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श्यामला दण्डकम् Meaning — Line by Line

श्यामला दण्डकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of श्यामला दण्डकम् with its Hindi meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. dhyānam
  2. Verse 2. caturbhuje candrakalāvataṃse
  3. Verse 3. viniyogaḥ
  4. Verse 4. sādarārabdhasaṃgītasambhāvanāsaṃbhramālolanīpasragābaddha-
  5. Verse 5. śekharībhūtaśītāṃśurekhāmayūkhāvalībaddhasusnigdha-
  6. Verse 6. kāmalīlādhanussannibhabhrūlatā-puṣkarairveṣṭitānekaśambāka-
Verse 1#

dhyānam

ध्यानम् माणिक्यवीणामुपलालयन्तीं मदालसां मञ्जुलवाग्विलासाम् माहेन्द्रनीलद्युतिकोमलाङ्गीं मातङ्गकन्यां मनसा स्मरामि १॥

dhyānam māṇikyavīṇāmupalālayantīṃ madālasāṃ mañjulavāgvilāsām | māhendranīladyutikomalāṅgīṃ mātaṅgakanyāṃ manasā smarāmi || 1||

Meaningध्यान: जो माणिक्य-जड़ित वीणा को प्रेमपूर्वक बजाती हैं, आनन्द से मदालस हैं, जिनका विलास ही मधुर वाणी का सौंदर्य है, तथा जिनका कोमल अंग महान् नीलमणि की द्युति से दीप्त है — उन मातंग-कन्या (श्यामला) का मैं मन से स्मरण करता हूँ।

Verse 2#

caturbhuje candrakalāvataṃse

चतुर्भुजे चन्द्रकलावतंसे कुचोन्नते कुङ्कुमरागशोणे पुण्ड्रेक्षुपाशाङ्कुशपुष्पबाण- हस्ते नमस्ते जगदेकमातः २॥

caturbhuje candrakalāvataṃse kaconnate kuṅkumarāgaśoṇe | puṇḍrekṣupāśāṅkuśapuṣpabāṇa- haste namaste jagadekamātaḥ || 2||

Meaningहे चतुर्भुजा, चन्द्रकला को आभूषण रूप में धारण करने वाली, कुंकुम के राग से अरुणिम उन्नत वक्ष वाली, जिनके हाथों में पुण्ड्रेक्षु (इक्षु) धनुष, पाश, अंकुश और पुष्पबाण हैं — हे जगत् की एकमात्र माता, तुम्हें नमस्कार है।

Verse 3#

viniyogaḥ

विनियोगः जय जननि सुधासमुद्रान्तर्हृद्यन्मणीद्वीपसंरूढ- बिल्वाटवीमध्यकल्पद्रुमाकल्पकादम्बकान्तारवासप्रिये कृत्तिवासप्रिये सर्वलोकप्रिये

viniyogaḥ jaya janani sudhāsamudrāntarhṛdyanmaṇīdvīpasaṃrūḍha- bilvāṭavīmadhyakalpadrumākalpakādambakāntāravāsapriye kṛttivāsapriye sarvalokapriye |

Meaningहे जननी, तुम्हारी जय हो — जो सुधा-समुद्र के मध्य मणिद्वीप पर उगी बिल्व-वाटिका के बीच कल्पवृक्ष और कदम्ब के वन में निवास करना प्रिय मानती हो; हे कृत्तिवास (शिव) की प्रिया, हे समस्त लोकों की प्रिया!

Verse 4#

sādarārabdhasaṃgītasambhāvanāsaṃbhramālolanīpasragābaddha-

सादरारब्धसंगीतसम्भावनासंभ्रमालोलनीपस्रगाबद्ध- चूली-सनाथत्रिके सानुमत्पुत्रिके

sādarārabdhasaṃgītasambhāvanāsaṃbhramālolanīpasragābaddha- cūlī-sanāthatrike sānumatputrike |

Meaningहे हिमवान् की पुत्री, जिनकी त्रिवली-युक्त केश-राशि सादर आरम्भ किए गए संगीत के सम्भ्रम में डोलती कदम्ब-माला से बँधी एवं सुशोभित है!

Verse 5#

śekharībhūtaśītāṃśurekhāmayūkhāvalībaddhasusnigdha-

शेखरीभूतशीतांशुरेखामयूखावलीबद्धसुस्निग्ध- नीलालकश्रेणिशृंगारिते लोकसम्भाविते

śekharībhūtaśītāṃśurekhāmayūkhāvalībaddhasusnigdha- nīlālakaśreṇiśṛṃgārite lokasambhāvite |

Meaningहे शिर पर धारण की हुई चन्द्ररेखा की किरण-पंक्तियों से बँधी कोमल, स्निग्ध, नील केश-श्रेणी से शृंगारित, समस्त लोकों से सम्भावित (पूजित) देवी!

