Sri Suktam

śrī sūktam is the central Vedic hymn to śrī lakṣmī, the divine power of auspiciousness, prosperity, beauty, nourishment, royal grace, and moral abundance. It is received in the Rigvedic khila or appendix tradition, and living recitation often preserves more than one textual layer: the Vedic core, ritual verses, phala verses, and later devotional Lakshmi/Narayani prayers. This Vedic chant reflects that liturgical breadth.

This Vedic hymn teaches what kind of prosperity is worth seeking. It does not ask for wealth in isolation; it asks for śrī, the sacred fullness that includes virtue, fertility, food, cattle, capable people, good speech, reputation, and the removal of alakṣmī, misfortune and disorder. It therefore corrects the common mistake of reducing Lakshmi to money alone.

The hymn begins by invoking jātavēdas, Agni as knower of all births, to bring Lakshmi. Then it unfolds images of gold, lotus, elephants, fragrance, grain, truthful speech, lineage, and royal dignity. These images show prosperity as a living ecology: beauty, nourishment, ethics, social trust, and divine grace must support each other.

Read this text as a discipline of abundance under dharma. Key concepts include śrī, lakṣmī, alakṣmī, anapagāminī (that which does not depart), satya-vāk (truthful speech), and tapas. The prayer asks us to invite auspiciousness into the home and also to become the kind of person, family, and society where auspiciousness can remain.

ōm ॥ hira̍ṇyavarṇā̠ṃ hari̍ṇīṃ su̠varṇa̍raja̠tasra̍jām ।
cha̠ndrāṃ hi̠raṇma̍yīṃ la̠kṣmī-ñjāta̍vēdō ma̠māva̍ha ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
hiraṇya-varṇām - golden-hued, radiant like gold
hariṇīm - shining, tawny, graceful, or remover of dullness
suvarṇa-rajata-srajām - garlanded with gold and silver
chandrām - moon-like, cooling and pleasing
hiraṇmayīṃ lakṣmīm - golden, luminous Lakshmi
jātavēdaḥ - O Agni, knower of all births
mama āvaha - bring her to me

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Jatavedas Agni, bring to me Lakshmi who is golden-hued, radiant, adorned with gold and silver, moon-like, and filled with luminous auspiciousness.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The hymn begins by asking Agni to bring lakṣmī. The golden and moonlike images must be held together: prosperity should be bright and valuable, but also cooling, gentle, and nourishing.

In Vedic symbolism, Agni carries offerings and connects human prayer to divine powers. Sri Vaishnava tradition sees Lakshmi as inseparable from Narayana, while Advaita can read śrī as auspicious manifestation of the same Brahman-supported order.

Practically, ask for wealth that brings light without heat. A good home, career, or institution should be prosperous without becoming harsh, arrogant, or exhausting.

tā-mma̠ āva̍ha̠ jāta̍vēdō la̠kṣmīmana̍pagā̠minī̎m ।
yasyā̠ṃ hira̍ṇyaṃ vi̠ndēya̠-ṅgāmaśva̠-mpuru̍ṣāna̠ham ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
tāṃ mē āvaha - bring her to me
jātavēdaḥ - O Agni, knower of beings
lakṣmīṃ anapagāminīm - Lakshmi who does not depart
yasyām - in whose presence
hiraṇyaṃ vindēyam - may I obtain gold or wealth
gāṃ aśvaṃ puruṣān aham - cows, horses, and capable people

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Jatavedas, bring to me Lakshmi who does not depart. In her presence may I obtain wealth, cattle, horses, and worthy people.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
anapagāminī is important: the prayer asks for stable prosperity, not a flash of gain followed by loss. Wealth includes money, livestock, mobility, and human support.

Dharmic prosperity is relational. The Gita's yajna-cycle teaches that wealth is sustained by order, offering, rain, food, and beings. Lakshmi stays where generosity, cleanliness, and truth support her.

In modern terms, build durable prosperity: ethical income, reliable teams, healthy family systems, and clean habits. Fortune that rests on deception will not remain.

a̠śva̠pū̠rvāṃ ra̍thama̠dhyāṃ ha̠stinā̍da-pra̠bōdhi̍nīm ।
śriya̍-ndē̠vīmupa̍hvayē̠ śrīrmā̍ dē̠vīrju̍ṣatām ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
aśva-pūrvām - preceded by horses
ratha-madhyām - seated in the chariot's center
hasti-nāda-prabōdhinīm - awakened or announced by elephant-sound
śrīyaṃ dēvīṃ upahvayē - I invoke the divine Sri
śrīḥ mā juṣatām - may Sri graciously favor me

Translation (bhāvārtha):
I invoke the divine Sri, preceded by horses, seated in the chariot, and announced by the sound of elephants. May the goddess Sri favor me.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
Horses, chariot, and elephants are royal images. śrī includes momentum, dignity, governance, and public honor, not merely private money.

Classical Lakshmi iconography later preserves these symbols through elephants, lotus, and royal abundance. Acharyas often connect Lakshmi with divine grace that makes power auspicious rather than oppressive.

Practically, when influence grows, character must grow faster. Public success without humility becomes noise; success guided by Sri becomes dignified service.

kā̠ṃsō̎smi̠ tāṃ hira̍ṇyaprā̠kārā̍mā̠rdrā-ñjvala̍ntī-ntṛ̠ptā-nta̠rpaya̍ntīm ।
pa̠dmē̠ sthi̠tā-mpa̠dmava̍rṇā̠-ntāmi̠hōpa̍hvayē̠ śriyam ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
hiraṇya-prākārām - enclosed or protected by golden ramparts
ārdrām - moist, compassionate, fertile
jvalantīm - blazing with radiance
tṛptāṃ tarpayantīm - fulfilled and fulfilling others
padmē sthitām - seated in the lotus
padma-varṇām - lotus-hued
śrīyaṃ upahvayē - I invoke Sri

Translation (bhāvārtha):
I invoke Sri who is protected by golden splendor, moist with compassion and fertility, blazing, fulfilled and fulfilling, seated in the lotus and lotus-hued.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
ārdrā is a subtle word: prosperity must be moist, living, and compassionate, not dry hoarding. tṛptā tarpayantī says true abundance is satisfied and therefore able to satisfy others.

