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Saraswati Suktam

सरस्वती सूक्तम्

🕉️ vedic·📿 9× repetitions·🕐 Early morning, on Vasant Panchami, during Saraswati Puja or before study·📜 Rigveda, Mandala 2 (2.41.16-18) and Mandala 1 (1.3.10-12)

Also known as: saraswati sukta · pavaka nah saraswati · ambitame naditame devitame · saraswati suktam lyrics · vedic saraswati hymn

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Saraswati Suktam gathers the Rigveda's most celebrated praises of Goddess Saraswati (chiefly Rigveda 2.41.16-18 and 1.3.10-12). It hails her as the best of mothers, rivers and goddesses, the purifier whose wealth is wisdom, the inspirer of truthful speech and noble thought, and the mighty stream that illumines and rules over all human understanding. It is the foremost Vedic hymn for invoking knowledge, eloquence and clarity of mind.

Origin & Story

Rigveda, Mandala 2 (2.41.16-18) and Mandala 1 (1.3.10-12) · Rishi Gritsamada and Rishi Madhuchhandas Vaishvamitra (traditional) · c. 1500-1200 BCE

The Saraswati Suktam draws together the Rigveda's earliest and most beloved invocations of Saraswati. The Mandala 2 verses, ascribed to the seer Gritsamada, address her as 'best of mothers, best of rivers, best of goddesses', while the Mandala 1 verses of Madhuchhandas hail her as the purifier and inspirer of truthful speech and noble thought. Together they form the liturgical Saraswati Suktam recited in worship of the goddess of knowledge, especially during Saraswati Puja and the beginning of learning.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally held that sincere recitation of the Saraswati Suktam, particularly the verse 'Chodayitri sunritanam, chetanti sumatinam', unlocks the power of speech and intellect — many devotees credit it with overcoming stammering, dullness of mind and fear before examinations, and with awakening sudden clarity and creative inspiration.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

ॐ अम्बितमे नदीतमे देवितमे सरस्वति। अप्रशस्ता इव स्मसि प्रशस्तिमम्ब नस्कृधि॥

Om ambitame naditame devitame Sarasvati; Aprashasta iva smasi prashastimamba naskridhi.

Meaning:Om. O best of mothers, best of rivers, best of goddesses, O Saraswati — we are as if without renown; O Mother, grant us renown.

Verse 2

त्वे विश्वा सरस्वति श्रितायूंषि देव्याम्। शुनहोत्रेषु मत्स्व प्रजां देवि दिदिड्ढि नः॥

Tve vishva Sarasvati shritayumshi devyam; Shunahotreshu matsva prajam devi dididdhi nah.

Meaning:In you, O divine Saraswati, all our life-energies rest; rejoice among the offerings, O goddess, and grant us progeny.

Verse 3

इमा ब्रह्म सरस्वति जुषस्व वाजिनीवति। या ते मन्म गृत्समदा ऋतावरि प्रिया देवेषु जुह्वति॥

Ima brahma Sarasvati jushasva vajinivati; Ya te manma gritsamada ritavari priya deveshu juhvati.

Meaning:Accept these prayers, O Saraswati, rich in strength — the hymns which the Gritsamadas, lovers of truth, offer dear to the gods.

Verse 4

पावका नः सरस्वती वाजेभिर्वाजिनीवती। यज्ञं वष्टु धियावसुः॥

Pavaka nah Sarasvati vajebhirvajinivati; Yajnam vashtu dhiyavasuh.

Meaning:May Saraswati the purifier, rich in nourishment and abundance, whose wealth is wisdom, bless our sacrifice.

Verse 5

चोदयित्री सूनृतानां चेतन्ती सुमतीनाम्। यज्ञं दधे सरस्वती॥

Chodayitri sunritanam chetanti sumatinam; Yajnam dadhe Sarasvati.

Meaning:The inspirer of sweet, truthful speech, the awakener of noble thoughts — Saraswati upholds and sustains the sacrifice.

Verse 6

महो अर्णः सरस्वती प्र चेतयति केतुना। धियो विश्वा वि राजति॥

Maho arnah Sarasvati pra chetayati ketuna; Dhiyo vishva vi rajati.

