Saraswati Stotram (Ya Kundendu)
अगस्त्यमुनिकृतं सरस्वतीस्तोत्रम्
What is the Saraswati Stotram?
Saraswati Stotram The Saraswati Stotram is a 21-verse Sanskrit hymn traditionally attributed to sage Agastya, praising Goddess Saraswati as the source of speech, knowledge, music and the arts. Its opening line, Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala, is loved enough on its own that people often chant just that one verse as the Saraswati Vandana before study, an exam or a performance, while the full stotram carries eighteen more verses of praise plus a closing verse on the fruits of reciting it.
This page carries the complete Saraswati Stotram credited to sage Agastya, from the opening Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala verse through eighteen further verses of praise to the closing lines on what regular recitation is said to bring. Every verse appears in Devanagari and in plain Roman transliteration with no diacritic marks, so it can be read aloud even by someone new to Sanskrit, followed by a short, original explanation of what that verse is actually saying. If you only know the one famous opening shloka, this is the larger hymn it belongs to.
Saraswati Stotram Lyrics in English
The transliteration uses plain Roman letters with no diacritic marks, so it reads naturally out loud – the Devanagari original sits right below each verse for reference. Open the meaning under any verse to see what it says in plain English.
Ya kundendu tushara hara dhavala ya shubhra vastravrita ya veena vara danda mandita kara ya shveta padmasana
Ya brahma achyuta shankara prabhritibhir devaih sada pujita sa mam patu sarasvati bhagavati nihshesha jadyapaha
या कुन्देन्दु तुषार हार धवला या शुभ्र वस्त्रावृता या वीणा वरदण्ड मण्डित करा या श्वेत पद्मासना
या ब्रह्म अच्युत शङ्कर प्रभृतिभिः देवैः सदा पूजिता सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा
Meaning
This opening verse pictures Saraswati as pure white, like jasmine flowers, snow or a garland of pearls, dressed in white and seated on a white lotus with a veena in hand. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva honor her, and the devotee asks her to remove every trace of dullness from the mind. This is the exact verse widely chanted on its own as the Saraswati Vandana before study or a performance.
Dorbhir yukta chaturbhih sphatika mani nibhaih akshamalam dadhana hastena ekena padmam sitam api cha shukam pustakam chaparena
Bhasa kundendu shankha sphatika mani nibha bhasamana asamana sa me vagdevata iyam nivasatu vadane sarvada suprasanna
दोर्भिर्युक्ता चतुर्भिः स्फटिकमणिनिभैरक्षमालान्दधाना हस्तेनैकेन पद्मं सितमपि च शुकं पुस्तकं चापरेण
भासा कुन्देन्दुशङ्खस्फटिकमणिनिभा भासमानाऽसमाना सा मे वाग्देवतेयं निवसतु वदने सर्वदा सुप्रसन्ना
Meaning
Here the goddess is shown with four arms, holding a crystal rosary, a white lotus, a parrot and a book, her glow compared to jasmine, the moon, a conch and crystal. The devotee prays that this radiant form of Vak Devi, goddess of speech, will always stay gladly on his or her tongue.
Surasura sevita padapankaja kare virajat kamaniya pustaka
Virinchi patni kamalasana sthita sarasvati nrityatu vachi me sada
सुरासुरसेवितपादपङ्कजा करे विराजत्कमनीयपुस्तका
विरिञ्चिपत्नी कमलासनस्थिता सरस्वती नृत्यतु वाचि मे सदा
Meaning
Both gods and demons bow at her lotus feet, and she holds a beautiful book in one hand as consort of Brahma, seated on a lotus. The prayer asks that Saraswati keep dancing, so to speak, in the devotee's own speech at all times.
Sarasvati sarasija kesara prabha tapasvini sita kamalasana priya
Ghanastani kamala vilola lochana manasvini bhavatu varaprasadini
सरस्वती सरसिजकेसरप्रभा तपस्विनी सितकमलासनप्रिया
घनस्तनी कमलविलोललोचना मनस्विनी भवतु वरप्रसादिनी
Meaning
Saraswati is compared here to the golden filaments at the center of a lotus, disciplined like an ascetic yet fond of her white lotus seat. The verse asks that her generous, thoughtful nature bring the blessing the devotee is seeking.
