% Text title            : tripurasundari aShTakaM A Hymn of worship to Goddess Tripurasundari
% File name             : tripurasun8mean.itx
% Category              : aShTaka, devii, dashamahAvidyA, shankarAchArya, devI
% Location              : doc\_devii
% Author                : Adi Shankaracharya
% Transliterated by     : M. Giridhar
% Proofread by          : Giridhar and Narayanaswami
% Translated by         : Pallasena Narayanaswami
% Latest update         : December 26, 2022
% Send corrections to   : sanskrit at cheerful dot c om
%
% This text is prepared by volunteers and is to be used for personal study 
% and research. The file is not to be copied or reposted for promotion of 
% any website or individuals or for commercial purpose without permission. 
% Please help to maintain respect for volunteer spirit.
%
\documentstyle[11pt,multicol,itrans]{article}
#include=ijag.inc
#endwordvowel=.h
\portraitwide
\parindent=100pt                
\let\usedvng=\Largedvng      % for 1 column     
\pagenumbering{itrans} 
\def\engtitle#1{\hrule\medskip\centerline{\LARGE #1}}
\def\itxtitle#1{\medskip\centerline{\LARGEdvng #1}\medskip\hrule}
\def\endtitles{\medskip\obeyspaceslines}
%%
\begin{document}
\engtitle{.. Tripurasundari Ashtakam with meaning ..}##
\itxtitle{.. sArthaM tripurasundaryaShTakam ..}##\endtitles ##

##
Introduction:
``tripurasundari aShTakaM'' is an octal  hymn , praising Goddess tripurasundari, composed by Adi sha.nkara, in a group of eight shlokams, all set in prithvi metre consisting of 17 syllables to each line, with a yati (pause) at syllable 8 and 17. (Note that the hymn, Saundaryalahari, also has 17 letters to each line, but the poetic metre there is shikhariNi, which is entirely different).  

The feminine noun ``tripurasundari'' means  beauty `par excellence', in the triad (tripura). The word ``tripura'' can be interpreted in several ways.  First, The kALlikA purANaM states that by the will of the pradhAna (the First Principle), the body of shiva became triple: the upper part became brahma, the middle, vishNu, and the lower, rudra, As these three  pura's (bodies) are in Him, shiva is called tripura, and his spouse is tripurA In this context, it is interesting to note the following.  In Andhra Pradesh, about 20 kilomnetres from Kalahasthi, there is a small shiva shrine and lingam, at Gudimallam. It is believed this shiva linghaM was installed by parasurAma.  The lower part bears the form of a gAndharva, the middle part, that of parasurAma with a turban, and the upper part, that of shiva lingam.  Under a curse, once brahma became a gAndharwa, by name CitrasEna. Therefore, the lower part could be brahma, and the middle one vishNu, since parasurama is an avatAraM of vishNu.  This fact is mentioned in the Tamil book: ``Jagadguruvin Upadeshangal'' (Appendix, page 23, 1957).  Tripura has another meaning: The dEvi's mantra consists of three syllables; the pa~nchadashAkShari mantraM is composed of three peaks (kUTa), namely vAgbhatakUTa, kAmarAja kUTa, and shakta kUTa. The nADis (nerves currents) where she resides are three: sushumna, pingaLa, and ida). Her shaktis are three, ichcha, kriya, and GYAna.  Now, to the actual hymn:


##
atha tripurasundarI aShTakam |
kadambavanachAriNIM munikadambakAdambinIM
nitambajita bhUdharAM suranitambinIsevitAm |
navAmburuhalochanAmabhinavAmbudashyAmalAM
trilochanakuTumbinIM tripurasundarImAshraye || 1||
kadambavanavAsinIM kanakavallakIdhAriNIM
mahArhamaNihAriNIM mukhasamullasadvAruNIm |
dayAvibhavakAriNIM vishadalochanIM chAriNIM (dayitapArshvasa~nchAriNIM)
trilochanakuTumbinIM tripurasundarImAshraye || 2||
kadambavanashAlayA kuchabharollasanmAlayA
kuchopamitashailayA gurukR^ipAlasadvelayA |
madAruNakapolayA madhuragItavAchAlayA
kayA.api ghananIlayA kavachitA vayaM lIlayA || 3||
kadambavanamadhyagAM kanakamaNDalopasthitAM
ShaDamburuhavAsinIM satatasiddhasaudAminIm |
viDambitajapAruchiM vikachachaMdrachUDAmaNiM
trilochanakuTumbinIM tripurasundarImAshraye || 4||
kuchA~nchitavipa~nchikAM kuTilakuntalAlaMkR^itAM
kusheshayanivAsinIM kuTilachittavidveShiNIm |
madAruNavilochanAM manasijArisaMmohinIM
mata~NgamunikanyakAM madhurabhAShiNImAshraye || 5||
smaraprathamapuShpiNIM rudhirabindunIlAmbarAM
gR^ihItamadhupAtrikAM madavighUrNanetrA~nchalAm |
ghanastanabharonnatAM galitachUlikAM shyAmalAM
trilochanakuTuMbinIM tripurasundarImAshraye || 6||
saku~NkumavilepanAmalakachuMbikastUrikAM
samandahasitekShaNAM sasharachApapAshA~NkushAm |
asheShajanamohinImaruNamAlya bhUShAmbarAM
japAkusumabhAsurAM japavidhau smarAmyambikAm || 7||
purandarapurandhrikA chikurabandhasairaMdhrikAM
pitAmahapativratA puTapaTIracharchAratAm |
mukundaramaNImaNIlasadala~NkriyAkAriNIM
bhajAmi bhuvanAMbikAM suravadhUTikAcheTikAm || 8||

|| iti shrImad sha~NkarAchAryavirachitaM
     tripurasundaryaShTakaM samAptam ||
kadambavanavAsinI stotram cha