Meaning:Saraswati, the mighty stream of inspiration, makes herself known by her radiant banner; she illumines and reigns over all our thoughts.

Verse 7

ॐ सरस्वत्यै नमः॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Om Sarasvatyai namah. Om shantih shantih shantih.

Meaning:Om, salutations to Saraswati. Om, peace, peace, peace.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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अम्बितमे🔊ambitameO best of mothers (most motherly one)

नदीतमे🔊naditameO best of rivers (most river-like one)

देवितमे🔊devitameO best of goddesses (most divine one)

सरस्वति🔊SarasvatiO Saraswati (she of the flowing waters, goddess of wisdom and speech)

अप्रशस्ताः इव स्मसि🔊aprashastah iva smasiWe are, as it were, without praise / without renown

प्रशस्तिम् अम्ब नः कृधि🔊prashastim amba nah kridhiO Mother, grant us renown / make us worthy of praise

त्वे विश्वा🔊tve vishvaIn you all (powers / treasures rest)

श्रितानि आयूंषि🔊shritani ayumshiOur life-spans / vital energies abide (in you)

प्रजां दिदिड्ढि नः🔊prajam dididdhi nahGrant us progeny / offspring

वाजिनीवती🔊vajinivatiRich in strength, abounding in nourishing power

पावका🔊pavakaThe purifier, she who cleanses

वाजेभिः🔊vajebhihWith (gifts of) food, strength and abundance

धियावसुः🔊dhiyavasuhRich through intellect, whose wealth is wisdom

यज्ञं वष्टु🔊yajnam vashtuMay she bless / favour the sacrifice

चोदयित्री सूनृतानाम्🔊chodayitri sunritanamThe inspirer of pleasant truths / sweet, truthful speech

चेतन्ती सुमतीनाम्🔊chetanti sumatinamThe awakener of right thoughts / good understanding

महः अर्णः🔊mahah arnahThe great flood / the mighty stream (of inspiration)

प्र चेतयति केतुना🔊pra chetayati ketunaShe illumines / makes known by her banner (of light, intuition)

धियः विश्वाः वि राजति🔊dhiyah vishvah vi rajatiShe illumines and rules over all thoughts / intellects

Benefits of Chanting Saraswati Suktam

✦

Invokes Goddess Saraswati for knowledge, wisdom and learning (vidya)

✦

Bestows eloquence, clarity of speech and command over language

✦

Awakens noble thoughts and right understanding (sumati)

✦

Highly recommended for students, scholars, teachers, writers and artists

✦

Chanted on Vasant Panchami, Saraswati Puja and at the start of education (Vidyarambham)

✦

Purifies the intellect and removes mental dullness and confusion

How to Chant Saraswati Suktam

Repetitions9times

Best TimeEarly morning, on Vasant Panchami, during Saraswati Puja or before study

Sit facing east in a clean, quiet place, preferably before an image of Goddess Saraswati. Chant each verse clearly with devotion, dwelling on Saraswati as the source of speech, wisdom and learning, and conclude with 'Om Sarasvatyai namah' and the threefold shanti. It is especially auspicious to recite it before beginning studies, examinations, or any creative or scholarly work.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a Vedic hymn to Goddess Saraswati, composed of her most famous praises in the Rigveda (mainly 2.41.16-18 and 1.3.10-12). It celebrates her as the goddess of wisdom, speech and inspiration and is chanted to invoke knowledge and clarity of mind.

It is especially suited for students, scholars, teachers, writers, musicians and artists — anyone seeking knowledge, eloquence and mental clarity. It is also chanted by devotees at the start of any learning or creative endeavour.

It is most auspicious on Vasant Panchami and during Saraswati Puja, in the early morning, before study or examinations, and at Vidyarambham (the ceremonial beginning of a child's education).

In the Rigveda, Saraswati was first revered as a great sacred river ('naditame', best of rivers). Over time she came to personify the flowing power of inspiration, speech and wisdom, becoming the goddess of learning ('devitame', best of goddesses).