Saraswati Ashtakam

॥ श्री सरस्वती अष्टकम् ॥

॥ शतानीक उवाच ॥

महामते महाप्राज्ञसर्वशास्त्रविशारद।

अक्षीणकर्मबन्धस्तुपुरुषो द्विजसत्तम॥1॥

मरणे यज्जोपेज्जाप्यंयं च भावमनुस्मरन्।

परं पदमवाप्नोतितन्मे ब्रूहि महामुने॥2॥

॥ शौनक उवाच ॥

इदमेव महाराजपृष्टवांस्ते पितामहः।

भीष्मं धर्मविदां श्रेष्ठंधर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः॥3॥

॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच ॥

पितामह महाप्राज्ञसर्वशास्त्रविशारदः।

बृहस्पतिस्तुता देवीवागीशेन महात्मना।

आत्मायं दर्शयामासंसूर्य कोटिसमप्रभम्॥4॥

॥ सरस्वत्युवाच ॥

वरं वृणीष्व भद्रंते यत्ते मनसि विद्यते।

॥ बृहस्पतिरूवाच ॥

यदि मे वरदा देविदिव्यज्ञानं प्रयच्छ नः॥5॥

॥ देव्युवाच ॥

हन्त ते निर्मलज्ञानंकुमतिध्वंसकारणम्।

स्तोत्रणानेन यो भक्तयामां स्तुवन्ति मनीषिण॥6॥

॥ बृहस्पतिरूवाच ॥

लभते परमं ज्ञानंयतपरैरपि दुर्लभम्।

प्राप्नोति पुरुषो नित्यंमहामाया प्रसादतः॥7॥

॥ सरस्वत्युवाच ॥

त्रिसन्ध्यं प्रयतो नित्यंपठेदष्टकमुत्तमम्।

तस्य कण्ठे सदा वासंकरिष्यामि न संशयः॥8॥

॥ इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे सरस्वती अष्टकम् सम्पूर्णम् ॥

Verse 1

Shatanika Uvacha
Mahamate Mahaprajna Sarva-Shastra-Visharada |
Akshina-Karma-Bandhas Tu Purusho Dvija-Sattama ||1||

Meaning:
King Shatanika said: “O highly intelligent and supremely wise sage, O knower of all the scriptures, please tell me how a person who is still bound by the endless cycle of karma can attain liberation.”

Verse 2

Marane Yaj Japyam Japyam Yam Cha Bhavam Anusmaran |
Param Padam Avapnoti Tan Me Bruhi Mahamune ||2||

Meaning:
“Please explain to me, O great sage, which sacred mantra should be chanted and what divine thought should be remembered at the time of death so that one may attain the Supreme Abode.”

Verse 3

Shaunaka Uvacha
Idam Eva Maharaja Prishtavan Te Pitamaha |
Bhishmam Dharma-Vidam Shreshtham Dharma-Putro Yudhishthirah ||3||

Meaning:
Sage Shaunaka said: “O King, this very question was once asked by your grandfather, the righteous King Yudhishthira, to Bhishma, the greatest authority on Dharma.”

Verse 4

Yudhishthira Uvacha
Pitamaha Mahaprajna Sarva-Shastra-Visharadah |
Brihaspati-Stuta Devi Vagishena Mahatmana |
Atmanam Darshayamas Surya-Koti-Sama-Prabham ||4||

Meaning:
Yudhishthira said: “O revered grandsire, the great sage Brihaspati praised Goddess Saraswati with deep devotion. Pleased by his prayers, the Divine Mother revealed Her radiant form, shining with the brilliance of millions of suns.”

Verse 5

Sarasvaty Uvacha
Varam Vrinishva Bhadram Te Yat Te Manasi Vidyate |

Brihaspatir Uvacha
Yadi Me Varada Devi Divya-Jnanam Prayaccha Nah ||5||

Meaning:
Goddess Saraswati said: “Ask for any boon that your heart desires.”
Brihaspati replied: “O Divine Mother, if You are pleased with me, kindly bless me with supreme divine knowledge.”

Verse 6

Devy Uvacha
Hanta Te Nirmala-Jnanam Kumati-Dhvamsa-Karanam |
Stotranena Yo Bhaktya Mam Stuvanti Manishinah ||6||

Meaning:
The Goddess said: “I grant you pure knowledge that destroys ignorance and wrong understanding. Whoever praises Me with devotion through this sacred hymn shall also receive My blessings.”

Verse 7

Brihaspatir Uvacha
Labhate Paramam Jnanam Yat Parair Api Durlabham |
Prapnoti Purusho Nityam Mahamaya-Prasadatah ||7||

Meaning:
Brihaspati said: “By the grace of the Divine Mother Mahamaya, a devotee attains the highest wisdom, which is extremely rare and difficult even for great souls to obtain.”

Verse 8

Sarasvaty Uvacha
Tri-Sandhyam Prayato Nityam Pathed Ashtakam Uttamam |
Tasya Kanthe Sada Vasam Karishyami Na Samshayah ||8||

Meaning:
Goddess Saraswati said: “Whoever recites this excellent Ashtakam every day during the three Sandhyas (morning, noon, and evening) with purity and devotion, I shall always reside in that person’s speech and throat. There is no doubt about it.”

॥ Iti Shri Padma Purane Saraswati Ashtakam Sampurnam ॥

Meaning:
Thus ends the sacred Shri Saraswati Ashtakam from the Padma Purana, bestowing the blessings of wisdom, eloquence, learning, and divine knowledge upon its sincere devotees.