The lotus is rooted in water but unstained by mud, a major spiritual symbol across Hindu traditions. Lakshmi's lotus teaches beauty with purity and participation without contamination.

In daily life, become fulfilled enough to nourish others. Scarcity-mind hoards; Lakshmi-mind circulates resources wisely.

cha̠ndrā-mpra̍bhā̠sāṃ ya̠śasā̠ jvala̍ntī̠ṃ śriya̍ṃ lō̠kē dē̠vaju̍ṣṭāmudā̠rām ।
tā-mpa̠dminī̍mī̠ṃ śara̍ṇama̠ha-mprapa̍dyē-'la̠kṣmīrmē̍ naśyatā̠-ntvāṃ vṛ̍ṇē ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
chandrāṃ prabhāsām - moon-like and radiant
yaśasā jvalantīm - shining with fame and honor
lōkē dēva-juṣṭām - cherished by the gods in the world
udārām - noble and generous
padminīṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadyē - I take refuge in the lotus-bearing one
alakṣmīḥ mē naśyatām - may misfortune depart from me
tvāṃ vṛṇē - I choose you

Translation (bhāvārtha):
I take refuge in the noble lotus-bearing Sri, moon-like, radiant, shining with honor, and cherished by the gods. I choose you; may misfortune depart from me.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
This is not only request but choice: tvāṃ vṛṇē, I choose you. To choose Lakshmi is also to reject alakṣmī, the disorder of poverty, ugliness, harshness, and moral decline.

Traditional Lakshmi worship pairs invitation of Sri with removal of Alakshmi. The Gita's distinction between divine and demonic qualities works similarly: cultivating one requires rejecting the other.

Practically, choose prosperity habits and reject misfortune habits: cleanliness over neglect, generosity over hoarding, truth over manipulation, and gratitude over entitlement.

ā̠di̠tyava̍rṇē̠ tapa̠sō-'dhi̍jā̠tō vana̠spati̠stava̍ vṛ̠kṣō-'tha̍ bi̠lvaḥ ।
tasya̠ phalā̍ni̠ tapa̠sānu̍dantu mā̠yānta̍rā̠yāścha̍ bā̠hyā a̍la̠kṣmīḥ ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
āditya-varṇē - sun-colored, radiant like the sun
tapasā adhi-jātaḥ - born from tapas
vanaspatiḥ tava vṛkṣaḥ bilvaḥ - the bilva tree is your sacred tree
tasya phalāni - its fruits
tapasā anudantu - may they drive away through tapas
māyā antarāyāḥ - inner obstacles born of illusion
bāhyā alakṣmīḥ - external misfortune

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O sun-radiant one born of tapas, may the fruits of your sacred bilva tree, through the power of tapas, drive away inner obstacles of delusion and outer misfortune.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The verse connects Lakshmi with tapas. Prosperity is not sustained by comfort alone; it requires disciplined heat that burns inner and outer obstacles.

The bilva is sacred in Hindu worship, and here its fruit symbolizes auspicious removal. The Gita teaches that disciplined tapas of body, speech, and mind refines life when practiced with clarity.

Practically, remove two kinds of poverty: inner confusion and outer disorder. Clean accounts, clean rooms, clean speech, and clean motives are all Lakshmi practices.

upai̍tu̠ mā-ndē̍vasa̠khaḥ kī̠rtiścha̠ maṇi̍nā sa̠ha ।
prā̠du̠rbhū̠tō-'smi̍ rāṣṭrē̠-'smin kī̠rti̠mṛ̍ddhi-nda̠dātu̍ mē ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
upaitu mām - may it come to me
dēva-sakhaḥ - the friend of the gods, often understood as Kubera
kīrtiḥ cha maṇinā saha - fame with jewel-like splendor
prādurbhūtaḥ asmi rāṣṭrē asmin - may I become manifest in this realm/nation
kīrtiṃ ṛddhiṃ dadātu mē - may it grant me reputation and growth

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May the friend of the gods come to me along with jewel-like fame. May I arise worthily in this community, and may I be granted good reputation and growth.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The prayer seeks kīrti and ṛddhi, reputation and growth. But in a Vedic hymn, reputation is not publicity; it is the honor that arises from worthiness.

Chanakya Neeti and Bhartruhari both treat reputation as fragile and dependent on conduct. Lakshmi's fame must be earned through generosity, reliability, and dharma.

Practically, build a name that can survive scrutiny. Let growth be tied to service and competence, not mere display.

kṣu̠tpi̠pā̠sāma̍lā-ñjyē̠ṣṭhāma̠la̠kṣī-rnā̍śayā̠myaham ।
abhū̍ti̠masa̍mṛddhi̠-ñcha sa̠rvā̠-nnirṇu̍da mē̠ gṛhāt ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
kṣut-pipāsā-malām - stained by hunger and thirst
jyēṣṭhāṃ alakṣmīm - elder misfortune, Alakshmi
nāśayāmi aham - I seek to destroy
abhūtim - non-prosperity, lack of well-being
asamṛddhim - non-growth, insufficiency
sarvāṃ nirṇuda mē gṛhāt - drive all of it out of my home

Translation (bhāvārtha):
I reject Alakshmi, marked by hunger, thirst, and impurity. Drive away from my home all non-prosperity, insufficiency, and lack of well-being.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The hymn is honest about poverty and disorder. alakṣmī is not only lack of money; it includes hunger, thirst, impurity, stagnation, and a house where well-being cannot grow.

