Maha Saraswathi Ashtakam

Maha Saraswathi Ashtakam
[The Octet on great Saraswathi]
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[This great and rare prayer is from Padma Purana and is sung by Brihaspathi.]

1. Idhameva Maharaja prushtavamsthe Pithamaha,
Bheeshmam dharma vidhaam Sreshtam Dharmaputhro Yudhishtra.

Like this king Yudhishtra who was the son of Dharma, questioned,
Lord Bheeshma who is the best among those who know Dharma.

2. Pithamaha Maha pragna, Sarva sastra Visharada,
Saraswathi sthvam punyam guruna yath krutham puraa

Oh greatly wise Grandfather, who is an expert in all Sastras,
Lord Guru has composed a blessed prayer addressed to Saraswathi earlier.

3. Thadaham srothum ichami, broohi may stotra muthamam,
Saraswaythi mayam drushtwa, Veena pusthaka Dharinim,

I would like to hear that prayer, so please tell me that auspicious prayer,
After looking at Goddess Saraswathi, who holds the Veena and the book.

4. Hamsa vaha samayuktho, vidhya dhana kari mama,
Pradhamam Bharathi nama, dwitheeyam cha Saraswathi.

Riding on the swan, she is the one gives me free that knowledge,
First she is called Bharathi and second she is called Saraswathi.

5. Tritheeyam Sarada Devi, chathurtham Hamsa Vahini,
Panchamam jagathi Khyatha, sashtam Vaneeswari thadhaa

Third she is Goddess Sarada, Fourth she is "One who rides on swan,"
Fifth she is called "Universe famous" and sixth she is called "Goddess of speech."

6. Kaumari sapthamam prokthaa, cha ashtamam Brahma Charini,
Navamam Budhi Dhatri cha dasamam vara dhayini.

Seventh she is called "the lass" and eighth she is called "She who does penance on Brahmam",
Ninth she is called "Giver of intelligence" and tenth she is called "giver of bons."

7. Yekadasam Kshudrakhanda, dwadasam Bhuvaneswari,
Brahmi, dwadasa naamani tri sandhyam ya paden nare.

Eleventh she is called "one who has thorns" and twelfth as "Goddess of universe",
And if a man reads at dusk, noon and dawn these twelve names of consort of Lord Brahma

8. Sarva sidhi kari thasya prasanna Parameswari,
Sa may vasathu jihvagre Brahma roopa Saraswathi

She who gives all powers is the pleasing greatest Goddess,
And let her live on the tip of the toungue as Saraswathi the form of Brahma.

9. Yevam sthuthaa thadhaa devi, santhushtaa Stotra padatha,
Aathmaanam darsayamasa Surya koti sama Prabham.

When the goddess is praised this way, becoming happy at the reading of the prayer m
She showed her own form which is like billions of Suns.

10. Varam vreushneeswa bhadram they yathe manasi vidhyathe.

Safety be un to you,choose the boon that you have in your mind.

Bruhaspathir Uvacha:
The Guru of devas told:-
Yadhi may Varada Devi jnanam sidham prayascha na.

If you are pleased me oh Goddess, wont you grant me wisdom and divine powers.

11. Hantha they nirmala jnanam, kumathi dwamsa karanam,
Stotrenanena ye bhakthya sthuvanthi maneshina

To those men who pray using this prayer with devotion,
I would grant them pure knowledge and destroy wicked knowledge.

12. Labanthe paramam jnanam, yath parairapi durlabham,
Prapnothi purusho nithyam Mahamaya prasadatha.

Due to the grace of the great enchantress people would get divine knowledge,
And also daily get the divinity, which is difficult to achieve.

13. Trisandhyam prayatho nithyam padeth ashtakamuthamam,
Thasye kande sadaa vaasam karishyaami na samsaya.

If this great octet prayer is chanted daily at dawn, noon and dusk
I would always live in his throat and there is no doubt about it.

Ithi Sri Padma purane Sri Saravasthyashtakam,
This is the octet on Goddess Saraswathi from Padma Purana.