śrīsūktam

Sri Suktam (Rig Veda)

Om. O Jatavedo (Agni), invoke for me that Goddess Lakshmi, who is of golden color, beautiful and adorned with gold and silver garlands. Who is like the moon with a golden aura. (1)

O Agni, invoke for me that unfailing Goddess Lakshmi, by whose grace I may obtain gold, cows, horses, and men (followers/progeny). (2)

I invoke the Goddess Sri (Lakshmi), who has horses in front and chariots in the middle, and who is awakened by the trumpeting of elephants. May that Divine Goddess Sri grace me. (3)

I invoke here that Goddess Sri, who is the embodiment of absolute bliss, who is smiling, who is surrounded by a fortress of gold, who is moist with compassion, who is radiant, who is satisfied and satisfies those who pray to her, who is seated on a lotus and has the color of a lotus. (4)

I take refuge in that Goddess Sri, who shines like the moon, who is radiant with fame, who is adored by the gods, who is generous, and who holds a lotus. May my poverty (Alakshmi) be destroyed; I beseech You. (5)

O Goddess with the hue of the sun, by Your penance the Bilva tree, the king of trees, was born. May its fruits, by Your penance, drive away my inner delusions and outer poverty (Alakshmi). (6)

May the friend of the gods (Kubera) and Fame, along with the precious jewel (Chintamani), come to me. I am born in this kingdom; may they grant me fame and prosperity. (7)

I shall destroy the elder sister of Lakshmi (Alakshmi), who is the embodiment of hunger, thirst, and impurity. Drive away all lack of prosperity and lack of growth from my home. (8)

I invoke here Goddess Sri, who is perceived through the door of fragrance, who is unassailable, who is eternally nourished, who abounds in wealth (dung/cattle), and who is the supreme sovereign of all beings. (9)

May we attain the desires and intentions of the mind, and the truth of speech. May the wealth of cattle, the abundance of food, and fame find shelter in me. (10)

O Kardama (mud of the lotus/sage Kardama), Goddess Sri has become a mother through you. Reside in me, O Kardama, and establish the Mother Goddess Sri, who wears a garland of lotuses, in my family. (11)

May the waters create pleasing things. O Chiklita (Sage/moisture), reside in my house. And establish the Divine Mother, Goddess Sri, in my family. (12)

O Agni, invoke for me Goddess Lakshmi, who is moist with compassion, who holds a lotus, who is the embodiment of nourishment, who is golden-hued, who wears a garland of lotuses, who is like the moon, and who is radiant with gold. (13)

O Agni, invoke for me Goddess Lakshmi, who is moist with compassion, who holds a staff, who is of beautiful golden color, who wears a golden garland, who shines like the sun, and who is radiant with gold. (14)

O Agni, invoke for me that unfailing Goddess Lakshmi, by whose grace I may obtain abundant gold, cows, maidservants, horses, and men (followers/progeny). (15)

One who is pure and devoted should offer ghee into the fire every day. One who desires wealth should constantly chant these fifteen verses of Sri Suktam. (16)

Phalashruti (The Fruits of Recitation)

O Goddess with a lotus-like face, lotus-like thighs, and lotus-like eyes, O one born of a lotus! O lotus-eyed one, please bless me so that I may attain happiness.

O bestower of horses, bestower of cows, bestower of wealth, O Goddess of great wealth! May wealth come to me, O Goddess, and please fulfill all my desires.

Grant me sons, grandsons, wealth, grains, elephants, horses, cows, and chariots. You are the Mother of all people; please make me long-lived.

Agni is wealth, Vayu is wealth, Surya is wealth, and the Vasus are wealth. Indra is wealth, Brihaspati is wealth, and Varuna is wealth. May I attain all this wealth.

O Garuda (Vainateya), drink the Soma juice. Let Indra (Vritraha) drink the Soma. Let the lord of the Soma juice give the wealth of Soma to me, who is offering it.

May there be no anger, no jealousy, no greed, and no inauspicious thoughts in me.

Such pure qualities manifest in the devotees who have acquired merits. Therefore, one should always chant the Sri Suktam.

O radiant Goddess, may the lightning of the clouds in the sky shower rain for you. May all seeds sprout and grow. Destroy those who hate Brahman (divine knowledge).

O lover of lotuses, O one resembling a lotus, O one holding a lotus, O dweller in the lotus, O one with eyes wide like lotus petals! O darling of the universe, O one who delights the mind of Vishnu, please place Your lotus feet in my heart.

May that Goddess Lakshmi, who is seated on a lotus, who has broad hips, whose eyes are wide like lotus petals, who has a deep navel, who is slightly bent due to the weight of her breasts, who wears a bright upper garment, who is bathed by divine majestic elephants using golden pitchers studded with jewels, who holds a lotus in her hand, and who is endowed with all auspiciousness, reside forever in my home.

I bow to Lakshmi, the daughter of the king of the Milky Ocean, the Goddess of Srirangam, whose maidservants are the wives of all the gods, who is the sole beacon of light for the worlds, by whose gentle side-glance Brahma, Indra, and Shiva attained their glory, who considers the three worlds as her family, who is born of a lotus, and who is the beloved of Mukunda (Vishnu).

May Siddha Lakshmi (Goddess of accomplishments), Moksha Lakshmi (Goddess of liberation), Jaya Lakshmi (Goddess of victory), Saraswati (Goddess of learning), Sri Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth), and Vara Lakshmi (Goddess of boons) always be pleased with me.

I worship that primordial Goddess of the universe, who is seated on a lotus, who holds a boon-giving gesture, an elephant goad, a noose, and a fear-dispelling gesture in her hands, who has the brilliance of ten million rising suns, and who has three eyes.

O the most auspicious among all that is auspicious, O Auspicious One, O fulfiller of all desires! O provider of refuge, O Goddess with three eyes, O Narayani, salutations to You.

O Goddess who dwells in a lotus, who holds a lotus, who is adorned with dazzling white garments, fragrant paste, and garlands! O Divine Mother, Beloved of Hari, captivating one who creates the prosperity of the three worlds, be pleased with me!

I bow to the consort of Vishnu, the Goddess of forgiveness, Madhavi (wife of Madhava), the beloved of Madhava, the dear friend of Vishnu, the Goddess who is the beloved of the infallible Lord (Achyuta).

We meditate upon Mahalakshmi; we focus our minds on the consort of Vishnu. May that Goddess Lakshmi inspire us.

(Variation text mentioning the sages Ananda, Kardama, Shrida, and Chiklita, who are renowned as the sons of Sri, and stating that Goddess Sri herself is the deity.)

(Variation text: We worship Sri Mahalakshmi, who has the brilliance of the moon, who is the ruler Lakshmi, who has the brilliance of the sun, who is the sovereign Sri, and who shines with the combined luster of the moon, sun, and fire.)

May we be granted divine radiance, longevity, and health. May the purifying wind blow in our favor. May we attain wealth, grains, cattle, many children, and a long life of a hundred years.

May debts, diseases, poverty, sins, hunger, untimely death, fear, sorrow, and mental anguish always be destroyed for me.

May the Sun god, who brings wealth and sustenance to all living beings, bestow prosperity upon us. Those who are enveloped in His wealth attain immortality and immediately worship Him who provides for all.

He who knows this attains wealth; he places him in that wealth. By continuously offering oblations with these verses and the word 'Vashat', he is united with progeny and cattle.

Om. We meditate upon the Great Goddess; we focus our minds on the consort of Vishnu. May that Goddess Lakshmi inspire us.

Om Peace, Peace, Peace.