Traditional worship often sends away Alakshmi before inviting Lakshmi. Spiritually this means removing habits that repel grace: laziness, filth, cruelty, falsehood, and waste.

In daily life, do a Lakshmi audit of the home: food security, cleanliness, debt, speech, and emotional atmosphere. Prosperity begins with removing preventable disorder.

ga̠ndha̠dvā̠rā-ndu̍rādha̠rṣā̠-nni̠tyapu̍ṣṭā-ṅkarī̠ṣiṇī̎m ।
ī̠śvarīg̍ṃ sarva̍bhūtā̠nā̠-ntāmi̠hōpa̍hvayē̠ śriyam ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
gandha-dvārām - approachable through fragrance
durādharṣām - difficult to overpower
nitya-puṣṭām - ever-nourished, ever-flourishing
karīṣiṇīm - fertile, connected with cultivated earth
īśvarīṃ sarva-bhūtānām - sovereign of all beings
śrīyaṃ upahvayē - I invoke Sri

Translation (bhāvārtha):
I invoke Sri as fragrant, unconquerable, ever-nourished, fertile, and sovereign over all beings, so that prosperity may come as living abundance joined with divine order.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
gandha, fragrance, suggests subtle presence. Real prosperity has a fragrance: order, cleanliness, generosity, and peace are felt before they are explained.

The earth-fertility in karīṣiṇī connects Lakshmi to agriculture and nourishment. She is not only palace wealth but cultivated abundance.

Practically, make your life fragrant: clean spaces, kind speech, fair dealings, and nourishing food. These are visible signs that Sri has a place to stay.

[śrī̎rmē bha̠jatu । ala̠kṣī̎rmē na̠śyatu ।]

Meaning (padārtha):
śrīḥ mē bhajatu - may Sri favor and belong to me
alakṣmīḥ mē naśyatu - may Alakshmi perish or depart from me

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May Sri favor me and remain with me; may Alakshmi, the poverty of disorder, hunger, harshness, and misfortune, depart from my home and heart.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
This compact refrain gives the whole hymn in two movements: invite auspicious abundance and remove inauspicious disorder. śrī and alakṣmī are not merely external conditions; they name patterns of order and disorder in the home, speech, body, and mind.

Many traditions pair positive cultivation with negative removal. The Gita's divine qualities grow only when demonic tendencies are understood and abandoned, and Devi traditions similarly worship the Mother as the one who nourishes virtue while cutting away inner impurity.

Practically, every day do one action that invites Sri and one that removes Alakshmi: give, clean, study, apologize, organize, restrain waste, or repair a strained relationship. Prosperity becomes stable when the removal of disorder is as deliberate as the request for blessing.

mana̍sa̠ḥ kāma̠mākū̍tiṃ vā̠cha-ssa̠tyama̍śīmahi ।
pa̠śū̠nāgṃ rū̠pamanya̍sya̠ mayi̠ śrī-śśra̍yatā̠ṃ yaśa̍ḥ ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
manasaḥ kāmaṃ ākūtim - the worthy desire and intention of the mind
vāchaḥ satyaṃ aśīmahi - may we attain truth of speech
paśūnāṃ rūpaṃ annasya - the form of cattle and food
mayi śrīḥ śrayatām - may Sri abide in me
yaśaḥ - honor, good reputation

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May we attain worthy intention in the mind and truth in speech. May the forms of nourishment and living wealth be ours; may Sri and good honor abide in me.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The verse joins prosperity to truth. vāchaḥ satyam is essential: Lakshmi should not be invited into a house of lies.

Taittiriya Upanishad's injunction satyaṃ vada dharmaṃ chara supports this directly. Speech-truth is not optional ornament; it is a foundation for sacred abundance.

Practically, audit promises. Pay what you owe, speak clearly, and stop exaggeration. Trust is one of the greatest forms of Lakshmi.

ka̠rdamē̍na pra̍jābhū̠tā̠ ma̠yi̠ sambha̍va ka̠rdama ।
śriya̍ṃ vā̠saya̍ mē ku̠lē̠ mā̠tara̍-mpadma̠māli̍nīm ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
kardamēna prajā-bhūtā - born or made fruitful through Kardama
mayi sambhava kardama - O Kardama, arise in me
śrīyaṃ vāsaya mē kulē - make Sri dwell in my family
mātaraṃ padma-mālinīm - the lotus-garlanded Mother

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Kardama, source of fertility and progeny, arise in me. Establish the lotus-garlanded Mother Sri in my family.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
kardama means fertile mud and is also treated as a seer or son associated with Sri. The image is earthy: lotuses grow from mud, and families flourish through grounded fertility.

Tradition names Ananda, Kardama, and Chiklita in relation to Sri. The symbolism teaches that prosperity needs emotional warmth, fertile ground, and continuity.

In family life, invite Lakshmi through stable routines, kindness to elders and children, and careful stewardship of food and money.