Sarasvati namastubhyam varade kamarupini
Vidyarambham karishyami siddhir bhavatu me sada
सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि
विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा
Meaning
A short, well-known couplet asking Saraswati's blessing before beginning any course of study: I am starting my learning now, may success always be mine. It is one of the most commonly recited lines from this stotram on its own, especially among students.
Sarasvati namastubhyam sarvadevi namo namah
Shantarupe shashidhare sarvayoge namo namah
सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं सर्वदेवि नमो नमः
शान्तरूपे शशिधरे सर्वयोगे नमो नमः
Meaning
This is the first of a long run of namo namah salutations, greeting Saraswati as goddess of all gods, peaceful in form, crowned with the moon, and present within every path of yogic discipline.
Nityanande niradhare nishkalayai namo namah
Vidyadhare vishalakshi shuddhajnane namo namah
नित्यानन्दे निराधारे निष्कलायै नमो नमः
विद्याधरे विशालाक्षि शुद्धज्ञाने नमो नमः
Meaning
Saraswati is saluted as eternal bliss that stands on nothing but itself, as the formless absolute, and as the wide-eyed one who carries and holds pure knowledge.
Shuddhasphatikarupayai sukshmarupe namo namah
Shabdabrahmi chaturhaste sarvasiddhyai namo namah
शुद्धस्फटिकरूपायै सूक्ष्मरूपे नमो नमः
शब्दब्रह्मि चतुर्हस्ते सर्वसिद्ध्यै नमो नमः
Meaning
She is praised as pure like crystal, subtle beyond ordinary perception, the very embodiment of Shabda Brahman – the sound principle behind creation – and as the four-armed giver of every accomplishment.
Muktalankrita sarvangyai muladhare namo namah
Mulamantrasvarupayai mulashaktyai namo namah
मुक्तालङ्कृतसर्वाङ्ग्यै मूलाधारे नमो नमः
मूलमन्त्रस्वरूपायै मूलशक्त्यै नमो नमः
Meaning
This verse honors her form adorned with pearl ornaments and her presence at the Muladhara, the base energy center of the subtle body, as the very shape of the root mantra and root power, mulashakti.
Mano manimahayoge vagishvari namo namah
Vagbhyai varadahastayai varadayai namo namah
मनो मणिमहायोगे वागीश्वरि नमो नमः
वाग्भ्यै वरदहस्तायै वरदायै नमो नमः
Meaning
Saraswati is called the mind's great jewel of yogic union and Vagishvari, ruler of speech, whose raised hand always offers boons to those who approach her.
Vedayai vedarupayai vedantayai namo namah
Gunadoshavivarjinyai gunadiptyai namo namah
वेदायै वेदरूपायै वेदान्तायै नमो नमः
गुणदोषविवर्जिन्यै गुणदीप्त्यै नमो नमः
Meaning
She is saluted as the Vedas themselves, as their embodiment, and as Vedanta, their culminating wisdom – untouched by fault or flaw yet radiant with every good quality.
Sarvajnane sadanande sarvarupe namo namah
Sampannayai kumaryai cha sarvajne namo namah
सर्वज्ञाने सदानन्दे सर्वरूपे नमो नमः
सम्पन्नायै कुमार्यै च सर्वज्ञे नमो नमः
Meaning
This verse calls her the source of all knowledge, ever blissful, present in every form, complete in herself, eternally youthful, and all-knowing.
Yoganarya umadevyai yoganande namo namah
Divyajnana trinetrayai divyamurtyai namo namah
योगानार्ये उमादेव्यै योगानन्दे नमो नमः
दिव्यज्ञान त्रिनेत्रायै दिव्यमूर्त्यै नमो नमः
Meaning
She is greeted as a master of yoga, as Uma Devi, and as the very joy that yogic practice brings, with three eyes and a form made of divine knowledge.
Ardhachandra jatadhari chandrabimbe namo namah
Chandraditya jatadhari chandrabimbe namo namah
अर्धचन्द्रजटाधारि चन्द्रबिम्बे नमो नमः
चन्द्रादित्यजटाधारि चन्द्रबिम्बे नमो नमः
Meaning
Saraswati is pictured wearing the crescent moon in her matted hair, her face compared to the moon's disc, and honored again as one who carries both sun and moon as her ornaments.
