Mahalakshmi Ashtakam in Bengali
মহালক্ষ্ম্যষ্টকম্
Mahalakshmi Ashtakam is a short Sanskrit hymn of eight verses in which Indra praises Goddess Mahalakshmi. Below is the complete Mahalakshmi Ashtakam in Bengali script, every line also in English letters, with the meaning of each verse in simple English.
- Bengali script
- 11 verses
- 3 min
- Traditional; spoken by Indra (said to be from the Padma Purana)
- Best on Friday
Recite line by line, listen, count with a mala. The reader opens in Bengali.
নমস্তেঽস্তু মহামায়ে শ্রীপীঠে সুরপূজিতে। Namastestu Mahamaye Shri Peethe Sura Poojite
শঙ্খচক্রগদাহস্তে মহালক্ষ্মি নমোঽস্তু তে॥ Shankha Chakra Gada Haste Mahalakshmi Namostu Te
Meaning
Salutations to you, O Mahamaya, seated on the throne of Shri and worshipped by the gods. You hold the conch, the discus and the mace in your hands. O Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
- নমস্তেঽস্তু Namastestu
- salutations be to you
- মহামায়ে Mahamaye
- O great Maya, the Lord's wondrous power
- শ্রীপীঠে Shri Peethe
- O you seated on the throne of Shri
- সুরপূজিতে Sura Poojite
- worshipped by the gods
- শঙ্খচক্রগদাহস্তে Shankha Chakra Gada Haste
- holding conch, discus and mace in your hands
- মহালক্ষ্মি Mahalakshmi
- O Mahalakshmi
- নমোঽস্তু তে Namostu Te
- salutations to you
Indra speaks this hymn. Shri Peetha, "the seat of Shri", is read by many as Kolhapur (Karavira), where Mahalakshmi is worshipped as Ambabai. Conch, discus and mace are the emblems she shares with Vishnu.
নমস্তে গরুডারূঢে কোলাসুরভয়ঙ্করি। Namaste Garudarudhe Kolasura Bhayankari
সর্বপাপহরে দেবি মহালক্ষ্মি নমোঽস্তু তে॥ Sarva Papa Hare Devi Mahalakshmi Namostu Te
Meaning
Salutations to you who ride on Garuda, you who struck terror into the demon Kolasura. O Goddess who takes away every sin, O Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
- নমস্তে Namaste
- salutations to you
- গরুডারূঢে Garudarudhe
- O rider on Garuda
- কোলাসুরভয়ঙ্করি Kolasura Bhayankari
- terror of the demon Kolasura
- সর্বপাপহরে Sarva Papa Hare
- remover of all sins
- দেবি Devi
- O Goddess
- মহালক্ষ্মি Mahalakshmi
- O Mahalakshmi
- নমোঽস্তু তে Namostu Te
- salutations to you
Kolasura is the demon whom, according to the Karavira Mahatmya, Mahalakshmi defeated at Kolhapur. The city's name is linked to him.
সর্বজ্ঞে সর্ববরদে সর্বদুষ্টভয়ঙ্করি। Sarvagye Sarva Varade Sarva Dushta Bhayankari
সর্বদুঃখহরে দেবি মহালক্ষ্মি নমোঽস্তু তে॥ Sarva Duhkha Hare Devi Mahalakshmi Namostu Te
Meaning
You know all things and grant every boon, and all wicked beings fear you. O Goddess who removes all sorrow, O Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
- সর্বজ্ঞে Sarvagye
- O all-knowing one
- সর্ববরদে Sarva Varade
- giver of every boon
- সর্বদুষ্টভয়ঙ্করি Sarva Dushta Bhayankari
- terror of all the wicked
- সর্বদুঃখহরে Sarva Duhkha Hare
- remover of all sorrow
- দেবি Devi
- O Goddess
- মহালক্ষ্মি Mahalakshmi
- O Mahalakshmi
- নমোঽস্তু তে Namostu Te
- salutations to you
সিদ্ধিবুদ্ধিপ্রদে দেবি ভুক্তিমুক্তিপ্রদায়িনি। Siddhi Buddhi Prade Devi Bhukti Mukti Pradayini
মন্ত্রমূর্তে সদা দেবি মহালক্ষ্মি নমোঽস্তু তে॥ Mantra Murte Sada Devi Mahalakshmi Namostu Te
Meaning
O Goddess, you give success and wisdom, and you grant both the joys of this world and liberation. You are present always in the form of the mantra. O Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
- সিদ্ধিবুদ্ধিপ্রদে Siddhi Buddhi Prade
- giver of success and wisdom
- দেবি Devi
- O Goddess
- ভুক্তিমুক্তিপ্রদায়িনি Bhukti Mukti Pradayini
- bestower of worldly joy and liberation
- মন্ত্রমূর্তে Mantra Murte
- O you whose form is the mantra
- সদা Sada
- always
- দেবি Devi
- O Goddess
- মহালক্ষ্মি Mahalakshmi
- O Mahalakshmi
- নমোঽস্তু তে Namostu Te
- salutations to you
Some books read "मन्त्रपूते" (purified by mantra) for "मन्त्रमूर्ते" (whose form is the mantra).
