सरस्वती वंदना
Saraswati Vandana
Ya Kundendu Tushar Har Dhavala, with the Vidyarambha prayer
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता
Ya kundendu tushara hara dhavala, ya shubhra vastravrita
या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना।
Ya vina varadanda manditakara, ya shveta padmasana.
या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता
Ya Brahma Achyuta Shankara prabhritibhir devaih sada vandita
सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा॥
Sa mam patu Sarasvati bhagavati nihshesha jadyapaha.
शुक्लां ब्रह्मविचारसारपरमामाद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीं
Shuklam brahmavichara sara paramam adyam jagadvyapinim
वीणापुस्तकधारिणीमभयदां जाड्यान्धकारापहाम्।
Vina pustaka dharinim abhayadam jadyandhakara apaham.
हस्ते स्फाटिकमालिकां विदधतीं पद्मासने संस्थिताम्
Haste sphatika malikam vidadhatim padmasane samsthitam
वन्दे तां परमेश्वरीं भगवतीं बुद्धिप्रदां शारदाम्॥
Vande tam parameshvarim bhagavatim buddhipradam Sharadam.
सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि।
Sarasvati namastubhyam varade kamarupini.
विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा॥
Vidyarambham karishyami siddhir bhavatu me sada.
When it is sung or recited
When it is recited: before starting study, music or art practice, before exams, at Vidyarambha (a child's first lessons) and on Vasant Panchami. Many families say it in the morning in front of books and instruments.
Meaning
The first verse describes Goddess Saraswati as white like the jasmine flower, the moon, snow and a garland of pearls, dressed in pure white, her hands graced by the veena, seated on a white lotus. Brahma, Vishnu, Shankara and other gods always praise her. The prayer asks that Bhagavati Saraswati, who removes dullness of mind completely, protect us. The second verse bows to her as the essence of reflection on Brahman, present throughout the world, holding the veena and a book, and giving understanding. The last two lines are the prayer for beginning study: O Saraswati, giver of boons, I bow to you; I begin my learning, may I always have success.
Please note
These are traditional verses and no author is reliably known. Some books read 'sada pujita' instead of 'sada vandita' in the first verse, and 'shuddham' instead of 'shuklam' at the start of the second verse. This page follows the commonest wording. For correct pronunciation, ask a scholar or your family priest.
Text compared with: sa.wikisource.org, sanskritdocuments.org, stotra.in, hindu-blog.com, hindutone.com. A comparison with printed editions is still in progress. Wording differs between sources, so follow your priest’s version.