Asita Giri Samam Syat — Word-by-Word Meaning
असितगिरिसमं स्यात्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
असितगिरिसमं
asita-giri-samaṃ
Equal to (the size of) the dark mountain (Mount Meru's black peak / a mountain of collyrium)
स्यात्
syāt
Were it to be; if it should be
कज्जलं
kajjalaṃ
Ink, lamp-black, collyrium
सिन्धुपात्रे
sindhu-pātre
With the ocean as the inkpot / vessel
सुरतरुवरशाखा
sura-taru-vara-śākhā
A branch of the celestial wish-fulfilling tree (Kalpavriksha) as the pen
लेखनी
lekhanī
Pen, writing instrument
पत्रम् उर्वी
patram urvī
The earth itself as the writing sheet (paper)
लिखति यदि
likhati yadi
If (she) were to write
गृहीत्वा
gṛhītvā
Having taken (these up)
शारदा
śāradā
Sharada — Goddess Saraswati, goddess of learning and speech
सर्वकालं
sarvakālaṃ
For all time, eternally, forever
तदपि
tadapi
Even then, even so
तव गुणानाम्
tava guṇānām
Of your virtues / glories / attributes
ईश
īśa
O Lord (Ishvara, Shiva)
पारं न याति
pāraṃ na yāti
Would not reach the end / would never be exhausted
Complete Translation
Were the ink as vast as the dark mountain, the ocean the inkpot, a branch of the celestial wish-tree the pen, and the whole earth the writing sheet — and were Goddess Sharada (Saraswati) herself to write with them for all eternity — even then, O Lord, the end of your glories would never be reached.
Origin & History
Source: Shiva Mahimna Stotra, verse 32
Author: Pushpadanta (king of the Gandharvas)
Period: Ancient / classical (a widely recited Shaiva hymn)
Toward the close of the Shiva Mahimna Stotra, the Gandharva poet Pushpadanta — having extolled Shiva through many verses — confesses the impossibility of ever completing his praise. In this celebrated verse he summons the grandest images he can conceive: the ocean as inkpot, a mountain of ink, the wish-tree as pen, the earth as paper and Saraswati as the writer, only to declare that even these could never reach the end of the Lord's glory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'Asita Giri Samam Syat' so famous?▼
It is verse 32 of the Shiva Mahimna Stotra and one of the most quoted verses in Sanskrit literature for its breathtaking image: even if the ocean were the inkwell, a mountain the ink, the celestial tree the pen and the earth the paper, and Saraswati wrote eternally, Shiva's glories could never be fully written. It beautifully expresses the infinitude of God.
Who is 'Sharada' in this verse?▼
Sharada is a name of Goddess Saraswati, the deity of speech, learning and the arts. The verse imagines even she — the supreme power of expression — being unable to exhaust the praise of Shiva, however long she writes.
What does the 'dark mountain of ink' signify?▼
'Asita-giri' (dark mountain) conveys an immeasurably huge quantity of ink. Together with the ocean as inkpot and the earth as paper, the verse stacks cosmic-scale images to show that no measure of effort could capture the endless glory of the Lord.
Can this verse be recited separately?▼
Yes. Because of its self-contained beauty and meaning, it is frequently recited and quoted on its own. Within worship, it is chanted as part of the complete Shiva Mahimna Stotra near its conclusion.
Ready to start chanting?
See Benefits & How to Chant →