Shri Suktam
श्रीसूक्तम्
Shri Suktam is the oldest hymn to Goddess Lakshmi, a Vedic prayer of fifteen mantras from the khila (appendix) hymns of the Rig Veda. It asks Agni to bring Lakshmi, golden and never departing, into the home and to drive out poverty. A sixteenth verse, given here, tells the devotee to recite the fifteen mantras daily; families chant it at Lakshmi puja, on Fridays and on Diwali night.
- 16 verses
- 6 min
- Vedic (Rig Veda Khila); seers named in tradition as Ananda, Kardama, Chiklita and Shrida
- Best on Friday
Hiranyavarnam Harinim Suvarna Rajata Srajamहिरण्यवर्णां हरिणीं सुवर्णरजतस्रजाम्।
Chandram Hiranmayim Lakshmim Jatavedo Ma Avahaचन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह॥
O Jatavedas, bring to me Lakshmi, golden in colour and shining, who wears garlands of gold and silver, who is lovely as the moon and radiant as gold.
- Hiranyavarnamgolden in colour
- Harinimthe bright one; read by commentators as the remover of sorrow
- Suvarna Rajata Srajamwearing garlands of gold and silver
- Chandramlovely as the moon
- Hiranmayimgolden, made of light
- LakshmimLakshmi
- JatavedahO Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)
- Meto me
- Avahabring
Jatavedas is Agni, the sacred fire, "the one who knows all that is born". The hymn asks Agni to bring Lakshmi, since in Vedic worship the fire carries offerings and prayers to the gods.
Tam Ma Avaha Jatavedo Lakshmim Anapagaminimतां म आवह जातवेदो लक्ष्मीमनपगामिनीम्।
Yasyam Hiranyam Vindeyam Gamashvam Purushanahamयस्यां हिरण्यं विन्देयं गामश्वं पुरुषानहम्॥
O Jatavedas, bring to me that Lakshmi who never goes away, through whose grace I may gain gold, cattle, horses and people around me.
- Tamthat one, her
- Meto me
- Avahabring
- JatavedahO Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)
- LakshmimLakshmi
- Anapagaminimwho never goes away
- Yasyamthrough whom
- Hiranyamgold
- Vindeyammay I gain
- Gam Ashvamcattle and horses
- Purushan AhamI, people (family, helpers)
In Vedic times cattle and horses were the main forms of wealth, and "purusha" here means the people of a household: children, kin and helpers.
Ashvapurvam Rathamadhyam Hastinada Prabodhinimअश्वपूर्वां रथमध्यां हस्तिनादप्रबोधिनीम्।
Shriyam Devim Upahvaye Shrirma Devirjushatamश्रियं देवीमुपह्वये श्रीर्मादेवीर्जुषताम्॥
I invoke the goddess Shri, who has horses going before her and chariots around her, and whose coming is announced by the trumpeting of elephants. May the goddess Shri be gracious to me.
- Ashvapurvamwith horses going before her
- Rathamadhyamseated in the middle of chariots
- Hastinada Prabodhinimwhose coming is announced by the trumpeting of elephants
- ShriyamShri, the goddess of prosperity
- Devimthe goddess
- UpahvayeI invoke
- Shrih Ma Devi Jushatammay the goddess Shri be pleased with me
This verse is the root of the Gajalakshmi image, Lakshmi with elephants. The second line is printed as "श्रीर्मादेवीर्जुषताम्" in both our sources; it is read as श्रीः मा देवी जुषताम्.
Kam Sosmitam Hiranya Prakaram Ardram Jvalantim Triptam Tarpayantimकां सोस्मितां हिरण्यप्राकारामार्द्रां ज्वलन्तीं तृप्तां तर्पयन्तीम्।
Padme Sthitam Padmavarnam Tamihopahvaye Shriyamपद्मे स्थितां पद्मवर्णां तामिहोपह्वये श्रियम्॥
I invoke here that Shri who is joy itself, who smiles gently, who lives within walls of gold, who is tender with compassion and shining, content and making others content, who stands on a lotus and has the colour of a lotus.
