Soundarya Lahari Verse 2 — Taniyamsam Pamsum — Word-by-Word Meaning
सौन्दर्यलहरी श्लोक २ — तनीयांसं पांसुं
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
तनीयांसं पांसुं
tanīyāṃsaṃ pāṃsuṃ
a most minute particle of dust
तव चरणपङ्केरुहभवं
tava caraṇa-paṅkeruha-bhavaṃ
born from Your lotus feet
विरिञ्चिः
viriñciḥ
Brahma, the creator
सञ्चिन्वन्
sañcinvan
gathering / collecting
विरचयति
viracayati
creates / fashions
लोकान् अविकलम्
lokān avikalam
the worlds, complete and without flaw
वहति एनं
vahati enaṃ
bears / carries this (particle)
शौरिः
śauriḥ
Vishnu (Shauri)
कथमपि
kathamapi
somehow, with great effort
सहस्रेण शिरसां
sahasreṇa śirasāṃ
with His thousand heads (as Adishesha)
हरः
haraḥ
Shiva (Hara)
संक्षुद्य एनं
saṃkṣudya enaṃ
having pulverised / ground it down
भजति
bhajati
performs / uses
भसित-उद्धूलन-विधिम्
bhasita-uddhūlana-vidhim
the rite of smearing sacred ash (vibhuti)
Complete Translation
Gathering but a single tiny particle of dust from Your lotus feet, Brahma fashions the worlds entire and without flaw. Vishnu, as the thousand-headed Adishesha, bears that same particle only with the greatest effort upon all his hoods. And Shiva, grinding it to powder, uses it as the sacred ash with which He smears His body.
Origin & History
Source: Soundarya Lahari, Verse 2
Author: Adi Shankaracharya
Period: c. 8th century CE
Part of the Ananda Lahari, the first section of the Soundarya Lahari, this verse continues the praise begun in the opening stanza by exalting the dust of the Goddess's feet as the support of the three great gods. It is set in the Shikharini metre and is among the most loved verses of the hymn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central image of Verse 2?▼
It is the dust of the Divine Mother's lotus feet. From a single particle of it Brahma creates the worlds, Vishnu as Adishesha bears it with effort on his thousand hoods, and Shiva grinds it into the sacred ash he wears — showing the supreme power held in even the least trace of Her.
Why does the verse mention Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva?▼
The three represent creation, sustenance and dissolution. By showing all three depending on the dust of the Goddess's feet, the verse establishes that the Divine Mother is the ultimate source of the entire cosmic process.
What benefits are associated with this verse?▼
It is chanted to glorify Devi's supremacy, to cultivate humility and surrender, and traditionally to invoke capability and success in worthy works, since the verse celebrates the creative power latent in Her grace.
In which metre is the verse composed?▼
Like most of the Soundarya Lahari, it is in the Shikharini metre, a graceful seventeen-syllable metre well suited to devotional hymns.
Ready to start chanting?
See Benefits & How to Chant →