Sarasvati-Rahasya Upanishad

Translated by Dr. A. G. Krishna Warrier
Published by The Theosophical Publishing House, Chennai

Om ! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together;

May we work conjointly with great energy,

May our study be vigorous and effective;

May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any).

Om ! Let there be Peace in me !

Let there be Peace in my environment !

Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !

1. The sages, verily, with due reverence, asked the holy Asvalayana: How is that knowledge won which illumines the content of the word Tat ? Tell us that, Holy Sir, by meditation on which you know the Truth.

2. Best of Sages ! I won supreme perfection by exalting Sarasvati with the reciting of the ten verses on Her, as also the Ric stanzas with the ‘seed-syllables’.

3. The sages said: How, by what meditation, Sage of Dedicated Life, is the truth of Sarasvati won ? What pleases the great and sacred goddess Sarasvati ? Speak.

4. Asvalayana then spoke: Of this great mantra of the ten verse on Sarasvati, I, Asvalayana, am the seer. The eight-syllabled Anustubh is the metre; the holy Vagisvari, the divinity; ‘yadvak’ is the seed; ‘devim vacham’ the power; ‘pra no devi’ the lynch-pin; the application (of the mantra) is for pleasing Her; the consecration of limbs is by (invoking) faith, intelligence, wisdom, memory, the goddess of speech and Mahasarasvati.

5. To win plenitude of speech, in my heart I salute the goddess Sarasvati, who shines like snow, pearls, camphor and the moon; who confers auspicious blessing; is decked with garlands of golden Champaka blossoms; and charms the mind by her figure with
the lofty, rounded bosom.

6. Of this mantra (pra no devi), Bharadvaja is the seer; Gayatri, the metre; Sri Sarasvati, the divinity; OM, the seed, power and lynch-pin; its application is for gaining whatever is desired; consecration is with the mantra.

7. Her nature the essence of Vedanta’s sense,

She the Supreme Sovereign,

Manifest as name and form –

May Sarasvati guard me !

8. OM !

May the goddess Sarasvati,

Dispenser of nourishment,

Guardian of thoughts,

Protect us ever !

9. Of this mantra (a no divah), Atri is the seer; Tristubh, the metre; Sarasvati, the divinity; HRIM, the seed, power and lynch-pin; its application is for gaining whatever is desired; its application is for gaining whatever is desired; consecration of limbs is with the mantra.

10. The only one extolled in Vedas four

And their ancillaries; the non-dual

Potency of Brahman – May She, divine

Sarasvati, protect me !

11. HRIM

From heaven, from the giant clouds,

Let holy Sarasvati come

To our sacrifice; listening

Kindly to the call, may the Queen

Of Waters gladly hear our sweet words !

12. Of this mantra (pavaka nah), Madhucchandas is the seer; Gayatri, is the metre; Sarasvati, the divinity; SRIM, the seed, power and lynch-pin; its application is for gaining whatever is desired; consecration is with the mantra.

13. Existing solely in the form of sense,

Of sentence, word and letter,

Without beginning and without end –

May She, infinite Sarasvati, protect me !

14. SRIM

The purifier Sarasvati,

Dispenser of nourishment,

Treasure of intelligence –

May She accept our sacrifice !

15. Of this mantra (chodayitri), Madhucchandas is the seer; Gayatri, the metre; Sarasvati, the divinity; BLUM, the seed, power and lynch-pin; consecration is with the mantra.

16. In the self, among the gods,

The Sovereign Mistress of the gods

Dwells inwardly, forth uttering –

May Sarasvati protect me !

17. BLUM

Inspirer of truthful words,

Awakener of noble minds,

Sarasvati receives worship.

18. Of this mantra (maho arnah), Madhucchandas is the seer; Gayatri, the metre; Sarasvati, the divinity; SAUH, the seed, power and lynch-pin; consecration is with the mantra.

19. She as the inner controller

Rules over all in the three worlds,

Dwells as Rudra, the Sun and others –

May that Sarasvati protect me !

20. SAUH

Sarasvati shines splendidly –

Vast sheet of water – who confers

Wisdom and vivifies all thought.