Shri Suktam in Malayalam

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.

ഹിരണ്യവർണാം Hiranyavarnam

golden in colour

ഹരിണീം Harinim

the bright one; read by commentators as the remover of sorrow

സുവർണരജതസ്രജാം Suvarna Rajata Srajam

wearing garlands of gold and silver

ചന്ദ്രാം Chandram

lovely as the moon

ഹിരണ്മയീം Hiranmayim

golden, made of light

ലക്ഷ്മീം Lakshmim

Lakshmi

ജാതവേദഃ Jatavedah

O Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)

മേ Me

to me

ആവഹ Avaha

bring

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.

O Jatavedas, bring to me that Lakshmi who never goes away, through whose grace I may gain gold, cattle, horses and people around me.

താം Tam

that one, her

മേ Me

to me

ആവഹ Avaha

bring

ജാതവേദഃ Jatavedah

O Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)

ലക്ഷ്മീം Lakshmim

Lakshmi

അനപഗാമിനീം Anapagaminim

who never goes away

യസ്യാം Yasyam

through whom

ഹിരണ്യം Hiranyam

gold

വിന്ദേയം Vindeyam

may I gain

ഗാം അശ്വം Gam Ashvam

cattle and horses

പുരുഷാൻ അഹം Purushan Aham

I, 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.

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.

അശ്വപൂർവാം Ashvapurvam

with horses going before her

രഥമധ്യാം Rathamadhyam

seated in the middle of chariots

ഹസ്തിനാദപ്രബോധിനീം Hastinada Prabodhinim

whose coming is announced by the trumpeting of elephants

ശ്രിയം Shriyam

Shri, the goddess of prosperity

ദേവീം Devim

the goddess

ഉപഹ്വയേ Upahvaye

I invoke

ശ്രീഃ മാ ദേവീ ജുഷതാം Shrih Ma Devi Jushatam

may 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.

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.

കാം Kam

who is joy itself

സോസ്മിതാം Sosmitam

with a gentle smile

ഹിരണ്യപ്രാകാരാം Hiranya Prakaram

surrounded by a wall of gold

ആർദ്രാം Ardram

tender, moist with compassion

ജ്വലന്തീം Jvalantim

shining

തൃപ്താം Triptam

content

തർപയന്തീം Tarpayantim

who makes others content

പദ്മേ സ്ഥിതാം Padme Sthitam

standing on a lotus

പദ്മവർണാം Padmavarnam

the colour of a lotus

താം Tam

that one, her

ഇഹ ഉപഹ്വയേ Iha Upahvaye

I invoke here

ശ്രിയം Shriyam

Shri, the goddess of prosperity

"Kam" can also be read simply as "her"; traditional commentators explain it as "bliss" (ka = joy). Both sources print "सोस्मितां".

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.

ചന്ദ്രാം Chandram

lovely as the moon

പ്രഭാസാം Prabhasam

radiant

യശസാ ജ്വലന്തീം Yashasa Jvalantim

blazing with fame

ശ്രിയം Shriyam

Shri, the goddess of prosperity

ലോകേ ദേവജുഷ്ടാം Loke Devajushtam

cherished by the gods in the world

ഉദാരാം Udaram

generous

പദ്മിനീം ഈം Padminim Im

her who holds the lotus

ശരണം അഹം പ്രപദ്യേ Sharanam Aham Prapadye

I take refuge

അലക്ഷ്മീഃ മേ നശ്യതാം Alakshmih Me Nashyatam

may my misfortune perish

ത്വാം വൃണേ Tvam Vrine

I choose you

Alakshmi, "un-Lakshmi", is the opposite of Lakshmi: poverty, misfortune and everything that drives prosperity away.

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.

ആദിത്യവർണേ Adityavarne

O you who shine like the sun

തപസഃ അധിജാതഃ Tapasah Adhijatah

born from your tapas

വനസ്പതിഃ Vanaspatih

lord of the forest

തവ വൃക്ഷഃ Tava Vrikshah

your tree

അഥ ബില്വഃ Atha Bilvah

the bilva

തസ്യ ഫലാനി Tasya Phalani

its fruits

തപസാ നുദന്തു Tapasa Nudantu

may they drive away by their power

മായാഃ അന്തരാഃ Mayah Antarah

the delusions within

ച ബാഹ്യാഃ അലക്ഷ്മീഃ Cha Bahyah Alakshmih

and 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.

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.

ഉപൈതു മാം Upaitu Mam

may he come to me

ദേവസഖഃ Devasakhah

the friend of the gods (Kubera, as tradition explains)

കീർതിഃ ച Kirtih Cha

and Kirti, fame

മണിനാ സഹ Manina Saha

with the jewel

പ്രാദുർഭൂതഃ അസ്മി Pradurbhutah Asmi

I am born

രാഷ്ട്രേ അസ്മിൻ Rashtre Asmin

in this land

കീർതിം ഋദ്ധിം Kirtim Riddhim

fame and prosperity

ദദാതു മേ Dadatu Me

may 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.

