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Mantra · Agastya's 21 verses to Saraswati, opening with the Ya Kundendu verse

Saraswati Stotram

या कुन्देन्दु तुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना । या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा पूजिता सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥

Also known as Ya Kundendu

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

What the Saraswati Stotram is

The Saraswati Stotram attributed to the sage Agastya, often called the Agastya Saraswati Stotram, is the hymn that begins 'ya kundendu tushara hara dhavala'. It runs to twenty-one Sanskrit verses, and only the last of them names its author, calling the whole 'the Saraswati hymn spoken by the sage Agastya'. The first four verses are ornate word-pictures in long classical metres: Saraswati white as jasmine and frost, holding the vina, a crystal rosary, a lotus, a parrot and a book, and asked to dance in the speaker's words. Verse 5 is the short prayer said before a student begins to study. Verses 6 to 19 change pace into a litany of two-line salutations, each closing on namo namah, which widen her from the goddess of learning into the whole Goddess: Uma, three-eyed, crowned with the crescent moon, Mahakali and Mahalakshmi. Two closing verses of phala shruti report what reading it is said to bring.

A Vedic seer's hymn to the goddess of speech

No Purana sets this hymn inside a scene, and the Sanskrit gives no occasion for it. What ties it to Agastya is its last verse, which calls the text agastya-muni-vacakam, 'spoken by the sage Agastya'. Most printed collections head it the same way. Other accounts treat the famous first verse as an anonymous dhyana verse of unknown date; no manuscript evidence settles the question. The attribution places it among a family of hymns credited to the same seer. In the Rig Veda, Agastya is the poet of a long run of hymns in the first book, one of them a dialogue with his wife Lopamudra about the pull between austerity and household life. Tradition also credits him with the Aditya Hridayam, which the Ramayana has him teach Rama before the final battle, and Tamil tradition remembers him as the sage who gave that language its first grammar, the Agattiyam, after the Skanda Purana sends him south from the Himalaya to balance the earth. A sage remembered for founding a grammar is a fitting voice for verse 3, which asks Saraswati to dance in the speaker's speech. The hymn names no shrine. In Tamil Nadu, where Agastya's memory runs deepest, Saraswati's own temple stands at Koothanur in Tiruvarur district, one of the very few where she is the presiding deity, and its great day is Vijayadashami.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiया कुन्देन्दु तुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना । या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा पूजिता सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥

Tamilயா குந்தேந்து துஷாரஹாரதவலா யா ஶுப்ரவஸ்த்ராவ்ருதா யா வீணாவரதண்டமண்டிதகரா யா ஶ்வேதபத்மாஸநா । யா ப்ரஹ்மாச்யுதஶங்கரப்ரப்ருதிபிர்தேவைஃ ஸதா பூஜிதா ஸா மாம் பாது ஸரஸ்வதீ பகவதீ நிஃஶேஷஜாட்யாபஹா ॥

Teluguయా కున్దేన్దు తుషారహారధవలా యా శుభ్రవస్త్రావృతా యా వీణావరదణ్డమణ్డితకరా యా శ్వేతపద్మాసనా । యా బ్రహ్మాచ్యుతశఙ్కరప్రభృతిభిర్దేవైః సదా పూజితా సా మాం పాతు సరస్వతీ భగవతీ నిఃశేషజాడ్యాపహా ॥

Kannadaಯಾ ಕುನ್ದೇನ್ದು ತುಷಾರಹಾರಧವಲಾ ಯಾ ಶುಭ್ರವಸ್ತ್ರಾವೃತಾ ಯಾ ವೀಣಾವರದಣ್ಡಮಣ್ಡಿತಕರಾ ಯಾ ಶ್ವೇತಪದ್ಮಾಸನಾ । ಯಾ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾಚ್ಯುತಶಙ್ಕರಪ್ರಭೃತಿಭಿರ್ದೇವೈಃ ಸದಾ ಪೂಜಿತಾ ಸಾ ಮಾಂ ಪಾತು ಸರಸ್ವತೀ ಭಗವತೀ ನಿಃಶೇಷಜಾಡ್ಯಾಪಹಾ ॥

