Shri Suktam in Punjabi

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.

ਹਿਰਣ੍ਯਵਰ੍ਣਾਮ੍ Hiranyavarnam

golden in colour

ਹਰਿਣੀਮ੍ Harinim

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

ਸੁਵਰ੍ਣਰਜਤਸ੍ਰਜਾਮ੍ Suvarna Rajata Srajam

wearing garlands of gold and silver

ਚੰਦ੍ਰਾਮ੍ Chandram

lovely as the moon

ਹਿਰਣ੍ਮਯੀਮ੍ Hiranmayim

golden, made of light

ਲਕ੍ਸ਼੍ਮੀਮ੍ Lakshmim

Lakshmi

ਜਾਤਵੇਦਃ Jatavedah

O Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)

ਮੇ Me

to me

ਆਵਹ 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.

ਤਾਮ੍ Tam

that one, her

ਮੇ Me

to me

ਆਵਹ Avaha

bring

ਜਾਤਵੇਦਃ Jatavedah

O Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)

ਲਕ੍ਸ਼੍ਮੀਮ੍ Lakshmim

Lakshmi

ਅਨਪਗਾਮਿਨੀਮ੍ Anapagaminim

who never goes away

ਯਸ੍ਯਾਮ੍ Yasyam

through whom

ਹਿਰਣ੍ਯਮ੍ Hiranyam

gold

ਵਿੰਦੇਯਮ੍ Vindeyam

may I gain

ਗਾਮ੍ ਅਸ਼੍ਵਮ੍ Gam Ashvam

cattle and horses

ਪੁਰੁਸ਼ਾਨ੍ ਅਹਮ੍ 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.

ਅਸ਼੍ਵਪੂਰ੍ਵਾਮ੍ Ashvapurvam

with horses going before her

ਰਥਮਧ੍ਯਾਮ੍ Rathamadhyam

seated in the middle of chariots

ਹਸ੍ਤਿਨਾਦਪ੍ਰਬੋਧਿਨੀਮ੍ Hastinada Prabodhinim

whose coming is announced by the trumpeting of elephants

ਸ਼੍ਰਿਯਮ੍ Shriyam

Shri, the goddess of prosperity

ਦੇਵੀਮ੍ Devim

the goddess

ਉਪਹ੍ਵਯੇ Upahvaye

I invoke

ਸ਼੍ਰੀਃ ਮਾ ਦੇਵੀ ਜੁਸ਼ਤਾਮ੍ 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.

ਕਾਮ੍ Kam

who is joy itself

ਸੋਸ੍ਮਿਤਾਮ੍ Sosmitam

with a gentle smile

ਹਿਰਣ੍ਯਪ੍ਰਾਕਾਰਾਮ੍ Hiranya Prakaram

surrounded by a wall of gold

ਆਰ੍ਦ੍ਰਾਮ੍ Ardram

tender, moist with compassion

ਜ੍ਵਲੰਤੀਮ੍ Jvalantim

shining

ਤ੍ਰਿਪ੍ਤਾਮ੍ Triptam

content

ਤਰ੍ਪਯੰਤੀਮ੍ Tarpayantim

who makes others content

ਪਦ੍ਮੇ ਸ੍ਥਿਤਾਮ੍ Padme Sthitam

standing on a lotus

ਪਦ੍ਮਵਰ੍ਣਾਮ੍ Padmavarnam

the colour of a lotus

ਤਾਮ੍ Tam

that one, her

ਇਹ ਉਪਹ੍ਵਯੇ Iha Upahvaye

I invoke here

ਸ਼੍ਰਿਯਮ੍ 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.

ਚੰਦ੍ਰਾਮ੍ Chandram

lovely as the moon

ਪ੍ਰਭਾਸਾਮ੍ Prabhasam

radiant

ਯਸ਼ਸਾ ਜ੍ਵਲੰਤੀਮ੍ Yashasa Jvalantim

blazing with fame

ਸ਼੍ਰਿਯਮ੍ Shriyam

Shri, the goddess of prosperity

ਲੋਕੇ ਦੇਵਜੁਸ਼੍ਟਾਮ੍ Loke Devajushtam

cherished by the gods in the world

ਉਦਾਰਾਮ੍ Udaram

generous

ਪਦ੍ਮਿਨੀਮ੍ ਈਮ੍ Padminim Im

her who holds the lotus

ਸ਼ਰਣਮ੍ ਅਹੰ ਪ੍ਰਪਦ੍ਯੇ Sharanam Aham Prapadye

I take refuge

ਅਲਕ੍ਸ਼੍ਮੀਃ ਮੇ ਨਸ਼੍ਯਤਾਮ੍ Alakshmih Me Nashyatam

may my misfortune perish

ਤ੍ਵਾਂ ਵ੍ਰਿਣੇ 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.