āpa̍-ssṛ̠jantu̍ sni̠gdhā̠ni̠ chi̠klī̠ta va̍sa mē̠ gṛhē ।
ni cha̍ dē̠vī-mmā̠tara̠ṃ śriya̍ṃ vā̠saya̍ mē ku̠lē ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
āpas sṛjantu snigdhāni - may the waters release smoothness and tenderness
chiklīta - O Chiklita, associated with moistness and fertility
vasa mē gṛhē - dwell in my house
dēvīṃ mātaraṃ śriyam - the divine Mother Sri
vāsaya mē kulē - establish her in my lineage

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May the waters bring softness and nourishment. O Chiklita, dwell in my house and establish the divine Mother Sri in my family.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
snigdha means smooth, affectionate, moist, and nourishing. A home needs this quality because Lakshmi is not only external gain but the gentle cohesion that lets people feel safe, fed, and respected. Wealth without tenderness becomes hard.

Water and Lakshmi are deeply linked through fertility, lotus, and nourishment. The Taittiriya reverence for annam and the Sri Suktam's water imagery both show that prosperity must be life-giving, not merely impressive.

Practically, make the home emotionally nourishing. Speak gently, feed people well, pay attention before problems become dry resentment, and keep the atmosphere warm enough for goodness to grow.

ā̠rdrā-mpu̠ṣkari̍ṇī-mpu̠ṣṭiṃ̠ pi̠ṅga̠ḻā-mpa̍dmamā̠linīm ।
cha̠ndrāṃ hi̠raṇma̍yīṃ la̠kṣmī-ñjāta̍vēdō ma̠māva̍ha ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
ārdrām - moist, compassionate, fertile
puṣkariṇīm - lotus-bearing, pond-like, full of nourishment
puṣṭim - nourishment and flourishing
piṅgalām - tawny-golden
padma-mālinīm - lotus-garlanded
chandrāṃ hiraṇmayīṃ lakṣmīm - moonlike golden Lakshmi
jātavēdaḥ mama āvaha - O Agni, bring her to me

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Jatavedas, bring to me Lakshmi who is moist with compassion, lotus-bearing, nourishing, golden-tawny, lotus-garlanded, moonlike, and golden.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The repeated water-lotus imagery emphasizes nourished prosperity. puṣṭi is not luxury alone; it is health, fullness, and the ability to sustain life.

Lakshmi's association with the lotus also teaches purity within the world. Sri grows in water and mud but remains unstained.

Practically, choose prosperity that nourishes body, mind, and community. If wealth weakens health or virtue, it is not puṣṭi.

ā̠rdrāṃ ya̠ḥ kari̍ṇīṃ ya̠ṣṭiṃ̠ su̠va̠rṇāṃ hē̍mamā̠linīm ।
sū̠ryāṃ hi̠raṇma̍yīṃ la̠kṣmī̠-ñjāta̍vēdō ma̠māva̍ha ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
ārdrām - moist and compassionate
yaḥ-kariṇīm - active, bringing effort or movement
yaṣṭim - staff, support, sustaining power
suvarṇām - golden
hēma-mālinīm - adorned with a golden garland
sūryāṃ hiraṇmayīṃ lakṣmīm - sunlike golden Lakshmi
jātavēdaḥ mama āvaha - O Agni, bring her to me

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Jatavedas, bring to me Lakshmi who is compassionate, active, supportive, golden, garlanded with gold, sunlike, and radiant.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
Here Lakshmi is solar as well as lunar. She cools like the moon and energizes like the sun. yaṣṭi suggests support and uprightness.

The tradition never reduces Lakshmi to passive beauty. She is active nourishment, royal energy, and sustaining order. In Vaishnava theology, her grace supports the soul's approach to the Lord.

Practically, prosperity must support upright action. Money should help people stand straighter, not become dependent, crooked, or fearful.

tā-mma̠ āva̍ha̠ jāta̍vēdō la̠kṣīmana̍pagā̠minī̎m ।
yasyā̠ṃ hira̍ṇya̠-mprabhū̍ta̠-ṅgāvō̍ dā̠syō-'śvā̎n, vi̠ndēya̠-mpuru̍ṣāna̠ham ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
tāṃ mē āvaha - bring her to me
lakṣmīṃ anapagāminīm - Lakshmi who does not depart
hiraṇyaṃ prabhūtam - abundant gold or wealth
gāvaḥ - cows, nourishment
dāsyaḥ - helpers or attendants
aśvān - horses, mobility and strength
puruṣān vindēyam - may I obtain capable people

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Jatavedas, bring to me the unfailing Lakshmi, in whose presence I may gain abundant wealth, cows, helpers, horses, and capable people.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The repetition of anapagāminī, non-departing Lakshmi, asks for enduring abundance in community. Wealth includes people, animals, and systems of support. Lone prosperity is not the Vedic ideal.

The dharmic householder sustains many dependents and duties. Lakshmi's presence is tested by whether resources are organized for protection, nourishment, and honorable work.

Practically, build capacity around you. Train people, care for workers, and create systems that outlast momentary gain.

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yaśśuchi̍ḥ prayatō bhū̠tvā̠ ju̠huyā̍-dājya̠-manva̍ham ।
śriya̍ḥ pa̠ñchada̍śarcha-ñcha śrī̠kāma̍ssata̠ta̠-ñja̍pēt ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
śuchiḥ prayataḥ bhūtvā - becoming pure and disciplined
juhuyāt ājyaṃ anvaham - one should offer ghee daily
śrīyaḥ pañchadaśa-ṛcham - the fifteen verses of Sri
śrī-kāmaḥ - one who desires Sri
satataṃ japēt - should recite constantly
rēkhā - the divider marks a practice-note section

Translation (bhāvārtha):
After becoming pure and disciplined, one who desires Sri should daily offer ghee and constantly recite the fifteen verses of Sri.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The divider marks a shift from core invocation to practice instruction. The key conditions are śuchi and prayata: purity and disciplined effort.

Traditional mantra practice always joins recitation with inner and outer preparation. Without purity, repetition becomes mechanical; with purity, repetition reshapes the mind.

