How many total stanzas are there in the complete “Vande Mataram” poem?

The complete poem “Vande Mataram” by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay contains six stanzas in total. Written originally in Sanskrit and Bengali in his 1882 novel Anandamath, the poem praises the motherland, describing India as both divine and nurturing.

However, when “Vande Mataram” was adopted as the National Song of India, only the first two stanzas were officially recognized for national use. These two verses begin with “Vande Mataram” and describe India as a mother filled with rivers, fruits, and natural beauty a poetic image of the homeland.

The remaining four stanzas, though not part of the national version, continue to praise the spiritual power and courage of the land, personifying India as the goddess Durga.

Thus, the entire poem has six stanzas, but only the first two are sung or recited during national occasions. The poem’s full form still remains a major part of India’s cultural and historical identity, symbolizing devotion, freedom, and respect toward the nation.