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Saraswati Suktam Meaning — Line by Line

सरस्वती सूक्तम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

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Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. Om ambitame naditame devitame Sarasvati;
  2. Verse 2. Tve vishva Sarasvati shritayumshi devyam;
  3. Verse 3. Ima brahma Sarasvati jushasva vajinivati;
  4. Verse 4. Pavaka nah Sarasvati vajebhirvajinivati;
  5. Verse 5. Chodayitri sunritanam chetanti sumatinam;
  6. Verse 6. Maho arnah Sarasvati pra chetayati ketuna;
  7. Verse 7. Om Sarasvatyai namah.
Verse 1#

Om ambitame naditame devitame Sarasvati;

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

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

MeaningOm. 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#

Tve vishva Sarasvati shritayumshi devyam;

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

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

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

Verse 3#

Ima brahma Sarasvati jushasva vajinivati;

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.

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

Verse 4#

Pavaka nah Sarasvati vajebhirvajinivati;

पावका नः सरस्वती वाजेभिर्वाजिनीवती। यज्ञं वष्टु धियावसुः॥

Pavaka nah Sarasvati vajebhirvajinivati; Yajnam vashtu dhiyavasuh.

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

Verse 5#

Chodayitri sunritanam chetanti sumatinam;

चोदयित्री सूनृतानां चेतन्ती सुमतीनाम्। यज्ञं दधे सरस्वती॥

Chodayitri sunritanam chetanti sumatinam; Yajnam dadhe Sarasvati.

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

Verse 6#

Maho arnah Sarasvati pra chetayati ketuna;

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

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

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

Verse 7#

Om Sarasvatyai namah.

ॐ सरस्वत्यै नमः॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Om Sarasvatyai namah. Om shantih shantih shantih.

MeaningOm, salutations to Saraswati. Om, peace, peace, peace.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

अम्बितमे
ambitame
O best of mothers (most motherly one)
नदीतमे
naditame
O best of rivers (most river-like one)
देवितमे
devitame
O best of goddesses (most divine one)
सरस्वति
Sarasvati
O Saraswati (she of the flowing waters, goddess of wisdom and speech)
अप्रशस्ताः इव स्मसि
aprashastah iva smasi
We are, as it were, without praise / without renown
प्रशस्तिम् अम्ब नः कृधि
prashastim amba nah kridhi
O Mother, grant us renown / make us worthy of praise
त्वे विश्वा
tve vishva
In you all (powers / treasures rest)
श्रितानि आयूंषि
shritani ayumshi
Our life-spans / vital energies abide (in you)
प्रजां दिदिड्ढि नः
prajam dididdhi nah
Grant us progeny / offspring
वाजिनीवती
vajinivati
Rich in strength, abounding in nourishing power
पावका
pavaka
The purifier, she who cleanses
वाजेभिः
vajebhih
With (gifts of) food, strength and abundance
धियावसुः
dhiyavasuh
Rich through intellect, whose wealth is wisdom
यज्ञं वष्टु
yajnam vashtu
May she bless / favour the sacrifice
चोदयित्री सूनृतानाम्
chodayitri sunritanam
The inspirer of pleasant truths / sweet, truthful speech
चेतन्ती सुमतीनाम्
chetanti sumatinam
The awakener of right thoughts / good understanding
महः अर्णः
mahah arnah
The great flood / the mighty stream (of inspiration)
प्र चेतयति केतुना
pra chetayati ketuna
She illumines / makes known by her banner (of light, intuition)
धियः विश्वाः वि राजति
dhiyah vishvah vi rajati
She illumines and rules over all thoughts / intellects

Origin & History

Source: Rigveda, Mandala 2 (2.41.16-18) and Mandala 1 (1.3.10-12)

Author: Rishi Gritsamada and Rishi Madhuchhandas Vaishvamitra (traditional)

Period: 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Saraswati Suktam?▼
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.
Who should chant the Saraswati Suktam?▼
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.
When is the best time to chant it?▼
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).
Why is Saraswati called both a river and a goddess?▼
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).

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