Practically, do not seek results without discipline. If you want prosperity, establish daily cleanliness, prayer, budgeting, and generous action.

ānandaḥ karda̍maśchai̠va chiklī̠ta i̍ti vi̠śrutāḥ ।
ṛṣa̍ya̠stē tra̍yaḥ putrā-ssva̠ya̠ṃ śrīrē̍va dē̠vatā ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
ānandaḥ kardamaḥ chiklītaḥ - Ananda, Kardama, and Chiklita
iti viśrutāḥ - thus renowned
ṛṣayaḥ tē trayaḥ putrāḥ - these three seers are her sons
svayaṃ śrīḥ ēva dēvatā - Sri herself is the deity

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Ananda, Kardama, and Chiklita are renowned as the three seer-sons, and Sri herself is the deity of this hymn.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The names ānanda, kardama, and chiklīta are symbolic too: joy, fertile ground, and moist nourishment. These are the conditions in which Sri manifests; abundance requires both inner gladness and outer support.

Traditional recitation often preserves such seer-deity notes to locate mantra properly. They remind the practitioner that prosperity has lineage, mood, and sacred focus; it is received through a tradition, not invented by private desire.

Practically, ask whether your home has joy, fertility, and tenderness. If not, start with simple corrections: restore laughter, tend plants or food, honor children and elders, and make the place feel alive. Without these, wealth feels dry.

padmānanē pa̍dma ū̠rū̠ pa̠dmākṣī pa̍dmasa̠mbhavē ।
tva-mmā̎-mbha̠jasva̍ padmā̠kṣī yē̠na saukhya̍ṃ labhā̠myaham ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
padma-ānanē - lotus-faced one
padma-ūrū - lotus-thighed or lotus-graceful
padmākṣī - lotus-eyed
padma-sambhavē - lotus-born
tvaṃ māṃ bhajasva - favor me
saukhyaṃ labhāmi - may I obtain happiness and well-being

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O lotus-faced, lotus-eyed, lotus-born Goddess, please favor me so that I may obtain true happiness, inner purity, and prosperity that remains unstained like the lotus.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The repeated padma imagery emphasizes purity, beauty, and spiritual softness. Lakshmi's happiness is not crude pleasure; it is auspicious well-being.

The lotus is also central in Vishnu-Lakshmi worship, showing purity within worldly life. Devotional Vedanta often sees Lakshmi's favor as mediating grace and comfort to the devotee.

Practically, seek happiness that remains clean. Pleasure that leaves guilt or damage is not Lakshmi's saukhyam.

a̠śvadā̍yī cha gōdā̠yī̠ dha̠nadā̍yī ma̠hādha̍nē ।
dhana̍-mmē̠ juṣa̍tā-ndē̠vī sa̠rvakā̍mārtha̠ siddha̍yē ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
aśva-dāyī - giver of horses and mobility
gō-dāyī - giver of cows and nourishment
dhana-dāyī - giver of wealth
mahā-dhanē - O greatly wealthy one
dhanaṃ mē juṣatām - may wealth favor me
sarva-kāma-artha-siddhayē - for fulfillment of all rightful aims and desires

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O great giver of horses, cows, and wealth, may the Goddess grant me wealth for the fulfillment of rightful aims and desires.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The verse asks for wealth as means, not idol. artha and kāma must be guided by dharma to become auspicious.

The classical four puruṣārthāḥ place wealth and desire within duty and liberation. Lakshmi's wealth should support the full human aim, not trap the seeker.

Practically, define what money is for before it arrives: education, health, family stability, charity, and noble work.

putrapautra dhana-ndhānyaṃ hastyaśvājāvigō ratham ।
prajānā-mbhavasi mātā āyuṣmanta-ṅkarōtu mām ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
putra-pautra - children and grandchildren
dhanaṃ dhānyam - wealth and grain
hasti-aśva-aja-avi-gō-ratham - elephants, horses, goats, sheep, cows, chariots
prajānāṃ mātā - mother of beings
āyuṣmantaṃ karōtu mām - make me long-lived

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Mother of beings, grant children, grandchildren, wealth, grain, animals, vehicles, and long life, so that household prosperity may support dharma, continuity, and service.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
This is household prosperity: lineage, food, animals, transport, and lifespan. Lakshmi is invoked as mātā, mother, because prosperity must nurture.

Dharmic household life is not rejected in Vedic religion; it is sanctified when governed by duty, charity, and truth. The Taittiriya Upanishad's instructions to give with faith and modesty, śraddhayā dēyam, show that prosperity must circulate through responsibility.

Practically, prosperity is multi-generational. Think beyond immediate comfort to food security, family education, health, and inherited values.

chandrābhāṃ lakṣmīmīśānāṃ sūryābhā̎ṃ śriyamīśvarīm ।
chandra sūryāgni sarvābhāṃ śrī mahālakṣmī-mupāsmahē ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
chandra-ābhām - moon-radiant
sūrya-ābhām - sun-radiant
īśānāṃ īśvarīm - ruling sovereign Goddess
chandra-sūrya-agni-sarva-ābhām - shining with moon, sun, fire, and all lights
śrī mahālakṣmīṃ upāsmahē - we worship Mahalakshmi

Translation (bhāvārtha):
We worship Sri Mahalakshmi, sovereign Goddess, radiant like the moon, the sun, fire, and all lights, who illumines prosperity from every side.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
Moon, sun, and fire show Lakshmi's complete radiance through sōma, sūrya, and agni: cooling grace, energizing power, and transforming brilliance. Prosperity is the full field of light by which life is comforted, moved, and purified.

In Shakta and Vaishnava traditions, Mahalakshmi is not small domestic luck but cosmic sovereignty and sustaining light. Sri Vaishnava acharyas especially see her grace as inseparable from Narayana's protection and as a compassionate bridge for the devotee.