- Kamwho is joy itself
- Sosmitamwith a gentle smile
- Hiranya Prakaramsurrounded by a wall of gold
- Ardramtender, moist with compassion
- Jvalantimshining
- Triptamcontent
- Tarpayantimwho makes others content
- Padme Sthitamstanding on a lotus
- Padmavarnamthe colour of a lotus
- Tamthat one, her
- Iha UpahvayeI invoke here
- ShriyamShri, the goddess of prosperity
"Kam" can also be read simply as "her"; traditional commentators explain it as "bliss" (ka = joy). Both sources print "सोस्मितां".
Chandram Prabhasam Yashasa Jvalantim Shriyam Loke Devajushtam Udaramचन्द्रां प्रभासां यशसा ज्वलन्तीं श्रियं लोके देवजुष्टामुदाराम्।
Tam Padminimim Sharanamaham Prapadye Alakshmirme Nashyatam Tvam Vrineतां पद्मिनीमीं शरणमहं प्रपद्येऽलक्ष्मीर्मे नश्यतां त्वां वृणे॥
I take refuge in Shri, lovely as the moon and radiant, blazing with fame, cherished by the gods in this world, generous, holding the lotus. May my misfortune perish. I choose you.
- Chandramlovely as the moon
- Prabhasamradiant
- Yashasa Jvalantimblazing with fame
- ShriyamShri, the goddess of prosperity
- Loke Devajushtamcherished by the gods in the world
- Udaramgenerous
- Padminim Imher who holds the lotus
- Sharanam Aham PrapadyeI take refuge
- Alakshmih Me Nashyatammay my misfortune perish
- Tvam VrineI choose you
Alakshmi, "un-Lakshmi", is the opposite of Lakshmi: poverty, misfortune and everything that drives prosperity away.
Adityavarne Tapasodhijato Vanaspatistava Vrikshotha Bilvahआदित्यवर्णे तपसोऽधिजातो वनस्पतिस्तव वृक्षोऽथ बिल्वः।
Tasya Phalani Tapasa Nudantu Mayantarayashcha Bahya Alakshmihतस्य फलानि तपसा नुदन्तु मायान्तरायाश्च बाह्या अलक्ष्मीः॥
O you who shine like the sun, from your tapas the bilva tree was born, lord of the forest and your own tree. May its fruits, by their sacred power, drive away the delusions within me and the misfortunes outside.
- AdityavarneO you who shine like the sun
- Tapasah Adhijatahborn from your tapas
- Vanaspatihlord of the forest
- Tava Vrikshahyour tree
- Atha Bilvahthe bilva
- Tasya Phalaniits fruits
- Tapasa Nudantumay they drive away by their power
- Mayah Antarahthe delusions within
- Cha Bahyah Alakshmihand misfortunes outside
The bilva (bael) tree is sacred to Lakshmi as well as to Shiva. This is why bilva leaves and fruit are offered in Lakshmi homa.
Upaitu Mam Devasakhah Kirtishcha Manina Sahaउपैतु मां देवसखः कीर्तिश्च मणिना सह।
Pradurbhutosmi Rashtresmin Kirtim Riddhim Dadatu Meप्रादुर्भूतोऽस्मि राष्ट्रेऽस्मिन् कीर्तिमृद्धिं ददातु मे॥
May the friend of the gods come to me, together with Kirti and the jewel. I am born in this land; may he grant me fame and prosperity.
- Upaitu Mammay he come to me
- Devasakhahthe friend of the gods (Kubera, as tradition explains)
- Kirtih Chaand Kirti, fame
- Manina Sahawith the jewel
- Pradurbhutah AsmiI am born
- Rashtre Asminin this land
- Kirtim Riddhimfame and prosperity
- Dadatu Memay he grant me
Traditional commentators take "the friend of the gods" to be Kubera, the treasurer of the gods and friend of Shiva, and the jewel as the gem of wealth he carries. Kirti, fame, is honoured as a goddess.
