I sing praise of Mother Sharada, Who has two beautiful pot like breasts, Who has breast-pots which are filled with ambrosia-like nectar, Who is the support of benevolence, Who is the support of blissful deeds, Whose face is adorned by a servant-like moon, Who has red lips which are full of giving-quality, Who is perpetual, and is my Mother.||1||
I sing praise of Mother Sharada, Who has merciful sympathy in Her glance, Who possesses knowledge in Her hands, Who is awakened with respect to art-forms, Who is adorned by a beautiful bell-garland at the waist, Who is the first (woman), Who is sleepless, Who is the leading beautiful, Who is perpetual, and is my Mother.||2||
I sing praise of Mother Sharada, Who has beautiful curved sides (from hips to breasts) like a plough-head, Who has a tongue resounding with songs, Who is the unique (polymorphic supreme deity) nourisher of Her devotee, Who has cheeks resplendent with glory and surreal wealth, Who possesses energy-garlands in Her hands, Who has tongue resounding with traditional verses, Who is perpetual, and is my Mother.||3||
I sing praise of Mother Sharada, Who is adorned by a beautiful parting of the hair-braid, Who has an eyes which lure an antelope (deer-like-eyes), Who has an enticing voice like a parrot, Who is reverred by Indra (holder of Vajra (thunderbolt) in hand)¹, Who has a hair-braid which can be meditated upon with happiness, Who is perpetual, and is my Mother.||4||
I sing praise of Mother Sharada, Who is serene, Who is with a beautiful body, Whose tress-locks fall at the end of the eyes, Who has flashing creepers like organs (curvy), Who is immeasurable and unthinkable, Who is remembered by sages with devotion according to traditions, Who is perpetual, and is my Mother.||5||
I sing praise of Mother Sharada, Who sits on a deer, a horse, a lion, a Garuda, a swan, an elephant and a bull (in various forms), Who is great, Who is in nine-forms², Who is always dispassionate (or views everyone equally), Who is perpetual, and is my Mother.||6||
I sing praise of Mother Sharada, Who is resplendent like a burning fire, Who is adorned with organs which can bewilder anyone, Who is like a beautiful wandering bumble-bee for the lotus like heart of ours, Who is resplendent with the dance and the music of Her own eulogies, Who is perpetual, and is my Mother.||7||
I sing praise of Mother Sharada, Who is immensely reverred by the eye-like Brahma of the lotus-like universe, Whose face is resplendent with the signs of a mild smile, Whose ears have shimmering and shivering earrings, Who is perpetual, and is my Mother.||8||
Notes:
¹ The meaning of sudhaamantharaasyaa.m is unclear.
² The nine forms of Durga are as follows — Kumarika, Trimurti, Katyayani, Rohini, Kalika, Chandika, Shambhavi, Durga, and Bhadra. According to Devi-Kavach these can be as follows — Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Kalika Devi, Kushmanda, Skandmata, Katyayani, Mahagauri, Kaalaratri, and Siddhidatri.
Poet: Adi Shankaracharya
Source:
© Stutimandal 2006, Mar 24.