Practically, cultivate all three lights: calmness, energy, and purification. A good leader or householder must cool distress, energize right work, and purify mistakes quickly; prosperity needs all of them.

dhana-magni-rdhanaṃ vāyu-rdhanaṃ sūryō̍ dhanaṃ vasuḥ ।
dhanamindrō bṛhaspati-rvaru̍ṇa-ndhanama̍śnutē ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
dhanaṃ agniḥ - fire is wealth
dhanaṃ vāyuḥ - wind is wealth
dhanaṃ sūryaḥ - the sun is wealth
dhanaṃ vasuḥ - the Vasus are wealth
dhanaṃ indraḥ bṛhaspatiḥ varuṇaḥ - Indra, Brihaspati, and Varuna are wealth
aśnutē - one attains or enjoys

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Fire is wealth, wind is wealth, the sun is wealth, the Vasus are wealth; Indra, Brihaspati, and Varuna are wealth that one attains.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The verse expands wealth beyond currency. Energy, breath, light, natural resources, strength, wisdom, and order are all dhana.

This matches Vedic ecology: deities are not abstractions but powers sustaining life. The Gita also identifies the divine with light, strength, intelligence, and order.

Practically, count wealth correctly. Health, clean air, sunlight, wisdom, water, and moral order are not secondary to money.

vainatēya sōma-mpiba sōma̍-mpibatu vṛtrahā ।
sōma̠-ndhanasya sōminō̠ mahya̍-ndadātu sōminī̍ ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
vainatēya - Garuda, son of Vinata
sōmaṃ piba - drink Soma
vṛtrahā - Indra, destroyer of Vritra
sōmaṃ pibatu - may he drink Soma
dhanasya sōminaḥ - of the possessor of wealth/Soma
mahyaṃ dadātu sōminī - may the Soma-bearing Goddess give to me

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May Garuda drink Soma; may Indra, destroyer of Vritra, drink Soma. May the Soma-bearing Goddess grant me the wealth connected with Soma.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
sōma suggests delight, nourishment, sacred offering, and immortalizing essence. The verse asks that divine powers partake and then bless the devotee with life-giving wealth.

Vritra's defeat releases the waters, a key Vedic prosperity image. Lakshmi, Soma, water, and released abundance are spiritually connected.

Practically, remove blockages before expecting flow. Hoarded resentment, fear, and laziness are inner Vritras that stop prosperity.

na krōdhō na cha mātsa̠rya-nna lōbhō̍ nāśubhā matiḥ ।
bhavanti kṛta puṇyānā-mbha̠ktānāṃ śrī sū̎kta-ñjapētsadā ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
na krōdhaḥ - no anger
na mātsaryam - no jealousy
na lōbhaḥ - no greed
na aśubhā matiḥ - no inauspicious thought
kṛta-puṇyānāṃ bhaktānām - for meritorious devotees
śrī sūktaṃ japēt sadā - one should always recite Sri Suktam

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Anger, jealousy, greed, and inauspicious thought do not remain in meritorious devotees who always recite the Sri Suktam.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The verse defines the inner sign of Lakshmi worship: reduction of krōdha, mātsarya, and lōbha. If recitation increases greed, its meaning has been missed.

The Gita lists desire, anger, and greed as gates to ruin. Sri Suktam practice should close those gates and open generosity.

Practically, use recitation as self-audit. After prayer, ask whether you are less angry, less jealous, and less greedy in actual behavior.

varṣa̎mtu̠ tē vi̍bhāva̠ri̠ di̠vō abhrasya vidyu̍taḥ ।
rōha̎mtu sarva̍bījānyava brahma dvi̠ṣō̎ ja̍hi ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
varṣantu - may they rain
vibhāvari - O radiant night or shining one
divaḥ abhrasya vidyutaḥ - lightning from the cloud of heaven
rōhantu sarva-bījāni - may all seeds sprout
ava brahma-dviṣaḥ jahi - drive away haters of sacred knowledge

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May the heavenly clouds and lightning pour rain; may all seeds sprout. Drive away hostility toward sacred knowledge.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
Rain and seed are prosperity at its root. The verse also asks that brahma-dviṣaḥ, hostility to sacred truth, be removed because ignorance destroys prosperity at a subtler level.

Vedic tradition links rain, food, yajna, and dharma. When reverence for truth is lost, the outer ecosystem and inner culture both suffer.

Practically, support conditions for growth: water, education, truth, and protection from destructive influences.

padmapriyē padmini padmahastē padmālayē padma-daḻāyatākṣī ।
viśvapriyē viṣṇu manōnukūlē tvatpādapadma-mmayi sannidhatsva ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
padma-priyē padmini - lover of lotuses, lotus-bearing one
padma-hastē - lotus-handed
padma-ālayē - dwelling in the lotus
padma-daḻa-āyata-akṣī - eyes long like lotus petals
viśva-priyē - beloved of the universe
viṣṇu-manaḥ-anukūlē - pleasing to Vishnu's mind
tvat-pāda-padmaṃ mayi sannidhatsva - establish your lotus feet in me

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O lotus-loving, lotus-handed, lotus-dwelling Goddess with lotus-petal eyes, beloved of the universe and pleasing to Vishnu, establish your lotus feet in me.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The prayer shifts inward: not only "give me things," but "establish your feet in me." pāda-padmam means the refuge-point of grace and purity.

Sri Vaishnava tradition sees Lakshmi as inseparable from Vishnu and compassionate toward devotees. Her feet in the heart mean prosperity governed by surrender.

