taranilasaraswatimahavidyadasha-mahavidya

𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍 (𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍 / 𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌸𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍)

तारा स्तोत्रम् (ताराष्टकम् / नीलसरस्वती स्तोत्रम्) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 At dawn, midday and dusk (trisandhya), as the hymn itself prescribes; Tuesdays and during Navaratri are especially favoured·📜 Brihannila Tantra (Brihannila-tantra); a celebrated Tantric hymn to Tara / Nilasaraswati

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Brihannila Tantra (Brihannila-tantra); a celebrated Tantric hymn to Tara / Nilasaraswati · Traditional (anonymous); part of the Tara / Nilasaraswati Tantric corpus · Medieval Tantric period

Tara is venerated especially in eastern India, with her great seat at Tarapith in Bengal, where the sage Vasishtha is said to have perfected her sadhana after receiving the 'Chinachara' method. As Nilasaraswati she unites the fierce, liberating power of the Mahavidyas with the grace of the goddess of speech. This Tarashtakam, preserved in the Brihannila Tantra, is among the most widely recited hymns in her worship and is also known as the Nilasaraswati Stotram.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally held that constant recitation of this Tarashtakam awakens vak-siddhi — the power of speech — so that a once dull or tongue-tied devotee becomes as eloquent as Brihaspati and as gifted in poetry as the great poets; the hymn itself affirms that even a lowly, weary man, by serving Tara's feet, gains every excellence.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌸𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌮𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑍗𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍇 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌢𑌪𑌦𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑍇 𑌶𑌵𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌿 𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍇𑌰𑌾𑌨𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋𑌰𑍁𑌹𑍇। 𑌫𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌲𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍀𑌵𑌰𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑌯𑌨𑍇 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌕𑌪𑌾𑌲𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌲𑍇 𑌖𑌡𑍍𑌗𑌂 𑌚𑌾𑌦𑌧𑌤𑍀 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌵 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌯𑍇॥௧॥

Mātar nīlasarasvati praṇamatāṁ saubhāgyasampatprade pratyālīḍhapadasthite śavahṛdi smerānanāmbhoruhe। phullendīvaralocane trinayane kartrīkapālotpale khaḍgaṁ cādadhatī tvam eva śaraṇaṁ tvām īśvarīm āśraye॥1॥

Meaning:हे माँ नीलसरस्वति! प्रणाम करने वालों को सौभाग्य और सम्पत्ति देने वाली, प्रत्यालीढ़ मुद्रा में शव (शिव) के हृदय पर खड़ी, मुस्कानयुक्त कमलमुखी, खिले नीलकमल-सम तीन नेत्रों वाली, कैंची, कपाल और नीलकमल धारण किए तथा खड्ग लिए हुए — आप ही मेरी शरण हैं; मैं आप सर्वेश्वरी की शरण लेता हूँ।

Verse 2

𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌿 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌲𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍇 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌿 𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌜𑌾𑌤𑌰𑌚𑌨𑌾𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍇। 𑌨𑍀𑌲𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍀𑌵𑌰𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌯𑍁𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌧𑍇 𑌸𑍗𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌨𑍇𑌨 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑌿𑌞𑍍𑌚 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍃𑌶𑌮𑍍॥௨॥

Vācām īśvari bhaktikalpalatike sarvārthasiddhīśvari gadyaprākṛtapadyajātaracanāsarvārthasiddhiprade। nīlendīvaralocanatrayayute kāruṇyavārānnidhe saubhāgyāmṛtavardhanena kṛpayā siñca tvam asmādṛśam॥2॥

Meaning:हे वाणी की ईश्वरी, भक्तों के लिए कल्पलता, समस्त सिद्धियों की स्वामिनी, गद्य-प्राकृत-पद्य की रचना तथा सर्वार्थ सिद्धि देने वाली, नीलकमल-सम तीन नेत्रों वाली, करुणा की सागर! कृपा करके मुझ जैसे को सौभाग्यामृत से सींच दीजिए।

