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Saraswati Dwadasanama Stotram Meaning — Line by Line

सरस्वती द्वादशनाम स्तोत्रम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Saraswati Dwadasanama Stotram with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Saraswatim Namasyaami Veenaa-pustaka-dhaarineem
  2. Verse 2. Prathamam Bhaaratee Naama Dviteeyam Cha Saraswatee
  3. Verse 3. Panchamam Jagatee Khyaataa Shashtham Vaageeshwaree Tathaa
  4. Verse 4. Navamam Buddhi-daatree Cha Dashamam Varadaayinee
  5. Verse 5. Braahmee Dvaadasha-naamaani Tri-sandhyam Yah Pathen-narah
Verse 1#

Saraswatim Namasyaami Veenaa-pustaka-dhaarineem

सरस्वतीं नमस्यामि वीणापुस्तकधारिणीम्। हंसवाहसमायुक्तां विद्यादानकरीं मम॥

Saraswatim Namasyaami Veenaa-pustaka-dhaarineem Hamsa-vaaha-samaayuktaam Vidyaa-daana-kareem Mama

MeaningI bow to Goddess Saraswati, who holds the veena and the book, who is borne by the swan, the bestower of the gift of knowledge upon me.

Verse 2#

Prathamam Bhaaratee Naama Dviteeyam Cha Saraswatee

प्रथमं भारती नाम द्वितीयं सरस्वती। तृतीयं शारदा देवी चतुर्थं हंसवाहिनी॥

Prathamam Bhaaratee Naama Dviteeyam Cha Saraswatee Triteeyam Shaaradaa Devee Chaturtham Hamsa-vaahinee

MeaningThe first name is Bharati, the second is Saraswati; the third is the Goddess Sharada, and the fourth is Hamsavahini (she who rides the swan).

Verse 3#

Panchamam Jagatee Khyaataa Shashtham Vaageeshwaree Tathaa

पञ्चमं जगती ख्याता षष्ठं वागीश्वरी तथा। कौमारी सप्तमं प्रोक्ता अष्टमं ब्रह्मचारिणी॥

Panchamam Jagatee Khyaataa Shashtham Vaageeshwaree Tathaa Kaumaaree Saptamam Proktaa Ashtamam Brahmachaarinee

MeaningThe fifth is renowned as Jagati (the all-pervading), and the sixth is Vagishwari (mistress of speech); the seventh is declared to be Kaumari, and the eighth is Brahmacharini.

Verse 4#

Navamam Buddhi-daatree Cha Dashamam Varadaayinee

नवमं बुद्धिदात्री दशमं वरदायिनी। एकादशं क्षुद्रघण्टा द्वादशं भुवनेश्वरी॥

Navamam Buddhi-daatree Cha Dashamam Varadaayinee Ekaadasham Kshudra-ghantaa Dvaadasham Bhuvaneshwaree

MeaningThe ninth is Buddhidatri (giver of intellect), the tenth is Varadayini (granter of boons); the eleventh is Kshudraghanta, and the twelfth is Bhuvaneshwari.

Verse 5#

Braahmee Dvaadasha-naamaani Tri-sandhyam Yah Pathen-narah

ब्राह्मी द्वादशनामानि त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः। सर्वसिद्धिकरी तस्य प्रसन्ना परमेश्वरी। सा मे वसतु जिह्वाग्रे ब्रह्मरूपा सरस्वती॥

Braahmee Dvaadasha-naamaani Tri-sandhyam Yah Pathen-narah Sarva-siddhi-karee Tasya Prasannaa Parameshwaree Saa Me Vasatu Jihvaagre Brahma-roopaa Saraswatee

MeaningThese are the twelve names of Brahmi (Saraswati). The person who recites them at the three junctions of the day (morning, noon and dusk) — to him the Supreme Goddess becomes gracious and grants all success. May that Saraswati, the very form of Brahman, ever dwell upon the tip of my tongue.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

