या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता
या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना।
या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता
सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा॥
Ya kundendu-tushara-hara-dhavala ya shubhra-vastravrita
Ya vina-varadanda-mandita-kara ya shveta-padmasana
Ya Brahmachyuta-Shankara-prabhritibhir devaih sada vandita
Sa mam patu Sarasvati bhagavati nihshesha-jadyapaha (1)
शुक्लां ब्रह्मविचार सार परमामाद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीं
वीणापुस्तकधारिणीमभयदां जाड्यान्धकारापहाम्।
हस्ते स्फाटिकमालिकां विदधतीं पद्मासने संस्थितां
वन्दे तां परमेश्वरीं भगवतीं बुद्धिप्रदां शारदाम्॥
Shuklam Brahmavichara-sara-paramam adyam jagad-vyapinim
Vina-pustaka-dharinim abhayadam jadyandhakarapaham
Haste sphatika-malikam vidadhatim padmasane samsthitam
Vande tam Parameshwarim bhagavatim buddhi-pradam Sharadam (2)
May that goddess Saraswati protect me — she who is white as the jasmine flower, the moon and a garland of snow; who is robed in spotless white; whose hands are graced with the veena and the boon-giving staff; who is seated on a white lotus; who is ever worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and all the gods; and who removes all dullness and ignorance without remainder. I bow to that supreme goddess Sharada, giver of intellect — white in colour, the very essence of the inquiry into Brahman, the primordial one pervading the whole world; bearer of the veena and the book, giver of fearlessness, remover of the darkness of ignorance; holding a crystal rosary in her hand and seated firmly on the lotus.
The Saraswati Vandana is the best-known invocation of Saraswati, goddess of learning, speech, music and the arts. Its most famous verse, “Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala“, pictures her white as jasmine, the moon and snow, clad in white, her hands graced with the veena, seated on a white lotus, forever worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva — and prays that she, who removes all dullness and ignorance, may protect the one who recites it.
A second, equally loved verse, “Shuklam Brahmavichara Sara Paramam“, adds the image of her holding the veena, the book and a crystal rosary, bestowing fearlessness and dispelling the darkness of ignorance. Together they are recited by students, teachers and musicians across India.
Saraswati is the wealth that cannot be stolen — knowledge. The Vandana is a prayer not for things but for clarity, memory, eloquence and the removal of the inner dullness (jadya) that blocks understanding. It is the first prayer many Indian children ever learn.
Read our editorial policy on how scripture, Purana and folk tradition are labelled.
Tap any line to jump there