Verse 3

𑌖𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌸𑌮𑍂𑌹𑌪𑍂𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌤𑌨𑍋 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌷𑍋𑌜𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌲𑍇 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌘𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌵𑍀𑌤𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑌕𑌟𑌿𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌧𑍂𑌤𑌘𑌣𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌤𑍇। 𑌸𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌃𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌗𑌲𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌃𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌮𑌿𑌲𑌨𑍍𑌮𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌯𑍀𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌜- 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌣𑌿𑌨𑍃𑌮𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌦𑌾𑌮𑌲𑌲𑌿𑌤𑍇 𑌭𑍀𑌮𑍇 𑌭𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌯॥௩॥

Kharve garvasamūhapūritatano sarpādiveṣojjvale vyāghratvakparivītasundarakaṭivyādhūtaghaṇṭāṅkite। sadyaḥkṛttagaladrajaḥparimilanmuṇḍadvayīmūrddhaja- granthiśreṇinṛmuṇḍadāmalalite bhīme bhayaṁ nāśaya॥3॥

Meaning:हे ठिगने कद वाली, गर्व से पूर्ण शरीर वाली, सर्पादि आभूषणों से उज्ज्वल, व्याघ्रचर्म से वेष्टित सुंदर कटि में बँधी घण्टियों से अंकित, तत्काल कटे और रक्त बहाते मस्तकों तथा नरमुण्डों की माला से सुसज्जित — हे भीमे! मेरे भय का नाश करो।

Verse 4

𑌮𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌲𑌲𑌨𑌾𑌬𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌿𑌕𑍇 𑌹𑍁𑌂𑌫𑌟𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌮𑌯𑌿 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌵 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌕𑍇 𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍃𑌶𑌃। 𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌜𑌨𑌨𑌿 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌧𑌾𑌮𑌘𑌟𑌿𑌤𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑍂𑌲𑌾𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑌾 𑌪𑌰𑌾 𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌹𑌿 𑌗𑍋𑌚𑌰𑌾 𑌕𑌥𑌮𑌪𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍍𑌞𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌨𑍁𑌤𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌯𑍇॥௪॥

Māyānaṅgavikārarūpalalanābindvarddhacandrāmbike huṁphaṭkāramayi tvam eva śaraṇaṁ mantrātmike mādṛśaḥ। mūrtis te janani tridhāmaghaṭitā sthūlātisūkṣmā parā vedānāṁ nahi gocarā kathamapi prājñair nutām āśraye॥4॥

Meaning:हे माया एवं अनंग के विकाररूप, बिंदु और अर्धचंद्र से युक्त, हुँ-फट् स्वरूपा, मंत्रात्मिके माँ! आप ही मुझ जैसे की शरण हैं। हे जननी! आपका विग्रह तीनों धामों से बना — स्थूल, अति सूक्ष्म और पर — वेदों से भी अगोचर है; ज्ञानियों से वंदित उसका मैं आश्रय लेता हूँ।

Verse 5

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑍁𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌿𑌨𑍋 𑌗𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌪𑌰𑌮𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑌯𑌨𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌸𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑌃। 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌧𑌿𑌮𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌨𑍇 𑌪𑌟𑍁𑌤𑌨𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍁𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌪𑌦𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌨𑍇 𑌹𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌧𑍀𑌃 𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌤𑍇॥௫॥

Tvatpādāmbujasevayā sukṛtino gacchanti sāyujyatāṁ tasyāḥ śrīparameśvaratrinayanabrahmādisāmyātmanaḥ। saṁsārāmbudhimajjane paṭutanur devendramukhyāsurān mātas te padasevane hi vimukhān kiṁ mandadhīḥ sevate॥5॥

Meaning:आपके चरण-कमलों की सेवा से पुण्यात्मा सायुज्य मुक्ति पाते हैं और शिव, ब्रह्मा आदि के समान हो जाते हैं। संसार-सागर में डूबने में निपुण तथा आपकी चरण-सेवा से विमुख इन्द्रादि देवताओं की कौन मंदबुद्धि सेवा करेगा?

