Saraswathyashtakam
(Octet on Saraswathi)
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
Amba thwadeeya pada pankaja pamsu lesa,
Sambanda bandhurathara rasana yadheeya,
Sambhayudhadhi padam amruthadhi ramyam,
Nimbhayathe kimutha bhouma padani yasya. 1
Mother, he whose toungue is made pretty,
By contact with the dust of your lotus like feet,
Would find the position of Indra who can taste,
The pretty nectar and other tastier objects,
As bitter as that of the nimba fruits.
Matha sthwadeeya karunamrutha poorna drushti,
Patha kwachidhwidhi vasan manuje na cheth syath,
Kaa thasya ghorapibhidhabhyavahara nidhra,
Bheethyadhikeshu sama bhavamupeyivathsu. 2
Mother what can we talk about him,
On whom your merciful look has not fallen,
For he will not find any difference whatsoever,
Between food, sleep and emotions like fear.
Vanee rema giri suthedhi cha roopa bhedai,
Kshoni jusham vividha mangalamadha dasi,
Naneeyaseem thava vibhuthimaho vivekthum,
Ksheeni bhavathya krutha kopi vacha prapancha. 3
You take the forms of Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvathi,
And bless the people of earth with different good things,
And so I find that the words that I know are not enough,
To describe your limitless fame which is wonderful.
Sarvagnatha giri sutha kamathir vipaksha,
Garva chidha kusalatha divishdguroscha,
Charvartha sabdha gatana patutha kaveenaam,
Sarvam thwadheeya karuna kanika vivartha. 4
The all knowing nature of the consort of Parvathi,
The power of Jupiter* to suppress the pride of his enemies,
And the great command of poets over words,
Are but only a drop of thine merciful nature.
* The teacher of devas
Mookakavir jada iha prathi bhavad yogyo,
Bheekunta durbhala mathir dharani vijeetha,
Nishkinchano nidhi pathir bhavathi thwadeeya,
Ekam kadakshamavalambya jagath savithree. 5
Mother by one look from your merciful eyes,
The Dumb man becomes a great poet,
The dimwitted becomes the leader of the learned,
And the very poor one becomes like the Lord of wealth.
Varnathmike , hima sudhakara sankha kunda,
Varnabhiramathanuvallari viswa vandhye,
Karnatha dheerga karunardhra kadaksha pathai,
Poornakhilartha mimamasu vidhatswa devi. 6
Hey mother who is the soul of the colours,
Who is with the shine of white of snow, moon, conch
And jasmine flowers , please fulfill all my desires,
By the looks from your long eyes made wet by your mercy .
Kalam kiyantha mayi they charanaravindha,
Maalambhya hantha vilapami viloloa chetha,
Balam kurusha kruthakruthamimam shbhaika,
Moolam nidhaya karunardhrapangamasmin. 7
How much time has past in my depending on your feet,
And how much time has been spent by me crying,
So let your merciful look fall on this lad and make him,
Happy and make him , happy and contented.
Ananda hethu mayee , they karunam vihaya.
Noonam na kinchid akhilesi vilokayami,
Dhoonam dayarhamagathim karunamathardgrai
Renam sisum sishirayasu kadaksha pathai. 8
I do not see any source of happiness except your mercy,
And Oh goddess of the universe, please cool this lad,
Who is suffering, who does not have any other hope.
And who is fit for receiving your mercy with your mere glance.
Imam patedhya prayathsthavodhga,
Mananya chetha jagatham jananya,
Savidhwadhradhitha pada peeto,
Labhetha sarvam purusharthasartham. 9
He who reads this prayer,
Addressed to the mother of the universe,
Who has incomparable grace,
Would be worshipped by all wise men,
And would get all the great wealth of this world.