-va Sar-va-kar-ye-shu Sar-va-da
Deity / Quality Invoked
Ganesha
Pronunciation
vah-krah-TOON-dah mah-hah-KAH-yah SOOR-yah-KOH-tee sah-mah-PRAH-bhah, neer-VEEG-num KOO-roo may DAY-vah sar-vah-KAR-yay-shoo sar-vah-DAH
Full Translation
This classical Sanskrit shloka addresses Ganesha as Vakratunda ("the one with the curved trunk") and Mahakaya ("the mighty-bodied one"), whose brilliance equals ten million suns. It then asks: "O Lord, make all my undertakings free of obstacles, always." It is among the most widely recited Ganesha verses in all of Hinduism.
Spiritual Significance
Unlike a seed-syllable mantra, this is a complete prayer — praise followed by petition. Reciting it before study, travel, work, or practice is a way of consciously dedicating the effort and asking that inner and outer obstacles be cleared. In chant practice its stately meter naturally slows and steadies the mind.
Cultural Context & History
The verse comes from the traditional Ganesha invocations recited at the opening of pujas and ceremonies across India, and generations of schoolchildren learn it as their first Sanskrit shloka. Deva Premal's setting on her album "Deva" (2018) brought it into Western mantra practice.