Verse 6

𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌰𑌜𑍋𑌮𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌕𑍋𑌟𑍀𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌾 𑌜𑌯𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌰𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌜𑌯𑌿𑌨𑍋 𑌨𑌿𑌃𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌮𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍇 𑌗𑌤𑌾𑌃। 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌨𑍇 𑌨 𑌮𑍇 𑌸𑌮 𑌇𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑍍𑌪𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌹𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑍇 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌯𑌤𑌂 𑌯𑌥𑌾 𑌶𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌵𑍀 𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌮𑍍॥௬॥

Mātas tvatpadapaṅkajadvayarajomudrāṅkakoṭīriṇas te devā jayasaṅgare vijayino niḥśaṅkam aṅke gatāḥ। devo'haṁ bhuvane na me sama iti spardhāṁ vahantaḥ pare tattulyāṁ niyataṁ yathā śaśiravī nāśaṁ vrajanti svayam॥6॥

Meaning:हे माँ! जिन देवों के मुकुट आपके चरण-रज से अंकित हैं, वे संग्राम में विजयी होकर निःशंक आपकी गोद में रहते हैं; और 'मैं देवता हूँ, मेरे समान कोई नहीं' ऐसी स्पर्धा करने वाले स्वयं ही चंद्र-सूर्य की भाँति नाश को प्राप्त होते हैं।

Verse 7

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌲𑌾𑌯𑌨𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍁𑌂 𑌚 𑌶𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾 𑌨 𑌤𑍇 𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌤𑌪𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌚𑌰𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌸𑌗𑌣𑌾 𑌯𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌪𑌾𑌃। 𑌦𑍈𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌪𑍁𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌵𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌖𑌚𑌰𑌾 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌘𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌕𑌾 𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍋 𑌡𑌾𑌕𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌪𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌜𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌂 𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌲𑍇॥௭॥

Tvannāmasmaraṇāt palāyanaparān draṣṭuṁ ca śaktā na te bhūtapretapiśācarākṣasagaṇā yakṣaś ca nāgādhipāḥ। daityā dānavapuṅgavāś ca khacarā vyāghrādikā jantavo ḍākinyaḥ kupitāntakaś ca manujān mātaḥ kṣaṇaṁ bhūtale॥7॥

Meaning:आपके नाम-स्मरण मात्र से भूत, प्रेत, पिशाच, राक्षस, यक्ष, नागराज, दैत्य, दानव, खेचर, व्याघ्रादि जीव, डाकिनी और क्रुद्ध यम तक भाग खड़े होते हैं और आपके भक्तों की ओर देख तक नहीं पाते।

Verse 8

𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌃 𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌗𑌣𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌾𑌃 𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌥𑌾 𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌪𑌿 𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌨𑍇 𑌗𑌜𑌘𑌟𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌥𑌾 𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌨𑌮𑍍। 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌦𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌯𑌾 𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌨𑍃𑌣𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑍇 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌲𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌨𑍋𑌭𑌵𑍋𑌽𑌤𑍍𑌰 𑌭𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌽𑌪𑌿 𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌸𑍍𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌃॥௮॥

Lakṣmīḥ siddhigaṇaś ca pādukamukhāḥ siddhās tathā vairiṇāṁ stambhaś cāpi varāṅgane gajaghaṭāstambhas tathā mohanam। mātas tvatpadasevayā khalu nṛṇāṁ siddhyanti te te guṇāḥ klāntaḥ kāntamanobhavo'tra bhavati kṣudro'pi vācaspatiḥ॥8॥

Meaning:लक्ष्मी, सिद्धिगण, पादुकादि सिद्धियाँ, शत्रु-स्तंभन, गज-समूह-स्तंभन और मोहन — हे वरांगने! ये सब गुण आपके चरणों की सेवा से मनुष्यों को सिद्ध हो जाते हैं; साधारण थका-हारा मनुष्य भी कामदेव-सा मनोहर और बृहस्पति-सा वाक्पटु हो जाता है।