ਆਦਿਤ੍ਯਵਰ੍ਣੇ Adityavarne

O you who shine like the sun

ਤਪਸਃ ਅਧਿਜਾਤਃ Tapasah Adhijatah

born from your tapas

ਵਨਸ੍ਪਤਿਃ Vanaspatih

lord of the forest

ਤਵ ਵ੍ਰਿਕ੍ਸ਼ਃ Tava Vrikshah

your tree

ਅਥ ਬਿਲ੍ਵਃ Atha Bilvah

the bilva

ਤਸ੍ਯ ਫਲਾਨਿ Tasya Phalani

its fruits

ਤਪਸਾ ਨੁਦੰਤੁ Tapasa Nudantu

may they drive away by their power

ਮਾਯਾਃ ਅੰਤਰਾਃ Mayah Antarah

the delusions within

ਚ ਬਾਹ੍ਯਾਃ ਅਲਕ੍ਸ਼੍ਮੀਃ 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.

ਉਪੈਤੁ ਮਾਮ੍ Upaitu Mam

may he come to me

ਦੇਵਸਖਃ Devasakhah

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

ਕੀਰ੍ਤਿਃ ਚ Kirtih Cha

and Kirti, fame

ਮਣਿਨਾ ਸਹ Manina Saha

with the jewel

ਪ੍ਰਾਦੁਰ੍ਭੂਤਃ ਅਸ੍ਮਿ Pradurbhutah Asmi

I am born

ਰਾਸ਼੍ਟ੍ਰੇ ਅਸ੍ਮਿਨ੍ Rashtre Asmin

in this land

ਕੀਰ੍ਤਿਮ੍ ਰਿੱਧਿਮ੍ Kirtim Riddhim

fame and prosperity

ਦਦਾਤੁ ਮੇ 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.

ਕ੍ਸ਼ੁਤ੍ਪਿਪਾਸਾਮਲਾਮ੍ Kshutpipasamalam

who is hunger, thirst and impurity

ਜ੍ਯੇਸ਼੍ਠਾਮ੍ Jyeshtham

the elder sister

ਅਲਕ੍ਸ਼੍ਮੀਮ੍ Alakshmim

Alakshmi, misfortune

ਨਾਸ਼ਯਾਮਿ ਅਹਮ੍ Nashayami Aham

I destroy

ਅਭੂਤਿਮ੍ Abhutim

want, lack of wealth

ਅਸਮ੍ਰਿੱਧਿਮ੍ Asamriddhim

poverty, failure to prosper

ਚ ਸਰ੍ਵਾਮ੍ Cha Sarvam

and all of it

ਨਿਰ੍ਣੁਦ ਮੇ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਾਤ੍ 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.

ਗੰਧਦ੍ਵਾਰਾਮ੍ Gandhadvaram

known by her fragrance

ਦੁਰਾਧਰ੍ਸ਼ਾਮ੍ Duradharsham

whom none can overpower

ਨਿਤ੍ਯਪੁਸ਼੍ਟਾਮ੍ Nityapushtam

ever abundant

ਕਰੀਸ਼ਿਣੀਮ੍ Karishinim

rich in cattle and harvest

ਈਸ਼੍ਵਰੀਮ੍ Ishvarim

the sovereign

ਸਰ੍ਵਭੂਤਾਨਾਮ੍ Sarvabhutanam

of all beings

ਤਾਮ੍ Tam

that one, her

ਇਹ ਉਪਹ੍ਵਯੇ Iha Upahvaye

I invoke here

ਸ਼੍ਰਿਯਮ੍ 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.

ਮਨਸਃ ਕਾਮਮ੍ Manasah Kamam

the wishes of the mind

ਆਕੂਤਿਮ੍ Akutim

the heart's intention

ਵਾਚਃ ਸਤ੍ਯਮ੍ Vachah Satyam

truth in speech

ਅਸ਼ੀਮਹਿ Ashimahi

may we attain

ਪਸ਼ੂਨਾਂ ਰੂਪਮ੍ Pashunam Rupam

the beauty of cattle

ਅੰਨਸ੍ਯ Annasya

of food

ਮਯਿ ਸ਼੍ਰਯਤਾਮ੍ Mayi Shrayatam

may it dwell in me

ਸ਼੍ਰੀਃ ਯਸ਼ਃ 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.

