Soundarya Lahari Verse 3 — Avidyanam Antah
सौन्दर्यलहरी श्लोक ३ — अविद्यानामन्तः
Also known as: avidyanam antah · avidyanam anta stimira · soundarya lahari verse 3 · saundarya lahari sloka 3
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✦ Meaning
This third verse of the Ananda Lahari praises the dust of the Goddess's feet through four luminous images: it is a sun-city to the ignorant, a honey-stream to the dull, a string of wish-gems to the poor, and the saving tusk of Varaha to those drowning in samsara. It promises that whatever a devotee lacks — knowledge, intelligence, wealth or liberation — the Mother's grace supplies. The verse is cherished for prayers seeking wisdom and deliverance.
Origin & Story
Soundarya Lahari, Verse 3 · Adi Shankaracharya · c. 8th century CE
From the Ananda Lahari portion of the hymn, this verse develops the praise of the Mother's feet with a famous fourfold simile. Its imagery of a sun-city, a honey-stream, a gem-necklace and the Varaha tusk is much quoted to show how Devi's grace answers every kind of human need. It is composed in the Shikharini metre.
✦ As told in scripture
It is said that the dull-witted have gained learning and the destitute have found prosperity by meditating on this verse, for the Mother's grace, like the sun that ends night, removes whatever darkness or want a sincere devotee carries.
The Mantra
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अविद्यानामन्त-स्तिमिर-मिहिरद्वीपनगरी जडानां चैतन्य-स्तबक-मकरन्द-स्रुतिझरी । दरिद्राणां चिन्तामणिगुणनिका जन्मजलधौ निमग्नानां दंष्ट्रा मुररिपु-वराहस्य भवति ॥ ३॥
avidyānāmanta-stimira-mihiradvīpanagarī jaḍānāṃ caitanya-stabaka-makaranda-srutijharī | daridrāṇāṃ cintāmaṇiguṇanikā janmajaladhau nimagnānāṃ daṃṣṭrā muraripu-varāhasya bhavati || 3||
Meaning:The dust of Your feet is, for the ignorant, a sunlit city that scatters the inner darkness of nescience; for the dull-minded, a stream of flowing honey from the blossom-cluster of pure consciousness; for the poor, a necklace strung with wish-granting Chintamani gems; and for those drowning in the ocean of birth and death, it is the upraising tusk of Vishnu in His Boar incarnation.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Soundarya Lahari Verse 3 — Avidyanam Antah
Invoked for the removal of ignorance and the dawn of inner light
Said to awaken intelligence and consciousness in the dull-minded
Traditionally chanted to relieve poverty and attract prosperity
Sought for deliverance from the ocean of birth and death (samsara)
Inspires faith that the Mother's grace fulfils every genuine need
Beautiful meditation on the four-fold saving power of Devi's feet
How to Chant Soundarya Lahari Verse 3 — Avidyanam Antah
Seated facing east or north before the Mother's image or Sri Chakra, meditate on each of the four images of the verse — sun-city, honey-stream, gem-necklace, and saving tusk — as expressions of Her grace removing your particular lack. Recite slowly 9, 27 or 108 times. Students and seekers of wisdom often take up this verse for clarity of mind.