Saraswati Vandana

या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता

Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala Ya Shubhra Vastravrita

yā kundendutuṣārahāradhavalā yā śubhravastrāvṛtā

She who is white as jasmine, the moon, snow and a garland of pearls, who is dressed in pure white,

या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना ।

Ya Vina Vara Danda Mandita Kara Ya Shveta Padmasana

yā vīṇāvaradaṇḍamaṇḍitakarā yā śvetapadmāsanā

whose hands are graced by the fine neck of the veena, who sits on a white lotus,

या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता

Ya Brahmachyuta Shankara Prabhritibhir Devaih Sada Vandita

yā brahmācyutaśaṅkaraprabhṛtibhirdevaiḥ sadā vanditā

who is always worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and all the gods —

सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥ १ ॥

Sa Mam Patu Sarasvati Bhagavati Nihshesha Jadyapaha

sā māṃ pātu sarasvatī bhagavatī niḥśeṣajāḍyāpahā

may that blessed goddess Saraswati, who removes every trace of dullness, protect me.

शुक्लां ब्रह्मविचारसारपरमामाद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीं

Shuklam Brahma Vichara Sara Paramam Adyam Jagadvyapinim

śuklāṃ brahmavicārasāraparamāmādyāṃ jagadvyāpinīṃ

The radiant white one, the highest essence of the search for truth, the primal goddess who pervades the world,

वीणापुस्तकधारिणीमभयदां जाड्यान्धकारापहाम् ।

Vina Pustaka Dharinim Abhayadam Jadyandhakarapaham

vīṇāpustakadhāriṇīmabhayadāṃ jāḍyāndhakārāpahām

who holds the veena and the book, who grants fearlessness and dispels the darkness of ignorance,

हस्ते स्फटिकमालिकां विदधतीं पद्मासने संस्थिताम्

Haste Sphatika Malikam Vidadhatim Padmasane Samsthitam

haste sphaṭikamālikāṃ vidadhatīṃ padmāsane saṃsthitām

holding a crystal rosary in her hand, seated on a lotus —

वन्दे तां परमेश्वरीं भगवतीं बुद्धिप्रदां शारदाम् ॥ २ ॥

Vande Tam Parameshvarim Bhagavatim Buddhipradam Sharadam

vande tāṃ parameśvarīṃ bhagavatīṃ buddhipradāṃ śāradām

I bow to her, the supreme goddess, the blessed Sharada, giver of wisdom.

सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि ।

Sarasvati Namastubhyam Varade Kamarupini

sarasvati namastubhyaṃ varade kāmarūpiṇi

O Saraswati, I bow to you, giver of blessings, who takes any form she wishes;

विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥

Vidyarambham Karishyami Siddhir Bhavatu Me Sada

vidyārambhaṃ kariṣyāmi siddhirbhavatu me sadā

I am beginning my studies — may I always succeed.