Verse 9

𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌠𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌰𑌃। 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍇 𑌚 𑌸𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌨𑍇 𑌨𑌿𑌯𑌤𑌃 𑌶𑍁𑌚𑌿𑌃॥௯॥

Tārāṣṭakam idaṁ puṇyaṁ bhaktimān yaḥ paṭhen naraḥ। prātar madhyāhnakāle ca sāyāhne niyataḥ śuciḥ॥9॥

Meaning:जो भक्त नियमित और पवित्र होकर इस पुण्यमय ताराष्टक का प्रातः, मध्याह्न और सायं पाठ करता है, वह कवित्व-शक्ति एवं विद्या पाकर सब शास्त्रों का ज्ञाता बनता है; अक्षय लक्ष्मी पाकर, यथेच्छ भोग भोगकर, कीर्ति, कांति, आरोग्य और सबकी प्रियता प्राप्त कर तथा लोकों में विख्यात होकर अंत में मोक्ष प्राप्त करता है।

Verse 10

𑌲𑌭𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌶𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌵𑍇𑌤𑍍। 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌮𑌨𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌯 𑌭𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌭𑍋𑌗𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌥𑍇𑌪𑍍𑌸𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍॥௧௦॥

Labhate kavitāṁ vidyāṁ sarvaśāstrārthavid bhavet। lakṣmīm anaśvarāṁ prāpya bhuktvā bhogān yathepsitān॥10॥

Verse 11

𑌕𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌚 𑌨𑍈𑌰𑍁𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌷𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍇𑌤𑍍। 𑌵𑌿𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌚𑌾𑌪𑌿 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍁𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍॥௧௧॥

Kīrtiṁ kāntiṁ ca nairujyaṁ sarveṣāṁ priyatāṁ vrajet। vikhyātiṁ cāpi lokeṣu prāpyānte mokṣam āpnuyāt॥11॥

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌃 𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌸𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌤𑌿🔊mātaḥ nīlasarasvatiO Mother Nilasaraswati (the blue Saraswati, another name of Tara)

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌮𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑍗𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍇🔊praṇamatāṁ saubhāgyasampatpradeBestower of good fortune and prosperity on those who bow to you

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌢𑌪𑌦𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑍇🔊pratyālīḍhapadasthiteStanding in the warrior's pratyalidha posture

𑌶𑌵𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌿 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑍇🔊śavahṛdi sthiteStanding upon the heart of a corpse (Shiva as Shava)

𑌫𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌲𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍀𑌵𑌰𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑍇🔊phullendīvaralocaneWith eyes like fully-blossomed blue lotuses

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑌯𑌨𑍇🔊trinayaneThree-eyed one

𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀-𑌕𑌪𑌾𑌲-𑌉𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌲🔊kartrī-kapāla-utpalaHolding the scissors/curved knife, the skull-cup, and the blue lotus

𑌖𑌡𑍍𑌗𑌂 𑌚 𑌆𑌦𑌧𑌤𑍀🔊khaḍgaṁ ca ādadhatīAnd bearing the sword

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍍 𑌏𑌵 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊tvam eva śaraṇamYou alone are my refuge

𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌮𑍍 𑌈𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌿🔊vācām īśvariO Goddess/ruler of speech (granter of eloquence)

𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌲𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍇🔊bhaktikalpalatikeO wish-fulfilling creeper for the devotees

𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌧𑍇🔊kāruṇyavārānnidheO ocean of compassion

𑌸𑍗𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌨𑍇𑌨 𑌸𑌿𑌞𑍍𑌚🔊saubhāgyāmṛtavardhanena siñcaSprinkle (me) with the nectar that increases good fortune

𑌮𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌦𑌾𑌮-𑌲𑌲𑌿𑌤𑍇🔊muṇḍadāma-laliteAdorned beautifully with a garland of severed heads