Malayalamയാ കുന്ദേന്ദു തുഷാരഹാരധവലാ യാ ശുഭ്രവസ്ത്രാവൃതാ യാ വീണാവരദണ്ഡമണ്ഡിതകരാ യാ ശ്വേതപദ്മാസനാ । യാ ബ്രഹ്മാച്യുതശങ്കരപ്രഭൃതിഭിര്ദേവൈഃ സദാ പൂജിതാ സാ മാം പാതു സരസ്വതീ ഭഗവതീ നിഃശേഷജാഡ്യാപഹാ ॥

EnglishRoman transliterationyā kundendu tuṣārahāradhavalā yā śubhravastrāvṛtā yā vīṇāvaradaṇḍamaṇḍitakarā yā śvetapadmāsanā | yā brahmācyutaśaṅkaraprabhṛtibhirdevaiḥ sadā pūjitā sā māṃ pātu sarasvatī bhagavatī niḥśeṣajāḍyāpahā ||

“She who is white as the jasmine, the moon, frost and a pearl necklace, who is clothed in pure white, whose hands are graced by the excellent staff of the vina, and who is seated on a white lotus; she who is ever worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the other gods - may that divine Saraswati, who removes all dullness of mind, protect me.”

या: yā — she who
कुन्देन्दु: kundendu — jasmine and moon
तुषारहारधवला: tuṣārahāradhavalā — white as frost and a pearl string
या: yā — she who
शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता: śubhravastrāvṛtā — wrapped in spotless white
या: yā — she who
वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा: vīṇāvaradaṇḍamaṇḍitakarā — hands graced by the vina's fine neck
या: yā — she who
श्वेतपद्मासना: śvetapadmāsanā — throned on a white lotus
या: yā — she who
ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः: brahmācyutaśaṅkaraprabhṛtibhirdevaiḥ — by the gods led by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
सदा: sadā — at all times
पूजिता: pūjitā — honoured in worship
सा: sā — may she
मां: māṃ — me
पातु: pātu — guard
सरस्वती: sarasvatī — Saraswati
भगवती: bhagavatī — the revered goddess
निःशेषजाड्यापहा: niḥśeṣajāḍyāpahā — who clears away every trace of dullness

Saraswati Stotram lyrics in full

All twenty-one verses: nineteen of praise, followed by the two verses of phala shruti that name the sage Agastya.

All 21 verses, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Saraswati Stotram PDFAll 21 verses with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.

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Verse 1

या कुन्देन्दु तुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना ।
या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा पूजिता सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥

She who is white as the jasmine, the moon, frost and a pearl necklace, who is clothed in pure white, whose hands are graced by the excellent staff of the vina, and who is seated on a white lotus; she who is ever worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the other gods - may that divine Saraswati, who removes all dullness of mind, protect me.

Verse 2

दोर्भिर्युक्ता चतुर्भिः स्फटिकमणिनिभैरक्षमालान्दधाना हस्तेनैकेन पद्मं सितमपि च शुकं पुस्तकं चापरेण ।
भासा कुन्देन्दुशङ्खस्फटिकमणिनिभा भासमानाऽसमाना सा मे वाग्देवतेयं निवसतु वदने सर्वदा सुप्रसन्ना ॥

She has four arms: with them she holds a rosary of beads like crystal, in one hand a white lotus and a parrot, and in another a book. Shining with a radiance like jasmine, the moon, the conch and crystal, she is beyond compare. May this goddess of speech dwell always in my mouth, ever gracious.

Verse 3

सुरासुरैः सेवितपादपङ्कजा करे विराजत् कमनीयपुस्तका ।
विरिञ्चिपत्नी कमलासनस्थिता सरस्वती नृत्यतु वाचि मे सदा ॥

Her lotus feet are served by gods and demons alike, and a lovely book shines in her hand. May Saraswati, the consort of Brahma, seated on a lotus, dance always in my speech.

Verse 4

सरस्वती सरसिजकेसरप्रभा तपस्विनी सितकमलासनप्रिया ।
घनस्तनी कमलविलोललोचना मनस्विनी भवतु वरप्रसादिनी ॥

Saraswati glows like the filaments of a lotus; she is devoted to austerity and loves her seat on the white lotus. May she, full-bosomed, with restless lotus eyes and a noble mind, become the giver of boons to me.