\chapter{OM}
.. atha tripurasundari aShTakam ..

kadambavanachAriNIM munikadambakAdambinIM
nitambajitabhUdharAM suranitambinIsevitAm |
navAmburuhalochanAM abhinavAmbudashyAmalAM
trilochanakuTumbinIM tripurasundarImAshraye || 1||
##
Meaning
##ahaM## :  I;
##tripurasundarIM## : (in/to) Goddess tripurasundari;
##Ashraye## : seek shelter in (pay obeisance to).
The remaining phrases are adjectives that qualify the accusative noun
(dvitIyA vibhakti) ``tripurasundarIM'';
##kadamba vana chAriNIM## : who is roaming in the kadamba forest.
Kadamba is a kind of tree (Nauclea cadamba). It is
said to put forth orange coloured fragrant buds at the roaring of
thunder clouds.  A withered relic of the kadamba tree is still preserved
in the precincts of the Madurai MeenakShi temple.  Here,
kadamba forest stands for the universe which devi permeates.
##muni kadamba kAdambinIM## : a galaxy of clouds to the galaxy of rishis
(sages).  Just as the bank of clouds quenches the thirst of the
earthly beings, so does tripurasundari quench the
spiritual thirst of the munis (sages).
##nitamba## :  hip;
##jita bhUdharAM## : conquering (excelling) the mountains
(whose hip excels the mountain);
##sura nitambinI sevitAM## :  who is served by celestial damsels;
##navAMburuha lochanAM## : whoes eyes resemble fresh lotus;
##abhinavAMbuda shyAmalAM## : who is swarthy like the newly formed
nimbus.
##trilochanakuTumbinIM## : who belongs to the family of the three-eyed
one (Lord shiva);

##
kadambavanavAsinIM kanakavallakIdhAriNIM
mahArhamaNihAriNIM mukhasamullasadvAruNIm |
dayAvibhavakAriNIM vishadalochanIM chAriNIM (dayitapArshvasa~nchAriNIM)
trilochanakuTumbinIM tripurasundarImAshraye || 2||
##
Meaning:
(##aham##)## tripurasundarIM Ashraye## : (as in the above shlokaM);
##kadamba vana vAsinIM## :  (as in shlokaM 1);
##kanaka vallakI dhAriNIM## : who holds a golden VINa;
##mahArha maNi hAriNIM## :  who wears a garland of precious gems;
##mukha samullasad vAriNIM## : whose face  glows deeply with ambrosia;
##dayAvibhava kAriNIM## :  bestowing prosperity through mercy;
##vishada lochanIM## : clear eyed;
##chAriNIM## : wandering.
(##dayitapArshvasa~nchAriNIM## who walks by the side of her loving consort

##
kadambavanashAlayA kuchamarollasanmAlayA
kuchopamitashailayA gurukR^ipAlasadvelayA |
madAruNakapolayA madhuragItavAchAlayA
kayA.api ghananIlayA kavachitA vayaM lIlayA || 3||
##
Meaning:
##vayaM## :  we;
##lIlayA## : by her inscrutable play;
##kavachitA## : (we) are arrayed in panoply.
the remaining phrases qualify the noun ``lIlayA'';
##kadambavana shAlayA## : by her abode in the kadamba forest (meaning here,
the entire universe);
##kuchamarollasan mAlayA## : by the garland gracing her massive bosoms;
##kuchopamita shailayA## : by her bosoms rivalling the mountains
(represents her cosmic motherhood, and eagerness to
nourish the entire world).
##gurukR^ipAlasad velayA## :  by splendid flow of Her Grace;
##madAruNa kapolayA## : with cheeks rudded by wine;
##madhuragIta vAchAlayA## : by her melodious musical voice;
##kayApi ghana nIlayA## : by her cloud-like blue.

##
kadambavanamadhyagAM kanakamaNDalopasthitAM
ShaDamburuhavAsinIM satatasiddhasaudAminIm |
viDambitajapAruchiM vikachachandrachUDAmaNiM
trilochanakuTumbinIM tripurasundarImAshraye || 4||
##
Meaning:
(##aham##)## tripurasundarIM Ashraye## : (as in shlokam 1);
##kadamba vana madhyagAM## : who is in the midst of kadamba forest;
##kanaka maNDalopasthitAM## : seated on the golden disc;
##ShaDamburuha vAsinIM## : who resides in six lotus flowers;
##satata siddha saudhAminIM## : a lightning to the constant siddhas;
##viDambita japA ruchiM## : splenderously mocking the scarlet (red)
Hibiscous flower;
##vikacha chandra chUDAmaNiM## : with cloudless moon for her
crest jewel;
##trilochana kuTumbinIM## : (as in shlokam  1).