ਕਰ੍ਦਮੇਨ Kardamena

through Kardama

ਪ੍ਰਜਾਭੂਤਾ Prajabhuta

she became a mother of children

ਮਯਿ ਸੰਭਵ Mayi Sambhava

be present in me

ਕਰ੍ਦਮ Kardama

O Kardama

ਸ਼੍ਰਿਯਮ੍ Shriyam

Shri, the goddess of prosperity

ਵਾਸਯ ਮੇ ਕੁਲੇ Vasaya Me Kule

make her dwell in my family

ਮਾਤਰਮ੍ Mataram

the mother

ਪਦ੍ਮਮਾਲਿਨੀਮ੍ 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.

ਆਪਃ ਸ੍ਰਿਜੰਤੁ Apah Srijantu

may the waters bring forth

ਸ੍ਨਿੱਧਾਨਿ Snigdhani

soft, nourishing things

ਚਿਕ੍ਲੀਤ Chiklita

O Chiklita

ਵਸ ਮੇ ਗ੍ਰਿਹੇ Vasa Me Grihe

live in my home

ਨਿ ਚ Ni Cha

and firmly

ਦੇਵੀਂ ਮਾਤਰੰ ਸ਼੍ਰਿਯਮ੍ Devim Mataram Shriyam

the divine mother Shri

ਵਾਸਯ ਮੇ ਕੁਲੇ 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.

ਆਰ੍ਦ੍ਰਾਮ੍ Ardram

tender, moist with grace

ਪੁਸ਼੍ਕਰਿਣੀਮ੍ Pushkarinim

of the lotus pond

ਪੁਸ਼੍ਟਿਮ੍ Pushtim

nourishment itself

ਪਿੰਗਲਾਮ੍ Pingalam

golden-hued

ਪਦ੍ਮਮਾਲਿਨੀਮ੍ Padmamalinim

wearing a lotus garland

ਚੰਦ੍ਰਾਮ੍ Chandram

lovely as the moon

ਹਿਰਣ੍ਮਯੀਮ੍ Hiranmayim

golden, made of light

ਲਕ੍ਸ਼੍ਮੀਮ੍ Lakshmim

Lakshmi

ਜਾਤਵੇਦਃ Jatavedah

O Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)

ਮੇ Me

to me

ਆਵਹ 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.

ਆਰ੍ਦ੍ਰਾਮ੍ Ardram

tender, moist with grace

ਯਃ ਕਰਿਣੀਮ੍ ਯਸ਼੍ਟਿਮ੍ Yah Karinim Yashtim

who holds the staff of rule in her hand

ਸੁਵਰ੍ਣਾਮ੍ Suvarnam

of beautiful colour

ਹੇਮਮਾਲਿਨੀਮ੍ Hemamalinim

wearing a garland of gold

ਸੂਰ੍ਯਾਮ੍ Suryam

radiant like the sun

ਹਿਰਣ੍ਮਯੀਮ੍ Hiranmayim

golden, made of light

ਲਕ੍ਸ਼੍ਮੀਮ੍ Lakshmim

Lakshmi

ਜਾਤਵੇਦਃ Jatavedah

O Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)

ਮੇ Me

to me

ਆਵਹ 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.

ਤਾਮ੍ Tam

that one, her

ਮੇ Me

to me

ਆਵਹ Avaha

bring

ਜਾਤਵੇਦਃ Jatavedah

O Jatavedas (Agni, the fire who knows all)

ਲਕ੍ਸ਼੍ਮੀਮ੍ Lakshmim

Lakshmi

ਅਨਪਗਾਮਿਨੀਮ੍ Anapagaminim

who never goes away

ਯਸ੍ਯਾਮ੍ Yasyam

through whom

ਹਿਰਣ੍ਯਮ੍ Hiranyam

gold

ਪ੍ਰਭੂਤਮ੍ Prabhutam

in plenty

ਗਾਵਃ Gavah

cows

ਦਾਸ੍ਯਃ Dasyah

helpers in the house

ਅਸ਼੍ਵਾਨ੍ Ashvan

horses

ਵਿੰਦੇਯਮ੍ Vindeyam

may I gain

ਪੁਰੁਸ਼ਾਨ੍ ਅਹਮ੍ 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.