Stotra
Shri Saraswati Stotra
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An introduction to the stotra praising Saraswati, goddess of learning, recited by students and seekers. Compare the Sanskrit text with a trusted edition.
Hymn text
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना । या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा पूजिता सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥ १॥
दोर्भिर्युक्ता चतुर्भिः स्फटिकमणिमयीमक्षमालां दधाना हस्तेनैकेन पद्मं सितमपि च शुकं पुस्तकं चापरेण । भासा कुन्देन्दुशङ्खस्फटिकमणिनिभा भासमानाऽसमाना सा मे वाग्देवतेयं निवसतु वदने सर्वदा सुप्रसन्ना ॥ २॥
आशासु राशी भवदङ्गवल्लि भासैव दासीकृतदुग्धसिन्धुम् । मन्दस्मितैर्निन्दितशारदेन्दुं वन्देऽरविन्दासनसुन्दरि त्वाम् ॥ ३॥
शारदा शारदाम्बोजवदना वदनाम्बुजे । सर्वदा सर्वदास्माकं सन्निधिं सन्निधिं क्रियात् ॥ ४॥
सरस्वतीं च तां नौमि वागधिष्ठातृदेवताम् । देवत्वं प्रतिपद्यन्ते यदनुग्रहतो जनाः ॥ ५॥
पातु नो निकषग्रावा मतिहेम्नः सरस्वती । प्राज्ञेतरपरिच्छेदं वचसैव करोति या ॥ ६॥
शुद्धां ब्रह्मविचारसारपरमामाद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीं वीणापुस्तकधारिणीमभयदां जाड्यान्धकारापहाम् । हस्ते स्फाटिकमालिकां विदधतीं पद्मासने संस्थितां वन्दे तां परमेश्वरीं भगवतीं बुद्धिप्रदां शारदाम् ॥ ७॥
वीणाधरे विपुलमङ्गलदानशीलेभक्तार्तिनाशिनि विरिञ्चिहरीशवन्द्ये । कीर्तिप्रदेऽखिलमनोरथदे महार्हे विद्याप्रदायिनि सरस्वति नौमि नित्यम् ॥ ८॥
श्वेताब्जपूर्णविमलासनसंस्थिते हे श्वेताम्बरावृतमनोहरमञ्जुगात्रे । उद्यन्मनोज्ञसितपङ्कजमञ्जुलास्ये विद्याप्रदायिनि सरस्वति नौमि नित्यम् ॥ ९॥
मातस्त्वदीयपदपङ्कजभक्तियुक्ता ये त्वां भजन्ति निखिलानपरान्विहाय । ते निर्जरत्वमिह यान्तिकलेवरेण भूवह्निवायुगगनाम्बुविनिर्मितेन ॥ १०॥
मोहान्धकारभरिते हृदये मदीये मातः सदैव कुरु वासमुदारभावे । स्वीयाखिलावयवनिर्मलसुप्रभाभिः शीघ्रं विनाशय मनोगतमन्धकारम् ॥ ११॥
ब्रह्मा जगत् सृजति पालयतीन्दिरेशः शम्भुर्विनाशयति देवि तव प्रभावैः । न स्यात्कृपा यदि तव प्रकटप्रभावे न स्युः कथञ्चिदपि ते निजकार्यदक्षाः ॥ १२॥
लक्ष्मीर्मेधा धरा पुष्टिर्गौरीतुष्टिः प्रभा धृतिः । एताभिः पाहि तनुभिरष्टभिर्मां सरस्वति ॥ १३॥
सरस्वत्यै नमो नित्यं भद्रकाल्यै नमो नमः । वेदवेदान्तवेदाङ्गविद्यास्थानेभ्य एव च ॥ १४॥
सरस्वतिमहाभागे विद्ये कमललोचने । विद्यारूपे विशालाक्षि विद्यां देहि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ १५॥
यदक्षरपदभ्रष्टं मात्राहीनं च यद्भवेत् । तत्सर्वं क्षम्यतां देवि प्रसीद परमेश्वरि ॥ १६॥
Meaning
She who is white as jasmine, the moon, snow and a necklace of pearls; robed in pure white; whose hands are graced by the noble vīṇā; seated on a white lotus; ever worshipped by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva and the gods — may that blessed Sarasvatī, remover of all dullness, protect me.
Four-armed — bearing a rosary of crystal beads, a white lotus, a parrot and a book; radiant like jasmine, the moon, the conch and crystal, resplendent and peerless — may that Goddess of Speech, ever gracious, dwell upon my tongue.
O beauty of the lotus throne! The radiance of your vine-like form, spreading in masses through the quarters, makes even the milk-ocean its servant, and your gentle smiles put the autumn moon to shame — you I adore.
May Śāradā, her face an autumn lotus, the giver of all, ever make her treasured presence in the lotus of our mouths.
I praise that Sarasvatī, presiding deity of speech, by whose grace mortals attain even divinity.
May Sarasvatī, the touchstone of the gold of intellect, protect us — she who by speech alone reveals who is wise and who is not.
Pure, the supreme essence of inquiry into Brahman, primordial, pervading the world; bearing vīṇā and book, granting fearlessness, dispelling the darkness of dullness; holding a crystal rosary, seated on the lotus — that supreme Goddess Śāradā, giver of intelligence, I adore.
O bearer of the vīṇā, bestower of abundant blessings, destroyer of devotees' distress, revered by Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva! Giver of fame, fulfiller of every wish, most worshipful, bestower of learning — Sarasvatī, I praise you for ever.
O seated on the spotless throne of a full-blown white lotus! Of lovely, tender form wrapped in white raiment! Your beautiful face a fresh white lotus opening! O bestower of learning, Sarasvatī, I praise you for ever.
O Mother! Those who, devoted to your lotus feet, worship you leaving all others aside, attain immortality here itself — even in this body made of earth, fire, air, ether and water.
O generous Mother! Make your dwelling for ever in this heart of mine, filled with the darkness of delusion, and with the pure radiance of your whole being swiftly destroy the darkness within my mind.
O Goddess! By your power Brahmā creates the world, Viṣṇu sustains it and Śambhu dissolves it; were your grace absent, O you of manifest might, not one of them could accomplish his task at all.
O Sarasvatī! With these your eight forms — Lakṣmī, Medhā, Dharā, Puṣṭi, Gaurī, Tuṣṭi, Prabhā and Dhṛti — protect me.
Salutations ever to Sarasvatī, salutations again and again to Bhadrakālī; and salutations to the Vedas, Vedānta, Vedāṅgas and all abodes of learning.
O most blessed Sarasvatī, learning itself, lotus-eyed! O embodiment of knowledge, large-eyed one! Grant me learning — salutations to you.
Whatever syllable or word has slipped, whatever vowel-measure is lacking — forgive it all, O Goddess; be gracious, O supreme Queen.