Verse 5

सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि ।
विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥

Salutations to you, Saraswati, giver of boons, who takes any form at will. I am about to begin my studies; may there always be success for me.

Verse 6

सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं सर्वदेवि नमो नमः ।
शान्तरूपे शशिधरे सर्वयोगे नमो नमः ॥

Salutations to you, Saraswati; salutations again and again to the goddess of all. Salutations again and again to her whose form is peace, who bears the moon, and who is present in every discipline of yoga.

Verse 7

नित्यानन्दे निराधारे निष्कलायै नमो नमः ।
विद्याधरे विशालाक्षि शुद्धज्ञाने नमो नमः ॥

Salutations again and again to her who is eternal bliss, who rests on no support, and who is without parts. Salutations again and again to the holder of learning, the wide-eyed one, whose knowledge is pure.

Verse 8

शुद्धस्फटिकरूपायै सूक्ष्मरूपे नमो नमः ।
शब्दब्रह्मि चतुर्हस्ते सर्वसिद्ध्यै नमो नमः ॥

Salutations again and again to her whose form is like pure crystal and who is subtle in form. Salutations again and again to her who is the Absolute as sound, the four-handed one, who is every accomplishment.

Verse 9

मुक्तालङ्कृतसर्वाङ्ग्यै मूलाधारे नमो नमः ।
मूलमन्त्रस्वरूपायै मूलशक्त्यै नमो नमः ॥

Salutations again and again to her whose whole body is adorned with pearls, who is the root support. Salutations again and again to her whose form is the root mantra and who is the root power.

Verse 10

मनोन्मनि महायोगे वागीश्वरि नमो नमः ।
वाग्म्यै वरदहस्तायै वरदायै नमो नमः ॥

Salutations again and again to her who is the state beyond mind, the great yoga, the sovereign of speech. Salutations again and again to the eloquent one, whose hand grants boons, the giver of boons.

Verse 11

वेदायै वेदरूपायै वेदान्तायै नमो नमः ।
गुणदोषविवर्जिन्यै गुणदीप्त्यै नमो नमः ॥

Salutations again and again to her who is the Veda, whose form is the Veda, and who is the culmination of the Veda. Salutations again and again to her who is free of qualities and faults, and who shines with every virtue.

Verse 12

सर्वज्ञाने सदानन्दे सर्वरूपे नमो नमः ।
सम्पन्नायै कुमार्यै च सर्वज्ञे ते नमो नमः ॥

Salutations again and again to her who is all knowledge, ever blissful, and of every form. To you, the perfect one, the maiden, the all-knowing, salutations again and again.

Verse 13

योगानार्य उमादेव्यै योगानन्दे नमो नमः ।
दिव्यज्ञान त्रिनेत्रायै दिव्यमूर्त्यै नमो नमः ॥

Salutations again and again to the noble lady of yoga, to the goddess Uma, to her who is the bliss of yoga. Salutations again and again to her of divine knowledge, the three-eyed one, whose form is divine.

Verse 14

अर्धचन्द्रजटाधारि चन्द्रबिम्बे नमो नमः ।
चन्द्रादित्यजटाधारि चन्द्रबिम्बे नमो नमः ॥

Salutations again and again to her who wears the half-moon in her matted hair, who is like the orb of the moon. Salutations again and again to her who bears the moon and sun in her hair, who is like the orb of the moon.

Verse 15

अणुरूपे महारूपे विश्वरूपे नमो नमः ।
अणिमाद्यष्टसिद्धायै आनन्दायै नमो नमः ॥

Salutations again and again to her who is as small as an atom, vast in form, and whose form is the universe. Salutations again and again to her who holds the eight powers beginning with becoming minute, and who is bliss.

Verse 16

ज्ञानविज्ञानरूपायै ज्ञानमूर्ते नमो नमः ।
नानाशास्त्रस्वरूपायै नानारूपे नमो नमः ॥

Salutations again and again to her whose form is knowledge and realised wisdom, the embodiment of knowledge. Salutations again and again to her whose form is the many sciences and who has many forms.