Practically, internalize values before seeking outcomes. If Lakshmi's feet are established within, decisions become cleaner and wealth safer.

yā sā padmāsanasthā vipulakaṭitaṭī padmapatrāyatākṣī ।
gambhīrā vartanābhi-sstanabharanamitā śubhra vastōttarīyā ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
padma-āsana-sthā - seated on a lotus
vipula-kaṭi-taṭī - broad-hipped, sign of abundance and fertility
padma-patra-āyata-akṣī - long-eyed like lotus petals
gambhīrā - deep, dignified
varta-nābhiḥ - with rounded navel
stana-bhara-namitā - bent by fullness of breasts, nourishing
śubhra-vastra-uttarīyā - wearing pure white upper garment

Translation (bhāvārtha):
She is seated on a lotus, broad with abundance, lotus-eyed, deep and dignified, marked by beauty and nourishment, and clothed in pure white.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The imagery is devotional and iconographic: padmāsanā, padma-ūrū, and padmākṣī portray Lakshmi as beauty, fertility, dignity, and nourishment, not as mere ornament.

Classical stotra literature uses sacred form to concentrate the mind. In traditions such as saundarya laharī, divine beauty becomes a doorway to devotion and knowledge; the form is symbolic theology in visual language, not mere decoration.

Practically, beauty should be dignified and nourishing. Make your environment clean, graceful, and supportive of good conduct.

lakṣmī-rdivyai-rgajēndrai-rmaṇigaṇa khachitai-ssnāpitā hēmakumbhaiḥ ।
nityaṃ sā padmahastā mama vasatu gṛhē sarva māṅgaḻyayuktā ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
divyaiḥ gajēndraiḥ - by divine elephants
maṇi-gaṇa-khachitaiḥ hēma-kumbhaiḥ - with gem-studded golden pots
snāpitā - bathed, consecrated
padma-hastā - lotus-handed
mama gṛhē vasatu - may she dwell in my home
sarva-māṅgalya-yuktā - endowed with every auspiciousness

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May lotus-handed Lakshmi, bathed by divine elephants with gem-studded golden pots and endowed with every auspiciousness, always dwell in my home.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The elephant-abhiSheka image is gaja-lakṣmī, royal abundance consecrated by strength and dignity. It is prosperity ritually purified, washed of arrogance, and placed under the discipline of sacred order.

In temple traditions, abhiSheka is not decoration but sanctification. Wealth should be bathed in purity before entering the home, just as offerings are purified before they are presented to the deity.

Practically, keep the home worthy of Lakshmi: honest income, clean kitchen, honored elders, protected children, and generosity to guests. These are not old-fashioned details; they are the daily abhiSheka of household prosperity.

lakṣmī-ṅkṣīra samudra rājatanayāṃ śrīraṅga dhāmēśvarīm ।
dāsībhūta samasta dēva vanitāṃ lōkaika dīpāṅkurām ।
śrīmanmanda kaṭākṣa labdha vibhava brahmēndra gaṅgādharām ।
tvā-ntrailōkya kuṭumbinīṃ sarasijāṃ vandē mukundapriyām ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
kṣīra-samudra-rāja-tanayām - daughter of the king of the milk ocean
śrīraṅga-dhāma-īśvarīm - queen of the Sriranga abode
lōka-ēka-dīpa-aṅkurām - the unique lamp-sprout of the worlds
manda-kaṭākṣa-labdha-vibhava - by whose gentle glance splendor is gained
trailōkya-kuṭumbinīm - mother/householder of the three worlds
mukunda-priyām - beloved of Mukunda

Translation (bhāvārtha):
I bow to lotus-born Lakshmi, daughter of the milk ocean, queen of Sriranga, beloved of Mukunda, whose gentle glance grants splendor, and who is the sustaining mother of the three worlds.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
This verse is strongly Vaishnava in tone. Lakshmi is mukunda-priyā and queen of śrīraṅga, the compassionate consort whose glance grants abundance.

Sri Vaishnava acharyas emphasize śrī as mediating grace, compassion, and accessibility to Narayana. Her motherhood of the three worlds makes prosperity personal and merciful.

Practically, use influence through gentle glance, not domination. Encouragement from a respected person can unlock another's growth.

siddhalakṣmī-rmōkṣalakṣmī-rjayalakṣmī-ssarasvatī ।
śrīlakṣmī-rvaralakṣmīścha prasannā mama sarvadā ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
siddha-lakṣmī - Lakshmi of accomplishment
mōkṣa-lakṣmī - Lakshmi of liberation
jaya-lakṣmī - Lakshmi of victory
sarasvatī - wisdom and speech
śrī-lakṣmī - auspicious Lakshmi
vara-lakṣmī - boon-giving Lakshmi
prasannā mama sarvadā - may they always be gracious to me

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May Siddha Lakshmi, Moksha Lakshmi, Jaya Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Sri Lakshmi, and Vara Lakshmi always be gracious to me.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The verse broadens Lakshmi into siddhi, mōkṣa, jaya, vidyā, auspiciousness, and boon-granting. Prosperity has many forms, and the highest forms refine the seeker rather than simply increasing possessions.

The inclusion of mōkṣa-lakṣmī is crucial: the highest abundance is freedom. Vedanta repeatedly reminds us that possessions cannot replace Self-knowledge; wealth that obstructs liberation is incomplete Lakshmi.