Verse 6#

kāmalīlādhanussannibhabhrūlatā-puṣkarairveṣṭitānekaśambāka-

कामलीलाधनुस्सन्निभभ्रूलता-पुष्करैर्वेष्टितानेकशम्बाक- रीशब्दगर्भोल्लसत्केकिनी-नादहारिणि

kāmalīlādhanussannibhabhrūlatā-puṣkarairveṣṭitānekaśambāka- rīśabdagarbhollasatkekinī-nādahāriṇi ||

Meaningहे कामदेव की लीला-धनुष सी भ्रू-लता वाली, जिनकी अर्थगर्भित वाणी मयूरी के मधुर केका-नाद की भाँति हृदय को हरती है!

Word-by-Word Breakdown

माणिक्यवीणाम्
māṇikya-vīṇām
a veena (lute) studded with rubies
उपलालयन्तीं
upalālayantīṃ
fondly playing upon / caressing
मदालसां
madālasāṃ
languid, gently intoxicated with bliss
मञ्जुलवाग्विलासाम्
mañjula-vāg-vilāsām
She whose play is sweet and beautiful speech
माहेन्द्रनील-द्युति
māhendranīla-dyuti
with the radiance of a great sapphire (deep blue)
कोमलाङ्गीं
komalāṅgīṃ
She of soft, delicate limbs
मातङ्गकन्यां
mātaṅga-kanyāṃ
the daughter of the sage Matanga (Matangi / Shyamala)
मनसा स्मरामि
manasā smarāmi
I meditate upon (Her) with my mind
चतुर्भुजे
caturbhuje
O four-armed Goddess
चन्द्रकलावतंसे
candra-kalā-vataṃse
O One who wears the crescent moon as an ornament
कुङ्कुमरागशोणे
kuṅkuma-rāga-śoṇe
reddened with the hue of saffron / kumkum
पुण्ड्रेक्षु
puṇḍrekṣu
the sugarcane bow
पाशाङ्कुश
pāśāṅkuśa
the noose and the goad
पुष्पबाण
puṣpa-bāṇa
the flower arrows
हस्ते
haste
in (whose) hands (these are held)
नमस्ते जगदेकमातः
namaste jagad-eka-mātaḥ
salutations to You, O sole Mother of the universe
जय जननि
jaya janani
Victory to You, O Mother!
सुधासमुद्रान्तः
sudhā-samudra-antaḥ
within the ocean of nectar (the cosmic ocean of immortal bliss)
मणीद्वीप
maṇī-dvīpa
the Island of Gems (Manidvipa, the supreme abode of the Devi)
बिल्वाटवीमध्य
bilvāṭavī-madhya
in the midst of the forest of bilva (bael) trees
कल्पद्रुम
kalpa-druma
the wish-fulfilling Kalpaka tree
कृत्तिवासप्रिये
kṛttivāsa-priye
O beloved of Shiva (Krittivasa, the one clad in tiger-skin)
सर्वलोकप्रिये
sarva-loka-priye
O One dear to all the worlds
नीलालकश्रेणि
nīlālaka-śreṇi
rows of dark, glossy curls of hair
केकिनीनादहारिणि
kekinī-nāda-hāriṇi
O One whose speech enchants like the sweet cry of the peahen / peacock

Origin & History

Source: Traditional hymn attributed to Kalidasa (Shakta / Sri Vidya tradition)

Author: Attributed to Mahakavi Kalidasa

Period: Classical (attributed to the age of Kalidasa)

The Shyamala Dandakam is sung to Devi Shyamala (Matangi), the Goddess of speech and music who serves as the minister of Sri Lalita Tripura Sundari. According to a beloved tradition, the poet Kalidasa was once dull of wit until the Goddess blessed his tongue, whereupon poetry poured from him; in gratitude he composed hymns to Her, of which this dandaka — adoring Her from the crown of flowering curls to Her lotus feet — is the most famous. It begins with two meditation verses and flows into the rhythmic dandaka praising Her ruby veena, her bow of sugarcane and her enchanting, meaning-rich speech.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Shyamala?
Shyamala (also Matangi or Raja-Shyamala) is the dark-complexioned Divine Mother of speech, music and the arts. In the Sri Vidya tradition She is the 'Mantrini' or minister-commander of Sri Lalita Tripura Sundari, and She is closely identified with Saraswati as the deity of language and wisdom.
Who composed the Shyamala Dandakam?
It is traditionally attributed to the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa. A well-known legend says he received the gift of poetry by the grace of the Goddess, and this dandaka is sung as his offering of devotion to Her.
What is a 'dandaka'?
A dandaka is a special metrical form in Sanskrit poetry — a long, flowing composition built from extended compound words and a continuous rhythm, like an unbroken garland. The Shyamala Dandakam uses this form to praise the Goddess from head to foot in one cascading stream.
Why do students and artists chant it?
Because Shyamala is the Goddess of speech, music and learning, the hymn is recited for eloquence, sharp intellect, success in the arts, and the removal of obstacles to study and performance. The rhythmic recitation itself cultivates clear, confident speech.

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