सार्थं त्रिपुरसुन्दर्यष्टकम्

सार्थं त्रिपुरसुन्दर्यष्टकम्

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: अथ त्रिपुरसुन्दरी अष्टकम् । कदम्बवनचारिणीं मुनिकदम्बकादम्बिनीं नितम्बजित भूधरां सुरनितम्बिनीसेविताम् । नवाम्बुरुहलोचनामभिनवाम्बुदश्यामलां त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये ॥ १॥ कदम्बवनवासिनीं कनकवल्लकीधारिणीं महार्हमणिहारिणीं मुखसमुल्लसद्वारुणीम् । दयाविभवकारिणीं विशदलोचनीं चारिणीं (दयितपार्श्वसञ्चारिणीं) त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये ॥ २॥ कदम्बवनशालया कुचभरोल्लसन्मालया कुचोपमितशैलया गुरुकृपालसद्वेलया । मदारुणकपोलया मधुरगीतवाचालया कयाऽपि घननीलया कवचिता वयं लीलया ॥ ३॥ कदम्बवनमध्यगां कनकमण्डलोपस्थितां षडम्बुरुहवासिनीं सततसिद्धसौदामिनीम् । विडम्बितजपारुचिं विकचचंद्रचूडामणिं त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये ॥ ४॥ कुचाञ्चितविपञ्चिकां कुटिलकुन्तलालंकृतां कुशेशयनिवासिनीं कुटिलचित्तविद्वेषिणीम् । मदारुणविलोचनां मनसिजारिसंमोहिनीं मतङ्गमुनिकन्यकां मधुरभाषिणीमाश्रये ॥ ५॥ स्मरप्रथमपुष्पिणीं रुधिरबिन्दुनीलाम्बरां गृहीतमधुपात्रिकां मदविघूर्णनेत्राञ्चलाम् । घनस्तनभरोन्नतां गलितचूलिकां श्यामलां त्रिलोचनकुटुंबिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये ॥ ६॥ सकुङ्कुमविलेपनामलकचुंबिकस्तूरिकां समन्दहसितेक्षणां सशरचापपाशाङ्कुशाम् । अशेषजनमोहिनीमरुणमाल्य भूषाम्बरां जपाकुसुमभासुरां जपविधौ स्मराम्यम्बिकाम् ॥ ७॥ पुरन्दरपुरन्ध्रिका चिकुरबन्धसैरंध्रिकां पितामहपतिव्रता पुटपटीरचर्चारताम् । मुकुन्दरमणीमणीलसदलङ्क्रियाकारिणीं भजामि भुवनांबिकां सुरवधूटिकाचेटिकाम् ॥ ८॥ ॥ इति श्रीमद् शङ्कराचार्यविरचितं त्रिपुरसुन्दर्यष्टकं समाप्तम् ॥ कदम्बवनवासिनी स्तोत्रम् च

॥ अथ त्रिपुरसुन्दरि अष्टकम् ॥ कदम्बवनचारिणीं मुनिकदम्बकादम्बिनीं नितम्बजितभूधरां सुरनितम्बिनीसेविताम् । नवाम्बुरुहलोचनां अभिनवाम्बुदश्यामलां त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये ॥ १॥ Meaning अहं : I; त्रिपुरसुन्दरीं : (in/to) Goddess tripurasundari; आश्रये : seek shelter in (pay obeisance to). The remaining phrases are adjectives that qualify the accusative noun (dvitIyA vibhakti) ``tripurasundarIM''; कदम्ब वन चारिणीं : 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. मुनि कदम्ब कादम्बिनीं : 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). नितम्ब : hip; जित भूधरां : conquering (excelling) the mountains (whose hip excels the mountain); सुर नितम्बिनी सेवितां : who is served by celestial damsels; नवांबुरुह लोचनां : whoes eyes resemble fresh lotus; अभिनवांबुद श्यामलां : who is swarthy like the newly formed nimbus. त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं : who belongs to the family of the three-eyed one (Lord shiva); कदम्बवनवासिनीं कनकवल्लकीधारिणीं महार्हमणिहारिणीं मुखसमुल्लसद्वारुणीम् । दयाविभवकारिणीं विशदलोचनीं चारिणीं (दयितपार्श्वसञ्चारिणीं) त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये ॥ २॥ Meaning: (अहम्) त्रिपुरसुन्दरीं आश्रये : (as in the above shlokaM); कदम्ब वन वासिनीं : (as in shlokaM 1); कनक वल्लकी धारिणीं : who holds a golden VINa; महार्ह मणि हारिणीं : who wears a garland of precious gems; मुख समुल्लसद् वारिणीं : whose face glows deeply with ambrosia; दयाविभव कारिणीं : bestowing prosperity through mercy; विशद लोचनीं : clear eyed; चारिणीं : wandering. (दयितपार्श्वसञ्चारिणीं who walks by the side of her loving consort कदम्बवनशालया कुचमरोल्लसन्मालया कुचोपमितशैलया गुरुकृपालसद्वेलया । मदारुणकपोलया मधुरगीतवाचालया कयाऽपि घननीलया कवचिता वयं लीलया ॥ ३॥ Meaning: वयं : we; लीलया : by her inscrutable play; कवचिता : (we) are arrayed in panoply. the remaining phrases qualify the noun ``lIlayA''; कदम्बवन शालया : by her abode in the kadamba forest (meaning here, the entire universe); कुचमरोल्लसन् मालया : by the garland gracing her massive bosoms; कुचोपमित शैलया : by her bosoms rivalling the mountains (represents her cosmic motherhood, and eagerness to nourish the entire world). गुरुकृपालसद् वेलया : by splendid flow of Her Grace; मदारुण कपोलया : with cheeks rudded by wine; मधुरगीत वाचालया : by her melodious musical voice; कयापि घन नीलया : by her cloud-like blue. कदम्बवनमध्यगां कनकमण्डलोपस्थितां षडम्बुरुहवासिनीं सततसिद्धसौदामिनीम् । विडम्बितजपारुचिं विकचचन्द्रचूडामणिं त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये ॥ ४॥ Meaning: (अहम्) त्रिपुरसुन्दरीं आश्रये : (as in shlokam 1); कदम्ब वन मध्यगां : who is in the midst of kadamba forest; कनक मण्डलोपस्थितां : seated on the golden disc; षडम्बुरुह वासिनीं : who resides in six lotus flowers; सतत सिद्ध सौधामिनीं : a lightning to the constant siddhas; विडम्बित जपा रुचिं : splenderously mocking the scarlet (red) Hibiscous flower; विकच चन्द्र चूडामणिं : with cloudless moon for her crest jewel; त्रिलोचन कुटुम्बिनीं : (as in shlokam 1). कुचाञ्चितविपञ्चिकां कुटिलकुन्तलालङ्कृतां कुशेशयनिवासिनीं कुटिलचित्तविद्वेषिणीम् । मदारुणविलोचनां मनसिजारिसंमोहिनीं मतङ्गमुनिकन्यकां मधुरभाषिणीमाश्रये ॥ ५॥ Meaning: (आहं) : I; आश्रये : seek shelter in (Her, who is); कुचाञ्चित विपञ्चिकां : with a Vina gracing her bosom; कुटिल कुन्तलालङ्कृतां : adorned with curly tresses of hair; कुशेसय निवासिनीं : residing in lotus; कुटिल चित्त विद्वेषिणीं : scorning the evil-minded ones; मदाऱुण विलोचनां : reddish eyed from nectar; मनसिजारि सम्मोहिनीं : captivating the enemy of Cupid (shiva); मतङ्ग मुनि कन्यकां : daughter of sage matanga; मधुर भाषिणीं : mellifluously conversing. स्मरेत्प्रथमपुष्पिणीं रुधिरबिन्दुनीलाम्बरां गृहीतमधुपात्रिकां मदविघूर्णर्नेत्राञ्चलाम् । घनस्तनभरोन्नतां गलितचूलिकां श्यामलां त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये ॥ ६॥ Meaning: (अहम्) त्रिपुरसुन्दरीं आश्रये : (as in shlokam 1); स्मरेत् प्रथम पुष्पिणीं : should remember the first flower of manmatha (Cupid); रुधिर बिन्दु नीलाम्बरां : clad in blue garments spotted sanguine (red); गृहीत मधु पात्रिकां : holding a bowl of wine; मद विघूर्ण नेत्राञ्चलां : eyes rolling because of inebriation; घन स्तन भरोन्नतां : close set with high and heavy bosom; गलित चूलिकां : with locks dishevelled; श्याम्लां : swarthy one; त्रिलोचन कुटुम्बिनीं : (as in shlokaM 1). सकुङ्कुमविलेपनां अलकचुम्बिकस्तूरिकां समन्दहसितेक्षणां सशरचापपाशाङ्कुशाम् । अशेषजनमोहिनीं अरुणमाल्यभूषाम्बरां जपाकुसुमभासुरां जपविधौ स्मराम्यम्बिकाम् ॥ ७॥ Meaning: (अहं) : I; अम्बिकां : ambikA Mother (dvitIya vibhakti); जपविधौ : in (during) Japa (meditation); स्मरामि : remember; The remaining phrases qualify the noun: ambikAM:; स कुङ्कुम विलेपनां : smeared with vermillion; अलक चुम्बि कस्तूरिकां : forelocks grazing the dot of musk; स मन्द हसितेक्षणां : with looks soft and smiling; स शर चाप पाशाङ्कुशां : bearing arrows, bow, snare and goad; अशेष जन मोहिनीं : deluding the entire people; अरुण माल्य भूशाम्बरां : wearing (decorating her body with) red garments; जपाकुसुम भासुरां : 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. पुरन्दरपुरन्ध्रिका चिकुरबन्धसैरन्ध्रिकां पितामहपतिव्रता पटुपटीरचर्चारताम् । मुकुन्दरमणीमणीं लसदलङ्क्रियाकारिणीं भजामि भुवनांबिकां सुरवधूटिकाचेटिकाम् ॥ ८॥ Meaning: (अहं) : I; भुवनाम्बिकां : mother of the entire world (dvitIya vibhakti); भजामि : worship (salute) The remaining words qualify the noun ``ambikAM''; पुरन्दर पुरन्ध्रिका : ruling over the entire srI puraM; चिकुर बन्ध सैरन्ध्रिकां : who has the dwellers of Indra's city serving her as maids who braid and decorate her hair. पितामह पतिव्रता : consort of Lord brahma; पट पटीर चर्चा रतां : skilful for anointing sandal paste; मुकुन्द रमणी मनीं : gem of vishNu's spouse; लसद् अलङ्क्रिया कारिणीं : adorning with lustrous gems; सुरवधूटिका चेटिकां : having heavenly damsels for servant maids. ॥ इति त्रिपुरसुन्दर्यष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥ Thus ends the octal hymn on Tripurasundai Encoded and meanings by Swami Pallasena swami@math.mun.ca
% Text title            : tripurasundari aShTakaM A Hymn of worship to Goddess Tripurasundari
% File name             : tripurasun8mean.itx
% itxtitle              : tripurasundaryaShTakam athavA kadambavanavAsinI (sArtham shaNkarAchAryavirachitam)
% engtitle              : Tripurasundari Ashtakam with meaning
% Category              : aShTaka, devii, dashamahAvidyA, shankarAchArya, devI
% Location              : doc_devii
% Sublocation           : devii
% SubDeity              : dashamahAvidyA
% Author                : Adi Shankaracharya
% Language              : Sanskrit
% Subject               : hinduism/religion
% Transliterated by     : M. Giridhar
% Proofread by          : Giridhar and Narayanaswami
% Translated by         : Pallasena Narayanaswami
% Indexextra            : (Scans 1, 2, Tamil, meanings 1, 2)
% Latest update         : December 26, 2022
% Send corrections to   : sanskrit at cheerful dot c om
% Site access           : https://sanskritdocuments.org

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