Saraswati

The Shloka

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या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता

या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना ।

या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता

सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥

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yā kundendu-tuṣāra-hāra-dhavalā yā śubhra-vastrāvṛtā

yā vīṇā-vara-daṇḍa-maṇḍita-karā yā śveta-padmāsanā ।

yā brahmācyuta-śaṅkara-prabhṛtibhir-devaiḥ sadā vanditā

sā māṁ pātu sarasvatī bhagavatī niḥśeṣa-jāḍyāpahā ॥

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Meaning / Summary

This shloka is a popular prayer dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, often recited to invoke her blessings for wisdom, knowledge, and artistic abilities. It is considered auspicious for students and those involved in creative pursuits.

The Goddess Saraswati, who is fair like a jasmine flower, the moon, or a garland of snow, who is dressed in spotless white garments, whose hands are adorned with a veena and the boon-giving gesture, who is seated on a white lotus, who is always worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and other gods, may that Goddess Saraswati protect me and completely remove my ignorance.

This shloka is a prayer to Goddess Saraswati, describing her pure and radiant form and seeking her blessings to remove ignorance.

This shloka is a prayer to Goddess Saraswati, the Hindu deity of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom, and learning. The prayer describes her divine appearance and attributes, emphasizing her purity, wisdom, and benevolence. The devotee seeks her blessings to dispel ignorance and attain enlightenment.

Sentence - 1

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या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता

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Meaning

She who is fair like a jasmine flower, the moon, or a garland of snow; She who is covered in pure white garments.

Meaning of Words

या	yā	She who Refers to Goddess Saraswati.
कुन्द	kunda
jasmine flower A white flower known for its fragrance.
इन्दु	indu
moon The Earth’s natural satellite, often associated with purity and coolness.
तुषार	tuṣāra
snow Frozen water vapor, symbolizing purity and coolness.
हार	hāra	garland A decorative chain of flowers or leaves.
धवला	dhavalā
white Of a pale or light color, symbolizing purity.
शुभ्र	śubhra	pure Clean and not contaminated.
वस्त्र	vastra	clothes Items worn to cover the body.
आवृता	āvṛtā
covered Having something placed over or on top of it.

Sentence - 2

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या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना ।

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Meaning

She whose hands are adorned with a Veena (a musical instrument) and the boon-giving gesture; She who is seated on a white lotus.

Meaning of Words

वीणा	vīṇā	Veena A stringed musical instrument.
वर	vara	boon A thing that is helpful or beneficial.
दण्ड	daṇḍa	staff a long stick used as a support or weapon.
मण्डित	maṇḍita
decorated Made more attractive by adding ornament.
करा	karā
hands The parts of the body at the end of the arms.
श्वेत	śveta	white Of a pale or light color.
पद्म	padma
lotus A type of flower known for its beauty and purity.
आसना	āsanā	seated In or having a seat.

Sentence - 3

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या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता

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Meaning

She who is always worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and other Gods.

Meaning of Words

ब्रह्मा	brahmā	Brahma The creator God in Hindu Trinity.
अच्युत	achyuta	Vishnu The preserver God in Hindu Trinity.
शङ्कर	śaṅkara
Shankara Another name for Shiva, the destroyer God in Hindu Trinity.
प्रभृतिभिः	prabhṛtibhiḥ
and others Including more than just those mentioned.
देवैः	devaiḥ	gods A superhuman being or deity.
सदा	sadā	always At all times; forever.
वन्दिता	vanditā	worshipped Show reverence and adoration for.

Sentence - 4

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सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥

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Meaning

May that Goddess Saraswati, the revered one, protect me and completely remove my ignorance.

Meaning of Words

सा	sā	She
मां	māṁ	me Referring to the speaker or devotee.
पातु	pātu	protect Keep safe from harm or injury.
सरस्वती	sarasvatī
Saraswati The goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom and learning.
भगवती	bhagavatī	Goddess A female deity.
निःशेष	niḥśeṣa	completely Totally; entirely.
जाड्या	jāḍya	dullness Lack of intelligence or understanding.
अपहा	apahā	destroyer A person or thing that destroys.

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