আদ্যন্তরহিতে দেবি আদ্যশক্তিমহেশ্বরি। Adyanta Rahite Devi Adya Shakti Maheshwari
যোগজে যোগসম্ভূতে মহালক্ষ্মি নমোঽস্তু তে॥ Yogaje Yoga Sambhute Mahalakshmi Namostu Te
Meaning
O Goddess without beginning or end, primal power and great sovereign, you are born of yoga and revealed through yoga. O Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
- আদ্যন্তরহিতে Adyanta Rahite
- without beginning or end
- দেবি Devi
- O Goddess
- আদ্যশক্তিমহেশ্বরি Adya Shakti Maheshwari
- primal power, great sovereign
- যোগজে Yogaje
- born of yoga
- যোগসম্ভূতে Yoga Sambhute
- revealed through yoga
- মহালক্ষ্মি Mahalakshmi
- O Mahalakshmi
- নমোঽস্তু তে Namostu Te
- salutations to you
stotranidhi.com notes "योगज्ञे" (knower of yoga) as a variant of "योगजे".
স্থূলসূক্ষ্মমহারৌদ্রে মহাশক্তে মহোদরে। Sthula Sukshma Maharaudre Mahashakte Mahodare
মহাপাপহরে দেবি মহালক্ষ্মি নমোঽস্তু তে॥ Maha Papa Hare Devi Mahalakshmi Namostu Te
Meaning
You are the gross and the subtle, and you are fierce beyond measure. O great power whose womb holds the universe, O Goddess who removes the gravest sins, O Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
- স্থূলসূক্ষ্মমহারৌদ্রে Sthula Sukshma Maharaudre
- gross and subtle, and fierce beyond measure
- মহাশক্তে Mahashakte
- O great power
- মহোদরে Mahodare
- whose womb holds the universe
- মহাপাপহরে Maha Papa Hare
- remover of the gravest sins
- দেবি Devi
- O Goddess
- মহালক্ষ্মি Mahalakshmi
- O Mahalakshmi
- নমোঽস্তু তে Namostu Te
- salutations to you
sanskritdocuments.org prints "महाशक्ति"; we follow stotranidhi.com, which has the vocative "महाशक्ते" that the grammar of the line needs.
পদ্মাসনস্থিতে দেবি পরব্রহ্মস্বরূপিণি। Padmasana Sthite Devi Parabrahma Swaroopini
পরমেশি জগন্মাতর্মহালক্ষ্মি নমোঽস্তু তে॥ Parameshi Jaganmatar Mahalakshmi Namostu Te
Meaning
O Goddess seated on the lotus, you are the Supreme Brahman itself. O supreme Lady, Mother of the world, O Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
- পদ্মাসনস্থিতে Padmasana Sthite
- seated on a lotus
- দেবি Devi
- O Goddess
- পরব্রহ্মস্বরূপিণি Parabrahma Swaroopini
- whose very nature is the Supreme Brahman
- পরমেশি Parameshi
- O supreme Lady
- জগন্মাতঃ Jaganmatah
- O Mother of the world
- মহালক্ষ্মি Mahalakshmi
- O Mahalakshmi
- নমোঽস্তু তে Namostu Te
- salutations to you
sanskritdocuments.org prints "जगन्माता" here; stotranidhi.com has "जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि", the vocative joined by sandhi, as in verse 8. We follow stotranidhi.com.