Anurupe maharupe vishvarupe namo namah
Animadyashtasiddhyayai anandayai namo namah
अणुरूपे महारूपे विश्वरूपे नमो नमः
अणिमाद्यष्टसिद्ध्यायै आनन्दायै नमो नमः
Meaning
The verse salutes her smallest, most subtle form as well as her vast form encompassing the whole universe, and honors her as the source of the eight classic yogic powers beginning with anima, and of bliss itself.
Jnanavijnanarupayai jnanamurte namo namah
Nanashastrasvarupayai nanarupe namo namah
ज्ञानविज्ञानरूपायै ज्ञानमूर्ते नमो नमः
नानाशास्त्रस्वरूपायै नानारूपे नमो नमः
Meaning
She is called the form of both knowledge and applied science, the very shape of wisdom, and the one who takes on the form of every branch of scripture and learning.
Padmada padmavamsha cha padmarupe namo namah
Parameshthyai paramurtyai namaste papanashini
पद्मदा पद्मवंशा च पद्मरूपे नमो नमः
परमेष्ठ्यै परामूर्त्यै नमस्ते पापनाशिनि
Meaning
Saraswati is honored as the giver of the lotus, born of a lotus lineage, and shaped like the lotus herself – the highest station in the highest form, one who wipes away sin.
Mahadevyai mahakalyai mahalakshmyai namo namah
Brahmavishnushivayai cha brahmanaryai namo namah
महादेव्यै महाकाल्यै महालक्ष्म्यै नमो नमः
ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवायै च ब्रह्मनार्यै नमो नमः
Meaning
This verse identifies her with Mahadevi, Mahakali and Mahalakshmi – the three great goddesses – and with Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva together, as the feminine principle underlying all three.
Kamalakarapushpa cha kamarupe namo namah
Kapali karmadiptayai karmadayai namo namah
कमलाकरपुष्पा च कामरूपे नमो नमः
कपालि कर्मदीप्तायै कर्मदायै नमो नमः
Meaning
She is called the flower that blooms from a lotus pool, one who can take any wished-for form, and the one who kindles right action and grants its fruits.
Sayam pratah pathennityam shanmasat siddhiruchyate
Choravyaghrabhayam nasti pathatam shrinvatamapi
सायं प्रातः पठेन्नित्यं षण्मासात् सिद्धिरुच्यते
चोरव्याघ्रभयं नास्ति पठतां शृण्वतामपि
Meaning
This is the phala shruti, the fruit-of-recitation verse: reciting the stotram morning and evening for six months is traditionally said to bring accomplishment, and even hearing it recited is said to remove the fear of thieves and wild animals.
Ittham sarasvati stotram agastya munivachakam
Sarvasiddhikaram nrinam sarvapapapranashanam
इत्थं सरस्वतीस्तोत्रम् अगस्त्यमुनिवाचकम्
सर्वसिद्धिकरं नॄणां सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
Meaning
The closing verse names this as the Saraswati Stotram spoken by sage Agastya, said to bring every accomplishment to people and wash away every sin, and brings the hymn to a close.
Meaning of the Saraswati Stotram
The stotram moves through three clear stages. The first four verses form a dhyana, a visualisation – they build up Saraswati’s picture piece by piece: her white clothing, her veena, her lotus seat, her four hands and their objects, her feet worshipped by both gods and demons. The famous Ya Kundendu line that opens the hymn is really the seed of this picture, and everything from verse 2 to verse 4 fills it in further.
Verse 5 is a short pivot – the line every student knows, asking for success before beginning to study – and it leads into the long middle section, verses 6 through 19, a namo namah litany. Each of these verses does not describe a scene so much as name an attribute: peace, bliss, purity, the Vedas, the root energy centers, the eight yogic powers, the three great goddesses. Read together they build up Saraswati as something closer to an abstract principle – speech, sound, and knowledge itself – than a single fixed image.
The stotram then closes with verses 20 and 21, the phala shruti, stating what regular recitation is traditionally believed to bring and naming sage Agastya as its speaker.
When to Chant the Saraswati Stotram
- – Sit facing east or north in a quiet spot, ideally after a wash, with a lamp lit if one is available.
- – Keep an image or idol of Saraswati nearby if you have one, along with a few white or yellow flowers.
- – Start with the Ya Kundendu verse alone if you are short on time – it works as a complete, self-sufficient vandana.
