The Soundarya Lahari (Sanskrit: सौन्दर्यलहरी) meaning “The waves of Beauty” is a famous literary work in Sanskrit attributed to Adi Guru Shankaracarya. Some believe the first part “Ananda Lahari” was etched on mount Meru by Ganesha himself (or by Pushpadanta). Sage Gaudapada, the teacher of Shankar’s teacher Govinda Bhagavadpada, memorised the writings of Pushpadanta which was carried down to Adi Guru Shankaracarya. Its hundred and three shlokas (verses) praise the beauty, grace and magnificence of Goddess Tripura Sundari as Goddess Parvati.
The Saundarya Lahari is not only a collection of holy hymns, but also a tantra textbook, giving instructions on Puja, Sri-Yantra and worshiping methods, 100 different hymns, 100 different yantra, almost one to each shloka; it describes the appropriate tantra method of performing devotion connected to each specific shloka; and details the results ensuring therefrom. There are many interpretations and commentaries, but the best of these are arguably those that provide word-to-word translations, as also the yantra, the devotion to be performed and the results of the devotion.
1
Lord Shiva only becomes able.
To do creation in this world along with Shakti
Without her, even an inch he cannot move,
And so how can, one who does not do good deeds,
Or one who does not sing your praise,
Become adequate to worship you Oh, Goddess mine, Who is worshipped by the Trinity.
2 (Attracting all the world)
Lord Brahma, the creator of yore,
Selects a dust from your feet,
And creates he this world,
The great Adisesha with his thousand heads (The Thousand headed serpent who carries the worlds on his head),
Some how carries a dust of your feet,
With effort great,
And the great Lord Rudra,
Takes it and powders it nice,
And uses it as the holy ash.
3 (Attainment of all knowledge)
The dust under your feet, Oh Goddess great,
Is like the city of the rising sun,
That removes all darkness, unfortunate,
From the mind of the poor ignorant one,
Is like the honey that flows,
From the flower bunch of vital action,
To the slow witted one,
Is like the heap of wish giving gems,
To the poorest of men,
And is like the teeth of Lord Vishnu
In the form of Varaha,
Who brought to surface,
The mother earth,To those drowned in this sea of birth.
4 (Removal of all fears. Curing of diseases)
Oh, She who is refuge to all this world,
All gods except you mother,
Give refuge and grants wishes,
Only by their hand.
But only you mother Never show the world in detail, The boons and refuge that you can give, For even your holy feet will suffice, To remove fear for ever, And grant boons much more than asked.
7 (Seeing the Goddess in person. Winning over enemies)
With a golden belt, Adorned by tiny tingling bells, Slightly bent by breasts like the two frontal globes Of an elephant fine, With a thin pretty form,
And with a face like the autumn moon,
Holding in her hands, A bow of sugar cane, arrows made of flowers, And the noose and goad, She who has the wonderful form, Of the ego of the God who burnt the three cities, Should please come and appear before us.
17 (Mastery over words. Knowledge of science)
Oh, Mother Holy, He who worships You,
Along with the goddess like Vasini,
Who are the prime source of words,
And you who are having the great luster,
Got by breaking the moon stone,
Becomes the author of great epics,
Which shine like those written by great ones, And which have the sweet scent
Of the face of the goddess of knowledge.
20 (Curing of all poisons and curing of all fevers)
He who meditates in his mind,
On you who showers nectar from all your limbs, And in the form which resembles, The statue carved out of moonstone, Can with a single stare,
Put an end to the pride of snakes,
And with his nectar like vision,Cure those afflicted by fever.
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