Practically, seek success in layers: competence, wisdom, ethical victory, and inner freedom. Do not stop at money; ask whether success has made you more generous, clear, fearless, and useful to others.

varāṅkuśau pāśamabhīti mudrām ।
karairvahantī-ṅkamalāsanasthām ।
bālārkakōṭi pratibhā-ntrinētrām ।
bhajē-'hamambā-ñjagadīśvarī-ntām ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
vara - boon-bestowing gesture
aṅkuśa - goad, discipline and guidance
pāśa - noose, binding or drawing power
abhīti-mudrā - fear-removing gesture
kamala-āsana-sthām - seated on a lotus
bāla-arka-kōṭi-pratibhām - radiant like millions of rising suns
trinētrām - three-eyed
jagadīśvarīṃ ambām - the Mother, ruler of the universe

Translation (bhāvārtha):
I worship the Mother, ruler of the universe, seated on a lotus, bearing boon, goad, noose, and fear-removing gesture, three-eyed and radiant like millions of rising suns.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The implements varada, aṅkuśa, pāśa, and abhaya teach complete grace: boon, discipline, drawing-near, and fearlessness. Lakshmi's prosperity includes correction and protection; she shapes the devotee into fitness for blessing.

Shakta iconography often uses weapons and gestures to reveal psychological powers. The goad redirects, the noose gathers, and the boon blesses; in Vedantic language, grace removes distraction and turns attention toward the highest good.

Practically, accept correction as grace. A prosperous life needs encouragement, boundaries, accountability, and courage. The person who cannot be redirected cannot keep Lakshmi for long.

sarvamaṅgaḻa māṅgaḻyē śivē sarvārtha sādhikē ।
śaraṇyē tyrambakē dēvī nārāyaṇi namōstutē ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
sarva-maṅgaḻa-māṅgalyē - auspiciousness of all auspicious things
śivē - auspicious one
sarva-artha-sādhikē - accomplisher of all aims
śaraṇyē - refuge-giving one
tryambakē dēvī - three-eyed Goddess
nārāyaṇi namaḥ astu tē - salutations to Narayani

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Salutations to Narayani, the auspiciousness of all auspicious things, the refuge-giving Goddess who accomplishes all worthy aims and turns life toward protection, fulfillment, and grace.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
This famous Devi verse identifies the Goddess as śaraṇyā, refuge, and sarvārtha-sādhikā, accomplisher of all worthy aims. In the Sri Suktam context, it frames Lakshmi as universal auspicious power.

The Devi Mahatmya tradition celebrates Narayani as the power behind preservation and liberation. Vaishnava and Shakta readings meet in reverence for the divine feminine as refuge.

Practically, when overwhelmed, return to refuge. A calm prayer can re-center priorities and prevent desperate decisions.

ō-mma̠hā̠dē̠vyai cha̍ vi̠dmahē̍ viṣṇupa̠tnī cha̍ dhīmahi ।
tannō̍ lakṣmīḥ prachō̠dayā̎t ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
mahā-dēvyai vidmahē - may we know the great Goddess
viṣṇu-patnyai dhīmahi - we meditate on the consort of Vishnu
tat naḥ lakṣmīḥ prachōdayāt - may Lakshmi inspire and guide us

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May we know the great Goddess; we meditate on the consort of Vishnu. May Lakshmi inspire and guide us.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
This gāyatrī-style mantra turns praise into meditative knowledge. Lakshmi is mahā-dēvī and viṣṇu-patnī, cosmic and relational at once, the universal Goddess and the inseparable consort of the all-pervading Lord.

Sri Vaishnava tradition especially emphasizes her inseparability from Vishnu and her compassionate mediating grace. The Gita's dhīḥ and prachōdanā language remind us that divine grace must guide understanding, not only outer gain.

Practically, ask Lakshmi to inspire decisions, not merely outcomes. Guided intelligence is greater wealth than unguided gain, because one wise decision can protect a family or institution for years.

śrī-rvarcha̍sva̠-māyu̍ṣya̠-mārō̎gya̠-māvī̍dhā̠t-śōbha̍māna-mmahī̠yatē̎ ।
dhā̠nya-ndha̠na-mpa̠śu-mba̠hupu̍tralā̠bhaṃ śa̠tasa̎mvatsa̠ra-ndī̠rghamāyu̍ḥ ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
śrīḥ - auspicious prosperity
varchas - brilliance and noble radiance
āyuṣyam - long life
ārōgyam - health
dhānyaṃ dhanaṃ paśum - grain, wealth, and cattle
bahu-putra-lābham - blessing of many children or descendants
śata-saṃvatsaraṃ dīrghaṃ āyuḥ - long life of a hundred years

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May Sri grant brilliance, long life, health, beauty, grain, wealth, cattle, many descendants, and a long lifespan of a hundred years.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The closing blessing gathers śrī, varchas, āyuṣyam, ārōgyam, dhānyam, and dhanam. It refuses to split spiritual life from embodied well-being.

Vedic prosperity is integrated. It resembles the Taittiriya concern for food, strength, knowledge, and lineage. Lakshmi is fullness of life under dharma, where material support becomes a platform for virtue and realization.

Practically, define success broadly. Health, food, family, integrity, and long service matter as much as financial increase. A successful life should leave behind nourishment, trust, and good memory.

ōṃ śānti̠-śśānti̠-śśānti̍ḥ ॥

Meaning (padārtha):
ōṃ - sacred syllable
śāntiḥ - peace
trivāraṃ - repeated three times

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May peace settle at every level: in divine forces, in the outer world, and within the mind, so that Sri may become calm, lasting auspiciousness.

Commentary (anusandhāna):
The hymn ends with śāntiḥ because prosperity without peace is incomplete. Lakshmi should settle the home and heart, not inflame restlessness.

The threefold peace pacifies disturbances from unseen, environmental, and inner sources. Upanishadic recitations often close this way because grace must settle as stability; it completes the movement from desire to blessing.

Practically, the test of Lakshmi is calm abundance. After prayer, let your speech and decisions become more peaceful, generous, and orderly.

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