Sri Sukta
Hymn to Lakshmi, abundance and grace
Introduction
The Sri Sukta is one of the most widely chanted hymns for invoking prosperity, wealth, and the blessings of goddess Lakshmi (Sri). Found in the Rig Veda Khilani (Appendix), it is recited during Diwali, Lakshmi puja, and whenever abundance is sought.
Unlike some prosperity prayers, the Sri Sukta emphasizes "anapagāminī", Lakshmi who never departs, indicating stable rather than fleeting fortune. The hymn also addresses Alakshmi (misfortune), making it a complete practice for both inviting good and releasing bad.
Key Verses
Verse 1, Invoking the Golden Goddess
हिरण्यवर्णां हरिणीं सुवर्णरजतस्रजाम् ।
चन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह ॥
hiraṇyavarṇāṃ hariṇīṃ suvarṇarajatasrajām |
candrāṃ hiraṇmayīṃ lakṣmīṃ jātavedo ma āvaha ||
"Of golden hue, beautiful as a deer, adorned with gold and silver garlands, radiant as the moon, golden Lakshmi, O Jataveda (Fire), bring her to me."
The hymn opens by describing Lakshmi's radiant beauty, she is golden-colored, graceful like a deer, adorned with precious metals, and luminous like the moon. Agni (fire, called Jataveda) is asked to bring her to the worshipper.
Verse 2, The Lakshmi Who Never Leaves
तां म आवह जातवेदो लक्ष्मीमनपगामिनीम् ।
यस्यां हिरण्यं विन्देयं गामश्वं पुरुषानहम् ॥
tāṃ ma āvaha jātavedo lakṣmīm anapagāminīm |
yasyāṃ hiraṇyaṃ vindeyaṃ gām aśvaṃ puruṣān aham ||
"Bring to me, O Jataveda, that Lakshmi who never departs, through whom I may obtain gold, cattle, horses, and servants."
"Anapagāminī" (never-departing) is the key word. True prosperity stays, it's not windfall luck that vanishes. The Vedic list of wealth includes living beings (cattle, horses, people) not just inert gold, showing wealth as relationship and responsibility.
Verse 4, The Lotus Goddess
कां सोस्मितां हिरण्यप्राकारामार्द्रां ज्वलन्तीं तृप्तां तर्पयन्तीम् ।
पद्मे स्थितां पद्मवर्णां तामिहोपह्वये श्रियम् ॥
kāṃ sosmitāṃ hiraṇyaprākārām ārdrāṃ jvalantīṃ tṛptāṃ tarpayantīm |
padme sthitāṃ padmavarṇāṃ tām ihopahvaye śriyam ||
"She who is smiling, surrounded by golden ramparts, moist (with compassion), radiant, content and contentment-giving, standing on a lotus, lotus-colored, I invoke that Sri here."
"Tṛptā tarpayantī" (content and contentment-giving) is profound, true prosperity is both having enough and giving enough. The lotus symbolizes purity amid worldly waters. "Ārdrā" (moist/tender) shows the goddess as compassionate, not cold.
Verse 5, Choosing Abundance
चन्द्रां प्रभासां यशसा ज्वलन्तीं श्रियं लोके देवजुष्टामुदाराम् ।
तां पद्मिनीमीं शरणमहं प्रपद्येऽलक्ष्मीर्मे नश्यतां त्वां वृणे ॥
candrāṃ prabhāsāṃ yaśasā jvalantīṃ śriyaṃ loke devajuṣṭām udārām |
tāṃ padminīm īṃ śaraṇam ahaṃ prapadye 'lakṣmīr me naśyatāṃ tvāṃ vṛṇe ||
"Radiant as the moon, luminous, blazing with glory, Sri who is honored by the gods, generous, to her, the lotus-goddess, I take refuge. May misfortune be destroyed! I choose you."
"Alakṣmī" (misfortune, the opposite of Lakshmi) is directly addressed, asking not just for fortune but for the removal of its opposite. "Tvāṃ vṛṇe" (I choose you) shows prosperity as an active choice, not passive luck.
Verse 8, Destroying Misfortune
क्षुत्पिपासामलां ज्येष्ठामलक्ष्मीं नाशयाम्यहम् ।
अभूतिमसमृद्धिं च सर्वां निर्णुद मे गृहात् ॥
kṣutpipāsāmalāṃ jyeṣṭhām alakṣmīṃ nāśayāmy aham |
abhūtim asamṛddhiṃ ca sarvāṃ nirṇuda me gṛhāt ||
"I destroy the elder sister Alakshmi, who is stained by hunger and thirst. Drive out from my home all non-prosperity and lack of abundance."
Alakshmi (misfortune) is called "jyeṣṭhā" (elder sister), in mythology, she emerged before Lakshmi. She is characterized by hunger and thirst, the experience of lack. The worshipper actively destroys her and asks for all poverty to leave the home.
Main Themes
- Permanent Prosperity, The prayer seeks Lakshmi who never departs, not fleeting luck.
- Both Invite and Release, True prosperity practice invites good AND releases scarcity consciousness.
- Wealth as Relationship, Vedic prosperity includes cattle, horses, community, not just gold.
- Contentment that Gives, True abundance is both satisfied and satisfying to others.
- Active Choice, "I choose you", prosperity is chosen, not just wished for.
Reflection Questions
- What would "prosperity that never departs" look like in your life?
- Where do you experience "hunger and thirst", the consciousness of lack?
- How might you actively "choose" abundance rather than passively hope for it?
Continue Your Study
Explore the complete Sri Sukta, the ancient hymn for invoking lasting prosperity and releasing the consciousness of scarcity.