Kshutpipasamalam Jyeshtham Alakshmim Nashayamyahamक्षुत्पिपासामलां ज्येष्ठामलक्ष्मीं नाशयाम्यहम्।
Abhutim Asamriddhim Cha Sarvam Nirnuda Me Grihatअभूतिमसमृद्धिं च सर्वां निर्णुद मे गृहात्॥
I destroy Alakshmi, the elder sister, who is hunger, thirst and impurity. Drive out from my home all want and all poverty.
- Kshutpipasamalamwho is hunger, thirst and impurity
- Jyeshthamthe elder sister
- AlakshmimAlakshmi, misfortune
- Nashayami AhamI destroy
- Abhutimwant, lack of wealth
- Asamriddhimpoverty, failure to prosper
- Cha Sarvamand all of it
- Nirnuda Me Grihatdrive out from my home
Tradition says Alakshmi (also called Jyeshtha) rose from the churning of the ocean before Lakshmi, which is why she is called the elder sister.
Gandhadvaram Duradharsham Nityapushtam Karishinimगन्धद्वारां दुराधर्षां नित्यपुष्टां करीषिणीम्।
Ishvarim Sarvabhutanam Tamihopahvaye Shriyamईश्वरीं सर्वभूतानां तामिहोपह्वये श्रियम्॥
I invoke here Shri, who is known by her fragrance, whom none can overpower, who is ever abundant and rich in cattle and harvest, the sovereign of all beings.
- Gandhadvaramknown by her fragrance
- Duradharshamwhom none can overpower
- Nityapushtamever abundant
- Karishinimrich in cattle and harvest
- Ishvarimthe sovereign
- Sarvabhutanamof all beings
- Tamthat one, her
- Iha UpahvayeI invoke here
- ShriyamShri, the goddess of prosperity
Karishini comes from karisha, cow dung, which in a farming home was itself a sign of many cattle and fertile fields. In the Taittiriya way of chanting, "ईश्वरीं" before "स" is sounded "ईश्वरीग्ं"; our sources print this with a special sign, and we write the plain anusvara.
Manasah Kamam Akutim Vachah Satyam Ashimahiमनसः काममाकूतिं वाचः सत्यमशीमहि।
Pashunam Rupamannasya Mayi Shrih Shrayatam Yashahपशूनां रूपमन्नस्य मयि श्रीः श्रयतां यशः॥
May we gain the wishes of our mind, the intentions of our heart and truth in our speech. May the beauty of cattle and of food, prosperity and fame, come to dwell in me.
- Manasah Kamamthe wishes of the mind
- Akutimthe heart's intention
- Vachah Satyamtruth in speech
- Ashimahimay we attain
- Pashunam Rupamthe beauty of cattle
- Annasyaof food
- Mayi Shrayatammay it dwell in me
- Shrih Yashahprosperity and fame
Kardamena Prajabhuta Mayi Sambhava Kardamaकर्दमेन प्रजाभूता मयि सम्भव कर्दम।
Shriyam Vasaya Me Kule Mataram Padmamalinimश्रियं वासय मे कुले मातरं पद्ममालिनीम्॥
O Kardama, through you Lakshmi became a mother of children. Be present in me, Kardama, and make Shri, the mother who wears a lotus garland, dwell in my family.
- Kardamenathrough Kardama
- Prajabhutashe became a mother of children
- Mayi Sambhavabe present in me
- KardamaO Kardama
- ShriyamShri, the goddess of prosperity
- Vasaya Me Kulemake her dwell in my family
- Mataramthe mother
- Padmamalinimwho wears a lotus garland
Kardama and Chiklita (next verse) are named in tradition as sons of Shri and as seers of this hymn, along with Ananda and Shrida. Kardama literally means moist earth, Chiklita moisture.