শ্বেতাম্বরধরে দেবি নানালঙ্কারভূষিতে। Shvetambara Dhare Devi Nanalankara Bhushite
জগৎস্থিতে জগন্মাতর্মহালক্ষ্মি নমোঽস্তু তে॥ Jagatsthite Jaganmatar Mahalakshmi Namostu Te
Meaning
O Goddess dressed in white and adorned with many ornaments, you are present throughout the world and you are its Mother. O Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
- শ্বেতাম্বরধরে Shvetambara Dhare
- dressed in white
- দেবি Devi
- O Goddess
- নানালঙ্কারভূষিতে Nanalankara Bhushite
- adorned with many ornaments
- জগৎস্থিতে Jagatsthite
- present throughout the world
- জগন্মাতঃ Jaganmatah
- O Mother of the world
- মহালক্ষ্মি Mahalakshmi
- O Mahalakshmi
- নমোঽস্তু তে Namostu Te
- salutations to you
মহালক্ষ্ম্যষ্টকং স্তোত্রং যঃ পঠেদ্ভক্তিমান্নরঃ। Mahalakshmyashtakam Stotram Yah Pathed Bhaktiman Narah
সর্বসিদ্ধিমবাপ্নোতি রাজ্যং প্রাপ্নোতি সর্বদা॥ Sarva Siddhim Avapnoti Rajyam Prapnoti Sarvada
Meaning
The devotee who recites this hymn of eight verses to Mahalakshmi gains every kind of success and always attains sovereignty.
- মহালক্ষ্ম্যষ্টকং স্তোত্রং Mahalakshmyashtakam Stotram
- this hymn of eight verses to Mahalakshmi
- যঃ Yah
- whoever
- পঠেৎ Pathet
- recites
- ভক্তিমান্ Bhaktiman
- with devotion
- নরঃ Narah
- a person
- সর্বসিদ্ধিম্ Sarva Siddhim
- every success
- অবাপ্নোতি Avapnoti
- attains
- রাজ্যং Rajyam
- sovereignty, a kingdom
- প্রাপ্নোতি Prapnoti
- gains
- সর্বদা Sarvada
- always
The phalashruti ("fruit of hearing") gives the merit that tradition attaches to the hymn. These are statements of faith.
এককালং পঠেন্নিত্যং মহাপাপবিনাশনম্। Ekakalam Pathen Nityam Maha Papa Vinashanam
দ্বিকালং যঃ পঠেন্নিত্যং ধনধান্যসমন্বিতঃ॥ Dvikalam Yah Pathen Nityam Dhana Dhanya Samanvitah
Meaning
Reciting it once every day destroys great sins. One who recites it twice a day is blessed with wealth and grain.
- এককালং Ekakalam
- once a day
- পঠেৎ Pathet
- should recite
- নিত্যং Nityam
- every day
- মহাপাপবিনাশনম্ Maha Papa Vinashanam
- destruction of great sins
- দ্বিকালং Dvikalam
- twice a day
- ধনধান্যসমন্বিতঃ Dhana Dhanya Samanvitah
- blessed with wealth and grain
sanskritdocuments.org reads "एककाले"; stotranidhi.com reads "एककालं", matching "द्विकालं" and "त्रिकालं". We follow stotranidhi.com.
ত্রিকালং যঃ পঠেন্নিত্যং মহাশত্রুবিনাশনম্। Trikalam Yah Pathen Nityam Maha Shatru Vinashanam
মহালক্ষ্মীর্ভবেন্নিত্যং প্রসন্না বরদা শুভা॥ Mahalakshmir Bhaven Nityam Prasanna Varada Shubha
Meaning
For one who recites it three times a day, great enemies are destroyed, and Mahalakshmi, auspicious and generous with boons, is always pleased with that person.
- ত্রিকালং Trikalam
- three times a day
- যঃ পঠেন্নিত্যং Yah Pathen Nityam
- whoever recites every day
- মহাশত্রুবিনাশনম্ Maha Shatru Vinashanam
- destruction of great enemies
- মহালক্ষ্মীঃ Mahalakshmih
- Mahalakshmi
- ভবেৎ Bhavet
- becomes
- নিত্যং Nityam
- always
- প্রসন্না Prasanna
- pleased
- বরদা Varada
- giver of boons
- শুভা Shubha
- auspicious
About Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
The hymn opens with the words "Indra uvacha", "Indra said". Tradition places it in the Padma Purana, though printed booklets rarely give a chapter, and we have not traced it in a critical edition. In eight short verses Indra greets Mahalakshmi as Mahamaya, the rider on Garuda, the slayer of Kolasura, the giver of both worldly joy and liberation, and the Supreme Brahman seated on a lotus.
Questions
Is this the same Mahalakshmi Ashtakam that is sung in Hindi?
Yes. These are the same Sanskrit words, written in Bengali letters so you can read them aloud. It is a transliteration, not a translation into Bengali. The meaning of each verse is given in English.
How was the Bengali text prepared?
We keep one checked Devanagari edition (Mahalakshmyashtakam as printed in "Prabhata Stotranidhi" (stotranidhi.com, Devanagari); cross-checked line by line with sanskritdocuments.org mahaalakshmyashhTakaM (Indra-krita, with meaning)) and write it in Bengali letters with fixed spelling rules, so every verse matches the original letter for letter. The English-letter line is the common singing spelling.