Verse 17

पद्मदा पद्मवंशा च पद्मरूपे नमो नमः ।
परमेष्ठ्यै परामूर्त्यै नमस्ते पापनाशिनि ॥

Salutations again and again to her who bestows the lotus, who is of the lotus lineage, whose form is the lotus. To the supreme one, of highest form, salutations to you, destroyer of sin.

Verse 18

महादेव्यै महाकाल्यै महालक्ष्म्यै नमो नमः ।
ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवायै च ब्रह्मनार्यै नमो नमः ॥

Salutations again and again to the great goddess, to Mahakali and to Mahalakshmi. Salutations again and again to her who is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and who is the consort of Brahma.

Verse 19

कमलाकरपुष्पा च कामरूपे नमो नमः ।
कपालिकर्मदीप्तायै कर्मदायै नमो नमः ॥

Salutations again and again to her who is the flower of the lotus pond, who takes any form at will. Salutations again and again to her who shines in the work of Shiva the skull-bearer, and who grants the fruit of action.

Phala Shruti 1

सायं प्रातः पठेन्नित्यं षण्मासात् सिद्धिरुच्यते ।
चोरव्याघ्रभयं नास्ति पठतां शृण्वतामपि ॥

One should recite this every day, evening and morning; the verse says success comes within six months. It also says that those who recite it, or even listen to it, have no fear of thieves or tigers.

Phala Shruti 2

इत्थं सरस्वतीस्तोत्रमगस्त्यमुनिवाचकम् ।
सर्वसिद्धिकरं नॄणां सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ॥

Thus is the hymn to Saraswati spoken by the sage Agastya. The verse says it brings every success to people and destroys all sins.

The syllable people get wrong

The last word of verse 1, niḥśeṣajāḍyāpahā, hides jāḍya, 'dullness', spelt with a retroflex ḍ: curl the tongue tip back for it rather than saying a soft English d. Break the compound as niḥ-śeṣa-jāḍya-apahā, so it sounds 'nih-SHAY-sha-JAAD-yaa-pa-haa', keeping every ā long.

When the Saraswati Stotram is chanted

Weekday. Friday

Festival. Vasant Panchami

Questions

'Ya kundendu' is verse 1 of this twenty-one-verse stotram. Sung on its own, it is the Saraswati Vandana that students recite before study and that is sung at Saraswati Puja. The vandana as commonly sung often adds a second verse, 'shuklam brahmavichara sara paramam', which is not part of this stotram at all; here verse 1 is followed by 'dorbhir yukta chaturbhih', a description of her four arms. So the vandana and the stotram share an opening but continue differently.

Yes. 'Saraswati namastubhyam varade kamarupini' is verse 5. Its second line, 'vidyarambham karishyami', means 'I am about to begin my studies', and it is the verse many families teach a child at Vidyarambham, a child's first lesson in letters. In the stotram it marks the turn from the four descriptive verses to the long litany of salutations that follows. Because it is so often recited alone, many people know it without knowing that it belongs to Agastya's hymn.

From verse 13 onward the hymn treats Saraswati as the one Goddess rather than only as Brahma's consort. Verse 13 names her Uma and three-eyed, verse 14 gives her a crescent moon in matted hair, verse 18 salutes her as Mahadevi, Mahakali and Mahalakshmi and as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva together, and verse 19 links her with the skull-bearing Shiva. Shakta tradition sees Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati as three faces of one Devi, and these verses read Saraswati in that light.

The phala shruti is the last two verses. The first says that one who reads the hymn regularly is said to attain siddhi within six months, and that those who read it, or even hear it, have no fear of thieves or tigers. The second names the sage Agastya as its speaker and says the hymn brings every success and destroys all sins. Both promises belong to the hymn itself and are given here as it states them.

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Saraswati Stotram

What the Saraswati Stotram is

A Vedic seer's hymn to the goddess of speech

The mantra, in six scripts

Saraswati Stotram lyrics in full

The syllable people get wrong

When the Saraswati Stotram is chanted

Questions

Have your chart read before you decide

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