Apah Srijantu Snigdhani Chiklita Vasa Me Griheआपः सृजन्तु स्निग्धानि चिक्लीत वस मे गृहे।
Ni Cha Devim Mataram Shriyam Vasaya Me Kuleनि च देवीं मातरं श्रियं वासय मे कुले॥
May the waters bring forth soft and nourishing things. O Chiklita, live in my home, and make the divine mother Shri dwell firmly in my family.
- Apah Srijantumay the waters bring forth
- Snigdhanisoft, nourishing things
- ChiklitaO Chiklita
- Vasa Me Grihelive in my home
- Ni Chaand firmly
- Devim Mataram Shriyamthe divine mother Shri
- Vasaya Me Kulemake her dwell in my family
Ardram Pushkarinim Pushtim Pingalam Padmamalinimआर्द्रां पुष्करिणीं पुष्टिं पिङ्गलां पद्ममालिनीम्।
Chandram Hiranmayim Lakshmim Jatavedo Ma Avahaचन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह॥
O Jatavedas, bring to me Lakshmi, tender with grace, the lady of the lotus pond, nourishment itself, golden-hued and wearing a lotus garland, lovely as the moon and radiant as gold.
- Ardramtender, moist with grace
- Pushkarinimof the lotus pond
- Pushtimnourishment itself
- Pingalamgolden-hued
- Padmamalinimwearing a lotus garland
- Chandramlovely as the moon
- Hiranmayimgolden, made of light
- LakshmimLakshmi
- JatavedahO Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)
- Meto me
- Avahabring
Some recitations swap the second halves of the first lines of mantras 13 and 14 ("suvarnam hemamalinim" / "pingalam padmamalinim"). Both of our sources have the order shown here.
Ardram Yah Karinim Yashtim Suvarnam Hemamalinimआर्द्रां यः करिणीं यष्टिं सुवर्णां हेममालिनीम्।
Suryam Hiranmayim Lakshmim Jatavedo Ma Avahaसूर्यां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह॥
O Jatavedas, bring to me Lakshmi, tender with grace, who holds the staff of rule, beautiful in colour, wearing a garland of gold, radiant like the sun and golden.
- Ardramtender, moist with grace
- Yah Karinim Yashtimwho holds the staff of rule in her hand
- Suvarnamof beautiful colour
- Hemamalinimwearing a garland of gold
- Suryamradiant like the sun
- Hiranmayimgolden, made of light
- LakshmimLakshmi
- JatavedahO Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)
- Meto me
- Avahabring
"यः करिणीं" is hard to read literally. Commentators explain it as "she who holds (the staff) in her hand", the yashti being a sceptre or staff of authority.
Tam Ma Avaha Jatavedo Lakshmim Anapagaminimतां म आवह जातवेदो लक्ष्मीमनपगामिनीम्।
Yasyam Hiranyam Prabhutam Gavo Dasyoshvan Vindeyam Purushanahamयस्यां हिरण्यं प्रभूतं गावो दास्योऽश्वान्विन्देयं पुरुषानहम्॥
O Jatavedas, bring to me that Lakshmi who never goes away, through whose grace I may gain gold in plenty, cows, helpers in the house, horses and people around me.
- Tamthat one, her
- Meto me
- Avahabring
- JatavedahO Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)
- LakshmimLakshmi
- Anapagaminimwho never goes away
- Yasyamthrough whom
- Hiranyamgold
- Prabhutamin plenty
- Gavahcows
- Dasyahhelpers in the house
- Ashvanhorses
- Vindeyammay I gain
- Purushan AhamI, people (family, helpers)
This is the fifteenth and last mantra of the hymn proper. It repeats mantra 2 with a longer list of blessings, closing the hymn where it began.
Yah Shuchih Prayato Bhutva Juhuyad Ajyam Anvahamयः शुचिः प्रयतो भूत्वा जुहुयादाज्यमन्वहम्।
Shriyah Panchadasharcham Cha Shrikamah Satatam Japetश्रियः पञ्चदशर्चं च श्रीकामः सततं जपेत्॥
Whoever longs for Shri should become pure and self-controlled, offer ghee into the fire every day, and always recite these fifteen richas of Shri.