##
kuchA~nchitavipa~nchikAM kuTilakuntalAla~NkR^itAM
kusheshayanivAsinIM kuTilachittavidveShiNIm |
madAruNavilochanAM manasijArisaMmohinIM
mata~NgamunikanyakAM madhurabhAShiNImAshraye || 5||
##
Meaning:
(##AhaM##) : I;
##Ashraye## :  seek shelter in  (Her, who is);
##kuchA~nchita vipa~nchikAM## : with a Vina gracing her bosom;
##kuTila kuntalAla~NkR^itAM## :  adorned with curly tresses of hair;
##kushesaya nivAsinIM## :  residing in lotus;
##kuTila chitta vidveShiNIM## : scorning the evil-minded ones;
##madARuNa vilochanAM## : reddish eyed from nectar;
##manasijAri sammohinIM## : captivating the enemy of Cupid (shiva);
##mata~Nga muni kanyakAM## :  daughter of  sage matanga;
##madhura bhAShiNIM## : mellifluously conversing.

##
smaretprathamapuShpiNIM rudhirabindunIlAmbarAM
gR^ihItamadhupAtrikAM madavighUrNarnetrA~nchalAm |
ghanastanabharonnatAM galitachUlikAM shyAmalAM
trilochanakuTumbinIM tripurasundarImAshraye || 6||
##
Meaning:
(##aham##)## tripurasundarIM Ashraye## : (as in shlokam 1);
##smaret prathama puShpiNIM## : should remember the first flower of manmatha (Cupid);
##rudhira bindu nIlAmbarAM## : clad in blue garments spotted
sanguine (red);
##gR^ihIta madhu pAtrikAM## :  holding a bowl of wine;
##mada vighUrNa netrA~nchalAM## : eyes rolling because of inebriation;
##ghana stana bharonnatAM## : close set with high and heavy bosom;
##galita chUlikAM## :  with locks dishevelled;
##shyAmlAM## :  swarthy one;
##trilochana kuTumbinIM## : (as in shlokaM 1).

##
saku~NkumavilepanAM alakachumbikastUrikAM
samandahasitekShaNAM sasharachApapAshA~NkushAm |
asheShajanamohinIM aruNamAlyabhUShAmbarAM
japAkusumabhAsurAM japavidhau smarAmyambikAm || 7||
##
Meaning:
##(ahaM)## : I;
##ambikAM ## : ambikA Mother (dvitIya vibhakti);
##japavidhau## : in (during) Japa (meditation);
##smarAmi## :  remember;
The remaining phrases qualify the noun: ambikAM:;
##sa ku~Nkuma vilepanAM## :  smeared with vermillion;
##alaka chumbi kastUrikAM## : forelocks grazing the dot of musk;
##sa manda hasitekShaNAM## :  with looks soft and smiling;
##sa shara chApa pAshA~NkushAM## :  bearing arrows, bow, snare and goad;
##asheSha jana mohinIM## : deluding the entire people;
##aruNa mAlya bhUshAmbarAM## :  wearing (decorating her body with)
red garments;
##japAkusuma bhAsurAM## : shining with the japA flower
NOTE: This particular shlokam is considered very sacred, and it
is included  in the ``dhyAna shlokaM'' segment of both lalitA
sahasranAmaM, as well as  lalitA trishati.

##
 purandarapurandhrikA chikurabandhasairandhrikAM
 pitAmahapativratA paTupaTIracharchAratAm |
 mukundaramaNImaNIM lasadala~NkriyAkAriNIM
 bhajAmi bhuvanAMbikAM suravadhUTikAcheTikAm || 8||
##
Meaning:
##(ahaM)## : I;
##bhuvanAmbikAM## :  mother of the entire world (dvitIya vibhakti);
##bhajAmi## : worship (salute) The remaining words qualify the noun ``ambikAM'';
##purandara purandhrikA## :   ruling over the entire srI puraM;
##chikura bandha sairandhrikAM## : who has the dwellers of Indra's city serving her
as maids who braid and decorate her hair.
##pitAmaha pativratA## : consort of Lord brahma;
##paTa paTIra charchA ratAM## :  skilful for anointing sandal paste;
##mukunda ramaNI manIM## : gem of vishNu's spouse;
##lasad ala~NkriyA kAriNIM## : adorning with lustrous  gems;
##suravadhUTikA cheTikAM## : having heavenly damsels for servant maids.
##
 .. iti  tripurasundaryaShTakaM sampUrNam ||
##
Thus ends the octal hymn on Tripurasundai

Encoded and meanings by Swami Pallasena swami@math.mun.ca

\medskip\hrule\obeylines

Please send corrections to sanskrit@cheerful.com
Last updated \today
https://sanskritdocuments.org

\end{document}