Translated by Dr. A. G. Krishna Warrier
Published by The Theosophical Publishing House, Chennai
Om ! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together;
May we work conjointly with great energy,
May our study be vigorous and effective;
May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any).
Om ! Let there be Peace in me !
Let there be Peace in my environment !
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !
1. The sages, verily, with due reverence, asked the holy Asvalayana: How is that knowledge won which illumines the content of the word Tat ? Tell us that, Holy Sir, by meditation on which you know the Truth.
2. Best of Sages ! I won supreme perfection by exalting Sarasvati with the reciting of the ten verses on Her, as also the Ric stanzas with the ‘seed-syllables’.
3. The sages said: How, by what meditation, Sage of Dedicated Life, is the truth of Sarasvati won ? What pleases the great and sacred goddess Sarasvati ? Speak.
4. Asvalayana then spoke: Of this great mantra of the ten verse on Sarasvati, I, Asvalayana, am the seer. The eight-syllabled Anustubh is the metre; the holy Vagisvari, the divinity; ‘yadvak’ is the seed; ‘devim vacham’ the power; ‘pra no devi’ the lynch-pin; the application (of the mantra) is for pleasing Her; the consecration of limbs is by (invoking) faith, intelligence, wisdom, memory, the goddess of speech and Mahasarasvati.
5. To win plenitude of speech, in my heart I salute the goddess Sarasvati, who shines like snow, pearls, camphor and the moon; who confers auspicious blessing; is decked with garlands of golden Champaka blossoms; and charms the mind by her figure with
the lofty, rounded bosom.
6. Of this mantra (pra no devi), Bharadvaja is the seer; Gayatri, the metre; Sri Sarasvati, the divinity; OM, the seed, power and lynch-pin; its application is for gaining whatever is desired; consecration is with the mantra.
7. Her nature the essence of Vedanta’s sense,
She the Supreme Sovereign,
Manifest as name and form –
May Sarasvati guard me !
8. OM !
May the goddess Sarasvati,
Dispenser of nourishment,
Guardian of thoughts,
Protect us ever !
9. Of this mantra (a no divah), Atri is the seer; Tristubh, the metre; Sarasvati, the divinity; HRIM, the seed, power and lynch-pin; its application is for gaining whatever is desired; its application is for gaining whatever is desired; consecration of limbs is with the mantra.
10. The only one extolled in Vedas four
And their ancillaries; the non-dual
Potency of Brahman – May She, divine
Sarasvati, protect me !
11. HRIM
From heaven, from the giant clouds,
Let holy Sarasvati come
To our sacrifice; listening
Kindly to the call, may the Queen
Of Waters gladly hear our sweet words !
12. Of this mantra (pavaka nah), Madhucchandas is the seer; Gayatri, is the metre; Sarasvati, the divinity; SRIM, the seed, power and lynch-pin; its application is for gaining whatever is desired; consecration is with the mantra.
13. Existing solely in the form of sense,
Of sentence, word and letter,
Without beginning and without end –
May She, infinite Sarasvati, protect me !
14. SRIM
The purifier Sarasvati,
Dispenser of nourishment,
Treasure of intelligence –
May She accept our sacrifice !
15. Of this mantra (chodayitri), Madhucchandas is the seer; Gayatri, the metre; Sarasvati, the divinity; BLUM, the seed, power and lynch-pin; consecration is with the mantra.
16. In the self, among the gods,
The Sovereign Mistress of the gods
Dwells inwardly, forth uttering –
May Sarasvati protect me !
17. BLUM
Inspirer of truthful words,
Awakener of noble minds,
Sarasvati receives worship.
18. Of this mantra (maho arnah), Madhucchandas is the seer; Gayatri, the metre; Sarasvati, the divinity; SAUH, the seed, power and lynch-pin; consecration is with the mantra.
19. She as the inner controller
Rules over all in the three worlds,
Dwells as Rudra, the Sun and others –
May that Sarasvati protect me !
20. SAUH
Sarasvati shines splendidly –
Vast sheet of water – who confers
Wisdom and vivifies all thought.