- – For the full stotram, read verses 1 to 4 slowly, picturing the goddess as each line describes her.
- – Chant verses 6 to 19 at a steady pace – the repeated namo namah refrain makes them easy to settle into once you are familiar with the words.
- – Close with verses 20 and 21, and sit for a moment in silence before returning to your day or your work.
- – Use the Roman transliteration for the first few readings if the Devanagari feels unfamiliar, then move to the Devanagari once the sounds are comfortable.
Benefits of Saraswati Stotram Chanting
These are the benefits traditionally associated with reciting the Saraswati Stotram, drawn from the text’s own phala shruti verse and from long-standing devotional practice – not a claim of any guaranteed or medical outcome.
- : Traditionally chanted for clarity of speech and confidence in expression, since Saraswati is worshipped as the goddess of Vak, or speech itself.
- : Recited by students before study sessions and exams, following the practice built into verse 5 of the stotram.
- : Used by musicians, writers, and other artists as an opening prayer for creative clarity and flow before a session of practice or work.
- : The stotram's own phala shruti verse states that six months of steady morning-and-evening recitation is said to bring siddhi, or accomplishment.
- : The same verse states that reciting or even hearing the stotram removes fear of thieves and wild animals – understood devotionally as protection from harm.
- : Chanted during Vasant Panchami and the closing days of Navratri as part of formal Saraswati worship.
- : The repeated namo namah verses (6-19) are often used as a steady, meditative sequence to settle and focus the mind before other study or practice.
Sage Agastya & the Ya Kundendu Verse
This stotram is traditionally attributed to sage Agastya, one of the seven great sages (Saptarishi) of Vedic tradition, credited across Hindu literature with numerous hymns, a foundational grammar tradition in the Tamil region, and a wide-ranging role in several Puranic stories. The closing verse of this text names him directly – Ittham Sarasvati Stotram Agastya Munivachakam, ‘thus is the Saraswati Stotram spoken by sage Agastya’ – which is how the attribution has come down through the devotional tradition.
Of its twenty-one verses, the opening one – Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala – is by far the most widely known and is very often chanted entirely on its own as the Saraswati Vandana, before a class begins, before an exam, or before a musical or dance performance starts. This page covers the complete stotram it belongs to: the three further descriptive verses that follow it, the well-known study verse, the long run of namo namah salutations, and the closing verse on the fruits of recitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ya Kundendu the same as Saraswati Vandana?
Yes – Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala is the opening verse of this Saraswati Stotram, and it is commonly chanted alone as the Saraswati Vandana before study, an exam, or a performance. This page presents that verse as part of the complete 21-verse stotram it comes from.
Who wrote the Saraswati Stotram?
The stotram is traditionally attributed to sage Agastya, a Vedic-era sage. Its own closing verse names him as the speaker of the hymn, which is the basis for this attribution in the devotional tradition.
How many verses does the Saraswati Stotram have?
This recension has 21 verses in total: four descriptive verses picturing the goddess, one short well-known study verse, fourteen namo namah salutation verses, and two closing verses stating the fruits of recitation and naming Agastya as the author.
What does Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala mean?
It describes Saraswati as white as jasmine flowers, snow, or a pearl garland – the line pictures her purity through a string of white images before going on to describe her white clothing, her veena, and her white lotus seat.
When is the best time to chant the Saraswati Stotram?
It is chanted on Vasant Panchami, during the closing days of Navratri, and very commonly before study sessions, exams, or any creative practice such as music, writing, or art, since it is addressed to the goddess of speech and learning.
Can I chant this stotram if I do not read Devanagari?
Yes – every verse on this page is given in plain Roman transliteration with no diacritic marks, so it can be read and pronounced without knowing the Devanagari script. The Devanagari original is placed alongside each verse for reference as you grow more familiar with it.
What are the benefits of reciting the Saraswati Stotram?
The stotram is traditionally chanted for clarity of speech, focus in study, and creative flow in music, writing, and art. Its own closing verses state that six months of regular recitation is said to bring accomplishment and that reciting or hearing it removes fear of thieves and wild animals.
Is this the same as the Saraswati Chalisa or Saraswati Aarti?
No – a chalisa and an aarti are different literary forms with their own structure and use in worship. This is a Sanskrit stotram, a hymn of praise in classical verse, distinct from both, though all three are addressed to the same goddess.
॥ ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः ॥