𑌭𑍀𑌮𑍇 𑌭𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌯🔊bhīme bhayaṁ nāśayaO fierce one, destroy (my) fear

𑌹𑍁𑌂𑌫𑌟𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌮𑌯𑌿🔊huṁphaṭkāramayiO embodiment of the seed-sounds Hum and Phat

𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌕𑍇🔊mantrātmikeO Goddess whose very essence is mantra

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊tvatpādāmbujasevayā sāyujyatāmBy serving your lotus feet (devotees attain) union/liberation

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌤𑍍 𑌪𑌲𑌾𑌯𑌨𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌃🔊tvannāmasmaraṇāt palāyanaparāḥAt the remembrance of your name (they) take to flight

𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊tārāṣṭakam idaṁ puṇyamThis meritorious Tara Ashtakam

𑌲𑌭𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊labhate kavitāṁ vidyāmAttains poetic power and learning

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑍍 𑌆𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍁𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍🔊prāpyānte mokṣam āpnuyātAnd in the end attains liberation (moksha)

Benefits of Chanting तारा स्तोत्रम् (ताराष्टकम् / नीलसरस्वती स्तोत्रम्)

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Bestows mastery over speech (vak-siddhi), eloquence and poetic genius — Tara is Nilasaraswati, goddess of the word

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Grants deep learning and the ability to understand the meaning of all scriptures

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Removes fear of ghosts, demons, wild beasts and even death, as the hymn declares they flee at the remembrance of her name

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Confers good fortune, imperishable wealth (Lakshmi) and the love and goodwill of all

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Grants tantric siddhis such as stambhana (paralysing of foes) and mohana when practised under a guru

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Leads the devout reciter, in the end, to liberation (moksha)

How to Chant तारा स्तोत्रम् (ताराष्टकम् / नीलसरस्वती स्तोत्रम्)

Repetitions11times

Best TimeAt dawn, midday and dusk (trisandhya), as the hymn itself prescribes; Tuesdays and during Navaratri are especially favoured

Bathe and purify yourself, sit facing east or north, and recite this Tarashtakam with devotion and concentration, ideally at the three sandhya times — dawn, midday and dusk. Tara is a profound Tantric Mahavidya; her formal mantra-upasana is undertaken under the guidance of a qualified guru, but the stotram may be recited devotionally for the blessings of speech, wisdom and protection. Keep the mind steady and dwell on her form as Nilasaraswati, granter of the word.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete तारा स्तोत्रम् (ताराष्टकम् / नीलसरस्वती स्तोत्रम्) written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

Tara is the second of the ten Mahavidyas, the great Tantric wisdom-goddesses. She is closely related to Kali but is especially the goddess of speech and saving knowledge — 'Tara' means 'she who saves/ferries across'. In her form as Nilasaraswati ('blue Saraswati') she grants eloquence, learning and poetic power, while standing fierce upon a corpse as the supreme deliverer.

Nila means 'blue' and Saraswati is the goddess of speech and learning. Tara is dark blue in complexion and, like Saraswati, is the bestower of vak-siddhi — mastery of the word, poetry and scripture. This hymn directly invokes her as 'Matar Nilasaraswati', uniting her fierce Tantric aspect with the grace of the goddess of wisdom.

The opening verse describes her holding the kartri (curved knife or scissors), the kapala (skull-cup), the utpala (blue lotus) and the khadga (sword), while standing in the warrior's pratyalidha posture upon the heart of a corpse. These symbolise the cutting away of ignorance, the dissolution of the ego, awakened wisdom and the destruction of obstacles.

The closing verses promise that one who recites it thrice daily, pure and disciplined, gains poetic genius, learning and knowledge of all scriptures, lasting wealth and desired enjoyments, fame, beauty, health, the love of all, renown in the worlds, and finally liberation (moksha).