सरस्वतीं नमस्यामि
Saraswatim Namasyaami
I bow to Goddess Saraswati
वीणापुस्तकधारिणीम्
Veenaa-pustaka-dhaarineem
Who holds the veena and the book
हंसवाहसमायुक्तां
Hamsa-vaaha-samaayuktaam
Who is borne by the swan (whose vehicle is the hamsa)
विद्यादानकरीं
Vidyaa-daana-kareem
The bestower of the gift of knowledge
प्रथमं भारती
Prathamam Bhaaratee
The first name is Bharati (goddess of speech/eloquence)
द्वितीयं सरस्वती
Dviteeyam Saraswatee
The second name is Saraswati (the flowing one / giver of essence)
तृतीयं शारदा
Triteeyam Shaaradaa
The third name is Sharada (she worshipped in autumn)
चतुर्थं हंसवाहिनी
Chaturtham Hamsa-vaahinee
The fourth is Hamsavahini (she who rides the swan)
पञ्चमं जगती
Panchamam Jagatee
The fifth, renowned as Jagati (the all-pervading)
षष्ठं वागीश्वरी
Shashtham Vaageeshwaree
The sixth is Vagishwari (mistress of speech)
कौमारी सप्तमं
Kaumaaree Saptamam
The seventh is declared to be Kaumari (the youthful maiden)
अष्टमं ब्रह्मचारिणी
Ashtamam Brahmachaarinee
The eighth is Brahmacharini (the chaste seeker of Brahman)
नवमं बुद्धिदात्री
Navamam Buddhi-daatree
The ninth is Buddhidatri (giver of intellect)
दशमं वरदायिनी
Dashamam Varadaayinee
The tenth is Varadayini (granter of boons)
एकादशं क्षुद्रघण्टा
Ekaadasham Kshudra-ghantaa
The eleventh is Kshudraghanta (she of the little bells)
द्वादशं भुवनेश्वरी
Dvaadasham Bhuvaneshwaree
The twelfth is Bhuvaneshwari (sovereign of the worlds)
त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः
Tri-sandhyam Yah Pathen-narah
The person who recites these at the three junctions of the day (morning, noon, evening)
सर्वसिद्धिकरी
Sarva-siddhi-karee
She grants all accomplishments / success
सा मे वसतु जिह्वाग्रे
Saa Me Vasatu Jihvaagre
May she dwell on the tip of my tongue

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Sanskrit dwadasa-nama (twelve-name) stotra of Goddess Saraswati, recited in the Devi and Saraswati worship tradition

Author: Traditional (anonymous); preserved in the Puranic and stotra tradition

Period: Ancient/medieval (exact date unknown)

Dwadasa-nama (twelve-name) stotras are a classical genre in which a deity is praised through a fixed garland of twelve names, each name carrying a distinct shade of the deity's power. This Saraswati Dwadasanama gathers her most beloved epithets — from Bharati and Sharada to Vagishwari and Bhuvaneshwari — into a compact hymn. Beginning with the icon of the veena-and-book-bearing Goddess on her swan, it teaches that simply remembering these twelve names at the three sandhyas opens the flow of knowledge and speech, which is why it became a cherished daily prayer of students.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Saraswati Dwadasanama Stotram?
It is a short Sanskrit hymn that lists the twelve (dwadasha) sacred names (nama) of Goddess Saraswati. Reciting these twelve names is believed to bestow knowledge, eloquence and success, and the stotra is popular among students and seekers of wisdom.
What are the twelve names of Saraswati?
They are Bharati, Saraswati, Sharada, Hamsavahini, Jagati, Vagishwari, Kaumari, Brahmacharini, Buddhidatri, Varadayini, Kshudraghanta and Bhuvaneshwari. Each name highlights a different aspect of the Goddess of knowledge, speech and the arts.
When and how often should it be recited?
The hymn itself recommends recitation three times a day (tri-sandhya) — at dawn, noon and dusk. It is considered especially auspicious during Navaratri, on Vasant Panchami, and before exams or study.
What is the benefit of chanting these twelve names?
The closing verse promises that one who recites them thrice daily pleases the Supreme Goddess, who then grants all accomplishments (sarva-siddhi) and the boon of eloquent speech, praying that Saraswati ever reside on the tip of the devotee's tongue.

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