Saraswathayashtakam
( An octet to the goddess of knowledge)
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
Amba, thwadeya pada pankaja pamsu lesa,
Sambanda banduratharaa rasana thwadheeyam,
Sambhayudhadhipadamapya amruthathi ramyam,
Nimbhayathe kimutha bhouma padani thasya. 1
Oh, Mother, for him
whose toungue is pretty,
By the contact with
the dust of lotus feet of yours,
Even the position of
Devendra,
Made pleasant with
holy things like nectar,
Tastes bitter and
what shall we say,
About any positions
in earth?
Matha, sthwadheya karunamrutha poorna drushti,
Pathakwachidwidhi vasan manuje na cheth syath,
Kaa thasya ghora api
dhabhyavaaharanidhra,
Bheethyadhikeshu sama bhavamupeyivalsu.
2
Oh Mother, If your
merciful nectar like looks,
Does not fully fall on a man,
What shall we tell
about him,
Who does not see even
differences,
In food, sleep and in
grades of fear?
Vani rema giri suthethi cha roopa bhedai,
Kshoni jusham vividha mangala maadha dhasi,
Naneeyaseem thava vibhuthimaho vivekthum,
Ksheenibhavathyakruthakopi vacha prapancha?
3
Mother, the world of
words in this earth,
Is just not
sufficient to describe Your greatness,
For you grant all
that is good for the earth,
In the forms of
Sarasvathi, Lakshmi and Parvathi.
Sarvagnatha giri sutha
kamithir vipaksha,
Garvachidhakusalathadivishad guroscha,
Charvaartha sabdha ghatana patutha kaveenaam,
Sarvam thwadheeya
karunaa kanika vivartha.
4
Mother, the all time
greatness of Lord Shiva,
The ability to kill
the pride in enemies
Of Guru, the teacher
of devas,
And the ability to
arrange words of the poets,
Are but different
forms of the drops of your mercy.
Mooka kavirjada iha prathi bhavadhagryo,
Bheekunda durbhalamadhir dharani vijhetha,
Nishkinchano nidhipadhir
bhavathi thwadheeya,
Mekam kadakshamavalambhya jagathsavithree. 5
Oh Goddess who is
mother of all earth,
By one mere merciful
look of yours,
A dumb man became a
poet,
A fool became the
first among the wise,
And a very poor man
becomes very rich.
Varnathmike , hima sudhakara sankha kunda,
Varnabhi rama thanu vallari viswa vandhye,
Karnatha deergha karunardhra kadaksha pathai,
Poorna akhilarthamima masu vidathsva devi. 6
Hey Goddess with a
colourful soul,
Whose body is as
white as the,
Snow, moon, conch and
Jasmine,
And who is worshipped
by the entire world,
Please rain a
merciful look on me,
From your eyes which
extend to your ears,
And make me fulfill
all my wishes.
Kalam kiyanthamayi they chararavindha,
Malambhya hantha vilapami vilolachetha,
Balam kurushwa krutha kruthyamimam Shubhiaka,
Moolam nidhaya karuardhra mapangamasmin. 7
For how long a time ,am
I crying,
Near the lotus like
feet of yours,
Oh Goddess ,who is
the source of all that is good,
Please be kind enough
to shower,
The merciful look of
yours,
So that this child
will become contented.
Ananda hethu mayi they karunaam vihaya,
Noonam na kinchidakhilesi vilokayami,
Dhoonam dayarhamagathim karunamruthadrai,
Renam shishum shishirayashu kadakshapathai.
8
Hey Goddess who is
the cause of my happiness,
Except for your
mercy, I do not see,
Anything in this
world to be happy,
And so please make
this child drench in cold,
From the rain of
mercy from your eyes.
For I am fit for your mercy,
And does not have any
one else.
Imam padedhya prayathasthavodhgha,
Mananya chetha jagatham jananya,
Sa vidhwadharadhitha pada peete,
Labhetha sarvam pursharthasartham.
9
He who reads the
prayer,
To the mother of all
the world,
Would become fit to
be worshipped by the wise,
And would get all
that is to be got.