- Yahwhoever
- Shuchih Prayatah Bhutvabeing pure and self-controlled
- Juhuyatoffers into the fire
- Ajyamghee
- Anvahamevery day
- Shriyah Panchadasharchamthese fifteen richas of Shri
- Shrikamahone who longs for Shri
- Satatam Japetshould always recite
This sixteenth verse is a phala (instruction and fruit) verse attached to the fifteen mantras. It itself speaks of "fifteen richas", which is why the hymn proper is counted as fifteen. Many South Indian recitations continue with further appended verses ("Padmanane padma uru", the Lakshmi Gayatri and others); we stop here. Both sources print "जुहुयादाज्य मन्वहम्" with a space; we join it as आज्यम् अन्वहम्.
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Questions
How many verses are in Shri Suktam?
Fifteen mantras make up the Vedic hymn. The sixteenth verse, "Yah shuchih prayato bhutva", says to recite these fifteen daily, so it is counted as a phala verse attached to them. Many South Indian books add more verses after it, which is why you will see counts like 16, 22 or 29.
Is Shri Suktam from the Rig Veda?
It comes from the khilani, hymns added to the Rig Veda and kept in the Bashkala recension. It is usually placed after hymn 5.87. It is very old and fully Vedic in language, but it is not part of the main ten-mandala Samhita.
Can I recite Shri Suktam on Diwali night after Lakshmi puja?
Yes, and many families do. It is traditionally chanted at the start of the puja while offering water, flowers or kumkum to the goddess, one offering per mantra. Reciting it again after the aarti, while the lamps are lit, is also common.
Do I need to know the Vedic svaras to chant it?
No. Most people at home recite it without svaras, as on this page, and tradition values devotion first. If you want to chant it the way priests do, with the rising and falling notes, learn it from a teacher.
What is Alakshmi?
Alakshmi is the opposite of Lakshmi: poverty, hunger, quarrels and misfortune. Tradition calls her Lakshmi's elder sister. Mantras 5, 6 and 8 ask that she leave the house so that Lakshmi can stay.
Source and review
Source: Shri Suktam (Rigvediya), sanskritdocuments.org s-sukta.itx and s-sukta-accent.itx (encoded and proofread by Avinash Sathaye, Shree, Anant Upadhyayula, Sunder Hattangadi); cross-checked line by line with "Prabhata Stotranidhi" (stotranidhi.com, Devanagari with svaras)
Mantras 1 to 15 are the Shri Sukta of the Rig Veda Khilani (Bashkala recension; appended after RV 5.87; Scheftelowitz, Die Apokryphen des Rgveda, 2.6). Verse 16 ("यः शुचिः प्रयतो भूत्वा") is the phala verse attached to it; it is not counted among the fifteen. Further appended verses ("पद्मानने पद्म ऊरू", "आनन्दः कर्दमः श्रीदश्चिक्लीत", the Lakshmi Gayatri and others), which both sources print after verse 16 in differing order, are left out. Vedic svara (accent) marks are omitted. The opening "ॐ" printed by sanskritdocuments.org is left out. Both sources agree word for word on mantras 1 to 16 once accents are removed. Spelling choices: "ईश्वरीं" for the sources' "ईश्वरीꣳ" / "ईश्वरीग्ं" (m9); "गन्धद्वारां" (stotranidhi) for "गंधद्वारां" (sanskritdocuments); "जुहुयादाज्यमन्वहम्" joined, where both sources print "जुहुयादाज्य मन्वहम्" (v16). Some traditions swap the half-lines "पिङ्गलां पद्ममालिनीम्" and "सुवर्णां हेममालिनीम्" between mantras 13 and 14 (with "चन्द्रां" and "सूर्यां"); both our sources have the order shown.
We checked the text line by line against the sources named here. The meanings are an AI-assisted draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet.
The meanings are our own first draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet. If you spot a mistake, please tell us.