I destroy Alakshmi, the elder sister, who is hunger, thirst and impurity. Drive out from my home all want and all poverty.

ക്ഷുത്പിപാസാമലാം Kshutpipasamalam

who is hunger, thirst and impurity

ജ്യേഷ്ഠാം Jyeshtham

the elder sister

അലക്ഷ്മീം Alakshmim

Alakshmi, misfortune

നാശയാമി അഹം Nashayami Aham

I destroy

അഭൂതിം Abhutim

want, lack of wealth

അസമൃദ്ധിം Asamriddhim

poverty, failure to prosper

ച സർവാം Cha Sarvam

and all of it

നിർണുദ മേ ഗൃഹാത് Nirnuda Me Grihat

drive 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.

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.

ഗന്ധദ്വാരാം Gandhadvaram

known by her fragrance

ദുരാധർഷാം Duradharsham

whom none can overpower

നിത്യപുഷ്ടാം Nityapushtam

ever abundant

കരീഷിണീം Karishinim

rich in cattle and harvest

ഈശ്വരീം Ishvarim

the sovereign

സർവഭൂതാനാം Sarvabhutanam

of all beings

താം Tam

that one, her

ഇഹ ഉപഹ്വയേ Iha Upahvaye

I invoke here

ശ്രിയം Shriyam

Shri, 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.

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.

മനസഃ കാമം Manasah Kamam

the wishes of the mind

ആകൂതിം Akutim

the heart's intention

വാചഃ സത്യം Vachah Satyam

truth in speech

അശീമഹി Ashimahi

may we attain

പശൂനാം രൂപം Pashunam Rupam

the beauty of cattle

അന്നസ്യ Annasya

of food

മയി ശ്രയതാം Mayi Shrayatam

may it dwell in me

ശ്രീഃ യശഃ Shrih Yashah

prosperity and fame

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.

കർദമേന Kardamena

through Kardama

പ്രജാഭൂതാ Prajabhuta

she became a mother of children

മയി സംഭവ Mayi Sambhava

be present in me

കർദമ Kardama

O Kardama

ശ്രിയം Shriyam

Shri, the goddess of prosperity

വാസയ മേ കുലേ Vasaya Me Kule

make her dwell in my family

മാതരം Mataram

the mother

പദ്മമാലിനീം Padmamalinim

who 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.

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.

ആപഃ സൃജന്തു Apah Srijantu

may the waters bring forth

സ്നിഗ്ധാനി Snigdhani

soft, nourishing things

ചിക്ലീത Chiklita

O Chiklita

വസ മേ ഗൃഹേ Vasa Me Grihe

live in my home

നി ച Ni Cha

and firmly

ദേവീം മാതരം ശ്രിയം Devim Mataram Shriyam

the divine mother Shri

വാസയ മേ കുലേ Vasaya Me Kule

make her dwell in my family

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.

ആർദ്രാം Ardram

tender, moist with grace

പുഷ്കരിണീം Pushkarinim

of the lotus pond

പുഷ്ടിം Pushtim

nourishment itself

പിംഗലാം Pingalam

golden-hued

പദ്മമാലിനീം Padmamalinim

wearing a lotus garland

ചന്ദ്രാം Chandram

lovely as the moon

ഹിരണ്മയീം Hiranmayim

golden, made of light

ലക്ഷ്മീം Lakshmim

Lakshmi

ജാതവേദഃ Jatavedah

O Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)

മേ Me

to me

ആവഹ Avaha

bring

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.

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.

ആർദ്രാം Ardram

tender, moist with grace

യഃ കരിണീം യഷ്ടിം Yah Karinim Yashtim

who holds the staff of rule in her hand

സുവർണാം Suvarnam

of beautiful colour

ഹേമമാലിനീം Hemamalinim

wearing a garland of gold

സൂര്യാം Suryam

radiant like the sun

ഹിരണ്മയീം Hiranmayim

golden, made of light

ലക്ഷ്മീം Lakshmim

Lakshmi

ജാതവേദഃ Jatavedah

O Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)

മേ Me

to me

ആവഹ Avaha

bring

"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.

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.

താം Tam

that one, her

മേ Me

to me

ആവഹ Avaha

bring

ജാതവേദഃ Jatavedah

O Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)

ലക്ഷ്മീം Lakshmim

Lakshmi

അനപഗാമിനീം Anapagaminim

who never goes away

യസ്യാം Yasyam

through whom

ഹിരണ്യം Hiranyam

gold

പ്രഭൂതം Prabhutam

in plenty

ഗാവഃ Gavah

cows

ദാസ്യഃ Dasyah

helpers in the house

അശ്വാൻ Ashvan

horses

വിന്ദേയം Vindeyam

may I gain

പുരുഷാൻ അഹം Purushan Aham

I, 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.